No matter how Ainz tried, he just couldn't wrap his mind around Demiurge's thought process. He'd instructed Demiurge and the others to be cautious of the New Worlds threats, not provoke them.

Staring grimly at the calling card Nero had asked team Darkness to investigate, he smothered the suffocating feeling of wading through the dark like a fool. Even if he was coming up blank for his NPC's own intentions, it didn't mean that he couldn't try to understand whatever logic was being used here.

Patting himself on the back for encouragement, Ainz reread the contents of the letter again in hopes that he'd trigger some sort of revelation or sudden epiphany.

He was having no such luck.

There was only a single line beneath the symbol of Jaldaboath that Demiurge was using.

[-In seven days, the capital will burn in hellfire]

That was it.

It was a warning, a declaration of sorts, but other than that, there was nothing much else to gleam. Scrutinizing the contents of the letter again, it didn't exactly specify which capital. It could be the Baharuth Empire's capital, or the Re-Estize Kingdom's, maybe even Roble and the other nations Ainz had heard of in passing. Regardless, what didn't change was that it was the merchants who helped distribute the letters for coin. Upon interrogation, many mysteriously died upon verifying that there were more than a few letters in existence. Any other prodding for who tasked the merchants with the delivery of the letters or why was met with mysterious and inexplicable deaths.

It was clear that Demiurge only wanted the relevant information to be distributed and nothing else. This showed that he was still being mindfully abiding to Ainz's instructions not to draw attention to himself. This was at least heartening enough for Ainz.

Folding the letter and storing it away, Ainz considered what he'd do from here.

He'd already accepted this task from Nero which in hindsight was a boon as he could handle damage control. One would never expect a lead investigator to be involved with the perpetrator of a crime. However, that didn't mean he could afford complacency.

Thinking to himself, it was here when he felt a light bump on the back of his armour plate.

Glancing behind him, he noticed Narberal dazedly rubbing at her forehead while lost in thought.

She had been quietly standing next to Ainz for quite some time now, and had not spoken a word, her features scrunched into a concerned frown.

Seeing that sort of expression on Narberal's face, Ainz was far from comfortable with it. If there was an issue bothering his NPCs, then it was his duty as their creator to allow them to live happily.

"Nabe, is something on your mind?" Ainz asked, momentarily putting aside the issue of the letter and taking Narberal aback.

If anything, the fact that Narberal grew startled at Ainz's inquiry was due cause for concern.

"N-Nothing of the sort Milord," she stammered, convincing Ainz all the more that there was something wrong.

When Ainz considered that the only things his NPCs valued above all else was either him or the matters of the Great Tomb, and then combined those two, it painted a grim picture.

"Did something happen in the tomb?" Ainz pressed, dreading the worst. He had a feeling Narberal and the others wouldn't be above not telling him about issues they thought they could solve if it meant troubling him. "Did Albedo contact you?"

"Nothing happened," Narberal schooled her features, but she didn't dare lie with Ainz so serious. "I was reporting back to Lady Albedo about your-" Narberal coughed. "-our status as instructed. I was just lost in thought since we left that manor."

It could have just been him, but Ainz was fairy sure that Narberal had just snarled? He shook his head, and when he looked at her again, her expression was as impassive as usual.

More importantly, "What did you think of Nero?"

The question was a genuine one. Nero was a person that even the founding members of the Nine's Own Goal had found uplifting and worth dedicating their cause towards. If anything, talking about Nero and her antics seemed to lift Ainz's mood even now.

"Heartening, isn't she?"

Unbeknownst to Ainz, but Narberal's fists were balled into fists so tightly that her nails were digging into her palms- all in an effort to keep her face blank. Ooh boy, did she have a very different opinion.

"…I wouldn't quite use heartening, but certainly if you say so Milord," she managed to force out between clenched teeth.

"It's Momon, Nabe. We are in a public space."

Narberal blinked at the reminder, aloof features suddenly growing flustered as she blundered with this simple order again and again. "A-Apologies."

She made to bow in regret, but was stopped by Ainz placing a hand on her shoulder and shaking his head. The action would only serve to draw more attention to them. Finally, when Ainz didn't seem like he'd pursue the matter, Narberal tried to be a bit bolder, knowing that she needed to base things off of Ainz's opinion rather than just her own.

"A query if I may?" Narberal tilted her head up to stare at Ainz, arms by her side, only to be chastised again.

"I told you not to be so formal," Ainz rested a palm over his face.

"I, ugh, yes!" You are a failure Narberal. A failure. Stop making the same mistakes, and do not disappoint the supreme one any further! No more blunders. Cautiously, and in light of recent developments, Narberal chose to subtly defer to Ainz's judgement. "Hypothetically, if Lady Albedo were to leave the tomb and join us, would you be…averse?"

Ainz would have blinked if he had skin over his face, but in light of having only a skull, the glow of his eyes merely flickered in surprise.

"It's not about whether I'd like it or not. Did we not speak of this prior?" Ainz asked, puzzled. "Albedo is the Overseer. Having her out of the tomb in an adventurer team would limit her crucial administrative abilities, and I currently need her to watch over the tomb in my stead. Why bring this up again?"

"…No reason." Narberal did not dare divulge her thoughts, and allayed her fears of displeasing her lord by contacting her fellow Pleiades to monitor Albedo for any rash actions. She was not to abandon her post. A dereliction of duty here would make her no better than Shalltear, and Narberal could already imagine Shalltear's reception back in Nazarick.

Narberal couldn't lie or withstand her lord's scrutiny for long, so she needed to change the subject. "What will you have us do now?"

Ainz struggled at the curve ball. A difficult question right from the beginning then.

What he wanted to do was return to the Great Tomb to resolve Cocytus's matter, but what he needed to do was sort out the situation lest things get out of hand in his absence. He could potentially leave things to Narberal, but that was just asking for trouble given her character.

"Where's Shirou?" Ainz asked instead of answering.

Narberal didn't delay in giving a response. She gestured with her head in the direction of Nero's manor where Shirou was talking with Arche, Hekkeran, and Imina at the front gate. "He's conversing with the insects that offered to help with the investigation."

"Oh, people under Nero?" Ainz nodded. "There'd be no need to doubt their competency. Nero has good eyes." Ainz felt no shame in his statement despite indirectly praising himself and his guildmates who Nero had recruited and entrusted with various missions in the faction quests.

A vein popped over Narberal's temples, and her eyes took on a lifeless hue. "Oh, your insight is impeccable Lord Momon."

To report these words to Lady Albedo or not? Narberal clenched her jaw, her teeth gritting until she managed to compose herself and ignore it. Narberal couldn't risk Lady Albedo snapping and losing her sense of reason.

"That woman's people are a group previously called Foresight," Narberal began to explain cordially, few if any realizing that she was actively avoiding Nero's name as if it were a plague. "They're locals, and would know more about the Empire's underground dealings than the average bug."

"Is that so?" Ainz hummed while judging the distance between them and Shirou to be sufficient enough to still be out of earshot. "Any luck getting in contact with Demiurge?" He asked Narberal discreetly.

"We have an insufficient number of message scrolls."

An insufficient amount? Ainz did a double take. "Didn't we still have one left? When did you use it?"

"…Earlier."

She didn't even ask him? What sort of emergency was it? Ainz still had message scroll in his inventory, but until the Great Tomb could consolidate production methods, he'd rather use them sparingly.

"We'll talk about this later."

"Y-Yes."

Narberal tucked her head between her shoulders, unable to meet Ainz's gaze. He was surely disappointed in her performance. The only saving grace was that Shirou had chosen this moment to finish discussion with team Foresight. He was already walking back to the party, so neither Ainz or Narberal could discuss anything confidential anymore.

"Anything?" Ainz asked when Shirou stopped within a few feet of him.

Shirou nodded before he started to explain. "I got a bit of information. Hekkeran supposed our best bet was to start at one of the taverns they use to frequent. A lot of information passes through there from travelling merchants, vagrants, and wanderers."

Ainz nodded while Narberal remained expressionless.

With a path in mind, and no more business in Nero's manor as far as Narberal was concerned, it was time to leave this temptresses abode!

For the first time since Narberal's journey with Ainz, she took the initiative to lead her Lord and the honorary human towards the location Shirou specified.

The tavern Hekkeran had detailed to Shirou wasn't the usual bar the Baharuth Empire's Worker groups frequented, but was instead more of an inn. Located near the periphery of the central town market, it served beer and ale as a staple for guests, and was furnished enough to house horses and wagons.

"This should be it," Shirou said while giving the establishment a once over.

Compared to Nero's manor, it was expectedly subpar with thatched roofing instead of a shingle-like design, and the use of more timber and wood than brick or mortar. The scent of alcohol permeated throughout the diner area that branched off from the lodging zones.

"It's a hovel," Narberal was not subtle in her views, raising a brow at several hookers who were glaring at her as if she was threatening their business. Bugs. All of them. As if the advances of any arthropods would be able to move her to even give them a smidgen of attention.

"Nabe," Ainz reminded, trying not to make a scene.

Grunting, Narberal pulled up her hood and tried to conceal her features while Ainz hunched his shoulders to seem less imposing. The actions of the two were futile. Even hidden, Narberal's allure still attracted attention while Ainz's lustrous armour was doing him no favours.

Oddly, no one seemed to make a fuss about it, as they weren't the only ones of note within the tavern.

"Oh, a beauty has appeared?"

Shirou's brow twitched at the familiar voice, while Narberal scowled. In contrast, it was hard to tell how Ainz was reacting from within his armour plating.

There seated by the counter trying to chat up the waitress was Merlin whose attention had shifted to Narberal and co.

"Care for a little chat?" Merlin called out, waving an arm after finishing a mug of ale. "Distinguished ones like yourselves aren't known to frequent these parts. Is it information you're looking for? Then you've found your man. You see, I hear a lot things while out philandering. Rumours here, speculations there, but I can guarantee any lady both a good time-" the man winked at Narberal who growled under her breath. "-and the ability to discern truth from lies in hearsay."

The entire group remained silent, standing there like a deer caught in the headlights. It was only Shirou who was giving Merlin the flattest stare he could muster, but Merlin was unphased. Standing up, Merlin moved to a more secluded table away from prying ears and gestured them over.

Again, no one moved. Shirou out of exasperation, Narberal deferring to Ainz, and Ainz well, still rooted in place.

"Why? Don't believe me?" Merlin made a wronged face before he grinned smugly. "What if I say that the missing persons case said to have been recently resolved, had more to it than money and greed? The workings of a…Jaldaboath, perhaps?"

Now Merlin had Shirou's attention. When last he'd parted with Merlin, Merlin had been looking into things for him. He fact he appeared now meant that he must have found details on something.

In comparison, the words had finally snapped Ainz out of his dread induced daze.

"Oh, caught your attention?" Merlin raised his brows suggestively before snorting. "I am quite the handsome gentleman if I do say so myself. Take a seat. Take a seat! There'll be enough for everyone. Haha, cheers! Waitress, more drinks!"

The barmaid who was acting as the tavern's waitress gave Shirou and the others helpless looks before pouting at Merlin. She was the tavern owner's daughter, and knew that for as good looking as Merlin was, s-she couldn't allow herself to be swayed. Her father would scold her, and her mother would…would probably encourage her.

Nevertheless, the barmaid cleared her throat and tentatively broached the topic of payment. This was far from Mr. Merlin's first drink.

"Mr. Merlin, do you really have enough-"

"On the house, right my ravishing Margret, dear?" Merlin smiled, his charming features deepening the waitress's breaths. Her mouth kept opening and closing to get words out, but nothing was coming as she lost herself in Merlin's playful eyes.

Flustered, she lifted her drink tray over her face, blushed, then fled the scene, much to the scowling displeasure of other rugged patrons of the establishment. The reason Shirou and the others didn't draw as much attention for their attire and demeanor was due solely to Merlin drawing the aggression.

Additionally, the way Narberal regarded Merlin after observing what he'd just done, and the 'feel' of him, had her suspicious. He almost reminded her of Albed-

"Incubus," Narberal abruptly muttered under her breath in realization; her tightened features loosening if only because it felt like she was talking to a person rather than the bugs buzzing around the tavern.

It didn't help Merlin's case that flowers were constantly blooming at his feet, and yet none of the humans seemed to notice as if cast under an illusion.

"Apologies, I've yet to introduce myself," Merlin inclined his head in mischievous greeting. "I am the wandering wizard, Merlin."

Indeed. Ainz sucked in a breath. He was no longer as surprised by this point at the emergence of another renowned character in YYGDRASIL, but was instead growing more and more cautious.

He had to play this safe. To play it cool. Better a friend, than a foe like Merlin.

Merlin was a buffer. His magic could make a trash-tier mob into a formidable foe, but at least his combat capabilities weren't known to be overwhelming.

This was still manageable. The only problem was that Ainz knew that Merlin was an expectational Magic Caster. More than anyone, Merlin might be able to see through Ainz's guise of Perfect Warrior.

The less Ainz spoke and gave anything away, the better.

"We're looking for information about a demon named Jaldaboath. From your words, you have it?" Shirou began discussions with Merlin, taking a seat on the same table.

Ainz was elated. Everyone feared a horrible teammate, but everyone knew how precious reliable teammates were.

Unknown to Ainz, but Shirou and Merlin were acquainted.

Shirou knew that although Merlin could be 'difficult' at the worst of times, he was also the chief Advisor to the King of Camelot. His intuition, intellect, and wisdom weren't to be overlooked. By introducing himself as a stranger, Merlin had deduced that Shirou wanted to stay low key at a glance and instantly played along.

"Jaldaboath sent a letter warning of the destruction of the capital in seven days. Based on the testimonies of merchants questioned about the sender of the letters, several of these letters were distributed out through the kingdoms," Shirou explained while gesturing for Ainz and Narberal to take a seat.

"How intriguing," Merlin processed what Shirou had said, and integrated it with the information he'd managed to already dig up. It was all painting a certain picture in his mind.

"Intriguing is not what we're looking for," Narberal interjected, her arms crossing.

"Perhaps I could offer my insights then…for a price?"

Merlin winked at Narberal who's lips twitched, but she wasn't as disgusted as she would normally be with humans. Rather, she looked more annoyed than anything.

Left unsaid, but Ainz was the most irked at Merlin's pass at Narberal. Think of it like a father watching a boy openly flirt with their daughter right in front of them, yet Ainz understood that it was within this womanizing wizard's character. Hell, a married woman might even be more attractive to him.

Focus, Ainz reminded himself. This could even be a fortunate encounter.

Ainz could not make heads or tails about Demiurge's intentions, but perhaps someone of Merlin's wit would have better luck? Lore wise, Merlin was the mentor of Camelot's monster of a King.

"May I see the letter?" Merlin asked.

Shirou nodded towards Ainz who gave the letter to Merlin who opened it, and glimpsed through it with limpid eyes. "Well, isn't this amusing," Merlin's lips tugged upward.

"Did you get anything from it? It only had a single sentence and nothing much else to go on?" Ainz inquired, genuinely curious.

Merlin's gaze snapped up to Ainz, and Ainz began to sweat, doubting about whether he should have opened his mouth or not. At the same time, staying quiet the entire conversation would be too odd.

In the end, Merlin hummed and turned away while saying, "sometimes simplicity gives the most away."

Ainz couldn't tell if that statement was directed towards him, or the letter. All that mattered was that the rising panic within him was smothered by his emotional suppressants.

Merlin refolded the letter in front of him, and gave it back to Ainz.

"Care to elaborate, Merlin?" Shirou asked, crossing his arms and leaning back into his seat. "What you said is too vague."

"Precisely," Merlin leaned over the table and steepled his fingers in front of him for dramatic effect. "The simplicity of the letter makes it evident that the sender does not know the recipient. I can assume that the other letters distributed would be identical to this one if investigated."

"So?" Narberal knit her brows, gesturing at Merlin to get to the point.

"It's bait."

Silence ensued at this single statement, shivers running down Ainz's back.

"A lure specifically designed to attract and isolate a certain type of fool."

"Who are?" Ainz swallowed, forcing down his suspicions about Demiurge's intentions.

A single word allayed all doubt as Merlin's features grew solemn.

"Heroes."

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