Chapter 297: 297 ’Nazarick
"Hmm?"
In the grassland, Reiger felt something and his eyebrows twitched slightly.
He could sense that soon after he had released the "Arc-shaped Beam," a surge of Magic Power suddenly descended from the sky and swept around.
It was not aimed at Reiger, but radiated outward in all directions.
"Are they detecting if there are any ambushes around? Is it just me here, or are there more people waiting?"
Reiger could vaguely guess the other party’s intentions, so he didn’t rush and just stood there, quietly waiting.
What made Reiger feel uncomfortable was that the opponent was also not in a hurry; they did not come down immediately, but used several kinds of magic in succession, causing Magic Power to radiate outward.
Using his own senses, Reiger could only vaguely identify among these magics some that interfered with detection, some that would trigger upon detecting unusual movements, and others that rendered abilities like stealth and invisibility ineffective.
The creature in the sky was extremely cautious, setting up all these kinds of magics, and Reiger could recognize several of them already, let alone those he couldn’t recognize which were likely to be even more.
"Isn’t this...a bit too cautious?"
Reiger was somewhat speechless.
He remembered that the protagonist in the original work was indeed a very cautious character, even to the point of utmost caution, but knowing that was one thing, facing such a situation firsthand was another.
"It seems that this protagonist from the original work and I don’t really see eye to eye."
Reiger was someone who disliked the status quo, loved seeking thrills, and was willing to take risks that others found frightening.
Such a person, meeting with a character who, even at full level, was so cautious it was maddening, really just didn’t mesh well.
However, Reiger did not show it and continued to stand there, patiently waiting, maintaining a facade of calm and composure.
In such a situation, the opponent still had no intention of coming down.
About fifteen minutes later, Reiger faintly sensed that many creatures appeared to have arrived in the vicinity.
They were like a wolf pack lurking in the forest, quietly approaching Reiger and surrounding him.
Among them, several fell within Reiger’s clear world, even emanating a power that was threatening to him.
——"Guardians."
The word flashed through Reiger’s mind.
The so-called Guardians referred to the strongest group of NPCs in the Nasalik Underground Tomb.
According to the original work, the Nasalik Underground Tomb was initially an outdoor magic den until it was taken over by the Alien Species Guild "Ainz Ooal Gown" and transformed into a composite fortress with ten distinctive levels.
The first to third levels of this underground fortress were indeed tombs, the fourth was an underground lake, the fifth an ice glacier, the sixth a jungle, the seventh magma, the eighth a wilderness, the ninth royal suites, and the tenth the throne room.
The organizational structure of Nasalik was also very strict.
There, the highest status was held by the original 41 members of the "Ainz Ooal Gown" Guild, known as the Supreme Sovereigns.
Beneath them were the NPCs created by the 41 guild members.
The NPCs were of equal status, but due to different positions, there was a hierarchy.
Guardians were the highest-ranking of these NPCs, second only to the 41 Supreme Sovereigns.
The Guardians of the Nasalik Underground Tomb were divided into two types.
One kind was the Floor Guardians, responsible for one or several floors.
The other type was the Domain Guardians responsible for guarding specific areas of the floors.
The Domain Guardians were managed by the Floor Guardians and tasked with guarding select areas, so typically, when referring to Guardians in Nasalik, it generally meant the Floor Guardians.
Each of them was a level 100 character from "YGGDRASIL", with some even stronger than the players, including the protagonist of the original, who ruled the Nasalik Underground Tomb.
Now, such a group of beings seemed to have all come here, bringing along Nasalik’s alien troops, surreptitiously surrounding him.
"Interesting."
Reiger didn’t feel puzzled anymore; instead, he looked toward the few that emanated an exceptionally strong sense of power and gently raised his hand.
"——"
In an instant, the entities hidden in the shadows seemed to be provoked into alertness, each releasing a subtle aura of malice.
This aura was different from that of humans; it carried an evil, sinister vibe and a sense of decay, much like demons from hell venting their malice to the human world.
But as quickly as the aura arrived, it vanished.
Because of one person’s voice, all the hidden beings concealed their aura and their malice.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting."
When such a deep and compelling voice resounded over the grassland, two figures finally descended from midair.
One was a burly warrior dressed in full armor.
The other was a man in a suit, looking much like a corporate worker.
It was none other than Momonga and Demiurge.
At this moment, Momonga wore a fully enclosed helmet that truly covered every part of his body with armor, leaving not even a seam exposed.
Demiurge’s face was no longer that of a frog but had transformed into a face with East Asian features, with neatly combed, jet-black hair and round-framed glasses. He had even tucked away his wings and tail, completely hiding any traits typical of an alien species.
Reiger immediately realized that an Illusion Technique had been applied to Demiurge. He had tucked in his wings himself, but since he could not hide his tail autonomously, he relied on the illusion to pass unnoticed.
Momonga was not only clad in armor that concealed any characteristics of the undead but also emitted a faint magical power, clearly utilizing magic that prevents detection and blocks espionage, thwarting all prying eyes.
"Was it you who cast that magic just now?"
Momonga spoke as if not giving Reiger much time to observe them.
"Quite a unique way to say hello, but I wonder, what exactly are you aiming for by doing this?"
There was no trace of hostility in those words, instead, there seemed to be a slight goodwill, interpreting Reiger’s actions as a way of "saying hello."
Clearly, Momonga did not wish to be enemies with Reiger.
At least, he did not want to unnecessarily make enemies.
The Nasalik Underground Tomb had just been teleported into this world, and knowing too little about this world, Momonga preferred to avoid making enemies and conflicts.
Even though he was a level hundred player with an entire tomb of NPCs at his command, a force that was tremendously powerful in this world, he was not impulsive.
After all, who knew if there were individuals over level hundred in this world?
Who knew if the ordinary civilians in this world were also level hundred?
Perhaps... they were weak?
The man standing alone in this vast plain, who dared to travel by himself, might well be taken as a two or three hundred level, right?
No, perhaps even more.
Maybe, he was a four or five hundred level character?
At this moment, our supreme ruler of the Nasalik Underground Tomb, Lord Momonga, was filled with caution and had secretly taken out a teleportation item from his item box, ready to flee at any moment.
If necessary, he still could use pay-to-win items!
As everyone knows, no matter the game, you become strong only by spending money!
Momonga, being a heavy spender in games, felt pretty confident.
...Okay, maybe he was still a bit nervous.
Poor office worker, why must he face such pressure?
While Momonga was sighing inwardly and desperately suppressing the urge to roll on the ground at home, Reiger finally spoke.
"Your words are quite strange." He was looking at Momonga and added after a while, "Seeing a suspicious shadow flying above your head, naturally, you would want to shoot it down, wouldn’t you?"
"...Indeed." Momonga did not argue against Reiger’s words but rather deliberately followed the topic, "Now that you have seen what this suspicious shadow really is, what are your thoughts?"
"It’s not that I have none." Reiger replied, his expression unreadable, "In this place, at this hour of the night, encountering a person with a suspicious trail flying midair really piques my curiosity about your origins."
"Oh?" Momonga said thoughtfully, "In that case, aren’t you the same, wandering alone in such a place at night, equally suspicious?"
"Can’t help it." Reiger shrugged and said, "What can I do when I am both an adventurer and an information broker?"
This statement slightly stirred something in Momonga.
"I see, so you are an information broker?"
Momonga looked at Reiger, the expression hidden beneath his helmet seeming to change.
At this moment when the Nasalik Underground Tomb had collectively traversed to a strange, alien world, what was their most vital need?
Undoubtedly, it was information.
Under such circumstances, having an information broker appear before them, wasn’t that a timely rain?
Momonga did not know that this very thought was exactly what Reiger wanted to induce.
"Information broker is my side job; my main profession is an adventurer." Reiger suddenly smiled at Momonga. "That’s why I roam alone in places off the beaten path, trying to gather as much data as possible about unknown treasures, relics, or treasures."
"That’s quite fortunate." Momonga lowered his head as if to hide his own thoughts, "We are travelers who have accidentally wandered into this area, currently troubled about how to deal with the current situation and wondering where to go next, and where exactly this place is."
"Is that so?"
Reiger started to smile uncertainly.
"Yes."
Momonga nodded, extending a hand towards Reiger.
"Given that, would it be convenient for me to ask, what would be the cost for your information?"
"If the price is right, would you allow us to purchase the information we need?"
Momonga’s words made Reiger realize that his goal was half achieved.
This was precisely the development he desired.