Within the grand halls of the Western Holy Church, the clerics of the Seven Luminaries gathered in secret, their expressions grim as they discussed their latest scheme. The rise of Demon Lord Rimuru had shaken their foundation, and they feared that their divine authority would wane should Luminous Valentine shift her favor away from them.

At the head of the group stood Granbell Rosso, their leader and the mastermind behind the unfolding deception. "Hinata remains our most powerful tool. If we manipulate her properly, we can have her eliminate Rimuru for us," Granbell stated coldly, his piercing gaze scanning the gathered members.

Ars, the ever-scheming, smirked. "We have already forged a message in Rimuru's name, challenging her to a duel. With her pride, she won't ignore it."

The clerics nodded, knowing that Hinata Sakaguchi was a warrior who operated on reason and strategy, but her past enmity with monsters made her a prime candidate to fall for their ruse.

"And to ensure her success," another cleric interjected, "we shall grant her the Dragon Buster."

The Dragon Buster, a supposedly divine sword, was in truth a carefully rigged trap—its power formidable, but laced with hidden restrictions that would make Hinata vulnerable at a critical moment and they could control it. They ensured it resonated with the same energy used in the barriers that weakened monsters, giving Hinata a false sense of superiority over Rimuru.

Granbell's smile widened. "With that blade in her hands and our false challenge in her mind, she will march straight to Tempest."

But their plans extended beyond Hinata alone. They needed a direct military intervention. That was where the Ten Great Saints came in.

Leonard Jester, one of the strongest among them, had been subtly influenced by the clerics, his fervor for the Church's mission making him an easy pawn. He had been convinced that Tempest was a growing threat, one that had to be dealt with swiftly.

However, the true masterstroke of their deception lay in Ars' cunning impersonation. He had assassinated Garde, a trusted member of the Ten Great Saints, and now wore his face flawlessly. From within, he would manipulate their decisions, ensuring that the Holy Knights would take arms against Tempest.

"With the saints marching and Hinata leading the charge, Rimuru shall fall," one of the clerics declared confidently.

Granbell, watching the unfolding pieces of his grand game, nodded in satisfaction. "And should she fail, well… she will have weakened him for us. Either way, our victory is assured."

Unbeknownst to them, Arion's spies had seen and heard everything. Every whispered plot, every deception—it was all being relayed back to Arion in real-time.

And so, Hinata, unknowingly walking into a trap, decided to go to Tempest.

As I sat on my throne, enjoying a moment of peace, my lovers tended to me with their delicate yet firm hands. Velzard, my icy dragon queen, massaged my shoulders, her touch both soothing and powerful. Testarossa, ever the perfectionist, worked on my right leg, her sharp crimson eyes focused with an almost surgical precision. Ultima, playful and passionate, attended to my left leg, occasionally flashing a mischievous grin. Meanwhile, Carrera, always the most aggressive yet affectionate, ran her fingers through my hair, caressing my scalp with a gentleness that contrasted her usual explosive nature.

It was during this moment of bliss that a shadow flickered in the corner of my chamber. One of my spies had returned. He knelt before me, his voice steady but urgent.

"My Lord, I bring critical information."

I closed my eyes for a moment, enjoying the last few seconds of my massage before nodding. "Speak."

"Hinata Sakaguchi and the Ten Great Saints are on their way to Tempest, intending to confront Demon Lord Rimuru. However, their actions have been manipulated by the clerics of the Seven Luminaries. They forged a challenge in Rimuru's name and provided Hinata with a rigged weapon—Dragon Buster—to ensure her downfall."

I let out a small sigh. "How predictable. The Western Holy Church cannot accept change, so they resort to deception."

Carrera clicked her tongue in irritation. "Typical of those self-righteous fools. Should I just blow them up?"

Velzard chuckled at her impatience but didn't disagree. "If they continue down this path, they may need to be dealt with."

Ultima smirked. "But before that, shouldn't we at least let Rimuru know? It'd be a shame if something actually happened to him. He's… amusing."

Testarossa, always the strategist, nodded. "I agree. We should send one of my demons from the Blanc Legion. Someone swift, skilled in espionage, and able to move unseen."

I considered her words and nodded. "Very well. Choose one of your best."

She smiled knowingly. "I already have the perfect candidate."

A figure stepped from the shadows, a lean and swift demon who had been rigorously trained in covert operations. His scarlet eyes gleamed under the dim light, and his movements were precise, calculated.

"You have your mission. Deliver this information to Rimuru Tempest. Do not reveal who sent you."

The spy bowed deeply. "Understood, my Lord." Then, in a flash, he vanished.

The journey to Tempest was swift, almost as if the wind itself carried the spy. Slipping past defenses undetected, he made his way to the heart of the city, where Souei, Rimuru's most trusted intelligence officer, lurked in the shadows.

But Souei did not trust unknown messengers. The moment the spy stepped forward, he felt an invisible pressure clamp down on him—Souei's sharp crimson eyes locked onto him, his aura radiating silent menace.

"Who are you?" Souei's voice was calm, yet dangerous.

The spy did not flinch. "I bring urgent information for Demon Lord Rimuru."

Souei remained cautious. "And why should I believe you?"

The spy met his gaze with unwavering confidence. "Because the fate of Tempest depends on it."

A tense silence filled the air. Then, after a brief consideration, Souei finally spoke. "Follow me."

With calculated steps, Souei led the spy through the halls of Rimuru's domain. Upon reaching the main chamber, the spy found himself before Rimuru Tempest, who sat in his chair with a relaxed, yet authoritative aura. Benimaru, Shion, Shuna, Hakuro, and Ranga stood nearby, their expressions wary but attentive.

Rimuru tilted his head slightly. "Who are you?"

The spy bowed but did not answer the question directly. "I cannot disclose that. I am only here to deliver a message."

Rimuru's expression turned serious. "Alright, then let's hear it."

The spy took a deep breath before relaying the critical information. "Hinata Sakaguchi and the Ten Great Saints are marching towards Tempest under false pretenses. The Western Holy Church has manipulated them, forging a letter in your name to provoke Hinata. Furthermore, they have given her a cursed weapon, Dragon Buster, under the guise of aiding her in battle."

A heavy silence followed. Benimaru clenched his fists. Shion's eyes burned with rage, while Shuna's face showed concern. Even Hakuro's normally calm demeanor hardened.

Rimuru narrowed his eyes. "So, they're trying to get her to kill me."

Benimaru exhaled sharply. "This is a direct provocation. Should we prepare for war?"

Rimuru tapped his fingers against the armrest of his chair, deep in thought. "It's complicated. Hinata isn't the type to blindly follow orders. But if she's convinced that I'm a threat… she won't hesitate to strike."

Shion growled. "Then let's take the fight to them first!"

Rimuru shook his head. "No. This isn't just about fighting. This is about politics, manipulation… someone wants us to make the wrong move."

Benimaru crossed his arms. "So what do you suggest?"

Rimuru leaned forward. "We prepare. But we don't start a war unless there's no other choice."

His gaze returned to the spy. "Who sent you?"

The spy remained firm. "I cannot disclose that."

Rimuru sighed, leaning back. "I figured you'd say that."

The spy gave a final bow. "My mission is complete. Do with this information what you will."

Then, as swiftly as he had arrived, he vanished.

Rimuru sat in silence for a moment before muttering, "This just keeps getting more interesting…"