Chapter 190: A Greedy Man’s Charity (3)

“That’s how we can earn brownie points from them, right?”

Lloyd’s smile looked evil and happy. Sly and proud. So, Javier thought to himself…

This man is serious.

Lloyd Frontera. The young master he served. The former hooligan, the dreadfully hateful figure. How in the world did he come up with these ideas? How in the world did he behave like this without a second of hesitation? Javier was genuinely curious. Entranced by the existence of human beings, he lifted his head and stared at everyone gathered in the plaza in the middle of the night. They were the people of Kandara.

“Okay! Line up! Line up here! Don’t forget to bring a bucket or basin with you!”

A long line of people extended in front of Lloyd, and he loudly yelled at them, leading the groggy, half-asleep, and yawning individuals into a line. He quickly guided those glancing around in wonder. Afterward, Lloyd distributed water in the order they were in.

“So, Hamang,” called Lloyd.

“Humung!” said Hamang, keeping his mouth tight shut lest water spilled out of it.

“You know what to do, right? Spit out a little at a time so it doesn’t overflow.”

“Humu-mung! The 36-foot giant water balloon, no, Hamang responded and obeyed Lloyd’s instruction.

“One bucket!”

“Humung!”

Splash! Hamang spat water out through the straw in his mouth. The water came from melting the permanent snow at the peak of a mountain range dozens of miles away. The top-quality, pure, and pristine water started filling the bucket in no time. Lloyd’s white teeth were exposed as he grinned wide.

“Now then, may this help you get through the day!” encouraged Lloyd.

“Oh? Okay…”

A citizen wearing a confused look walked off, lugging the bucket away. But he continued to look back as if he couldn’t shake off the dismay in him. He gave a look at Lloyd, who was smiling nonchalantly. And then, he looked at Hamang, who was as big as a mountain. He finally stared at the clean water splashing in his bucket. What kind of luck is this? The man wondered as he cocked his head. Carrying the water that would last more than a day, he trudged back home. Most of the citizens had a similar reaction. Meanwhile, a big and prideful smile appeared on Lloyd’s mouth.

Good. This is really good. This is how we do charity. By making it completely public!

It was really the case. He needed to make it blatant. Doing the opposite would only cause trouble.

Anonymous charity? Then people really won’t know of it.

One can volunteer his butt off, sure. But what’s the point if nobody knows it? There’s no reward if no one knows of one’s good works. That was something Lloyd desperately wanted to avoid.

After all, I’m no hero.

There were many respectable, great men and women in this world, particularly those who did good deeds behind everyone’s back. They didn’t receive any rewards or anything similar. They were willing to work and suffer without any recognition. Making someone happy through their act of goodness. That alone was the goal of their sincere charity, and those types of people were thick on the ground in the world. However, Lloyd? He was different.

I’m not that kind of a person. I’m just not cut out for it.

He was different. He wasn’t that amazing and didn’t dare wish for it. Moreover, unlike such women and men of exemplary character, Lloyd clearly wanted something in return. In other words, his kindness came with strings attached.

I’m doing all of this hoping I’d get something. Like, for example, the people’s cooperation.

Lloyd looked at the people receiving the water, and he could see that they were swelled with surprise and dismay. Even still, their gaze remained cold. There remained the same sense of alarm. A doubt of sorts that ascertained this man wanted something in return. Such a distrustful sentiment seemed to linger in their gaze. And so…

I have to change that perception. Break down their walls and make them like me. That’s the core of the construction project.

Qanat. The facility he had boasted to the sultan to build. But the process to create one was not simple.

The distance is too far.

Lloyd made a recollection of the mountain range he had gone to in the afternoon. The distance reached over 22 miles. That distance in South Korea was equivalent to the travel between Seoul Station and Munsan county in Paju city. From the center of Seoul to the areas near the Military Demarcation Line. Make that horizontal, and the 22 miles would cover the far corner of Gangdong-gu to the Gangseo-gu beyond the Gimpo international airport. Southward, one can reach Suwon from Seoul station. In short, it was a tremendous distance.

That’s why I can’t just go and start constructing. That would take me more than a year to finish everything.

And even that was only if Bangul, the high-functioning excavating machine, and Javier were utilized for the project. But it was not what Lloyd wanted.

Nope. Nuh-uh. That can’t happen. I’m not going to rot here for an entire year! Not a chance.

What was more, this place wasn’t his fiefdom. Building up someone else’s neighborhood to open up a negotiation with the sultan wasn’t enough of a reward for Lloyd to waste a year of his precious life here.

The novel said that there are many caves here and there beneath.

Lloyd recalled the story in the novel. It mentioned that the Kandahar region held caves under the ground woven so intricately. It wasn’t a natural one. About 1,000 years ago, the monks who came to hide in this region away from religious oppression dug the caves, their work lasting more than 100 years. And so, three generations of monks lived as recluses, shunned away from the sun.

So, the caves are said to have remained to this day. Thanks to that, the protesters against the sultan used it as their hideout.

Lloyd planned on using the caves because it would be much more convenient for him to connect the existing caves than to dig fresh ones in the ground.

I won’t be able to connect them in a straight line. But finding the most efficient route will be enough. A route that ensures the shortest travel time even if the caves are divided into dozens of independent paths. A route that ensures the least excavation distance and that will direct the water without any spillages or leaks.

Lloyd just had to find them. Only after then could he start surveying and designing. Moreover, there was one more advantage to utilizing the existing cave beside the reduced construction period and effort.

Since the caves are dug underground, they are naturally waterproof. In other words, it’s set up so the water won’t leak into the ground.

The crux of the Qanat project was making sure that the underground water did not seep into the earth. That way, the water drawn from the mountain range would not be contaminated. So, using the cave that was already waterproof would give him one less issue to think about. And the work and time necessary for the construction would be reduced just as much.

That’s why I kept observing the ground as I surveyed. But…

Lloyd couldn’t find anything. He used his Subterranean Scanning option until his eyes grew bloodshot but failed. What it meant was clear.

It means that the caves the monks dug are located much lower than 16 feet underground.

His Subterranean Scanning skill came with a limit. He could only look up to 16 feet underground. Any further down was impossible.

And it’s not like I can dig all day looking for it.

That was too inefficient. It was so even if there were multiple caves. And even if he came across one cave out of luck, he would have to search for dozens more scattered throughout the ground.

I might as well spend a year making a new cave than resort to that.

It was too inefficient. And it wasn’t something he wanted for himself either.

So, I’m only left with this option.

Lloyd made a decision. The residents had to lower their guards. He had to be favored and earn their trust. Since these people were the locals of this city and since some among them were already planning a coup, Lloyd could inquire about the locations of the caves all spread out in various places as long as he could earn their trust. With such a goal in mind, Lloyd knuckled down loudly advertising his kind acts. Once the water distribution was finished, Lloyd called for Ppodong.

“Okay, from here to here. Dig it for me,” Lloyd instructed.

“Ppodong!”

Swish! Swish! Swish! Ppodong dug a square in the ground and thoroughly laid down the flat stones like tiles. Then Lloyd poured the rest of the water there.

“Hamang? You know what to do.”

“Humu-mung!” Blergh! Hamang spat out the rest of the water, and it soon filled up the hole Ppodong and Lloyd worked on a moment ago. It was a temporary water storage reservoir.

“Okay, time to build the awning so the water doesn’t evaporate in the afternoon.”

Lloyd put up the pillars around the station and covered them with a large cloth, constructing a temporary awning that would shun the water from the scorching sun.

“Whew.”

Once it was over, the morning sun was rising. But Lloyd didn’t stop there.

“What is that?”

“A sign.”

Lloyd grinned at Javier’s question and stuck the sign in front of the reservoir. The following words were written on the sign.

[This temporary storage reservoir has been constructed by Lloyd Frontera for the people of the city of Kandara. The water is to be used by anyone for free. Moving forward, more water will be drawn every night and stored in here.]

“…”

Javier’s eyes continued to move as he read the writing. Then he noticed additional sentences that were written in smaller fonts.

[Lloyd Frontera treads the path of suffering and tribulation to the distant mountain range for clean water, skipping sleep every night. Only for the people of Kandara! His feet are swollen! His body is fatigued! Fever and chills assail him! The burden placed on him may try to knock him cold, but he doesn’t want a thing in return. He does this solely with your happiness and well-being in mind. With an angelic heart, Lloyd Frontera takes another step to bring water to you all today.]

“…”

Angelic heart? He is fatigued? Javier stared hard at Lloyd, who scoffed visibly.

“What? Why? What?”

“…”

“Why are you squinting your eyes like that?” Lloyd demanded to know.

“I think you are too shameless, Master Lloyd.”

“Me? Shameless?”

“Yes.”

“How?” huffed Lloyd.

“In all honesty, Master Lloyd, weren’t you able to draw the water without lifting a finger?”

“What are you saying?”

“The truth. Sir Hamang enthusiastically drank up the water and rolled over here.”

“…”

“Whereas you, Master Lloyd, comfortably sat on Sir Ggoming’s back while he flew around.”

“Ahem…! Hmm! Hmm! That’s what marketing is,” said Lloyd, forcing his voice.

“Marketing?”

“Indeed. That’s exactly right.”

Lloyd flashed a smile that was likened to the one unconscientious employers usually wear.

“A marketing to draw a beautiful result. It’s like a wrapper. Do you think people care about the truth? Never. They only care about the clean water they can enjoy. Who do you think is concerned with where I got the water and how?”

“You mean,” said Javier, “to say that you are willing to exaggerate and lie to draw the result of your desire.”

“But it’s not like I’m cheating anyone in the distribution process, right?”

It was true. The water was pristine. He just slightly exaggerated the process of drawing that very water. Nothing more. The water was the cleanest, finest water melted from the permanent snow line in the mountain peak. It would become a precious source of life for everyone suffering from the drought.

“You know it, too, right? There are many shameless employers who mess with their workers’ livelihoods. Compared to them, I’m an angel. I didn’t lie about where the water came from. I didn’t add any extra ingredients. Moreover, it’s free. Ha! It’ll be hard to find anyone as generous as me out there. Don’t you think so?” insisted Lloyd.

“…”

Javier clamped his mouth shut. What Lloyd was saying was all true and correct, but since they were coming out of Lloyd’s mouth, Javier hated him more for it. Just like that, Lloyd planted the sign full of exaggeration and lies in front of the storage reservoir. But he didn’t stop there.

“All right, let’s go.”

“What?”

“Don’t cock your head. It’s time to advertise,” said Lloyd.

“…”

Advertise? What? Javier followed Lloyd with a dazed feeling, and the sunny morning street welcomed them. From then on, Javier was able to see Lloyd’s true colors.

“My! Hello, sir! How are you?” suddenly greeted Lloyd as he stopped in front of an elderly man.

“Huh? Excuse me?”

“Do you not remember who I am?” Lloyd asked, plastering a big smile on his face and ignoring the confused look of the man, who was just walking down the street.

Evidently flustered, the man replied, “You are, of course-”

“My name is Lloyd Frontera. Do you remember me, sir? Did you not see me yesterday morning?” imposed Lloyd.

“Th-that’s-”

“Yes, yes,” said Lloyd jovially. “I remember you as well, of course. You were the 23rd person to receive water from me. Let’s see, aha! I am right. Night or morning, you look dashing, sir. Tell me, how was the water you received? Did you like it?”

“Uh, yes, of course-”

“Oh, you did!” exclaimed Lloyd, cutting in. “That is a relief! Thank you!”

“Wait, I…”

“The water wasn’t too cold or hot?”

“Of course-”

“Thankfully, the temperature seems to have been perfect as well. My, my, what a relief. Thank you!”

After handshaking the elderly man with both hands, Lloyd bowed like a well-oiled hinge and a smooth folder phone. His torso was curved at an acute angle. Just like that, he greeted the nameless elderly folks one by one while relentlessly stressing the good deeds he did the previous night.

“Have a nice day, sir!”

“O-okay…”

One of the dismayed and troubled elderly men hurried off, but Lloyd didn’t care. He was still unabashed.

I have to be more shameless.

It was all or nothing. He had to definitively show that he was on their side. And so, Lloyd became the friendliest guy in town, much like politicians campaigning before an election. Of course, his good deeds continued. He drew water from the mountain range every night, filling up the temporary water reservoir. In the afternoon, he promoted his kind work as he greeted people around. And when his sacrificial campaigning reached the 15th day, at last, there came the first sign of change in the villagers’ attitudes toward Lloyd.