That night, after EeDechi leaped into the river, the hair dye in her hair was completely soaked through and washed away by the current, restoring her sleek black short hair.
Barrett still wanted to dye it for her, but EeDechi said she didn't want to style it into some Super Saiyan look. She wrapped a scarf around her face and pulled on a wide-brimmed felt hat to cover everything up and call it done.
In the inn room, Barrett pinned the map to the wall, laying out their future route of action for Franco, while EeDechi explained the powerful enemies the adventuring party faced to help the new teammate get up to speed fast.
"We're facing an incredibly powerful enemy—a level 100 demon god named Ainz Ooal Gown. He's hunting us down with everything he's got. He has several subordinates just as strong as he is, plus an unknown number of high-tier magic items."
EeDechi's expression turned deadly serious as she looked at Franco.
"And my own strength is only level 100. The level cap in this world is one hundred. I won't hide anything from you—honestly, right now I don't have the slightest chance of beating them. Not even a little! If they surround us, we're dead for sure! If you want to leave the party, you can walk away anytime. I won't force you."
"Hmm…" Franco nodded absentmindedly.
Seeing Franco's casual attitude, EeDechi felt a spark of delight in her chest. She thought to herself that as long as he wasn't scared, they were already one step closer to defeating Ainz.
"Ainz has multiple level 100 subordinates. I'll introduce them one by one now, but these are only the ones I know about. There are definitely more unknown level 100 characters inside the Great Tomb of Nazarick," EeDechi said. "First is Sebas Tian. This guy excels at close-quarters melee combat and can transform into a dragonoid."
"Is it a girl?" Franco asked.
"No."
"Second is Demiurge, a level 100 demon," EeDechi continued.
"Is it a girl?" Franco asked again.
"No."
"Third is Cocytus, also a level 100 warrior."
"Is it a girl?" Franco asked the same question once more.
"No!" EeDechi had already clenched her fists tight.
"Ahh~" Franco leaned back, letting out a long yawn. He crossed his legs on the chair and shifted into a more comfortable position.
EeDechi fought down the urge to punch him and kept going. "Fourth is Albedo."
"Not a girl either, huh? Lame." Franco curled his lip.
"This one is a girl," EeDechi said, forcing her anger down. She reminded herself that this was the new teammate—he still didn't know the situation, so she needed to be patient with him.
"Oh!" Franco suddenly sat bolt upright. His violet eyes sparkled as he asked eagerly, "Is she pretty?"
"I don't know either," EeDechi said, turning to Barrett. "Is she pretty?"
"Yeah, she's beautiful. Really beautiful," Barrett answered, realizing EeDechi had zero sense of what counted as attractive.
Franco puffed out his chest, stared straight ahead with rock-solid determination, and asked, "Are her tits big?"
"Yes," Barrett nodded.
Franco instantly leaped off the chair, yanked out his wand, scrambled toward the window, and prepared to jump out.
"The justice in my heart can no longer tolerate me staying here!" he bellowed. "I'm going right now to exterminate that evil witch!"
"Get back here!" EeDechi grabbed the back of his collar and hauled him straight back. "All actions are under command!"
"Ainz also has a maid corps," Barrett said. "They're all below level 100, but there are a lot of them, and they're a force that can't be ignored."
"Wow! A maid corps! Hehehehehehe!" Franco let out a sleazy laugh. He danced around the room, hips pulsing and twisting, spinning through a full Latin routine all by himself.
Be patient… be patient… EeDechi clenched her fists, reminding herself that this was the new teammate, the new partner—she had to cherish him and take care of him.
"Captain!" Franco stopped dancing, took one big bounding step, and landed right in front of EeDechi. He snapped to attention with legs together, back straight, and hand raised in salute, his gaze burning with resolve. "Send me into battle! I'll take control of Albedo, then I'll infiltrate the Great Tomb of Nazarick all by myself!"
"Hmm, I like that proactive offensive mindset of yours," EeDechi said with an approving nod. The battle plan didn't sound all that reliable, but Franco had volunteered to fight, and that kind of spirit deserved encouragement.
"How exactly do you plan to take control of Albedo and then sneak into the Great Tomb of Nazarick?" Barrett asked, curious.
"I already told you during my interview—I have a transformation ability," Franco said, full of confidence. "I can pull this off easily with that power."
"What kind of animal are you going to turn into?" EeDechi asked, flashing him an encouraging smile.
"Ah, my transformation ability isn't about turning into animals. It lets me add ridges, spikes, and bumps to my dick. We'll lure Albedo out and then—"
EeDechi's hand shot out, grabbed Franco by the collar, and slammed him to the floor. At the same time, her right fist rose high like a hammer driving a nail and smashed straight into his face.
THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!
Punch after punch rained down with such force that the whole inn shook!
She hammered him with more than ten brutal blows, still pounding Franco's face. Every time her fist landed, blood sprayed across the floor. Franco's head had already sunk into the wooden planks, and his once-handsome face was now a bloody, mangled mess—eyes and nose indistinguishable.
"Stop! Stop hitting him! You're going to kill him!" Barrett shouted, rushing to pull EeDechi back.
EeDechi finally lowered her fist. Blood still dripped from her knuckles.
She yanked Franco up by the collar and roared, "Say one more filthy word like that and I'll rip your tongue out!"
Then, still fuming, EeDechi drew her giant sword and planted it upright on the floor. In a low voice she chanted, "If Gods Deny Salvation's Hand, With Sacred Blade I'll Reprimand!"
Golden light instantly bloomed across the ground. Warm currents flowed in every direction. Every injury on Franco's body healed in an instant. The face EeDechi had just pounded into pulp smoothed out and returned to its original handsome shape.
"Ouch, that hurts," Franco muttered, rubbing his cheek. He pulled out a small mirror and carefully inspected his face to make sure it wasn't ruined.
"From now on, you follow my orders for every single action!" EeDechi said, jabbing a finger right at his nose.
"Fine, whatever," Franco grumbled. "You're such a stubborn girl. Not cute at all."
Cheeko crouched on the windowsill, its shiny black eyes locked onto Franco, the new teammate. EeDechi's earlier beating of Franco had scared the daylights out of it.
Franco spotted Cheeko, scooped it up in both hands, and said in surprise, "This pig looks just like a cat."
Cheeko lashed out in fury, swiping its claws and smacking Franco's face wildly with its chubby paw pads. Franco immediately tossed it onto the bed.
"Its name is Cheeko. It's a cat," Barrett corrected.
"I know, it's a familiar, right? I've always wanted an owl for a familiar," Franco said. He tapped the tip of his wand and conjured a fluffy ball, waving it like a cat toy to tease Cheeko.
"By the way," Franco asked, "you said I'm the fourth member earlier. So besides you two, there's one more person?"
"Cheeko is the third member," EeDechi answered, eyes still glued to the map.
"You've got to be kidding?" Franco's violet eyes widened. "That's total bullshit! I absolutely refuse to let a cat boss me around!"
He pounced at Cheeko like a fox. Cheeko scampered away on its stubby little legs. Franco grabbed its sky-blue tail and lifted the cat upside down. Cheeko's four legs flailed wildly in the air—round, pitiful, and completely helpless.
"Hah, got you! Cats should just behave and stay pets like they're supposed to," Franco said, holding the cat in one hand and resting his chin on the other in thought. "Now what should I do with it? Let me think… If I give it to a young lady, it should win me quite a few hearts…"
A terrifying chill suddenly swept through Franco's heart. He felt an icy shiver run down his spine, as if a mountain-sized demon was looming over him. A powerful grip clamped onto the back of his neck, and his feet left the floor.
EeDechi was holding Franco, and Franco was holding Cheeko, forming some bizarre conjoined statue. Barrett watched the ridiculous scene from the side; even the usually steady man couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Ten seconds later...
Franco knelt on the ground while EeDechi stared down at him with ice-cold eyes. Cheeko squatted right in front of him. Franco lowered his body, pressing his forehead deeply to the ground, and bowed to the cat, saying, "I'm sorry, Cat Senior. I was wrong. Please forgive me."
Cheeko gave a soft meow, lifted its right front paw, and gently patted Franco's sleek golden hair, accepting his apology.
"Let's swing by the local Adventurer's Guild first and look around, then hit the tavern to pick up some intel," Barrett said.
The tavern right beside the Adventurer's Guild hall was a gathering spot for every kind of shady "talent." Adventurers mixed with employers, brokers, and merchants who all had their own hidden agendas—a real melting pot where news flowed the fastest.
Shady goods that couldn't see daylight and all sorts of dubious rumors swirled together like a vortex, but experienced hands could still cut through the chaos of gossip and spot the golden nuggets of truth.
Barrett was confident he was exactly that kind of person. He pinned his mithril badge to his chest. In adventurer circles, a metal badge that showed off your strength and status worked like a rock-solid passport. EeDechi, of course, did no such thing.
Franco dug into his own pocket but only pulled out a diamond-encrusted heart-shaped brooch. He grumbled resentfully, "You three seniors, I want a badge too—one that proves my noble status!"
"You haven't registered as an adventurer yet," EeDechi realized. "We can't have someone in the party with no official standing. Come on, let's take you to the Adventurer's Guild hall to get you registered."
...
After the four of them left the inn, they hired a carriage and soon reached the local Adventurer's Guild hall.
The guild hall was almost empty, with hardly anyone around. Before veteran adventurer Barrett could even speak, Franco strode straight up to the counter and started chatting up the girl behind it like they were old friends.
Facing Franco's strikingly handsome features, the young girl in charge of adventurer affairs blushed shyly. Her cheeks turned a delicate pink as she gave him an innocent, wide-eyed look.
She had no clue what kind of person Franco really was. After just a few sentences, she had already spilled everything—her birthday, home address, and full romantic history.
Just as Franco was about to invite her out for a drink, Barrett knocked loudly on the table beside him. This mage who thought with his lower half finally remembered why they had come to the Adventurer's Guild hall.
He explained their purpose. The girl recorded his information in the ledger, then rummaged through a drawer and handed him a dull-colored copper badge.
The copper badge was the lowest rank; they didn't even bother engraving the adventurer's name on the back.
"Is this the adamantite-level badge?" Franco asked proudly as he pinned the copper badge to his wizard robe. "From now on, I'm an elite adventurer too."
"Sorry…" the girl said. "This is the lowest-grade copper badge. Every new adventurer who registers starts with copper. Please keep working hard—once you earn some achievements, we'll naturally upgrade your rank accordingly."
"I am the noble human prince, the greatest wizard in all of history, the towering monarch admired by the Goddess of Magic herself, the guiding light for wayward maidens, the comforter of lonely young wives, Master of Cuckolding Others…"
Franco proclaimed with unshakeable conviction: "I ought to be a adamantite-rank adventurer. I'm the most exalted, the most powerful, and the most virtuous existence!"
The young girl behind the counter was dizzy from the long string of titles. Franco seized the chance to slip his wand out from under his robe, ready to cast a Mind Control spell on her so she would hand him an adamantite badge instead.
EeDechi snatched his wand in a firm grip. "What kind of stunt are you trying to pull? Watch yourself—you're at Justice Value 2 right now. If it drops into the negatives, I'm kicking you out of the party."
The three adventurers and one cat—the Last Defender of the Way party—strode out of the Adventurer's Guild with bold, confident steps, ready to embark on a distant journey into the unknown.
...
"I'll head to the market with Barrett to pick up some supplies for the road. You take Cheeko and wait for us at the adventurers' tavern first. Protect it properly, or there'll be hell to pay."
EeDechi handed the sky-blue cat to Franco. Franco quickly lifted it with both hands and cradled it carefully against his chest.
"Hmph, the cat's throwing its weight around thanks to its owner," Franco grumbled, but he didn't dare mess with Cheeko.
They decided to split up for the time being. After all, EeDechi's wanted poster was still plastered inside the Adventurer's Guild hall, so it was smarter not to draw too much attention.
Franco checked the map, turned two street corners, and stepped into the adventurers' tavern. A wave of noisy voices and clinking glasses crashed over him. His eyes darted around the chaotic crowd of patrons and servers and immediately locked onto the most beautiful woman in the place.
She was a noblewoman wearing a feathered hat trimmed with lotus petals and a light red mink coat. The hat covered a head of gorgeous golden hair, and even the loose mink couldn't hide her graceful, alluring figure.
The only downside was the thin veil draped over her face, hiding her exact features. Still, the tantalizing outline that showed through was more than enough to tell she was a true beauty.
The golden-haired noblewoman sat alone at an empty table, holding a stemmed glass filled with white wine and sipping it by herself.
"Duty calls!"
Franco's eyes went wide and locked straight ahead, fixed on the noblewoman like magnets. He tossed Cheeko aside without a second thought, straightened his luxurious wizard robe, cleared his throat lightly, and walked toward the lady with elegant steps.
He never stopped to wonder why, in a tavern full of shady characters, no lecherous drunks were bothering this defenseless beauty. A woman sitting alone in a place like this was like a peony blooming in the mud—completely out of place.
Franco ordered a glass of red wine, then walked straight over and sat down at the noblewoman's table. He arched an eyebrow lightly. "I have to say, the wine here doesn't suit your status at all. A fine white wine should leave a fresh, lively sensation on the tongue…"
The golden-haired noblewoman watched the posturing handsome man. Beneath her veil, her lips curved slightly, as if she were hiding a faint smile.
A tall figure in a black tailcoat walked up to the noblewoman's table and set a leather briefcase down at her feet. "Miss, I have the items."
The speaker appeared to be an elderly butler. His eyebrows and hair were both white, but perfectly groomed. His face didn't look old; he had a high-bridged nose, sharp, well-defined features, and an elegant, refined handsomeness.
The old butler's eyes were sharp as a hawk's and his presence was intimidating. He gave Franco an unfriendly look and asked the golden-haired noblewoman, "Miss, shall I ask this uninvited guest to leave?"
"No need," the golden-haired noblewoman said with a small smile. "It's been a long time since I've come across such an interesting prey."
Who was the hunter and who was the prey would only become clear after they crossed swords in the game of love and in bed, Franco thought. He sat up straight and proper, ready to show off his skills.
"Since the miss is so interested, I won't intrude any further," the old butler said. He shot Franco one cold glance and turned to leave.
...
EeDechi and Barrett stepped into the adventurers' tavern. The sky-blue cat Cheeko came trotting over in quick little steps, rubbing against EeDechi's pant leg with soft meow~ meow~ sounds. Barrett quickly scooped it up so no one would accidentally step on it in the noisy, crowded tavern.
"Where's that kid Franco?" EeDechi grumbled, scanning the room angrily. She quickly spotted the blond man at the edge of the tavern, deep in intimate conversation with the beautiful woman.
EeDechi stormed forward with a furious aura, striding straight toward Franco. A sturdy figure in a black tailcoat blocked her path. The voice was deep, aged, and magnetic, "Sir, do you have business with my lady?"
"Old man, get out of my way," EeDechi said, lifting the brim of her wide felt hat halfway and looking up to see who was blocking her.
The instant their eyes met, both the old butler and EeDechi froze.
The man in the black tailcoat standing before her was none other than the butler of the Great Tomb of Nazarick—Sebas Tian.