At the heart of the 10th and deepest floor of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, the Throne Room, once adorned with forty-one banners, now hung with only forty, was filled with solemn silence.

All those assembled stood in perfect formation, bowing deeply toward the throne, demonstrating their unwavering loyalty. Among them were silhouettes of various kinds—most notably, the highest-ranking officials just beneath the Supreme Ruler of Nazarick: the Floor Guardians.

Had there been more time, others would have joined this gathering—personal subordinates of the Floor Guardians, Area Guardians, and other prominent figures. But today was different. Their revered master had requested only his most trusted aides, those few with whom he could share his secrets.

To be summoned here was in itself a badge of honor—a sign that one had earned the closest proximity to their master's favor. Thus, though their heads were bowed in reverence and obedience, subtle smiles of joy graced their faces, unable to hide their elation.

And then—at last, their master appeared.

Without any prior signal, the ruler of the Great Tomb teleported into the room before the throne. His form transcended the realm of mortal life—an Overlord in every sense, the sovereign of life and death.

"Welcome, Lord Ainz!"

The one who cried out first was Albedo, Overseer of the Floor Guardians, kneeling in front, her voice brimming with joy and devotion.

The rest had clearly arrived as well: from Albedo with her horned crown-like headpiece, to the 1st through 3rd Floor Guardian Shalltear Bloodfallen, 5th Floor Guardian Cocytus, 6th Floor Guardians Aura Bella Fiora and Mare Bella Fiora, 7th Floor Guardian Demiurge, and the Guardian of the Treasury, Pandora's Actor.

The 4th Floor Guardian, Gargantua, was a mindless guild weapon and did not attend, while the 8th Floor Guardian, Victim, was only summoned in emergencies. The 9th Floor's co-guardian Sebas was currently away on a mission in the Royal Capital. Thus, practically every Floor Guardian was now present.

As Ainz swept his gaze across his followers, his hollow ribcage—empty except for the red jewel embedded within—filled with pride. These are my vassals. My strongest allies. They are loyal to me with absolute devotion. They will never betray me.

He could not truly open his heart to them, but he knew he must give them his utmost trust.

"First, allow me to express my thanks to Sebas, Solution, and the Area Guardians diligently attending to their duties."

A few gasps escaped from those kneeling, unable to contain their joy. Ainz gave a satisfied nod.

To be honest, if he still had a heart, it might have burst from the pressure. He had done this act dozens of times now—this whole "king performance"—but it never became any easier. The old salaryman Suzuki Satoru had been a mere cog in the lowest tier of society. This was overwhelming.

Ugh, my stomach hurts...

Even though he no longer had one, Ainz instinctively wanted to clutch his gut. But as always, the Undead passive skill [Emotional Suppression] kicked in, instantly calming his nerves and clearing his thoughts.

Feeling just composed enough to speak, Ainz looked across the room and raised his hand.

"You've all paid your respects. You may rise."

"Yes, my Lord!"

"As the Supreme One commands."

"We obey."

Once everyone was standing, Ainz met each of their gazes one by one. Making eye contact builds trust—a fundamental of his old salaryman life. Even though I don't have actual eyes… But still, he went through the motions. Trust up! he muttered internally, while outwardly maintaining a dignified expression.

"The reason I have summoned you all here today is to discuss a matter that cannot be shared with anyone else. Naberal."

"Yes, Lord Ainz."

A beautiful woman waiting silently at the edge of the hall stepped forward and knelt.

She was Naberal Gamma, one of the custom NPCs of Nazarick and a member of the Pleiades, the six-star battle maid unit. Normally, she wouldn't be included in a meeting of this level—but her situation was special.

She was assigned the prestigious role of serving directly at Ainz's side in his activities outside of Nazarick, observing the world through the lens of an adventurer. Many in Nazarick envied her—among the Floor Guardians present, at least two were especially jealous.

"I beg your pardon, Guardians, but Lord Ainz has ordered me to explain the situation to you."

"That is correct. Do not concern yourselves with formality. Listen to Naberal's explanation. If you have questions, feel free to ask."

Naberal gave Ainz a subtle glance for reassurance, and he responded with a firm nod.

The reason Ainz had summoned Naberal was simple: he believed in the potential for growth and learning among the NPCs of Nazarick.

After spending several months in this new world, Ainz had come to a clear realization—many of the NPCs possessed rigid, inflexible thinking.

While someone like Demiurge, the strategic genius, was an exception, Ainz worried about the others. Especially those of the warrior type, like Cocytus and Shalltear.

That was precisely why he had begun assigning important missions to the Floor Guardians—to test their capacity for flexible thinking.

Though the incident with Shalltear's mind control had made him hesitant, his recent experience watching Cocytus assert his own opinions during the Lizardman subjugation campaign had deeply moved Ainz.

It was proof that even Nazarick's NPCs could think for themselves and grow.

Naberal's involvement was part of that greater experiment. It wasn't enough to focus only on the Floor Guardians—Ainz wanted all sentient NPCs in Nazarick to become independent, critical thinkers.

Receiving Ainz's silent approval, Naberal turned to Albedo.

"If Lord Ainz has decreed it, then I have no objections," Albedo responded with a composed nod.

"Then allow me to begin," Naberal said. "While working undercover as adventurers, we've been gathering external intelligence. During this time, Lord Ainz turned his attention to a certain group—those known as Dragon's Dream, said to be the strongest adventurers in this world."

She paused slightly before continuing, her voice steady. "Upon investigating them further, Lord Ainz came to a conclusion. That group… is connected to Players."

"…What?!"

"No way…"

"To think they were so close…"

"Hooh…"

While the other Guardians reacted with visible shock, Ainz subtly glanced toward Demiurge.

In moments like this, he was glad to be a skeleton. Even if he shifted his gaze a little, no one could tell—his glowing red eyes masked all expression.

As expected, Demiurge was different from the others. He didn't appear shocked in the slightest. In fact, he had his hand on his chin, a thoughtful gleam in his eye, as if impressed.

That's Demiurge for you, Ainz thought bitterly. Always one step ahead…

A familiar pang of inferiority tugged at Ainz's non-existent heart. But what bothered him even more was something deeper—the unwavering belief these Guardians held in him, as if he were some omniscient, omnipotent god.

It was a terrifyingly high pedestal to live up to.

"Hmmm… Naberal, then could you tell us—what led Lord Ainz to such a conclusion?" Demiurge asked.

"I'm afraid I cannot, Lord Demiurge," Naberal answered with a bow. "Lord Ainz made his decision shortly after receiving the intelligence. My feeble mind cannot even begin to comprehend the process behind it."

"As expected… Our Supreme One truly sees all."

The other Floor Guardians murmured their admiration in unison.

Ugh… my gut hurts again, Ainz thought, feeling that all-too-familiar ache of guilt—an ache that was paradoxically both eased and worsened by his undead mind clearing itself with [Emotional Suppression].

"I shall continue," Naberal said. "Lord Ainz ordered us to continue investigating Dragon's Dream without raising suspicion. However, soon after, we encountered unexpected difficulties. It felt… as though someone was intentionally obstructing our efforts."

Her voice sharpened.

"And not long after that… we began to feel the presence of eyes watching us. Lord Ainz believes that it is Dragon's Dream who has sent these observers. After that, Lord Ainz called me back to Nazarick, and now—here I stand before you."

"I see… So Lord Ainz has already foreseen this far ahead…"

The others nodded, voices filled with reverence.

Demiurge spoke with a smile. Ainz, with his usual "of course he did" expression, gave a slow nod—an expression he had practiced thoroughly to look like someone who already knew everything.

"I see, Demiurge. So you had already suspected it?"

"I do not dare claim to match your divine insight, Lord Ainz… but yes, I had my suspicions."

"Fufufu… Speaking with you is always a delight, Demiurge. Though it seems the others cannot quite keep up with us."

"My deepest apologies, Lord Ainz… I have been in the midst of gathering information and had not yet shared my thoughts with the other Guardians."

"It is no matter. You may explain it now. Will you speak on my behalf and make it clear enough for everyone to understand, Demiurge?"

There was a subtle hidden meaning in those words—"clear enough that even I can understand it." Ainz fully intended to borrow Demiurge's brilliance once again.

He could not allow the faith these NPCs had in him—as a supreme, omnipotent being—to falter in the slightest.

This act, this performance, carried a purpose: to maintain the illusion of being the absolute being they believed him to be.

But his lack of ability was real. So all he could do was act.

And act well.

After composing himself with another wave of [Emotional Suppression], Ainz gestured calmly.

"I shall obey your will, my Lord."

Demiurge turned and faced the gathered NPCs.

Good, now Demiurge will take over. Ainz thought, relieved.

All he had to do now was nod in agreement and react appropriately—without seeming out of place.

Focusing intently, he listened to Demiurge's words.

"First, allow me to apologize. I had long suspected something but lacked conclusive proof. However, as Lord Ainz has now declared, I too have come to believe that the group known as Dragon's Dream is either closely connected to Players, or perhaps they are Players themselves who fell into this world."

Demiurge continued explaining. He spoke of the legends and feats accumulated over 150 years—feats that seemed beyond the capabilities of ordinary people in this world.

But those alone weren't enough to conclusively identify them as Players. There was something stranger.

"What's unusual is this: despite making their name known across the world, they've managed to conceal almost everything else about themselves. Thanks to Sebas' assistance, I was able to investigate. While the name Dragon's Dream is widely known, actual information is nearly nonexistent beyond scattered rumors. At most, only the names of their current leaders are passed down, and even among their affiliated adventurers, nothing is known beyond names."

"They possess tremendous power… and yet they do not use it openly. It's as if they're more concerned with spreading their name than showing their strength. I had only begun to suspect their identity from such anomalies. But for Lord Ainz to identify them as Players with so little information… I am left with nothing but awe at your insight."

"Hm. I'm pleased to hear that, Demiurge."

Though truthfully, I just guessed it from one name: 'Monkyspanner'... Ainz quietly chuckled in his mind, feeling a small, guilty sense of pride.

The people of this world—and the NPCs—would never know that.

Still, discovering moments where he held even a slight upper hand brought him strange satisfaction.

In a good mood, Ainz praised Demiurge further.

"But you, too, have done well, Demiurge. Go on."

"I suspect, Lord Ainz, that you may already have deduced their true identities…"

"I have not, Demiurge. I am only certain that they're connected to Players—but I do not know who they are specifically."

Let's not overhype things, Ainz thought.

If they dig just a little deeper, they'll realize I know practically nothing. His entire theory rested on a single odd name—Monkyspanner.

Nothing more. He had no idea what "Dragon's Dream" actually was.

The name didn't even ring a bell from Yggdrasil.

"But even that much is more than enough, Lord Ainz. If we know they're Player-related, we can begin preparing countermeasures. Whether they're connected to the group that brainwashed Shalltear… or worse—if they are that group."

Ainz nodded, though inwardly he doubted that possibility.

Still, he had to consider all options. But… that name, Dragon's Dream… I don't remember any guild like that in Yggdrasil.

And at that moment, a distant possibility flickered through his mind.

Am I getting too hung up on the guild name?

Ainz had been treating "Dragon's Dream" as a guild name all this time—but what if it wasn't? What if it was actually a player name, or simply a symbolic phrase used to label a group? That single shift in perspective opened up a world of new possibilities.

After all, there were Players in Yggdrasil who didn't belong to a guild but still possessed World Items.

Most of those were well-known top-rankers, but considering there were over 200 World Items, it was entirely possible that someone was playing without ever revealing their name—perhaps someone with a World Item capable of mind control or possession.

If that were the case, then the group lurking so close to Nazarick might very well be the culprits.

Suddenly, Ainz felt heat surge through his skull—followed by a wave of cold. He had to apply [Calm Emotions] on himself two or three times just to stabilize. The thought that the enemy might be right under his nose was almost too much to handle.

"Indeed... I had reached a similar conclusion," Ainz said smoothly. "With that in mind, Demiurge—have you considered how we might evaluate the strength of Dragon's Dream?"

Before identifying whether they were enemies, Ainz wanted to understand their capabilities. He needed information—not vague names or rumors, but a detailed breakdown.

As a former Yggdrasil player, Ainz had learned to value information above all else.

The developers themselves encouraged players to enjoy the thrill of the unknown—the thrill of exploration.

Whether experimenting, failing, or adapting, players carved their own path through the immense world of Yggdrasil.

At the pinnacle of this exploration stood PvP—the ultimate form of battle.

Reaching level 100 in Yggdrasil wasn't difficult. But reaching the top?

That was another story.

Even within the Japanese servers alone, there were millions of players.

To stand out among them, you needed more than just max level or powerful gear.

Even with divine-class or world-class items, perfect control, and optimized builds, you could still lose—especially against a build designed to counter yours.

Ainz himself wasn't a pure combat build.

He had excellent equipment and strategy, and was confident in his control.

Still, in ranked PvP, he barely scraped the bottom of the top tier. His win rate, however, was surprisingly high—because he did his homework.

Knowing your opponent—their equipment, class, build, tactics—was critical.

Even without complete information, partial knowledge gave a massive advantage. Whether it was one-on-one or team battles, one principle held true:

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be in danger in a hundred battles.

As the former guild master of the once-legendary Ainz Ooal Gown, Ainz had studied countless strategies and tactics. He understood better than anyone: information is power.

So even though he desperately wanted to act immediately, Ainz knew better. He needed intel first.

"As expected, Lord Ainz. You've already seen that far ahead."

"Hmph. You noticed, then."

Huh? Wait—was Demiurge already planning something?

Even as he answered calmly, Ainz was internally thrown into confusion. Did Demiurge already have a plan in motion?

"It's not yet at the stage where I can report it, my lord. I'm still in the drafting phase. But that you've already seen through even the faint outline of my plan... I am humbled once again by your insight."

"...Ahem. I had no intention of interfering. My apologies."

"Not at all, my lord! A humble scheme like mine is as if laid bare upon your palm… Each time you point out my shortcomings, I, Demiurge, am reminded of how far I have yet to go. I'm merely ashamed I've failed to entertain you fully, my lord."

But I don't know anything... What plan is he even talking about?!

Still, Ainz couldn't let that show. He straightened his posture and put on a firm expression.

"No, Demiurge. Your brilliant intellect always brings me great joy. Continue to refine your plans. Yes… let's call it something to look forward to. I shall await the day you unveil it—and bring me delight."

"Your words are more than I deserve."

As Demiurge bowed deeply, Ainz turned to the other Guardians.

"Hmph. The same goes for all of you. I look forward to seeing what fruits your efforts will bring to Nazarick. Strive ever harder."

"Yes!"

"At your command, my lord."

"We shall keep this close to heart."

One by one, the Guardians lowered their heads in reverence. Watching them, Ainz felt a brief flicker of pride.

Another mountain crossed…

And yet, the thought that there would be many more mountains ahead weighed heavily on him.

How long can I keep up this act without being exposed? he wondered.

If only someone would teach me how to do this properly… He let out a deep, invisible sigh—one only possible in the silence of his mind.

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