Overlord: Start from the Goblin Lair.

For Gracia, and indeed for all creatures like her, the importance of a mortal being, a place, or even a whole world depends on whether it serves her own interests.

She can be their savior, or she can watch them fall into hell!

Although Gracia was not the one who caused the situation this time, her shadow has been there from the very beginning until now. Otherwise, how could the Grand Dukes of other layers of Purgatory completely ignore the delusion, and even Grand Duke Dispater who had cast his eyes over here before chose to remain silent in the end?
Gracia was confident that if everything went well, by the time this incident was over, she should have enough capital to compete with the Lord of Hell who was sitting under the eighth level of conspiracy.

Ron, the mortal, should have been induced by her "kind reminders", gradually despairing in crises that were far beyond his ability, and finally completely surrendering to her "righteous help". She has been doing this, but - why has it not worked yet? !

How dare that mortal refuse the chance to become her servant!

"Snapped!"

The sound of the whip rang out again.

“So you are here.”

Suddenly, as a gentle and elegant voice fell into her heart, Gracia looked up in astonishment. She raised the whip in her hand high, but she didn't know whether to put it down. Because in this living room, on the sofa opposite her, an illusory figure appeared there without warning, as if He had never left.

At first glance, this seemingly middle-aged male creature is so perfect. His hair, his face, his clothes, his horns and wings all exist in space according to some strange rules, exuding a powerful charm that can make people surrender involuntarily.

Around Him, space and time operate according to His will; in His deep eyes, the stars in the universe are arranged and integrated.

He possesses unparalleled charisma, power, and insight, and is able to oversee the Nine Hells and even, in his opinion, the entire Order Universe that will be ruled by him in the future.

In His view, the universe under His rule will enter a new era of perfection, where every life will be ranked in a corresponding level of purgatory. All wars will disappear, and every life will have a goal to fulfill. The universe will become a utopia. His vile opponents will only destroy all of this, turning the universe into a pathetic vortex that nourishes demons; those gods who exercise the power of good are just sentimental fools, too delicate and weak to exercise necessary evil.

In His view, He is the savior chosen by the universe to protect it from catastrophic destruction.

If He were even slightly incompetent, this arrogance, which is rare in the entire multiverse, would surely lead to His destruction, but He now sits on the throne, and no one can shake His position.

He does not even need praise from his enemies; his very existence is the highest tribute to his strength.

He is Asmodeus, Lord of the Nine Hells, God of Demons, Master of Tyranny and Domination, as the tiefling bards used to say: This demon was born to rule.

However, conspiracies against Him are ongoing all the time, and those driving these conspiracies include his daughter, Gracia, whom he promoted.

"Your plan is not bad, but the problem is that you lack a grasp of the variables," this extremely powerful being looked at his daughter like an ordinary father, summarizing the experience of failure for her, "Traditional conspiracies and playing with the rules are good, but for different goals, more flexible strategies should be adopted." "It's you? Father?" Gracia looked at the god in doubt, "You manipulated my plan?"

"Study his thinking patterns, observe his behavioral habits, and comply with his beliefs and will... If you want to bring him under your rules, then first, you need to understand the rules he follows," Asmodeus did not answer Gracia's question and continued, "Just like the proverb says: You have to get behind him first before you can stab him in the back."

"From your first meeting, you were too anxious to face a mortal who did not act according to your ideas," the natural ruler smiled slightly, "but it's no wonder. After all, although the world he once lived in is under our sight, it is still a little different."

"You are still young and don't know enough about them. It's normal for you to suffer losses."

“I’m afraid it’s not that mortal who made me suffer…” Gracia’s eyes were filled with complex emotions. She finally chose to put down the whip and saluted Asmodeus. “Thank you for your teachings, but can you let me guess what role you played in this?”

Asmodeus did not refute, but he did not admit it either. He looked at the daughter he had declared himself, waiting for her conclusion.

"Mephisto?" The first person that came to Gracia's mind was the Grand Duke whose fame was probably second only to her father's. "That moon elf has some spells, and there seems to be a similar model in the library in Cania!"

As Chief Mage of the Nine Hells, Mephisto specializes in the souls of wizards and sages, and even these mortals see being invited to join his cause as proof of their personal ability to reach greatness.

"Besides, that dracolich also possesses a great deal of secret knowledge, which he should be interested in."

"You used your succubus as experimental materials several centuries ago to make Mephisto give up his desire for the Land of Delusion," Asmodeus shook his head slightly. The successful experimenter was still standing in the corridor outside. "He was very satisfied with the deal. Even I can't offer him any bargaining chips that can make him more tempted."

This statement is 80% true or 80% false. It is impossible for Asmodeus not to have such bargaining chips. It is just a matter of whether he wants to take them out or not.

"That's Dispater!" A trace of anger flashed in the eyes of the Succubus Queen, "He still hasn't given up! It seems I have to go and 'reason' with him again!"

“It’s not him either.” Asmodeus still shook his head. “He has been scared by you. He won’t make any more moves until he is sure enough.”

He knew his subordinates too well, even better than they knew themselves, and there was no need for him to deceive Gracia; everything he said was the truth.

"So... Tiamat?" Gracia frowned slightly, "What kind of deal did you reach with Him back then?"

"If one day you can come up with a plot that not only surprises your colleagues but also me, I will consider telling you," the Lord of the Nine Hells still shook his head, "but I can tell you that it has nothing to do with this time."

Gracia looked at her father, as if trying to find clues from his eyes: "... You, you can't be personally-" (End of this chapter)