Debuff Master

Chapter 747

While Siegfried and the Head Crusher Guild were plotting something within the Iron Cradle, Kim Gi-Tae and the Proatine Alliance were busy capturing the strategic positions around the Zavala Kingdom’s capital city, Feiogh.

Despite the immense pressure, however, the Zavala Forces remained steadfast within the walls of Feiogh.

“How much longer until the Iron Fleet is operational?”

“The paint job is done, and the main guns are being loaded. As per the report, two more days and the fleet can finally take off.”

“Good.”

General Bahamut listened to the report with a satisfied smile. He gazed down at the map as he began strategizing for the nearing mobilization for their counterattack.

‘Once the Iron Fleet takes to the skies...’

The Proatine Kingdom’s commander, Siegfried van Proa, was no fool. The enemy was moving as though they knew that they stood no chance of winning the moment the Iron Fleet was launched.

‘If only they focused on attacking Garnet City alongside the Rozermoore Alliance,’ Governor Bahamut mused.

He could not help but be impressed by the enemy’s foresight. At the same time, he felt it was a shame that the enemy hadn't done something as reckless as laying siege to Garnet City.

‘But once the fleet’s in the air, the key is to draw this war out slowly. The approaching winter will prolong the war, and we will have the defender’s advantage. If we target their supply lines, they will be forced to suffer attrition.’

Bahamut had never thought about the possibility that the enemy could infiltrate the Iron Cradle. Well, he did think about it, but he dismissed the idea immediately, as such an action was nothing short of throwing away their lives.

Even if they tried, Bahamut was confident that they'd either give up or fail, as the Iron Cradle’s security was airtight and impregnable.

Unconcerned by the possibility of the Iron Cradle being breached, Bahamut continued overseeing the battle, convinced that his plan was solid.

Meanwhile, back at the Iron Cradle, the final stages of the fleet’s assembly were in full swing. The Iron Fleet was not the only thing being built, as the Zavala Kingdom had built a new array of light airships to escort the Iron Fleet.

They had learned their lesson after the previous fiasco where the mighty Iron fleet was wiped out by the Proatine Kingdom’s air forces. Thus, the current fleet was the most formidable Iron Fleet that the Zavala Kingdom had ever built.

‘We’re putting everything on the line on this operation. If His Majesty’s plan succeeds, then...’ Ninetail thought, clenching her fist.

It was then.

“Whatcha up to?”

“Kyak! D-Don’t scare me like that!”

Ninetail jumped when a researcher had crept up behind her. This researcher was none other than Siegfried.

“What are you doing here, sire?!” Ninetail asked in a hushed voice.

“What else? I’m infiltrating with you,” Siegfried replied with a shrug.

Hamchi poked his head from Siegfried’s pocket and greeted, “Kyuuu! Hamchi is here, too!”

“...”

Ninetail was rendered speechless after seeing that even Hamchi had tagged along.

“Why did you come out from the sewers?” Ninetail asked, dragging Siegfried aside.

“Why else? I have work to do.”

“And what is this work you speak of?”

“You will see soon enough.”

“Huh?”

“Do you know where the officers that will command the Iron Fleet are right now?”

“They are in the barracks of the air force.”

“Okay.”

“Huh? Where are you going, sire?”

“To the barracks of the air force.”

“Are you planning to...?”

“Why not, right?” Siegfried said with a mischievous grin. Then, he immediately left, making a beeline for the barracks where the air force officers who would later command the Iron Fleet were resting.

***

Late at night, Lieutenant General Proxima, the commander-in-chief of the air forces and captain of the Iron Fleet’s flagship, the Nautilus, was out for a stroll with his aide. With only two days remaining until the fleet was operational, this was likely his last moment of rest before the war demanded his full, undivided attention.

“It’s a chilly night.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I hope we finish the campaign before winter starts so we can go south for vacation.”

“I believe it will not take long, sir.”

The aide sounded confident and resolute.

“Once the Iron Fleet takes off, those Proatine rats can no longer threaten us. A week or perhaps a month at most, and the war will be over.”

“Yes, that is quite likely.”

“Please have a cigarette, sir.”

“Oh? It has a fine aroma.”

“I had a hard time getting my hands on these.”

“Hoho! Look at you! You know perfectly well how to curry up to your superiors.”

“Allow me to light it for you, sir,” the aide said and lit the cigarette for Lieutenant General Proxima.

“Hmm... I think I should give you some bonus points in your upcoming performance review.”

“T-That is not necessary, sir! Hahaha!”

“This is why I like you. You’re way sharper than the other—”

It was then.

Bam! Bam!

Lieutenant General Proxima and his aide were bashed on the head from behind, knocking both of them unconscious.

“Look at that, strolling out here for me! How considerate!”

“Kyuuu! Thank you!”

Siegfried and Hamchi did a little dance of joy before dragging the two unconscious officers to a dark place.

Sseuuu...!

Siegfried infused his radioactive microbes into Lieutenant General Proxima and his aide’s head.

Sseuuu...!

[Alert: You have created a Radioactive Ghoul!]

[Alert: You have created a Radioactive Ghoul!]

He had successfully turned the commander-in-chief of the air force, who was also the captain of the Iron Fleet, into his puppet. He could only control him for one hundred sixty hours, but that was more than enough time.

His goal was to take over the Iron Fleet using the Radioactive Ghoul, so he didn't need the ghoul to last longer than a week.

“I await your command, my master.”

“Please give your orders, Master.”

The two officers, now Radioactive Ghouls, knelt before Siegfried with eyes devoid of any ego or consciousness.

“Go back and act just as you would normally. Tomorrow night, call a meeting with all of the officers of the Iron Fleet, but make it seem like just another routine meeting.”

“Yes, my master.”

“As you command, Master.”

The two Radioactive Ghouls turned and disappeared back to their barracks.

‘Perfect,’ Siegfried thought with a smirk spreading across his face.

***

Two days later.

— Attention all forces!

— One hour until deployment!

— All personnel, please board your designated battleships!

— I repeat.

— All personnel, please board your designated battleships!

At long last, the completed Iron Fleet and the new light aircraft left the hangars, ready to take off. Alongside them, the Zavala Kingdom’s air force troops began boarding the battleships they were designated.

Among those who boarded the battleships were Siegfried and the Head Crusher Guild members. They blended seamlessly into the crowd with the help of Lieutenant General Proxima and the other fleet captains, who were now nothing more than Radioactive Ghouls.

They boarded the battleships, posing as newly enlisted troops, while Siegfried joined Lieutenant General Proxima on the flagship, the Nautilus.

One hour later...

Wooong!

The new Iron Fleet slowly lifted off from the Iron Cradle. They flew up into the skies, moving in formation together with the light aircraft toward Feiogh.

“Sir! The Iron Fleet has finally taken off! They are currently en route to Feiogh!”

General Bahamut received the report of the Iron Fleet taking into the skies.

“Finally!” General Bahamut exclaimed, clenching his fists in exhilaration.

The mighty Zavala Kingdom’s armies had been hiding behind the walls of Feiogh and had only been able to watch as their enemies burned their farmlands, destroyed essential state facilities, and scorched their lands.

General Bahamut was living on the edge, unsure if King Frederick would order his head on a whim. Every single day felt like he was treading on thin ice.

But now, all of his worries are gone. Once the Iron Fleet reached Feiogh, General Bahamut could unleash the strategies he had prepared to crush the coalition formed against them.

In fact, he had already put his tactics into motion.

“All troops, prepare for combat. Once the Iron Fleet arrives, we march to face our enemies.”

After issuing his orders, General Bahamut waited for the Iron Fleet. The capital, Feiogh, was close to the Iron Cadle, so a few hours would suffice.

After approximately seven hours...

“It’s the Iron Fleet!”

“Yeah!”

“The Iron Fleet is here!”

The Zavala Kingdom’s troops erupted in cheers and rejoiced after the iron-clad behemoths, the pride of the Zavala Kingdom, appeared on the distant horizon.

The Iron Fleet had finally arrived on the battlefield, and their sheer dominating presence made it difficult for the troops not to release their suppressed emotions.

“All forces! March!”

General Bahamut mobilized his five hundred-thousand-strong army the moment the Iron Fleet was in sight. Under his command, the troops set off from Feiogh, advancing toward the position where the Proatine Alliance was encamped.

‘We will drive the enemy away from Feiogh with the Iron Fleet’s help,’ General Bahamut thought while pushing forward. All of the components required to execute the tactic he had prepared were ready.

The complete Zavala Kingdom’s army was a formidable sight to behold. Eleven massive iron warships, flanked by cutting-edge light aircraft, dominated the skies while a total of five hundred thousand soldiers marched on the ground.

The combined force of the Zavala Kingdom’s army seemed capable of reducing an entire kingdom to ashes in a single barrage. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

“But why is the Iron Fleet directly above our men? They should be leading from the front, not coming all the way here,” General Bahamut grumbled, watching the Iron Fleet hover above the Zavala Forces.

The Iron Fleet had to be at the forefront, maintaining at least a kilometer of distance ahead. This would allow them to detect enemy positions and safeguard their ground troops from ambushes.

“Call Lieutenant General Proxima,” General Bahamut said.

“Yes, sir!”

“Tsk... Don’t they have any strategic awareness at all? Why are those damned airmen so incompetent?” General Bahamut grumbled, infuriated by the air force’s lack of foresight.

Whiiiir... Click... Clack!

‘Hmm? Enemies?’ General Bahamut noticed that the battleships’ cannon covers slid open, revealing long gun barrels one by one.

He could not see anything around him, but he decided to trust the Iron Fleet and prepared to sound the alarm to alert his men.

It was then.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The cannons of the Iron Fleet spat flames, and shockingly, the light aircraft escorting the massive behemoths began dropping from the sky one by one.

“...!”

General Bahamut’s eyes shot wide in disbelief.

Why would the Iron Fleet shoot down their own fighter planes?

Unfortunately, before he could make sense of what was happening—

“W-What the hell in the world?!”

—He ended up screaming after looking up at the Iron Fleet.

Whiiiir... Click... Clack!

Shwooooong...!

The Iron Fleet opened their hatches and dropped bombs directly above their allies. The pride and joy of the Zavala Kingdom, the mighty Iron Fleet, was bombing the very core of the Zavala Forces.