Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight.

Chapter 84 Xiaodi's Ring

Inside the throne room.

Ainz Ooal Gown sat on his throne, the dark red light in his eye sockets sweeping over the guardians below.

Everyone gathered.

Ainz informed all the Guardians of his plan to mobilize all of them to defeat the Lizardmen.

Demiurge pushed up his glasses, took a step forward, and a smile appeared on his cunning face.

"Sparashi, Lord Ainz's plan is truly ingenious."

A green light flashed across his body, triggering his forced calm. The difference this time was that he suppressed Ainz's secret joy.

It seems my plan was indeed very good, and it has been approved by Demiurge.

Ainz maintained his dignified posture and nodded slightly.

All the guardians turned their gaze toward Demiurge.

Demiurge raised his hand and adjusted his tie, like a scholar making a habitual preparation before embarking on a long discourse.

"This is Lord Ainz's carefully crafted bait plan."

Aura leaned forward slightly, raised her hand, and her youthful face was full of seriousness.

"So, is Lord Ainz trying to lure that dragon to attack us by attacking the lizardmen?"

Ainz looked at Aura and felt a surge of relief.

Aura is quite clever; she was able to see through my underlying intentions.

He was about to nod slightly in affirmation—

"madness."

Demiurge's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a sharp blade, cleanly cutting off Ainz's movements.

Ainz's jaw suddenly snapped open.

"what!"

A green light flashed again. He forced himself to calm down, suppressing the surging confusion and that subtle sense of hurt.

Ainz raised his hand.

"Ahem." Ainz cleared his throat, adding a hint of reproach to his voice. "Yamete, Demiurge."

"Aura is still young; she should be taught, not scolded."

Demiurge's expression instantly turned to regret.

"Yes. I was just agitated when I heard that Lord Ainz's great plan had been misunderstood. Please forgive me, Lord Ainz."

"In that case, I'll punish you by having you teach Aura in the simplest terms. Make sure she understands."

"Yes, Lord Ainz."

Demiurge straightened up and turned to Aura.

"Lord Ainz does indeed intend to set a trap," Demiurge's voice regained its lecturing composure, "but the real bait is not with the lizardmen."

Cocytus leaned forward slightly, a chill emanating from his mouth, and white mist slowly dissipated in the light.

"Demeurge, what do you mean by this?"

Demiurge pushed up his glasses.

"The enemy has not taken any further action for many days since they took control of Shalltear."

He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the other guardians present.

"This proves that the other side obtained more information than I expected through Shalltear. They have a considerable understanding of the Great Tomb of Nazarick's strength."

Albedo gritted her teeth, a sharp glint flashing in her golden vertical pupils, and undisguised hatred appeared on her exquisite face.

"Tch. Shalltear deserves to die for daring to leak Lord Ainz's information."

Demiurge didn't reply, but tilted his head slightly.

"Therefore," he continued, "without offering enough bait, this cunning dragon will most likely not show itself."

Demiurge's voice trembled with excitement, and the light behind his glasses shone even brighter.

"The low-level servants couldn't convince the enemy that the Great Tomb of Nazarick was weak. But this time, all the guardians have been mobilized. The enemy has no reason not to act."

99

Aura blinked, the confusion on her face gradually fading, replaced by a look of sudden realization.

Her ears perked up even more.

"I understand. Lord Ainz intends to use Nazarick as bait."

Ainz's jaw opened again.

No. This is the result of the hard work and dedication of our partners.

Ainz thought to himself.

I never intended to use Nazarick as bait.

But Ainz couldn't refute it.

Demiurge has already pointed out his "deeper meaning," and if he denies it now, it will not only disappoint Demiurge but also confuse all the guardians.

And his own authority will also be lost.

Ainz could only maintain the proper posture on the throne, as if everything was under his control.

Demiurge continued.

"Lord Ainz's brilliance lies in the fact that, in this attack on the Lizardmen, in addition to the Great Tomb of Nazarick being a layer of bait, Sebastian, far away in the royal capital, was another layer of bait."

"Sebas has not been attacked these days. It is very likely that the enemy has figured it out, and we will come to its aid immediately should Sebas be attacked."

Demiurge raised a finger and tapped it lightly in the air.

"But this time is different. If the entire Guardian forces attack the Lizardmen, they will think that we misjudged the strength of the Lizardmen, resulting in a large number of our troops being tied down and unable to attend to the capital."

The corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

"But in fact, whether it's the Great Tomb of Nazarick or Sebastian, we can abandon the lizardmen and quickly go to their aid."

Demiurge turned around, faced Ainz, and bowed deeply.

"I'm sure Lord Ainz has already prepared a way to provide rapid support."

97

The throne room fell silent for a moment.

Ainz sat on the throne. His jaw remained slightly open, like a sculpture frozen in time.

A green light, emanating a forceful calm, flashed continuously across his body.

Ainz's mind was racing, constantly trying to figure out what Demiurge's methods were.

No, wait. If it's that one—

His gaze fell on the ring on his finger. The Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown.

A ring that allows the wearer to teleport freely to most locations within the Great Tomb of Nazarick.

Ainz slowly closed his jaw. Then he slightly raised his chin, trying to project an image of "everything is under control."

"Of course."

His voice was steady and resolute, echoing in the empty throne room.

Ainz raised his hand, and the Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown on his finger gleamed with a cold, eerie light under the magical lamplight.

He slowly removed the ring, as if performing some solemn ritual.

"For this mission, I have given special permission to take the Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown out of Nazarick."

He held the ring in his palm, his gaze sweeping over the guardians below.

"So that we can quickly return to Nazarick."

Ainz distributed the rings to the guardians who did not yet have them.

Demiurge was the last to receive the ring.

He held the small ring in both hands, bringing it to his eyes, his gaze behind his glasses fixed on the ring.

The light from the magic lamp shone on the ring, reflecting a cold, silvery glow that made Demiurge's jewel-like eyes shine.

His lips curled up little by little, a smile that came from the bottom of his heart.

The joy in his eyes was impossible to hide.

Ainz sat on the throne, watching Demiurge's expression.

—Why does it feel like Demiurge's real target is this ring?

The thought flashed through Ainz's mind.

But he quickly suppressed the thought.

Ainz said to himself.

I must be overthinking it.

Demiurge carefully slipped the ring onto his finger, then raised his head, faced Ainz, and bowed deeply once more.

"Lord Ainz, I will certainly live up to your expectations."

Ainz nodded slightly.

"Okay. It's up to you."

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