Chapter 6: Newbie's Intel

Two weeks had passed since the events at Carne Village. Lucifer had been going over the information Nigun had provided him. The three major powers Nazarick was surrounded by were the Baharuth Empire, the Re-Estize Kingdom, and, of course, the Slane Theocracy. Based off of what Nigun had told him, the Re-Estize Kingdom was the weakest country as constant sabre rattling with the Empire had weakened its infrastructure, which was all part of the Blood Empreor Jircniv's plan. The Kingdom was expected to collapse within the next five years. Next was the Baharuth Empire which, unlike the Kingdom, had a professional military instead of just drafted serfs. Their Emperor was, according to Nigun's reports, an ambitious and brilliant man, which Lucifer thought was fortunate. After all, an above average human was easier to predict than a total idiot. The final, and most disturbing, report was on the Slane Theocracy. What unnerved Lucifer wasn't the fact they had the largest military in the world or the fact that they had a large slave labor market. It was that this Black Scripture had Divine Class gear and worse: World Items. Thanks to Nigun, he now knew that the Slane Theocracy was in possession on at least two World Class Items. [Downfall of Castle and Country], an item that can mind control any creature without fail, even an undead who are immune to mind effects, and [Wrath of God], which could summon one hundred angels from level 85-95, which would be a challenge even for the Floor Guardians. There was a suspected third World Item but Nigun had no information on it, only the rumor that it existed.

Even more disturbing was what he learned about the Six Great Gods. They had been members of an RP group called "The Eight Paladins" in which they role-played as people chosen by the gods to save humanity from the horrors of nonhumans. So whenever they left their base to do battle, they always made sure to specifically target nonhuman players, as per their RP manifesto which, obviously, brought them into conflict with Ainz Ooal Gown, which had no human players, multiple times. They were EXTREMELY hardcore role-players. He heard that one of them had even made an in-game roleplaying journal in which he took every single thing they did in Yggdrasil, how their guild formed, every guild battle, every NPC they ever fought, and recorded it in the style of an epic tale written down by of those who took part in the adventure. Nigun, being a high ranking member of the Theocracy, obviously knew the gods' real names. Surshana, the god of death, Alah Alaf: the god of life, Arthor: god of wind, Wasser: god of water, Hexel: god of earth, and Sadao: god of fire. So out of the eight, the only ones unaccounted for were Meridia and Brimir. Maybe there were sent to another world or maybe they weren't online at the time of the shutdown. Who knows?

Additionally, Nigun told him his limited in knowledge about the Eight Greed Kings and the Thirteen Heroes. Apparently, the Eight Greed Kings had appeared approximately 500 years ago and had set out to conquer the world. Their reign, however was incredibly short-lived as the tore each other apart due to internal conflict. The most mentionable thing the left behind was the floating castle of Eryuentiu. Based off the stories of their great power they were most likely players, but Nigun had no information as to who they may have been. Someone Lucifer knew perhaps? The Thirteen Heroes, were a group of legendary figures who banded together approximately 200 years ago to fight beings known as the Evil Deities, which Lucifer hypothesized were the NPCs who served the Eight Greed Kings and, with the demise of their masters, no longer had a purpose and simply wrought death and destruction to all who crossed them. Judging by the overall strength of the Heroes, they were relatively low level and two out of the group were actual players while the rest were indigenous to this world. Apparently, these two players ended up killing each other for reasons unknown. Also, there had actually been more than thirteen of them, but people did not count the nonhumans, such as the vampire, Landfall, among them.

Finally, Nigun was able to provide dossiers on the Black Scripture, the Six Cardinals, and other key members of the Theocracy. The only one that really caught his attention was one of the God-Kin: Zesshi Zetsumei. Origins? Confidential. Heritage? Confidential. Almost everything about her was kept a secret. Nigun, despite his rank, wasn't even supposed to know of her existence and only knew because he had eavesdropped on a meeting between Zesshi and the Cardinals. Apparently, she had been reporting in after slaying a Dragon Lord and was complaining that it was too easy. Out of all the other God-Kin, she was the only one who didn't have her heritage listed. Based off of the Theocracy's human centric views combined with her supposed inhuman strength, he concluded that the reason her heritage was kept a secret was because she wasn't actually a human at all. Lucifer wasn't sure what she was, but DEFINITELY not human. Currently, Lucifer was laying in his black coffin, which was big enough to fit three of him in there, staring up at the ceiling. He had woken up feeling absolutely spectacular.

I knew vampires got buffs from sleeping in a coffin, but I didn't think it would feel so satisfying!

He had been mulling over what he would tell people once he revealed himself to the world ever since he woke up. He didn't actually need to sleep, but, as a vampire, sleeping in a coffin did give him +5 health regeneration for three hours. Sure he wanted to rule the world, but he also wanted loyal subjects. It was unlikely that people would follow him, an undead, and help him dominate the world just for the sake of dominating.

An end to repetitive mistakes made throughout history? No they won't understand. To create a perfect world? I guess that can be part of it. Perhaps to unite all human, demi-human, and heteromorphic races? Or maybe a world without war? It's hard to have a war if there's no one to go to war with. That would definitely appeal to the peasants of Re-Estize since they're constantly being drafted into the Kingdom's war with the Empire.

With a sigh, he pulled himself out pf his coffin, got dressed in his usual black leather armor and red cloak, and walked over to his coffin-shaped mirror. As a vampire, he couldn't see himself in the mirror but he could see his clothes so, in the mirror, he basically looked like the Headless Horseman. He had spent the past three days practicing poses in the mirror whenever he was sure no one was watching. He felt like a ruler and, in his opinion, looked like a ruler, but he was worried that he may have a little trouble acting like a ruler. He wanted to give the NPCs the leader they deserved and, as the ruler of Nazarick, nothing less than perfection was acceptable. He had been rehearsing his "You're making too much noise. Quiet down." hand motion when he heard a knock on his door.

"F-father?" came Shaltear's voice. She sounded like she was struggling to hold in laughter. "N-Nigun and I are here to make our report." Lucifer wasn't sure what was going on but he decided it was best to get it over with.

"You may enter," he said as moved away from the mirror and folded his arms behind his back in a dignified manner. Now that she had permission, Shaltear opened the door and strode into the dark room closely followed by Nigun. It didn't take a genius to figure out what Shaltear was trying to refrain from laughing about. Someone had childishly drawn a monocle and moustache on his face with magic marked and Nigun, as a vampire, was completely unaware since he couldn't see his own reflection. Shaltear's cheeks were puffed up as she tried to hold in here laughter. Nigun was completely oblivious. "Nigun," Lucifer decided to just be blunt. "What is that on your face?" Shaltear finally burst out laughing and started rolling around on the red carpet. Nigun stared at Shaltear in confusion before looking to his master.

"What do you mean my lord?"

"It appears someone has drawn a moustache and a monocle on you." Realization seemed to dawn on Nigun.

"Ah, I suppose this would be Lady Fiore's revenge for yesterday," Nigun stated, clearly embarrassed. Lucifer sighed. After coming to Nazarick, Shaltear had been training Nigun on the Sixth floor which brought him into contact with the elves, Aura and Mare. Old habits die hard and apparently one of Nigun's old habits was his dislike of elves. Upon meeting the twins, Nigun complained about the fact they were elves AND children. He shut up after Aura had decided it was good idea to start bench-pressing him. Embarrassed and given a reminder of his position below the elves, he acknowledged them as his superiors and apologized. However, being a petty man, he took vengeance upon Aura by swapping out the water in her canteen with hot sauce he acquired from Sous-chef. Apparently, Aura had a low tolerance for spicy food. She of course retaliated and sparked what was essentially a prank war between the two. Nigun's latest attempt to antagonize Aura had been turning into a bat and flying around the Sixth Floor's forest with her whip forcing her to chase after him. The marker had been Aura's revenge. In all honesty, he should have stopped the two, but their antics reminded him of all the times Luci Fer and Demiurge's creator, Ulbert Alain Odle, would antagonize each other with their rivalry originating from the fact that Luci Fer stole the username Ulbert wanted.

Dammit. I just realized I basically stole Luci Fer's name. It's too late to change it now. I am undead, maybe I can just change my name again after a couple hundred years? I don't want to seem like some inconsistent fool who changes his mind every twenty minutes!

Realizing he had been quiet for too long and that Shaltear had finally stopped laughing, he cleared his throat and spoke.

"What do you have to report?" Shaltear perked up as she heard her father speak again.

"I have completed the first stage of Nigun's training," Shaltear stated as she placed her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest proudly. "He has full control of his powers and has been taught to adequately control his thirst for blood. I will now begin training him to hide his vampiric nature and appear completely human as per mission requirements." Lucifer nodded.

"Excellent work Shaltear," he said as pulled two folders off his desk and handed one to Nigun while handing the other to Shaltear. "Nigun, this document contains details pertaining to your assignment once your training is complete. Shaltear, please give the other document to Corvo." Nigun's eyes widened. He was finally going to be of use to his god!

"Thank you my master! I will not let you down!" Nigun exclaimed as he bowed deeply. Shaltear gave a small smile at the newcomer's worship of her father. Lucifer motioned for Nigun to rise. All this praise he had been receiving was starting to unnerve him. Sure, he enjoyed being glorified by his servants, even if he would never admit it, but for them to act like this every time he said so much as two words to them? It made him a little uncomfortable.

"Shaltear," he said as he decided to ignore his own discomfort. "Once Nigun's training is complete you are to rendezvous with Sebas and Solution. Assist them in their hunt for those with dangerous martial arts and abilities.

"As you decree, father," Shaltear replied with a smile. Then her gaze shifted to something behind Lucifer and she frowned. Whatever it was she saw, Nigun noticed it too and a blush worked its way onto his pale features. "We'll take our leave father, I believe Albedo would like to speak with you." And with that, Shaltear abruptly turned around and exited the room closely followed by Nigun.

What the hell was that about? What about Albedo?

"I think it was unexpectedly polite of your daughter to leave us. Don't you agree my love?" a familiar, angelic voice asked from behind him. Lucifer, whose state of undeath allowed him to hide his shock perfectly, turned around to find Albedo sitting up in his coffin with nothing covering her other than a red silk bedsheet.

HOW THE HELL DID SHE GET HERE!?

"Albedo, how long have you been there?" Lucifer asked calmly. Albedo cutely tilted her head in response.

"What do you mean? I had been sleeping here waiting for you to finish going over Nigun's reports. When you finally came you just got into bed with me. I didn't even have to ask!" Albedo stated happily. That's Lucifer noticed Albedo's white gown crumpled in the corner of the room. She had been here since before he had gone to sleep. He was on the verge of losing his undead emotion control when Albedo added in her finishing move. "Since I am aspiring to become the most worthy bride I can possibly be for you…"

BRIDE!? Well she is really hot and clearly she is head over heels for me- DAMMIT NO! DO NOT THINK LIKE THAT!

"... I thought it would be best if I serviced you as you slept," she said and with a seductive lick of her lips she added: "You were delicious." On the outside, Lucifer's emotion control broke a just a millisecond. All that got through was that his eyelid twitched twice before the emotion control kicked back in and was forcibly calmed. His mind was still in a frenzy however.

IS THAT WHY I FELT SO GOOD WHEN I WOKE UP!?

"I'm sorry my lord, did displease you?" Albedo asked as she clasped her hands together over her heart with an innocent look on her face.

SHIT! Play it off! Play it off! Play it off!

"You did nothing wrong Albedo," Lucifer replied calmly. "I was simply wondering how long you had been waiting for me to finish speaking with Shaltear." Albedo simply stared at him for moment.

Did she buy it?

"My lord is so kind to be concerned for us, his subjects," Albedo gushed. Lucifer blinked.

That worked? That actually worked? Hell yeah!

"Moving along," Lucifer said dismissively with a wave of his hand. "I believe you wish t speak with me."

"Yes my lord," Albedo said as expression turned serious. "While Nigun's information on the Slane Theocracy was quite thorough, we still do not know much about the key figures of the Baharuth Empire or the Re-Estize Kingdom."

"Yes. We need a way to gather intelligence about the other two countries, analyze the potential threat posed by adamantite adventurers, find someone who know the properties of herbs and other items in this new world, and find a way to keep the inhabitants of E-Rantel from rebelling when we take control," Lucifer went over his to-do-list out loud before smirking. "Thanks to Nigun's information however, Demiurge and I believe we have a solution to these problems."

"Oh? Do tell."

That may have been the most uncomfortable thing I've ever written. So happy, so carefree, and worst of all... NO ONE DIED!

HAIL AND KILL!