Steel Butler and the Darkness of the Black Market

Steel Butler and the Darkness of the Black Market (鋼の執事と闇市の闇) is a game event in Mass for the Dead that will be released on October 12, 2020 to October 22, 2020.

Background
Sebas Tian may be "a traitor"... Upon receiving the report, Momonga orders a survey of the brothel in the black market of E-Rantel, where Sebas enters and exits. Sebas, who had no way of knowing that, was conducting another investigation for one personal motive.

Incident
Solution Epsilon having returned from E-Rantel requested a private meeting with Momonga and Albedo. The request was sudden causing Momonga to hastily adjust his schedule which Solution apologizes but she has a report that she feels he must hear. When Momonga asks what did she want to discuss, the Pleiades maid is apprehensive on the subject. Her hesitation annoys Albedo, thinking that the maid is wasting their master's time. Momonga tells her to cease as Solution work has been vital and display nothing but loyalty to him. Albedo knowing she misspoke apologizes to her master. Momonga then asks Soluion to speak freely. Knowing that Solution would only approach him if the situation was dire, Momonga wonders if perhaps that she wishes to report that Nazarick has been discover. If that is the case, it won't be a fatal problem but if its in part due to Solution failure that would be another story and he might have to find a way to avoid punishing her. When the maid begins her report concerning a "superior", the Overlord worries that she is talking about the protagonist. It is of course about Sebas Tian, which Momonga states that given their assignments its natural that they would have limited opportunities to work together, but the maid drops the bombshell on him when she reveals that she fears that Sebas Tian may have betrayed them to his confusion.

At the quarry near E-Rantel, where the work is the source of building materials for the construction of the fourth wall of the city has reached its climax. Two laborers struggle to lift a boulder from the area to a trolley for transportation. Their burden become lighter and they see that another laborer has come to their assistance. Seeing it as "Big Brother" Sebas Tian their moods lighten at their senior comrade giving a hand after the old man had been called by his master for an errand. Sebas asks why they were doing such a reckless thing to carry such a heavy object with only two men. The laborers state that they were excited to finish as the new wall will soon be complete. Plus with Sebas Tian away, they had to work harder without his help. Seeing that he is partly responsible for the extra hours they put in, Sebas Tian promises to carry some of the burden, which shock the workers as the effort requires a hundred men. Brushing this to be insignificant, Sebas asks what has happened since he was away. The laborers report that no problems have occurred so far as more soldiers now guard the area. Satisfied with the news Sebas readies to get back to work.

When night falls, Sebas Tian contribution has made the work progress three days in advance. His colleagues ask if he has any plans later when he returns to E-Rantel. Beside having to return to his master Sebas has no plans, and the two laborers invite the old man to a to go out to the Black Market. In the alleys of E-Rantel, Sebas Tian is welcomed by a sight of several of the workers from the quarry sitting at a table laden with food from a stall. Surprised by this Sebas Tian learns that his co-workers planned this to express their gratitude to him for all his efforts. Their hospitality is appreciate so the undercover butler joins them in the festivities. Later walking through the Black Market, Sebas Tian notes that place to be more crowded than usual. His two comrades confirm due to the growing population of the city from all the refugees. So far its good for them because they can easily earn a bit of money by selling some of their pilfered ores and crystals here. Here in this market their goods can avoid the toll tax of the city. Sebas Tian notes that this to be the direct doing of the king, as the reason why the Black Market hasn't been swept away was because the King doesn't wish to impose his will on the already struggling populace of the city. One of Sebas Tian's comrades asks him if he has a preference, which confuses the butler, causing his friends to laugh as his cluelessness and then invite him to a 'place'.

Sebas is then led to an inn called Black Honeymooner, in the back of the market. There he is guided by the owner of the building to a room. The owner then asks him to wait until one of her employee arrives before leaving. The undercover butler seeing that this place is a brothel, chastises himself for getting into such a situation. Reminding himself he is not here for entertainment but to help the refugees and gather information he plans to decline the brothel's service. Just then a young woman in a chemise appears at his door. Introducing herself as Tuare, she timidly states she is eager to be here. Sebas Tian politely thanks her for her kindness but wishes to depart as he has matters to attend to and wishes to have a refund, unwilling to waste the money his fellow laborers spent. Tuare cups her mouth in surprise by this request and apologizes sking if he would like another employee to serve him. Sebas Tian states that not to be the case, telling her she is more than pure, which causes her to gasp at the compliment. Turning to eleave, he pauses and asks Tuare if she needs any help to her confusion. He couldn't help but feel that she was relieved when he said that he did not want her. Sebas wonders if she is being kept here against her will, and if so he might be able to help her. Tuare starts to say something but stops herself stating that she is at the brothel on her own volition. That being said Sebas apologizes for wasting her time. Tuare touched by the man concern offers to send him out.

In the streets of the Black Marcket, Solution under her adventurer alias Soi is browsing through the booming commercial area eager to send Momonga new magic items for daily necessities. She spots Sebas Tian exiting a building, and wonders why he is in the market, then remembering that part of his reward was to be allowed to visit the city on a regular basis. The undercover Nazarick agent while understanding that he collects information for Nazarck still is frustrated with her superior's concern for the human refugees. When she spots Tuare behind him her suspcions grow.

In the present Solution finishes telling Albedo and Momonga her report on Sebas Tian's possible betrayal. Momonga is in disbelief that Sebas Tian would even visit a brothel, and is shocked that he has continued to visit the same brothel multiple times. The Overlord thinks that maybe that Sebas Tian is doing this as a form of recreation. While Solution understand her master's reluctance to believing that Sebas Tian is capable of treason, she can with confidence state that Sebas Tian;s visits to the brother are not to immerse himself. For one, the cost to enter the brothel is a concern, as she was told by Clementime the wages at the quarry are not enough to pay for a session at a brothel. Albedo grows concerned at this and considers the possibility that Sebas Tian could be using Nazarick resources to fund his times at the brothel. Not only that Sebas Tian has been visiting other parts of the Black Market. While Solution cannot say for sure she thinks that maybe he is in contact with someone. In the worst case, Albedo fears that Sebas Tian might be giving information to a party outside of Nazarick, if this turns out to be true they would need to address this quickly. Despite how it looks Momonga still feels that they need to look deeper into the case. He asks if she shared her findings with anyone else, which the maid states that other than a Shadow Demon and the people in the room are aware of the events. The Overlord then commands Solution to follow through with her investigation and to bring the protagonist and Slimeko on the case to assist. After Solution leaves to follow his orders, Momonga tells Albedo that in the unlikely event that Sebast Tian has betrayed them to another party, to station two or more Floor Guardians outside of E-Rantel. Albedo advises that this might be a ploy to target the Guardians, with that Momonga decides to raise the alert level of Nazarick as a whole until they can determine Sebas Tian's loyalty. In Momonga mind, he wonders if Sebas Tian's treason was the result of friction with Demiurge. He worries that this incident could cause an internal division if the contents of the investigation are made public.

Elsewhere in an underground warehouse beneath the Black Honeymooner, the owner greets Cocco Doll apologizes for the lack of usual hospitality. The former executive of Eight Fingers is not insulted as he and Isabella' s secret meetings are necessary to avoid the Black Market from being folded by the authorities. For if his involvement, a man who was head of Eight Fingers slave trading department, was made known it would spell disaster to their enterprise and leave them both in ruin. He plans to avoid coming to these meetings in the future, but asks about how the brothel is doing, which the owner conveys that they have so many good "products" at a cheap price and many customers. It's ironic that though slave trafficking has been banned it still exists in a form even with the dismantling of Eight Fingers, which she attributes to Cocco Doll for not able to let old habits die. The good news is that many people are desperate to sell themselves and would never dare dream of escaping. Cocco Doll glad to hear this are progressing bides his partner good bye telling her to keep up the good work. Isabella calls out that she intends to by all means for a long time.

Solution returning to E-Rantel as Soi, informs her adventurer team of her report with Momonga. Slimeko hearing this refuses to believe that Sebas Tian is a traitor though the protagonist appears more open-minded on the possibility. Soi seeing Slimeko obvious discomfort that one of Nazarick could be a traitor, states that Sebas Tian's loyalty is genuine. Confused as how Sebas could be a traitor and loyal the slime asks her to elaborate. Soi explains that it's due to Sebas Tian's creator having made him that way as he has always had a tendency to support humans. The protagonist remembering the Forty-One Supreme Beings, thinks if Sebas Tian is following the will of his creator present a philosophical conundrum should he be guilty? He fears of the worst possibility.

Entering the Black Market, Slimeko is amazed that the place is still as busy as ever since her last survey. Soi suggest they focus on gathering more information on the place Sebas Tian was visiting. The protagonists recommends they keep their ears open for any rumors, which Soi agrees but warns them to stay together. When Slimeko asks why, a pair of drunk men approach and try to make passes at the women.

Back at the Black Honeymooner, Tuare thinks about the time with that mysterious man. Until now there was no one other than her family who cared about her. Before and after the incident there was only terrible people. She wonder what would have happened had she accepted his offer of help, but there brushes the though away as this was a situation she chose for herself.

Without knowing of Solution's investigation, Sebas Tian in his normal butler clothes, makes his way into the residential area fir the elite of E-Rantel. As he walks to his destination he curses himself for this stupid selfless act he has committed as he knows full well that he should have reported to his superior before conducting his personal investigation. Thinking about Tuare, he understand that he got too personally invested in the matter, even when she did not ask for help. Having pity for someone outside of Ainz Ooal Gown should not be allowed, but yet he muses that he's just like Pestonya and his kindess is a curse.

For the protagonist and his friends, they found no information relevant to the brothel which Slimeko comments to be just an open secret in the area. Having spent more time driving away drunks than gaining actual information, they learn that the brothel was established around the same time the Black Market was formed. According to a few loose tongues the employees at the establishment worked in similar shops but came from outside the city after the catastrophe. The group is distracted by a noise, and see a shopkeeper is being harassed by a pair of thugs who demand the owner pay his fees, despite the former's claim of already paying his dues to the. However they claim that they merely need extra money after some bad debts. Seeing that they are just extorting him the shopkeeper threatens to tell their boss of this incident. The two are not fazed and start trashing his wares, stating that the only people in charge were the two of them right now. The adventurers seeing the extortion muse that they must be the enforcers for the Black Market. Slimeko comments that shops can only set up here unless they pay a protection fee to the Black Market Boss. Soi admits that to be true, but notes those two collectors are not following the rules of the Black Market. The protagonist thinks they may have found a new source of information on the brothel. If these two are money collectors then they must know about their target.

Before the group intervenes in the scene, a voice calls to the thugs harassing the shopkeeper to stop. Annoyed that someone interrupted them they demand who it is. Saint Clementine soon appears telling them that she is working late for the city. The two ruffians having heard of the saint, wonder why a city official is here in this part of the city. Clementine first makes it clear that she is not a city official but someone on the side of the city. She reminds them that the market her is a result of the inflow of refugees and iterates that the reason why there hasn't been a crackdown on it activities is "due to labor shortages". In addition there is a deep rooted opinion that if they take labor from other areas the first would be to crack down on this area. Fortunately the current situation, there are some people like them who work in this chaotic environment.

The thugs are not impressed by the saint or reputation, mocking at what could one woman do. Clementine admits that she may seem weak, but iterates she is not alone as several soldiers march into the market. She then tells the shocked crooks that this is all fro the city and they should think very carefully.

The husky thug is knocked out his body crashing in several pots. The other crook seeing his partner down, dashes away swearing to remember this affront. Soi muses to Clementine that she missed one. Clementine takes notices of the party, finds it strange that the protagonist and his friends would be in a place like the Black Market. Though Soi rebukes stating the same could said about the saint. Her attention is drawn toward the fact that Clementine allowed one of the criminals to get away, but the saint is calm stating that they have enough time before he gets away. Just in case Soi has a Shadow Demon tail the thug. The saint asks the party if they would be interested in a job that she believes that they can handle. Intrigued, Soi states that it would depend on the content and reward. Clementine promises to give them a brief explanation of the task that she requires of them, once they catch the escaped thug.