18 Meeting
"Ha! Creatures such as dragons who claim of being so almighty getting mind-controlled like some puny creatures, pathetic," Shalltear said suddenly. "Greetings, Ainz-sama." She bows.
"Shalltear, glad to see you back, I trust everything went well." Ainz greeted Shalltear.
"Quite so. Is there a problem going on?"
"Not a problem, it's more of an opportunity. Give a detailed report to Albedo, in the meantime, I'll go E-Rantel as Jack. Also, Albedo..."
"Yes?"
"While I'm away, can you prepare a squad to take care of that dragon once I'm back? Mare and Aura should go there first: Mare should look at its surroundings, and capture anyone who is hiding and might be controlling the dragon. Aura should judge just how strong that dragon is, without being careless. Demiurge and Cocytus should take care of Nazarick which has to be put on maximum alert while so many of us are away. Depending on the strength of the dragon and its weakness build a squad that can easily can take care of it. I'll be joining in as well, of course."
"Understood."
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"Thank you for answering my call on such a short notice. As you may be aware, there's a dragon dangerously close to E-Rantel...So I'm going to get to the point. Last night a group of iron adventures probably perished...I'm not sure if it is by the said dragon or during the mission but this is something I'll take care of at a later date. For now, the only thing you need to know is that the dragon is...A dragon lord, the Catastrophe Dragon Lord."
Everyone's face becomes terrorized, and the room is silent but only because no one has the strength to speak after such dire news. Clearly, everyone knows that dragon but Ainz.
'I guess I'll just play the part.' Ainz thought.
"The graveyard incident, that group of adventurers, and now this...What is going on? How can we defeat a dragon lord? Especially THAT one," Bellotte says.
"What is our chance of defeating it?" Moknach asks.
"My team had to face death multiple times but this is hopeless if we're all the teams facing that monster," Igvarge says.
"I have to be honest...I don't think we have many chances. This is a very hopeless attack." Ainzach says. Everyone falls silent again, then he continues, "...Unfortunately this was pretty bad timing for us, I will understand if you don't want to fight."
"Jack...Is that your name? Bet you regret ranking up this fast. You've been awfully quiet," Igvarge speaks to Ainz.
"Not really. I was just listening. Me, and my team alone will take care of that dragon."
"What are you saying?!" Igvarge shouts at him.
"The Catastrophe Dragon Lord..." Moknach murmurs.
"You want to face such a creature on your own?" Bellotte asks.
"Are you sure? I see no shivers in your voice, do you really think your team can take care of such a creature?" Ainzach asks Ainz.
"I have a trump card." Ainz places a crystal on the table. "This magic sealing crystal contains 8th-tier magic."
"8th-tier?! That is incredible..."
"8th-tier magic...I had no idea it truly existed, I had thought it was something you would only read in story books."
"How stupid. 8th-tier magic doesn't exist and even if it did, someone like him wouldn't have such a powerful item, he has to be lying."
"I don't mind getting it appraised," Ainz says.
"We have no time for that, the reality is that...Even in front of such an item, I'm afraid it will not be enough to kill it," Ainzach says.
"It's fine, I'll take care of it," Ainz declares.
"...Very well, I don't have much choice. What reward do you want? Adamantite rank will be of course a given."
"That's good to hear, it's tiring having to prove my strength each and every time. Other than rank, we can discuss the rewards afterward."
"Wait! If you have such an item, we can do this together!" Suddenly Igvarge speaks up. "It would surely damage the dragon a lot and, together we can slay it! You need us!"
"No, I don't."
"Wha-"
Moknach and Bellote quietly get up.
"I think we're done here."
"I...We're sorry but taking on such a creature is an impossible and suicidal task. You were aware of this and hope we could at least buy some time, is that not right?"
"...Correct. It was the only solution," Ainzach said.
"I do understand your reasoning but even then, we would only buy a few seconds at the most against such a creature. I can see...Or perhaps it is hope, that Jack is a hero in the making and with that item...I believe he is the only one here that can truly do it," Moknach says.
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"How did it go, Ainz-sama?" Albedo asks.
"Everything went as expected, thanks to this special event, I'll be ranking up to Adamantite and will no longer need to waste my time on meaningless tasks."
"That's good to hear!"
"On your part?"
"As you may have noticed, Demiurge and Cocytus are already at work. The defense of Nazarick is raised to the maximum. Aura and Mare are watching the area, nothing but the dragon so far. Aura didn't get too close but according to her, a small squad with the right equipment could easily dispatch that dragon, even more with your presence."
"Excellent. Whom would you suggest?"
"I've already thought about it...I, Shalltear, and Nerbaral could easily take him out without trying too much. With your presence, it will be quite a quick fight."
"That's good to hear. Not as strong as I had expected."
"Aura's report may have been slightly inaccurate given the distance between her and the target."
"I trust her abilities, however, even if that was the case Aura and Mare can easily send backup if needed. It is almost morning... I would say it is the right time to summon them at the entrance of Nazarick, we will head out soon. Before that, can you pick two members of Nazarick with poison immunity?"
"Of course! Where should I bring them?"
" I am going to the treasury now. I will need at least two people with said characteristic to help Pandora's Actor to move things from and to the vault. The treasury can be accessed only with the ring of Ainz Ooal Gown. Since you own one and you are also immune to poison, you are perfect for the task. Meet me there."
"Understood!"
