Debuff Master - Chapter 1212

Chapter 1212

Plague had spread countless viruses across the Marchioni Empire.

Once their incubation period ended and they began infecting others, the Marchioni Empire collapsed almost instantly.

It was already long past the point of containing it with quarantine.

These were not naturally occurring viruses spreading by chance, as they were deliberately sown by Plague, the Lord of Pestilence.

In other words, there was no hope of containing it now.

Quarantine was something done to prevent outbreaks before they happen, to contain them in their early stages.

But what could be done when the contagions had already spread everywhere?

“The number of patients is exploding as we speak, sire!”

“The situation cannot be brought under control, sire! We lack healers!”

“Entire towns have been completely wiped out by the disease! The disease is too lethal!”

Emperor Stuttgart received reports after reports pouring in from across the empire, all speaking of the devastation caused by the rampaging plague.

“Is this… really happening?”

As he listened to the piling grim reports, Emperor Stuttgart was slowly slipping into denial.

This was simply too much, even for him. The viruses had already spread beyond control, and there was not only one, but multiple outbreaks of entirely different plagues erupting simultaneously.

This defied all logic and reason.

Unless someone had deliberately unleashed them, something like this occurring naturally ought to be impossible. As the ruler of the most powerful empire in the world, Emperor Stuttgart knew this all too well.

‘This has to be a deliberate biological attack. But by whom? Is it the Proatine Empire?’

However, he quickly dismissed the idea.

Siegfried von Proa would have to be insane to do something like this.

Besides, Emperor Stuttgart believed that the Proatine Empire was not capable of conducting a biological warfare of this scale. While he respected Siegfried’s abilities, he had never heard of the Proatine Empire researching anything remotely resembling a biological weapon.

‘Is it an Ancient Dungeon?’

Emperor Stuttgart considered whether something that escaped from the Ancient Dungeons was behind this disaster.

Unfortunately, nothing had been confirmed, and tracking the source of this disaster was all but impossible now.

Thus, there was only one course of action he could take now.

“Mobilize every resource at our disposal. Do everything in our power to bring this plague to an end. From this moment, I declare martial law and a state of emergency. Begin strict epidemic control to contain this plague!”

“As you command, sire!”

The Marchioni Empire was forced to use everything at its disposal to contain the spreading plagues.

This meant that the Marchioni Empire no longer had the luxury to pressure or even spare a glance at the Proatine Empire.

“Things keep failing one after another… This is not a good sign,” Emperor Stuttgart muttered under his breath, feeling a vague unease he couldn’t put a finger on.

The fact that the ruler of the most powerful nation in the world was starting to feel anxious was huge.

Power was like a bottomless black hole, an insatiable beast that would never be satisfied, no matter how much one possessed.

That was the true nature of ambition and power.

However, this had nothing to do with ambition or power.

The great empire that had stood firm against the invasion of the angels was now on the verge of being brought to its knees by an uncontrollable pandemic.

This was, without question, the greatest crisis since the empire’s founding.

For Emperor Stuttgart, this was no longer a matter of power or ambition, but rather the survival of himself and the empire.

If the Marchioni Empire survived this ordeal, then it would, without a doubt, flourish for another five centuries, becoming stronger than it ever was.

But if they couldn’t survive this ordeal, then it would be the beginning of the end.

The first cracks had begun to spread across the glorious empire dubbed the greatest in the history of the continent.

Ironically, these cracks appeared when the Marchioni Empire was at the very peak of its power.

***

At the same time, Neighdelberg was carried back to his estate by the imperial knights and confined.

No longer a grand duke of the empire but reduced to the status of a lowly slave, he was kept under house arrest within his own home. Yet the moment he regained consciousness and learned that Emperor Stuttgart had shown him mercy, he began bowing toward the direction of the imperial palace once every hour.

He was doing it partly out of loyalty, but it was mostly a performance for the knights stationed at his residence to witness.

Neighdelberg knew full well that word of his actions would reach the emperor, and so he offered this hollow display of repentance.

He had no other choice but to do this, as he was nothing more than a man who could be executed at any time with a wave of Emperor Stuttgart’s hand.

While Neighdelberg had proven himself as an able servant over the past years, the Marchioni Empire, having the largest population in the world, possessed no shortage of talented individuals.

Among the unrecognized and overlooked ones, there were surely people of equal ability or greater than Neighdelberg himself.

In truth, Neighdelberg had been nothing more than a minor bureaucrat and provincial noble until well into his later years. He somehow managed to catch the emperor’s eye and climbed up to the position of grand duke.

‘One more mistake and it will really be all over…’ Neighdelberg thought after returning to his chambers.

His mind was weary and heavy with dread.

‘His Imperial Majesty spared me, but that was only out of recognition for my past services to the empire. He no longer trusts me, so if I stumble again, not only will my life be in danger, but my entire family and kin will be wiped out.’

He felt like he was walking on a frozen lake with a thin layer of ice.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t resign anymore, as he had been demoted to a lowly slave.

Still, being demoted to slavery meant that he still had one final chance remaining.

‘I must seize it. The next opportunity will decide the rest of my life and those of my kin.’

Just then, a voice echoed. “You seem troubled. What’s up?”

“…!”

Neighdelberg turned his head and saw Lee Geon, sitting casually on the windowsill.

Lee Geon was grinning in the same unsettling manner.

“Why are you here…?” Neighdelberg asked.

“Why? Am I breaking the law?” Lee Geon replied with a shrug. Then, he said, “We made a deal, didn’t we? I’ve come to check up on my business partner. What’s so shocking about that?”

“But I am under house arrest right now—”

“Keke! Do you honestly think something as trivial as that matters to me?” Lee Geon asked with a laugh.

At that moment, Neighdelberg shuddered after seeing Lee Geon’s grin.

He looked like the devil himself, and Neighdelberg’s instincts were screaming at him that this man was far more dangerous than he initially thought.

“I will keep my visit a secret, so just relax.”

“…”

“Anyway, I heard that you’ve lost the emperor’s trust.”

“…”

“I mean, failing twice… I’m actually surprised your head is still intact.”

“What are you implying?”

“You can’t resign anymore, nor can you return to your hometown. Another chance will probably come, but what if you fail again that time? Off with your head! And probably everyone related to you, too.”

“…”

“I heard that you were hanging on the edge of a cliff, so I thought I’d toss you a rope.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I will help you earn merits enough to regain the emperor’s trust.

“How…?”

“Just keep your head down for now. Don’t make things worse than they already are. I’m sure you know what I mean, right?”

“Are you saying… that you will help me?”

“Ding, ding, ding! Correct!”

“But why?”

“Because it’s easier for me to deal with someone familiar than a stranger.”

“Hmm…”

“I find you rational, clever, and easy to talk to. But your replacement? Who knows what kind of person they could be? Maybe they will be stubborn? Or perhaps a fool?”

“That might be, but still—”

“Oh, and I have one more thing,” Lee Geon said. Then, he leaned in and whispered, “I have a special proposal for you.”

“Hm?”

“One that you will find… quite tempting.”

With that, Lee Geon grinned from ear to ear again.

‘T-This man is dangerous…!’

Neighdelberg’s instincts screamed at him after seeing that devilish grin.

Whatever Lee Geon’s offer was, it would be like the whisper of the devil himself.

It would surely be sweet, irresistible, and tempting. However, it would be a snare that would drag him to ruin.

***

Meanwhile, a festival was underway in the capital of the Proatine Empire, Preussen.

It so happened to be the anniversary of the empire’s founding, so celebrations were grand in scale.

There was a banquet in the Imperial Palace. It was not excessively lavish or decadent, but it was still a warm gathering where the members of the imperial family and the officials could enjoy good food and drink together.

“Are you happy, my beloved daughter?”

“Yes, Father!”

“Why are you so adorable?”

Siegfried held Verdandi on his lap while seated at the main seat in the banquet hall.

He continued to dote on her while also chatting with Brunhilde.

He was busy, but he would never neglect the most important thing he ought to do.

“Please allow me to pour you a drink, Master.”

“Go ahead.”

Siegfried invited Deus to the banquet as well and made sure to serve him the finest drinks of every kind. He also fulfilled his duty as a disciple by personally pouring Deus the drinks.

“You are quite fortunate indeed. To have such a successful disciple shower you with such honors at a gathering like this,” Vulcanus said.

The Ancient Red Dragon was slightly envious of Deus.

“Hahaha! Isn’t this the joy of raising disciples?” Deus replied with a laugh.

While Deus was usually very stern, he seemed to be in quite a good mood tonight, as he laughed heartily while chatting.

He was a transcendent being, the first human to break free from the laws of causality and reach a realm never before reached by others.

Having devoted his entire life to martial training, he had never known marriage or even romance.

Thus, he had no children, let alone grandchildren. And yet, he felt as though he was a grandfather spending time with his kin whenever he was surrounded by Siegfried and his family.

Siegfried was his son, Brunhilde was his daughter-in-law, and Verdandi was his beloved granddaughter.

Truly, this was the one thing missing in his life, made complete by his disciple, Siegfried.

“May you live a long and prosperous life, master!” Siegfried exclaimed, filling Deus’ cup. Then, he bowed and added, “I will dedicate myself to training and surely follow in your footsteps, master!”

“Good, good. My mind will rest easy only when I see you attain the power of invincibility. Once you do that, I will finally ascend in peace. Hohoho!”

“Hahaha… I will devote myself to training harder from now on—”

BOOM!

A deafening blast suddenly shook the banquet hall.

“…!”

“Protect His Imperial Majesty!”

“Protect the imperial family!”

“Secure the perimeter!”

“Open a path for the imperial family!”

The knights rushed forward, raising their swords and swiftly moving to protect Siegfried and the ministers.

They were in the middle of an unstable age, so an attack against the Proatine Empire’s Imperial Family was not strange at all.

‘What was that?! Is it an attack?!’

Siegfried sprang up with his +10 Sky Piercer ready in hand.

“Pay no mind to it. It was but an explosion from that dwarf’s forge. Ignore it,” Deus said.

“Oh…”

“Why? Do you doubt me? When have I ever been wrong?”

“Hahaha…”

“Tell everyone to relax and continue enjoying themselves. Besides, what danger is there while I am here?”

Siegfried finally let his guard down after hearing those words from Deus.

Indeed, there was nothing for him to fear with Deus present.

“Everything is under control, everyone. Master says there is no need to worry about it,” Siegfried announced.

With that, he had reassured the crowd simply by using Deus’ name.

“Come, let us sit!”

“Servants! Bring more wine!”

“Hohoho! That gave me quite a fright!”

The guests calmed themselves and soon returned to enjoying the banquet.

However, Siegfried leaned to Brunhilde and whispered, “Excuse me for a moment, dear. I will go check up on him.”

He rose from his seat and left the banquet hall.

‘What happened, though? Is he okay? I hope he isn’t hurt…’

Siegfried picked up his steps toward the workshop, worried that Quandt had ended up getting hurt.