Chapter 143
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Translator: Prime Works
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: Unexpected Synergy Effect (2)
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Diego Racona.
Son of Viscount Racona.
He had once been a young man with some real promise.
Not a genius, but sharp enough.
His large frame gave him exceptional strength.
He even had considerable talent with the sword.
Sir Kurono, the territory's knight, had praised him multiple times.
He had grown up basking in those expectations from a young age.
He had even entered the Royal Academy in the capital.
Things had been going well up to that point.
He thought he was pretty hot stuff.
Until he crossed paths with Lloyd Frontera.
That devil of a man.
'But... why the hell is this guy here?'
Gulp.
His Adam's apple bobbed violently.
Goosebumps prickled up without warning.
Feeling his happiness index plummet into negative territory like a crashing graph, Diego's eyes widened.
"Uh? Uh, uh...."
He knew he needed to say something.
But his lips refused to move as his mind demanded.
The breath rising from his lungs reached his throat.
Yet his tongue felt frozen, unable to find its place.
In short, he panicked.
"Why so surprised?"
Lloyd smirked.
He tightened his grip on Diego's shoulder.
Pulled the guy's head slightly toward him.
"It's just the joy of reuniting after so long, right? You must not have heard me properly. So, what is your father up to right now?"
"Th-that...."
"Yeah. Tell me step by step."
"Uh...."
"Am I scary?"
"...."
Diego clamped his mouth shut.
He hated to admit it, but yes, he was terrified.
Lloyd Frontera.
He should be furious at the sight of him.
His blood should be boiling, his head ready to explode.
Considering how utterly thrashed and humiliated he'd been by the guy last time.
Considering how Lloyd had snitched to the Queen about the Academy scandal, getting him expelled.
And on top of that, how he'd spent three months rotting in prison because of it....
'I'm pissed. Beyond pissed.'
He'd grown up as the golden boy everyone expected great things from.
Even seen as a promising member of the Academy.
But not anymore.
Not only expelled from the Academy, but imprisoned by royal decree.
The implications were clear.
Permanent exile from noble society.
Barred for life from any major royal office.
Lately, he'd been holed up back home, cast out like trash.
Rage bubbled up constantly.
He drowned it in booze.
Took it out on the servants and maids.
Only then did the fire in his gut subside a bit.
Today was no different.
He'd summoned two manservants.
Told them to fight right in front of him, duke it out with fists.
At first, they hesitated.
How could they?
They didn't want to fight.
They just hemmed and hawed.
So he fetched a whip.
From now on, anyone who disobeyed his orders would get the lash.
He forced them into the brawl.
Their noses bled, eyes blackened.
He cackled at the sight, urging them on.
The loser skips dinner.
And spends the night locked in the storage shed to boot.
Fight until one drops, he barked.
Had the servants done something wrong?
No.
They were innocent.
He felt no guilt whatsoever.
'It's fine. They're just servants. My property. My things. Why shouldn't I vent on them?'
Venting his rage.
As long as it cheered him up, that was enough.
That's how he'd been taking out his frustrations on those beneath him.
Until he ran smack into Lloyd.
And now?
'I'm... not even angry.'
It was like a bucket of ice water over his head.
He'd sworn a hundred times he'd tear the guy apart if they met.
But now that they had, the rage wouldn't come.
Instead, primal fear squeezed his heart.
Thump! Thump!
His heart pounded so hard he could hear it in his eardrums.
His face paled without him realizing, palms turning cold and clammy.
And....
He couldn't meet the guy's eyes.
"Hey? Hello? Mister?"
"...."
Lloyd's gaze fixed on him.
The casual tone drifting over.
The arm draped around his shoulder.
Every sensation dragged up memories of the past.
The pain of being beaten and crushed by him.
The agony and terror etched into his bones.
All of it twisted into instinctive dread.
In other words, he shrank like a mouse facing its predator.
'Tsk. Just like his old man.'
Lloyd stifled a chuckle.
Viscount Racona and his son.
Both textbook cases of the strong bullying the weak and groveling before the strong.
Lions before inferiors, instant mice when superiors appeared.
Shallow instincts, really.
He gave Diego's frozen back a light shove.
"Can't talk? Then lead the way with your feet. I'm here to see your father."
"Uh, th-that...."
"Come on, let's go?"
"...."
Diego shuffled forward hesitantly.
They entered the mansion.
Walked the halls.
Lloyd said nothing the whole time.
Finally, Diego's steps halted before the viscount's study.
He pointed at the door with a faintly trembling finger.
Then spun on his heel, trying to bolt.
"Hey."
Lloyd finally spoke for the first time.
Diego, fleeing in haste, flinched like he'd been shot in the shoulder.
Lloyd's lips curved.
"Oh yeah, you were tormenting those servants earlier, weren't you?"
"...."
"How's it feel picking on people who can't fight back?"
"...."
"Answer me."
"Th-that...."
"Tsk. Whatever. You know the servants in this mansion are, broadly speaking, residents of our county, right?"
"...."
"Subjects of your viscounty, but also our county's people. And on a bigger scale, Her Majesty's subjects too? Wow, so this guy was abusing Her Majesty's subjects and our county folk like that? You living some reckless life? No respect for hierarchy or manners?"
"Uh, I, uh...."
"Save the babbling for your private lessons."
"...."
"Do it one more time and get caught, and you're really dead."
"...."
"Got it? Now scram."
He had no interest in fancy rhetoric.
The guy operated on pure animal instinct, pre-cortex.
Bite anything weaker on sight—bone-deep.
Wasted effort on trash like that.
"Tsk."
Lloyd clicked his tongue at Diego's hasty retreat.
Then rapped briskly on the viscount's study door.
Knock knock knock.
"Who's out there?"
The viscount's voice from inside.
"Is dinner ready already? I made it clear no one disturbs my rest before mealtime."
His tone sharpened immediately.
A sly smile crept across Lloyd's lips.
"Oh dear, my apologies. I didn't realize and...."
"Didn't realize? What ignorance is that? You've already ruined my nap! Huh?"
"I swear, I truly had no idea. I never meant to offend you like this."
"You call that an apology?"
Through the firmly shut door came Viscount Racona's sharp bark.
Lloyd's smile bloomed even brighter.
"Mercy, spare my life. I really didn't know."
"Hah, still claiming ignorance? Who are you? Some servant, daring to talk back like this? You should be opening the door and groveling already."
"I'm sorry. Truly sorry."
"Oh? Just words?"
"But please consider my position, Viscount. I'm not a frequent visitor here, so I had no clue when you take your precious alone time."
"What? You mocking me now?"
"Of course not. Truly. And actually, I knocked because it's a genuinely important matter."
"Important?"
"Yes."
"What could a mere servant like you have that's so important you interrupt my rest!"
Bam! Crash!
Something hurled at the door from inside?
The study door shook with the viscount's roar.
Shattering glass followed in rapid succession.
Lloyd's grin widened with delight.
"It's true. I swear on my life. This is really important."
"If it's so important, open the door, prostrate yourself, and report properly. Do I have to get up and open it myself for trash like you? Huh?"
"Yes. You do."
"...What?"
"No, you'll jump up and open it. Because the news I bring is that crucial."
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
"No nonsense, Viscount."
"Hah... hahaha. Hahahaha? Getting bold, are we?"
The viscount's voice grew more menacing.
Even through the closed door, his blood pressure's skyrocketing graph was palpable.
"Fine. I'll open it. Hear you out. And if I deem your business unimportant, I'll punish you myself."
"Yes, please do."
"Still...."
"Open the door already."
"...Fine. Tonight, I'll hang you up, whip you, skin you alive, and show everyone in this mansion what happens to those who mock their master."
Rustle, thud! Thud!
Clothing rustled.
Heavy footsteps approached the door.
The knob turned.
The door flew open.
Bang!
Lloyd beamed innocently.
"Nice to see you, Viscount."
"...."
"Really important business. Her Majesty's solemn decree for reconstruction—we're planning a full-scale quarry in the southern zone of your territory."
"...."
"What? Not important enough? You're not about to whip me, hang me, and skin me alive now, are you?"
"...."
"That would be a problem."
"...Gurgle."
Thud.
Viscount Racona, staring blankly, foamed at the mouth and collapsed.
♣
The negotiation(?) wrapped up smoothly.
The fainted viscount came to about ten minutes later.
He immediately bowed repeatedly toward Lloyd.
Truly sorry.
His ears weren't what they used to be, couldn't recognize the voice, made a huge mistake.
Please be lenient this once.
Don't tell Count Frontera, please.
He clutched Lloyd's hands, apologizing with fervent, endless sincerity—like belting out the national anthem four times over.
Negotiations were a breeze, thanks to that.
"Very well. I'll overlook your outburst—and the rudeness that came with it—as a special favor. If you grant my request."
He laid out the terms.
A quarry would be built in the south of Racona Viscountcy from now on. Frontera County would handle construction, management, and rights to all output.
"Oh, and to avoid misunderstandings—this isn't seizure. Nor exploitation. You know Her Majesty designated Frontera County as the hub for eastern reconstruction, right?"
"...Yes."
"So, a man of your culture and common sense understands reconstruction needs vast resources, correct?"
"...Yesss."
"Good. That's the key. This is about providing those resources. Stone from the quarry."
"...."
"Think about it. Stone quarried, shaped, used in all sorts of projects. Foundations, pillars, walls, roofs for countless facilities in Frontera Territory. How great is that?"
"...."
Great for you, only you.
The viscount thought dazedly.
But regardless of his thoughts, Lloyd's brazen pitch continued.
"See? It's a huge boon for you too. Frontera Territory rising as reconstruction's centerpiece, honoring Her Majesty's will! And your territory supplies the stone? What an honor!"
"Yessss. An honor...."
"Right? So, if you want to soothe this itch on my lips, sign here."
"...Khk."
In the end, Viscount Racona left a tear-stained signature. Another massive, beautiful straw plunged into his viscounty.
Thus, Lloyd's grand vision for the grand canal took solid shape, piece by piece.