As the massive amount of steam slowly dissipated, a figure gradually emerged. Litt, Bazel, and Ivanor looked at that figure, their expressions all somewhat complicated.
Bill glanced sideways once, then quickly lost interest, while Ebson, standing at the very front, remained expressionless.
"From now on, you are the new Crimson Flame Titan."
"Yes, respected doctor."
The bare-chested man knelt on the ground, replying in a humble tone.
Ebson couldn't be bothered to respond, casually giving an "Mm" before turning around and leaving. Bill followed behind him as well.
The new Crimson Flame Titan was completely different from the previously frail Newt. This brown-haired man was covered in bulging muscles, his gaze fierce—clearly not someone to be trifled with.
"Let's go, let's go. This guy looks way too scary. I'm more used to quiet Newt. Ah… what a pity for my Airi-chan…"
Ivanor cast a disgusted glance at the brown-haired man, then thought of Airi, who had fallen in the Marley capital, and her mood sank.
Bazel chuckled and tried to smooth things over.
"Hey, don't say that. We might have to fight together in the future, so getting to know each other isn't a bad idea, right? That guy looks pretty reliable."
Litt let out a cold laugh.
"Heh. If you want to go flatter him, go ahead. I don't have time to waste getting to know some random nobody."
After saying that, Litt left directly. Ivanor drooped her shoulders, mumbling "Airi-chan" under her breath as she staggered away.
Bazel: "Hey!? Wait, don't leave me alone!"
He looked at the brown-haired man's fierce face and those exaggerated muscles, weighed his own small build, swallowed hard, and then ran off in a flash.
The new Crimson Flame Titan host, the brown-haired man: "?? Why did everyone leave?"
...
"Respected sir, do you mean… to start a war?"
Inside the exquisitely decorated conference room, a man dressed in thick fur asked nervously. As soon as his words fell, the entire room fell into silence.
The pine branches in the fireplace crackled crisply as they burned. The question the man had just asked was also the shared question of everyone seated around the table. They were all representatives from various Far Eastern nations, yet at this moment, the fate of their countries was entirely in the hands of a single Marleyan.
Ebson gazed absentmindedly at the snowflakes drifting outside the window, as if he hadn't heard the man's question at all. None of the representatives present dared to disturb him rashly—they all understood how terrifying Ebson was.
There had already been a negative example before. The price of offending Ebson was far too heavy. The Louis family controlled half of the Far East's economic lifeline, and the last country that tried to break free from Ebson's control had its capital flattened overnight by terrifying Titan warriors. Its army was wiped out by other nations' forces equipped with more advanced Louis family weaponry.
In just a few days, a nation that had existed for over five hundred years was erased from the map by Ebson.
Since then, none of the Far Eastern nations had any thought of resistance left.
The atmosphere in the conference room grew so oppressive it was almost maddening. The man couldn't help but want to ask again, but just as he opened his mouth, Ebson suddenly answered:
"Yes. I am going to start a war."
The man swallowed the words he was about to say, his face turning red. After a moment, he managed to recover.
"Cough… then, sir, which country are we declaring war on?"
It wasn't that the Far Eastern nations feared war. Having lived half their lives in a harsh, freezing environment, the people of the Far East were naturally resilient—or rather, warlike tendencies were in their blood. Although geographical limitations had hindered their development, with Ebson's support in recent years, these representatives weren't afraid of war breaking out with other nations.
"Declare war on the entire world!"
"Oh, understood. On the entire world… wait, what!? The entire world!!?"
The man's eyes widened. He thought he had misheard. The other representatives around him were equally shocked.
Ebson sneered.
"That's right—the entire world! Completely reshape this backward world and move toward a new future for humanity!"
With the military factories of the Louis family across the Far East, the newly equipped Far Eastern armies should be able to suppress forces more than twice their size. After all, Louis family weapons were generally decades ahead of those of other nations. Not to mention the powerful Titan warriors under Ebson's command.
With these guarantees, even going to war with powerful nations like the Middle Easterners or Marley would give the Far East confidence. But what had Ebson just said? The entire world! What kind of madman would dare say something so insane as declaring war on the whole world?
"Sir, you… this… isn't realistic, is it?"
The man desperately wanted to point at Ebson's head and ask if he had gone mad. Just their few Far Eastern nations declaring war on the entire world? What nonsense was this?
Nine Far Eastern nations—no, now eight—even if all eight went all out, they could at most gather 800,000 troops. Declaring war on the entire world with just 800,000 soldiers??
Ebson looked at the man, who was sweating profusely.
"What? Do you have objections? Or were your earlier pledges of loyalty just lies?"
"No, no, no! Sir, I just think that declaring war on the entire world at once is too… risky. If we do that, the Far East will immediately become the target of everyone. Sir, I think we can proceed step by step. For example, the Middle Easterners or Marley—they've just finished a war. We can take advantage of that and first capture one of them, then gradually expand…"
The man tried desperately to persuade him.
Ebson tilted his head.
"Are you teaching me how to do things?"
"No! Please don't misunderstand! I just—"
"Enough! Shut up. Just do as I say. I don't want to wait even a minute longer. You don't understand—the glorious future is already calling to me!"
Ebson suddenly stood up, his eyes burning with eagerness, a strange smile appearing on his face.
With no other choice—and with the Far Eastern nations now essentially half-puppets under Ebson's control—they had no room to refuse.
The once calm world was instantly thrown into turmoil.
...
"General! General! Emergency—emergency!"
An aide rushed into Magath's office in a panic.
"What is it? Why are you acting so flustered?"
"Ge—General, the Far Eastern nations have declared war on our Marley!"
Magath suddenly stood up, his face filled with anger.
"What!? Those Far Eastern barbarians! How dare they! Are they trying to take advantage of our weakness? Despicable!"
"No, no, General, I'm not finished. The Far East hasn't just declared war on our Marley—the Middle Easterners, India, Europa, the Eastern region… every country in the world has received a declaration of war from the Far East. The Far East… has declared war on the entire world."
Magath: "?????"