World City, the Throne Room.
Shalltear and the three battle maids, Yuri, Narberal, and Entoma-the bug girl-all knelt before Roy, their eyes filled with adoration.
The power of World Items was on full display at that moment.
Eve had assigned the four Governors to carry out their respective tasks.
Lilith had laid a simple trap and, with the [Chains of Heaven], captured Shalltear with ease.
The others had been even easier.
Evelita, the Governor of Elemental City, had used the [Gloves of the Fire Thief] to capture the dullahan [Yuri].
The Gloves of the Fire Thief were the most powerful thief-class World Item.
Their effect allowed them to steal anything from an enemy.
MP, defense, resistances, equipment, and so on.
Apart from world-class status, there was nothing they could not steal.
Although the stolen effects only lasted temporarily, the item could still play an incredibly decisive role in determining victory or defeat.
Using it against a zombie or a dullahan was all too easy.
The Governor of Elemental City had stolen only [Yuri]'s agility stat.
Without her agility stat, [Yuri]'s body instantly stiffened, and she was whisked away on the spot.
Now Yuri was still trying to send information to the outside world, but the World Crown unleashed its power.
Her master had already changed without her realizing it.
"Yuri Alpha will abandon Ainz Ooal Gown completely and offer all her loyalty to the King of the World."
"I shall become your maid and strive to wage war across the world for you."
There were few good people in the Great Tomb of Nazarick, and even those with somewhat higher karma values were rare.
Yuri was one of them.
That was because Yuri never tortured people to death and had no unusual hobbies or interests.
After the massacre in the Re-Estize Kingdom, she had proposed establishing an orphanage to take in children who had lost their parents.
The second was Narberal, the original story's famous entomologist, who often spoke to humans with a look of disgust.
She had been captured by [Sylvia], the Governor of Forest City, using the [Dictator's Copper Ring].
The Dictator's Copper Ring had two effects.
Effect one: it could dominate creatures below level 80 by consuming MP.
Effect two: once per day, it could issue an order that players and monsters below world-class status had to obey.
Essentially, it was a world-class version of Demiurge's [Dominate Spell].
It had no brainwashing function; it simply forced the target to comply, making it a fairly mediocre World Item.
After all, its first effect was practically useless in Yggdrasil.
Players were almost all level 100, and powerful monsters were unlikely to be below level 80 either.
The second effect, however, came with a restriction: the order could not be too long.
That made it fairly mediocre among World Items, perhaps even inferior to Downfall of Castle and Country.
But capturing a battle maid with it took only an instant.
After all, Narberal was only level 63, putting her well within the range the [Dictator's Copper Ring] could freely command.
Thus, [Sylvia], the Governor of Forest City, had concealed herself and ordered Narberal to move away from the adventurer Momon.
When Narberal made her move, Momon had originally been on his way to rescue Ainz.
However, he noticed the unexpected situation and tried to come over to investigate.
That was because Pandora believed it held the truth behind the incident.
After confirming Lord Ainz's safety, he had specifically come to rescue her, but he was still a step too late.
Narberal had left alone, eventually moving beyond the area covered by Dimensional Lock and teleporting to World City.
The World Crown was useless outside, but it could brainwash targets within its domain.
Narberal also knelt.
"This world is being stolen by vermin. All kinds of paramecia, planarians, filthy slugs, and caterpillars occupy it."
"How can anyone govern the world properly alongside such vermin?"
"Only the great King of the World can eradicate these vermin."
"Narberal Gamma pledges her loyalty to you."
As for the last one, Entoma, known as the bug girl, her capture had been entrusted to [Serrket], the Governor of Desert City.
Their races were well matched: both were insectoids.
However, the Governor of Desert City had considered the task far too simple to require the World Item [Nibelung's Ring of Curses].
The ring could amplify all kinds of desires and cast curses.
Effect 1: it could inflict various curses on players and monsters.
Effect 2: it could turn allies into valid attack targets.
In the game, the ring's most effective use had actually been turning allies into valid attack targets.
Its effect in team battles was astonishing.
After all, making an opponent strike their own teammates with full force as they initiated a fight was devastating.
It was enough to make anyone die laughing.
After arriving in the New World, its effect had become the manipulation of desires, even inducing betrayal.
It did not brainwash people; it amplified their desires.
The Governor of Desert City had directly amplified the bug girl's appetite, making her see all kinds of things she could eat.
That hunger had overpowered the demands of her mission, leading her into a trap where she was taken away.
The process had been effortless.
After arriving in World City, the bug girl drooled, then bowed solemnly and said:
"Entoma Vasilissa Zeta."
"I pledge my loyalty to you."
The bug girl's voice sounded strange, produced by a lip bug, and she spoke in a somewhat slow, measured manner.
Her etiquette, however, was impeccable.
The Great Tomb of Nazarick had not brought enough World Items or troops on this deployment.
Caught unprepared by a calculated ambush, it had lost large numbers of Hanzō and Eight-Edge Assassin Bugs, along with its most precious Level 100 Guardian and battle maids.
Apart from Ainz and Albedo, who carried World Items and could still put up some resistance, the others had been utterly powerless to fight back.
Roy had countless ways to keep the Great Tomb of Nazarick from emerging.
Those four World Items were enough to prove that.
Aside from the ten fire dragons killed in battle, World City had suffered no real losses; at most, it would have to spend a few gold coins to resurrect them.
Looking at the captured NPCs before him, Roy merely nodded.
"The members of the maid corps will be placed under Veronica's supervision."
"For now, assign them to the lowest ranks for training and reform."
"You must understand World City's policies and guiding principles. You cannot act according to the Great Tomb of Nazarick's ways."
"Understood?"
"We shall obey your will, Supreme One."
As for Shalltear, Roy told her directly:
"You will be under Eve's supervision. You do not need to think for yourself. You only need to obey orders."
Whenever Shalltear started thinking, Roy grew worried.
Thus, Roy decided to have her stop thinking and simply follow orders.
An idiot did not need to think too much, only follow instructions.
Shalltear looked reluctant, but she still bowed and said:
"I shall obey your will."
And so the Great Tomb of Nazarick's strongest all-around Guardian fell under Roy's control.
The Bone King would likely be deeply shaken, either holing up in the Great Tomb of Nazarick or preparing to gather intelligence and fight a decisive battle.
Roy, meanwhile, could use Shalltear to provide the relevant intelligence and coordinates.
Let's see whether you come to rescue her.
"Eve, how are the operations concerning the Argland Council State progressing?"
"Rest assured, Supreme One. All that remains is for the Dragon Slaying Cult to join forces with the Great Tomb of Nazarick and launch a surprise attack on the Argland Council State."
"We will capture the Argland Council State's dragons, and the Great Tomb of Nazarick will bear all the blame."
Eve's plan was advancing in an orderly fashion.
The Great Tomb of Nazarick, meanwhile, was shrouded in gloom.
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