Over the past few days, the heteromorphs of the Great Tomb of Nazarick had begun infiltrating this new world, no longer staying in their stronghold solely on the defensive.
With the basic information gathered from Riezel, Ainz sent out the Floor Guardians and some NPCs of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, each assigned to different tasks.
Some of them needed to establish good relations with the natives of this world, creating a channel for the Great Tomb of Nazarick to receive intelligence and resources, while others were on hunting tasks, secretly bringing some natives back to Nazarick for various experiments.
As a result, the Great Tomb of Nazarick was no longer isolated and made more contact with this world.
Of course, thanks to this, Ainz learned a lot about the general situation of the world.
For example, most of the natives here were quite weak, and those considered heroes in this world didn't even seem to reach Level 30 by the standards of YGGDRASIL.
Meanwhile, the highest Tier Magic humans could use was only up to the 6th Tier, and no one could use 7th-Tier Magic and above.
Such a fact was somewhat shocking to Ainz.
In YGGDRASIL, 6th-Tier Magic was, after all, looked down upon by most players, who wouldn't even use it for fighting mobs.
Learning this information, Ainz felt both relieved and concerned.
He was relieved because this world wasn't filled with max-level or even over-leveled people, as he had previously feared. Since the natives were actually quite weak, they posed no threat to the Great Tomb of Nazarick.
However, he was also concerned, particularly about his exchange of information with the mysterious information dealer, Riezel Brynhart.
Knowing the highest magic humans could use was only 6th Tier, yet he had demonstrated magic above this tier in front of Riezel. Even worse, among those magic spells, he had even shown Riezel 10th-Tier Magic, let alone 7th-Tier ones.
Wasn't that practically admitting to Riezel that he wasn't an ordinary human, maybe not even human?
'I should've been more cautious...'
Remembering his encounter with Riezel, Ainz grumbled internally.
'But... that guy's reactions were weird too, right?'
Since no human in this world could use 7th-Tier Magic and above, why was Riezel so calm when he saw them?
If Riezel had shown even a little surprise or reaction, he might not have so easily demonstrated magic above the 6th Tier to him.
Moreover, the magic Riezel had used to 'greet' him definitely wasn't as simple as 6th-Tier Magic either. Ignoring any added effects, the raw power he felt in that magic alone had to be at least 9th-Tier Magic.
Even more so, the magic's ability to reach thousands of meters above the ground in a single attack—such a range might even surpass many 10th-Tier Magic.
It was precisely because he witnessed Riezel's magic that he subconsciously thought 10th-Tier Magic might not be all that powerful in this world.
It couldn't be helped.
In YGGDRASIL, 10th-Tier Magic wasn't even something great.
Since players who mastered Super-Tier Magic were common, it was hard to think of 10th-Tier Magic as some kind of remarkable magic.
'Forget it... Regretting it now won't help...' Ainz shook his head, calming himself. 'My immediate priority is to find out who this Riezel Brynhart truly is and whether he's disclosed any of our information.'
Why had Riezel remained so calm when he saw magic above the 6th Tier?
Why, after only recently becoming an adventurer, did Riezel refer to adventurer as his main job?
Was Riezel's identity as an information dealer genuine?
Given the power of that 'greeting magic' Riezel had used, was he simply a rare, strong human in this world, different from others?
Or... was Riezel the same as him, a player from YGGDRASIL?
Ainz's heart was filled with too many questions about Riezel's existence.
However, now that Ainz knew Riezel was also in E-Rantel, his heart eased slightly.
"Should we notify Lady Albedo to send people over to capture that insect?"
Seeing Ainz lost in thought, Narberal made a suggestion.
"No, don't act recklessly..." Ainz shook his head, rejecting the suggestion. "Until we understand his background, or more specifically, his exact strength, we absolutely shouldn't make any moves against him."
"Understood." Narberal nodded reluctantly.
In her view, there was no need to be this cautious.
She didn't believe that a mere human, an insect in her eyes, could possess the power to rival the Supreme Beings and the Guardians.
Humans were weak, insignificant, lowly creatures that the Supreme Beings wouldn't even think about, as they could be crushed effortlessly.
Maybe, if they were squashed, they would make a pleasant sound that might slightly amuse the Supreme Beings, but other than that, what was there to care about in such insects?
Absolutely nothing!
However, since her lord had said so, she simply had to follow his orders.
Narberal, therefore, headed to the Adventurer's Guild with a disdainful attitude that completely contrasted with Ainz's wariness.
"Oh?"
Ainz suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Why?
Simple.
"Are they the rumored challengers?"
At the entrance of the Adventurer's Guild, on a street broad enough for a gathered crowd, a large group of fully armed adventurers had either surrounded one spot or drawn their weapons, all facing the same direction with wary expressions.
Over there, standing alone on the other side, was a young man—a young man Ainz had just been warned about, someone he felt the need to pay attention to.
"Riezel Brynhart!"
An adventurer wielding an axe and a round shield, who seemed to be the leader of the adventurers, had a platinum identification tag hanging around his neck and grinned as he called out to the young man they had surrounded.
"You said yourself we could come at you as a group, so don't call us cowards!"
As soon as he said this, he earned several disdainful looks from the onlookers.
Saying something so brazen about a group-versus-one fight required a certain sense of shamelessness.
Yet Riezel, the one surrounded, just calmly gave a calm reply.
"Just hurry up, stop yapping, and get out of the way. If you disrupt the guild's activities, the guild master is going to complain to me."
Following this, he beckoned to the adventurers surrounding him, curling his finger in a taunting gesture.
Needless to say, this move naturally triggered the pride of these young, hot-blooded adventurers.
"Let's see how cocky you stay! Get him! Beat him up good!"
Speaking in rage, the axe-wielding adventurer commanded his group.
""HAAAAA—!!!""
In the next moment, the surrounding adventurers roared as one and charged at Riezel.
None of these adventurers were lightly armed—each wore armor, and if it wasn't metal, it was leather crafted from monster hides, with a faint glow of magical energy, clearly imbued with magic.
From this alone, it was obvious that these adventurers weren't ordinary.
Moreover, it was clear from their identification tags, either gold or platinum, signaling to onlookers that they were Gold and Platinum Adventurers.
For adventurers of this caliber to gang up on someone, it wouldn't be easy for even a Mithril Adventurer to handle, let alone an Orichalcum one.
Yet, these powerful adventurers were taken down in an instant.
*BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*
With each muffled sound, one after another, the high-ranking adventurers let out agonized cries and were sent flying back even faster than when they had charged at Riezel.
Riezel either kicked them or smacked them with his still-sheathed sword, sending the approaching adventurers crashing into nearby building walls or rolling across the ground.
Evidently, these adventurers didn't even have time to launch an attack before Riezel swiftly closed the gap and knocked them away.
"Magic Arrow!"
"Magic Arrow!"
"Magic Arrow!"
A few magic casters, unable to keep up with Riezel's speed and properly aim at him, could only use the homing 1st-Tier Magic, Magic Arrow, in an attempt to hit him.
*Peng!* *Peng!* *Peng!* *Peng!*
Unfortunately for them, Riezel casually waved his still-sheathed sword, shattering each incoming Magic Arrow one by one, as effortlessly as breaking glass.
*BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*
Not long after, the magic casters were met with Riezel's powerful kicks and were sent flying.
Such a scene went on for about thirty seconds.
After half a minute, without exception, each of Riezel's challengers lay sprawled on the ground, unable to get back up.
"Looks like you guys can't do it either."
Riezel put away his still-sheathed sword, standing amidst the fallen challengers, his expression unchanged from start to finish.
*Clap!* *Clap!* *Clap!* *Clap!*
Seeing Riezel's victory, the onlookers didn't hold back their applause, showering him with praise.
"As expected, he won again."
"I knew it! Mr. Brynhart was definitely gonna win!"
"Challenging Mr. Brynhart is impossible unless you're at least Mithril."
"If you ask me, even Mithril Adventurers would struggle."
People chatted with each other, not at all surprised by the outcome.
"Hmm…"
Ainz, who had watched everything, let out a low murmur, sounding both impressed and wary.
"Tch…"
Narberal, on the other hand, clicked her tongue, looking somewhat disdainful.
In her eyes, this kind of fighting was just playing house.
"If Lord Ainz had stepped in, that little insect would've lost ages ago."
As Narberal said this, it seemed Riezel had heard her words, for he suddenly turned his head and looked her way.
Soon, an imperceptible, playful smile appeared on Riezel's face.