Re-Estize, in the outskirts of the capital, within a grand mansion's parlor.

At one side of a mahogany table, a tall blue-haired swordsman sat upright, his right hand resting on the hilt of his sword at his waist, an expression of vigilance on his face.

The cause of his wariness was an old man, his face gaunt and weathered. His white hair was neatly combed, and deep wrinkles criss crossed his face, as if time had mercilessly etched its marks into his skin.

His drooping eyelids concealed sharp and sinister eyes, and his long, hooked nose made him resemble an ancient vulture. Despite his frail frame, as if the flickering flame of life could be snuffed out by the slightest breeze, anyone meeting his gaze would worry that this aging vulture might suddenly strike and tear away a piece of flesh.

"Duke Odys Malcon Waverly, haven't you already retired? What brings you to the capital and calls for my presence?" The blue-haired swordsman, Brain Unglaus, asked in a low voice.

The white-haired old man before him was the head of the Waverly family from the north, who had served as the commander of the Re-Estize's mage legion a decade ago. His combat style was cunning and ruthless, treating subordinates and peers with cold indifference, earning him the nickname "Vulture General."

His family's influence was deeply intertwined with the kingdom's military, though that was several years ago now.

"I prefer you to call me General; after all, all the young ones are gone, leaving an old man like me to step up," Odys said, tugging at the corners of his withered mouth, attempting what resembled a smile.

Brain knew all too well that in the terrifying war against the Sorcerer Kingdom a few years back, the kingdom's main forces were nearly annihilated. Odys's son and grandson held significant positions in the army, and naturally, they had perished as well.

Ironically, at the beginning of that great war, many nobles thought it would be a golden opportunity to earn military merit against the Sorcerer Kingdom, desperately leveraging connections to send their relatives and descendants into the army, only to find they had sent them on a one-way trip to the underworld.

"General Odys, what do you need from me?" Brain asked again. It was clear that Odys represented the side of the Second Prince, while Brain was under Princess Renner. There was no basis for negotiation between them.

Odys lifted his eyelids and countered, "I want to know why you're running for the Warrior Captain position. Is it to carry on the legacy of the former Warrior Captain, Gazef?"

"Gazef was my dear friend. I must take up the power he held to protect the kingdom's people," Brain replied.

He understood that there was nothing more to discuss. The tournament for selecting the Warrior Captain was nearing its end, with only two top candidates remaining. He was one of them, and the other was Schroeve Dahlsen, a subordinate of Odys.

But there could only be one Warrior Captain.

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"I've heard that you are both rivals who respect each other and close friends. If… Gazef could be revived, would you still run for the Warrior Captain position and compete for your friend's title?"

Brain was taken aback, then coldly glared at Odys. "I was present when Gazef fought and fell to Ainz Ooal Gown. Our kingdom's top Divine Magic users, using 5th Tier spells, couldn't bring Gazef back. Are you trying to interfere with my competition?"

Odys smiled slightly. "If I mention it, I have the means to make it happen. Because I have borrowed the power of the gods from the supreme Ainz Ooal Gown!"

He placed a magnificent golden emblem on the table and pushed it toward Brain. The intricate floral patterns on the emblem marked it as the symbol of the Great Tomb of Nazarick.

The emblem marked him as genuine. A year or two ago, some artisans and mages had engraved the Sorcerer Kingdom's crest on their works to pass them off as products from the Sorcerer.

All of them had met a gruesome fate at the hands of an unknown assailant; their deaths were horrific, and even their families, relatives, and friends perished. Since then, no one dared to impersonate Sorcerer Kingdom products.

"You actually made a deal with Ainz Ooal Gown," Brain said, his brow furrowing. "Trading with the Grim Reaper only leads to death. Don't forget how your son and grandson died!"

Brain's words were sharp, but Odys brushed them off.

"My children had eyes but couldn't see the glory of the gods; they deserved to die! They paid with their lives to prove that the demon lord's birth wasn't without meaning. If the gods are to rule this world, we must accept it calmly. And don't judge me; isn't the ring on your right hand and the belt at your waist a gift from Albedo, the envoy of the Sorcerer Kingdom?"

"That was a gift from Princess Renner," Brain's voice dropped, lacking confidence.

"Everyone knows that Princess Renner is closest to Albedo. You can trade with the Sorcerer Kingdom; why can't we?" Odys bluntly took a stance, with "you" clearly referring to Princess Renner and the rising nobles, while "we" indicated Prince Zanac and the traditional aristocracy.

"However," Odys shifted his tone, "you're not just a swordsman under Princess Renner. If I were to revive Gazef Stronoff, he would undoubtedly be the best candidate for the Warrior Captain. And he is loyal to the king, so he wouldn't undermine Princess Renner's power."

The Warrior Captain could command the Royal Knights, a military power desperately needed by Princess Renner. If neither Princess Renner nor the Second Prince could gain control over the Royal Knights, the Second Prince, supported by traditional military and political forces, would hold the advantage, while Princess Renner would remain at a perpetual disadvantage.

Odys finally revealed his true intention: "If you agree to step down from the Warrior Captain tournament, I promise to use the great divine power of the supreme Ainz Ooal Gown to revive Gazef Stronoff!"

Brain coldly replied, "Can you really do that? Promises shouldn't be made for things that can't be done." He knew Odys was as cunning as a fox and couldn't trust this empty promise.

Odys waved his hand, and a corpse lying on a wooden slab floated over, stopping beside them.

Brain frowned. From the corpse's decay, it was clear the person had been dead for several days, preserved only by some form of magic.

The body was terrifyingly disfigured, with half of the face twisted to one side, a crooked mouth, shattered nasal bones, and dark purple lips slightly parted. One eyeball bulged out of its socket, as if a titan had slapped it across the face.

Brain stared at the deformed face and recognized, "He… looks like Clovis Daguerre, a killer from Baharuth who calls himself the 'Lord of Despair.'"

As a renowned swordsman, Brain had fought many from Baharuth, so he was somewhat familiar with their warriors' reputations.

Odys nodded, "I will revive him to prove it to you."

"Then please cast your spell quickly," Brain replied with a cold smile. "I'm looking forward to it."

"It will take some time. I'm just showing you the body; he is indeed dead."

"Once you can actually do it, come find me. Otherwise, you're just wasting both our time." Brain placed a hand on his sword, stood up, and left without looking back.