We've been played for fools. To think that we've fallen for his trap so neatly, we should have declined an official audience with them in the first place.
Archon was full of regret but could do little more than grit his in teeth in frustration and quietly continue listening as he had no voice in these official meetings and only served as a figurehead on the surface.
The same went for Ordoro but he was allowed to be the main voice during these meetings as he possessed great rhetoric and still commanded a large amount of respect in the Theocracy due to his charisma which people would not think he had at first glance.
Fluder could almost feel the excitement inside him as he prepared to deal to final blow. He could not wish for more than to be useful to his new master and peer ever deeper into the Abyss of magic but to see the Six Archbishops of the Slane Theocracy eliminated like this was still something to relish.
Time to finish it…
"Well then, my master is prepared to overlook this unfortunate incident without causing any international conflicts but there is one condition."
Condition?
The archbishops all became anxious at the thought of what he might ask. If he asked for the life of the soldier that attacked his subordinate or for tribute or sacrifices to be made, then they would have no choice but to decline.
If it was something small they could get away with appeasing the Sorcerer King without fear of being accused of sacrilege. But if it was an absurd request then…
"You see my master, Ainz Ooal Gown, wishes to rule peacefully without boundaries of race or affliction but dislikes slavery based on racial predestination. So much so that when the Empire allied with him it was under the condition of removing all demi-humans from slavery without delay."
The archbishops could almost taste the bitterness in their hearts as they heard what was said. Of course they knew about this development. Thanks to that little escapade in the empire entire scores of non-human denizens were freed from their chains and released back into the wild, so to speak.
Some of them were entire tribes which were caught by the Theocracy and then sold off to the empire as it was more profitable than simply slaying them all. Now they had entire clans of elves and other races that were starting to return to the borders of the Theocracy and were causing all kinds of trouble. Not to mention that now the Theocracy could no longer sell the slaves they already had to the empire.
"Which brings me to the condition. If you wish for my master to overlook this incident and avoid any confrontation then our only request is the abolishment of your slave trading and racial purging of non-human races throughout and beyond the borders of the Theocracy."
Checkmate.
The archbishops could never accept this. Even if they wanted to they could not. The amount of financial, political, and religious implications that the mere mention of such a policy would bring was unspeakable. They themselves would be burned at the stakes by other priests for heresy whilst the slave traders of the Theocracy watched amongst the crowds. But if they refused and Ainz decided to attack the capital, then all it would take for the proud crown jewel of their religion to turn into a second 'Silent City' was but one of Ainz's Spells.
"Fluder, you know full well that we can't accept these terms! You're asking way too much in return for beating up one lowly vassal of this Gown fellow, no lord cares that much for just one of his subordinates."
At this moment Lupusregina and Yuri twitched. Even if neither of them really cared for Lycan they still saw him as one of their own. To hear such a foolish mortal question the infinite love that Ainz had for all of his subjects made their blood boil.
Just as Lupusregina was about to stand up and smash the head of the one who insulted their master into bits Yuri stopped her with a fierce wave of killing intent that told her to stay in place.
Fluder, pretending not to notice what was going on behind him, continued to say calmly
"I see. That is very unfortunate. But my master has taken quite an offence to you. I'm sorry to say that if you refuse it will be a declaration of war."
Not only the Archbishops, the paladin guardians, the divine-type magic casters and all the other regular soldiers, all were perplexed.
The news of what had happened on Katze Plains had become an international news story that was talked about by the high society of almost every nation around the continent. The thought of waging war against a being capable of such carnage made them want to hurl.
"Of course you should realize that such a thing will be meaningless in the field as my master can turn all of your legions into compost with a single spell. In truth, he had already predicted that you would decline his offer and thus prepared the terms of this war if they are agreeable to you."
Archon, along with the other archbishops, was spitting all kinds of curses at Fluder and his master at the moment. Of course he had foreseen that they would decline. In their position they could not agree even if they advocated that it was to save the nation from doom. There was just too much money at stake for it to be accepted by the underground slave traders that contributed large sums to the Theocracy in secret.
"My master thus proposes that we hold a duel of old with the strongest elite of the Theocracy against the strongest warriors of the Tomb of Nazarick."
At this the archbishops' eyes lit up. In old records there existed recordings of old wars being resolved by a duel in order to prevent unnecessary bloodshed. But only if it was advantageous for both parties. Why would a sorcerer as powerful as Ainz want to settle the war with a duel where the outcome might prove uncertain?
"Of course my lord himself will not be participating in this duel as that would be rather boring. He promised to send two of his men to fight your best."
Only two?
"My lord proposes for the fight to occur in two months' time. As for the battlefield, I do not think that the border territory between E-Rantel and the Theocracy, the famous Charakuri Plains, will be a problem. What do you think?"
This Bastard.
A unanimous sense of hatred spread amongst most of the guards and archbishops as they listened to the calm and composed tone of Fluder who was casually talking about events that could decide the lives of millions.
From the moment that they had accepted this meeting they had been trapped by Ainz. If it wasn't for the prestige of 'tri-arts Fluder' they could have avoided it. But now all that they could do was quietly listen to the terms of the duel.
"Well then. I believe that that's for the most part what needed to be said. Do you have any questions, Your Excellencies? Ah, but the details will be sorted out later with another envoy."
"Yes, quite a few in fact! For starters why you a hero of humanity would bow your head to an undead for starters! But if you've gone senile then that's all that one can say. The most important question now is what happens if we win?"
Fluder paused for a moment and pretended not to hear the insult as he readied his reply.
"If you win? Let's see. I believe my master said that in the case that you are able to win he will return the remaining bodies of the Sunlight Scripture as well as forget about the incident with the emissary and overlook your racial extermination policies as well as pay you an adequate sum as a recompense. Also, my master has promised to leave the Theocracy alone for at least a hundred years."
These terms were quite good. To be able to get someone as dangerous as Ainz out of their hair for as long as one hundred years was already quite good, but all the other promises are very beneficial as well. To be able to recover the bodies of the Sunlight Scripture would raise their public opinion quite a bit.