Chapter 175 174: Personnel Assembly, Secret Weapon

"Of course, I really don't know where you found such a great inventor."

Hakkoda shook his head with a smile — and just as he spoke, a loud bang! erupted from one of the ships.

Thick smoke billowed upward, clearly the result of some kind of explosion. Everyone turned to look.

A moment later, a young man in a strangely designed wheelchair slid down from the ship, completely covered in some kind of sticky paste. He waved at them brightly.

"Hey, Aang, Katara, Sokka!"

"Teo!"

Aang and the others rushed over happily, greeting him with big smiles.

At the same time, a bald middle-aged man with long hair on both sides stepped off the ship.

It was Teo's father, the inventor Teo's Dad — the one everyone commonly called "Teo's Father." Sokka raised a brow.

"Another new invention?"

Teo's father scratched his head with irritation.

"That's right. I thought I could control the power of the peanut-butter explosion, but… apparently not."

"You used a peanut-butter bomb?!"

"It's pretty powerful, isn't it?" he replied proudly.

"And it tastes good too," Teo added as he licked the peanut butter off the corner of his mouth.

The next second, Momo launched himself at Teo's face and started licking wildly, making Teo flail around while everyone burst into laughter.

"Oh, right," Aang said, "let me introduce everyone. This is Kahn, Toph, and Zuko. They joined us later, and they're all incredibly powerful benders."

"Teo and his father are genius inventors. They were forced by the Fire Nation to build weapons before, but now they've turned over a new leaf."

Upon hearing Zuko's name, Teo's father paused.

"Zuko? Isn't that a Fire Nation name?"

Zuko nodded. "I've turned over a new leaf too."

After learning about Teo's father's past, Kahn thought for a moment.

"Inventing weapons? You worked in the Fire Nation's research and development department? I remember the head of R&D — Li Ming — is supposed to be an extremely capable person."

The Fire Nation's ability to challenge the entire world came largely from its advanced technology, so the R&D department was one of the most valued branches.

Kahn had seen the head inventor in the Imperial Palace Council Hall several times.

He didn't know Li Ming well, but he had always respected him.

But when Teo's father heard the name, his expression darkened.

"Li Ming is the Fire Nation officer who forced me to work for him. As far as I know, he has no ability whatsoever. He suppressed and exploited me constantly. In my opinion, he's utterly despicable."

"Ah… this…"

Kahn was stunned.

So even this world had people stealing academic achievements?

He'd respected that man before — only to learn he was a total parasite.

Well, after he got back, he was definitely telling Azula to fire that bastard.

"Teo's father, didn't I tell you not to conduct dangerous experiments on the ship?" Hakkoda said as he walked over.

"If it succeeds, it isn't dangerous! It only became dangerous because it failed," he insisted.

"Which still makes it dangerous!"

"Hahaha, don't be so serious, Hakkoda," a deep voice cut in.

A large Water Tribe warrior clapped Hakkoda on the shoulder and laughed.

Katara and Sokka looked at him curiously — they didn't recognize him. He wasn't from the Southern Water Tribe.

"I just hope they don't sink the ship," Hakkoda sighed.

He then introduced the warrior.

"This is Pari, an elite warrior from the Northern Water Tribe."

Since they had enough preparation time, Hakkoda had traveled north to request help.

After hearing their plan, the Northern Water Tribe sent fifty elite warriors — twenty of which were elite Waterbenders. Pari was the captain.

The Earth Kingdom had done the same: fifty elite fighters with twenty elite Earthbenders, led by General Hao.

Together with Hakkoda's Southern Water Tribe warriors, Teo's father's science and logistics team, and the Avatar Team, their total force was around two hundred.

Their mission:

Break through the Fire Nation's coastal defenses, reach the port, and escort the Avatar Team into the Fire Nation Capital.

"Perhaps you don't know me, but I know you," Pari said warmly.

"Thank you for helping us repel the Fire Nation attack in the North. Now it's our turn to help you. No — fighting the Fire Nation is our duty!"

Hakkoda chuckled. "That's true. But we still appreciate your support."

"Oh, right. Master Pakku didn't come?" Katara asked.

Pari shook his head. "Sadly, Master Pakku isn't in the North. A while ago he said he was heading south to visit relatives. He hasn't returned."

"Visit relatives? Does that mean—?!"

Katara's eyes lit up.

Pakku and her grandmother once had an arranged marriage.

Her grandmother fled to the South, but Pakku clearly still missed her. Maybe he had gone to reconnect with her.

If so… she might be getting a new grandfather.

And her new grandfather was also her Waterbending teacher!

Meanwhile, Sokka grabbed Teo's father excitedly.

"Did you finish what I designed before?!"

"Of course!" Teo's father grinned with pride.

"These are our carefully prepared secret weapons."

"That's what I'm talking about!" Sokka cheered.

Originally, he had wanted his father to bring everyone they knew — the Earth Kingdom father and son, even the Foggy Swamp Tribe.

But after receiving reinforcements from both the North and the Earth Kingdom, they abandoned that plan.

Their job was to break through.

More people meant more chaos.

But Sokka absolutely insisted on bringing Teo and his father because the "secret weapons" he had planned were essential to the battle ahead.

With those weapons, their odds of breaking through the Fire Nation defenses — without horrible casualties — rose dramatically.

So everyone followed as Teo's father led them to the storage area.

The moment Kahn saw the secret weapon, he froze.

A submarine.

Well.

A fucking submarine.

...

The full completed version of Avatar: Rebirth of the Strongest Firebender —