Debuff Master

Chapter 716

“A disassembler? What’s that?”

“It’s a machine that breaks down artifacts to extract the materials used to craft them.”

“Oh?”

“Why don’t you take a look?”

Siegfried flashed his Rune of Insight at the machine that Quandt had pointed out.

Ding!

[Top-Tier Disassembly Machine]

[A machine that disassembles items and extracts their materials.]

[Rare materials could come out of the machine from time to time.]

[Type: Machine]

[Rating: Top-Tier]

[Durability: 150,000/150,000]

“What does it mean by 'rare materials could come out of the machine from time to time'?” Siegfried asked.

“Unexpected things tend to happen sometimes,” Quandt replied with a shrug. Then, he explained, “For example, rare components that were not used as material for the original artifact may appear during disassembly.”

“Really? Is that even possible?”

“It is. Well, the science behind it has yet to be explained, but it does happen.”

“...?”

“It’s probably the leftover fragments from disassembled artifacts spontaneously combining and producing a different material. Since the invention of this machine, we’ve been researching that phenomenon, but the exact cause still remains a mystery.”

“Hmm... I see...”

“May I proceed with disassembling these demonic artifacts, Your Majesty?”

“Sure.”

“But the profits will be lower than selling them.”

“How low will it be?”

“Well, if we were using a low-tier disassembly machine, then you’d only get about thirty percent of the artifact’s value. But this top-tier disassembly machine guarantees at least a seventy percent return.”

“That’s a loss I’m willing to take. I mean, I’m not particularly hot on the idea of selling these dangerous things anyway.”

“Your benevolence is truly an inspiration, Your Majesty.”

“So, how do we start?”

“Simply feed the artifacts into that opening.”

“Got it.”

Siegfried grabbed one of the loot and placed it inside the Top-Tier Disassembly Machine, just as Quandt had instructed.

[Alert: Would you like to disassemble the Forbidden Tome: Panda Reading Time!]

[Yes!]

Siegfried decided to disassemble the utterly useless Forbidden Tome: Panda Reading Time. He would sell it if it were a skill book like the one he got that gave him legendary skills to use in grown-up matches, but this was not the same as that skill book.

The book was just a steamy R-rated romance novel about a noble lady’s forbidden love.

Whiiiiir!

The machine whirred and ground the item inside as soon as Siegfried pulled the lever.

Two seconds later...

Clink! Clink! Thud!

The Top-Tier Disassembly Machine began spitting out materials.

[Alert: You have obtained Tough Cow Leather!]

[Alert: You have obtained High-Quality Ink!]

[Alert: You have obtained Torn Parchment!]

Ding!

[Alert: Congratulations!]

[Alert: You have hit the jackpot while disassembling the Forbidden Tome: Panda Reading Time!]

Siegfried tilted his head in confusion and tried to make sense of what the message was saying, but another message popped up before he could even do so.

[Alert: You have obtained the Pajama Party Set: Bunny Bunny Rabbit after disassembling the Forbidden Tome: Panda Reading Time!]

The Top-Tier Disassembly Machine spat out a pink box.

“What’s this?”

Siegfried opened the box labeled Pajama Party Set: Bunny Bunny Rabbit.

“W-What the hell is this?!” Siegfried screamed in disbelief. The pink box contained a bunny-themed pajama set. A pink pajama onesie, bunny ears, and a bunny tail. “What kind of book did I just disassemble for something like this to come out?!”

He was so stunned that he could not even get angry.

“Is this normal?! Hey, you didn’t sneak this in there, did you?” Siegfried asked in an accusing tone.

“N-No, well... Unexplainable things come out from that machine from time to time, too,” Quandt replied while awkwardly scratching the back of his head.

“...”

“It’s considered one of the world’s top ten mysteries, so it’s scientifically impossible for the disassembly machine to create another object, yet here we are. Haha!”

“Damn it...” Siegfried grumbled and shoved the Pajama Party Set: Bunny Bunny Rabbit back into the Top-Tier Disassembly Machine and disassembled it.

[Alert: You have obtained Rabbit Fur!]

[Alert: You have obtained Soft Microfiber!]

[Alert: You have obtained Fur-Lined Handcuffs!]

Fortunately or unfortunately, there were no more jackpots this time.

“Let’s just disassemble everything,” Siegfried grumbled and fed all of the demonic weapons and random items he had collected into the machine, disassembling them into materials.

The Top-Tier Disassembly Machine got to work.

[Alert: Congratulations!]

[Alert: You have hit the jackpot while disassembling the +15 Inferno Gauntlets!]

[Alert: You have obtained the Orb of Enhancement after disassembling the +15 Inferno Gauntlets!]

Siegfried earned several Orb of Enhancement while disassembling the items.

[Orb of Enhancement]

[A mystical orb that increases the success rate of enhancement.]

[Type: Material]

[Rating: Unique]

[Effect: +2% Enhancement Success Rate]

“Huh? Orb of Enhancement? Something like this actually exists?” Siegfried asked.

“Yes, Your Majesty. These orbs are occasionally obtained when enhanced artifacts are disassembled, and they’re incredibly valuable,” Quandt replied.

“Oh!”

“If you gather enough of these orbs, then they will aid you greatly in enhancing your +13 Vanquisher’s Grasp to +14.”

“E-Enhance my weapon...?”

Siegfried felt a rush of excitement and adrenaline as he imagined enhancing his +13 Vanquisher’s Grasp to +14. His weapon was already quite powerful, but how much more powerful would it become at +14?

A weapon like the +14 Vanquisher’s Grasp could even shatter other weapons from a single exchange of blows!

However, Siegfried shook his head and snapped out of it.

‘No, wait. What the hell am I thinking? Now’s not the time,’ he reminded himself.

Enhancement was the highway to ruin, which was proven by numerous Adventurers.

There was no need to rush upgrading his +13 Vanquisher’s Grasp when he could always try later once he had enough Orb of Enhancement to guarantee its safe enhancement.

***

Meanwhile, at the Bavarian Workshop...

“Damn it! Damn it all!”

Avant was furious, and he was furious for a good reason. He thought the battle would be surely and easily won, as the waiting room of the Head Crusher Guild was successfully reduced to ruins with the help of the Savior.

However, the Head Crusher Guild still emerged victorious.

To make matters worse than it already was, the Three Losers died at Siegfried’s hands, and they dropped all of the demonic weapons that Avant had painstakingly crafted.

For Avant and the Bavarian Workshop, this was not just a blow to the former's pride but also a massive financial loss for the workshop.

“P-Please calm yourself, sir! Those fools were just utterly incompetent!” Kink cried out, desperately trying to calm him down.

“Damn it! What in the world is that old beggar doing?! We paid him so much, so he ought to be doing his job! He should be working!” Avant raged, unaware that Beggarius had already jumped onto Siegfried's ship.

Avant then glared at Kink and growled, “Tell that damn beggar to start working! He has already taken our money!”

“Yes, sir! I will send your message immediately and make sure that he understands it!” Kink replied before hurriedly rushing off. He was in a hurry to leave, as he knew that he could be the next target of Avant’s outburst if he were to stay.

***

“Hmm... there’s been no news these days...”

Siegfried was feeling uneasy these days with the lack of updates on the final Soul Fragment of Apocalius. The thought of this absurdly powerful object lurking somewhere on the continent and hatching sinister plans made his head hurt.

It was then.

“Your Majesty, Beggarius from the Beggar’s Guild requests an audience.”

“Oh? Let him in.”

Siegfried welcomed Beggarius’ visit.

“What brings you here?” he asked.

“I received a message from the Bavarian Workshop,” Beggarius explained the reason for his visit.

“What did they say?”

“They said, ‘we paid you so much, so you ought to be doing your job.’”

“Hmm...”

“I’ve been making excuses and stalling them, but it seems that they’ve run out of patience, especially after that battle.”

“Yeah, that makes sense,” Siegfried replied, smirking at the thought of Avant likely boiling with frustration. Then, he asked, “How do you think the Bayerische Kingdom would respond if I were to kidnap Avant?”

“Well...” Beggarius thought for a moment. Then, he looked up and answered, “They will declare war.”

“Hmm...”

“They’ve cut ties with Quand and chose Avant. If Avant were to get abducted, then it would severely jeopardize their kingdom’s finances, wouldn’t it?”

Beggarius was right. The Bavarian Workshop was like a multinational conglomerate similar to Apple or Samsung in real life. Would the United States just sit and do nothing if South Korea were to kidnap the CEO of Apple?

The Bayerische Kingdom would certainly declare war on the Proatine Kingdom the moment Avant was abducted.

“You’re right. I guess we need to think this through before anything else,” Siegfried said with a nod. Then, he contemplated for a moment before giving an order, “Chamberlain.”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Call all our officials to assemble. Summon all high and low-ranking ministers to the court.”

“Yes, sire!”

Two hours later.

“The reason I’ve summoned all of you here today is to discuss a potential conflict with the Bayerische Kingdom due to the incident with the Bavarian Workshop,” Siegfried said, explaining the purpose of the meeting.

“What is Your Majesty’s plan?” Michele asked.

“I intend to abduct Avant, the Head Blacksmith of the Bavarian Workshop.”

“The Bayerische Kingdom will not sit idly by should we do that.”

“I know.”

“Yet Your Majesty still wishes to proceed with it?”

“Yes,” Siegfried said, sounding firm in his decision. Then, he explained, “Avant, the Head Blacksmith of the Bavarian Workshop, has insulted me, a king. Not only that, he incited Adventurers to attack me, and he’s also using the Bayerische Kingdom to pressure our kingdom.”

The ministers listened intently to his speech.

“As King of the Proatine Kingdom, I, Siegfried van Proa, am prepared to...” Siegfried and looked around at his subjects gathered in the hall. Then, he dropped a bombshell declaration. “...wage a full-scale war against the Bayerische Kingdom if necessary.”

The faces of everyone in the hall immediately stiffened.

This was no surprise, as even though the Bayerische Kingdom was not a superpower, they possessed immense economic strength that gave them a significant military advantage.

They were not a threat to other powerhouses on the continent, but they were still a formidable enemy for the Proatine Kingdom.

However, Siegfried had just declared his willingness to wage an all-out war against the Bayerische Kingdom, and he seemed to be firm in his decision without any intention to back down from it.

“I, Michele de Petronas, the Minister of State, agree with Your Majesty,” Michele said.

Shockingly, Michele was in favor of the war.

“Huh? You? Why are you, of all people, agreeing to me?” Siegfried asked, sounding taken aback that Michele had readily supported his decision. He expected Michele to be adamantly against the war and be the last person to agree to it.

“Why are you suddenly acting out of character?” Siegfried asked, narrowing his eyes out of suspicion.

“What does Your Majesty mean?” Michele asked in response.

“Why are you supporting war?”

“Am I not allowed to support war, sire? I do not recall being a pacifist.”

“Well, it’s just...”

“If we are bound to clash with them eventually, why not seize the opportunity to settle things once and for all?”

“Huh?”

“We cannot keep bowing and tiptoeing around others forever. This is a chance to show the entire continent the might of our kingdom. Moreover, if we win this war, we can quickly take control of the Bavarian Workshop’s distribution network, and that would be akin to our kingdom acquiring a multinational conglomerate.”

Michele seemed to be thinking that this was a golden opportunity for the Proatine Kingdom to solidify and cement its power on the continent.

“Hmm... What do the rest of you think?” Siegfried asked the others.

“Your Majesty’s will is our will!”

“Your Majesty’s will is our will!”

“Your Majesty’s will is our will!”

It was unanimous. None of the ministers raised any objections to Siegfried’s decision.

After all, the war with the Bayerische Kingdom seemed inevitable at this point, with Avant’s Bavarian Workshop being so hostile toward Siegfried.

“Very well,” Siegfried said with a nod. Then, he commanded, “From this moment onward! We will prepare for war and ready ourselves to battle with the Bayerische Kingdom!”

“May Your Majesty’s reign be eternal!”

Thus, the royal assembly declared the beginning of a new war.