"So, why are you guys here?" Subaru asked as the two groups (sans Hajime, Raphtalia, and Naofumi) were strewn about the shop. "Hajime and Raphtalia went looking for an Inn for us to stay at." Shizuku answered. "Ok, but still, why here?" Subaru reiterated. Few people were coming in due to both the Waves and the presence of his fellow Isekaied. Not to mention the chaotic gremlin behavior that will spike with not one but five Spider Sisters.
He had seen Naofumi drag Kazuma away after they had left Rimuru's office while Wiz did the same with the aforementioned Spider Sisters. "You know, there's a lot of places in Tempest that you could go check out," Subaru said as he stepped out from behind the counter. He took a cautious look over to make sure Sophia was getting along with Yuika before he walked over to the main group. "We'll book some rooms, then we'll go sight seeing." Kaori spoke up.
Subaru turned as he heard something crash to the ground. "Sorry." Filo apologized while walking away from a now ruined stand of sunglasses. He just groaned as Kaori and Rifana walked over to help him set it back up. 'Please let them get back soon.' he begged in his mind as Filo turned into a large bird and knocked down a shelf on accident.
Naofumi chuckled as he read over the lined of the contract once again. He had asked Kazuma about the details of their little shop and all its trinkets. For all his disdain of the undead degenerate, he was still curious about it. He read over the contract a third time, the a forth time, before a terrifying smile broke out on his face.
"Assuming you aren't thinking of a way to kill me, that smile means you're interested?" Kazuma spoke up from across the table. "This, is far more than I expected." Naofumi said as he flopped the contract on the table. "I know right, the sheer amount of effort that comes from this tends to shock people." Kazuma replied. "Actual Benefits, labor costs and price management. Were you really Isekaied before graduating Highschool?" Naofumi asked.
"Never ever graduated, besides it was written by Vanir, Subaru, and I. Had to make some sense of balance for it." Kazuma said as he glanced to the side. Naofumi's free hand reached into a satchel on his side as he pulled out a small trinket. Kazuma looked it over, it was a simple earing made of a bronze like metal with a small pearl where it would pin in the earlobe, yet it radiated with stat boosting power.
"You, you made this?" Kazuma asked cautiously. "Yes, Hajime isn't the only one capable of creating powerful tools." Naofumi replied. Kazuma calmly pulled out his adventurers card; "May I?" he asked while holding his hand out. Naofumi passed him the earing with little fuss. Kazuma's eyes bulged out of his skull as he watched his Agility and Stealth Stats double the moment he put on the earing.
"So, how much of a cut are we talking about here?" he asked. "Seventy percent for me, Thirty for the company." Naofumi calmly stated. Kazuma chuckled; "Higher than the minimum, but let's test how these things will sell first." he said. "You've seen it for yourself, give it some time and profits will stack." Naofumi replied. "Yes yes, but how will we even supply you? You're mobile and with little storage for even your own stock." Kazuma replied.
"There's more details to write out, but this is the basics." Naofumi spoke calmly. Kazuma breathed deeply, then smiled. He pulled a small bottle out from his side bag and raised it. "A toast to a new partnership, Sir Meister?" Kazuma asked. Naofumi gave him a predatory smile; "Fine then, Tireless Runner." he replied as Kazuma began pouring the bottle contents into a pair of shot glasses.
Subaru let out a sigh of relief as Filo and Myu distracted themselves with a game of Heromon. Kazuma had apparently taught them how to play (oh what has he done?) so they were curious about some of the other decks they could get. Kaori and Shea were keeping an eye on Sophia and Yuika while Shizuku was trying her best to explain some of the items in the shop to the other worlders.
"So, these can light places up, without the need of magic?" Yue asked as she looked at one of the lightbulbs. "Yes, they work by running electric currents through the copper wire." Shizuku said with a groan as she rubbed up her forehead. "And this?" Keel asked as she, Rifana, and Tio were gathered around a toy train engine. "Ah, that's. A bit more complicated." She said while rubbing the back of her neck in embarrassment.
"How did you get these all built?" Kaori asked as Subaru got close. He gestured for her to lean in closer before he leaned in himself. "Lots of trial and Error, then some craftsmenship from some very talented undead, and a whole lot of resources." Subaru whispered as quickly as he could. "Undead Craftsmen?" Kaori asked unsure. "Yep, pretty nice guys when you get to know them. They even get paid and everything, last time I talked with one of them he had bought this nice looking top hat." Subaru continued. Kaori just gave him a blank stare, her mind slowly processing what he had said.
"OK." She said in a half strained fashion. "Its not that bad." Subaru said. "Can I meet them?" She asked. "Sorry, only Makers can meet the craftsmen since we have to show them how we make them." Subaru said while gesturing out to the various items in the shop. "Wait, so you technically made these things at first?" Kaori asked for clarity. "Yep, pretty proud of how they turned out." Subaru replied. "Do, do the craftsmen at least...?" She tried to ask. "Don't worry, we have them wear leather gloves and such to make sure there's no form of contamination." Subaru waved away her worries.
"Alright we found a place to stay for a few nights." Hajime's voice resounded throughout the shop as he entered with Raphtalia. "Sir Naofumi will be with us shortly. He's just wrapping up a meeting with Kazuma." Raphtalia said.
"Welp, seems you guys have a place to stay. If I would suggest one place to visit it would be this bakery on main street with a big croissant on its front. Best pastries in the city." Subaru said. "Ah thanks, we'll think about it." Kaori thanked him as they all gathered around Hajime and Raphtalia. Hajime was already putting Myu on his shoulders as Naofumi returned with Kazuma in turn.
Kazuma watched up to him as the two groups left. He flashed his business man grin at him while pointing at the two groups. "We've got a new member on the table. A Sir Meister will be trading goods with the Shop of Wonders while The Tireless Runner watched over the deal." he said. Subaru stared at him for a second; "Dude, its just us, you don't need to use the codenames." he said. "Ah well, got to put our Merchant Codenames on the fine print. Just be glad the Lolimancer isn't your Merchant codename." Kazuma said. "That was one time." Subaru replied.
"I've called you all here today to be the bearer of bad news." Rimuru calmly said to his gathered executives ans the guest. "What is it, has one of the Western Nations declared war?" Benimaru asked. "No, much worse." Rimuru said. "Is a plague making its way here due to some Wave Monster?" Gabiru asked. "No, but it involves the Waves." Rimuru grimly replied. "How so?" was the simultaneous question from both Ainz and Geld.
"Aparently these Waves were a catastrophe from one of the worlds that were connected when the sky broke. They would... Summon four young souls from another world and have them fight the waves." Rimuru said. Some paused at this, memories of both their fights with the other worlders in the invading army and the group children that Rimuru had become a teacher to. "Many of these worlds have a problem with such things." Shion said.
"Yes, though my only sources are from one of the people forced into the role and an informant in Kazuma's favor." Rimuru half lied. "The White haired one, with one eye?" Gabiru asked. "No, the black haired one with a shield on his arm. He was summoned as the Shield Hero for that world alongside a Bow Hero, Sword Hero, and Spear Hero." Rimuru said. "So we need all four to end these waves, thats what Kazuma's "Informant" sent him to do?" Ainz inquired.
"How horrid." Shuna spoke up. "I know, but we must act quickly. Each Wave has been worse than the last and there's no telling how long some of these worlds will last. So tonight we find a solution to make it easier while the other heroes are brought into the fold." Rimuru said. "Are you serious, Lord Rimuru?" Rigert asked. "Yes, as much as it pains me, we must rely on four teenagers to save our worlds." Rimuru replied.
"So, what's the first step?" Geld asked. Rimuru breathed in deeply, preparing for the long sleepless night ahead.
Yue and Kaori glared at one another as they both held a small pastry in their hand. Hajime was stuck between the two girls as they continued glaring. Myu was staring down at them from her perch atop his shoulders.
"Should, should we stop this?" Raphtalia asked to no one in particular. "Nah, save us from the harm that may come." Naofumi said as he ate a donut. He could hear Keel and Rifana digging into their food behind him as he and Raphtalia continued staring. Filo had here own stack since no one wanted to risk her taking there's as well. "Subaru was right about this place though, the pastries are good." Raphtalia said as she took her eyes off the sight of a bickering harem.
Shizuku had at least pulled Tio and Shea away before they could also throw themselves into the pile as well. The latter two resigning themselves to gobbling down pastries until they could fill the hole in their hearts with them. Shizuku herself was busy keeping an eye on them all, trying her best to hide a growing blush.
Naofumi just sighed as Kaori and Yue seemed moments away from just shoving the pastries down Hajime's gullet. "Can you not cause a scene, please?" he said to the trio. Myu just laughed as Kaori and Yue blushed and looked away. Hajime just gave him a blank stare as the girls still held the pastries level with his mouth.
"Yo, there's another meeting that's going to start soon." Kazuma said as he approached them alongside Benimaru. "Another one, already?" Hajime asked. "Yes, we need all of you present for this one. It's about fighting the waves." Benimaru said. Hajime nodded biting Kaori's Pastry and passing Yue's to Myu. "Right, come on." Naofumi said as he grabbed an absent minded Filo and pulled her away from her stack of snacks.
"Follow me, you can eat your food on the way." Benimaru said as the two groups got up and followed after him. Kazuma turning back to see that many of the citizens were breathing in relief. He gave them friendly nods before following after the rest of the group.
When they entered a large board room they found it was quite packed. Several members of Tempest were arranged along the table as well as the tall imposing figure who they had passed before their first meeting with Rimuru. Behind Rimuru's head was a map with all their world's on it (even the recent editions of Hajime's, Naofumi's, and another's worlds), which was decorated with pins and strings of various colors.
Subaru, Wiz, and the five Spider Sisters were on the left side of the room. Kazuma had already walked past them and took a seat next to them. Hajime's group took a set of seats on the right while Naofumi's group took the spare seats at the end of the table.
"Alright, our meeting can continue. What we have here is own first plan to counter the waves." Rimuru said as he stood up and gestured to the map. "Each Blue Pin on this map represents a pre-existing point we can teleport to thanks to The Spider sisters." he explained. "Each Red Pin and String represent locations which will need to be set up with their own point." Rimuru said as he waved his hand over the unanimous amount of red on the map. "Each Yellow Pin are on areas that we have to tie to and may reject the implementation of these points." he said while gesturing to The World Within the Waterfall and the worlds to the west of Tempest. "The Purple Pins represent the known Capitols of each respective nation." he continued.
"So, we set these points up for a fast action response to the waves, but how would we know when a wave strikes." Hajime interrupted Rimuru's explanation. Some members of Tempest gave him small glares for it, but Rimuru ignored that. "I'm getting to that, our current plan involves magic mirrors and Crystal Balls which would allow for quick communication, though there isn't enough for wide scale use." Rimuru said whole rubbing the back of his neck.
"Much of our plan requires immense resources and planning, not to mention the distances we'll have to travel to get this done." Rimuru calmly said. "We will need to take the Spider Sisters to the locations in Red. But we will also need too create more Magic Mirrors and Crystal Balls. Not to mention convincing the other worlds to join in on this plan." Rimuru summarized.
"I want to know if you guys are willing to join in on this, everyone else in the room has already agreed on it." Rimuru said while looking at Hajime and Naofumi's groups. The members of said groups looked around the rooms, receiving nods and looks of confirmation from the other occupants. Naofumi looked back to his group; Raphtalia and Rifana gave him a nod, Filo and Keel just smiled. Hajime's group was more straightforward, giving him deadpan stares. "Yes." was their simultaneous answer.
"Alright, then the next order of business is deligating tasks to each respective person." Rimuru said. "The first group will be those responsible for transporting the Spider Sisters too the other worlds. Wiz and Kazuma will be carrying Magic 1 through their world, Subaru will be taking Magic 2 through Lugunica, Kumoko will be traveling through her own world with the aid of another, I will be taking information Brain with me throughout this world, Ainz will be working with his own world. All that is left is taking Body Brain throughout Tortus and..." Rimuru explained without pause. "We can leave those worlds for the moment, The other three heroes are still in Melromarc and Tortus is in the midst of war." Naofumi interrupted.
"Really?" Rimuru asked. "Yes, "I'll be more useful here, doubt the Humans and Demons of Tortus would listen to any of us." Hajime interjected. Rimuru paused at this; "Ok, well then. Then we can have Body Brain and Hajime travel with Ainz while mass production can begin for Magic Mirrors and Crytsal Balls." he said as Hajime nodded. "While that is happening Wiz will be redirecting resources and gathering premade Magic Mirrors for communication." he said as Wiz nodded in response.
"At the same time, those responsible for taking the Spider Sisters to the various other locations will also be responsible for negotiating with them." Rimuru said. "If anyone wishes to request more support for their mission, feel free to ask." he said, finishing the report as several hands shot up.
"I know of someone who could help us, but getting to him will be dangerous." Subaru said. "Who would that be?" Rimuru asked. "He is known as the Sword Saint, or Reinhard. He's the strongest man in all of Lugunica if not the world. He'll be more than willing to help us." Subadu explained. "Alright, so who will you need?" Rimuru asked. "Anyone available. Its not Reinhardt that's the danger, but the cult that's been terrorizing the world." Subaru replied.
He looked between the groups, and waited for volunteers.
In the end Ainz, Body Brain, and Hajime's group would be traveling to The Sorceror Kingsom to begin mass production and the creation of points. Kazuma, Wiz, and Magic 1 would be traveling to the stretches of his world, creating points and convincing Nobles to aid them. Subaru, Magic 2, and Naofumi's group would be traveling to Lugunica to meet with Reinhard and create points. Rimuru would take Information Brain and Ranga on his travels while the executives kept Tempest stable. Kumoko would be traveling to her old roost and get Ariel on board.
These were the first steps of their plan, and many more would follow.