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This war lasted a full five to six hours before finally drawing to a close (not counting the time spent marching during the night)!
The rebel leader and most of their high-ranking officers had been killed, while the fate of a few others—whether they had escaped or were obliterated by cannon fire—remained uncertain.
"Tap, tap, tap..."
Row after row of pale-faced royal soldiers wearing masks entered the battlefield, carrying away the blood-soaked bodies of the rebels. The corpses would be burned in a mass cremation.
If these tens of thousands of bodies were left unattended, an epidemic could break out in the scorching summer heat, causing even more trouble.
"Some of the rebels fled before the battle ended, but I assume this won't pose much of a problem for you, right?"
By now, it was nearing dusk. Ichiji and Niji arrived on the battlefield.
"Of course, those fleeing remnants are no longer a threat."
The minister's face was still pale, but he forced a smile and flattered them: "Thanks to Germa, our nation has managed to quell this rebellion!"
"No need for thanks—just make sure the payment is settled..." Ichiji glanced at him indifferently, his tone dismissive.
"The payment has already been prepared, rest assured. The Kingdom of Philane doesn't have the guts to cheat the renowned Germa 66..."
The minister's lips twitched slightly as he quickly nodded and extended another invitation: "It's getting late. His Majesty the King has prepared a grand victory banquet at the palace to express his gratitude. Please, Your Highnesses, do attend!"
...
Though Germa 66 fought this war for money on behalf of the Kingdom of Philane, they were still hailed as the "saviors" of the country.
When leading the Germa forces into the capital city at dusk, the king himself, along with the kingdom's nobles and ministers, had been waiting there for quite some time.
Even though it was nighttime, the entire capital was brightly lit. Crowds of citizens from both sides of the streets had gathered, celebrating the end of the war with joyous cheers and ecstatic gestures.
"Thank you, everyone from Germa, for saving our nation!!!"
King Angus IX's face glowed with joy, free from the previous tension and doubt. A broad smile of relief spread across his face: "The payment has all been settled. Please, come inside for further discussions!"
He never expected that this war, which nearly toppled the Kingdom of Philane, would be quelled within such a short span of mere hours.
"No need to be polite!"
Ichiji shrugged nonchalantly, his voice laced with sarcasm: "You should consider yourself fortunate. These rebels, due to various reasons, felt compelled to launch a direct assault on the capital. Otherwise, this war wouldn't have ended so easily..."
If that hadn't been the case, the time required to suppress the rebellion might have stretched far beyond just a day or two.
Though not particularly large, the Kingdom of Philane wasn't small either, comparable in size to the Kingdom of Arabasta in the Grand Line.
However, the rapid growth of the rebels came at a cost. Their overwhelming numbers meant they relied heavily on looting for supplies, which became unsustainable over time. Additionally, they feared unforeseen circumstances, prompting their desperate push toward the capital.
Unfortunately for them, they never anticipated that King Angus IX would decisively hire the infamous mercenary organization from the underground—"The Demon Legion," Germa 66!
"Germa! Germa!..."
"Thank you for eliminating the rebels..."
"Now, our nation can finally be at peace!"
"Truly impressive, Germa! You're nothing short of 'God's Hand'!!!"
"It's amazing how you ended this war in less than six hours—it's absolutely incredible!!"
...
Countless citizens, their faces flushed with excitement, shouted enthusiastically toward the triumphant Germa army. They were filled with joy and fervor.
Without a doubt, the legendary "Evil Army" had become heroes to the ruling class, despite being known for their ruthless reputation elsewhere.
Most of Germa's forces had already returned to the "Warship" docked at the port for rest. Only about three to four hundred Germa warriors accompanied Ichiji and Niji into the city to "protect" the two princes.
"Heh, nicely arranged!"
Niji, walking ahead, clearly relished the warm reception.
"That shortsighted old man, driven solely by ambition, probably still doesn't realize that the experiments on his unborn sons, though seemingly producing 'successes,' were actually complete failures. At best, they merely possess somewhat exceptional strength!" Niji's behavior made Ichiji inwardly sneer.
Not only was he, the "variable," completely ordinary—and arguably excessively kind—but even Niji and Yonji, despite their cold and ruthless personalities, lacked true humanity. Though fearless in the face of death, they weren't entirely devoid of human emotions.
"Not at all! Everyone here is a hero who saved this nation. Receiving the highest honors is only fitting." King Angus IX beamed with satisfaction.
The fifty thousand soldiers represented the bulk of the rebel forces. Even though a few remnants occupied two cities, each garrison held no more than two to three thousand troops, mostly consisting of the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled. They posed no real threat; the situation was firmly under control.
With the once-formidable rebel army crushed, the heavy burden on his heart lifted, leaving him feeling incredibly relieved.
At first, when news of the peasant uprising reached him, he hadn't taken it seriously. But those wretched commoners grew stronger, defeating the well-equipped royal army and nearly reaching the capital. The shock nearly sent him tumbling off his throne.
"Thank goodness I was wise and decisive enough to hire the infamous underground war organization Germa, regardless of the cost."
Casually glancing dozens of meters away, where the rooftop was shrouded in the dark night, almost invisible, Ichiji thought to himself:
"Cipher Pol, huh?"
His gaze flickered momentarily before shifting away. Seemingly disinterested, Ichiji casually asked King Angus IX: "According to our agreement, we're supposed to help you reclaim the two lost cities to fully complete this mercenary contract. But I assume that won't be necessary anymore, right...?"
Germa's combat style prioritized ending wars as swiftly as possible.
Collateral damage? Not their concern.
If Germa's forces were deployed to retake those cities, they'd undoubtedly reduce them to scorched earth.
Unless absolutely necessary, King Angus IX wouldn't be foolish enough to allow Germa's army to "reclaim lost territory."
...