"It's nothing troublesome," Rin said.
"This operation will be led by Ogerpon, with Shion as adjutant, and Hakurou as warlord."
"Rimuru, your mission is to use Predator to devour the Orc Lord after he is defeated."
In other words, this operation wasn't about sending Rimuru into battle to fight.
It was more about giving her an opportunity to evolve her Unique Skill, Predator.
"Oh, oh, I see. I misunderstood you, Rin-senpai..."
Rimuru quietly nodded. She knew Rin wouldn't be so heartless.
My boss really does care about me.
"Wait a minute!"
Rimuru suddenly reacted. "This isn't what you meant by vacation, is it?"
Going on a military expedition, then eating a big tonic and going home.
No, no, no, she absolutely couldn't accept something like that!
Absolutely not accepting this as a vacation!
Rimuru gave Rin a death glare. If you do that, I'll bite you. I'll definitely bite you!
"Of course not!"
Rin quickly appeased the Slime that had puffed up like a pufferfish.
He had a bad feeling that if he said, Yes, that's the vacation, Rimuru would definitely cry on the spot.
"During the expedition, you can move freely and enjoy the scenery of the Otherworld."
"As long as you can eventually devour the Orc Lord's abilities and evolve Predator, that's fine."
Rin added, "As for the vacation, I plan to send you as an envoy to the Dwarf Kingdom to establish some agreements with them."
Rimuru was considered the chief civil minister under Rin, equivalent to a prime minister.
Sending a prime minister as an envoy to a major nation undoubtedly demonstrated sincere intentions and respect.
"The Dwarf Kingdom?"
Rimuru said, "Isn't that still work?"
"Just consider it paid leave."
Rin's side paid salaries, using the common currency of the Cardinal World.
More importantly, every mission Rin assigned would grant a Merit to his subordinate monsters.
This Merit was directly tied to their chances of becoming an Awakened Demon Lord.
Even Snow Empress and Artoria.
Completing Rin's missions could accumulate soul energy.
Once enough souls were gathered, Rin would help them acquire new Ultimate Skills, or evolve their existing ones.
That was also why every subordinate of Rin sought to earn merit.
Those who hadn't awakened yet wanted to awaken.
Those who had already awakened wanted to become stronger.
"OK!"
"Understood!"
Rimuru patted her chest and promised, "That Orc Lord, I'll definitely eat him clean."
Although the way she said it sounded a bit off.
But the process of a Slime absorbing prey was more like dissolving them.
Thanks to Predator, the whole process was like trapping the target in another space, where they would be broken down into purest magicules.
So Rimuru didn't feel any discomfort about devouring others.
At that moment, Ogerpon raised her hand. "What about us? What should we do? Should we just attack directly?"
"No rush."
Rin instructed, "Ogerpon and Shion, wait for Souei's signal."
"Among the Lizardmen, there's a group of unruly individuals."
"Wait until the Orc Tribe has worn them down, then you make your move."
It might seem cruel.
But the world of monsters had always been this way.
Before the Lizardmen officially became his subordinates, Rin would not consider their feelings.
"Understood!!"
"It's great to fight alongside Big Sister Ogerpon!"
Ogerpon, Shion, Hakurou, and Souei.
This lineup, facing a mere Orc Lord, was like using a cannon to kill a mosquito.
"Hakurou, I'll have to trouble you to oversee the battlefield this time."
Rin said, "The Lizardmen should be preserved, but not too many."
"Rest assured, sir."
Hakurou stroked his beard and said, "This old man will handle it with discretion."
As one of the earliest Oni to surrender, they were undoubtedly Rin's most loyal confidants, soldiers who had watched him rise step by step to this day.
The Starfang wolves and Goblins who came later.
At least their attitude wasn't a problem, and they were worthy of Rin's favor.
But the Lizardmen?
At this point, Rin didn't need their combat power at all. Even if he wiped them out, it wouldn't matter.
Who told the Lizardmen not to cling to Rin's leg the moment he appeared?
This was the difference between original shares and latecomers.
"Brother!"
Meanwhile, in the Lizardmen tribe's cave...
A red-scaled Lizardman girl looked at the approaching Gabiru, disbelief in her eyes.
"Why?"
"Why are you doing this?"
Beside the Lizardman Princess was the weakened Lizardman Chief.
Just moments ago, Gabiru had returned to the tribe with his followers and incited the radicals to rebel against his father.
"Father is old."
The plot had changed, but Gabiru still chose to seize power. "The Lizardman race should be led by me, someone stronger!"
"But, but..."
The Lizardman Princess couldn't find the words to refute him.
In the world of monsters, the strong ruled, and strength was authority.
Gabiru was stronger, so he indeed had the right to become leader of the Lizardmen.
However, to pull her own father down from the position of chieftain...
The Lizardman Princess just couldn't accept it!
"How troublesome."
A figure emerged from the darkness. It was the monster Gelmud. "Hurry up and deal with him, Gabiru!"
"S-sorry, Gelmud-sama."
Gabiru's heart trembled. He looked at his sister and father, momentarily soft-hearted.
But more than that, he feared that his image in Gelmud's eyes would drop because of his sentimentality.
Yes, the plot had changed.
Gabiru wasn't seizing power to stand against the Orc Tribe anymore.
Instead, he had met Gelmud, received a name, and was now acting under his instructions to stage a rebellion.
As for the reason...
Gelmud needed the Lizardmen.
Not for their combat strength, but for their flesh, blood, and the magicules within them.
"Please don't blame me, Father."
Gabiru stepped up to his father and raised the trident in his hand. "Everything I do is for the Lizardmen!"
"No!"
"You can't do this!!"
The Lizardman Princess screamed, wanting to rush forward to stop Gabiru, but Gelmud struck her down with a single blow.
She could only watch helplessly as Gabiru thrust the trident into her father's chest.
(To be continued.)