---

“Rescue all the drowning victims!”

“Understood!”

Meanwhile, Edgar stared impassively at the sight of the battleship being destroyed and issued his next command.

He ordered the rescue of the Clendor crew members who had fallen into the water.

Leaving them to die could lead to diplomatic tensions.

“There’s definitely a major difference in specs.”

The Dreadnought ship was centuries ahead compared to Clendor’s battleship.

As a result, they were never even a match.

It was like an adult playing with a child.

Because of this, Edgar showed considerable leniency towards Bianca, having fired from only a single turret in the final blast.

If all five turrets had fired simultaneously, I can guarantee that none of the battleship’s crew would have survived.

The battleship would have been completely pulverized as well.

“Should I stretch my legs a bit?”

Eventually, Edgar decided to test the performance of the suit’s ‘Leviathan’ mode while rescuing the drowning victims.

As his subordinates efficiently launched dozens of lifeboats, Edgar began walking alone towards the stern of the Dreadnought.

At the same moment, cracks appeared in the air as the suit’s parts attached themselves to his body, beginning a precise assembly.

Now, the attachment speed had become quite rapid, and in just a few steps, the suit was quickly completed.

– Rrring! Clank!

As Edgar stood at the edge of the stern, the front part of the helmet covered him, completing the suit.

The moment the suit was fully equipped, Edgar dove straight into the sea, and as he entered the water, the suit automatically began transforming into Leviathan mode upon detecting the seawater.

Its overwhelming visual was reminiscent of a sea dragon monster.

-Whoosh!

Soon, Edgar sped through the ocean.

Underwater, the unconscious Clendor crew members were sinking.

Edgar immediately turned on the lights and began shooting nets to recover the crew members.

“·····!!!”

However, there were also crew members who had not lost consciousness, and among them was Bianca.

Swimming through the underwater, trying to save her crew, she was startled and began flailing when she saw Edgar.

The way Edgar captured the crew members looked as if an unknown sea monster was snatching prey for a meal.

【This is Edgar Fix.】

To this, Edgar approached the flustered Bianca and revealed his identity.

Then he anthropomorphized the fierce appearance of the Leviathan mode to ensure she wouldn’t feel afraid.

【This will help you.】

Edgar then fitted an oxygen mask on Bianca.

Feeling her breathing becoming much easier, Bianca’s eyes widened.

【Please rescue the remaining crew members. Time is of the essence.】

With that statement, Edgar moved on to another location.

He was there to provide oxygen masks to the conscious crew members, making the rescue operation easier.

As Edgar rushed about, he managed to get all of the Clendor flooding victims onto the lifeboats.

After loading all the victims onto the lifeboats, they returned to the main ship, and the crew on the deck dragged the fainted Clendor crew members onto the deck, lifting the lifeboats above.

They brought healing scrolls to treat them.

“Move all the Clendor injured to Dormitory C. Tear off and discard all wet clothes, and cover them with blankets.”

““Understood!””

With that, Edgar gave the order to take care of the fainted Clendor crew, and his subordinates began to execute it.

Bianca and several of the senior officers bowed their heads to Edgar and expressed their gratitude for his kindness.

“The thanks are enough. First, focus on recovering your bodies.”

With that, Edgar returned to the command bridge.

Bianca bowed her head in gratitude for Edgar’s generosity and clenched her fist.

She had intended to toy with the enemy ship and cause a few casualties under the pretext of training.

That was the only way to avenge Clendor’s humiliation.

‘I’ve completely lost…’

But after being beaten by such a powerful opponent, she felt no will for revenge left.

On the contrary, being alive was a stroke of luck.

Especially as all of her cherished subordinates were safe.

All this was thanks to Edgar Fix showing mercy.

“Follow me. I’ll guide you to the dormitories for recovery.”

While she was lost in thought, Gric offered to guide Bianca and several of the senior officials.

Eventually, following him into the interior of the Dreadnought, Bianca and the officials opened their eyes wide in amazement.

They were witnessing future technologies that were centuries ahead, leaving them awestruck by the scenery inside.

It was technology that was impossible to mimic.

“······.”

Finally, assigned a personal dormitory, Bianca took off all of her wet clothes and wrapped herself in a blanket to raise her body temperature.

As she began to recover and regain some stability, a chef on duty in the battleship came by and brought her warm soup.

After taking a sip of the soup, Bianca began to tremble slightly.

She was sobbing.

Her pride and everything—the battleship—had sunk.

“Hu…huu…huhuhhh…huuu…”

It wasn’t just that.

It was an overwhelming defeat.

In attack, defense, and mobility, they were utterly outmatched.

It felt like a massive wall that could never be crossed, no matter what they tried.

Today’s events had completely crushed Bianca’s ambitions.

-Knock, knock.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door.

As she answered in a cracked voice, Edgar entered.

Bianca’s body instinctively stiffened, her muscles tensed up.

The learned fear made the once proud Bianca quiet.

“Is the food to your liking?”

“…Yes, yes. It’s d-delicious… Thank you…”

Edgar nodded.

Then he noticed Bianca’s somewhat bloodshot state.

Seeing the tear streaks showing, he could guess what her mental condition was like.

“······.”

Feeling Edgar’s gaze, Bianca couldn’t help but fidget.

The overwhelming technological gap that allowed for the creation of such a monstrous battleship.

The terrifying sight of the Leviathan mode seen underwater.

All of it was deeply engraved in her bones.

“I’ll be direct.”

As Bianca trembled, Edgar opened his mouth.

The words Edgar uttered were shocking.

“The Empire is watching for a chance to retaliate against Clendor. A war will happen soon.”

“····!!!!”

At Edgar’s shocking statement, Bianca’s pupils widened significantly.

Her body began to tremble more and more.

In the midst of that, Edgar continued.

“Of course, my battleship will be at the front line of that war. And you know very well what the outcome of that war will be.”

“…Ah, ah… that, th-that’s…”

“But I desire peace. I hope for both countries to smoothly reach an agreement and establish a military alliance without war.”

Edgar said this while letting out a small sigh.

The reason was that Bianca was shivering so much that the blanket slipped and fell to the floor.

Finally, Edgar picked up the blanket and wrapped it around her again.

“Well, Prince Ian will never accept such a peaceful approach. He will fight to the bitter end. Therefore, I would like to offer you a good proposal: Can you not take the lead in establishing peace between the two countries? The Empire has already prepared to support you as the next leader. You just have to accept.”

Edgar said this while grabbing Bianca’s shoulders.

He gazed straight into her eyes as if he was going to swallow her whole and continued speaking.

“If you accept, you will be able to defeat all your brothers and ascend to the throne. Since everything will be resolved peacefully, Clendor’s diplomatic rights will also be somewhat guaranteed.”

Bianca stared at Edgar with a dazed expression.

She looked at his beautiful face, which had a gentle voice that lured her in.

The more she listened to his voice, the more it felt as if she was being enchanted.

“There’s no need to be so scared. I’m on your side.”

Edgar said this while gently brushing aside Bianca’s wet bangs.

Bianca looked up at Edgar’s face, who was gazing down at her with a faint smile.

It was a beautiful face.

“Think carefully about it. It’s the only path where you can win.”

With that, Edgar left Bianca’s dormitory.

Bianca stared blankly into the air as if possessed by a spirit.

It felt like Edgar’s voice was still echoing in her ears, almost like an illusion.

His voice, scent, beautiful face, gaze, smile.

All of it was driving her into confusion.

-Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

Her heart began to race.

Sadness and anger from today’s defeat. Fear and frustration started to mix together.

-Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

At the same time, Edgar’s image, rescuing the crew members from the water, floated into her mind.

It also reminded her of him being kind to her cherished subordinates, as well as his willingness to spare no resources for their healing and recovery.

His sweet voice promising to help her lingered in her thoughts.

“Sigh… Sigh… Sigh…”

Bianca let out a ragged breath and lay down on the bed.

She curled up, placing her hand on her wildly beating heart.

Edgar’s phantom would not leave her mind.

 

---