The Masterminds

Deep within the hidden base of the Moderate Harlequin Alliance, Yuuki Kagurazaka sat at the head of a round table, surrounded by his trusted subordinates and conspirators: Clayman, Kigali, Laplace, Footman, and Tear. The room was dimly lit, the flickering light of a chandelier casting dancing shadows across their faces. Clayman leaned back in his chair, a smug smile plastered across his face, while the others listened intently to Yuuki's outline of their plans.

Yuuki tapped his fingers against the table thoughtfully. "So, let me get this straight. You're planning to use Falmuth as a diversionary force to weaken Tempest, then sweep in with your own army once Rimuru and his people are vulnerable?"

Clayman smirked and nodded. "Exactly. Falmuth's forces are already prepared to move. Their king is blinded by greed, thinking he can reclaim lost land and gain dominion over a growing nation. Once they attack Tempest, Rimuru will exhaust his forces defending the town. That's when we strike—when they're at their weakest."

Yuuki narrowed his eyes. "And you're sure Frey and Carrion are on board with this? What's their motivation for siding with you?"

Clayman chuckled, waving his hand dismissively. "Oh, don't worry about them. Carrion and Frey each have their reasons. Carrion believes he'll gain greater political power if we succeed, and Frey… well, let's just say she's interested in consolidating her position among the Demon Lords. I've assured them both that this plan will put them at the top."

Kigali, standing quietly by Yuuki's side, spoke up. "It sounds promising, but you're forgetting the older Demon Lords—those like Guy Crimson, Milim, and Luminous Valentine. If they catch wind of this plan, they could interfere."

Clayman's grin widened. "That's where my skill lies. By the time they find out, it'll be too late. I'll create a backstory so compelling that no one will question our actions. The fall of Tempest will be painted as a necessary action to deal with a 'dangerous new force.' And with the church involved, it'll lend credibility to our actions."

Yuuki raised an eyebrow. "The church, huh? How do you plan to get Hinata Sakaguchi involved? She's not exactly someone you can manipulate easily."

Clayman leaned forward, his expression dark. "That's where your help comes in, Yuuki. You've already planted doubt in her mind about Rimuru, right?"

Yuuki smirked. "It wasn't hard. I've been feeding her subtle hints about how Shizu's death was no accident. I even told her that Rimuru was the one responsible, indirectly at least. Hinata has a strong sense of justice and an emotional connection to Shizu. If she believes Rimuru killed her teacher, she won't hesitate to act. The next time she and Rimuru cross paths, I'll ensure it escalates into a full-blown confrontation."

Clayman nodded in approval. "Perfect. Once Hinata eliminates Rimuru, Tempest will descend into chaos. Without Rimuru's leadership, the nation won't last long against Falmuth's army. By the time Frey, Carrion, and I attack, there'll be nothing left to stop us."

Footman, the rotund jester-like member of the Harlequin Alliance, laughed uproariously. "I like it! Chaos, destruction, despair—it's all so delicious. But are we sure Rimuru is as naive as you think? He's already dealt with some pretty powerful foes."

Yuuki leaned back, a calculating look on his face. "Rimuru's strong, no doubt about it. He's got powerful allies, too. But strength alone isn't enough to counter well-laid plans. Rimuru is still relatively new to this world and its politics. He's overconfident because of his victories, and that's a weakness we can exploit."

Kigali added, "We should make sure the church and Falmuth don't coordinate too closely. If Rimuru somehow survives and puts the pieces together, it'll lead back to us. Keep them operating independently, so even if one side fails, the other can still act."

Clayman waved her off. "Of course. I'm not a fool. Falmuth will think they're acting on their own ambitions, while the church believes they're purging a demon lord who poses a threat to humanity. Neither will know the full scope of our plans."

Yuuki tapped the table again, deep in thought. "We should also prepare a contingency in case things don't go as planned. What if Rimuru defeats Falmuth and survives his encounter with Hinata?"

Laplace, lounging casually with his feet on the table, grinned. "Then we let them tire each other out and step in as the cleanup crew. No matter how strong Rimuru is, he's not invincible. If Hinata and Falmuth fail, we'll just send another wave of attacks. He can't fight a war on all fronts forever."

Yuuki stood, pacing the room. "We'll also need to monitor Tempest closely. I'll assign some of my spies to keep an eye on their movements. Rimuru's nation is growing rapidly, and that makes them unpredictable. If they develop new weapons or form unexpected alliances, we'll need to adjust our plans."

Clayman nodded. "Agreed. I'll have some of my subordinates infiltrate their ranks as well. They'll feed us information and sabotage Tempest from within if needed."

Yuuki smiled, a dangerous glint in his eye. "Good. With all these pieces in place, Rimuru won't know what hit him. By the time he realizes the extent of our plan, it'll be too late to stop it."

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of their conspiracy hanging heavily in the air. Then, Tear broke the tension with a chuckle. "This is going to be fun. I can't wait to see the look on Rimuru's face when everything comes crashing down."