"My first question is who are you and where are you from."

"This ship is called the Evil Witch and we work for Bloody Billy Turner, he owns the Delta. We are based out of Turnersport."

Momonga took out two maps and placed them in front of Tobi. "I found these in your bridge. Point out Turnersport and where we are now." The maps were both local and marked four settlements, three of which were on the coast.

Tobi put his finger on one of the locations. "This is Turnersport, it's the biggest place in the Delta." His finger drifted to one of a number of small islands. "This is Cutler's Point, where we are."

"And what are you doing here? Are you pirates?"

"Pirates?" Tobi sounded surprised. "No, we were out looking for smugglers. There are always people trying to sell food and other things without giving Bloody Billy his share."

"You're claiming to be the local authorities? You don't look like any sort of navy ship to me."

"Well, Bloody Billy only has two ships. Us and the Sea Witch, I'm not sure that counts as a navy."

"If you really are the military why aren't any of you wearing uniforms?" Momonga pointed at the mast. "You don't even carry a flag."

Tobi shrugged. "Nobody bothers with uniforms, the soldiers don't have them either. It's enough to carry a gun. There's not much point in a flag, if we had one it would just be Bloody Billy's face on a piece of cloth."

Momonga took out one of the paper bills. "I take it this man is your leader?" Tobi nodded. "Why is he the one in charge? Is he the local lord?"

"He's in charge because five years ago he killed Greg Horrace who was in charge of Horraceport. And Horrace was in power because he killed Jason Thompkins who ruled Thompkinsport. Bloody Billy Turner's the strongest and so everyone does what he says until it's someone else's turn."

"I see. So this man is essentially a local warlord who rules through fear and the threat of violence."

"Is there any other way to be on top?" Tobi asked.

Momonga thought of elections and votes of no confidence in Japanese Diet. Even in the guild the members had voted for him to be guildmaster because they trusted him, not because he had the most powerful character.

"If he is the local ruler who does he owe allegiance to?"

"No one, everyone in the Delta answers to him, he doesn't answer to anyone else."

"So he's completely independent?" Momonga asked. "His realm doesn't seem all that large. Is he not part of some larger empire or nation?"

"No. There are lots of other territories with lots of other bosses, but every boss can do whatever he wants." The description made Momonga think of the Warring States Era of China, or of the Dark Ages in Europe. "It's been that way since the Last War."

"Oh? Tell me of this Last War."

Both Tobi's eyebrows leapt up. "How could anyone not know about it?"

A hand fell on his shoulder and gave a painful squeeze. "Answer Momonga-sama's question," Yuri told him.

Tobi gave a grunt of pain. Momonga waved a hand and Yuri released her grip.

"My followers and I come from a faraway place and know nothing of this war or of your land."

Tobi took a deep breath and looked at all his captors. "You're Easterners? But how could you not know, it happened there too."

"Do not ask questions of Momonga-sama," Cocytus growled.

"I… I apologize."

"Tell me about this Last War. I take it, it is important."

"It happened about two hundred years ago. The Western Alliance controlled all of Vallesara, they were a group of peaceful, technologically advanced, and enlightened nations. They built all sorts of wondrous things and their people were all rich and no one was hungry. They even travelled to the stars and to other worlds. It was a golden age. But then the treach- er, ah, the Eastern Horde of Qazvin attacked us. Cobalt bombs rained down on every city in Vallesara and burned away the land and the people. The bombs made dead lands where nothing will grow and where you will grow sick and die if you walk there. Most of the technology was gone, what we have left are just the scraps. In a few places they can still build new things, but in most, like here, it's all we Techs can do to keep the things we have running."

"I see." What was described might have happened in his own world if the Cold War had ever led to a nuclear exchange. He also suspected that if Nazarick had wound up in Qazvin rather than here they might have had a different view on events. That was irrelevant though. The important thing was that this was a post-apocalyptic setting, where the trigger events had occurred over two hundred years ago and people had not yet fully recovered. The mention of travelling to the stars and other worlds suggested a level of technology at least as advanced as on Earth, possibly more so. On his world people had walked on the moon and Mars. There had been talk from America and China about a manned mission to Europa for years, but nothing had come of it. How many 'worlds' had these people actually visited?

A very interesting question. His immediate concern was how much of that technology still existed? Clearly these people had automatic weapons, engines, radar, and likely radio communications. Obviously, if any of these people had functioning nuclear weapons that would be the worst case scenario, but given the situation described it was extremely unlikely. He would go over the list of what technologies still existed with this man very, very carefully. But that could wait.

"Tell me, what do you know of magic?"

"Nothing, I'm a Tech. I am too busy to learn party tricks."

"Party tricks," Momonga repeated slowly. "So in this world magic is something for the amusement of children?"

"I suppose there are adults who like it too. I don't think there are any regular magicians in Turnersport, but I'm sure there are a few people who can pull coins out of ears."

"What about other races?"

"Other races? You mean besides Easterners? There are the Attui and South Islanders. I don't know much about them. I've never met one and they live very far from here."

"I mean races other than man; dwarves, elves, centaurs, or goblins."

Tobi simply stared back at him.

"What about monsters? Dragons, vampires, werewolves, giants, unicorns, zombies…"

Tobi's mouth opened and closed wordlessly.

"Answer Momonga-sama," Yuri told him.

"Are you asking seriously?"

"I am," Momonga said. "Though from your reaction I can guess the answer."

"All those creatures are just stories. None of them are real."

"Is that so?" Lupisregina asked with a giggle.

Yuri motioned for her to be quiet.

Momonga glanced at Shizu. "What about robots?"

"Robots, cyborgs, and artificial intelligences are all very real, or at least were in the golden age. Some of them may still exist in some places, but not in Turnersport. The most advanced machinery we have are two Fox class mecha."

"You have mecha? Giant fighting robots?"

"The Fox class is a scout mecha, only twelve tons and not very heavily armed. I know for sure Hannover has some bigger ones; Wolf and Bear class medium combat mecha, twenty –five to forty tons. The really big mechas are Tiger, Titan, and Dragon. Those are heavy combat types ranging from sixty to a hundred and ten tons."

If what Tobi was saying was true then this world's technology was far beyond that of his world's. Drones had existed for over a century. Automated household servants were a luxury item that had only recently come on the market and cost more than a luxury car. Virtual reality existed and there were advanced computer programs that could problem solve and interact with people well enough to give the impression of a real personality. But genuine artificial intelligence didn't exist. Mecha could only be found in manga or anime.

And while the technology of this world might be different it appeared to have the same physics and natural laws as Earth. Humans were the only sentient species. Other intelligent races did not exist. Monsters did not exist. Magic did not exist.

Except for him and the forces of Nazarick. They had brought impossible things to this world and made them reality. Why? Momonga wondered. He had never been a particularly religious person, but it was undeniable that some greater force had brought him here. You could call it God, fate, aliens, or anything else you liked, but something had transported him and the guild to this world. And whatever force was responsible, Momonga was sure there had to be a reason behind it. This was not a random meteor crashing into the earth to wipe out the dinosaurs. What had happened was not possible given the known laws of physics. Something had deliberately broken those laws to deposit him and his NPCs here, with all their magic and unique abilities and items intact. It could not be an accident.

Well the philosophical ramifications of all this could wait. He looked at Shizu and Solution. "What did you find?"

Shizu stepped forward and put her crate down in front of Momonga. "There was an armory. It contained an additional six semi-automatic rifles and thirty magazines, each holding twenty-six rounds of ammunition."

Solution stepped forward and put her crate down. "We found folders with both writings and drawings. As well, there was one book."

Momonga moved to inspect the crate Solution had brought. The additional rifles and ammunition might be useful, but they had already acquired some from the prisoners. The book and papers were more interesting. Momonga looked through the folders and the papers they contained. On the sheets were blocks of text as well as drawings and various symbols connected by lines. One of them was obviously the twin machine guns on their swivel platform. Another looked like the radar dish.

"What are these?"

"Schematics for everything onboard I might have to repair; the engine, battery, radar, radio, and all the electrical systems."

"Could you build things?"

Tobi immediately nodded. "If I had the parts and plans. I'm a Tech, building and repairing machinery is what I do."

"Excellent, you may prove very useful to me. Serve me loyally and I will treat you very well, even better than your current employer has."

Tobi choked out a startled laugh. "That wouldn't be hard."

"What do you mean?"

Tobi put a finger to his cheek and traced the triangular scar there. "I'm a Tech, it would be hard to treat me worse. I was taken from my parents as a child, branded, and enrolled in school. I was taught to read and write, to do advanced mathematics, to work with my hands and to learn as much as possible so I can serve my master. When I am not working I am locked up in the school with all the other Techs. I am not entitled to free time, I am not allowed to ever marry or have a family, I may not carry any sort of weapon, I am not allowed to own anything, I am given just enough food, and required to work however many hours are needed. If this were not enough, most people loathe Techs and put up with us only because we're necessary."

"You are treated like slaves."

"Yes."

"Why? Why would people with so much intelligence and skill be treated like that?" Momonga came from a society obsessed with grades and academic standing. Where if you were accepted into an elite college you were guaranteed to be a success.

"People hate us because they blame us for the Last War, for building the bombs that killed the world. They blame us for the energy shortage and for when things break down and can't be fixed."

"You are scape goats," Momonga said with distaste. "Take my word, Tobi, I know how to reward good service."

"I understand… master."

"Swear your loyalty to me and I will accept you as one of my own.

"Momonga-sama, you'd allow an insect like this to join Nazarick?" Nabarel sounded shocked.

Momonga saw everyone present except for Sebas and Shizu nod in agreement. "I do not care what race my servants are, so long as they serve me loyally." Momonga then removed his mask to reveal his true face.

Tobi stared wide eyed. "Wh- what are you?"

"I am the arch lich Momonga, ruler of the Great Tomb of Nazarick and guildmaster of Ainz Ooal Gown. I do not expect you to understand, but I am a being unlike any you have ever imagined. Black flame." He cast a tier four spell, creating a black fire in the palm of his right hand. "What matters is that if you swear to serve me I will be a good master to you. Though should you ever break faith with me you will suffer a fate far crueler than death. If you will not swear you will merely be my prisoner, and I will make no guarantees. So, will you swear?"

Tobi licked his lips and then lowered his face all the way to the deck. "I swear eternal loyalty to you Momonga-sama."

"Good, you may stand." As Tobi rose to his feet, Momonga carefully took the book, it looked ancient. The cover had fallen off and the pager were all yellow and worn. "Your very first task will be to teach Sebas and all the Pleiades maids your language and number system." He carefully put the book back down.

"Yes, master."

Momonga nodded to Yuri. "Take all this to my private residence. Find him quarters on the ninth floor, explain to him the nature of Nazarick and give him as much food as he wants."

"And the other humans?"

"Bring them to the prison on the fifth floor for now."

"Yes, Momonga-sama."

The maids easily carried one or two prisoners over their shoulders as they led Tobi through the gate.

When they were gone Momonga turned to Sebas. "Keep a close eye on him, if he does anything suspicious inform me immediately."

The iron butler bowed to him. "Yes, Momonga-sama."