The franchise is low stakes because Rimuru is so insanely OP, but the shift has started to occur. Things have been set up the last three episodes to build to a conflict, but we just don't know from where and from who.

- Clayman sent Myuuran to find Youm. Clayman also has a connection with the clown pervert, who we know are spying on Tempest. Clayman was backing the Orc Lord as well somehow, through the other guy. So there's a demon lord involved.
- Yurazania (beast people) just signed a tentative trade treaty with Tempest. They've stated their demon lord, Carrion, is very temperamental and this is one of the first times they've reached out in a long time.
- Other nations are surprised how quickly Tempest is getting trade partners. Remember that Tempest as a nation has only been around for a year or two at most.
- Tempest is getting built in the Jura Forest, which was previously off-limits because of the Storm Dragon that recently disappeared (into Rimuru's belly).
- Dwargon flat-out warned Rimuru that becoming a powerful trade nation may upset Falmuth, the current trade leader, especially for food, and who have a douchebag for a king.
- Dwargon would happily prefer getting food and booze from Yurazania through Tempest than get it from Falmuth where they currently do.
- Youm is from Falmuth.

The strings are all there, just what exactly is going to make them all snap?