Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight.

Ainz Ooal Gown stood on the cold ground of the Frozen Prison, the dark red light in his eye sockets flickering uncertainly.

Nicole had retreated to a corner of the room. Her face, devoid of lips, was expressionless, but her slightly lowered head and hunched shoulders silently spoke of her self-reproach and unease.

Albedo stood beside Ainz, maintaining a humble posture, but her golden vertical pupils were fixed on Ainz's face.

Ainz didn't look at them.

His consciousness was immersed in one deductive labyrinth after another.

If Shalltear betrayed them because of her dissatisfaction with the Great Tomb of Nazarick...

This assumption is like a sharp thorn, embedded deep within Ainz's thinking.

If that's the case, then she must no longer be within the kingdom's borders.

Ainz quickly processed the known information in his mind. Shalltear did not carry any anti-detection devices of legendary rank or higher, and her abilities alone should not be sufficient to deal with Nicoled's intelligence gathering.

Ainz had experimented with Nicoled's detection magic. At least within the kingdom's borders, she could find the target as long as it existed.

But if the distance is too far...

Ainz wasn't sure if her ability would still work, since many things in YGGDRASIL had changed since they came to this other world.

This means that if Shalltear betrayed the kingdom and fled to a distant land, it's possible that Nicoled wouldn't be able to find her.

Just then, a voice rang in his mind.

"Lord Ainz, excuse me."

It's Nabella.

The battle maid who remained in Ye Lantier spoke with her usual respectful voice, but with a hint of caution.

This abrupt call at this time ignited a nameless fire within Ainz.

"What's wrong, Narberal? Now—"

Ainz almost blurted out, "I'm busy," but stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence.

Because he remembered that he had interrupted Antema's message in the same way last night.

If I had listened patiently back then, perhaps I wouldn't be in such a passive position now.

The NPCs regarded him as the absolute ruler. Therefore, even if their judgment was wrong, they would still prioritize Ainz's words without hesitation. That's why Ainz had to remain calm and act as cautiously as possible to avoid making mistakes.

"For an ordinary person like me, this is truly an unreasonable request..."

Ainz chuckled to himself.

His flawed judgment and his instinctive tendency to regret things afterward were harmless when he was just an ordinary player in YGGDRASIL, but now, as the ruler of Nazarick.

What am I thinking about?

Ainz said to himself.

"I am Ainz Ooal Gown. The ruler of Nazarick, the one who takes the name by the honorific title bestowed upon him. That's right, I am not Suzuki Satoru. Since I'm going to use this name, I must make the impossible possible."

The dark red light in his eye sockets stabilized again.

"...No, it's nothing." Ainz calmed his voice. "What's wrong? You only contacted me via [message] because of an emergency, right?"

"Yes. Actually, it's the Adventurers' Guild that's looking for Lord Ainz."

"If it's about last night, ask them to wait... no, wait. It must be something else, right?"

"Yes! Your Excellency is indeed very perceptive."

After saying that, Naberal suddenly became evasive. A few seconds of silence lingered in the message connection, as if she were carefully choosing her words, or perhaps hesitating about something.

Ainz did not urge him.

He waited.

Soon after, Naberal spoke again:

"Actually, besides that previous incident, another problem has arisen. It's... the vampire incident."

"What? You mean vampires?" For Ainz, who was completely clueless at the moment, Narberal gave him a new direction.

Ainz's speech unconsciously quickened.

"Did the other party mention anything about that vampire? Like, his appearance or something?"

"No, I'm sorry. The person who came to see you was just a messenger. They only said that the details would be explained at the guild, and hoped you could go there as soon as possible. I heard that several adventurer teams have already arrived..."

Nabella paused.

"The union's envoy is nearby; how should we convey this message to him?"

Ainz closed his eyes.

Of course, he had no eyes to close. The light in his eye sockets simply disappeared briefly, as if undergoing some kind of visual reset.

Ainz is thinking.

Narberal's report concerned Shalltear. However, the report did not describe the characteristics of a vampire, suggesting that the "vampire incident" might not have been Shalltear's doing, or at least, the information had not yet reached that level.

But in any case, this is a starting point.

Ainz opened his eyes again, and the light in his eye sockets relit.

He turned his head to look at Albedo beside him.

What are your thoughts on the message from Nabella?

Albedo's golden, vertical pupils met Ainz's gaze for a moment. Then she lowered her eyes, seemingly processing this new information quickly.

A few seconds later, she looked at Ainz again.

"Given the current lack of information, I personally believe that we might be able to utilize the intelligence gathered by this group of humans."

Her tone was calm and resolute.

"The Adventurers' Guild is the organization closest to civilian intelligence networks, and perhaps it can provide us with some information from a different perspective."

Ainz nodded.

That's what he thought too.

Unlike in the original story where Shalltear's location could be observed, Nazarick's current state of Shalltear is unknown.

Even Albedo, who looks down on humans and considers them inferior beings, intends to use the power of the ants.

Ainz made a decision.

Albedo.

"exist."

"Inform Sebastian to investigate information related to [Martial Arts] in the capital. Collect any rumors, records, or special cases related to Martial Arts."

"Yes, ma'am."

"I'm going to the union in Ye Lantier."

"Understood. I will inform Sebastian immediately as instructed."

"This is troublesome."

As Ainz spoke, he took off the Ainz Ooal Gown Ring from his hand and clenched it in his palm.

"Also, I'll give the ring to Yuri, and then I'll trouble you to take it back."

"Yes."

Albedo bowed her head deeply once again.

Ainz put the ring back on and turned to walk towards the entrance of the Frozen Prison. Ainz glanced back at Nicole, who was curled up in the corner.

"Nigraed".

"Yes, Lord Ainz..." The voice that came from the mouth without lips was still low and filled with self-reproach.

"Don't blame yourself." Ainz's voice was calm, without any hint of blame. "There's nothing wrong with your abilities; I underestimated this world."

"Ah... Lord Ainz is so merciful..." Albedo clasped her hands together in front of her chest, her golden vertical pupils gleaming with a hazy light.