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The Great Tomb of Nazarick, Ninth Floor, Round Table Conference Room.

Ainz sat at the head of the table. The Floor Guardians and members of the Pleiades Battle Maids sat in their respective seats, watching the image displayed above the center of the round table.

It had once been one of Nazarick's targets—the palace where the Platinum Dragon Lord resided.

But what now appeared was a circular abyss, with faint traces of red lingering in the exposed earth—

They did not yet know that it was an aura known as calamity.

"Regarding the palace in the Argland Council State where the Platinum Dragon Lord resided being reduced to ruins, and the Platinum Dragon Lord's sudden disappearance, what are everyone's thoughts?"

Ainz's voice echoed through the Round Table Conference Room, calm and devoid of emotion.

The abyss in the image resembled a massive scar carved across the site of the once-magnificent palace.

Even through the magical projection, those faint crimson traces gave the Guardians present an unusual sense of "discomfort."

They were remnants of the "Great Catastrophe."

"Demiurge."

"Yes, Lord Ainz."

Seated on the left, Demiurge adjusted his glasses. His golden pupils glimmered with contemplation.

"Judging from the destruction at the scene, it was undoubtedly caused by tenth-tier magic or power of an even higher level. But what concerns me more is this—rather than dying, the Platinum Dragon Lord vanished."

"What do you mean?"

Albedo tilted her head slightly.

"If the Platinum Dragon Lord had died there, its corpse should have remained at the scene."

Demiurge pointed at the abyss in the image.

"A True Dragon Lord's remains are extremely valuable magical materials. Its bones, scales, and heart all possess immeasurable value. Yet, as you can see, there are no remnants belonging to the Platinum Dragon Lord at the scene."

"Taken away by someone?"

Cocytus's deep voice rang out.

"Or."

Shalltear interjected.

"It escaped on its own."

"Unlikely."

Demiurge shook his head.

"Judging from the shape of the abyss, this was not an evenly matched exchange of blows. It was more like a one-sided crushing. The True Dragon Lord appeared to be the side crushed as easily as an ant.

"Furthermore, the destruction at the scene was very... clean."

"Clean."

Ainz repeated the word.

"Yes, Lord Ainz. Apart from the ruins, not a single drop of blood or fragment of dragon scale remained. This method of destruction was more like..."

"The victor faced almost no pressure, and after the battle had plenty of spare time—even enough leisure to clean up the battlefield."

Ainz finished for him.

The conference room fell silent for a moment.

Ainz rested his elbows on the table, interlacing his fingers to cover the chin he did not possess. He was thinking.

The Platinum Dragon Lord was one of the targets Nazarick needed to pay close attention to in this world.

It was one of the few beings that could truly pose a threat to Ainz—of course, that was without taking into account those on the Eighth Floor and the many World-Class Items.

And now, this "threat" had simply vanished.

Vanished into an abyss.

One "threat" disappearing had instead brought forth another, greater and unknown "threat."

"Lord Ainz."

Albedo spoke.

"Should I go to the Argland Council State to investigate?"

"No."

Ainz's answer caught everyone by surprise.

"Not for now."

"But—"

"Albedo, look at the size and marks of this abyss."

Ainz raised a hand and gestured toward the image.

"It is more than ten meters deep. Whoever caused this level of destruction possesses at least tenth-tier magic or combat strength on the same level."

"The enemy was probably a player!"

Ainz recalled that man.

The human who called himself Peroroncino's friend, Higashino Makoto.

"Still, we can't ignore it completely."

Ainz pondered for a moment.

"Sebas."

"Yes."

"You and Solution should investigate the area around the Council State. Be careful to conceal your tracks and don't alert the enemy. Also—"

Ainz paused.

"What's the situation with Higashino Makoto? He doesn't seem to have contacted us since he left last time. Look into him while you're at it."

"By your command."

Ainz leaned back in his chair, the red lights in his hollow eye sockets flickering faintly.

The Platinum Dragon Lord had vanished, Higashino Makoto's whereabouts were unknown, and there was that terrifying aura lingering within the deep pit...

The situation in this world seemed to be developing in a direction he could not predict.

"...We lack information."

Compared to Nazarick, the Argland Council State appeared exceptionally calm.

It was not that the Platinum Dragon Lord's disappearance had no impact, but rather that the remaining Dragon Lords had sealed off the news.

They publicly claimed that the Platinum Dragon Lord had defeated some brazen madman and was currently tracking down the enemy's lair.

The Blue Sky Dragon Lord, Swilia Myronhirk.

The Diamond Dragon Lord, Omnadesus Iculbrus.

The Obsidian Dragon Lord, Kaisenblut Eucrilius.

The Worm Dragon Lord, Zaragircarian Nahente.

The remaining four Dragon Lords had gathered together in a rare meeting, and unease permeated the room.

The first to speak was the Blue Sky Dragon Lord, the strongest among them apart from the Platinum Dragon Lord. There was a trace of disbelief in its voice.

"Who would have thought that even someone as powerful as Platinum would suddenly vanish?"

The Blue Sky Dragon Lord's voice echoed through the room, carrying both disbelief and an unprecedented anxiety.

Its body was the deep azure of the sky, its scales reflecting a soft glow beneath the magical lights.

Even though it was the smallest of the four Dragon Lords present, it was still dozens of times larger than a human.

"He did not vanish."

The Diamond Dragon Lord corrected it, its voice steady and cold, as hard as its name.

"Platinum was defeated in battle—and in a direct confrontation."

The Diamond Dragon Lord, Omnadesus, was the oldest among the four Dragon Lords. Its scales possessed a translucent texture, as though countless diamonds had been embedded in its skin.

Its aged eyes narrowed halfway, as if recalling something.

"That's impossible."

The Obsidian Dragon Lord, Kaisenblut, immediately retorted, its rough voice like clashing rocks.

"We all know Platinum's strength. Even if the four of us joined forces, we might not be able to defeat him with certainty. How could anyone in this world possibly beat him head-on?"

"Not even those terrifying Eight Greed Kings managed to kill him!"

"The facts are right before us."

The Diamond Dragon Lord spoke calmly.

"The palace was destroyed, and Platinum's whereabouts are unknown. If you have a better explanation, then say it."

The Obsidian Dragon Lord opened its mouth, yet no words came out.

It truly had no better explanation.

The previously silent Worm Dragon Lord, Zaragircarian, twisted its long, limbless body, producing a rustling sound.

It was the most mysterious of the four Dragon Lords, having lived deep underground year-round and rarely interacted with the other Dragon Lords.

But at this moment, a strange light flickered in its tiny eyes.

"Tell me, could it be a new—Dragon Emperor's filth?"

"The calamity that comes once every century seems to have begun—"