Debuff Master-Chapter 1087

Chapter 1087
“I see...” Chae Hyung-Seok muttered and nodded.
Now that he thought about it, there was no other group besides the Illuminati that would want to storm the Proatine Empire’s imperial palace.
“But why do you want to go to the palace?” he asked.
The mysterious figure replied, “That’s none of your business. You just need to open the path for us, that’s it.”
“Well, that’s going to be a problem. If I don’t know exactly what your goal is, then why should I help you? I mean, put yourself in my shoes and you’d probably agree, no?”
“Not a bad point, but...”
“And how am I supposed to trust you? What if you just use me and never give me the power of Archangel Gabriel? I’d just end up being the fool, wouldn’t I?”
“Are you saying you can’t trust us?”
“Why don’t you give me something upfront that would earn my trust?”
The mysterious figure couldn’t offer a response. From his standpoint, giving Chae Hyung-Seok power now would be a huge risk, as it was quite possible for him to betray them later.
Chae Hyung-Seok smirked and said, “See? You guys can’t trust me one hundred percent either, so how am I supposed to trust you?”
“
Hmm...
”
“Give me an upfront payment that will satisfy me, and tell me exactly what you’re aiming for. If you do that, I’ll open the way into the palace for you. And as for the power you promised, you can give me that once the job is done.”
“What kind of scummy deal is that—”
“You’re asking me to trust you and put my entire life on the line. I do admit I sound pathetic if I say this, but I’m surviving thanks to Han Tae-Sung. If I betray that bastard and things go sideways, then I will lose my only lifeline and will be forced to quit this damned game.
"Hell, I won't be able to pay off the rest of my debt if that happens. I’ll probably starve to death by then.”
“I see...”
“Now you see? I’m done if things go south. And you’re telling me you want me to risk my life, yet you won’t even give me anything upfront? Seriously? Who’s the one being scummy right now?”
“
Hmm...
I guess you’re not wrong. Fine, I’ll give you the money upfront.”
“And then?”
“If the job goes well, we will help you become the vessel of Archangel Gabriel.”
“Deal.”
Chae Hyung-Seok accepted the offer without hesitation.
This was a more than satisfactory agreement, as he already had the upfront payment to clear his debts and start a new life, even if things were to go wrong.
Of course, that would mean he could never play BNW ever again, but that was not a problem for him.
“When do I get paid?” Chae Hyung-Seok asked.
The mysterious figure pulled out a check and said, “Right now.”
Chae Hyung-Seok took the check and checked the amount written on it.
“H-Holy shit!” he shrieked and hurriedly stashed it into his Inventory.
The amount written on it was enough for him to pay off all his debt in real life, and he would still have a ton of money afterward.
“Is that enough to earn your trust?”
“Of course! The bigger the amount, the deeper the trust. Isn’t that how things work?” Chae Hyung-Seok chuckled slyly in response. Then, he asked, “Okay, so what’s the objective?”
“Han Tae-Sung’s daughter.”
“
Oh,
that little brat? You’re trying to kidnap her, is it?” Chae Hyung-Seok recalled Verdandi as he asked.
“Exactly. That little brat is our target.”
“Got it. Helping you kidnap one brat isn’t all that difficult,” Chae Hyung-Seok replied with a nod. Then, he smirked and added, “
Oh,
and by the way, about that bastard’s wife... Do you mind if I keep her for myself?”
“His wife? You mean Empress Brunhilde?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Why else would I want her?
Mehehe!”
Chae Hyung-Seok snickered despicably with his eyes gleaming with madness. Then, he cackled and said, “I want to give Han Tae-Sung a memory he will never forget!
Kekeke! Bwahaha!”
“...You’re insane.” The mysterious figure clicked his tongue, visibly unnerved by Chae Hyung-Seok’s depravity. He could already tell what kind of horrible acts this deranged man intended to do, and it would be so depraved that even he, who was trying to kidnap a little girl, felt disgusted at the mere thought of it.
***
As soon as he parted ways with Michael and Shakiro, Siegfried immediately returned to the Allied Forces’ base camp.
The Allied Forces recently achieved a one-sided victory against their enemy in the previous battle. Now, they seized the momentum and were relentlessly advancing into the territory of the Holy Alliance.
At this point, they had likely seized nearly all of the Holy Alliance’s most critical strategic strongholds.
The Beggar King's death and the fact that King Leonid was incapacitated were huge blows to the Allied Forces. However, the sheer scale of the victory they gained thanks to their sacrifices meant that the subsequent battles were won with relative ease.
However, their momentum didn't last long.
The Allied Forces came to a halt after capturing one of the Holy Alliance’s key bases, the Audemars Territory.
“What? They stopped in the Audemars Territory? Does their commander have no balls or something?!”
General Deldelos began wondering whether the commander of the enemy forces was a man devoid of desires.
Any commander with ambitions would have seized the momentum and pushed deep into enemy territory to rack up more merits in the war, but that was not the case for the one leading the Allied Forces.
If the Allied Forces had pushed forward a little more from the Audemars Territory, then they would have completely obliterated the core facilities and bases of the Holy Alliance, yet they stopped despite that?
This restraint bordered on enlightenment, as no ordinary man would make such a decision unless he had managed to detach himself from all worldly desires.
“To hold back like this... is quite admirable...”
General Deldelos actually found himself admiring the enemy commander’s judgement, as the Allied Forces would have been completely decimated if they had pressed further beyond Audemars Territory.
Why?
It was all because General Deldelos had been patiently waiting for them to overextend.
He planned to cut off their stretched supply lines, hit them with minor skirmishes, and then encircle them completely. Unfortunately, the Allied Forces showed remarkable restraint by stopping their advance at the Audemars Territory, as if they had seen right through the trap waiting for them up ahead.
That level of restraint implied that whoever was leading the Allied Forces had an exceptional tactical acumen.
“Who did you say was commanding the Allied Forces?” General Deldelos asked his lieutenant.
“It is a man by the name of Major Hansen, sir!”
“Major?” General Deldelos raised a brow in surprise. Then, he asked, “A mere major is leading the Allied Forces? Are you sure it’s not Emperor Siegfried von Proa?”
“Yes, sir. Our intelligence states that the enemy commander is a major, sir.”
“
Hmm...
He must be some sort of prodigy, then. But what kingdom is he from? I don’t recall hearing of any notable warrior or tactician by that name.”
“Well, actually...”
“
Hm?
What is it?”
“Until just two months ago... Major Hansen was a lowly private, the son of a slash-and-burn farmer.”
“W-What?!”
General Deldelos’ eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets, as he could hardly believe the he was hearing.
“Tell me in full detail! Now!”
“Yes, sir! According to the intel gathered by our agents...”
The lieutenant began recounting everything they had gathered so far about Hansen’s background.
“
Ha!
Siegfried von Proa... That man is truly something else!”
Once the ended, General Deldelos let out a gasp in admiration.
“Sir? What do you mean by that?”
“To think he would appoint someone regardless of their background as long as they have the ability to back it up. Only a visionary can do something like that.”
“Well, that is true, but—”
“That’s a quality every ruler should possess. The wisdom to recognize talent and use it effectively, no matter what their background is,” General Deldelos said, his eyes gleaming with delight. Then, he muttered, “Major Hansen... There’s no doubt he’s got sharp instincts and tactical brilliance.
"But I wonder if he can keep his cool when something unexpected happens.”
Then, he turned to his lieutenant and issued an unexpected order, “Send Major Hansen a gift.”
“What kind of gift, sir?”
“A hoe, a pair of high heels, and a sundress.”
“...Pardon me, sir?”
The lieutenant blinked in disbelief, unsure if he had heard correctly.
Traditionally, a gift sent to the enemy commander would hold a symbolic gesture, such as the severed head of a renowned warrior or an expensive bottle of liquor.
But a hoe, high heels, and a sundress?
“Don’t question me and just do as I say.”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
Though baffled, the lieutenant carried out the bizarre command.
After all, as a soldier, he had to obey his commanding officer’s commands no matter how strange the command was.
***
Upon returning to the Allied Forces' base, Siegfried immediately received a full from Hansen on everything that had happened during his absence.
“So you halted the advance because our supply line might be in danger?” Siegfried asked.
“Yes, sire,” Hansen replied with a bow.
It was then.
“Major Hansen! A gift has arrived for you from the Supreme Commander of the Holy Alliance’s forces, General Deldelos!”
“For me?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Why would the enemy general send me a gift?”
Hansen looked genuinely perplexed, but on the other hand, Siegfried was not.
“
Ooooh?
What is it? Hurry up and check it!”
Even though it was not addressed to him, he was greatly interested in the gift.
After all, a present from the enemy’s supreme commander would usually be something valuable, but...
“What the fuck is this?” Siegfried scowled after the package was opened. Then, he examined the items inside the box and muttered, “A hoe, high heels, and a sundress...?”
Siegfried turned to Hansen and asked, “Don’t tell me that’s your kind of thing? I mean, no offense if it is. I’m just curious, that’s all.”
“Pardon me, sire?”
“I mean, I won’t judge you if you like crossdressing.”
“N-No, I do not, sire.”
“Really? Then why the hell would he send you something like this?”
“It is probably...” Hansen muttered. Then, he let out a chuckle and said, “
Haha...
It is probably a provocation, sire.”
“A provocation?”
“The hoe is likely to belittle my background as a slash-and-burn farmer. And the high heels and dress... Well, those are obviously women’s wear.”
“I know that, too, but why would he send those?”
“He is probably trying to mock me as a cowardly country bumpkin from lowly origin.”
“
Huh?
”
“We did not take the bait and march deeper as they had hoped, so I guess this is their way of taunting us.”
“Geez, he’s really working hard, isn’t he?”
“
Haha...”
Hansen laughed awkwardly in response. Then, he picked up the hoe and said, “But this hoe looks to be of good quality. May I keep it, sire?”
“Sure, go ahead. But what for?”
“Well, considering my background... I figured I could use it for farming later on.”
“...”
“And I will probably give the high heels and sundress to my younger sister.
Hahaha!”
Far from falling for General Deldelos’ provocation, Hansen looked at the gifts from a practical point of view. Having spent a lifetime in poverty as a peasant, his pride was not fragile enough to be bruised by such petty provocations.
“Your Imperial Majesty.”
Just then, Ninetail entered the tent and addressed Siegfried with urgency.
“
Oh?
Hello there, Director Ninetail.”
“Greetings, sire.”
“You’re not here to just greet me, are you? I’m guessing this is something serious?”
“Precisely, sire. We have received new intel.”
“What kind of intel?”
“The rat says the Holy Alliance will be launching an assault on the Proatine Empire’s imperial palace soon.”
The rat mentioned was none other than Ragdoll IV, who was still spying on the Holy Alliance for Siegfried.
“
Ah,
so it’s come to that,” Siegfried muttered. Then, he grinned and asked, “Did he mention a specific time?”
“That is still to be decided, sire.”
“Good. Remind him repeatedly not to late, no matter how small the matter is.”
“Yes, sire. And also, there is an even more important piece of intel,” Ninetail added.
“
Hm?
And what would that be?” Siegfried raised a brow and asked.
Ninetail leaned in and whispered, “The Illuminati has approached Chae Hyung-Seok.”
“...!”
“They had a secret conversation in a back alley near the Mercedes Workshop.”
“Are you certain?”
“One of the beggars who happened to be nearby saw it all. He heard the entire exchange word for word without missing even a single detail.”