Chapter 12: Chess Move
Written by Y.H
Disclaimer: I do not own overlord or any related element you may or may not see. Those belong to their respective owner
For those who wondering the fleets appear after the end of anime and from than is AU
Thought
[Spell]
"Speak"
*sound effect*
Above the bay
2 week after chapter 11
Black Death
"Say what?"
It was becoming somewhat of stereotype for her with that word, because she have been saying it a lot this lately. Luther is getting report from all across her network of Nazarick moving agent and Sorcerer Kingdom (SK) is sending massagers to neighboring kingdom, even to Slane Theocracy after her 'attack' to them, it become increasingly annoying to dealing with them and the more she think the more she just want to drive the entire fleets to them and tell them to stop.
Unfortunally she really dint want to face the hero of this world or be the big bad villain for them, no thanks.
"We intercept a letter than apparently mean for you"
"How?"
"It was among other thing on the massager body, including a sealed scroll with instruction and letter for Calca Bessarez, the holy queen"
"They began their move *sigh* well bring me that letters and scroll back, it seem Nazarick is making their move here"
"Yes my lady" and with that the crystal flicker down, it was being like this for 1.5 weeks after the fleets move to above the bay, she sitting in her office surrounded by 'radio crystal' (the official name is too long for her opinion) and receiving report from all the field agent her admirals send out in addition of mounting pile paperwork with she must deal because most of them contain detail information of the land or Nazarick movement and it was getting on her nerve.
Luther sigh as she pull another stack in front of her and started reading it, why everything must be so god damm complicated she beginning to despise this little game of intrigue both of them plying right now and she have no doubt that Momonga is sharing her sentiment, she know how horrible he is at mind games and intrigue plots and she rather suspect he currently bullshit his way out or point someone to deal with it instead.
(At this point Momonga realize somebody is talking shit about him and then realize again that what they talking is probably true)
Another raid, another kidnaping, another agent, another massage seriously how many agent they have to just throw it to me, it's getting ridiculous, at this point the amount of report I receive every time some agent get caught is getting irritating not that she blame them really, she know where they are and they only know vague direction for her. That probably piss some guardians off, probably Albedo or Demiurge, maybe both.
Speaking of guardian, they probably hold a more personal grudge against her considering she blasted most of them back to data bits during most of their meeting and adding the bits of lore she know on the Nazarick side, she pretty sure most if not all of the guardian have some sort of deaths experience at her hand on some point.
"*sigh* *grumble* this is just keep getting better and better" she grab another paper and her interest pique at it "Dragon kingdom? Border territory, war with beastmen? Where do I heard those… ah yes they are the one that Mirai mention on one of her earlier report, now what made it to my desk… … … …well fuck me sideways"
Luther keep reading it over and over and when she satisfied it will not change she put it down and sigh tiredly. The paper consist of report from one of Mirai agent post on their only remaining city, their capital, and from the look of it, it not look good on them. Beastmen army marching toward the capital after conquering the other 3 cities and the refuges making the city overcrowded, adding the pile is their general arrogant, nobility cowardice, the queen somewhat child appearance and the fact that they now hiring mercenary and adventure from nearby guilds and kingdoms, including SK, with almost empty coffer making them plummet on huge debt, yeah they going to collapse soon now Luther of lore is probably doesn't care about their plight for the slightest, but she notice it.
Luther may transform as thousands years old first vampire with greed problem but she still trying to maintain that scrap of goodness left in her and cling to it like lifeline. Luther she wrote is cruel and merciless but she different and by eight sea she going to be different in general good way.
I could parley with them, but at what base? The admirals going to question it and what could satisfied this bloody urge of fleets betterment while she thinking away reason to help them and appear like grand admiral, she is going to help them one way or another because she can't imagine herself to just stand in the sideline while literal crimes against sentience being is happening in front of her.
Even she have limit on how cruel a being could do to another being, she made Luther to be cruel and ruthless but not sadist or being that fed on suffering of other. She made it so Luther of lore thinking it as 'waste of time' and just grant them quick death, it was few silver lining she got, and she made her lore not pure evil or downright cruel just selfless. Thank goodness for that Luther chuckle at the thought.
Like her Deth Fleets lore, Nazarick lore is not pure evil and while there aspect of their lore that just evil they are mostly darker shade of grey than her lore, like for example Luther of lore will not allow extended tortures because she see it as just waste of time and resource to do it without any clear goal on her mind but Momonga of lore will not even glace at it as long as it give him result, no matter how small it is.
Luther glad she wrote on her lore some semblance of honor in it, I will not fuck you if you not fuck me, it is the simplified version of her 'justice' on her mind.
I can't just send army or deploy assault battle group, I can't send Richard or Ricardo and Forge is busy making her little project and Bubbly is literal slime, what to do, what to do and then just like that an idea slam into her head you know, I willing to bet information about flying ship is already spread thanks to SK, so why not just send another battle group and fuck the consequence AND if they could send massage or at least code it back to Momonga about me then it was even better… … …why the fuck am I not just do it since the beginning? *sigh* fucking lore.
You know now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure that letter address to me is his solution to contacting me, heh, clever play Luther chuckle for a while before writing order on scroll she pick up from the side table beside her, she can't send any Admiral but she can send commodore.
I'm pretty sure Momonga just say fuck it and send that letter to me after overthinking way too much, then again I'm pretty sure we both way overthinking this *chuckle* we never changes do we, not since we first met each other on the first raid.
9th fleet
On the 9th fleet, the most 'normal' of the fleets everything is going as usual, even with Nazarick and new war on the horizon the 9th fleet just take it with a stride. Captain and bellow is pretty mundane and just do what they do but the 9th fleet commodore is whole different than the rest.
The commodores of 9th fleet is regard as the best gambler and story teller on the entire fleets, a feat they manage to accomplish due to shear boredom they constantly encounter on their daily routine. The 9th fleet commodores daily lives is pretty mundane compare to other commodores on different fleet, like commodores of 1 and 2 fleets that either is devoted cultist like their Admiral, deranged scientist and mage or the 'sane' one that constantly battling new failed/success experiment on their ships, or even commodores of 8th fleet that constantly trade and barter with other fleets and even other Admiral if given the opportunity and they also excellent craftsman.
This circumstances make the rest of the fleets unique on its own way, but the 9th fleet just seam mundane and normal compare to other. It was unique on its own way but it just so mundane that the commodores, after doing their duty that mainly administrative, is usually found on certain flagships either playing together or telling more and more elaborate story to each other, they also enjoy some strategy game, making them a decent strategist compare to 4th fleet.
But even with this the commodore of the 9th fleet is just so mundane that the other fleets jokingly call them 'normie' due their normality. And while their Admiral is much more powerful than them but she to seem way too much normal on the fleets of dark, flying, sentient, undead ship.
Currently one of these commodore is playing a game of solitaire on her office, the office look normal aside from the green torch and the deth fleets flag on the side, it look completely like the usual office. The commodore behind the desk playing solitaire is just like the office, normal aside from undead feature. The commodore wear faded white shirt with brown trouser underneath the heavy brown trechcoat that decorated by 2 gold medal on it right chest, the face is clearly female with shoulder length brown hair and silver eyes, she also have two belt holding her trouser and three more on her left thigh and one belt on her right arm with one on the thigh engrave with runes and the on her trouser hold her pistol and saber.
Her name is commodore Mizuki, Mizuki Ulma if you want full name. Responsible for assault specialize battle group 12, specialize on frontline combatant with short to medium range with few AOE debuff spells for her enemy, she usually accompany by her sister, Commodore Alexei Ulma, on the battlefield.
Now with her sister busy running errant for Admiral Mirai and she don't have the mood to spend time with other commodores and her daily duty finish, she stuck on her office playing a game of solitaire while waiting for the days to end.
This one go to here and this one here *sigh* too easy and too normal for my liking Mizuki sigh again before pulling another stack of card from her coat and began to play two solitaire at once.
While she have no problem with the current status of the fleets, she can't help but wonder why they not just done the usual? Sacking and pillaging the world with booty looty around them, then again she, alongside with her sister, is the few commodores that actually experiences more frontline combats during the war than the rest that usually stuck being pencil pusher and rear guard. Not that the other blame her really, the other too enjoy good fighting and once you taste the sweet victory you really have hard time not to get addicted.
I can't imagine myself to be pencil pusher, then again we been doing that more lately than sacking or looting she have heard some commodores and captain from various fleets got task of being 'bandit' on the road and taking what they can from the area they got assigned with. Those few peoples are the one that get close to combat since they got here, but from what she hears apparently everybody on this world is weak ass sauce with no spine or bone.
"Damm how I miss the good old war" mumble her after she completed both game. She about to pull another stack of card before green flash appear in front of her and float down a scroll with Grand Admiral wax seal on the ribbon. It startle her for a moment before she see the scroll and raise her eyebrow, silently she store the two packs of card beck to her coat and grab the sealed scroll.
Mizuki observe the scroll for a moment before breaking the wax and read the scroll. There a silence as she re-read it for a couple of time and each time she read it her expression slowly morph into wide grin. When she finish with the scroll she just roll it up and store it on her coat before slowly making her way to the door
And completely obliterate it with her kick, while still grinning like mad men.
Capital city
Mirai Merchant HQ
"FUCK YOU NAZARICK" on the three stories building in the capital city, one could see a furious merchant women with dark blue hair and green eyes angrily curing Nazarick after she know she just lost another agent. Mirai is wearing some straight one piece blue dress with blue petite coat and white wrist gloves.
Mirai have been dealing with Nazarick ever since they realize that Mirai Merchant is in fact Fleets arms on dealing with legal world, that mean ever since Forge get her ass detected and cause all of the mess she dealing now.
Another lost, is the fourth time I lost agents on the field this weeks due to them, grrr fuck she have been having bad day since 2 weeks ago when Nazarick focus all of its resource to disturb her operation and it was beginning to show on her daily lives interacting with the nobles and patriarch as successful merchant.
Officially Lumia is her panther on trade and network but they know better, it was just on paper and Mirai still hold position as owner of her trade but she leave the wealth on Lumia responsibility, making her position among the nobility and crown skyrocket, as it was incredibly rare for merchant just trusted their wealth to somebody else and if that in fact happen, the person who trusted by the merchant basically just got massive amount of gold and influence on the merchant.
Evers since 2 weeks ago her workload just get skyrockets as Nazarick continue to harass and disturb her network and trade, making her and Lumia position weaker and Crux send her own agents to counter them. And has been horribly for her mission and order as she must keep all eyes open in this intrigue game that is happening between the three Admirals with Nazarick Guardians, whoever got assigned by skelly lord (Mirai personally think is Demiurge).
"Must get another agent and replace the destroy caravan and making sure the other patriarchs is still on arm length" mumble Mirai as she sit back on her chair and sigh heavily, it also not helping the fact that Lumia is planned to meeting the royal prince this evening regarding their condition and increase on 'bandit' attack.
"Fuck them completely" mumble her before grabbing some feather and paper and start writing, she need to send another order to the market, another quest to the adventure guild and another to the merchant guild informing that her trade capacity will be lower, again, for some time.
After some time, Mirai finally calm down enough to start thinking clearly, she lost another caravan but only that and anything sensitive from the Fleets is removed and store either in Lumia mansion or Mirai office. This suck, I can't have another route open from north and south city to more inland cities and if anything I need to meet my quota for the month… land route is the only one viable after the goods get dropped on the harbor by ships, meaning more security and more men's *sigh*
*knock knock*
Mirai just look from her paperwork to the door, only human servant she hire would knock "enter" The door open and a servant girl came before bowing to her.
"Mistress, there is guest waiting for you"
"Guest? I don't remember any one telling me they would came here" Mirai raise from her chair and move to the door while the girl still bowing "who is it?"
"It's one of the noble mistress, from his appearance and he did came with some men with him, he right now waiting in the common room"
"Right, you can go back to your duties now"
The servant bow again before leaving Mirai, she sigh once more and grab a scroll from small wooden box on her desk, mumble few quiet words to it and send it along with blue fire. With that she walk out of her office, toward the common room the building have for receiving guest.
She open the door and she see three young men inside the room, two sitting on the couch and one leaning against the wall and all wearing fancy clothes that she doesn't even want to know ("bloody noble"). Mirai know one of them, Balsa Savarez, heir to Savarez family and rising star on social standing, according to Lumia who deal with Savarez family before.
The other two she dint know and she hardly care about it probably just a nobody, she sat opposite of Balsa and smile polite smile to return his slightly perverted one oh yeah I remember about Savarez rumor, heh I have a lot more experience than you kiddo "greeting, I'm Mirai, owner of Mirai Merchant and partner with Lumia, may I know what make one Balsa Savarez come here?"
Balsa smile for a while "I heard about your problem lately, what with bandit attacking your convoy and ruing your beautiful face with their attack" she could hear the one on the wall mutter 'whore' and 'Lumia' one the same sentenced heh, you lucky I don't want a scandal in my hand.
She only smile before unfurl a baby blue paper fan and hide her smile with it, she could see the one beside Balsa wondering where she got it "my, oh my, you certainly have your words arrange correctly Balsa *small giggle* you flatter me"
"Thank you my lady"
"Now, aside from all the pleasantries, what is your purpose here if may I?
"I just heard this little thing you know, make me worry for you, it said that your trade is not on good days right?"
"*scoff* It's rude to suddenly say something bad toward a lady"
"Ah but is truth, isn't"
"Yes, bandit keep ambushing my caravan, it's like they have some sort of personal grudge against me"
"So here I stand, graciously offering something to elevate your problem, my lady"
"And that solution is?"
Balsa smile have slight edge on it, not too much that is negligible but definitely there "be my partner would you, my fair lady"
MEANWHILE
Nazarick Great Tomb
Ainz Office
Evers since 2 weeks ago where he send demiurge down south to intercept any Fleets activities he have been swarm by report of various kind and since he as sorcerer king has been 'attacked' many other nation is also hot on his heel, so he send letter to all various kingdom around him, even the theocracy, to inform them about the attack and to send some of their men to meet him at E-Rantel so he could disclosure few information that he deem acceptable about the fleets
Well at least in the surface
The reason why he send that many letter out is like firing shot into darkness, hoping to land a hit. He knew that one of them or more will get intercept by Fleets agents so he secretly, not even his guardians know, slip letter to Luther on each massager alongside communication scroll demiurge invented some time before. Now all that left is wait
"Lord Ainz this another report from Demiurge" *Smack*
Another pile added to his ever-growing paper on his desk, Ainz sweatdrop as the work is coming up endlessly. Why, oh why do I tell him to report everything to me and why there so many report from those area alone? "Thank you CZ, is there more today" please no, no more
"Yes, there another two stack from Demiurge, currently they been check by Albedo"
NOOOOOOOOOOO "thank you, your dismiss"
"Of course"
And with that Ainz is left with pile of paperwork he must work his way through and there another two coming by. "Why do I feel like shit right now" moan Ainz as he bang his head to his desk. Ainz is undead and as such could theoretically have no issue on stamina department, aside from magic exhaustion there is little thing that could make undead feel tired.
Except on this case the undead on question is having mind that slightly warped by game lore and originally from overwork desk worker, meaning he have mental limit, even if that limit is stretch far off it still a limit. And having to deal with paperwork almost 24 hours for the last two weak could do number to any mind.
"Please Luther, contact me soon, the paper is getting ridiculous" mumble the skeleton as he grab another folder and open it Dragon Kingdom? Situation bad, verge of collapse, demihuman attack, hmm interesting Ainz read the overall report and put it down, he like to come and help them to win them over but the situation with the Fleets is getting worse by word of it.
He may dislike paperwork but that doesn't mean he dint work it, and from overall report he read the situation down south is getting dire. Agents on the field encounter Fleets counter Agents, informant assassinate, and there two Admiral station at Holy kingdom and while Demiurge promise to uproot them, he know once the fleets committed to something they will not let it go, even death cannot stop them.
That is the vibe he getting from them, they work by Luther order and it was illogical for her to stay on one place for long period of time, in lore she will ransack cities she encounter and fade into the sea mist as soon as she get what she want but Fleets action seem otherwise.
It was few thing that help him convince himself that Luther here is indeed Luther he know and not one from the lore she write. When all of this is over, am going to smack her head and drink her under the table for all of this trouble he pick another folder and before he read it his office door blast open and fluster Albedo walk in.
Ainz already see the incoming headache from her, ever since he change her setting from 'slut' to 'in love with momonga' it has been hard for him not to regret it, especially with her attic and now with the Fleets loom large she have been forward with her approach to make Ainz bed her (to this day Ainz is still asking 'can he do the do with anyone' that still make him slip his control)
"Ainz-sama what does it take to be with you?"
"What you mean? You already with me-"
Sunlight ray to Albedo
"-Side by side facing this world and now, facing the machination of Dammed Luther and the Fleets together with all of Nazarick"
Immediate cloud on Albedo
I still don't know if I should laughs or comfort her Ainz smile a little. He like Albedo but not romantically, he see all of Nazarick as children of his friends, as family he could not have and interaction like this is, while annoying and awkward on his part, is enjoyable and precious to him.
And maybe after all of this calm down, I maybe could have picnic with Luther and her Admirals *chuckle* the field will not survive the pressure of that he not blind that it is a bad idea considering the lore of them, but their loyalty is unshaken and unbreakable and if he order them to do it, they will do it. Including having a civil conversation with the Admirals of the Deth Fleets, and maybe after some time they could at least tolerate each other present or just hold their urge to tear each other apart.
Worthwhile goal if I see one, even if that mean having to deal with the other Guardians and roll with the punch most of the time Ainz chuckle at the thought and while Albedo and the other could sometime annoy him, it still doesn't change the fact that he love them all dearly.
"Ainz-sama what you find funny in this situation?"
Albedo question snap him from his daydreaming but he still thinking about it, about having picnic with Luther, about having someone that he trust and cherish at his side, and having best friends that know him as much as he know them
"Nothing much Albedo, just remembering old memories"
(9Liiiiiiiineeeeee break0)
8th fleet
Burning Hammer
"You want what?"
"Explosive, a lot of explosive, crystal kind'"
"Why?"
"Raids"
"On?"
"Beastmen"
"…"
"…"
"*sigh* How many you want"
"A lot"
"That's not helping"
"Eh, enough to blow out entire city, an army, dozens of military structure and big enough to be installs at night quietly, oh and light enough to be carried and small enough to be conceal easily"
"Which type do you want, chemical, magic or elemental?"
"Chemical, no need to light a beacon of magic to every creature in the radius"
"Toxic or not"
"Toxic"
"so let me get this straight, you want chemical based crystal explosive that is small enough and light enough to be carry around with ease and you need it in large quantity to blow out at least a city, did I miss anything?"
"And toxic"
"And toxic"
…
…
"Wait until tomorrow and go to forge ship number 6, your order should be place under your name"
"Thanks for the help man"
"No problem Commodore"
As she make her way back to teleporter from the office on Burning Hammer, she already began thinking way to achieve this order. Mizuki may be the 'standard' commodore of the 9th fleet but she have her own uniqueness and characteristics, one of those is she prefer explosive on heavy duty order or crowd control, she maybe close range fighter but she also a good crowd control. Not the best like those on the third fleet but decent enough to low level enemies.
Each commodore is unique, just like their Admiral and just like them they too was created by the Admiralty Boards, three of them for each fleet and the one who create her and the other are Booty Loot, Heavenpass, and Achaea. Mizuki know that her order from Grand Admiral is probably because the rest of Admiral is busy and she would not have her order fail again and so she chose the safe option and go with 9th fleet commodore, her.
So first action is intervening in a war we have no business of, heh typical she arrive at the teleporter and after sensation of being sucked she back on the 9th fleet flagship Admirable Resolve, due to high level of Mana and maintenance it require the teleporter matrix is keep on important ships like flagships or fortress ships. Fortress ships is, like its name is a moving flying fortress-like-ship due to amount of armor, weapon, magic matrix, and soldier onboard, they usually being use as defensive platform or forward base of operation by the Fleets. But on some cases, they are being use as massive self-sufficient weapon and, albeit being slow, will sow destruction on its path.
A fortress ship is a nightmare, a fleet of fortress ships is nightmare made real, like so many thing on the Fleets, shame I could only bring one Mizuki plan is simple, butcher the invading beastmen army, liberate three conquer cities. And blow the beastmen city sky high. And the fortress ship she burrow will be tremendous help.
Just like those on 8th fleet 'Nothing beat smell of artillery in the morning' *chuckle* Mizuki enter one of the office on the ship and sit directly on front of the desk, the desk occupant don't even look from his folder "so Edward, I hear you being complains about lack of action recently"
Edward only grunts and back to ignoring her
"And I being order to wage war on some beastmen that have offed our Grand Admiral"
Edward grunts again and he clearly telling her to get to the point
"And so I gather my battle group and get some help to form this little detachment and I found myself lacking a sufficient personnel to operate-"
Edward just straight ignoring her now
"Fortress ship I burrow"
Edward stop moving from a moment before putting down his paper and look directly to Mizuki, and behind his glasses his blue eyes shone with intensity of the sun
"Does I have your attention now?"
"Speak Commodore, and I shall listen"
Mizuki only smile
Continue