What kind of being was that enormous skeleton before him? That was Jierunifu's first thought upon seeing Ainz Ooal Gown.
Though equipped with an accessory to ward off mental attacks, he could still feel the extraordinary pressure and imposing aura emanating from Ainz Ooal Gown.
What should he do? There was no turning back now. Ainz Ooal Gown's gaze remained fixed on him, clearly observing him.
No... he had to pull himself together. As the Emperor of the Empire, he couldn't let the Empire's reputation be damaged. At the very least, he had to make him acknowledge his worth, only then would the Empire have a chance to survive!
"Let's go!" Jierunifu said, seemingly to his subordinates behind him, but in truth, he was speaking to himself, fearing he might flee the battle.
Hmm... what was that?
Was that the Princess the Black Worker mentioned earlier?
She certainly looked similar... no... she was practically identical!
However... this Princess's demeanor and aura felt much more intense than that Black Worker's, Jierunifu thought upon seeing the exquisitely dressed Princess.
Upon arriving before Ainz Ooal Gown and looking up... the pressure intensified. And the Princess and her attendants beside him gave Jierunifu the illusion that he could be torn apart at any moment.
"You! All of you, kneel!" The Princess spoke at a most inopportune moment.
Jierunifu found it strange; what was this Princess doing? In such a formal reception, according to etiquette, a Princess shouldn't even be present. Yet, this Princess quite 'willfully' ordered the visitors to kneel.
Just as Jierunifu was thinking this, he heard several sounds of metal clanking against the ground behind him. Without even looking back, Jierunifu knew that his accompanying retainers must have obeyed the 'willful' Princess's command and all knelt!
This! This must be mental magic! Fortunately, he had his anti-mental attack accessory... otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Since only Jierunifu remained standing, Ainz Ooal Gown's subordinates' gazes all converged on him, sending chills down Jierunifu's spine.
"That's enough, my daughter. They are guests; do not be rude," Ainz Ooal Gown said to his daughter in a remarkably calm tone.
Such a placid tone? This 'willful' Princess must have done something quite outrageous, right?
If this were in the Empire, and his own children did something similar to what this Princess did when he met with important figures from other countries, he would certainly punish them severely, without exception, even his own children.
However, Ainz Ooal Gown merely said something so calmly, it didn't even feel like a reprimand.
Uh... that explains why this Princess was so 'willful'; Ainz Ooal Gown must have spoiled her, right? It also explains why this Princess, upon encountering Black Workers who closely resembled her, immediately released them all.
"Oh... then, rise!" The Princess replied with a rather dejected expression, and he heard the sound of metal armor rubbing behind him again, indicating the spell was lifted.
But seeing the Princess's dejected face, utterly without remorse, Jierunifu finally understood what kind of 'nature' this Princess possessed.
"Then, Lord Jierunifu Len Farlord El Nies, you have come a long way, and my 'willful' daughter has offended you. It is indeed my fault for not disciplining my daughter properly. If you wish, I am willing to apologize to you, even if it's just a bow," Ainz Ooal Gown said.
Apologize? For you to apologize? It was clearly that Princess's fault... why should you apologize?
While it's true that upbringing is a parent's responsibility, it seemed, no matter how he looked at it, that this Princess acted on her own initiative, right?
Hmm? Or... was everything pre-arranged?
No... Jierunifu immediately felt a very unsettling sense of discord.
Afterwards, watching his retainer present the scapegoat noble's head, Jierunifu only then noticed... the discord from earlier.
Could it be that Ainz Ooal Gown's apology was intentionally meant to guide him towards discussing this incident?
No, no... he had come specifically for this matter, so it would have been brought up regardless... Then, was he simply being protective?
Uh... he didn't understand.
The head was presented. He had kept this noble for so long, precisely for this purpose... Anyway, dead men tell no tales. Although he didn't know how much information Ainz Ooal Gown had about this invasion, in any case, this matter had to be covered up as much as possible!
But could it truly be covered up? Sending two Dark Elves to slaughter people in his country like a threat, displaying their power—wasn't that a clear sign of their immense anger?
The best course of action now was to adamantly insist that this noble acted on his own initiative, and that it had nothing to do with his own intentions!
"Then I shall accept it. How should I dispose of it? It's too wasteful to simply discard it," Ainz Ooal Gown before him said.
Hmm... indeed! This was sarcasm, wasn't it! So that was it. Ainz Ooal Gown truly knew that this noble was merely a scapegoat.
This was largely within his expectations, but the question was, what was his source of information?
Then, when Jierunifu saw that noble's head transform into a Death Knight in Ainz Ooal Gown's hand, he desperately suppressed the urge to tremble. He could actually create a Death Knight directly!
Could it be that as long as there were human corpses, he could create them endlessly?!
No... that couldn't be so absurd, could it?
Fulda had mentioned this thing... one of them could destroy the Empire. If they could be created endlessly... then didn't that mean... Jierunifu dared not think further.
"I said you don't need to apologize anymore; you may return. We also have many things to attend to next," Ainz Ooal Gown said quite calmly.
What? When he first told him to return, he thought he had misheard, which was why he deliberately asked for confirmation again.
He didn't expect... what was he trying to do?
Wasn't Ainz Ooal Gown calling him here to apologize for some purpose? Now he was standing right at his doorstep! So why would he forgive him so easily?
Jierunifu was instantly 'confused'.
This wasn't right! Wait! What did he just say? He had many things to attend to? What things?! He had to confirm! Even if it angered him, he had to confirm! Jierunifu thought, then mustered his courage and asked.
But the answer he received filled Jierunifu with despair; it was too insane!
To reclaim his land!
No... judging by what Ainz Ooal Gown had shown him... his military strength, financial power, and his own personal might! He could absolutely achieve it!
Oh no! This is bad! Was his purpose in calling him here precisely this?
A declaration of war!
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