Chapter 58: The Devil’s Contract (3)

“Of course, you’ll have to pay a generous monthly water bill with it.”

The viscount’s heart sank heavily but he didn’t know why. To be honest, he didn’t even understand what “water bill” meant. Despite his ignorance, he still had a bad feeling. Nervousness began to creep from the bottom of his heart the moment he heard the word.

The sense of crisis, that pestering feeling that he’s winded up in a bad situation, wriggled inside him. Mustering up the courage, the viscount asked,

“Uhm, I am sorry, but…what is a water bill?”

“Oh, is this your first time hearing it? It is simple. You use the clean water from the water supply, and you pay for its usage in return.”

“So, payment for using the water?” the viscount asked.

“You do understand fast,” said Lloyd.

“Are you placing a tax on water?”

“Yes.”

Lloyd grinned, his smile implying why the viscount was asking such an obvious question.

“From the intake station, the water travels through the clean pipes to arrive at the reservoir of the fiefdom. We provide our clients with a stable supply of the highest quality filtered water. It is so clean and pure that grandfathers can drink it, and grandmothers can wash their faces. And mothers and fathers can make stews, and children can lap around in the water. What do you think? Doesn’t your heart jump in excitement at the thought of it?”

The viscount didn’t say a word. Lloyd chuckled. Yeah. Your heart should definitely jump out.

Lloyd was confident that the viscount’s heart was racing at sixteenth beat per measure at the concept of taxing water usage. You messed with the wrong person. Lloyd’s smile became slightly more vicious.

Just then, the time when he first planned out the water supply came to his mind. It was about the day when he was climbing the eastern range with Javier to survey the site. At first, Lloyd was preoccupied with the thought of overcoming the impending crisis. He comforted himself that he would be able to avoid major damage from the whole crisis if he took this opportunity to come up with a stable water supply system, despite the cost. However, deep down, he was enraged. Creating the water supply was good. It really was. Taking comfort in overcoming the crisis wasn’t enough to satisfy this deep-seated grudge sitting in his heart.

Come hell or high water, I wanted to give this viscount a big, fat middle finger.

The viscount sitting across from him had done terrible things as he demanded the barony to return the Maritz Wetland. He dumped toxic wastewater into the river. When Lloyd raised issues with it, the viscount huffed and acted brazenly. The viscount even blackmailed them. The knight he sent snarled at the baron, saying they would continue dumping toxic wastewater unless half of the Maritz Wetland came back into their possession.

They had no manners and no etiquette. Their actions crossed into being tyrannical.

That’s why I could barely sleep during those times.

Each time he lay down to sleep, gold glittered in front of him. The heated flooring system was continually being constructed and sold to people one by one. Even while he was paying off his interest, he still had some money left in his pocket. That was where the money for the construction came from. Lloyd then stingily saved up what was left of the money.

Thanks to you I had to spend every penny in the end.

Lloyd’s gaze toward the viscount was icy. The emotions, which were still raw, surged once again, making his blood boil. Perhaps it was because of this rage that he found himself clenching his fist when he discovered the limestone bedrock in the valley of the mountain range on the day he and Javier went out for surveying. It was because of that boiling emotion that an exclamation, “This is it!” erupted in his heart.

A small glimpse of the limestone bedrock had been exposed and the water was flowing to one side of the wide valley. When Lloyd realized that this water was upstream of the Prona River that flowed down to the viscounty and barony, his head added everything up at lightning speed. He saw his chance at once. The plan was drawn out. It was no longer a simple construction for a water supply system. It was also a revenge plan to get back at the viscount.

That’s when it started.

Lloyd reset the nature of the water supply construction. It was no longer for the sole purpose of developing the fiefdom. It quite literally turned into a secret weapon to attack the viscount. That was the reason why Lloyd could remain confident.

“Do not worry. There will never be a shortage of water. Why? It’s because, from the moment I prepared to build the water supply system, I designed the size of the water supply pipes and intake station to be large enough to cover your dye workshop.”

Yes. Everything was planned.

“And I already looked into the route where the water supply pipes can be installed, so it will travel from my fiefdom to your workshop. The foundation is very stable. And the slope is enough for me to conveniently determine the velocity of the water in the pipe.”

“What are you saying…?” asked Viscount Lacona.

“It simply means that the survey and design are all completed. Give me the go-ahead, and we can begin construction first thing tomorrow. If we’re fast, it’ll take about fifteen days before you can start receiving clean water for your workshop.”

A nonchalant smile escaped Lloyd but it was the opposite for the viscount. That flushed and trembling expression on the viscount’s face. How much Lloyd had wanted to see it!

“So think about it wisely and consider your current position, viscount. You do not think it is unreasonable to tax water usage, right?”

“That is…”

“Yeah, I know it’s an unfamiliar term, so you might feel a little repelled by it. But, well, you’ll have to give up on your dye workshop and Laconata cloth if you say no.”

The tips of the viscount’s fingers trembled terribly. Lloyd’s smile widened just as much. Javier, watching the two of them, found himself clenching his fists. How terrifying. Javier ran his fingers through his arm to calm the hairs on his arm. Javier was well aware of how much of a twisted man he was and how petty and foul he could be.

But Javier didn’t think he was this evil. I never imagined he was hiding such a plan. The possibility never occurred to him when the water supply system was finished and when Lloyd suddenly suggested going and collecting construction fees. Javier was absolutely in the dark that this would happen. He didn’t understand what was happening. It was still the case when he descended from the mountain range with Lloyd and when he visited the viscount’s manor and requested the impossible audience with the viscount.

I’d thought all along that Master Lloyd meant to blow off some steam.

So he tried to stop his young master. He had adamantly dissuaded Lloyd, arguing that what he was about to do wasn’t reasonable and that it was going to swirl him only into another controversy. But I was wrong. Javier admitted his mistake without a fight. He couldn’t not admit it.

My young master is seriously…shrewd and cunning to the point of perfection, to the point I pity the viscount I have hated all along.

That was his thoughts on the current situation. He revered his young master but pitied the viscount just as much. To be honest, he didn’t hold nice feelings for Viscount Lacona. After all, the man had persecuted his lord.

He felt pity for that very man at the moment. The viscount could not be any more pitiful, sorry, and miserable. Even as Javier was watching the situation unfold, the viscount’s fingertips, lips, and brows were shaking terribly. Truly, the viscount felt like he had become an ant in an ant lion’s pit.

A sense of dread swept over him. I’m trapped. There is no way out of this. Who would have imagined that the bastard was so meticulous? Who would have thought he would be pressured like this? He never imagined this would happen, even in his wildest dreams. No, he didn’t even know how Lloyd came up with such a plan. A water supply system to draw clean water from a distance? Furthermore, Lloyd had even calculated beforehand how much water the dye workshop would need!

That brat planned on sucking my blood dry from the very beginning.

The viscount’s gaze traveled to Lloyd. This young brat was smiling as he looked at him but now, the viscount no longer thought Lloyd was a reckless youngster. Chills ran down his spine each time he looked at the young man. I messed with the wrong person. If he could, the viscount wanted to turn back time to two or three months ago. He wanted to slap himself hard for making the decision to call the workshop supervisor and order him to dump the wastewater into the river. It was too late. There was no way to turn back time and there was only one way to revive his dye workshop.

“I get it.”

At last, Viscount Lacona nodded his head in despair. A corner of Lloyd’s lips curved upward.

“By I get it, you mean…”

“Your offer. I will take it.”

“My offer to install the water supply in your dye workshop?”

“Yes…”

“You made the right choice, viscount.”

As soon as he finished, Lloyd moved and brought out a rolled paper from his embrace and spread it out on the table. The viscount’s eyes trembled.

“What is it?”

“Well, of course. It’s the water supply contract.”

The viscount was at a loss of words. He wondered what kind of schmuck Lloyd was. Once again, he felt another wave of dread wash over him. He couldn’t believe that Lloyd had come with a contract. It seemed to him that Lloyd came prepared and determined to suck him completely dry down to the marrow of his bones. The viscount’s dejected eyes moved as they read through the contract. It was like he was reading a statement declaring his loss in the war. Just then, his eyes shook visibly once again.

“What is this?”

“What is what?

Lloyd asked.

“Here. This part.”

The viscount pointed at the contract, perturbed. His finger was pointing at the part that mentioned the water bill the viscounty was to give to the Frontera family every month.

“Are you sure you put the right number down here?”

“Why? Do you think you are seeing two more zeros than what you think is correct?”

“Yes…” admitted the viscount.

“It appears that there seems to be a mistake…”

“It is the correct number.” Lloyd’s voice was firm.

“The cost on the contract is correct.”

“What…” the viscount trailed.

“Could it be that you think it’s expensive?”

“Well, of course…”

The viscount trailed off again and went back to reading the contract. An absolutely unreasonable price was marked down as the water bill. But it’s just water. The mere act of placing a price on water was flabbergasting enough. But the price itself was so ridiculous that he felt like he was slapped three thousand times across the face. Then, Lloyd started scolding the dazed viscount with an expression of pity.

“Goodness. Do you still think water is free? Even now?”

The viscount stayed silent.

“You thought you could use it all you want because it flows down the course of the river, right? But let me break it to you. It was you who taught our barony the importance of the river water.”

The viscount clamped his mouth shut. The toxic wastewater release he had ordered. His face darkened as he thought about it and Lloyd continued to speak.

“Thanks to you, the entire population in my fiefdom came to a realization that day. We realized that water is not free. It’s a resource that can be destroyed anytime. At times, it’s also something that can be acquired after paying a cost.”

It was true. The majority of the population in his fiefdom had to roll up their sleeves and work for one sip of clean water or one glass of potable water. Even the children helped move rocks to build the temporary reservoir. The heated flooring system construction was completely put to a halt, and all the civil engineering soldiers climbed the eastern mountain range. They cut giant bamboo sticks and shoveled the earth with sweat dripping down their body to build the aqueduct. It was only after that process that the residents in the barony were able to enjoy clean water again. This bone-crushing lesson was that water was, at times, not free. It was time for Lloyd to teach the viscount that lesson.

“Therefore, I cannot understand in the slightest what you mean. How could you think this is expensive? Think about it. Do you not consider the effort of drawing clean water into this place?”

“Do you think the water pipes can be designed and installed in a zap? It requires a tremendous amount of skill and labor. And what about after it is installed? What about management? Who do you think will manage it?”

“Well, that’s…”

“Yes, me. I do it. The Frontera family will be responsible for it. We must make sure that the pipes are sturdy, and without any leaks. Any floating sediments or dirt needs to be managed in the intake station. At times, the old pipes ought to be replaced. Do you think this is a child’s game? Now, can you still say that the water bill is expensive?”

“That’s…”

“Well, then. If you don’t want it.”

The contract on the table was gone. Lloyd quickly rolled the paper back up, and it was making its way back to his embrace when the viscount moved by reflex.

“Hold on!”

Without realizing what he was doing, the viscount held out his hand and clutched Lloyd’s wrist before the contract left his sight. That was when it dawned on him how desperate he made himself look to Lloyd.

“Ahahaha.”

The viscount laughed in awkwardness. Lloyd plastered a bright smile at the viscount and asked, “Did you change your mind?”

“I think I did.”

“Very good. You are a wise man.”

The rolled-up contract was placed on the table again. Lloyd spoke.

“I will make it short. Sign here, here, and right here. Sign your name on these two copies.”

The viscount held up his pen. His face was laden with distress as he dipped his pen in the ink bottle. He was desperately and keenly aware that he was at an impasse.

With a deep sigh, the viscount signed his name. While he was signing the contracts, elation swept over Lloyd, and his heart started to soar. It’s over. We’re now completely free from paying the interest to the loan sharks. Lloyd clenched his fists. His thoughts traveled to the debt the barony owed to the loan sharks. He recalled the devastating amount of interest that needed to be paid every month.

He didn’t need to worry about the interest from now on. The reason was simple. The contract Lloyd had handed to the viscount. The water bill would come in every month.

The bill was the same amount of money as the interest he paid to the loan sharks. In other words, the viscount would be shouldering the interest on behalf of the barony. He had secured an interest-free future. From now on, Lloyd would be able to diligently save money and pay the principal debt!

To be honest, I wanted to engulf the dye workshop of the viscounty or demand them to hand over the technology. The viscount would have never said yes to such an offer.

It went without saying. Such an offer would be rejected and could possibly bring about bigger resistance. In the worst-case scenario, the viscount may not tap into the Royal Court but to the king and send him the petition himself. Lloyd had changed the river water’s composition and ruined their specialty product. There was a massive difference between wanting a water bill in compensation for reviving the workshop and demanding the dye workshop itself. The former bordered on business and the latter bordered on blackmail.

There’s a chance I might get sucked into a scandal if I get greedy. Besides, having the king turn against me would bring greater harm. Politically and realistically, taking this much is enough. Besides, I am stuck with this viscounty as my neighbor.

He was not in a video game, conquering land by warring against his neighboring countries. Using the water bill as an extra large straw into the viscount’s bank account and sucking it dry…This was the best and most realistic outcome Lloyd thought he could get from this deal.

“Do I have to sign here?”

The viscount was almost done writing his signature. Once the viscount signed his name on the area he pointed to, the contract would be finalized. As Lloyd had that thought and was about to reply back…

“Please, hold on a second, lord!”

The door of the reception room was roughly slammed open. A man with a rigid face entered.

He shouted, “You cannot pay out a water bill or whatever to that deceitful punk! So please do not sign the unreasonable contract and drag out this unscrupulous man right now, lord!”

The sincere outcry came out in between his thick beard. He wasn’t big but robust in build.

It was Sir Curno, the senior knight of the viscounty.

Pointing at Lloyd’s side, the knight solemnly yelled, “Lloyd Frontera! Do you still think you will be safe even after you treat the lord with such contempt?!”

This was an unexpected entrance, a disturbance to an almost-finished deal. As such, Lloyd sent a warm gaze to Sir Curno. To respond to his words, Lloyd decided to be sincere. So he said, “Yes.”

At the same time, Lloyd thought to himself that he had forgotten how much of a nuisance this man was and that it wasn’t like him to forget about this prick. And just in time, he waltzes into the room and begs me to deal with him. How nice of him. Lloyd’s smile deepened with a greater sense of reward and satisfaction as he looked at Sir Curno.