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– Weeeeeeaaaaang─!

The emergency alarm echoed throughout the dreadnought ship.

Numerous sailors and soldiers, along with engineers and mechanics, busily began following the procedures outlined in the manual.

They were implementing the guidelines for when ‘sea monsters of level 6 or higher’ approach.

“Prepare the torpedoes!”

The first guideline was to load the torpedoes and observe the situation of the sea monsters.

They had to determine if there was a clear intent to attack the ship or if they were merely wandering nearby or passing by.

“Drop the torpedoes!”

However, this was the strait known for the most ferocious sea monsters, Magentani Strait.

Since this was a route that Ian deliberately led to carry out his mission, avoiding a sea monster attack was impossible.

The moment David confirmed the sea monsters’ intent to attack, he issued the order to drop the torpedoes.

As Edgar’s right-hand man and vice-captain, he had the authority to give such orders.

– Kwaaaang!

Soon, the torpedoes dropped according to Eve’s calculations, causing explosions.

In the process, sea monsters with thin armor were sprayed with blood as they sank below, while some sea monsters, frightened, began to flee.

Yet, there were still sea monsters approaching with fierce intensity.

“Re-drop!”

In response, David issued the re-drop order.

Torpedoes were dropped again from five launching tubes.

The dreadnought shook with immense underwater vibrations as numerous sea monsters began plummeting down.

While some may have endured the first drop, most sea monsters fell to the second drop.

‘Much stronger than I imagined.’

Ian bit down on his lower lip, displaying an anxious expression.

According to the original plan, by now all sea monsters should be clinging to the ship, creating a crisis situation.

If that wasn’t the case, the academy students on board for ‘observation’ would have no reason to get involved.

To lure Edgar Fix into action, there needed to be a crisis situation.

“Activate the device.”

“…Yes!”

Thus, Ian ordered the activation of the ‘device.’

The device he mentioned was a special mechanism designed to attract more sea monsters.

In other words, it generated specific waves that sea monsters generally disliked, luring them towards the location of the device.

– Wuuuuuuu…! Wuuuuuuu…! Wuuuuw…

And that wave was being activated deep within the ship.

Ian had stealthily installed it before departure.

Soon, the specific waves that stimulated sea monsters began to spread over a wide area.

– Kwaaaang!

But indeed, the torpedoes were powerful.

Despite higher-grade sea monsters gathering, they pierced through their armor, bursting their soft flesh.

Ian clenched his teeth and urged to increase the device’s intensity.

“B-but…! If we do that, the truly dangerous creatures…”

“It doesn’t matter! Do you forget who’s on this ship? Who am I?”

“Y-you’re the descendant of the Sea God…”

“Immediately increase the device’s strength!”

At Ian’s command, his subordinate increased the intensity of the device.

As the special waves stimulating sea monsters spread across the ocean, even more sea monsters began to swarm in.

Among them were not just levels 4, 5, and 6, but even level 7 sea monsters.

Named monsters had appeared.

“It’s Aspidochelon!”

Aspidochelon

Aspidochelon is a sea monster turtle boasting an immensely powerful shell.

Unlike regular turtles, it primarily feasts on meat, has a ferocious temperament, and its face resembles that of a dragon.

Most strikingly, it is unbelievably massive, measuring about 15 pyeong in size.

It was so large that one could mistake its shell, covered in various seaweed and shell fragments, for a small island.

“Crazy…”

Thus, torpedoes were completely ineffective against it.

Rather, it began to approach the dreadnought, taking hits meant for other sea monsters.

“Now’s our chance.”

Finally successful in creating a crisis, Ian quickly exited his private room and dashed to the captain’s quarters where Edgar was.

Urgently, he spoke to Edgar, who was donning his suit save for his helmet.

“Captain Fix! We need the sea hunters to handle the level 7 monster! Order an immediate halt to the torpedo attacks and deploy all forces!”

“…That sounds correct.”

Edgar nodded at Ian’s obvious scheme.

Unbeknownst to Ian, who was clueless about Bianca leaking internal information, he immediately concocted his next move.

“…However, there’s a problem. We need personnel to protect us while we deal with the Aspidochelon. All capable combatants must participate.”

Ian was trying to draw Edgar, who was still a cadet and captain, into battle.

Edgar, witnessing Ian’s desperate attempts to involve him, smiled knowingly.

Then, putting on his suit’s helmet, he confirmed his intent to join.

【I will participate as well.】

“…!”

As soon as Ian saw Edgar’s willingness to join, his expression stiffened.

At that moment, he began to recite the lines he had planned in advance to Edgar.

“Then may I ask for your support? As far as I know, Lord Fix uses long-range area weapons. While our hunter brigade deals with the level 7, you can fend off any level 4 or lower monsters from interfering.”

【That’s something I can assist with.】

“Great. That will suffice for support. The remaining personnel can be assigned to defend the fleet.”

Listening to Ian’s request, Edgar stifled a chuckle.

This was an outright invitation for him to join Clendor’s hunting team.

Knowing their scheme in advance made it painfully obvious.

【Let’s do that then.】

However, Edgar decided to comply despite knowing everything.

After all, Edgar had made thorough preparations in his own way.

Soon, Edgar, Ian, and Ian’s sea hunter brigade dove directly into the ocean.

As numerous sea monsters headed toward the wave-generating device, they surged towards the approaching sea monster turtle.

“Form ranks!”

Once they reached the sea monster, Ian enhanced his vocal cords with mana and began issuing commands.

Thus, the veteran sea hunter brigade formed a strategic line to hunt the Aspidochelon.

Their movements were swift and systematic, like well-trained soldiers.

“Lord Fix! Please cover us!”

With that, Ian dashed to face the sea monster turtle.

Up to this point, he was confronting the sea monster turtle with nothing but pure intention.

– Kiy─iing! Bang! Kiy─iing! Bang!

At that moment, Edgar also committed to his role.

He couldn’t act recklessly until their treachery was revealed.

Thus, a fierce battle ensued.

Due to the wave-generating device secretly installed in the ship’s lower section, the number of monsters swarming in grew over time.

“All forces engage in underwater combat! Protect the fleet!”

Thus, all fighting personnel onboard had no choice but to participate.

As the dreadnought was not the only vessel on exploration—there were rescue ships, transport ships, escort vessels, and various other ships forming ranks.

– Crreeeek!

In the meantime, Ian and his hunting brigade skillfully hunted the Aspidochelon.

Although they couldn’t pierce its shell, they focused on attacking its exposed head, limbs, and other vulnerable areas.

“Grrrrrooooor!”

Thus, a widespread skirmish unfolded.

Battles erupted in every corner—dreadnoughts, rescue ships, transport ships, escort ships, and support vessels alike.

And right at that moment was when Ian found himself most hopeful.

When no one was paying attention to Edgar.

– Swoosh.

So, Ian signaled.

Now was the time to finish off the Aspidochelon and initiate the ‘Edgar Fix Heist’.

– Kuuuuuu!

– Kwaaaarrrrr!

Soon, Ian’s comrades unleashed their attack on the Aspidochelon with all their might.

They created a massive underwater vortex to immobilize its movements, threw electrically-charged spears, and plunged reinforced harpoons into its forehead using every tactic at their disposal.

– Scrreeeech!

Yet, it was Ian, the second prince, who delivered the final blow.

As a sea hunter and sword master-in-training, he pierced the neck of the sea monster turtle with his signature aura blade.

“Crululu… Crululu…”

As blood spurted from the punctured hole, the level 7 sea monster Aspidochelon began sinking.

Then, Ian smirked slyly and looked up at Edgar.

At that moment, an unidentified projectile pierced the video transmission magic array surrounding Edgar.

They had to blindfold anyone from witnessing their coup.

“What was that? It seems you just smashed my video transmission magic array.”

When Ian and his subordinates surfaced after dealing with the Aspidochelon, Edgar began to confront them about the damaged video transmission magic array.

A few of Ian’s subordinates approached Edgar with awkward expressions.

“Oops. My apologies. It seems I accidentally misfired a mana-turned projectile… I assure you, I will compensate for the magic array.”

Three subordinates said that to draw Edgar’s attention, while two others secretly revealed the device they had prepared.

“Hahaha! Lord Fix, it seems my subordinate made a mistake.”

As Ian approached Edgar, he made a gesture only his subordinates could recognize, and in an instant, they pounced on Edgar and attached the device they had prepared.

That device was an expensive technique that briefly blocked all mana within the gear.

For Edgar, who operated his suit with mana, it was deadly.

– Swoooosh…

And thus, Edgar’s suit began to power down.

The colorful lights illuminating the suit flickered and then dimmed, the visor’s glow completely disappearing.

“Bind him!”

Confirming that all power had dissipated from the suit, Ian ordered them to restrain Edgar.

Then, they placed a round glass shield over Edgar’s helmet and filled it with a smoke rich in surface water components.

Their plan was to sedate him through the suit’s gaps.

– Whuff…

Eventually, Edgar’s body slumped.

With a mischievous grin, Ian signaled, and the archbishop and his followers of the Demon Church, hiding as sea hunters, approached Ian and bowed their heads.

Then, they requested to remove Edgar’s helmet.

“That’s fine.”

Ian immediately created an aura blade the size of his palm.

He then began to slice at Edgar’s neck.

The gilded part began to peel, and scratches slowly appeared on the titanium alloy.

After about ten seconds, cracks began forming.

【Is this enough broadcast?】

“…!!”

But at that moment.

An unbelievable event transpired.

Edgar, whom everyone thought was unconscious, suddenly spoke up, lifting his previously dropped head.

[Yes, my master. It’s all recorded!]

From Edgar’s helmet came Anthony’s voice.

Having anticipated that his video transmission magic array would be destroyed, Edgar broadcasted everything through a small video transmission magic array embedded within his suit.

“…Kuh! How…”

Caught off guard by this unexpected turn of events, Ian staggered back with a surprised expression.

Simultaneously, lights began returning to Edgar’s suit, starting from the lower part and gradually illuminating the upper sections, until finally, a bright light shone from his helmet’s visor.

Then, as Edgar shook off the blindness, he flexed his body, and the bindings ripped apart in an instant.

Glaring at Ian, Edgar spoke.

【What do you mean why? It’s common sense to prepare an emergency power source, right?】

When mana is blocked, it’s set to switch to power from an electric source, thanks to Edgar’s foresight.

Suddenly, a missile popped up from atop Edgar’s shoulder, and he continued his line.

【So this is a comeback celebration.】

The runaway wife was fired at Ian.

 

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