Ch.69War Lord (1)

# Chapter 69: Warlord (1)

Just three days later.

Though I had essentially been reduced to being Mekt-Fuchs’ caretaker…

Breaking news arrived that the fleet of the Syr Citizen Federation—considered one of the major powers in the eastern galaxy—had been completely annihilated by pirates without even being able to flee.

And not by conventional ships, but by a fleet of junkers that looked like they’d been cobbled together through cottage industry, barely better than scrap.

When this shocking news hit the Empire, discussions erupted throughout the parliament.

“How is that even possible?”

“Mere pirates defeating the fleet of an interstellar nation—not even a small country—head-on?”

“Could it be another nation’s fleet disguised as pirates?”

Some were offering escapist opinions, trying to deny the shocking reality, but…

“The Syr Citizen Federation was broadcasting the entire pirate subjugation operation live across the galaxy to show off.”

“…”

“And the Warlord’s subordinates knew this and destroyed the broadcasting ship last.”

Thanks to our Syr friends spreading the evidence throughout the galaxy on their own…

We got to see, in uncensored detail, a regular fleet including battleships being utterly toyed with by a fleet made of junk and debris.

The moment I saw this, I remembered a game event I had completely forgotten about.

‘Wait, Warlord? Could this be the Warlord event?’

And of all times, it was happening exactly when it would typically occur in the game system.

After completing expansion and entering a consolidation phase, it was meant to inject tension into relaxed players’ minds.

In other words, a crisis event.

But even after realizing what the situation was, I had doubts about this event chain…

Specifically, could the Warlord really defeat surrounding nations to such an extent?

It made sense because the Warlord event typically appears around this time…

In the original game, this would be when player nations would start mass-producing cruiser-class ships as their main force.

Or for nations that developed technology as quickly as possible, they would be producing and deploying battleships one by one.

And correspondingly, the Warlord’s military power would be comparable to the empires of that period.

‘The empires’ military power has been strengthened compared to when the Warlord was originally supposed to appear.’

Although the Syr fleet included battleships…

It was merely a temporary formation assembled to capture pirates.

“It seems the Syr Federation’s admirals were too careless against the pirates.”

“That’s probably the most plausible explanation, isn’t it?”

Not just here in the Sevelli Empire’s court…

The prevailing opinion throughout the Galactic Federation was that the Syr Citizen Federation had simply been careless and underestimated the pirates’ strength.

Looking at this situation, I couldn’t help but offer a negative opinion.

‘Judging by those guys’ performance, they seem to have received some kind of technological boost from the system… which would make them truly dangerous.’

Of course, most people responded to my opinion with skepticism, doubting it could be that serious.

But before long, the news coming from the Syr Citizen Federation was a continuous stream of shocking developments.

“The Syr Citizen Federation’s subjugation force annihilated, and the pirate fleet advancing toward the capital…?”

“Currently, the Syr Federation’s remaining fleets are gathering in the capital system, preparing for a final stand, Mr. Flesh Chunk.”

“Wow.”

Beyond my expectations, our Mr. Warlord must have received some tech tree boost.

Syr’s regular fleets, which included battleships, were being overwhelmed by the Warlord’s pirate fleet both numerically and in firepower, suffering one devastating defeat after another.

————————–

As Alina said, the Syr Citizen Federation, having lost most of its forces in an instant, tried to hold out using orbital fortresses built around their capital.

Their plan was probably to buy time using the fortresses while seeking reinforcements from neighboring nations.

Unfortunately, the Warlord’s fleet had no intention of giving Syr that time.

We received Syr Citizen Federation’s declaration of surrender barely hours after hearing about their final stand.

Technically, they became a tributary state serving the Horde led by the Warlord…

But no nation in the galaxy considered this anything other than surrender.

When a catastrophe occurred where a nation was suddenly overthrown by mere pirates, nearby countries reacted with astonishment.

The shock was particularly severe for the Mekt-Fuchs Corporate Union, which had been secretly manipulating and encouraging Syr from behind.

“We have no intention of surrendering our business territory to mere pirates!”

“We cannot leave such barbaric individuals unchecked.”

Immediately after Syr Citizen Federation’s surrender.

Mekt-Fuchs and surrounding nations hastily mobilized their fleets to encircle the Warlord.

Having realized they couldn’t defeat the Warlord head-on with a single fleet, they intended to force multiple battles on the Warlord to wear down his forces…

That was their intention.

Of course, the Warlord wasn’t just going to watch as this encirclement was completed.

The nations trying to form the encirclement…

The battles continued as the Warlord tried to break through this encirclement, and just as it seemed they would reach a stalemate…

“We pledge our loyalty to the Warlord.”

“Oh.”

“What.”

One of the nations responsible for a section of the encirclement…

The Kerzin Federation, which had once claimed to be a superpower, suddenly announced its loyalty to the Warlord and withdrew from the encirclement.

“What the fuck???”

“What are they trying to do?”

In response to Kerzin Federation’s trolling, not only the nations forming the encirclement…

But even other nations watching from afar began demanding daily that the Galactic Federation impose sanctions on Kerzin’s actions.

However, the Kerzin Federation’s response to this fiery outcry was extremely straightforward.

“Better to serve someone who harms others than someone who kills others.”

This was their expression of preferring to bow to pirates rather than being processed into soap by space Nazis, especially after receiving intelligence about Prosnak’s fleet movements.

With this sudden addition of new forces to the Warlord, the situation began to deteriorate exponentially.

“In the name of the Warlord, I command! All fleets, plunder everything from the enemy!”

“Enslave anyone larger than a fighter nozzle!”

No longer needing to deal with the entire encirclement…

The Warlord mobilized his elite forces along with the absorbed fleets of the Syr Citizen Federation and Kerzin Federation.

He launched a space blitzkrieg to break through the encirclement.

Of course, the Mekt-Fuchs and Zeltech fleets did their best to stop the Warlord’s advance, but…

“Now is the time to reclaim our lost territories!”

“With the Warlord, we can eliminate those vicious rebels!”

The Uko’Praknar Interstellar Union, one of the nations in the encirclement…

They couldn’t be stopped from exacting revenge by backstabbing Mekt-Fuchs, who had previously backstabbed them, and the Ik Nur Val Independent Republican Federation, which had rebelled and gained independence from them.

“You crazy bastards!”

“Help!!!”

When the power ratio suddenly shifted from 5:2 to 3:4…

Mekt-Fuchs’ leaders sent daily insulting messages cursing the Kerzin Federation for ruining the situation with their trolling.

Of course, since Mekt-Fuchs’ leaders weren’t idiots, they quickly made decisions to overcome the current situation.

“Mr. President, given the situation, would you consider helping us eradicate these pirates?”

“That’s a good idea.”

They were doing their best to buy time by joining hands with the Roirakan Republic, which had been observing the situation, to counter alongside Zeltech.

But for them, time was definitely not on their side.

While Mekt-Fuchs was trying to regroup, calling for help from the lukewarm Roirakan…

And attempting to buy time through organic cooperation with Zeltech, which was also in the midst of fighting…

“Ugh, surrender, we surrender!”

“Good, now we will enter under the Warlord’s shadow!”

The capital of the Ik Nur Val Federation, which had lost most of its fleet due to the fantastic backstabbing, fell pathetically.

And simultaneously, the Uko’Praknar bowed to the Warlord much faster than expected.