"A test of Conqueror's Haki, maybe?"
Ainz sat in his room, flipping through his memories.
Back in his previous life, when he was just an ordinary 20-year-old with a bit of a chuunibyou complex, the idea of possessing the innate quality of a king was... well, pretty damn exciting.
Meanwhile, within the Great Tomb of Nazarick, the sudden wave of overwhelming pressure sent shockwaves through the entire underground fortress.
The soldiers training outside, as well as the floor guardians, all felt the crushing weight of Ainz's presence.
Only after his aura disappeared did they finally breathe again.
"Lord Ainz's strength keeps growing stronger… If only I could marry him..." Albedo shivered from the experience.
The terrifying feeling, as if Ainz could tear her apart at any moment, filled her with an intoxicating sense of fear and longing.
Demiurge exhaled slowly, adjusting his glasses.
"As expected of the Supreme One… Lord Ainz." His gaze toward the Tenth Floor grew even more reverent.
"Lord Ainz, I will dedicate this entire world to your supreme greatness," Demiurge murmured, his fingers tracing the ring Ainz had bestowed upon him when they arrived in this world.
He also couldn't forget the ambition Ainz had shared with them that night.
"…Doesn't seem to work at all."
Ainz frowned, realizing that his stats hadn't changed in the slightest.
"Guess I don't have the qualities of a king. Makes sense. I was just a regular salaryman and an otaku in my previous life—why would I suddenly have the potential of a ruler?"
"It may also be because that guy, Blackbeard, didn't use Conqueror's Haki, so my knowledge about this power is not complete."
"Forget it. Might as well test another ability."
"Hmm?"
The moment Ainz activated Observation Haki, his body froze.
"…This ability… If I had it in my past life, it would have been a dream come true."
His heart—or whatever was left of it—was still racing from what he had just witnessed. The remnants of his past human emotions stirred, making him excited.
"…But in this form, I don't even have the ability to feel hunger anymore, let alone that..."
"Lady Shalltear, this is Lord Ainz's latest order."
Sebas respectfully handed over a letter to Shalltear.
After skimming through it, Shalltear casually tossed aside one of her Vampire Brides.
"Go. Bring me that human."
"Yes, Lady Shalltear."
A few minutes later, the trembling human was dragged before her—a navigator named Orl, one of the surviving crew members from a pirate ship she had previously decimated.
"L-Lady Shalltear… W-What do you need from me?" Orl stammered nervously.
"Human, set the ship's course for the Florian Triangle."
Orl's face turned pale. "B-But, Lady Shalltear, t-that place… demons have been sighted there!"
As someone who had sailed the Grand Line for a year, Orl wasn't ignorant. The Florian Triangle was a well-known graveyard for ships—those who entered rarely came back.
Shalltear's shadowy Fenrir Wolves growled, baring their fangs.
Orl immediately corrected himself. "L-Lady Shalltear, d-don't worry! As soon as we reach the next town, I'll buy a Log Pose that points to the Florian Triangle!"
"Humans are such a hassle." Shalltear waved her hand. "Alright, go."
The Vampire Brides dragged Orl away.
Sebas stepped forward, his eyes cold and sharp.
"Lady Shalltear, what should we do about those rats following us?" A chilling killing intent flashed in his gaze.
Ever since they had razed a Marine base on a small island, a ship had been tailing them nonstop.
They had changed their flag and repainted the hull multiple times, but his Soul Perception made it clear—those aboard were the same people.
"They're just rats. When we reach the next island, we'll crush them like the pests they are." Shalltear licked her lips.
"It's been far too long since I've had delicious blood."
"As you command, Lady Shalltear."
"Oh, and Sebas—Lord Ainz has tasked us with gathering Devil Fruits. If none are available, then we're to capture Devil Fruit users alive.
Lord Ainz also sent a Data Crystals containing a training method for a skill called Haki—make sure to study it."
"Understood, Lady Shalltear. I will take my leave now."
As Sebas departed, Shalltear clutched the letter to her chest, an infatuated expression spreading across her face.
"Ainz-sama, I will definitely take off the head of Gecko Moria for you. Ah… Lord Ainz's scent… this is amazing…"
…..
"Vice Admiral Onigumo, we have a report!"
On a Marine ship tailing Shalltear's forces, a disguised pirate crewman was speaking into a Den Den Mushi.
"Report," Onigumo ordered.
"Shalltear Bloodfallen's pirate crew is heading toward Eldoria Island."
"Good. Keep following them."
"Yes, Vice Admiral Onigumo."
Eldoria Island, huh?
Onigumo took a drag from his cigar, looking at the wanted posters on his desk.
Noblewoman, Shalltear Bloodfallen
Bounty: 210,000,000 Berries
Butler, Sebas Tian
Bounty: 180,000,000 Berries
Beyond these two, there were fifty additional wanted posters.
One peculiar thing stood out—many of the criminals wore full suits of armor, making their identities difficult to determine.
Ever since Shalltear wiped out Marine base, her bounty had skyrocketed.
In just one month, she had attacked four more Marine bases.
After all, what better way to collect strong human corpses than by raiding Marine bases? Unlike pirates, Marines were far easier to locate.
Unfortunately, the strongest opponents they had encountered so far were merely Marine Vice Admirals. None of them had met Lord Ainz's requirements for truly powerful human specimens.
As Onigumo flicked the ashes from his cigar, he pulled out a Den Den Mushi and dialed.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Shalltear Bloodfallen is en route to Eldoria Island."
"Good. I've already dispatched Vice Admirals Momonga and Doberman to intercept her. This time, we're taking Shalltear Bloodfallen straight to Impel Down."
"Yes, Fleet Admiral."
A dark glint flashed in Onigumo's eyes.
For pirates like Shalltear Bloodfallen, death was the only fitting punishment.
As Shalltear made her move toward Eldoria Island, planning to eliminate her pursuers, the Marines were setting up an ambush to exterminate her crew.
Meanwhile, near Jaya Island, a ship with a sheep-shaped figurehead sailed toward its next destination.