Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight.

Chapter 97 Blue Rose

The noise inside the store subsided for only a moment before curious eyes flocked over.

Rune didn't mind and went straight to the second floor.

The shop was filled with high-ranking adventurers from the kingdom, so many people recognized the newcomer as Rune, a nobleman who was quite well-known in the kingdom, and they all looked at him with a mixture of friendliness and awe.

Although adventurers do not participate in wars and political struggles between nations, they naturally have a great deal of goodwill towards nobles like Rune, who are known for their virtue.

The store only gradually returned to its usual bustling atmosphere after Rune disappeared from the second floor.

Rune knocked on the door.

"Please come in."

Hagi's familiar voice came from inside the room.

I pushed open the door and went inside. All the members of the Blue Rose were sitting around a table.

Besides Lajus, who is the captain, and Tina, whom we met before, there is another woman among the remaining three who looks almost exactly like Tina.

They can be distinguished almost only by the color details of their headbands and clothing.

Tina wore a fiery red hairband, while she wore an ice-blue one.

This is Tia.

The resemblance between the two is truly astonishing; not only their facial features, but even their sitting posture and the way their fingers rest on the edge of the table are exactly the same.

It's like the reflection of the same person in a mirror, only the colors are reversed.

Rune sighed inwardly, then turned his gaze to the other two.

They were short in stature, their entire bodies completely covered by long, jet-black robes.

The face was not visible, not because of insufficient light, but because a strange mask with a vermilion gemstone set on its forehead completely concealed it.

Only the eye area was cracked open by a thin slit, and even the color of the pupil beneath the slit was not discernible.

She is Iveria, the Blue Rose magic caster.

The other was an unparalleled giant, whose name evoked the image of "The Rock".

The thick arms are reminiscent of logs, and the neck that supports the head is about as thick as a woman's thighs.

The head on the neck is square, with a clenched jaw that extends horizontally to concentrate force, and eyes that survey the surroundings like those of a carnivorous beast.

His blond hair was shaved very short, showing that he was completely focused on practicality.

Gargran, the warrior of the Blue Rose.

Sitting in this room are all members of the Blue Rose, one of only two adamantite-level adventurer teams in the kingdom.

At this moment, they were sitting around an ordinary table with several plates of half-eaten snacks on it, the atmosphere like a casual gathering on an ordinary morning.

Most of the members of the Blue Rose were familiar with Rune, except for Tia, whom Rune had never met.

After Rune finished greeting them, the tall woman immediately responded in a deep, magnetic voice.

"Oh, you're a lolicon!"

Rune was instantly speechless.

"It's been a while, Ms. Gagland. You still love to joke around."

He adjusted his expression, trying to make his tone sound polite.

"Oh, long time no see. What, you've finally come to your senses this time, ready to sleep with me?"

Gegland gestured with his chin, inviting him to sit down, but a malicious, beastly grin appeared on his square face.

That kind of smile, if placed on the battlefield, could probably scare the enemy back three steps, but placed in this ordinary hotel room, it feels so out of place that it's almost speechless.

"Gegran!"

Lajus glared angrily at Gagran, trying to stop him from teasing her.

Rune silently gave his sister a thumbs up in his heart. After all, he wasn't Osko, the owner of the Imperial Arena, and didn't have such unique tastes.

Gegrand reached out and scratched his short hair, his tone unusually calm, "Team leader, don't be angry."

She paused, then gently nudged Iverie beside her with her elbow, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.

"Then we'll let Iverie take over as team leader."

Lajus didn't respond, but an invisible flame seemed to ignite around her.

As expected of a seasoned, highly skilled adventurer, Gaglan was able to keenly sense the killing intent even though he wasn't looking at Lajus.

She picked up the water glass on the table, tilted her head back and took a swig, as if she were using this action to shut herself up.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Rune pulled out a chair and sat down, his gaze subtly sweeping over everyone's faces.

Tina maintained her nonchalant expression, propping her chin up with one hand, her eyes holding a hint of amusement.

Tia sat next to her, her expression even more indifferent than her sister's, but her eyes quietly fell on Rune, her scrutiny undisguised.

She was probably assessing this brother, Riyu, whom she had never met before.

Rune nodded slightly to Tia as a greeting upon their first meeting.

Iver sat in the corner, his expression hidden beneath the mask.

But the gaze hidden behind the slit remained quietly fixed on Rune's face, lacking the aggressive aura of Gegrand, yet showing no sign of avoidance.

Rune withdrew his gaze, a gentle smile on his face, and nodded to Lajus, indicating that she should relax.

Lahoz pursed her lips, her expression softening slightly, but she still glanced at Rune with concern.

Rune sighed silently to himself.

"No way, you have so little confidence in your own brother? You really think I'd be attracted to Ivy's loli-like figure?"

Rune felt somewhat wronged because his younger sister misunderstood him as a lolicon.

But upon closer reflection, the girl who destroyed the country is flawless in both appearance and values.

She has a cold exterior but a warm heart, which is indeed quite nice.

If it weren't for the constant shadow cast by Ainz Ooal Gown, the girl who destroyed the kingdom might seem like a serious candidate.

Just then, a very soft sound came from the corner, as if it had been accidentally leaked out.

"----abnormal."

It was Iver's voice.

It was as if it could hear Rune's inner thoughts, and thus made its criticism.

Rune felt a little embarrassed; how come he didn't remember Iveria being able to read minds?

After a moment of silence, Lachos spoke.

"Brother, why did you come here so suddenly today? Is there something you need?"

Knowing her brother as she did, Rune never did anything meaningless, so his sudden visit at this time must have a reason.

"Hmm." Rune nodded. "The deployment against [Eight Fingers] needs to be changed."

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room subtly changed.

Tina, who had been lazily leaning back in her chair, straightened up, and Tia's gaze instantly became focused.

Gegrand, who had been crossing his arms, quietly loosened them, and the roguish expression on his square face largely disappeared.

Even Iverie turned her gaze away.

The entire Blue Rose team simultaneously entered their optimal state.

The snacks on the table were quickly moved aside, and Li Qiusi took out a map, unfolded it, and laid it on the table.

The map marks the various strongholds of the "Eight Fingers".

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