Debuff Master

Chapter 426

The only thing Duke Taranis could think of was going on the defensive on the southern front instead of marching toward the capital.

What was going to happen by then?

The Royal Faction would be stuck between a rock and a hard place, as they would be unable to attack the main Rebel Faction army while also being unable to send troops to reinforce the southern front.

They would probably know better than anyone that the Rebel Faction was going to come storming through the front the moment they sent troops to the southern region.

However, if the supply route was compromised, the southern front would run out of food until they capitulated.

“So you want the main army to defend while wreaking havoc in their rear?”

“Yes, my lord,” Count Oslo replied with a bow, and then he explained, “I\'m sure you\'re already familiar with it, my lord, but we have the superiority when it comes to troop count. If we transfer the main battlefield to the southern region, then the enemy’s forces would be tied up in the capital without being able to do anything.”

“That’s a great strategy. You’re maximizing the advantages of our army.”

“My lord’s decision to coax the southern nobles has been the turning point of this war.”

“I see...” Duke Taranis muttered while rubbing his chin, and then he asked, “Then, what is the most critical component for the success of this strategy?”

“It will be the unwavering loyalty of the southern nobles and the Warp Gates, my lord.”

“As expected...”

It was no surprise that the warp gates were a critical factor in this plan, as they were crucial in transporting the troops from the frontlines to the southern front.

“My lord.”

“Speak.”

“We have to reinforce the security of our Warp Gates in the south and send troops to wreak havoc over there. Also, our main army will just continuously defend until this war becomes overwhelmingly advantageous to you, my lord.”

“That is an excellent strategy. We will put it into motion at once,” Duke Taranis said with a smile.

“That is indeed a wise choice, my lord,” Count Oslo replied with a bow.

***

Siegfried led the Royal Faction to victory in the battle for the supply route located five kilometers away from the Bayaba Territory.

[Alert: You have completed the Quest – Operation Protect Supply Route!]

[Alert: You have obtained 25,000P Contribution Points!]

Siegfried obtained a huge influx of Contribution Points after completing the quest, and he solidified his position as the top ranker of the Kyiv Civil War.

Seung-Gu plopped to the ground and wiped his sweat as soon as he hopped off Reventon. “Phew... I thought we were going to get pushed back. No, if hyung-nim did not come on time, then... yikes...”

He shook his head after imagining what could have possibly happened.

“Great work, Seung-Gu.”

“Not at all; you did all the work, hyung-nim. You almost died out there, right?”

“I sure did,” Siegfried replied with a nod.

Then, he narrowed his eyes and raised his arms before saying, “Ah, what am I going to do with this? Their durability has hit rock bottom.”

He was referring to his defensive equipment.

“I think you should repair it. They could get destroyed if you just let it be.”

“Yeah, I guess I have to.”

Siegfried agreed he had to go repair his equipment first.

“It should be fine if I go quickly, right? Not even ten minutes have passed since the battle.”

“I think we will have at least five to six hours of breathing room, so it should be fine if you’re quick.”

“Alright, I’ll be going for a bit. Send someone to the Bavarian Workshop or Autonika Workshop if something happens. I’ll be in either one of those.”

“Yes, hyung-nim.”

Siegfried told Seung-Gu where to find him just in case before heading to the warp gate.

“Let’s go, Hamchi.”

“Kyu! Let’s go!”

When Siegfried and Hamchi were about to head to the warp gate, a structure the size of a house with golden wheels started approaching them from a distance.

Creak...! Creak...! Creak...!

The structure had eight golden wheels and a chimney at the top. It looked like an extremely luxurious house if the fact that the black smoke rising from its chimney was ignored.

“W-What the hell is that...?” Siegfried muttered in disbelief.

— Hello, Adventurers! Please come and use the services of our Autonika Workshop on Wheels!

— Come! Come! Use our services!

— From repairing to enhancements! We have it all for you here! You don’t have to go all the way to a workshop; the workshop has come to you! You may now enjoy the facilities of a workshop right on the battlefield!

The magic speakers attached to the exterior of the building echoed the same messages over and over again.

“Something like that exists?!” Siegfried was stunned, and he flashed his Rune of Insight at the structure.

[Autonika Mobile Workshop Type-7]

[A mobile workshop of the Autonika Workshop.]

[They are always present in most major wars, and they offer repair services as well as selling weapons.]

“I-Is that something like a food truck...?” Siegfried muttered.

Creak! Creak! Creak!

He could hear the eight wheels of the mobile workshop rolling in the distance.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

“Eh? What the hell is that?”

A structure with eight legs was running toward where Siegfried was.

He flashed his Rune of Insight.

[Bavarian Mobile Workshop Type-4]

[A mobile workshop of the Bavarian Workshop.]

[They are always present in most major wars, and they offer repair services as well as selling weapons.]

A mobile workshop from the Bavarian Workshop appeared right after the one from the Autonika workshop.

Then, a fierce brawl broke out after the two food trucks appeared.

“Hey! Are you thugs or what?! We were here first!”

“Bullshit! Do you own this place or something? Why don’t you get lost?!”

“Big talk for a bunch of talentless trash!”

“What did you say?!”

The blacksmiths from both workshops hopped off of their mobile workshops and started throwing punches right away, which was exactly what one would expect from the two industry rivals.

Crash! Bam! Bam!

It did not take long for the brawl to descend into absolute mayhem as splatters of blood and broken teeth flew all over the place with every punch thrown.

“Wow... It’s so good to see them getting along very well...”

“Kyu! Yeah! They’re always fighting!”

“There’s no stopping these guys... Geez...” Siegfried grumbled and shook his head at these guys who always fought the moment they saw each other.

How come these old men never grew up...?

“Well, it’s good for me since I don’t have to go all the way to a workshop.”

Still, these mobile workshops came at just the right timing as he no longer needed to take the Wwarp Gate and travel far.

“Excuse me! Stop fighting, and let’s get to work!” Siegfried ran over to stop the scuffle in order to repair his armors faster.

***

Siegfried left his armors for repair with the Autonika Mobile Workshop and the Bavarian Mobile Workshop. Then, he went over to a group of Adventurers playing Hardstone and joined them.

While he was having fun winning, a small commotion was happening somewhere else.

“Heave-ho! Heave-ho!”

“Hey! You over there! Move it more to this side!”

“Be careful! Slow and steady!”

The Bavarian Workshop blacksmiths were busy installing a familiar machine, and Siegfried could not help but approach one of the blacksmiths.

“Excuse me...”

“Ah! Yes, Your Majesty?”

He narrowed his eyes and pointed at the machine.

“That’s not an enhancement machine, right? It looks like one, though...”

“It is an enhancement machine.”

“I-It is?!”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the blacksmith replied with a nod before explaining, “We, the best workshop on the continent, also provide mobile enhancement services on the go!”

The blacksmith from the Bavarian Workshop seemed very proud of it, but a blacksmith from the Autonika Workshop decided to ruin it.

“Good job! It’s so good to see you thugs blinded by money installing enhancement machines wherever you go! Are your sales dropping these days? Hahaha!”

This was the exact same reaction Siegfried had; the Autonika Blacksmith had simply beat him to it first.

Who would have known that the Bavarian Workshop was filled with a bunch of thugs who would install enhancement machines even in the middle of a warzone?

The management of the Bavarian Workshop seemed to be obsessed with money these days for some odd reason. Also, it is worth mentioning that Quandt was simply the Head Blacksmith and not the manager of the Bavarian Workshop.

Funnily enough, Siegfried had no idea that he was the reason the Bavarian Workshop was so obsessed with money recently.

“Oh my god! Enhancement coupons?! How come these damned pieces of paper still exist despite hundreds of years?! Don’t these ever rot?!”

The management of the Bavarian Workshop scurried to make as much money as they possibly could after hearing that Siegfried was in possession of enhancement coupons in hopes of offsetting any losses they would incur once he decided to use the coupons.

Siegfried shook his head and clicked his tongue at the Bavarian Workshop blacksmiths, “Do they really think people will use that thing? Tsk tsk... What a bunch of fools. This is a warzone, so who in their right mind would—“

“Oh? I was starting to get bored... maybe I should enhance my gear.”

“Me, too. I don’t have anything to do right now, so I might as well enhance my armor.”

“Should I try my luck and see if I can enhance this to +12...?”

Contrary to his expectations, the Adventurers started lining up in front of the enhancement machine.

“T-They’re really using it?!” Siegfried was stunned.

He was thoroughly mistaken when he thought nobody was going to use the enhancement machines. In fact, it was the exact opposite of it, as the Adventurers came in droves and lined up to use its services.

It was actually not a surprise that they would line up to enhance their gear, as the Adventurers had nothing better to do right now. The only thing they could do right now was play Hardstone or chitchat to kill time. There were some who flirted with another Adventurer and went to a quiet place to enjoy the adult content BNW had to offer, and this was not necessarily always with the same gender.

In other words, the Adventurers were bored to death right now, and the appearance of one of the hottest contents in the game, the artifact enhancement content, was definitely going to attract the attention of every single Adventurer in this place.

Chik! Chik! Poof!

Chik! Chik! Fwoooooosh!

[Alert: The enhancement requested by RealDumplingBread-nim is successful!]

[Alert: RealDumplingBread-nim has successfully enhanced the +14 Valiant Heart to +15 Valiant Heart!]

An Adventurer successfully managed to enhance his artifact to +15, prompting Siegfried to look over with shining eyes.

‘Should I try my luck, too...?’

Siegfried\'s desire to enhance his weapon started welling up once again from deep inside him. The fact that someone successfully enhanced their artifact to +15 proved that the mobile enhancement machines were not a scam.

Thus, there was no reason for him not to try his luck.

‘I guess having money in your pocket makes you spend it...’ Siegfried thought as he walked toward the mobile enhancement machines. The protection coupon in his Inventory made it difficult for him to resist the temptation welling up inside of him.

“Where are you going, owner punk? Kyuuu! Don’t tell me you’re going to enhance your weapon?!”

“N-No...?”

“Then why are you heading over there?”

“I just wanted to go take a look... Hahaha...”

“Kyu! Stop lying! Get a grip, owner punk! Do you want to ruin your life?!” Hamchi nagged and gave him an earful.

Shwoooong...

The sound of something cutting through the air echoed in the distance.

‘What was that?’ Siegfried wondered and instinctively turned to where the sound was coming from.

‘Heok...?!’ he gasped in horror the moment he saw what the object was.

“Everyone, get down! GET DOOOOOWN!” Siegfried screamed at the top of his lungs.

Bam!

A mortar struck the mobile enhancement machine of the Bavarian Workshop.

Kaboooom!

The mobile enhancement machine exploded into a dazzling firework.

However, that wasn\'t the end of it.

Shwooong! Shwooong! Shwoooooong!

A few more mortars made a beeline for them from the distant horizon.

The Rebel Forces’ bombardment signaled the restart of the battle. Another full-scale battle was about to take place when the battle had just ended two hours ago.