The Last Defender of the Way adventurer party pushed onward through the rough terrain, bringing along Kilua—whom Barrett regarded as nothing but dead weight—on their journey toward the Eight Greed Kings Desert.
They followed a familiar route and soon reached the desert's edge. EeDechi retrieved the small boat from its bottle inside the Aetherial Secret Coffer—the magic-powered amphibious yacht called *Ride the Wind and Break the Waves*.
The four of them and the cat boarded with enough water and food, then loaded sufficient magic crystals to power the yacht.
Once Barrett set their course, the yacht headed straight for the ruins of the Eight Greed Kings Empire—the Vast Stellar Gate.
Passing through the Vast Stellar Gate would take them directly to the City Alliance. None of them knew anything about the place yet, only that it was a league of merchant cities, but stepping boldly into the unknown was the very spirit of an adventurer.
The silver-white *Ride the Wind and Break the Waves* raced across the desert, its bow cutting through wave after wave of sand like a silver spear thrust into the ochre sea.
They sped onward without pause.
Five days later.
The small yacht suddenly came upon a massive convoy. Nearly five hundred strong, the column advanced with such force that it kicked up clouds of dust tens of meters high.
They used giant earth-element magical beasts to pull ornate war chariots, while a squad of skeleton soldiers marched alongside.
EeDechi brought the yacht to a halt. For a moment, everyone fell silent. High above the splendid procession, the flag of the Sorcerer Kingdom flew proudly amid the swirling dust.
At the same time, the vast column also stopped. It stood motionless in the endless desert, like a colossal war elephant staring down the tiny boat that was the *Ride the Wind and Break the Waves*.
"They've spotted us for sure," Barrett said with certainty.
"Prepare for battle!" EeDechi stood at the yacht's bow, giant sword resting on her shoulder, gazing toward the distant column.
A cold female voice rang out from within the convoy, amplified by special magic until it echoed across the sky. It was Albedo speaking.
"EeDechi, what a coincidence. I didn't expect to run into you in this vast desert."
Barrett lowered his voice. "It looks like a chance encounter, but it really isn't. She's leaving the desert for the Slane Theocracy, while we came from the Slane Theocracy and are heading in. With one side going out and the other going in, crossing paths was only a matter of time."
EeDechi nodded slightly and shouted back, "Albedo, whatever schemes and plots you have, bring them out now! How many level-100 Guardians do you have over there? If you're going to attack, send them all at once. I'm in a hurry!"
Albedo's voice remained ethereal and elegant, evoking the image of her beautiful face—the succubus who always dressed in a snow-white evening gown.
"Unfortunately, just like you only have one level-100 warrior on your side, I only have myself here as well."
"Looks like we're evenly matched. Want to have a go?" EeDechi asked bluntly.
"No need."
"So we just pretend we never saw each other and go our separate ways?"
EeDechi didn't really want to fight. She was confident she could beat Albedo, but she had no idea what other cards the woman might be holding, and she had to watch out for reinforcements. Besides, her teammates were still with her. She couldn't risk dragging them into a battle in the middle of the desert—there would be nowhere to run.
"EeDechi, I want to confirm something. Even though we're enemies, I hope you'll answer me honestly. I would be very grateful."
"Go ahead."
Albedo's tone suddenly sharpened. "Narberal is pregnant. Was it you?"
"Why are you asking that stupid question too?!" EeDechi's eyebrows snapped together in anger. "Think about it for one second! How could I possibly get her pregnant?!"
"..."
Barrett quietly glanced at Franco. The latter ducked his head and turned away, pretending to idly admire the desert scenery.
After a long silence, Albedo spoke again. "You said 'too.' Has someone else asked you the same question?"
"Ainz Ooal Gown," EeDechi replied irritably. "It seems like none of you from the Great Tomb of Nazarick have your heads screwed on straight."
Albedo let out a long breath, as if a massive weight had finally been lifted from her chest.
"You are someone who truly believes in justice," she said. "So I believe your words. Thank you for clearing this up for me."
EeDechi heard praise from a villain for the first time and smiled. "I didn't expect even someone like you, with a Justice Value of -500, would understand that standing for justice is a virtue."
"No. In my eyes, it isn't a virtue. It's a sign of stupidity. However, people who cling to justice are honest and won't lie, so I believe your words."
"Hmph!" EeDechi snorted coldly. "As expected of someone with a negative Justice Value. You're an irredeemable evildoer. Your values are completely twisted and need to be corrected!"
Inside the luxurious procession of the Sorcerer Kingdom, Albedo sat atop a carriage pulled by four earthen giants—massive earth-element creatures of the same kind used by the column. She forced down the wild joy rising inside her, carefully controlling her voice so that EeDechi wouldn't hear anything unusual.
But in the end, she couldn't hold it back any longer. She threw her head back and burst into wild laughter, her joyful voice echoing across the sea of sand.
"Hahahahahahaha! Hahahahahahaha! Narberal really didn't interfere with my relationship with Lord Ainz! I knew it! Lord Ainz would never betray my love! Hahahahahahaha!"
EeDechi's brows furrowed slightly. She couldn't understand Albedo's obsession with love at all.
Albedo had come to the Eight Greed Kings Desert because Narberal's sudden pregnancy had driven her mad with suspicion.
She had led the Supreme Expedition Team alone into the desert, heading for the ancient oasis city. After proving her authority, strength, and wealth, she successfully met with thirty Guardians and asked them for a way to make Ainz grow a dick.
Naturally, she came up empty-handed. But she had obtained something else—something far more important.
While leaving the Eight Greed Kings Desert, Albedo received a message from Aura. It reported that EeDechi's group had likely encountered the thirty Guardians, left the desert, and later fought a major battle in E-Rantel.
Yet here they were again, meeting EeDechi in the desert. Judging from their route, it seemed they were planning to venture deeper into the Eight Greed Kings Desert.
"EeDechi, you know about the existence of the World Will, don't you?" Albedo asked coldly.
EeDechi's pupils constricted. "Those thirty Guardians told you as well?"
"Hmph. Everything you know, I know. The divine war from six hundred years ago was quite the interesting history. You want to break free from the World Will's restrictions and surpass Level 100, correct?"
Seeing that Albedo already knew the same information, EeDechi decided there was no point hiding it anymore. "That's right. I will surpass Level 100. Then I'll raze the Great Tomb of Nazarick to the ground and pass judgment on Ainz Ooal Gown for his crimes!"
"Hahaha! What a joke! You think you're the only one who wants to surpass Level 100? Let me tell you—Lord Ainz will surpass Level 100 before you ever do. Just sit back and wait to die!"
"Do you have a way to locate the World Will?" EeDechi asked cautiously.
The thirty Guardians of the Eight Greed Kings had clearly told her that they had given her the last skyship, which contained a star chart—the only path to finding the World Will and defeating It.
"I don't. There isn't a single skyship left," Albedo replied offhandedly. "However, the technology to manufacture skyships is still stored in the City Alliance. Once Lord Ainz conquers the City Alliance, we'll have as many skyships as we need."
EeDechi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The skyship itself wasn't important. What mattered was the star chart. It could guide the skyship straight to the World Will's hiding place—also known as heaven, the other shore, or the nation of souls…
"As for the star chart," Albedo said with a light laugh, "once we occupy the City Alliance, we'll turn over every inch of land. I refuse to believe that not a single one of those broken navigation devices mass-produced for the war six hundred years ago survived."
EeDechi's brows furrowed deeply. Ainz Ooal Gown also wanted to surpass Level 100. Now they had to race the Sorcerer Kingdom for time!
They had to repair the "Apocalyptic Mourning Bell" skyship in the City Alliance before the Sorcerer Kingdom could conquer it.
"Weren't you already out of the Eight Greed Kings Desert? Why did you come back?" Albedo asked, puzzled.
EeDechi thought to herself that Albedo still didn't know about the Vast Stellar Gate. The gate led straight to the City Alliance, and only a handful of large merchant caravans knew of its existence.
"That's none of your concern."
EeDechi sat back down on the yacht. The Last Defender of the Way adventurer party and Albedo's Supreme Expedition Team passed each other and went their separate ways.