Chapter 134: No Free Lunches (2)

“C-civil corp, Lord Lloyd?”

“Yes,” Lloyd answered, “You saw who they were, didn’t you?”

“Surely…”

He did. It was around the time Lloyd came here to install the water supply system. It was impressive to see that the corp was composed of seasoned engineers well-versed in civil engineering.

“Um, but why would you conscript my soldiers to expand your corp-”

“Why? Shouldn’t everyone take part in the disaster relief efforts?” asked Lloyd.

“…”

As soon as Viscount Lacona heard Lloyd’s words, he felt a lump in his throat as he realized what the former was saying.

“You mean…”

“Yes, you guessed it right,” agreed Lloyd, “your guess is indeed correct. Why do you think Frontera county has been designated as a special city directly under the control of the palace? Did you not think it is Her Majesty’s plan to designate our county as the central hub to overcome the monster domino situation?”

“…”

“Well, but if you don’t want to lend your hands in the reconstruction efforts, what can I do? But you see, I am starting to look forward to the first quarter report that’s coming up. I shall give a detailed report to Her Majesty about how you stand in strong opposition against the plan to rebuild the region,” drawled Lloyd.

“W-wait a minute, my lord, I didn’t mean it that way…” defended Viscount Lacona.

“Well?”

“It’s just that…” the viscount muttered.

“Are you going to send your soldiers or not?”

“…”

Viscount Lacona felt stifled. Technically speaking, what Lloyd was doing wasn’t asking for support. It was a unilateral conscription, but the problem was that Lloyd had a crystal-clear reason for doing this.

The reconstruction effort was ordered by the queen. And the civil engineering corp is at the front of the project. So, if I show my unwillingness by refusing to take part and send my engineers…

Her Highness and the royalty would detest him to the hilt. In the worst-case scenario, he could be regarded as a traitor.

This boy is cunning enough to make me look so in her eyes. Yes, yes. It’s fully possible.

Viscount Lacona shuddered as he looked at Lloyd. Lloyd Frontera. He was an evil little monster who might as well have had horns growing out of his head. It was only obvious that Lloyd would paint him to look like the world’s greatest villain to the queen, and eventually, there would only be tragedy wherein he’d be helplessly thrown into the execution ground. At the prospect, Viscount Lacona was forced to nod.

“Yes, my lord,” acquiesced Viscount Lacona, “Then, how large do you need the troops to be…?”

“I shall leave it to your conscience and sincerity, viscount,” said Lloyd.

“…”

Please just kill me now. Just specify how many men you want from my force.

Viscount Lacona wanted to cry. When Lloyd saw the flustered expression on the viscount’s face, he beamed. He knew that “anything” was the most troublesome answer. The same thing happened when someone asked another what they wanted to eat. And Lloyd did just that right now. He intentionally gave a vague answer, leaving the size of the dispatch crew up to the viscount’s conscience and sincerity. Lloyd was certain that his answer would heavily burden the viscount. And he spoke something afterward to add another weight to the viscount’s already troubled and burdened heart.

“Decide for yourself the scale of support as well,” said Lloyd. “Then, submit a report by noon.”

“A report…? And by noon, my Lord?”

“Yes,” stated Lloyd.

“How many should I put in there-”

“I said, I will leave it up to you. I suppose it will depend on your conscience and sincerity. The number should be appropriate enough to keep this friendship of ours. Put the number that will not make me woeful. Got it?” asked Lloyd.

“…”

“Then, let’s move to the next agenda.”

Lloyd happily flipped the documents, revealing his plans to the viscount. These were mainly about the scope of assistance the viscount should provide to the county. They included the food and clothes for the refugees, logs and other materials needed for various constructions, and temporary recruitment of skilled workers. Although the plan was entitled “Plan for Support and Temporary Recruitment,” in actuality, it was a unilateral order, and its rightful name was “Plan for Exploitation.”

However, there was no way for Viscount Lacona to overturn the negotiation table and start a fight. He didn’t have any reason or capacity to resist Lloyd. He could only give a tired nod.

“Yes… My Lord.”

Viscount Lacona berated himself. He shouldn’t have led such an evil life. It was wrong of him to ignore and treat his neighboring lord badly just because he was poor. He felt a pang of bone-crushing regret, but the realization came much too late.

Of course. I have a principle of crushing my enemies without mercy.

People didn’t change, so there was no reason to try. It was especially the case when someone acted with bad intent. Once you showed your weakness, they would stab you in the back again. Lloyd knew this from experience. He had learned this bitter lesson when he lived in his tiny rental room in South Korea.

The guy who used the room next to mine was a total douche.

It was around the time when Lloyd had just moved into the rental room. The room next to his was occupied by a nutcase. The guy was preparing for the civil servant exam, and he blared music every night. It wasn’t just loud. It was blaring, the noise coming out from the luggage-sized woofer speakers. Boom. Boom. Boom. The low cacophony hit the walls and floors and could be heard from Lloyd’s room. No, the vibration was so heavy that Lloyd could feel it from his bed, and a pair of cheap earplugs from a convenience store wasn’t enough to deafen the din. Unable to bear it any longer, Lloyd brought the matter to the manager. But it barely worked. The villain was quiet only for a day. The racket resumed the next day. Left with no patience, Lloyd eventually knocked on his neighbor’s door to confront the matter face-to-face. But to Lloyd’s dismay, he was punched in the face.

That guy was one heck of a weirdo.

The punch came so fast that Lloyd received the full blow. The world around him swirled, and his eye was bruised black. But before it could develop into a full-fledged fight, the manager came just in time to stop them. But Lloyd was dismayed and dumbfounded. He bawled that he would sue the guy for assault.

The color of that mongrel’s face changed in a flash, and he started to beg me in tears.

The guy begged for mercy so pitifully that Lloyd believed that the guy realized his fault. The guy pleaded to Lloyd that he would be kicked out of the room if he paid the fine since he’d be out of money for rent. He implored him to let this slide and save his life. He was on his knees, tearing up.

The sight of him softened me.

Suddenly feeling inhumane, Lloyd made the terrible choice of forgiving the guy. But one month later, Lloyd regretted that he did as the woofer speaker came back again!

Crap. Thinking about it pisses me off to this day.

Lloyd felt his face burn as he dwelled on the past. Reflecting on the annoying experience reminded him that Viscount Lacona was the same as his former neighbor. Lloyd could forgive and tolerate the viscount once. But as soon as Lloyd showed any signs of weakness, the latter would stab him in the back. Strong against the weak, and weak against the strong. Lloyd knew who the viscount was. A groveler in the presence of the powerful. A devil in the presence of the weak. That was what Viscount Lacona was.

So, there will be no forgiveness.

Lloyd determined that he would gradually exploit and hang the viscount out to dry every chance he got. He will imprint a clear message in the latter’s bones and souls that Lloyd was the superior being. Tilting his head, he stared at Viscount Lacona.

“Are you upset about the measures I have taken today?” asked Lloyd.

“N-no, my Lord,” said the viscount, his eyes trembling.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes…”

“I am very relieved. You are too generous,” answered Lloyd.

“T-thank you. Then, I shall leave now-”

“You’re leaving so soon?”

“Oh, yes, my Lord,” said the viscount.

“Hmm, that makes me a bit sad.”

“…”

“While you’re here, why don’t you put Sir Curno standing behind you in a duel against Javier. It would improve his skills and strengthen their friendship as they train. All these meetings and activities. It’s all to deepen our connections, isn’t it?” said Lloyd, his voice dripping with amusement.

Flinch! Sir Curno, who was silently standing behind the viscount, flinched, his shoulders trembling. This made the corners of Lloyd’s lips rise upward.

“Oh, didn’t you bring him with a diaper on? Then, I guess he can’t fight against Javier.”

“…”

“I am joking. Hahaha! You know it was a joke, right? I mean, it’s between us.”

“Ah, hahaha… Yes, it’s between us.”

One foolish move and he would die. Everything would be taken away. Viscount Lacona felt this in every fiber of his being as he noticed that not a single joy was held in Lloyd’s eyes as he smiled.

Gulp.

Lloyd’s gaze wasn’t just chill, it was icy. Viscount Lacona was forced to put on a smile, but his face looked like he wanted to cry. The situation was at a standstill until he was allowed to leave the manor after a long while of currying favors with Lloyd.

“Whew.”

Lloyd smiled in satisfaction after saying goodbye to the viscount.

Very good. I broke his spirit just enough. I also got a lot out of him.

The water bill jumped thrice, and the viscount promised his men to Lloyd’s civil engineering corp and clothes and materials for the construction. All the resources were planned to be used to run the refugee camp and develop the fiefdom.

So, I have to start moving now.

It was time to move on to the next part of the plan. Lloyd took a box that sat in the corner of his office, and he made it for the refugee camp with Javier.

“Oh? Master Lloyd?”

A group of soldiers was getting ready to ration lunch, but they stopped when they saw Lloyd approaching. Lloyd waved his hand at them.

“Yes, it’s me. Don’t mind me. Continue what you’re doing.”

“…”

But there was no way that they could do that. In any workplace, the workers became busy at the appearance of their boss. They quickened their stirring with a ladle, and the soup and bread were served at a faster speed. The food trays and spoons were laid on the table in a flash. Lloyd smiled wryly at the sight of this.

I kind of feel sorry.

The rationing soldiers hastened their work because Lloyd had shown up. Lloyd fully empathized with them because he, too, had undergone this before.

Especially in the military. The division commander and politicians really stirred things up in my base when they decided to visit us during the holidays.

Supposedly, Lloyd and his comrades should be left to enjoy the holiday and rest as much as they want, basking in the goodness of the national holiday. But when the higher-ups, such as division or corp commanders or politicians, came to visit, every single one of the soldiers was thrown to spotlessly clean the facilities in the base in gratitude for their visit. As such, they had to drop everything and work as they bid farewell to enjoying their holiday in peace.

I can’t be as shameless as them. I should quickly finish my business and leave.

The soldiers were hurrying things unnecessarily. Lloyd pushed aside the apologetic feelings he had had for them for a while and looked around to do what he came here for. The place was jam-packed with refugees, who lined up to receive food. He walked over to them and hovered, which was enough to create a stir among them.

“Wait, isn’t it him?”

“Who?”

“Well, who else? It’s Master Lloyd. The son of the Count.”

“Oh! Him?”

The man gazed at Lloyd as he pointed with his finger. He confirmed that it was indeed Master Lloyd. The murmuring spread further.

“It really is. It’s Master Lloyd. It’s really him.”

“From what I heard, he was the one who convinced the count to take us in here, right?”

“That’s what I heard, too. And this refugee camp was made by him as well.”

“And he’s the one who built the warm floor…”

Slowly, the line of people started to jumble, and they started to surround Lloyd. The murmuring started to develop into words of gratitude.

“It’s really him! Master Lloyd!”

“Thank you! You saved my son!”

“Same here! My family is safe and warm because of you! Thank you! Thank you so much!”

The clamor spread fast across the refugee camp. Those who were standing in the other rationing area started gathering closer. Soon, more than thousands of them gathered up to take a peek at Lloyd.

This is massive.

A sense of overwhelming awe gripped Javier, who was walking beside Lloyd. He had never seen anything like this. Thousands of people gathered and rushed to meet one person and thank him and promise to return the favor. Some came running bare feet. Some teared up. Some held Lloyd’s hands with their wrinkled hands. Each time, Lloyd returned every single one of them with a merciful smile and gaze. The sight was truly heartwarming. And so…

It looks like Master Lloyd has something up his sleeve.

Javier’s eyes narrowed, and his eyes held a glint of doubt. The Lloyd he knew would never put on a magnanimous smile for no reason.

He’s small-hearted. A miser. The worst kind there is.

It was true. Lloyd detested even the smallest of losses. The loss of a single coin or a button vouched for a few days of grumbling. As such, he was the worst kind of miser there was in the entire world.

Yet, he willfully accommodated thousands, tens of thousands of refugees. Did he do so because of the order from the queen? For the long-term prospect of them assimilating here? Sure, maybe. But given Master Lloyd’s personality… There has to be something more.

There was just no way for Lloyd to give up on all his hard work and effort even if the order had come from the queen and was beneficial in the long run. If Javier had to pick one person that was farthest away from being a philanthropist, he would confidently pick Lloyd.

And yet, he’s smiling and chuckling as he savors the gratitude of the refugees? When he’s the nastiest bastard here? No way.

Javier knew best as he closely watched how petty and sly that person was. There was something he wanted for sure. Thinking so, Javier narrowed his eyes and observed him. And later, his prediction became true when Lloyd fished a thick wad of papers from the box he had brought from his office.

“Yes, yes, thank you for gathering up here on your own. So, may I please have your attention? Will you please take a look at the contracts here?”

Flip. Flip. Lloyd waved the contracts toward the refugees, and an evil smile, terrible enough to make even the worst scrooges bashful, bloomed on Lloyd’s face.