Conserving Resources

Although the pronunciation of the name "Hakimi" sounded very similar to the language he used, he discovered while conversing with the villagers in Carne Village that the language they spoke was not his own.

It was as if the speech had been translated into something mutually intelligible, much like eating a translation konjac; therefore, "Hakimi" might not necessarily be a word from his own language, but merely a coincidence in phonetics.

Furthermore, there was that slapping greeting. At the very least, players of YGGDRASIL were almost exclusively from his own country, and even if there were foreigners, there wouldn't be many. Thus, Momonga was certain that this was not a greeting ritual from any region in his home country.

Consequently, the possibility that the assassin was a local became even greater.

No...

That wasn't right...

Momonga realized that because he was so desperate to know the enemy's identity, he had lost his basic ability to question things and had directly concluded that the person in Enri's memory was the assassin who had targeted him.

This was bad; it was very easy to misjudge the situation. If one looked solely at Enri's memory, that youth was clearly just a traveler who had come to this place from afar.

Moreover, among the three current suspects, the Slane Theocracy was the most likely candidate, though of course, one could not rule out the possibility that the youth himself was from the Slane Theocracy...

"Ainz-sama?"

Demiurge's voice interrupted his thoughts. Momonga quickly apologized, "My apologies. There is no need to stay here any longer; let us return."

"As you wish, Ainz-sama," Demiurge said.

Just as Momonga was about to leave, he noticed Enri looking at him with eyes full of hatred. He hesitated for a moment before saying to Nirost, "There is no need to torture her any further. Grant her a painless death."

"As you command, Ainz-sama. You are truly merciful," replied Nirost, who had been silent until now, taking the opportunity to offer a small compliment.

"Oh, Ainz-sama, I have a proposal," Demiurge spoke up again at this moment.

"Speak," Momonga nodded. He was becoming increasingly satisfied with Demiurge. He knew his own talents well—he was merely a worker bee who had finished primary school—but with Demiurge by his side, he felt much more at ease.

Trusting capable subordinates was also a part of a ruler's cultivation, and Momonga felt he had grasped a little bit of the way of kings.

"Your subordinate suggests returning her corpse to Carne Village," Demiurge said.

"Oh? Tell me your reasoning," Momonga asked, puzzled.

"Does Ainz-sama wish to find that human?" Demiurge asked.

"Indeed, I do have that intention," Momonga nodded. Regardless of whether that youth was involved in the assassination, he did not want to let go of this potential lead. If there was a connection and he missed it for nothing, wouldn't that be a huge loss?

"Your subordinate wishes to set a trap. Although Ainz-sama already knows the human's appearance, I fear it will not be easy to find him in a short time. If we make too much of a stir, it might allow that human to get wind of it and escape.

Based on my assessment of this matter, perhaps that human will feel grateful for Carne Village's act of taking him in and will return there. Although I cannot be entirely certain, setting this trap carries no loss for us," Demiurge said, a confident smile hanging on his face.

Momonga suddenly understood. As expected of Demiurge, he had actually thought of this. If the other party was a kind-hearted person, perhaps he really might return to Carne Village later.

That way, they could wait for the rabbit to hit the tree stump. If the youth was a player, this possibility would be even higher.

Momonga knew that the reputation of "Ainz Ooal Gown" was poor. Perhaps that person had transmigrated at the same time as him, but had struck because he saw him. He understood that kind of behavior from the other party; he had at least that much self-awareness.

If the other party was a player and had attacked because he saw him, then at least he could be sure that the person was likely a righteous man who hated evil, which would make the possibility of him returning to Carne Village even greater.

Of course, it would be wonderful if things were truly as he imagined, but unfortunately, it might turn out in the end that the youth was just an ordinary local.

In any case, he gladly accepted Demiurge's proposal and entrusted the matter to him, instructing him to retreat immediately after placing the corpse back in Carne Village and setting things up.

It would be disastrous if Demiurge encountered any accidents along the way.

Afterward, Momonga left the interrogation room and arrived at the Throne Room, where Pandora was standing meticulously beside the throne.

"Oh~~~, Ainz-sama, you have returned." Pandora struck a standard pose of attention and saluted Momonga, who had appeared in the Throne Room, in standard German.

The military coat draped over his back fluttered with his exaggerated movements, and his face, as smooth as a raw egg, had only three pitch-black holes.

Through his actions and words, one could imagine the serious and earnest expression that should have been on his face.

Momonga's sense of shame was instantly ignited, only to be forcibly suppressed by the undead's passive skill for calmness. Fortunately, only he and Pandora were here now; otherwise, he would have really wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Back when he was in his middle-school phase, he had thought such a setting would be cool, so he had programmed these actions and behaviors for Pandora, but now it was all just dark history.

"Cough, cough. That... I have already told you not to use these kinds of movements, and the German as well," Momonga reprimanded in a deep voice.

He did not know why, but while he worried about other Guardians betraying him, he had never had such thoughts about Pandora.

Perhaps it was because Pandora's chuunibyou behavior diluted that feeling, or perhaps it was because Pandora was created by him, though he still could not let his guard down.

"Ja! Ainz-sama!" Pandora clicked his heels together, his military boots making a crisp sound, still speaking in German.

It seems I must find an opportunity to pardon Albedo; Pandora is still better suited for the Treasury where no one goes, Momonga thought to himself.

However, there were still matters to arrange now, so Momonga couldn't be bothered to correct Pandora's behavior and immediately sent a message to Sebas.

Before long, Sebas came from the ninth floor to stand before him.

"Ainz-sama, what are your orders?" Sebas bowed.

"There is a matter that requires you... or rather, your subordinates to handle," Momonga started to order Sebas, but suddenly changed his words.

If he remembered correctly, the resurrection cost for a Guardian was 500 million gold coins. Even though Nazarick possessed assets of approximately 420 billion, this was not YGGDRASIL; any resource was a non-renewable one.

He had intended to send a Guardian to leave Nazarick to investigate information on that youth, but if a Guardian were killed through carelessness, not only would they lose their equipment, but the 500 million gold coins for resurrection would also be a massive expenditure.

Since that was the case, it would be better to send the lower-level Pleiades. Their equipment was not as good as the Guardians', so even if they were resurrected, it wouldn't cost a massive 500 million.

Moreover, being lower level wasn't just about saving resources; the situation in this new world was still unclear, and suddenly sending out level 100 NPCs might attract unwanted attention.

The combat maids of the Pleiades were around level 50; this level was neither too high nor too low, and should not attract too much notice.

The names of the NPCs were all on Nazarick's guild list; as soon as anyone died, he would immediately resurrect them and then ask for information.

This way, he only needed to wait patiently here for intelligence, along with that trap Demiurge had set.