Chapter 1369: Variation (8)
ROOOOAAARRR!!!
The colossal airship, suspended amidst the storm clouds, violently swayed as if it would plummet at any moment.
Shouts echoed from every stairwell and corridor, and fierce gunfire erupted from all directions.
RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT!!!
“Aaaahhh!!!”
“P-please, save me!!”
“Everyone, get on your knees and raise your hands!!!”
“Drop your weapons. From now on, this ship is ours!!”
Dozens of masked soldiers, rifles in hand, quickly swept through every part of the airship.
They pointed their muzzles at the screaming passengers and crew, berating and corralling them.
The terrorists swiftly seized control of the ship’s key facilities, starting from the cargo hold.
[Attention. As of this moment, this immigrant fleet is under the occupation of the Redding Revolutionary Army.]
[From now on, this airship will deviate from its scheduled route and proceed to the Central Front.]
[All surviving passengers and crew are to move to the emergency exits in order, as instructed. Repeat. All surviving passengers and…]
A high-handed male voice echoed through the ship’s speakers.
The rigid tone, laced with bloodlust, unmistakably belonged to a soldier long hardened by the battlefield.
Gunfire echoed from all sides, and soldiers, their eyes sharp with menace, monitored their surroundings.
Roughly dragging passengers, they forced them onto escape pods and jettisoned them outside the fleet.
“Aaaaaah!!!”
“W-wait…!! Just a moment!!”
Hundreds of passengers were expelled from the immigrant fleet, climbing onto small airships or escape pods.
Cargo and containers piled in the hold simultaneously cascaded out of the immigrant fleet.
It was a scene as if the colossal airship was disgorging its contents in real-time, shedding its weight.
Standing in the cockpit, Ermont clapped his hands, watching the scene with gleeful excitement.
“Well, look at that~ Finally, the load’s getting lighter. Considering the remaining fuel, we should be able to crawl all the way to the Central Front.”
“……”
“The Redding Revolutionary Army’s skill isn’t bad. Isn’t their speed in seizing the airship faster than expected?”
“U-ugh…”
The captain and first mate, bound and subdued, trembled, but Ermont spoke, unconcerned.
“I heard that the Redding Revolutionary Army, among the Central powers, specializes in airspace operations. They’re certainly living up to their reputation. I think I made the right choice entrusting this to them.”
“…I knew your head was messed up, but this is completely unexpected.”
Lennok, standing beside Ermont with his arms crossed, shook his head.
“To hijack an immigrant fleet and travel to the Central Front… how is this any different from a terrorist act?”
He had been observing, as they didn’t seem to be harming ordinary passengers, but he never imagined they’d kick everyone off the ship.
He knew the immigrant fleet itself was the target, but witnessing the scene unfold was nothing short of absurd.
“Huh? What are you talking about, Adamant Thunder? Haven’t you grasped the situation yet?”
But Ermont, in response to Lennok’s words, turned back to him with a puzzled expression.
“It’s not that it’s no different from a terrorist act; we’ve already launched a spectacular one. Don’t you see?”
“……”
He recalled being in a position to stop the terror attack at the Point L Seabed Terminal when they traveled to the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors.
Now, moving with Pandemonium, he had preposterously become a terrorist who had hijacked an airship.
As Lennok gave a wry smile at the starkly contrasting situations, Ermont declared proudly.
“Why bother getting off the airship and finding new transport? We can just take this all the way to the Central Front, can’t we?”
“It’s not that simple. Do you think the Vulcan City Council would just stand by if an incident occurred on a ship departing from a satellite city?”
“…Ahem.”
“If the La Haven docks have realized what happened, there’d be a hunt order on your head by now. The Vulcan Air Force might even have launched to recover the immigrant fleet.”
The City Council, as Lennok knew it, was a symbol of corruption and graft, but by no means an incompetent organization.
By now, they would have likely grasped that a severe issue, akin to a terrorist attack, had occurred within the immigrant fleet.
Considering the extent of the City Council’s investment in the La Haven docks, it’s unlikely they would let this slide, even for the sake of their prestige.
Not only would they mobilize assault units capable of enduring the magnetic storms near Vulcan, but if necessary, even the full force of their special agencies might be deployed.
Lennok turned his gaze, his face expressionless.
“I don’t know how you got the revolutionary army involved in this, but you’ve done something utterly pointless. You didn’t whine about lacking travel expenses because you spent the money hiring the revolutionary army, did you?”
“……”
“Just die.”
ROOOOARRR!!!!
A black hand materialized from thin air, seizing the silent black wizard’s head, and only then did Ermont spill out his words in a torrent.
“W-wait, wait!! Wouldn’t you like to hear my explanation? I have a plan for all of this!!!”
“A plan?”
“Hoo, hooah, hooah…”
Ermont, his head dangling in the black hand’s grip, took a deep breath before forcing an awkward smile.
“Y-you’re definitely different from Victor in this regard. For someone who doesn’t get angry, your hands are strangely harsh—KIIIIEEEK!!!”
Squeeeeze—
As the black hand began to tighten around Ermont’s temples like a vice, Ermont thrashed like a fish, spewing out an explanation.
“Th-this immigrant fleet is backed by Devil Worshippers!! That’s why the City Council won’t pursue us!!”
“…Devil Worshippers?”
“Heh, heh… Wh-why else would we be able to just write our names and board in the cargo hold…?”
Ermont, drenched in cold sweat, mumbled.
“E-even ordinary airships meticulously manage their records when taking in cargo… isn’t it all about money?”
“……”
“It’s a fleet that takes pitiful sums to give continental tours just by applying for immigration on a city-wide scale. Isn’t that suspicious? It’s clearly a pretext to gather thousands of people without incident, isn’t it?”
“……”
“In the first place, the very existence of this immigrant fleet is suspicious. That’s why I chose this one, to leave no lingering repercussions.”
Indeed, to the eyes of a black wizard who seizes others’ bodies, this entire airship must have seemed like a breeding ground for illicit sorcery.
Thinking about it, Ermont’s words weren’t without their peculiar points.
Despite the immigrant fleet’s considerable size, the cargo piled in the hold was left unmanaged, gathering dust.
The reason the ship’s crew were taking paltry sums to load people into the cargo hold, rather than much more lucrative cargo.
If that itself was evidence that the airship’s personnel weren’t managing the cargo at all, nor even interested in it.
“So you got information that the immigrant fleet was the Devil Worshippers’ flagship, and you intended to draw in the revolutionary army to take this ship to the Central Front?”
“Exactly. The condition was to hand this ship directly over to the revolutionary army once we reached the Central Front.”
“…And about the Devil Worshippers? Does the revolutionary army know about this?”
“Huh? Of course, I didn’t tell them.”
Ermont tilted his head.
“If those revolutionary army guys knew about Devil Worshippers, they wouldn’t be rampaging around so excitedly. Why would I tell them that?”
“……”
To spout only such cheap villain-like answers, one might even call it a talent.
Technically, the revolutionary army also committed a terrorist act to seize the airship for free, so there might be no need to care, but…
“…I see.”
Lennok closed his eyes, raising his magical perception, and scanned the airspace around the immigrant fleet before speaking.
“There are several places inside the fleet where mana detection doesn’t reach… Is it certain this isn’t a ship carrying civilians?”
“Heh, hehet. Right?”
“The City Council couldn’t possibly be unaware of this situation, yet there’s no pursuit or air force unit following us. Your words might be true.”
“Finally, you recognize my grand intentions. I didn’t just commit a terrorist act.”
Only then did Ermont begin to preen, a hint of relief in his demeanor.
“In a way, you could say I saved hundreds of lives that would have tragically been sacrificed on this fleet. Hah, such good deeds aren’t usually my preferred method, but—”
“Enough with the useless chatter.”
Lennok cut Ermont off, turning his gaze.
“According to you, we’ve just committed a terror act on the Devil Worshippers’ flagship. Do you think they’ll just stand by and watch?”
Devil Worshippers. Lennok had only heard tales of them a few times, but he knew about them. A group with a history so ancient that traces of the Demonic Heavens Style Demonic Worship Formation remained in Kundara’s Eighth Tribulation. They had such an impressive grasp of illicit sorcery that The Clown had highly praised them back in Torquepaz.
Having hijacked the flagship of such a group and even altered its course, their opponents wouldn’t remain idle.
“Oh, why are you so worried?”
But Ermont grinned, his head still held in the black hand’s grip.
“This is precisely why I brought in the revolutionary army, isn’t it? Good news should be coming any moment now.”
Static, static—
[B-black wizard!!!]
No sooner had he finished speaking than an urgent voice blared through the speakers.
[There are strange monsters mixed in among the crew!! What, a sacrifice—KUUAAARGH!!!!]
A gruesome, blood-soaked scream erupted before the message could even finish.
Fierce gunfire marked the beginning of combat in various parts of the airship.
[You said it was an ordinary airship!! Just a few civilians to chase off, you said—]
[You son of a bitch, black wizard!!!! You tricked us—AAAAAAH!!!]
So the Devil Worshippers hidden among the crew and the revolutionary army had begun to clash.
Curses and screams ripped through the comms. The sound of flesh tearing and blood spilling.
Simultaneously, a grim laughter echoed throughout the entire fleet, and the sky began to turn blood-red.
Hahahahahahaha!!!!!
“…This is.”
A crimson blood magic circle, hundreds of meters across, appeared in the sky, illuminating the airship.
Blood-red clouds twisted like grinning demons, and viscous blood, flowing from an unknown source, began to engulf the airship.
The entire ship carrying Lennok and Ermont was covered in red, viscous blood, creating a bizarre sensation as if the space itself were being isolated.
Thin, slender pillars of crimson blood shot up around the airship, rapidly enveloping the surroundings.
CRACKLE CRACKLE CRACKLE……!!
The airship’s landscape had transformed so bizarrely in the blink of an eye, it was hard to believe there had been no signs just moments before.
Had the Devil Worshippers operating the immigrant fleet finally perceived the anomaly and begun to exert their full power?
“W-well, now that it’s come to this, it seems you don’t need to verify my words, do you…?”
As Lennok gazed up at the blood-red sky with an expressionless face, Ermont chuckled weakly.
“Then, could you perhaps let me down now? The glares from those friends who’ve been staring at me are getting rather murderous.”
“…I see.”
If Devil Worshippers were mixed among the crew, then the captain and first mate controlling the immigrant fleet couldn’t possibly be ordinary humans.
The captain and first mate, who had been lying bound, now had their faces twisted like demons, glaring at Ermont.
CRUNCH!!
With the tearing sound of muscles in their shoulders and arms, the two figures broke their handcuffs and rose.
Black veins visibly protruded from their bulging, muscular arms beneath their shirts.
The captain and first mate twisted their bodies, approaching Ermont with ominous bloodlust, not uttering a single word.
Only then did Ermont’s expression, still held by the black hand, turn slightly urgent.
“Uh oh? Excuse me, but if you don’t let me go now, it’s going to be really too late.”
CRACK, CRACK!!
The two men, their faces blank, approached and roughly seized Ermont’s neck and face.
Their gestures were chilling, as if they intended to rip off Ermont’s head and extract his brain right there.
“W-waaaah?! This kind of death wasn’t in the plan!!! I don’t want to become a Devil Worshippers’ sacrifice!!!”
“……”
“Aaaahhh!! Save the good black wizard who saved hundreds!!!! Die, oldest bloodline?!”
“…You’re deafeningly loud.”
Only then did Lennok, roused from his thoughts, glance over.
“I’m trying to think, so be quiet.”
“No, if it were you—”
Whoosh—
Something surged from the darkness, darting past the captain and first mate’s eyes.
In the blink of an eye, the two men who had been gripping Ermont’s neck and face were dead.
THUD!!
Ermont’s eyes widened at the sight of the worshippers, now corpses, collapsed on the spot.
“Oh-ho?”
“I’ve decided.”
Lennok released Ermont from the black hand’s grip and tossed him the satellite phone that had been plugged into the captain’s cabin.
“Contact the one who masterminded this plan. I need to hear it directly from him.”
“Huh?”
“There’s no way a backward black wizard like you could orchestrate such a complex terrorist plan, recruiting a revolutionary army. Someone must have helped you.”
Lennok gestured with his chin, his expression cold.
“I don’t know if he’s a member of Pandemonium, but contact him immediately. I need to hear more about these Devil Worshippers.”
“No, Adamant Thunder. I’ve been thinking this for a while, but aren’t you underestimating me too much?”
Ermont said, his face incredulous.
“I don’t know how many times you’ve seen me to think I couldn’t come up with a decent plan like this. Of course, this plan was my own—”
CRUNCH.
As the black hand seized Ermont’s head like a walnut, Ermont obediently picked up the satellite phone.
“…Of course, it wasn’t something I planned all alone; there was someone who helped me. I’ll contact them right away.”
“Finally, you’re being honest.”
“Damn it, you crazy wizard…”
Ermont grumbled, picking up the satellite phone and dialing. Before it could even ring twice, a gruff voice answered.
[Yo, black wizard!! If you’re calling from this number, things must have gone well, huh?]
“Ah, yes…”
[Excellent! I told you, seizing the cockpit was key to hijacking the airship. If you forget my share after this is over, I’ll kill you!]
“…Of course, Cromwell. How could this operation have been so smooth without the help of a retired soldier like you?”
Ermont spoke, discreetly glancing at Lennok.
“It’s thanks to you, a former admiral of the Paragini Republic, predicting the immigrant fleet’s route and arranging the revolutionary army, that things went so well. I understand that perfectly.”
[Huh? What is it? You’re not the type to readily acknowledge someone else’s accomplishments. Your explanation is unusually detailed, so is someone else there with you?]
“……”
At the words of Cromwell, the man who instantly hit the nail on the head, Ermont fell silent.
But Cromwell, noticing Ermont’s reaction, instead burst into laughter as if he understood.
[Ah, I get it! Your friend Victor must be there!! You said you only pay attention to the Nether King and Black Night in Pandemonium, didn’t you? So it’s not the dead Nether King, it must be Black Night by your side!!]
“…Ah, haha.”
[If you’re introducing me to the fellow next to you, tell him more. Cromwell Chieftain. A soldier of the Paragini Republic. I formed ties with Pandemonium a long time ago because of the Drug King, and we’ve maintained a steady cooperative relationship since then.]
Even without a reply, Cromwell spoke in his gruff voice.
[Well, if you’ve successfully seized the airship, just travel to the Central Front with the revolutionary army. You haven’t forgotten to stop the Demonic Worship Ritual going on in the engine room, have you?]
“Huh?”
Ermont’s face, clutching the satellite phone, went blank.
“What did you just say? A Demonic Worship Ritual is happening in the engine room?”
[Devil Worshippers have a long history and many sponsors. They’re a rich group, so they don’t really need to operate an immigrant fleet.]
Cromwell said, unfazed.
[They operate the immigrant fleet to conduct worship rituals and sacrifice the passengers and crew wholesale to hell. I told you that stopping the ritual should be your first priority, didn’t I?]
“No, you didn’t say anything like that! Are you serious?!”
[Oh, really? My apologies. It seems there was a mix-up in the information transfer process.]
Cromwell replied nonchalantly.
[But this isn’t my fault. If anything, it’s because of that crazy Grand Mage who single-handedly swallowed Vulcan.]
“…Huh?”
[That crazy bastard massacred tens of thousands during the Subjugation Operation, punching holes through the Central intelligence network. He killed legions, battle groups, and even cult forces—do you think the old information network would be intact?]
Cromwell, oblivious to Ermont’s frozen reaction, continued.
[There were too many informants terrified of Vulcan’s Demon King, so it was hard to deliver information to that side. Minor errors in the information gathering process are unavoidable. If you have any complaints, direct them to that murder-crazed slaughterer, not me.]
“……”
[Hey, why so quiet? You’ve been cussing him out like crazy ever since you nearly died a few times because of him. He’s such a condescending, slippery, annoying bastard that you don’t even want to deal with him—]
“I apologize for interfering with your information gathering. It wasn’t intentional.”
[…Huh?]
For a moment, Cromwell paused at Lennok’s voice, heard for the first time.
[What’s this voice? Is our Manipulation Spellcaster friend so gentlemanly? It’s completely different from what I heard about him.]
“……”
[No. Wait. I wasn’t talking about Black Night, I was talking about Adamant Thunder. I don’t know why that fellow is answering instead.]
“……”
[My voice was originally modulated into a pattern only the black wizard could understand, so even a superhuman with keen senses shouldn’t be able to eavesdrop….]
“He certainly seems to know a lot more than you, in many ways.”
Lennok ignored the reaction and looked at Ermont, whose face had turned pale blue.
“Hearing insults about myself from others is quite a novel feeling. You didn’t intend to screw me over like this, did you?”
“N-no, th-that couldn’t be…”
Ermont said, his voice trembling uncontrollably.
“B-but I don’t think I did anything wrong… Shouldn’t you take it up with him first?”
[Wait. Black wizard, don’t tell me, the one next to you is….]
The admiral’s booming voice, coming from beyond the call, slowly faded.
An outsider who casually read the patterned voice, intended for anti-eavesdropping, and spoke.
An opponent so terrifying that even the loose-lipped black wizard from the Demonic Conflux trembled, afraid to answer.
Even the calm demeanor with which he counter-questioned, as if he himself had been the target of the insults.
Cromwell, having grasped a fragment of the truth, made his judgment with unparalleled speed.
[Ah.]
Click—
Lennok chuckled, looking at the satellite phone that had been abruptly cut off with a single gasp.
“Did you say he was a retired soldier? His wits are incredibly sharp.”
“Haha, w-well, you see…”
Lennok gestured, looking at Ermont, who was pouring sweat with the blood-drenched sky at his back.
“Enough. Connect the call again. I have a few questions for that soldier before we resolve this situation.”
“W-what do you plan to do now?”
“What else is there to do, having come this far?”
From the moment he decided to cooperate with Pandemonium, he had braced himself for minor disturbances.
Whether it was the worshippers practicing illicit sorcery or the revolutionary army instigating terror, neither was an opponent to be dealt with leniently.
Lennok crossed his arms and smiled softly.
“Naturally, I’ll kill them all.”
“……”
Ermont, who had been staring blankly up at Lennok, began frantically dialing the satellite phone number.
“Hey, Cromwell? I’m sorry, but could you please pick up the phone again? There’s a wizard here who’s crazier than Victor.”