CHAPTER 17:

THE BLUE ROSES AND THE GOLDEN PRINCESS

After contacting Keno, she confirmed that they were soon to embark on a mission to deal with another Black Flour farm. However, this news they had to give her had her ask to bring the Blue Roses, along with Princess Renner herself, over. Because such an august personage was coming to the mansion, she was not only bringing along her own personal bodyguard, but also Gazef Stronoff.

Albedo had yet to meet the Blue Roses in person, save for Keno. However, she had seen them in Harry's memories, as he had met them a couple of times on trips to Re-Estize. She had donned Harry's ring to maintain a human appearance, and Harry had given Momonga something similar, basically making him appear to be a version of his original human self, albeit suitably resized to suit his Overlord frame.

Lakyus was a noble beauty, and while she was far beneath most in Nazarick, Albedo could admit to seeing the conviction of the cleric rolling off her. Tia and Tina were athletic assassins, once sent to kill Lakyus, though she somehow persuaded them to become her allies instead, an intriguing feat. Gargaran was a hulking lump of muscle who looked more like a man than a woman, looking like a more grotesque version of that woman from that Game of Thrones show Harry showed her, Brienne of Tarth.

Gazef Stronoff, of course, she recognised, and she had to respect the man's strength and conviction for a human. The earnest teenaged boy accompanying him and the Princess was introduced as his protégé and Renner's bodyguard, Climb. Unlike Stronoff, the boy seemed to have too much disgusting naïveté in his eyes.

It was the princess, however, who was the most curious person in the room, at least that she was meeting for the first time. She was actually quite beautiful, Albedo felt, eclipsing the other humans present. But Albedo, with her keen intelligence, had already sensed that her gentle, demure smile, was a mask. Masking what, she wasn't sure yet, but Albedo could tell, with the intelligence needed to administrate the differing personalities of the Floor Guardians, that it was a mask. The Golden Princess had a secret, and Albedo decided to find out what it was.

Tuare was still resting, while Ninya had gone back to Carne, her resolve found once more, while Antilene had gone to check on Arche and her sisters. Instead, they were relaying what they had learned. To cover for Sebas and Solution, Momonga had told these visitors that he had sent Sebas and Solution into Re-Estize to purchase items that he didn't have or lacked from his travels. The Blue Roses knew this was false, but Renner, Climb and Stronoff didn't need to know. It wasn't wholly a lie either.

"I see," Renner remarked. "So, your associate stumbled across this unfortunate, and you believe this incident could have links to the Eight Fingers?"

"We do not have any hard evidence, of course," Momonga said, "but already, thanks to Hal and Evileye, we know of their notoriety, including in trafficking drugs and humans. But even if Tuare was recovered enough psychologically to give testimony, I doubt it would hold weight here."

"Unfortunately, you're correct," Lakyus said grimly. "What's more, we've heard rumours that, in response to our raids against their facilities, the Six Arms are mobilising."

"Their enforcers," Albedo remarked. "If they were Adventurers, they would be on a par with the Blue Roses and other Adamantite Adventuring parties, in theory. I'm curious, do you have intelligence on their membership, or that of the Eight Fingers?" Demiurge was currently gathering intel himself, but it wouldn't hurt to have other sources.

"The Six Arms are more or less publicly known, albeit by pseudonyms for the most part, and are infamous, though the leadership of the Eight Arms are more obscure. We suspect, but we don't know for certain," Renner said.

"Evileye, do you have anything?" Harry asked.

The masked vampire nodded. "I'll discuss it with you later. Do you intend to take on the Eight Fingers?"

"I find their presence in this country displeasing," Momonga said. "There will always be crime and those who exploit the vulnerable, that is a fact of society and life. However, I cannot stomach the thought of sex slavery, amongst so many other vile things the Eight Fingers profit off. If you wish for help in waging war on them, then you need only ask."

"And what would you expect in return?" Stronoff asked. "I am already in your debt personally, and tomes on Martial Arts skills only go so far to repay that debt, as far as I am concerned. But to take on the Eight Fingers…"

"If Momonga is anything like Hal, Captain Stronoff, we have little to worry about," Keno said. "They do not consider things in terms of debts like that. Remember what I told you after you expressed your concerns about Hal's links to Emperor Jircniv. And considering that, in performing these raids, we risk censure with the Adventurers' Guild at best, it may be better to have others doing that work as well."

"Well, it could be fun," Momonga mused. "The curious thing is, criminals become indignant when people do unto them what they did unto others. Arson and property damage, for example."

"A pyromaniac, huh?" Gargaran asked. "I thought that was more Hal's thing."

"Actually, we just love spells that go boom," Harry said facilely, and Albedo couldn't help but giggle. She also had the feeling that Keno was rolling her eyes behind her mask. Of course, Momonga had spells that specialised in necromancy and death magic, but they didn't need to know that.

Renner seemed to come to a decision, before handing over a sheaf of paper. "The Blue Roses trust Hal, and through Hal, Momonga. Therefore, I will trust you with this. It's the location of a Black Flour farm not far away from the city, owned by a corrupt noble who has thrown his lot in with the Eight Fingers. I will have Evileye go with you as insurance, but I suspect there may be valuable intelligence. Aside from destroying the Black Flour farm, I wish for you to gather any documentation that could give us pointers, no matter how small. I would suggest searching before you destroy the farm."

"Very well," Momonga said, taking the sheaf. "I do have a question. Several, actually, but the most pertinent would be how conspicuous you want the destruction of the farm to be?"

Keno took that moment to intervene. "Just razing it to the ground would be fine," the vampire said. "The soil should be in good enough condition to till again, for food crops."

Stronoff looked to Keno in confusion. "Pardon me, Lady Evileye, but why specify that?"

Momonga cleared his throat, insomuch as a skeletal undead could actually clear his throat. "Why she specified this was simple, Captain Stronoff. I do have spells in my arsenal that could leave the area inarable for some time. In other words, unable to be farmed. And Her Highness strikes me as something of a pragmatist, a rare combination with her public idealism. Destroying the farmland and rendering it unusable is a waste of resources. I will admit, I get a little…enthusiastic about casting some of my more spectacular spells. You did not witness my attack on the Sunlight Scripture in full, but I had fun using some of my spells on those fanatics and their summons. It didn't hurt that they were more than willing to slaughter innocents for the sake of their ideology."

"I see," Stronoff said, frowning, before nodding. "As long as you don't target innocents yourself, Momonga."

"Hal would never forgive me if I did," Momonga said.

"Good. Lady Evileye vouched for Hal, and for you, despite Hal's ties to Emperor Jircniv. You'll forgive me for being a little wary regardless. I am required to keep an eye out for any threats to His Majesty."

Albedo nearly sneered, but contained herself. But she did say pointedly, "And yet, much of the nobility of this kingdom circle like vultures, seeking to take advantage of him. They collaborated with the Slane Theocracy to see you assassinated, with entire villages deemed acceptable collateral damage, and if it were not for serendipity and our intervention, they would have succeeded. You are a superlatively skilled and strong man, Captain Stronoff, and with a well-developed sense of honour. But your skill, strength, or honour cannot save you from the enemies within the kingdom. They care little for your better qualities, only for your former station, and that you are loyal to the king they intend to usurp or at least control. Your vigilance is notable, but against them, it amounts to little."

Climb started forward, a rather amusing look of righteous indignation on his features. "Now see here…!"

"Climb, don't," Stronoff said, looking to Albedo. "As much as I hate to admit it, Albedo speaks the truth. But the best I can do is to have my king's back, to ensure no blades are plunged into it."

"Then that is all the more reason to take on the Eight Fingers, even if I had all the reasons I needed to already," Momonga said. "I intend to take them on because they are criminals profiting from human misery on a grand scale. There are doubtlessly many girls like Tuare, suffering thanks to them. And if I weaken or even topple them, then it means the influence of many of the nobles they supported will be lessened, nobles whom were part of the pro-nobility faction, which should help your king."

"…You'd be able to take down the Eight Fingers?" Lakyus asked. She shot Keno a questioning look.

The vampire nodded. "Hal could do it himself if he wanted to, albeit once he had enough information. Nine's Own Goal as a whole, though? I'd pity the Eight Fingers if they weren't so vile. The only reason why he hasn't before is because he lacks our intelligence resources, and he's been trying to keep a low profile for the past little while. He has a couple of powerful enemies, Captain Stronoff. We'd appreciate your discretion, and that of Climb and Princess Renner."

"Understood," Stronoff said. "Your enemies must be strong indeed, though."

Keno said, "Captain Stronoff…one of them was Rigrit. I know she has helped you in the past, but…she betrayed Hal a long time ago, out of jealousy. I ask that you don't bring him up around her."

"Lady Rigrit? But…I…" Stronoff turned to Harry. "I see. But neither of you mean any harm to Re-Estize?"

"Only if they do harm to us," Harry said. "The average citizen shouldn't have anything to fear from us. As for Rigrit…she had me imprisoned for a long time because I would not return her affections, and she collaborated with another, someone who is high up in the government of the Argland Council State. That's all I'm willing to say for now, Captain Stronoff. I understand that you are a good and honourable man, but you'd find it hard to countenance parts of my story, or what I am willing to do for the sake of vengeance, and I'd rather get to know you better before we discuss anything of the sort."

Stronoff, after a moment, nodded. "Very well. I look forward to that day."

Albedo, meanwhile, didn't fail to note that Renner's expression became thoughtful, her sapphire blue eyes being almost like lasers. It was subtle, but there. Covertly, she activated Message, and, without speaking, she sent, "Harry…the princess…use Legilimency."

He must have done so, because she heard, albeit faintly, his breath catch, like a soft gasp of surprise. Then, he replied, "Albedo…Momonga…we need to tread carefully around her…"

After the meeting, and the Blue Roses, Renner, Stronoff and Climb left, Momonga looked to Harry. "What happened?"

Harry looked over to Albedo. "Albedo seemed to notice something was up with the princess, and she suggested I use Legilimency on her. And I'm glad I did. Renner could either be a great ally, or a cunning enemy. She may have the looks of a Disney Princess, but she's got the heart and soul of a yandere demon, no offence intended, Albedo."

Albedo smirked. "Some taken, my love. But all is forgiven."

"Renner is a genius, and I don't say that lightly," Harry continued. "The problem is, being a genius and not appreciated, even being called a monster by her brothers…it stunted her psychological growth. She knows how to fake empathy, and understands people on an intellectual level, but in truth, she's a sociopath. She only cares about Climb, and the things I saw in her head about him…" He shuddered, having glimpsed her sexual fantasies about her bodyguard, twisted stuff even Peroroncino would blanch at. "Now that I come to think about it, Jircniv did make a few comments in passing about her, that he hated her, but he never told me why. I think he knows what she is like, at least subconsciously. But Renner is also a pragmatist, and she could end up being an asset. Albedo, I think you and Demiurge should work on that."

The dark-haired Succubus bowed. "Understood. Incidentally, Demiurge and I have been working on a draft plan for dealing with the Eight Fingers, on Momonga's…sorry, Satoru's suggestion. We call it Operation Gehenna. I have had to modify some of Demiurge's suggestions, reminding him that we are to avoid targeting innocents. However, I will point out that this will be a false flag operation, designed to distract the Re-Estize Kingdom from the true culprits behind the Eight Fingers' dismantling, as well as bolster the reputation of Momon and Shizu as Adventurers."

"…And how will that work?" Harry asked, wondering if he should be worried.

"Demiurge will pose as a demon known as Jaldabaoth," Albedo said. "I believe he took the name from the same source as his own name, from Gnosticism. Jaldabaoth will have been summoned by the Eight Fingers as a means to take on their enemies, only, he has turned on them, and will take them as sacrifices to fuel his power. Jaldabaoth will then threaten the capital, along with his minions. We were considering bringing in the Pleiades in disguise, but we're still working out the details. During this attack, Momon and Shizu will oppose Jaldabaoth and his minions in a spectacular battle many will witness. The battle, as I said, is a cover for the abduction of the Eight Fingers, their uprooting. Any of use, we intend to use. Otherwise, we will slay them or have them sent for experimentation."

"It's not a bad plan," Satoru mused.

"Not sure I like it, but as long as no innocents get involved, I'm fine. I think we should have the Blue Roses in on it too. They've invested a lot of work into fighting the Eight Fingers. Lakyus and Gargaran may object, but after what they learned about Rigrit…" Harry shook his head. "Speaking of the Eight Fingers, do we have any fresh intel on key members?"

"I believe Demiurge is compiling the latest reports, but I believe he has some potential news. In any case, when should we deal with this Black Flour farm?" Albedo asked.

Harry looked at the documents Renner left them. "We'll go tonight. I'll get Antilene and Leinas in on it too. I think Leinas has been itching to test her mettle again. A shame we can't use some of our flashier spells. Fallen Down would reduce those farms to glass-lined craters, and The Goal of All Life is Death would reduce them to a desert, I'd guess."

"I feel the same way, but they did want them able to be farmed again, with actual food crops, I'd imagine," Satoru said. "God, it's like old times, raiding guild bases and taking their stuff."

"Yeah, like old times," Harry murmured nostalgically.

CHAPTER 17 ANNOTATIONS:

So, there you have it. Alliances have been made, but will they last? Also, the truth has been discovered about Princess Yandere McRapeface…sorry, I mean Renner.

Review-answering time! framfrit: If you don't mind, I'd like the pages where this is brought up in the light novel. From my searching of the wiki, the implication that Solution aborted Tuare and ate the foetus appears to be only in the anime.

Santaniel of Zodiac: Actually, Arche's fate in the web novel was to be killed off, but the author actually put it into a reader poll. They voted for Arche to be spared, and when she was spared, so were her sisters. However, Maruyama apparently hated this, thinking it too OOC for Nazarick and Momonga by that point, so he changed it for the light novels. What's more, although this is only implied in the novels and the anime, according to Maruyama, the Furts eventually sold off their remaining daughters into slavery, and they died of overwork.

Skull Flame: They get along well enough with Albedo too, as well as Sebas, Yuri and Shizu.

No numbered annotations this time.