War machine!

The war among the four nations in the North Sea, now with the involvement of Germa, has become widely known throughout the North Sea.

If it were just a simple war among the four nations, it might attract some attention but not to the extent of capturing the entire North Sea's interest. After all, the North Sea is teeming with islands, and among them are countless kingdoms, some even claiming kingship with just a few thousand people.

However, when the war among the four nations intersects with the infamous black forces known throughout the North Sea, namely Germa, the nature of the war involving all four countries naturally changes. All the powerful factions in the North Sea are paying close attention to the war's developments, eager to see if the resurgence of Germa will resemble the Germa of centuries past, which once unified the North Sea through force for 66 days. If they harbor the same ambitions of ruling the North Sea, the North Sea nations wouldn't mind eliminating Germa, the enemy of the hero Sora!

Although referred to as four nations, these four countries are not independent islands. They are situated on a large island, and strictly speaking, the four kings ruling them are brothers. They split into four nations only after the death of the old king, each aspiring to conquer the others and achieve ultimate unity, thus sparking the war.

As per Nicholas's current knowledge, after Germa Kingdom joined the war as mercenaries, they dispatched their own troops to each of the four nations, engaging in fierce combat with both their own people and the forces of the four nations. The island is now a chaotic mess, and anyone with the means has already left, seeking refuge in other countries.

Boom!

Boom boom boom!

Suddenly, distant cannon fire echoed, and soon huge splashes of water erupted around the passenger ship. Many onboard faces turned pale; hearing gunfire at sea was never good news, especially when the cannonballs were landing dangerously close to the ship.

"Everyone, stay calm!"

Suddenly, a steady voice cut through the tension, and all eyes turned to the calm captain standing on the deck. Upon hearing the captain's words, the passengers quieted down. After all, in the vast sea, encountering pirates meant a fight to the death, and with their ship's capabilities, there was no escaping.

Seeing the passengers calm down, the captain continued, "All able-bodied men, arm yourselves. Our lookout has been monitoring the enemy's movements. If they're just after plunder, we'll give up some goods. If they get too aggressive, you all know what to do!"

Nicholas was taken aback by the steely resolve of the North Sea folk. Was this typical of their demeanor?

"This is a warship of Germa 66!"

With a shout from the lookout, the passengers who were eager to resist suddenly changed their expressions. It seemed that the passengers were resigned to their fate, as encountering pirates meant inevitable chaos, where men could be killed, and women's fates wouldn't be much better.

But Germa was different. Although these troops often acted as mercenaries, they occasionally played the role of pirates. However, they didn't always flaunt the pirate label. These soldiers typically left once you surrendered your valuables, and sometimes, they'd simply ignore you.

"That was close!"

The man who had spoken to Nicholas earlier sighed in relief, only to realize that Nicholas had disappeared.

Meanwhile, Nicholas had once again boarded a snail ship, approaching the main battlefield of the Four Kings' War. The closer he got, the louder the sounds of battle became. From afar, he could see the battlefield engulfed in smoke, with four huge fortresses facing each other.

The scene was chaotic, soldiers in the uniforms of the four nations engaged in continuous skirmishes. The alliances shifted constantly, with allies turning on each other in the blink of an eye. It was as if everyone had lost their minds.

A particular group stood out amidst the chaos. They all wore the same uniform, and though their numbers weren't many, they were elite fighters. With them present, even if the other three kings united their forces, they could be held at bay. They were like war machines.

Although they varied in height and build, upon closer inspection, their features were eerily similar, almost like siblings of the same parents.

"So, these are the Clone Warriors project that Vegapunk helped Judge complete? Knowledge really is power," Nicholas muttered to himself.

The War Family of Vince Smoke was essentially created by Vegapunk, benefiting from technologies such as cloning, biological modification, and a series of insane tech trees.

Soon, aboard a supply ship, Nicholas saw a group of soldiers standing on a slightly elevated platform formed by snail ships. Before them were three chairs, occupied by a man, a pregnant woman on the left chair, and a young girl resembling the pregnant woman on the right.

In the middle sat a man with golden hair, nearly three meters tall, dressed casually. He leaned on his chin with one hand, watching the fiery battlefield with keen interest.

…

Bang!

A bullet shot from nearby, aimed straight at the man in the middle. Just as the bullet was about to hit its mark, the soldiers behind him suddenly formed a human shield, taking the hit. One of them was struck, blood splattering, and then collapsed to the ground.

The remaining soldiers, expressionless, kicked the fallen soldier aside, covering the gap once again. It was as if they were simply discarding a worthless object that had lost its utility.