Word count: 2470 words
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Ainz Ooal Gown went back home, to the great tomb of Nazarick. His imposing skeletal figure radiated the quiet confidence of a ruler as always, yet his mind was swirling with complex thoughts. Behind him trailed Narberal Gamma, the only escort he had brought with him to the meeting with Meliodas.
The moment he stepped forward, a wave of tension swept the room. The Floor Guardians were already present, kneeling as always, their eyes locked on the Supreme One.
"Welcome home, Ainz-sama," they all echoed in unison, heads bowed.
But Albedo, who was the first to rise, rushed toward him without her usual calm.
"Ainz-sama! You only brought Narberal with you? To a meeting with a potential threat?" she said, voice trembling slightly. "Forgive my boldness, but that was extremely reckless!"
Aura's lips twisted in a scowl. "Indeed! If that man had even the slightest malicious intent, what would we have done if something happened to you? Ainz-sama."
Even Cocytus's usual stoicism cracked, his icy voice carrying a note of urgency."Forgive.my.impudence.but.we.would.rather.face.annihilation.than.let.anything.endanger.you.Ainz-sama."
Mare fidgeted anxiously. Even Demiurge's composed smile seemed slightly strained.
Ainz raised his hand gently. "Enough," he said with that usual, calm, echoing tone. "Your concern touches me. But I assure you, this was an unexpected thing for me as well."
"But—" Albedo began again, voice on the edge of panic.
Ainz interrupted, this time more firmly. "I appreciate your loyalty, all of you. Truly. However, I must admit that I underestimated this man. I never expected him to be a player. That is precisely why I went with only Narberal. But it turned out to be a good thing, I managed to gauge his reaction, his restraint, his intentions. And for that… I had to appear vulnerable."
The Guardians fell silent.
Demiurge's eyes sparkled with dark admiration. "How… cunning. To test your counterpart's nature through calculated self-exposure. As expected of Ainz-sama."
Albedo pouted but bowed her head. "Your will is absolute, Ainz-sama. Still… I would kill that man if he even dared look at you wrongly."
Ainz chuckled slightly, a dry, hollow sound. "No need. It turns out that man is a Supreme being too, quite the surprise..."
He stepped toward his throne and sat down slowly, his bony fingers resting on the skull-shaped armrests. The Guardians instinctively knelt once again. "There is much to discuss."
The meeting room fell into a respectful hush as Ainz began recounting the events of his negotiation with Meliodas.
"This man… Meliodas. He possesses power not unlike our own. And by that, I mean he is not of this world, like myself. A being brought here from another realm, with memories and capabilities far beyond the mortals of this land."
Demiurge's fingers steepled beneath his chin. "So he truly is a Supreme Being, then?"
"In all but name," Ainz replied.
Albedo frowned slightly. "Do you believe him to be hostile?"
"No. At least, not for now. He made proposals, well thought out, and mutually beneficial. Trade, alliance, even intelligence exchange. And none of it was overly demanding."
Cocytus rumbled in approval. "A.warrior.with.honor…rare."
Aura tilted her head. "So he's strong, smart, and calm… Kinda sounds too good to be true, doesn't it?"
Albedo scowled. "What if it's all a trick? A ploy to lower your guard?"
"Exactly," Demiurge added, his mind already racing. "While everything he offered makes strategic sense, the absence of immediate self-interest is… suspicious. We should prepare for multiple contingencies."
Ainz nodded. "That is why I called you all. I need your thoughts, your strategies. Assume he is honest. Assume he is lying. Assume he will betray us one day. I want plans for every path."
Demiurge stepped forward, excitement gleaming in his eyes. This was another opportunity to prove himself to his lord.
"In the event he is truthful and seeks a genuine alliance, we can proceed with cautious engagement. We send limited resources. Controlled trade. Information we can afford to give. This lets us test his consistency over time."
Albedo added, "And to ensure we are not seen as weak, we must project power. Strategic displays of force and security measures should be woven into every interaction. In the event he is lying, we strike first. I'll rip him apart before he realizes what's happening."
"That is too reckless," Demiurge murmured, surprising albedo. "If he's like Ainz-sama… we can't afford an all-out war too early."
Cocytus nodded. "Correct.Better.to.draw.him.into.favorable.ground… trap…or.split.his.forces.Then.eliminate."
Aura looked thoughtful. "And what if he wants peace now, but betrays us later?"
Demiurge's grin widened. "Then we embed seeds of control. Influence. Surveillance. Perhaps even… subtle alterations of his allies. Corruption. Blackmail. Control from within."
It was Ainz's turn to speak this time. "Demiurge, did you forget already that he is a supreme being? His 'children' will never betray him, the same way you will never betray me."
"Ah, I see. Please forgive my ignorance Ainz-sama. You always think ten steps ahead of us!" Demiurge bowed deeply.
Ainz sighed internally but nodded.
"Very well. Prepare accordingly. Begin drafting plans. I will observe the process as it unfolds. But do not act yet, not until I say so."
The Guardians bowed deeply again, their loyalty and reverence unwavering.
*Obsidian Chains POV*
It was late evening when a letter arrived.
Meliodas swirled a cup of tea in his hand, lounging with his feet up on the desk, flipping through various documents related to upcoming logistics and mission prep. Makima had sent her minions to scout out the route toward the Katze Plains.
*Knock* *Knock*
Meliodas didn't look up. "Come in."
The door creaked open and Rem entered, her composed expression unchanging.
"Letter," she said simply, holding out an envelope sealed with Nazaricks's sigil, a dark, regal crest pressed into the wax.
Meliodas raised an eyebrow and took it. "Oh? That was fast." It was only two days since his negotiations with him.
He cracked the seal and unfolded the letter, scanning its contents with quick eyes.
*To King Meliodas,
I, Ainz Ooal Gown, have reviewed your proposals and found them acceptable. The negotiations were insightful, and I acknowledge the level of strategic foresight you demonstrated.
In accordance with our terms, I hereby confirm that I will accept all the conditions provided, contingent upon the successful execution of your part of the agreement.
Payment, both material and strategic, shall be issued following the completion of the operation and intelligence drop.
I will personally attend the event in the Katze Plains to oversee the process. The agreed-upon time and date are confirmed. Expect my presence with necessary protection.
Let us each hold up our end. May this alliance yield the results we both desire.
Ainz Ooal Gown.*
Meliodas chuckled under his breath. "He accepted."
Rem an eyebrow. "Did you doubt he would?"
Meliodas leaned back, tossing the letter onto the table. "No… but I wanted to see how he'd phrase it. And he didn't disappoint. Formal, measured, but not condescending. That's a guy who knows the game, or maybe he just assigned someone else to write it for him."
He stood, stretching. The fading sun cast long shadows behind him as he turned to the window, arms folded behind his back.
'So he's willing to play ball… and more importantly, he's coming in person to watch it happen. That means he still doesn't fully trust me, or maybe he just wants to learn more.'
He smirked.
'Good. I'd have been sad if he didn't show up. Would've felt like playing chess without the king on the other side.'
*Three days later*
The Katze Plains stretched endlessly under a bleak, overcast sky, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and the faint, lingering aura of death.
It was a fitting place for a confrontation, or in this case, an uneasy collaboration.
Meliodas stepped forward from a purple portal that popped into existence, his boots crunching lightly on the brittle grass as his small entourage followed behind him.
Tatsumaki hovered a few inches above the ground, her emerald eyes scanning the horizon with bored disinterest. Shoko Leiri walked beside her, hands tucked into her pockets, her usual smirk in place.
Behind them, Mahito and Hisoka lingered like twin shadows, one grinning with eerie serenity, the other licking his lips in anticipation.
"Two psychopaths as bodyguards," Meliodas mused aloud, glancing back at them. "Not sure if that makes me feel safer or like I'm about to get stabbed in the back."
"If they even think about something like that in my presence then they must be complete fools." Tatsumaki scoffed.
"Fufufu, I'm kinda disappointed my lord you think of me that way." Hisoka winked at Meliodas which made his skin shiver as he turned to look to the front once again.
The group advanced forward, nearing a set of figures already standing imposingly across the field.
From the west, a majestic throne-like transport adorned with gilded black floated above the ground. At its center stood the dark ruler of Nazarick, Ainz Ooal Gown, flanked by his trusted guardians.
To Ainz's right stood Albedo, donned in her full black armor, exuding elegance and menace, her halberd sheathed at her side.
On his left, the towering figure of Cocytus, ice forming and melting constantly around his blade and body, silent but utterly alert.
A few steps behind stood the twins, Mare, quietly fidgeting while clutching his staff nervously, and Aura, her confident smirk on display, sizing up each of Meliodas's companions with interest.
As Meliodas approached, there was no fanfare only raw pressure and mutual awareness. But despite the high tension, what came next was a gesture that few in the world could ever hope to witness.
The moment Meliodas came into view...
Albedo, Cocytus, Aura, and Mare all bowed deeply in unison, acknowledging his power and the alliance established between their lord and this foreign king. Their movements were precise, ceremonial, and full of calculated respect.
At the same time, behind Meliodas, Tatsumaki, Shoko, Mahito, and Hisoka, though varied in personality and composure—offered their bows to Ainz.
For a moment, the winds of the Katze Plains died down, as if the world itself held its breath.
Two rulers. Two retinues.
Silence lingered as their respective subordinates slowly moved away from their lords and began their own conversations, silent exchanges of curiosity, tension, and cold analysis.
At the center stood Ainz and Meliodas, facing each other once more.
Ainz's Moved his hand, using his magic a seat formed just behind Meliodas as he sat on it facing the undead.
Meliodas's own gaze wandered over Ainz's guardians before returning to the overlord's empty sockets.
'He brought the best of Nazarick. Good. That means he respects the deal. But he's also ready in case I betray him. Fair enough. I'd do the same.'
There was no handshake this time.
No need for formalities.
Meliodas broke the silence first.
"Still hard to believe we're working together," he said, voice light. "You're not exactly the trusting type."
Ainz tilted his head slightly. "Trust is earned. So is respect."
Meliodas gave a small nod. "Where I come from, you're born with respect. But you showed a lot by agreeing to this. Even came in person."
"I need to understand what happened to her,." Ainz said calmly, his gaze shifting toward the distance. "And how you'll fix her."
Meliodas followed his gaze. On the distant hill stood Shalltear, unmoving, unnaturally still, like a porcelain statue under the sky.
"She hasn't moved did she?" Meliodas observed.
"No," Ainz replied. "This is the closest I can be without risking anything. But from here, I will be able to see everything."
Meliodas stayed quiet for a moment, then gave a dry chuckle.
"Well," he said, glancing back at Ainz. "We will get to work."
Ainz simply nodded his skull as he watched Meliodas walk in Shalltear's direction, alongside his subordinates.
TO BE CONTINUED --->
Power stones motivate me write more often!