Chapter 37With Ulbert's pn fully in motion, a meeting of all Gods was needed to reconfirm everything. Ainz, as always, arrived precisely on time with Albedo by his side, carrying his notes. Ulbert was already present in the meeting room, giddy like a kid who was about to open Christmas presents or discovered that he was about to go on a week-long vacation in the middle of the school year.
"It's pying out even better than I expected. We have a witness secured at ground zero to spread some juicy propaganda at our will." He announced and puffed out a rge cloud of smoke from the free side of his mouth while holding a cigar on the other side, madly grinning.
"You didn't go too much overboard, I hope?" Ainz asked while taking his seat and Albedo sitting beside him.
"Just enough. You'll like it." Ulbert cackled, a smirk stretching from ear to ear.
The rest of the Gods arrived one by one just minutes ter with Tabu being st as always. With everyone present, Ulbert took out the cigar from his mouth and stood up, circling the table as he spoke.
"So first things first. That blind shot Pero did though the gate was perfect. We even got a mirror recording." Ulbert started.
"Piece of cake. I would have gotten him halfway across the city." Pero puffed up his feathered chest in pride.
"A moving target? You're stroking yourself a bit too much." Buku commented while shaking her head.
"Don't mind her, she's just jealous because she can barely hit a duck in a barrel from point-bnk range." Pero shot his sister a smug gnce and switched the topic just in case. "How's my kiddo doing?"
"With the script I gave her, fwless execution. Prepared the ground for my arrival perfectly, ten out of ten." Ulbert answered, patting Pero's shoulder as he walked past the avian.
"Here's the main thing I wanted to get out of the way." He continued with a dramatic pause. "I think it's time not only to decre the Empire of Nazarick to the world as we discussed before, but our true selves as well, hence I pn to be in my true form when I arrive in Re-Estize. And before anyone picks up a fuss, I have everything pnned out."
Ulbert pulled a stack of papers out of his inventory and dropped pages in front of each God as he walked around, giving a few moments for them to read.
"You sure have a thing for theatrics," Buku commented. "But I love this."
"I agree. I couldn't come up with a better pn to make humans see things our way." Ainz nodded.
"I don't see why we should even bother with the humans, unless their worship is worth anything then sure, why not? I do love how the human pyers are dragged through the dirt though," Albedo voiced her opinion.
"Worship is cumutive regardless of source and since there are already six of us, we can't afford to wipe out entire species if we want to get decent results fast. Ulbert's pn is a sound one. However, I would like to participate in local events as well. I have realized I have been too preoccupied with esoteric matters and haven't found time to get to know this world we are likely to spend significant time in." Tabu spoke, showing any sort of initiative for once.
"Baharuth has a world-renowned magical academy. Perhaps you would be interested to visit it once we establish a diplomatic retionship, it would be perfectly up your alley. Visiting our neighbors in person, especially if they are friendly, could benefit us once we get the ball rolling," Ainz suggested.
"That does sound intriguing, my friend." Tabu agreed.
"Speaking of diplomacy," Ulbert interjected, "I think the best option is to send masked elder liches as envoys to both the Baharuth and Dragon Kingdom. And once they have reached the respective rulers of both nations, make them reveal their true nature to ensure they know what they are dealing with."
"And if they kill the envoys?" Buku inquired.
"Then you'll have some target practice to do in righteous retaliation." Ulbert let out his trademark cackle again.
"Trading pop monsters to test waters? That is an excellent idea. Though I don't think it would be grounds for invasion. Also, I don't think we have the numbers to hold vast territories. I'm not using Eleleth's angel legions for occupation and it would take months for me to summon enough undead forces to properly conquer such expansive nds." Ainz shut down an overly aggressive approach.
"Not occupation per se but some good old strong-arming. If either nation kills our envoys then one of us shows up next and demands an expnation and puts on a bit of a show for good measure, throwing their magic around, probably Ainz or me if shit hits the fan. I'm sure we can make them very eager to atone." Ulbert added without skipping a beat.
"We'll go with that, but after we finish up the Re-Estize operation. There is still a chance something powerful might actually show up." Ainz agreed.
"Sure. Though there is no proof that anything would show up." Ulbert replied and put the cigar back in his mouth as he finally sat down.
"We are bound to find what will oppose us sooner or ter. Caution is necessary." Ainz warned him that he wasn't just paranoid at the moment. He already knew that there was another force opposing him and Nazarick, though he cked any concrete information about said opposition.
There was merit in giving Ulbert free rein, as he was bound to use the least amount of resources to achieve the necessary results, but his tendency for theatrics was a point of concern. The good thing was they could resolve the false fg operation within a day and the sheer amount of detail working in their favor made the whole ordeal a massive success. Not only would they put the human pyers, who were still widely worshiped, in a massively negative light, but they would also present themselves as friends for all sentient races and the voice of reason for all who believed in them. On top of it, a lot of seeds for future use would be spread through propaganda to see if they would bud.
Gazef wasn't sure if it was his age slowly catching up or he had been fighting for too long, but his whole body screamed for much-needed rest.
He and Climb had fought side by side for hours, pushing back the demonic hordes on the borders of their common mistress. Renner had stated that she couldn't sit idly by and decred that she could do without bodyguards when she was in the castle, while the crisis was still ongoing. Where she got the confidence they didn't know, but she gave out her orders and they would follow them.
His movements were swift and precise, each hit vanquishing a demonic beast that seemed to be in endless supply in the city. Even if he would perish here in the end, each minute he stood his ground, more people could escape to safety and more warriors could survive just a bit longer to help fend off the attack.
As they fought, a messenger ran by warning them not to attack the help that was about to arrive that King Barbro had gotten.
"Why would we attack allies?" Climb questioned out loud, his voice weak from sheer exhaustion as he sliced off a demon's head.
"No idea, but you can't look a gift horse in the mouth in a moment like this," Gazef replied, just as confused on why such a warning was even needed.
His mind was sent into overdrive on what could possibly come. Had Baharuth sent one of their legions? That was unlikely as they couldn't have marched all the way to Re-Estize capital in a single day. Could it be that Sne Theocracy was in inner turmoil and the mad cardinal was a rogue element they wished to eradicate? Such an idea was equally hard to believe.
He couldn't wander for too long as a voice he recognized called out to him, "Isn't that the head warrior himself? Long time no see, Gazef. Let me show you what I can do now."
Two figures whizzed past him. He did see their inhuman features quite clearly with his high perception. A pair of vampires cshed with the demons before them, giving the much-needed breather for the duo to properly analyze their reinforcements. It now both made sense and confused him even more. Gazef flipped around to come face to face with Brain Ungus, an old rival he bested in a tournament years ago.
"Brain… What happened? You… are a vampire?" Gazef voiced his disbelief.
"Sure am. Mistress was kind enough to convert me. She was sent to help so you boys take a breather while the big guys pn how to end this." Brain replied with a toothy grin, his unsheathed katana resting on his shoulder.
"Sorry, I am a bit out of the loop. Who are you working for? Who is helping us?" Gazef asked, his breathing heavy as he stretched with a crack.
"Right, you don't know. I serve the true Gods and Lord Ainz Ooal Gown is the top guy. My mistress, Shalltear Bloodfallen, is a daughter of one of the Gods. It's her vampire brides making short work of those poor excuses for demons right now. To see those morons work for a Sne priest…" Brain dropped a name Gazef almost hoped to hear.
"Sir Gown is helping us even more." He knew Ainz Ooal Gown had performed a miracle through a very devoted human girl and it seemed he had found it in his heart to help even more, and somehow the corrupt King was reasonable enough to accept the help.
"Yup. But we have a long night ahead of us. You boys can go take some shuteye while me and the girls take over for a while. Unlike you mere humans, we don't need to sleep and rest." Brain chuckled.
"Thanks." Gazef lowered his sword.
"No problem. You do owe me a duel afterward. I know I'm cheating a bit but if you are pnning to ascend beyond humans then I can wait a bit to become the top warrior among us." Brain decred as he took the katana off his shoulder, eyeing the demons around them.
"Still holding a grudge all these years? If you don't mind me asking, was becoming what you are now worth it?" Gazef was well aware that Brain had spent years training to surpass him as the rumors of his old rival's deeds and obsession had reached even his ears.
"Vampire? Yeah, it sure beats being human. Being constantly thirsty is annoying at times, but hey, everything has its price. I don't need to sleep so I can train nonstop, nor do I need to worry about minor injuries or most diseases so I can train as I want. Also, I won't ever age and am a lot stronger now across the board. I didn't do it on purpose though. Mistress Shalltear was tasked with clearing the lowlives in the area around E-Rantel and the mercenaries, a gang really, I was working for at the time, decided to rob people on the highways. I got lucky because she saw value in me," Brain answered.
"Just don't attack and eat people and it's all fine. I might even buy a drink once all this blows over. Who knows, even pick up on your offer and have a duel. I don't need to become more than human to still beat you." Gazef let out a hearty ugh.
"You are on. Now off to rest. This isn't over yet." Brain pointed towards the nearest camp with his katana and then rushed past him, taking the heads of two demons with a single swing.
"Interesting guy," Climb commented once Brain was far enough ahead, joining the two female vampires.
"That's one way to put it. Didn't expect him to be this friendly. Though he and I now share another thing." Gazef let out a tired grunt as he sheathed his sword.
"What's that?" Climb asked, doing the same and running up to Gazef as both headed to take the much-needed rest and refreshments.
"We both can thank Sir Gown for our lives. You know I couldn't have imagined that he and his friends were Gods when they saved me and the vilgers. In hindsight, it does make sense that no mortal can perform such feats…" Gazef grew silent as the realization suddenly hit him.
When Ainz fought the Sunlight Scripture, there was a mysterious and very powerful figure among them. Perhaps this figure was the one who orchestrated the demonic invasion. Perhaps it was one of the Gods opposing Ainz Ooal Gown and the world had become a battlefield of beings beyond his understanding. Perhaps it was even one of the Gods of the current church.
He was but a man. If his worst suspicions were true, he would be helpless to prevent such a cataclysmic csh and at best could hope that King Barbro is reasonable enough to make the right choice and join Ainz's side. If not, treason was on the board under Renner as he was ready to help his mistress to flee and live a happy life with Climb. Neither showed their feelings openly, but he was perceptive enough to see how much both wanted to escape their respecive statures and be happy together.
Editing by aidan_lo.
Proofreading by Stacn, Sluethen, mfkz_rocker, aidan_lo, x4x, and IAMTHEPLOKOKIOPO,
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