Chapter 164: A City on a Cliff (2)
“You must be Lloyd Frontera. My, how unjust the rumors are as I behold you with my own eyes! Not a single rumor mentioned your dashing good looks. Hahaha!”
Here we go again…
Lloyd sighed lightly and lifted his gaze to find an older man striding across the flashy reception room of the manor. He was Count Namaran, whose appearance was likened to Santa Claus. The man walked over to them and tapped Javier’s shoulder with a look of satisfaction.
“I hope the journey here wasn’t too harsh,” the count said.
“It was not unbearable.” It was Javier who spoke.
“I see. Come over here and take a seat. Haha. How dashing you look. I can never get over it.”
The count’s smile deepened as he looked at Javier. The mere sight of the exchange forced Lloyd to put on a bitter smile.
Ha. What should I do? Correct him and say that I am the real Lloyd Frontera?
Lloyd shook his head.
No, I feel like that’ll make me even more miserable.
His nostrils flared twice, left and right each. Just then, to his relief, Lady Namaran stepped forward.
“Um, father?” she said.
“Hmm?”
“Actually, this man is…”
She pointed at Lloyd with a slightly flustered look, and it was only then that Count Namaran’s gaze moved to Lloyd’s side. He tilted his head to the side.
“Him?” the count asked, and with a look of realization, he then said, “Oh, oh! You must be the guard knight of Lloyd Frontera. The rumors told me that his guard knight, who is a sword master and goes by Javier Asrahan, looks like a sculpture crafted by the gods. And you… You definitely are not Sir Asrahan based on your looks.”
The count then turned to Javier and continued.
“I suppose you did not bring Sir Asrahan with you this time. It was my wish to meet the kingdom’s rising star and sword master. How unfortunate,” the count clucked his tongue in regret.
The bitterness of life once again rushed through Lloyd, and Lady Namaran, this time terribly more flustered, spoke.
“Um, father. This is the young master. Lloyd Frontera.” She then pointed at Lloyd Frontera awkwardly.
“Hmm?”
“This is Lloyd Frontera…” she murmured.
“…”
The count froze. Three seconds of silence followed in the room. His white beard twitched.
“This man?” the count gasped.
“Yes, father,” Lady Namaran answered.
“This is Lloyd Frontera?”
“Yes, father.”
“Then, who is he?”
“That is Sir Javier Asrahan,” she replied.
“The sword master?” asked the count again.
“Yes.”
“Ehem! Ehem! But, no matter how hard I look, that man looks nobler than him.”
“Oh, father…” she pleaded softly. “Even though we both cannot deny the fact that Sir Asrahan looks more refined and noble than Lord Frontera, how could you say that out loud…”
Lloyd wanted to give up and go home immediately. His breathing grew heavy as he felt the wretchedness of lookism. But he needed to remain calm at times like these.
“It is an honor to meet you,” said Lloyd pretending to not hear what they just said. “My name is Lloyd Frontera.”
Lloyd introduced himself as the chance to present himself finally appeared. Count Namaran let out an embarrassed chuckle.
“My… Do excuse my impertinence.”
“It’s fine, Your Excellency. I’ve had similar experiences before.”
“Is that so?” the count replied, “I knew it.”
I knew it, my ass!
Lloyd yelled internally, thinking about how the pair of father and daughter loved to verbally jab him. But strangely, Lloyd wasn’t offended. He felt rather sorry for the innocently smiling count as he remembered the scene he saw on his way here.
The count is completely oblivious to the fact that his city is entrenched with powers that aim to ruin this place.
Cannavaro. The man Lloyd met a while ago. The man behind the Namaran incident in the novel. On top of that, something else caught Lloyd by surprise.
I never imagined Cannavaro would use that symbol.
The grim reaper with a black dragon head. This symbol was found in the burial site of the undead Mastodons, and Lloyd presumed it was used by the necromancer responsible for it. Moreover, this symbol was used in The Knight of Blood and Iron after Queen Magentano started her terrorizing reign. And here was Cannavaro, using that symbol. What it entailed was crystal clear.
He has deep connections with the necromancer that buried the undead Mastodons near my fiefdom. Or he’s the same person.
Something was brewing here, and it was serious. Lloyd considered that whatever this was, it was developing into something big. So he must delve into it someday. With that conclusion in mind, Lloyd lifted his gaze to focus on his business with Count Namaran. Then, putting a salesman smile on his face, Lloyd got ready to throw the eloquent pitch he had prepared.
“Count Naraman,” Lloyd said, “it is my honor to be your acquaintance. Moreover, it is a greater honor for me to extend my hands to solve the long-standing problem that plagues your city.”
“Hmm? What do you mean by that?” the count said.
Count Namaran cocked his head to the side, and he asked, “A long-standing problem? Tell me, you aren’t talking about my daughter’s inability to find a husband, are you?”
“No, Your Excellency. I mean the problem relating to the collapsing cliff.”
“Cliff?” asked the count.
“Yes.”
“But what about marriage?”
“Oh, that’s…” Lloyd murmured.
“Wait, are you here not to accept the marriage proposal but to repair the cliff of my city?”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
Lloyd realized that the count was misunderstood once more. Smoldering his wry smile, Lloyd spoke.
“Please forgive me for saying this, but your daughter is much too good for me. I am sure that she will meet someone better.”
“Ehem…” the count said, “But still, I cannot say that I am not disappointed.”
“I am sorry, Your Excellency. But if I may change your perspective, your daughter can get married later in the future, but that is not true for the cliff. Once it collapses further, it cannot be undone.”
“Is that so?” the count asked.
“Yes, Your Excellency. I think so.”
“What a silver tongue you have.”
“Thank you,” he said.
“And brazen.”
“Please forgive me,” Lloyd replied.
“So, you came here to fix the cliff that is crumbling at the moment?” the count summarized.
“That is perfectly correct.”
Thankfully, Count Namaran seemed to be a realistic man. From then onward, he never mentioned the matter of marriage; instead, he looked grave and professional.
“I am well aware of your reputation as an engineer,” the count continued, “as I often heard of the rumors. That is, about your accomplishment in Cremo and the royal palace. But do know that I tried my best to solve the problem, calling renowned engineers across the kingdom. But they all failed. Yet, you are confident?”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
Lloyd didn’t feel the need to talk at length. He simply went on to speak what he wanted to say.
“You just need to provide the necessary funds and labor while I supervise the construction. But in the case that the construction fails or a serious defect is found, I will pay you a penalty fee that we agree upon in advance.”
“Penalty fee?” asked the count.
“Yes, Your Excellency. Will you look at this first?”
Lloyd fished a document out of his pocket. The count lifted his brow a little.
“What is this?”
“It is a construction contract.”
Lloyd had it made a day before leaving his fiefdom. He pointed to several points in the contact.
“As you can see,” Lloyd said, “Your Excellency will be entrusting me with the authority and responsibility of construction to me. I will be a supervisor that oversees and provides technical support in the process of surveying, designing, and constructing the project. In return, I will be paid a small fee after the construction ends successfully.”
“Hmm… The price is… considerable,” the count commented.
“No one can do it but me, after all.”
“And you are confident.”
“I say this is a rather inexpensive investment given that you will be stabilizing the city’s foundation for good.”
“But what is this item over here? Long-term maintenance fee?”
“Oh, that refers to the cost of maintaining the facility once the construction is over.”
“Does this mean I will pay you this fee every quarter?”
“Yes, Your Excellency,” replied Lloyd, “Continuous maintenance is a must even after a successful construction.”
“Hmm… This looks like…”
Count Namaran stroked his beard, gazing at Lloyd with suspicious eyes.
“Is this your scheme to squeeze money out of us over the years? You are quite a greedy man, aren’t you?”
“I am only receiving proper payment for my job. And that is also why the item regarding the penalty fee is included,” replied Lloyd.
“Yes, penalty,” mused the count. “I was curious about that. Let us see.”
Count Namaran read down the bottom of the contract with his gaze. Then, he nodded.
“I like this part,” he said.
“Do you, Your Excellency?”
“You will pay three times the construction fee if the project fails or a major defect is discovered. Are you sure this is doable?” asked the count.
“Yes, after all, it’s a contract.”
“Is that why you are writing this document?”
“This way, we can at least form some trust between us.”
Lloyd grinned. A contract was precisely that. It was the device that guaranteed minimal trust between the two parties. That was Lloyd’s take on contracts.
We’re turning our promises into permanent evidence. It’s more problematic if we don’t have a contract.
The one who got in trouble without it was the employees. Things turned against them, and there was a far, far higher chance for them to get harmed. Lloyd’s life in South Korea was proof of it.
When was it? Was it the time I had gone to Pohang for work?
Lloyd recalled the time he frequented the construction sites for work. One day, he received a call from a superintendent who used to favor him very much, saying that there was this two-week project in Pohang and that food and lodging would be provided. But he’d be working until late at night, and it would be lucrative. Lloyd gave a yes as soon as he heard it. And just like that, he headed to Pohang and got to work right after a safety education. But in the process, Lloyd committed a grave mistake.
I didn’t write a work contract. They told me that we can write it later after the project since everyone’s super busy at the moment.
Lloyd just let it slide, not thinking twice about it and fearing that his supervisors wouldn’t like his rigid attitude when it could be written at any time in the future. He hated the idea of standing out from the rest, so he agreed and got to work immediately. But that turned out to be a fatal mistake.
Eventually, my payments got delayed and delayed until I received only half of my money.
They said that payments would come the next day. The next month. They gave all sorts of pretenses that this wasn’t what they wanted. There was an emotional exchange of excuses and yelling. Eventually, only the team managers and the supervisors who issued the payment bill as a re-subcontract agreement received the money, while the rest was left uncompensated. As a result, Lloyd went back to Seoul, emotionally and physically tattered. He financially struggled for the next month and laid low as he couldn’t even pay his rent. That painful experience taught Lloyd one thing.
Contracts must be signed. Even if the sky collapses and the earth explodes.
That was how he could keep everything neat and organized after a project. Everyone, the contractor and service provider, stayed happy and peaceful when a contract was signed. Just like that, Count Namaran and Lloyd signed a contract.
“Thank you, Your Excellency,” said Lloyd. “So, as per the contract, please prepare the funds, resources, and labor for the construction.”
“How much should I prepare?” asked the count.
“I will come up with the plan and schedule soon. Once things materialize somewhat, I will let you know separately.”
“Haha. You are a thorough man.”
“I try my best.”
Lloyd bowed courteously at the count and left the room. When he arrived at the visitors’ quarter, where he would spend a while, he started unpacking and stared at Javier.
“Hey.”
“Another job for me?” asked Javier.
“You have become quick-witted.”
“I always have,” blurted Javier, who was bringing out his personal toothbrush, towel, and other items as he stood across from Lloyd. “Normally, you call me for one of two purposes.”
“What would those be?”
“To joke around or to give me a special order.”
“And you felt it was the latter this time?” asked Lloyd.
“Yes.” Javier nodded. “Your left nostril isn’t flaring right now.”
“What?” asked Lloyd in disbelief.
Hold on, Lloyd said to himself as he wondered what this was about. He was in a daze when Javier replied back.
“Did you not know? You always flare your left nostril when you make a corny joke. Every time. Without fail.”
“…”
“When you do that, it reveals your nose hair very well,” added Javier.
“Y-you’re lying.”
“It does not matter whether you believe it or not. It is the truth.”
“…”
Lloyd suddenly felt lost, completely defeated by the sudden blow to his stomach. But since there was something more urgent to be dealt with first, he decided to play cool even though he was having a mental breakdown inside.
“All right. Let’s just say that you’re right. But do what I tell you to do first.”
“What job is it?” asked Javier.
“Do you remember Cannavaro? The guy at the soup kitchen in the plaza.”
“Yes,” said Javier, “Do you want me to do a background check on him?”
“How did you know?” asked Lloyd in surprise.
“I saw it too. The small symbol embroidered on his shoulder.”
“Then, I suppose I can save my explanation.”
“Of course. However…” paused Javier.
“But what?”
“In my honesty, I do not like the idea of looking into a man behind his back.”
Javier slightly furrowed his brows as he spoke.
“It does not befit my status or principles as a knight,” he said, “But I am simply following your order as I also think that the symbol is closely related to our fiefdom’s safety. Please do not forget this part.”
“So, you’re telling me that you are chary of doing this but feel the need to investigate that symbol, yeah?” asked Lloyd.
“That is right.”
“Then, off you go.”
“…”
Though Javier had expressed his distaste, he didn’t add anything.
“I will be back.”
Javier left the room after a sigh with a sword in his belt. Once he was gone, Lloyd went out to the city by himself, taking a closer look at the city walls and the foundation of the surrounding. That alone took up a whole day. At last, when the night wore on, Javier returned to his room. It was past midnight with unfamiliar constellations adorning the night.
“Master Lloyd, I have something I must tell you.”
Seeing him, Lloyd wondered what could possibly Javier have seen in the last few hours that he should gaze at him so gravely. Javier, with a forbidding look on his face, spoke.