Inside the conference room, the group who had just finished the banquet sat around the rectangular table, each wearing a serious expression.
"What? Your Ogres were wiped out by the Orc Tribe? How is that possible?!"
Kaijin stared wide-eyed at Benimaru, unable to believe that the powerful Ogres had suffered such a crushing defeat.
In all of the Jura Forest, the Ogres were known to be the strongest!
However, Benimaru's next words made Kaijin realize that things weren't so simple.
"It seems these Orcs are… somewhat unusual."
At that moment, Rimuru turned his gaze toward Granstar's calm expression. It turned out that Lord Granstar had saved them.
"Moreover," Benimaru continued, his voice heavy, "Lord Granstar has confirmed that the mastermind behind this is a Demon Lord's faction. Even worse, a Orc Lord has emerged among them."
After speaking, Benimaru turned toward Granstar, clearly awaiting his instructions.
"A Orc Lord? That's a disaster for the entire forest!"
The conference room fell silent.
The atmosphere grew increasingly tense as everyone sank into thought. Faced with such a grave situation, they had to devise a response strategy quickly—otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Rigurd and the dwarves' faces became particularly solemn.
Rimuru glanced around the now-silent room, his heart filled with uncertainty. He didn't fully understand what had happened, so he turned his gaze toward the others.
"What exactly is a Orc Lord? It sounds… powerful."
He muttered the question more to himself than to anyone else.
Noticing Rimuru's confusion, Rigurd stepped forward to explain.
"Lord Rimuru, the Orc Lord is a very rare existence among the Orc Tribe. It is said that such an individual is born only once every few centuries. They possess immense strength and exceptional leadership capabilities."
Rigurd paused before continuing.
"However, every time a Orc Lord appears, it heralds great disaster for the forest. They often rally vast numbers of Orc tribesmen to attack other races, bringing destruction and chaos wherever they go."
Rimuru listened carefully, beginning to grasp the seriousness of the situation.
No wonder everyone seemed so tense—the Orc Lord was both rare and incredibly dangerous.
At that moment, Granstar addressed Rimuru.
"Rimuru, what's most concerning is that the Orc Lord's abilities are similar to yours. He possesses a special skill called Starved. This skill allows him and his followers to gain strength by devouring their enemies, evolving continuously."
Granstar's tone remained calm, but the weight of his words was undeniable.
"If they keep devouring others unchecked, the Orc Lord might evolve into a Orc Demon Lord—with strength on par with a true Demon Lord. And what's worse, this may all be orchestrated by a Demon Lord seeking to seize control of the Jura Forest."
Everyone's expressions darkened further—especially Rimuru's. The possibility of facing not one but two Demon Lord-level threats made him deeply concerned.
"Granstar… what should we do? We can't let the Orc Lord continue like this."
Seeing Rimuru become uncharacteristically serious, Granstar gave a small nod of approval. Pressing his palms together, he outlined his plan.
"First, we need to send scouts to determine the enemy's numbers, strength, and movement routes. Once we have that intel, we can choose a battlefield and concentrate all our forces for a one-time annihilation strike."
He paused, then added:
"But this is a catastrophe threatening the entire forest. We can't rely on just our strength. We need to send envoys to contact the other combat-ready tribes. We'll take the lead in uniting the forest's surviving powers."
Rimuru was silent for a moment, digesting the full scope of the plan. Around him, the others looked at Granstar with renewed respect—his calm composure and clear strategy left a strong impression.
"I didn't expect this from you, Granstar. You're more capable than I thought. I agree—your plan makes sense."
Rimuru nodded, signaling his approval.
"Now… about the scouts and the envoys we'll send to negotiate—"
Rimuru turned his gaze back to the crowd, silently evaluating the most suitable candidates for the mission. He understood its importance—only those with the right skills and unwavering reliability could be entrusted with such a task.
Just then, Souei stepped forward and bowed.
"My lord, please allow me to undertake this mission. With my abilities, I promise to complete it without fail."
Rimuru had initially intended to send Ranga. After all, Ranga's [Shadow Movement] skill was perfectly suited for covert operations. But seeing Souei volunteer so resolutely made him pause.
"Granstar, I'll leave the decision to you."
Ultimately, Rimuru passed the matter to Granstar, trusting him to evaluate the bigger picture and choose the most effective course of action.
Granstar closed his eyes briefly, weighing the options. Souei's [Shadow Clone] ability did make him a strong candidate for this assignment. Still, caution was necessary—failure wasn't an option.
"I believe sending Souei is a wise choice," Granstar said at last. "However, for added safety, I suggest Ranga accompany him."
Rimuru nodded. That arrangement seemed solid. Without hesitation, he summoned Ranga from his shadow.
With a flash, Ranga leapt out like a bolt of lightning, landing gracefully on the ground.
"Master, please leave it to me! I will ensure the mission is carried out flawlessly."
Ranga's eyes were sharp with determination as he spoke, earning Rimuru's silent approval.
Just as the team was being finalized, Rigurd came rushing in, visibly agitated.
"My lord! A squad of Lizardman soldiers has arrived at the village gates. They say they've come to speak with us... but they're demanding that the master of the village come out and pay homage to their 'Highness.'"
His voice rose with indignation at the end.
A wave of irritation passed through the gathered crowd. How dare these outsiders speak so arrogantly?
Granstar had been planning to unite the forest's factions against the Orc Lord—this sudden arrival by the Lizardmen was suspiciously well-timed.
He and Rimuru exchanged glances, both sensing something odd.
"Rigurd," Rimuru said calmly, his tone cool and commanding, "take us to meet these so-called nobles. Let's see just what kind of arrogance they bring to our doorstep."
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