Chapter 56: The Devil’s Contract (1)
“Let’s go collect the construction fee now.”
“Excuse me?”
Javier stared at Lloyd, feeling bemused.
Construction fee? Collect what?
Javier didn’t know the nonsense he was hearing out of the blue.
“I am not sure what you mean.”
He couldn’t wrap his head around this. Instead of answering, his young master simply scoffed.
“Don’t you know what a construction fee is?”
“Of course, I know.”
Construction fee referred to the money used for construction. It referred to the overall expenditure for the construction, including the cost of the supplies, equipment, labor, and facility management. So Javier thought it was strange.
“Who will you collect it from?”
He tried to guess from whom the money would be collected but no one in particular came to his mind. The water supply system wasn’t commissioned by a paying customer. It was started voluntarily to overcome the river contamination crisis and establish a safe system for acquiring clean water. Just like how people replaced old and shabby windows and repaired weakened roofs, this construction was initiated by necessity in the fiefdom. Therefore, there was no party to milk money out of. Javier slightly furrowed his brows.
“Are you planning on demanding a construction fee from Viscount Lacona as a form of compensation?” asked Javier, tossing the question that seemed likely.
“Hm? No, I’m not,” said Lloyd.
His young master then curled one corner of his lips and continued, which only confused Javier all the more.
“Compensation? How could you say that? Do you think we’ll be able to make ends meet with that?”
“Excuse me…?”
“Something better and more abundant than that awaits us. So just be quiet and follow me. Hey, you.”
Lloyd scoffed and then called Sir Bayern, who was cleaning up the construction site.
“You called for me, Master Lloyd?” answered Sir Bayern.
“Yes, I did. I need you to run some errands.”
“I’m at your service.”
“Okay, let’s see. First, Sir Asrahan and I will be off somewhere. So please take charge of wrapping everything up. Make sure all the workers and tools are in the right place. Get rid of all the food waste. We want this place cleaned up. Otherwise, it’s going to attract wild animals around here.”
“I understand,” replied Sir Bayern.
“Does that mean you will be missing the construction completion ceremony?”
“Why would you say that? Of course, I’ll be at the town celebration.”
“Then…”
“Tell the baron that I’ll be back soon. I already told him where I’m going in advance.”
“Yes.”
“Oh, and one more thing,” said Lloyd, turning back to Sir Bayern.
“Yes?”
“Tell him not to pop the champagne without me.”
“I will keep that in mind. Have a safe trip.”
Sir Bayern bowed and paid his respect. Accepting his farewell, Lloyd turned to Javier and said, “Alright, let’s go.”
Javier followed behind Lloyd without saying anything. He still had his grimace on his face even when he descended from the mountain. What in the world is he up to? The direction Lloyd was heading most definitely didn’t lead to the fiefdom. This path takes us to the Lacona viscounty. He was familiar as he had taken this road a few times and so, greater curiosity and nervousness washed over Javier.
“Master Lloyd,” Javier spoke as he walked behind Lloyd.
Lloyd didn’t stop despite his name being called. He replied as he kept walking down.
“Yeah, I’m listening.”
“Are you really going to the viscounty?”
“Yes,” Lloyd replied.
“Are you by any chance planning on meeting Viscount Lacona?”
“Yes.”
“What do you plan to do once you meet him?”
“Why? Are you worried that I’ll make a scene?”
Indeed, that was his greatest concern.
Javier collected his thoughts for some seconds before speaking.
“To be honest, I understand you, Master Lloyd.”
“Oh? Do you understand me? That’s rare. We’re off to a good start. Continue.”
“Yes, Viscount Lacona is obviously in the wrong for dumping the toxic water in the river. Blackmailing the lord afterward was extremely petty and unscrupulous of him. His actions led us to spend an unexpected amount of funds and labor on building the water supply system. That is the truth, without a doubt. However…”
Javier paused for a second before continuing.
“It is my personal opinion that sometimes we must hold back and be content with the fact that we avoided such harm.”
“Hmm, are you suggesting that I must be a man of great patience?” asked Lloyd.
“No. I am suggesting that you make an objective and realistic judgment.”
“Objective? Realistic?”
“Yes.”
Javier’s voice sounded more forceful this time. Staring at Lloyd’s back still ahead of him, Javier said, “Yes, we can meet Viscount Lacona once we arrive at the viscounty and we can raise issues with the dirty tricks he pulled. What would we gain by doing so?”
Lloyd kept listening in silence.
“Nitpicking our opponent’s wrongdoings and raising issues with it…Thinking objectively for a second would prove that it is worthless, and we would gain nothing except emotional satisfaction. What’s more, it would stir unnecessary disputes.”
“Right, now that you mention it, it does seem like that,” replied Lloyd.
“So, are you willing to change your mind now?”
“No,” Lloyd flatly answered and continued to walk ahead.
Javier caught a slight tremble in Lloyd’s shoulders. He must have laughed for a moment.
Surely, when Lloyd replied back, Javier noticed a wry smile on Lloyd.
“Hey, Javier Asrahan. Do you think that I’ll push ahead with something that doesn’t benefit me?”
“Excuse me?”
Javier’s voice contained a little bit of surprise.
“Tell me, do I look like that person?”
“May I be frank?”
“Yes.”
“The Master Lloyd I know is a petty, vindictive, and small-minded tight-ass who never lets himself be in a position of loss,” declared Javier.
“Wow.”
“That is why I believe that this way of blowing off your steam is not like you. Please behave like you usually do.”
“Ha!” huffed Lloyd.
“Is that what it looks like to you? Blowing off some steam?”
“Then…”
“Just be quiet and watch me.”
Javier clamped his mouth shut. He had somewhat zealously given the advice to dissuade his young master. However, Lloyd didn’t take it. Javier thought that saying something more now would simply be crossing the line. I guess he’s going to let his emotion take control and throw it against the wind. They would soon arrive at the viscounty.
Even if Lloyd sat down with the viscount, what would he gain? Javier wondered to himself.
What good was there even if he eloquently went over the viscount’s wrongdoings one after another? Be it the compensation or construction fee… The viscount would never give a penny to them. After all, the viscount had no reason, cause, or necessity to do that.
Thinking such, the silver-haired knight followed Lloyd without a word. About three or four hours later, they got down from the mountain. No conversation took place in between.
They finally arrived at the viscounty. A savory smell permeated the village. It was the smell of dinner getting ready. Lloyd and Javier walked past two villages as they indulged in the savory smell of the food and arrived in front of the viscount manor.
“Stop.”
“The visitors must reveal their status and name.”
The two gatekeepers stopped them at the gate but Javier didn’t have the chance to say anything because Lloyd spoke first.
“I am Lloyd Frontera, the official successor to the Frontera barony, the neighboring fiefdom of yours. Relay back that I am here to meet Viscount Lacona.”
“Is this an official request for an audience with the viscount?” one of them asked.
“Yes.”
Lloyd’s confident tone and attitude softened the soldiers. One of them stayed at the gate to protect it while the other one ran into the manor to relay the message. A short wait ensued.
During this time, Javier internally said, It’ll get rejected. A request for an audience with the viscount. It was a reach and much too reckless at the same time. Normally, one would visit a noble after contacting them in advance about the nature of the meeting, and only then would the meeting be permitted after it was properly scheduled. It was rare for anyone to appear in front of the gate out of the blue without any prior message. It was also considered ill-mannered among the nobles. So even if they got rejected, they weren’t in a position to complain. Actually, it’s obvious that he’ll get rejected…
“The viscount has agreed to meet you.”
What? Javier’s eyebrow twitched. Why did he not reject it? Of course, it was good that the viscount didn’t. It was just beyond him how the request for an unplanned meeting didn’t fall through. It didn’t make any sense but that very senseless event was taking place at the moment. What was more, the person who came to escort him and Lloyd looked like the viscounty administrator. How? Why? Countless questions floated in Javier’s head as they entered the manor even after the administrator guided them to walk through the hallway.
The incomprehensible situation continued even after that. They were now at the end of a hallway.
“The eldest son of the Frontera family, Lloyd Frontera, has arrived,” reported the administrator in front of the reception room.
“Let him in.”
And the voice that came from inside belonged to the viscount.
Javier’s eyebrow twitched once more. The viscount is already in the room waiting for us?
This was another incomprehensible turn of events. We are uninvited guests who came without any warning. Yet, the viscount not only accepted our request but is waiting for us in the reception room? The door opened, and the viscount was sitting in a chair inside as he stroked his goatee. Something was off about the viscount’s gaze and attitude toward them.
“Haha. It’s been a while, my friends.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Come and take your seats.”
“Thank you.”
The viscount was glowering their way, at Lloyd to be exact, with a murderous look in his eyes.
His gaze resembled a spiteful viper but it looked like the viscount was forcibly repressing his venomous spite for some reason. On the other hand, Lloyd was…
“I do not know how to thank you for welcoming us with open arms.”
Javier was terribly flustered whereas Lloyd was relaxed and in control. He was full of confidence and so, Javier was thrown into great confusion. What on earth is happening right now? This situation was poles apart from what he had in mind. Surely, Master Lloyd should be angry, and Viscount Lacona should be relaxed in this situation. That was only natural. Lloyd was supposed to be here to complain about what Viscount Lacona had done. Viscount Lacona was supposed to jeer at Lloyd for doing so.
The tables were turned for some strange reason. Lloyd was brimming with confidence.
Viscount Lacona was fuming with anger. This was truly and sincerely strange. What is happening? Something was going on. Something he didn’t know.
Thinking that to himself, Javier’s eyes sharpened, and he tried to understand the connection between the two men. While Javier was deep in thought, Lloyd and Viscount Lacona continued their strange meeting.
“By the way, Viscount Lacona,” called Lloyd.
“What is it?”
“Do you have any concerns these days?”
“There is nothing of the sort,” replied the viscount.
“Are you sure?” pressed Lloyd once more.
“Of course.”
“Doesn’t the whole world grow black, or don’t you feel terribly nauseated when you wake up in the morning?”
“Not at all. There is nothing wrong with my health.”
“Hmm…What I just asked are the symptoms of extreme mental stress.”
“What is there for me to be concerned about?” The viscount shifted in his seat.
“Are you sure? Really?”
“Why are you harping on something so obvious?” The viscount’s eyes narrowed.
“Can I not ask?”
The viscount glared at Lloyd. Lloyd shrugged.
“I already know everything. Be honest with me.”
“Be honest? With what?”
“Aren’t you desperate now, regardless?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” the viscount said.
“Haha. There is something urgent that’s desperately in need of a solution, but you are absolutely in the dark about its cause. But at the back of your mind, you have someone you suspect. That’s why you are here to meet me. Am I wrong?” said Lloyd in a casual tone.
“What do you…”
“I am saying that you want to confirm something with me.”
The viscount shut his mouth. The corners of Lloyd’s lips rolled upward.
“That is the thing with concerns. They are hard to share with others but drive you mad with frustration if you keep them to yourself. Am I wrong?”
“I am never…”
“Come on. Lay down your shitty pride.”
“I do not know what it is that you want to say,” denied the viscount.
“What I’m about to tell you will sound very familiar to you.”
The viscount didn’t reply.
“I know that your heart drops each time I keep speaking like this because you have a feeling that your agonizing fears will be confirmed. Now you know for sure that I am the source of the incident that tortures you to this day. Am I wrong?”
Silence.
“Are you still going to not talk?”
Silence again.
“Just accept it now, and give up. Think about it. Your efforts may betray you, but giving up will never fail,” pressed Lloyd.
“What kind of gibberish are you sp…”
“I can’t believe that you’re still trying to keep your pride even at this point. Nothing will be solved like this. It’s time to negotiate. That’s why I’m here to relieve your burden. Think about it. There is no kinder neighbor than me.”
“I never consider you my…”
Cutting in once more, Lloyd said, “Your dye workshop has been going terribly, hasn’t it?”
Lloyd then tossed a harmless question, flashing a smile as he said it. At that moment, Javier saw very clearly. He saw the way the viscount’s face turned red. The way his goatee trembled. How his glare grew bloodshot. Silence. Sometime later, the viscount asked back, growling as he gritted his teeth. “I knew it was you.”