Seizing the Warship
But how the hell are we supposed to board this warship from here.
Obviously, climbing up to the dockside like this would just get us killed on the spot.
Damn it, just laying out the big picture leaves me with no answers.
But incredibly, Colonel Schultz was the type to pull the right answer straight out of a blank page.
Pfuk!
Colonel Schultz drew the sword he'd brought and jammed it into the warship's hull.
No way.
Pfuk!
He stabbed the sword in as a foothold, then jammed a dagger above it. Then pulled the lower sword free and stabbed it higher up, repeating the process.
It was monstrous movement, but from a monster, so maybe that explained it.
It didn't look unnatural at all.
"Move quickly."
"Y-yes, sir!"
If I slowed even a little and got caught, it'd be instant death for me too, so I started climbing the warship using two swords just like him.
Clang!
We reached a window, and Colonel Schultz smashed it without a moment's hesitation before slipping inside.
We actually pulled this off.
Honestly, the whole situation felt unbelievable right now.
"You and I head to the bridge, Major Palan. First Company Commander, handle any enemies trying to reach the bridge."
"Understood."
Did he have a computer in his head or something? His orders dropped like clockwork from a machine.
Lieutenant Colonel Garen moved off alone to carry out his mission, while Colonel Schultz and I sprinted toward what we figured was the bridge at the top.
"Who...?"
Pushuk!
Anyone we ran into here—wearing uniforms they had no business wearing—was shocked.
And they all stopped breathing before they could grasp the truth.
"E-enemy infiltration! Block them!"
We reached the fourth floor, where the bridge was. They'd realized we'd infiltrated, and a dozen or so armored soldiers blocked the path.
"Major Palan."
"Yes."
"I'll handle them all. You watch for an opening and slip into the bridge. You can manage from there, right?"
"Un... understood."
Even for Colonel Schultz, this many foes would take time.
"Haaap!!!"
Colonel Schultz charged the enemy wielding a greatsword that looked at least twice as heavy as mine.
"B-block them! There's only two of the bastards!"
"We have to hold this position!"
The enemy soldiers gripped their weapons and charged, trying to ignore their instinctive fear.
Unfortunately, Colonel Schultz was beyond anything they could physically block.
Whirrrk!
The greatsword looked like a struggle just to lift.
But Colonel Schultz swung it as lightly as a dagger, slicing through the enemy ranks.
"Major!"
Colonel Schultz called out after easily disrupting their formation.
No need for a reply here.
Through.
Faster than ever.
I bolted not just past the enemy, but straight toward the bridge beyond.
"B-block him!"
They caught on to my intent and tried to react, but too bad—their opponent was Colonel Schultz.
"You dare get distracted against me?!"
Whirrk! Slash!
The quick-thinking soldier trying to block my path had his throat slit right in front of me.
Insane.
It wasn't even human.
But no time for admiration—I exploited the gaping hole and kicked open the bridge door.
"Hands up, all of you!!!"
Four personnel visible on the bridge at a glance.
They weren't combat troops anyway, so no need to fear them.
"D-damn it, they broke through this fast?!"
One officer wearing a lieutenant colonel insignia bit his lip.
That guy's the captain.
The army's great like that—your rank's plastered all over your uniform for the world to see.
"Cooperate, and I'll guarantee your lives. Get this ship moving right now!"
"You Lycan dog! What nonsense is...?"
Whick! Pshuk!
The captain started with pointless objections.
I drove my sword into his heart without the slightest hesitation.
"You think I'm asking nicely?!"
Splattered with blood, I kicked his corpse toward the three still alive.
Like I was showing them exactly what happens if they don't obey.
"Don't make me say it twice. Start the engines."
"Y-yes, sir!!"
They were shaking.
With their commander dead, the three had no choice.
"Move faster! You think I don't know? How long have you handled warships?"
I didn't even know the "war" in warship, but talking like this kept them from suspecting tricks.
And unfortunately, I was more desperate than ever inside.
Hold on. Aren't those guys heading our way?
Enemy movements visible through the bridge windows.
A good number were rushing not to the defensive line, but toward the warship.
"You wanna piss me off? Should I do it myself?"
Shlick.
I pressed a dagger to the throat of the highest-ranking major among the three.
"I-it... it takes time to start the engines."
The man stammered.
Hard to tell if it was a lie or truth.
Does starting the engines really take time?
No, last time with Captain Eden, wasn't it just a button press and click—straight to go?
Read the target's truth?
Cost: 20P
Shit, and I'm low on points already.
But I couldn't afford not to use it.
Truth Eye pierces the target.
This crazy bastard?
I hadn't expected him to try fooling me in a situation like this.
Tougher nut than he looked.
"Shit, you're pissing me off."
Pfuk!
"Gaaah!!!"
Not fatal, but painful enough.
I jammed the dagger into his back.
"Hey, engines take time my ass. You messing with me? Move in 3 seconds. Counting down. 3."
"2."
With each number, I twisted the dagger in his back just enough to hurt.
Please cooperate, damn it.
I prayed he'd ditch that damn patriotism.
Luckily, it wasn't the die-for-country kind.
"M-move!"
"Deputy Captain."
"We live first! Hurry!"
At the deputy captain's desperate cry, the officers squeezed their eyes shut and started operating something.
Drudruk.
The three seconds passed, but the warship started moving almost right on cue.
"Max output. Steering like this, right?"
"Y-yes."
I grabbed the helm wheel dead center and cranked it hard to the right.
Please, don't let them board.
My eyes were locked on the enemies trying to climb aboard.
If they got up here, we'd be in deep shit.
"Faster!!! If those bastards board, you're all dead first—no funny business!"
Laced with thick killing intent, my words sent the officers scrambling.
The ship's speed slowly picked up.
Soon after, the gangplank connecting dock to ship... plunged into the sea.
"Haa, we're good."
With the path gone, the enemies on the dock could only gawk up helplessly.
A few had made it to the deck, sure, but we could handle that many easy.
"Major, success?"
Colonel Schultz entered the bridge as we put maximum distance between us and the dock.
"Yes, sir. Only about five enemies boarded."
"First Company Commander can handle that without us worrying. Good work."
"No problem."
Colonel Schultz's gaze shifted to the three officers on the bridge.
He glanced at the major with the dagger in his back and, for some reason, smirked.
"Looked indecisive, but guess not."
"Pardon?"
"You there, Major."
Colonel Schultz called to the deputy captain.
"Y-yes, sir!"
"No need to shake like that. Cooperate, and we'll let you live and send you off. If you're still worried, we can even help you live as Lycan Empire citizens. That goes for everyone here."
He looked like pure threat material, but surprisingly, he was trying persuasion.
"Keep... that promise."
The deputy captain pondered with a troubled expression before forcing the words out.
"Unlike Aditz vermin, I don't lie. More importantly, you look like you need treatment. Here, bandage it."
Colonel Schultz pulled bandages from a first-aid kit in the corner and handed them over.
"Thank you. Urk!"
Clinging to life, he yanked the dagger out himself and wrapped the wound.
"We're all in the same boat now anyway. Time to share the plan."
The three officers fixed their eyes on Colonel Schultz.
"We'll ram the enemy warships coming from Yalk Island. If there are two or more, I'll decide the target—just be ready to maneuver accordingly."
Attacking our own side.
Even for a low-patriot like me, that stuck in the craw.
And Colonel Schultz knew it better than I did.
"Think of your families at home. You die here like this, you think they'll be happy? Cooperate, and we'll guarantee their safety too."
Threats gripping their families.
Who'd rebel against that?
Even Satan would back off.
"Commander! The enemy seized one Elt-ho!"
Brigadier General Tef scowled at his adjutant's report.
"What the hell is that?!"
The enemy was right in front of them, and suddenly a warship at the dock got hijacked?
Impossible to believe on principle.
"Situation not fully grasped yet. Additional reports as confirmed."
Thud!
Unable to hold his anger, Brigadier General Tef kicked the desk in front of him.
"Hey!!! The enemy infiltrated and stole a warship, and you can't grasp it?! What bullshit is that?!"
"W-well."
The adjutant felt wronged.
He was just relaying reports coming up the chain.
"No... no, wait."
About to order an immediate assessment, Brigadier General Tef squeezed his eyes shut.
"Only one Elt-ho seized, right?"
"Y-yes."
"Ignore it. Whatever they're planning, we hold the dock and wait for reinforcements..."
Mid-sentence, a possibility hit him, and his body froze stiff.
"C-contact reinforcements immediately and warn them of the route..."