"I still can't believe I'm seeing the sun again! It feels completely unreal!" Hellank looked up at the clear blue sky outside Nazarick and said.
"For the first time, I feel good to be alive…" Imina also sighed, and Roba and Arshe behind her exchanged smiles. After all, surviving such a terrifying event really did feel unreal.
"So, what should we do next, Iri-meimei?" Hellank, having finished his lament, turned to Iri, who was dressed like an "ordinary" person and had half her face covered by bandages, and asked.
…
Half an hour ago…
"You mean! We can go back?" Arshe was overjoyed to hear Iri's words. She could continue to live, and she could go home and see her sister again.
Iri silently nodded, then shook her head with a troubled expression.
"Iri-meimei, could it be? Is there still a problem?" Hellank frowned, realizing that things were not that simple.
Although Iri-meimei did say "you can go back" when she first arrived, she didn't specify how to go back. Sending corpses back also counts as going back, right?
"My father wants to see you," Iri-meimei said with a troubled expression.
…
In the Great Tomb of Nazarick's main hall, the Four Strategists were now trembling. Not to mention the Death Knight formation lined up in the hall, just Ainz's side, where all Guardians except those inconvenient to move (talking about you, Gargantua!) were present, was enough to scare them to death.
"No need to be nervous, everyone," Ainz, seeing Iri leading the Four Strategists Squad into the hall, waved his hand with great composure.
Iri was also surprised by the display, but when she thought about Ainz's desire to show off Nazarick's might, she found it quite adorable.
"Ainz Ooal Gown-sama… Hmm…" Hellank, who was walking in front as their representative, hadn't even finished his sentence when Xiao Di interjected with a "How dare you!" and forced him to his knees.
"That's enough, Demiurge. They are my daughter's companions; there's no need to be so formal," Ainz slightly raised his hand to stop Xiao Di.
However, after Xiao Di lifted the curse, none of the Four Strategists dared to stand up again.
"Oh… Everyone, stand up. You've seen enough," Ainz said. Iri also quietly told them to get up. After all, it was just an act, no need to be so tense. Only then did the Four Strategists dare to rise.
"My daughter must have caused you trouble! Here… I am very grateful that you brought my daughter back to me," Ainz said.
"No, no, Ainz Ooal Gown-sama, you overstate it. Iri-meimei… Illy-dono did not cause us any trouble at all. On the contrary, we relied entirely on Illy-dono," Hellank said, breaking into a cold sweat. From the moment he stepped into the hall, Hellank had felt an immense sense of oppression and fear.
Although he didn't know what those Undead creatures lined up were, they were definitely not on the same level as the low-level Undead on the Katz Plains. And Iri-meimei's father, as well as those who seemed to be guards or confidants, were all beings he couldn't afford to provoke.
"Oh, is that so? That's good. However, gratitude is gratitude. Trespassing into Nazarick without permission is a capital offense. Do you think I will spare you with just this one merit?" A red light flashed in Ainz's dark eyes. This was clearly a naked threat.
"Ainz Ooal Gown-sama! We! We know we are unforgivable, but! But can you please give us another chance!" Hellank said urgently.
Although Iri-meimei had warned him not to speak carelessly or lie before they came, as her father disliked being lied to the most, and that Iri-meimei would speak for him otherwise, her father had immediately pronounced a death sentence, which made him feel weak.
"A chance? Hehe! I can't think of any benefits or reasons to give you a chance," Ainz said, then stared at Hellank.
"Ainz Ooal Gown-sama, we are willing to exchange our loyalty for a chance to live," Hellank said, then took the lead and knelt. The other members of the Four Strategists followed suit and knelt.
Hellank was not a fool; he understood that Ainz's words had a hidden meaning. It was a clear threat, and after the threat, he deliberately mentioned the benefits and reasons for giving a chance.
It was obvious that he wanted them to pay some price. Having witnessed the overwhelming power and wealth of the other party, the only bargaining chip they could offer for their lives was their loyalty.
"Oh… Loyalty? What about a guarantee? I'm not kind enough to believe the loyalty expressed by a few mice," Ainz said.
"Father, I… I can guarantee their loyalty. I… I was with them for a while, so…" Iri-meimei spoke up at this point.
"Enough…" Ainz interrupted Iri-meimei with great displeasure. Iri-meimei showed a sad expression and gripped the corner of her clothes tightly. Hellank, kneeling, saw all of this.
"My daughter, please forgive me. Humans are not trustworthy creatures," Ainz said, waving his hand.
Is it all over? Hellank's heart sank. Facing such a god-like being, even if he wanted to resist now, he would probably be torn apart by those Undead creatures nearby, and he would also implicate Iri-meimei.
"Ainz-sama… Perhaps that item could be used," a turning point appeared at this moment. The peerless beauty in white next to Ainz said this, then leaned over and whispered something into Ainz's ear.
"Alright, in that case, I will give you a chance to serve Nazarick," Ainz said.
Upon hearing this, Hellank, who had already lost all hope, looked up at Ainz, eager to know why Ainz would suddenly give him a chance.
After that, he saw Ainz reach out from the void and toss four collar-like items in front of them.
"These are collars of enslavement. This is your chance," Ainz said. It was obvious… no explanation needed. The purpose of the item could be understood from its literal meaning.
"Father!" Iri-meimei cried out mournfully, clearly having been trying to suppress her emotions.
"My daughter, this is already my greatest concession," Ainz sighed and said.
"I also don't want to see my daughter's tears. Let's leave it at that." After saying this, Ainz stood up, and a black hole-like portal appeared beside him, clearly signaling the end of the meeting.
"But Father!" Iri-meimei wanted to follow, but Hellank grabbed her, and Iri-meimei watched as Ainz walked into the portal.
"Iri-meimei… It's alright. Since he has offered such terms for us to live, it's already a good deal," Hellank consciously picked up the collar in front of him and put it on.
The miraculous collar automatically disappeared after touching his neck, leaving only a black mark.
The other members of the Four Strategists also consciously crawled over, picked up the collars, and put them on.
"I still feel like this isn't enough!" The peerless beauty in white glanced at the Four Strategists, all wearing the collars of enslavement.
"Mother! If this is still not enough! Then let me monitor them with them! If they truly have rebellious intentions! I will personally execute them!" Iri-meimei cried out with a sorrowful and indignant expression.
"Heh! Little Yi… Cough… Hmm, that's a good idea. Then I'll transfer some of the collar's permissions to you. If… that happens, hmph hmph! I look forward to your performance. Watching you die by my precious daughter's hand will also be quite enjoyable!"
After saying that, the peerless beauty in white also turned and walked into the portal. The other confidants followed suit and entered the portal.
In the great hall, only the Undead creatures and the Four Strategists Squad, still kneeling, remained.
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