The Great Tomb of Nazarick, Ninth Floor, Round Table Conference Room.
The light from the magic lamp illuminated the entire room as if it were daytime. People sat on both sides of the long table.
They were all the most powerful beings in Nazarick.
The guardians of the hierarchy, the members of the battle maid corps, and several special job holders who rarely appear in public were all present at this moment.
Ainz sat in the main seat, his skeletal fingers crossed on the table, his crimson eyes sweeping over every face.
The atmosphere was somewhat heavy.
It's not a common occurrence for Lord Ainz to take the initiative to summon all the Guardians.
The last time such a gathering was when Higashino Makoto first came to Nazarick.
"I have summoned you here because I have something to announce."
Ainz spoke, his voice deep and steady, carrying the majesty befitting the Overlord.
Albedo sat to his right, her golden vertical pupils slightly narrowed, her wings gently folded behind her.
Her expression appeared calm, but her fingers tapped lightly on the table, a habit she had when she was thinking.
Demiurge sat opposite her, his hands crossed on the table, his eyes half-closed behind his glasses, as if waiting for something.
Shalltear leaned back in her chair, her scarlet eyes fixed on the ceiling, her lips moving slightly as if she were silently reciting something.
Her fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, the rhythm sometimes fast and sometimes slow.
Cocytus sat upright, his arms crossed over his chest, his insect-like compound eyes revealing no emotion.
Aura lay on the table, chin resting on her arm, her golden eyes half-open and half-closed, looking as if she were dozing off, but her ears were constantly picking up every sound around her.
Mare hid behind his sister, only revealing a pair of timid eyes, his hand tightly gripping his staff.
"Lord Ainz."
Albedo was the first to speak, her voice gentle and respectful.
"What is it?"
Ainz was silent for a moment.
"About Higashino Makoto."
The air in the conference room seemed to freeze for a moment.
Shalltear's fingers stopped. Aura's eyes widened.
Mare peeked half his head out from behind his sister. Cocytus' compound eyes flickered slightly.
Demiurge pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting a cold light.
Albedo's expression remained unchanged, but her fingers stopped tapping.
"What's wrong, Higashino?"
Demiurge asked, his tone calm but tinged with caution.
"He..."
Ainz paused.
"He also has a guild. Like us, he brought his guild with him when he came to this world."
Silence.
A long silence.
The light from the magic lamps flowed through the air, casting everyone's shadows onto the walls, flickering and swaying.
"Lord Ainz."
Albedo spoke, her voice still gentle, but a sharp glint flashed in her golden vertical pupils.
"You mean, that Higashino Makoto also owns a base similar to Nazarick?"
"Yes."
Ainz nodded.
"Furthermore, his guild, 'Black Cross,' may possess strength comparable to Nazarick. At the very least, the maids who accompany him should all be guardians of Novas Etier, and their levels are probably around level 100."
"Based on his previous statement that he changes his secretary every month, it would take him about two years to complete the process. This suggests that he has more than twenty guardians."
The air in the conference room seemed to have been sucked out.
Shalltear sat bolt upright, her scarlet eyes flashing with a dangerous light.
"That bastard! He's been hiding so much?"
Her voice was sharp and filled with obvious anger.
"He lived in Nazarick for so long, ate our food, drank our water, and..."
She paused, seemingly considering her words.
"Still pretending to be 'just a down-on-his-luck paladin'?"
Shalltear.
Ainz's voice was calm, but carried a hint of warning.
Shalltear closed her mouth, but her scarlet eyes still burned with rage.
Aura lifted his head from the table, his golden eyes filled with shock.
"Twenty-four level 100 guardians? That's even more powerful than us—"
"More in quantity."
Demiurge took over the conversation, his tone remaining calm.
"But their strength is uncertain, after all, the Guardians of Nazarick were meticulously designed by the Supreme Beings. Moreover, we have special combat power on the eighth level."
He adjusted his glasses.
"However, this is indeed intelligence that needs to be taken seriously."
Albedo turned her head and looked at Ainz.
"Lord Ainz, when did you find out about this?"
Ainz was silent for a moment.
"He told me."
"When?"
"We talked a lot when Slane Theocracy."
Albedo's fingers tapped lightly on the table.
Why did he tell you?
"Probably because he trusts me."
Ainz's tone was calm.
"Or perhaps, because he felt there was no need to hide these things from me."
Demiurge's glasses reflected a cold light.
"Trust..."
He repeated the word in a low voice, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.
"Interesting."
Demiurge, what are you thinking?
Albedo asked.
I'm thinking--
Demiurge adjusted his glasses.
Why did you choose to tell Lord Ainz this now, Lord Higashino?
He paused.
"He could have continued to hide it. His 'Black Cross' guild has never appeared before the world, and his twenty-four level 100 guardians have never shown their faces. If he hadn't revealed it to us, we might never have known his true strength."
"But he chose to tell Lord Ainz."
Demiurge looked at Ainz, his golden eyes gleaming with contemplation.
"This shows that he trusts Lord Ainz. Or rather, he needs Lord Ainz's trust."
"Need?"
Shalltear sneered.
What does he need? He's so strong, what doesn't he have?
"Maybe..."
Demiurge paused.
He needs friends.
The meeting room fell silent.
Shalltear opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she said nothing.
Albedo lowered her head, looking at her fingers, her golden eyes swirling with complex emotions.
Aura lay sprawled on the table, chin resting on her arm, her golden eyes staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.
Mare peeked out from behind his sister and whispered something.
"A friend...? Lord Ainz saw this, which is why he chose to act this way. Such foresight, truly worthy of Lord Ainz!"
"It's truly shameful that my subordinates were completely unaware of this."
Cocytus sat upright like a pine tree, his insect-like compound eyes revealing no emotion.