Debuff Master - Chapter 1173

Chapter 1173

“Coral Battleships?!”

“Yes.”

“But… why are you giving this to me?”

“Use this as a reference and build some battleships. They will become powerful strategic weapons for you when it’s time to strike down those invaders.”

“What…?”

“All the technological advancements our race has made are contained in these documents.”

“But… Even if I have the blueprints and manuals, building something like this isn’t exactly easy, is it? Besides, we don’t have the engineers either.”

“We do have them.”

“Huh? Where?”

“All the attendants who came with me are actually our top scientists and engineers. Each of them is at the top of their specialties, so with their help, building the battleships should not be too difficult.”

“What…?”

“We disguised them as my attendants to smuggle our knowledge to you.”

“Wow…”

Siegfried couldn’t help but be impressed by Theodosius’ brilliant scheme.

Who would have imagined that he would smuggle the top scientists and engineers of his race by posing them as his attendants?

“With just five of our battleships, you should easily crush the fleets of those vile invaders and seize air superiority,” Theodosius said firmly. Then, he added in a pleading voice, “So please, build them in secret and prepare for the future. If this fails, then I am afraid that there will be no hope.”

Theodosius was not wrong at all.

On the surface, things seemed calm and peaceful, but in truth, the Proatine Empire and the Marchioni Empire had crossed a line of no return. As long as the Marchioni Empire considered the Proatine Empire a potential threat and enemy, then it was only a matter of time before war erupted between them.

‘Hold on… Don’t we have the blueprint of the empire’s Invincible Battleships?’ Siegfried thought, suddenly recalling the blueprint.

The Proatine Empire was already working on building a new fleet using the blueprint of the Invincible Battleships, which were practically the symbol of the Marchioni Empire’s might.

What was going to happen if they added five battleships built with the technology provided by the Corals?

‘Crushing the Marchioni Empire would no longer be just a dream,’ Siegfried thought.

He felt that this was something he had to push through with. He couldn’t just stand by and let himself be used, as they would certainly discard him when he was no longer needed.

He needed to make preparations for the day that the Marchioni Empire finally pointed its sword at him.

“Okay. Let’s do it,” Siegfried replied with a nod.

“I will tell my men to support your empire to the fullest, Savior,” Theodosius said with resolve.

“What about the Ancient Corals?”

“Our most powerful knights are secretly exploring ruins across the planet to locate them.”

“I see…”

“But that will take time. So for now, please focus on building the battleships first.”

“Okay. I’ll move things forward, so leave those to me,” Siegfried said with a nod. Then, he added with a hint of concern, “For now, you should get some rest. I know you’re struggling, too.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Savior.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Siegfried revealed a faint, tired smile. Then, he called for an attendant to escort Theodosius.

“Did you call for me, sire?”

Just then, Metatron appeared and bowed to Siegfried.

Siegfried tilted his head and asked, “Huh? Why the hell are you here?”

“Well, the Demon Realm is pretty stable these days, so I came back to serve you. Hehehe…” Metatron replied, scratching the back of his head with an awkward laugh.

“You little rascal,” Siegfried muttered with a grin. Then, he ordered, “He is an important guest of our empire. Take good care of him.”

“As you command, sire.”

Once Metatron had left with Theodosius…

‘That’s done. But I still have another problem…’

Siegfried rubbed his temples as he thought of Daode Tianzun and Betelgeuse, who were now missing. They were supposed to be recovering in Gerog’s lair, but they had vanished without a trace.

It would have given him closure if they had turned up dead like Gerog, but the fact that they disappeared into thin air was driving Siegfried crazy.

‘What am I supposed to do about them? Where do I even start looking for those two? Are they even alive?’

The night grew deeper, but Siegfried’s worries seemed to have no end.

***

The next day, Siegfried headed for the Marchioni Empire to meet with Emperor Stuttgart.

Before he left, Michele repeatedly warned him of many things, but the most important warning was…

“You absolutely must not say anything carelessly. Just as you have done so far, keep playing the fool, sire.”

“Hey, you. What the hell did you just say? Keep pretending to be a fool? Are you saying I’ve been a fool all this time?” Siegfried growled, narrowing his eyes at him.

“Hm? Did I say something wrong?”

“What?”

“Your Imperial Majesty,” Michele said with a sigh, closing his eyes tightly as if he were about to lecture a stubborn child. Then, he asked, “Have you already forgotten how you were deceived and used by the Marchioni Empire?”

“T-That was—”

“Sure. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement up until the Coral Planet expedition. But the situation changed drastically starting from the Coral Planet expedition.”

“That’s true. You’re right.”

“You must not show any hint that you have caught onto things.”

“Okay, okay. Don’t be such a worrywart. I’ll be back soon.”

Siegfried waved him off and started walking away.

With that, Siegfried arrived at the Marchioni Empire’s capital and entered the Palace of Blood.

“Welcome, brother.” As always. Emperor Stuttgart greeted him warmly.

Siegfried grumbled inwardly, ‘Brother, my ass. Who’s your brother, you scumbag?’

His eyes were ice cold as he glared daggers at Emperor Stuttgart—on the inside, at least. There was a time when Emperor Stuttgart had been one of the most trustworthy and powerful figures Siegfried knew, and he actually relied on him like an older brother.

However, Emperor Stuttgart was nothing more than a dangerous man whose only purpose in life was to wield power. Far from being an older brother, he was now trying to keep Siegfried in check and waiting for a chance to get rid of him.

‘Don’t let your feelings show. Stay focused and play along for now,’ Siegfried thought.

With that, he flashed a slightly foolish grin, the same grin he always did.

“Greetings, Elder Brother Majesty.”

“I heard you went through a lot, brother.”

“Oh, not at all. I was just running around here and there. And I just got lucky somehow,” Siegfried replied, shaking his head.

“Luck, you say…” Emperor Stuttgart smiled and muttered. Then, he said, “Luck must be on your side to accomplish such feats. But even luck is meaningless without the skills to back it up.”

“You flatter me, Elder Brother Majesty.”

“I knew I could trust you, brother. You are truly the true hero of this era.”

“It is all thanks to your grace, Elder Brother Majesty! Haha…!” Siegfried replied, letting out an awkward laugh while scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

“Ever so humble, my dear brother.”

“Hahaha…”

“Brother.”

“Yes, Elder Brother Majesty?”

“I’m thinking of giving you a reward.”

“A reward…?”

A glint of expectation flickered in Siegfried’s eyes.

Emperor Stuttgart had always been so generous with rewards whenever Siegfried accomplished something big, so it would most likely be the same this time. After all, the emperor had yet to reveal his dark side, so it made sense for him to offer some grand reward again.

“Brother.”

“Yes, Elder Brother Majesty.”

“Though we are not bound by blood, you and I are sworn brothers. That makes us family, members of the same house.”

“Certainly, Elder Brother Majesty.”

“And so…”

Emperor Stuttgart trailed off mid-sentence, which was highly unlike him.

‘Huh? What’s this? What’s with him? Is he… hesitating?’ Siegfried tilted his head in confusion, as the emperor seemed oddly different from usual.

Just then, Duke Neighdelberg stepped forward.

“May I speak in your place, Your Imperial Majesty?”

“Would you?” Emperor Stuttgart said, looking relieved. Then, he got up and added, “Then, I will excuse myself for a moment.

With those words, he left in a hurry like he had some urgent matter to attend to.

‘What the hell? He’s not giving me the reward himself? Is this going to be some bad news?’

While Siegfried was busy mulling it over—

“Your Imperial Majesty,” Duke Neighdelberg called out.

“Yes, duke?”

“As His Imperial Majesty just said, though you and he may not share blood, you are no different from family, bound by your oath as sworn brothers.

“Well, I guess so?”

“And so I say that the Marchioni Empire wishes to grant a great reward to Emperor Siegfried von Proa, the hero of the Coral Planet expedition.”

“What is my reward?”

“I understand that Your Imperial Majesty has a daughter.”

“Yes, I do.”

“The Marchioni Empire wishes for your daughter to have the great honor of marrying Emperor Stuttgart von Posteriore and becoming the empress of this mighty empire.”

Snap!

Something inside Siegfried’s head snapped.

***

Meanwhile, Lee Geon continued to disguise himself as Siegfried and roamed through dozens of villages each day. He committed countless murders, rapes, arson, and other heinous crimes imaginable as if it were nothing.

He hunted throughout the continent except within the Marchioni Empire’s territory. The Marchioni Empire wanted Siegfried’s public image to be dragged through the mud everywhere else.

If war ever broke out between the Marchioni Empire and the Proatine Empire, then the conflict would naturally escalate into a war between the Marchioni Empire against a coalition led by the Proatine Empire.

Thus, the Marchioni Empire needed to drag Siegfried’s reputation through the mad, all in order to make other nations reluctant to join that coalition.

“Kill half of them and leave the other half alive.”

As soon as Lee Geon arrived at a small rural village, he gave orders to his followers.

“Hey! He said to kill half!”

“Party time!”

“Time to have a good taste of these NPC scum!”

“Kekeke!”

At his command, Lee Geon’s fanatics began butchering the villagers mercilessly.

“Ah, this is so beautiful,” Lee Geon muttered with a smile while watching the slaughter unfold.

“P-Please! Spare me! S-Spare me—aaack!”

“Y-You bastards! How dare you!”

“Kyaaaah!”

Lee Geon savored every scream and wail of the NPCs as if he were listening to a piece of classical music. While still disguised as Siegfried, he committed every vile act he could think of while leisurely strolling through the carnage.

“E-Emperor Siegfried! Why are you doing this to us?!”

“Y-You filthy demon! You’re no hero! Do you think you will get away with this?!”

The villagers cursed and spat at Lee Geon, believing him to be Siegfried.

“Good! Very good!” Lee Geon felt absolute bliss as he relished in their hatred. Then, he ordered his fanatics, “Hey, make sure you leave half alive. Don’t kill all of them.”

He made sure to let some escape alive.

Why?

It was all because there would be no one left to spread the tale of what happened if he killed them all. The survivors would scatter and carry the rumor of Siegfried von Proa’s atrocities far and wide throughout the continent.

“Your Imperial Majesty! Look at this wench! Isn’t she fine? So soft and tender!”

“Kekeke! What a nice smell she has!”

Lee Geon’s followers acted like they were Siegfried’s troops, putting up an excellent farce while committing all sorts of vile acts.

Yet even in his hellish slaughter, a tiny seed of hope remained.

“Please help us… please…”

A little girl knelt at the foot of a statue hidden behind the village on a forested hill.

“Great Hero who protected us from evil. Please hear my plea. Please… please save our village…”

Despite watching the Adventurers and Siegfried himself slaughter countless people right in front of her eyes, her faith in the Holy Hero Emperor never wavered.

‘There’s no way the Holy Hero Emperor would ever do something so evil! Never! He will come! He will protect us!’

She refused to flee. Instead, she clasped her hands tightly and prayed at Siegfried’s statue for help.

“Hm?”

In the midst of the chaos, Lee Geon sensed a strong holy aura radiating from the hill.

“Well, well, look at that…” he muttered as his lips curled into a grin. Then, his grin turned into that of an evil spirit as he cackled, “Kekeke! So there was another stone grandpa statue[1] over there?”

For some reason, Lee Geon always referred to Siegfried’s statues as the stone grandpa statue.

“So some idiot is still praying to that bastard? Well, I can’t have them calling for friends now, can I? Kekeke!” Lee Geon chuckled and teleported straight to the hill.

He planned to destroy the statue before someone’s prayer could summon Siegfried.

1. Stone Grandfather statue is a statue found on Jeju Island. It’s like those Easter Island statues—I think? More credible information here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dol_hareubang ☜