"So, this is Skypiea? Compared to Seraphim's floating citadel, this place actually seems like a nice vacation spot."
Ainz gazed at the endless White Sea with a sense of nostalgia.
Back in Yggdrasil, he had numerous encounters with Seraphim, but unlike their sky fortress, which was constantly patrolled by legions of dragons and angels, Skypiea seemed more like a peaceful tourist attraction.
"Ainz-sama! Is this where the City of Gold is located?" Albedo, now clad in full armor, scanned her surroundings curiously.
"Albedo, when we're outside, address me as Francis."
"Understood, Lord Francis. But with all due respect, sending two guardians, along with myself on this expedition—does it not weaken Nazarick's defenses?" Demiurge voiced his concerns calmly.
"There's no need to worry. I've already assigned the Pleiades to assist Mare and Aura in our absence.
Right now, our priority is acquiring the gold from the City of Gold.
The Great Tomb of Nazarick currently lacks a stable resource supply, and the materials Shalltear teleports back aren't nearly enough to sustain us."
Ever since arriving in this world, one of Nazarick's biggest issues—aside from military strength—was the complete loss of its previous resource production sites.
They were now solely relying on stockpiled reserves and the occasional resources retrieved by Shalltear. However, the rate of consumption far outweighed the supply.
...
"Humanoid demi-humans? Looks like a subspecies of winged races. I don't sense any traces of divine magic."
Ainz observed the Skypieans with interest. As the leader of a guild composed of various demi-human races, he naturally had a soft spot for these types of beings.
"Looks like some disguises are in order." Ainz cast an illusion spell, altering their appearances to blend in with the Skypieans.
"We'll split up and gather intel. Regroup here in three hours."
"Understood, Lord Francis."
...
"Five unfamiliar presences have appeared on the island." Enel took a bite of his apple, having detected Ainz and his group through his Mantra the moment they set foot on Skypiea.
However, without an alert from the Gate Guardians, he decided they weren't worth his attention.
"Well, for the sake of my divine plan, I'll let them be... for now."
...
"This place is truly wonderful! If only we could claim it for ourselves—Wait, what am I thinking? Surely this place already has a ruler." Ainz strolled through Skypiea, thoughts wandering.
Soon, the rendezvous time arrived.
"Lord Francis, I was unable to gather any information about the City of Gold."
"Same here, Lord Francis."
Ainz wasn't particularly disappointed. After all, a legendary lost city wasn't going to be easy to find.
Moreover, the Gate of Fate hadn't provided any additional clues. It was entirely possible that this artifact was useless outside Yggdrasil.
"Lord Francis, I propose we claim this island as our new resource production site," Demiurge adjusted his glasses.
"Although I have yet to locate any essential minerals, the island possesses an abundance of unique magical artifacts." He pulled out a handful of shell-like objects.
Ainz could indeed sense magic within the shells, though it was chaotic and varied in intensity.
Regardless, these were the first naturally occurring magical artifacts he had encountered in this world.
"Furthermore, this island floats at an altitude of 10,000 meters. If we eliminate its current rulers and subjugate the native population, we won't need to allocate many troops to defend it."
"More importantly, Lord Francis," Albedo continued with a sweet yet ominous smile.
"These demi-humans are far better suited for undead summoning rituals than mere humans. And let's be honest—their military is laughably weak."
...
"Is that...?" Albedo's gaze sharpened as Ainz reached into the void and retrieved his most prized possession.
"Indeed. This is the ultimate guild weapon, created through the combined efforts of every member of Ainz Ooal Gown—the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown!"
Even though it wasn't his first time taking it out, Ainz couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.
His voice trembled slightly with excitement. This staff wasn't just immensely powerful, rivaling world-class items—it was also the very symbol of their guild.
"Summon Primal Fire Elemental!" Ainz activated the fire gem embedded in the staff.
A swirling vortex of flames erupted before him, gradually coalescing into a towering inferno.
A Primal Fire Elemental—an entity at level 70.
"Now, let's see what kind of forces govern this floating island!" Ainz's eye sockets flickered with crimson light.
Following his command, the Primal Fire Elemental marched toward the settlement. Everything in its path was reduced to ash.
Boom!
A bolt of lightning suddenly struck the elemental.
"Third-tier lightning magic? Looks like the ruler of this island has finally responded to the destruction."
Ainz smirked as he eyed the lingering sparks. "But if this is all they have... it won't be enough to stop my summon."
This was all part of Ainz's strategy. While conquering Skypiea aligned with his plans, he wouldn't commit Nazarick's forces without first gauging the island's strength.
If something truly dangerous lurked here, he needed to know before making his move.