“I think we should deal with this promptly.”
“Isn’t that obvious… What do you want to say?”
“… The enemy could have used either mind control or hidden the bodies, but they didn’t. They only did something like this for their own amusement. They either didn’t care about being exposed or had absolute confidence in escaping. Hmm… I don’t know which is it. Since they could turn corpses into zombies, they should be able to bring them back with them right?”
If the goal was to kidnap Nfirea, they could buy enough time to escape just by hiding the bodies. But they didn’t do that, meaning they were planning something else, or wanted Lizzie to do something.
The latter would be easier to deal with, but it would be troublesome if it was the former. Nfirea’s life and ability was valuable, but might not be useful for long. Would those merciless criminal let Nfirea go safely after utilizing him?
Lizzie who understood what Ainz meant turned from green to white. She didn’t know where in this big city he was kidnapped to, but it would take too long to search.
The only clue was the sewers, but Ainz had doubts about it.
Nfirea’s lifeline was diminishing with each passing second.
Ainz said calmly to the tense Lizzie:
“How about commissioning a rescue party?”
The calm voice continued:
“Isn’t this something you should request of an adventurer?”
Lizzie’s eyes shined, she seemed to understand what Ainz was getting at.
“You are lucky, Lizzie Bareare. Before you is the strongest adventurer in the city, and the only one who could bring your grandson back safely. If you commission this job to me, I will accept it. But… The price is very heavy, because I understand how hard this job is.”
“Indeed… If it is you… The one with that potion… tamer of the Virtuous King of the Forest, there is no question that you’re strong… hire, I want to hire you!”
“Is that so… Are you prepared to pay this heavy price?”
“How much would satisfy you?”
“───Everything.”
“What?”
“Give me everything you have.”
Lizzie stared with her eyes wide open in surprised and trembled.
“Your everything. If Nfirea returns safely, give all that you have to me.”
“You…”
Lizzie backed away from fear and said in a soft voice:
“When you say everything… it doesn’t mean money or rare potions… I heard the devil would grant any wish in exchange for human soul. Are you a devil?”
“… Even if I am, it doesn’t matter, does it? Do you want to save your grandson?”
Lizzie was silent, and nodded as she bit her lips.
“Then there is only one answer right?”
“Yes… I will hire you. I will offer everything to you, so save my grandson!”
“Good, the contract is agreed. Let’s make haste, do you have a map of this city? Lend it to me if you have one.”
Lizzie felt it was bizarre, but she immediately took out a map and handed it to Ainz.
“Next would be finding where Nfirea is.”
“You can do that!?”
“I have to use this method. I am not sure if the enemy is dumb or…”
Ainz didn’t finish and just shifted his gaze to the 4 bodies in the room.
“I will start searching now, go to the other rooms and look for clues, see if the people who kidnapped Nfirea left anything behind. If kidnapping Nfirea is also a diversion, then things will be bad. You are more familiar with the house and better suited for this.”
After chasing Lizzie out with a random reason, Ainz turned to Narberal.
“What does my liege plan to do?”
“Simple. Look, all their medals are gone, probably taken by the one who attacked them. The question is why they didn’t take something more valuable, but just the medals… What do you think?”
“My apologies, I have no idea.”
“That is because──”
Ainz heard a sound in his mind when he was talking halfway. It was a 「Message」.
『Ainz-sama.』
The voice was a bit excited, and the sound of buzzing could also be heard.
“Is this Entoma?”
『Yes.』
Entoma Vasilissa Zeta. A battle maid just like Narberal.
『I have something to report.』
“—I am busy right now. I will contact you when I am free.”
『By your command. Please contact Albedo-sama when you are available.』
The spell dissipates and Ainz continued the discussion with Narberaclass="underline"
“As a trophy, a prize of the hunt. The perpetrator probably took it as a memento. But that was a devastating mistake. Narberal, activate the spell.”
Ainz took a scroll from his magic bag and gave it to Narberal.
“This is a scroll of 「Locate Object」. You know what the target is right?”
“Understood.”
Narberal who acknowledged opened the scroll. When she was about to activate the spell, Ainz grabbed her hand and lectured the surprised Narberal coldly:
“… Stupid.”
The cold scolding made Narberal’s shoulder tremble:
“I, I’m sorry!”
“When using information gathering spells, you need to be prepared for counter spells of the enemy before casting it, this is the ironclad rule. Keeping in mind that the opponent might use 「Detect Locate」, the basics of the basics would be using 「False Cover」 and 「Counter Detect」 to protect yourself. Also──”
Ainz prepared 10 scrolls, and explained each one to Narberal like a teacher.
When using information collecting spells, you had to make the necessary precautions. Those were the basics.
When Ainz Ooal Gown PKed, they would collect every information available about the opposition and settle it in one sneak attack. This was the ‘the battle is concluded before it even started’ dogma of the guild member Punitto Moe, who came up with the basic strategic document for the guild, ‘PK can be performed by anyone easily’.
That’s why Ainz taught Narberal the basics too, so when they encounter other players in the future, they could gain the upper hand in battle.
“—That’s all. Normally a special ability should be used to strengthen it as well for insurance, but there shouldn’t be a need to go that far for the enemy this time. If they had thought of more ways to deal with Magic Casters, they wouldn’t had cast that level of spell on the corpse. Well then, let’s begin Narberal.”
Narberal who was finally unleashed opened the scrolls in order and chanted the magic written on the scrolls.
Flames that weren’t hot emerged from the scroll and burned it to a crisp in seconds, releasing the magic sealed inside it.