Chapter 164
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Prime Works
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: City on the Cliff (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“You must be Lloyd Frontera. Seeing you in person, the rumors seem way off. There wasn’t a single word about you being so tall and handsome. Ho ho ho!”
……Here we go again.
Lloyd let out a soft sigh.
He raised his gaze.
In the luxurious parlor of the Namaran Count’s mansion.
An old man was crossing the room.
He somehow resembled Santa Claus.
It was the Namaran Count.
As he approached, he patted Haviel’s shoulder with a satisfied look.
“Was the journey here too tough?”
“No, not really.”
“I see. Come, have a seat. Ho ho. No matter how many times I look, you’re a handsome fellow.”
The count’s smile toward Haviel grew even warmer.
Watching it made a wry smile form naturally.
Ha.
What should he even call this?
Should he step forward now and say, ‘Actually, I’m Lloyd Frontera’?
Lloyd shook his head slightly.
‘No, somehow that feels even more pathetic.’
His left nostril and right nostril twitched twice each.
Fortunately(?), the Namaran Lady stepped in.
“Um, Father?”
“Hm?”
“Actually, this one is…….”
She pointed toward him with a somewhat troubled expression.
Only then did the Namaran Count’s gaze creak toward him as he tilted his head.
“This one? Ah, you must be the heir apparent of Frontera’s escort knight. The rumors said Sir Haviel Asrahan, the escort knight and Swordmaster, looked like a statue sculpted by the gods. Hmm, judging by this fellow’s face, it doesn’t seem like he’s the Sir Asrahan from the rumors.”
The count turned to Haviel.
“Looks like you didn’t bring Sir Asrahan this time. I was hoping for a chance to meet the kingdom’s rising Swordmaster. What a shame. Truly a shame.”
He smacked his lips as if genuinely disappointed.
Lloyd had to taste the bitterness of life too.
The Namaran Lady spoke with an even more troubled face.
“Father, this one is the Frontera Young Lord.”
“Hmm?”
“This is Lloyd Frontera…….”
“…….”
The count’s movements froze solid.
The entire parlor fell silent for three seconds.
Soon, his white beard twitched.
“This one?”
“Yes.”
“Lloyd Frontera?”
“Yes, Father.”
“Then who’s that one?”
“That’s Sir Haviel Asrahan.”
“The famed Swordmaster?”
“Yes.”
“Ahem! Hm! No matter how I look, that one feels more like nobility?”
“Ouch, Father. Even if Sir Asrahan looks far more noble than the Frontera Young Lord and that’s an undeniable fact, saying it so bluntly…….”
……Screw the politics and all.
Maybe he should just ditch everything and head home.
Lloyd swallowed the bitter breaths rising like a mountain spring deep in the woods, feeling the ills of lookism.
But in times like these, he had to be shameless.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Lloyd Frontera.”
He seized the opportunity(?) for self-introduction at last.
The Namaran Count let out a hearty laugh, looking embarrassed yet straightforward.
“Well, I’ve been rude from the first impression.”
“It’s fine. I’m used to it.”
“Is that so? As expected.”
……Expected my foot!
Lloyd screamed inwardly.
This father-daughter duo had been smacking him with facts since earlier.
But oddly, it didn’t feel bad.
No, seeing the Namaran Count laugh so affably even stirred pity.
It reminded him of the scene he’d witnessed on the way to this mansion.
‘This man has no idea that cancer-like entities are taking root in the city he rules.’
Cannavaro, whom he’d run into earlier.
The mastermind behind the Namaran incident in the original story.
And Lloyd had seen something unexpected on top of that.
‘I never imagined Cannavaro would be using that emblem.’
The black dragon head messenger.
The emblem found at the site where the undead Mastodon was unearthed.
It was presumed to be a clue used by the necromancer who made it.
It was also the new royal crest used by the tyrant Alicia in the novel Iron-Blooded Knight.
Yet Cannavaro was using that emblem.
The implication was clear.
‘That guy is deeply connected to the necromancer who buried the undead Mastodon near our territory—or he might be the same person.’
Not just loosely connected.
Things were starting to link up and grow bigger.
So, this needed digging into at least once.
Putting that thought aside, Lloyd raised his gaze.
For now, deal with the Namaran Count in front of him.
With that in mind, he flashed a business smile.
He loaded a slick line prepared in advance onto his tongue.
“In any case, it’s an honor to meet you, Lord Count. And an even greater honor that I can lend a hand in solving the chronic problem plaguing your city.”
“Hm? What’s that supposed to mean?”
The Namaran Count tilted his head.
He asked with a puzzled look.
“Chronic problem? You don’t mean my daughter’s marriage troubles, do you?”
“No. I was referring to the cliff collapse issue.”
“Cliff?”
“Yes.”
“Then what about the marriage?”
“Ah, that’s…….”
“You’re not here to accept our family’s marriage proposal, but to repair the city’s cliffs?”
“Yes.”
Looks like he’d racked up yet another misunderstanding.
Lloyd held back a bitter smile and said,
“Forgive my impertinence, but your daughter is far too good for me. Even without a guy like me, she’ll surely form ties with far more outstanding people.”
“……Ahem. Still disappointing.”
“I’m sorry. But think of it this way: you can send your daughter off to marry later, but if the ground collapse progresses further, it’ll be hard to fix.”
“Is it that serious?”
“Yes. That’s how I see it.”
“You’ve got a silver tongue.”
“Thank you.”
“Shameless too.”
“Sorry.”
“So, you’ve come here to solve our city’s crumbling cliff problem?”
“Exactly.”
Fortunately, the Namaran Count seemed like a practical man.
From then on, he didn’t mention marriage again.
Instead, with a more serious gaze, he asked,
“I’ve heard of your reputation as a builder. Your feats in Creemo, the new bridge in the capital—I’ve heard it all. But I haven’t just sat idle on the cliff issue. I called in renowned builders and tried everything. They all failed. And yet you’re confident?”
“Yes.”
No need for long explanations.
Lloyd rattled off the key points he’d prepared.
“I’ll direct and supervise the construction, and you provide the funds, materials, and manpower. If the construction fails or major defects are found, I’ll pay you the liquidated damages we agree on in advance.”
“Liquidated damages?”
“Yes. Shall we start here?”
Lloyd pulled documents from his bosom.
The count raised one eyebrow slightly.
“What’s this?”
“The construction contract.”
He’d prepared it the day before leaving Frontera Territory.
Lloyd pointed to spots on the contract—tap, tap—and explained.
“As you see, you delegate authority and responsibility for the construction to me. I handle on-site surveying, design, technical support during construction, and overall supervision. In return, I get a set construction fee upon stable completion.”
“Hmm, the amount…… is quite substantial?”
“No one else can do it.”
“Confident, aren’t you.”
“I think it’s a bargain for permanently stabilizing the city’s ground.”
“But what’s this item? Long-term maintenance costs?”
“Ah, that’s for handling facility management even after completion.”
“Four times a year, quarterly payments to you separately?”
“Yes. Even if construction succeeds, ongoing maintenance is essential.”
“Hmm…… This seems like.”
The Namaran Count stroked his beard.
He eyed him suspiciously.
“You planning to rob my warehouse dry bit by bit? Quite greedy.”
“It’s just fair pay for the work. That’s why I included this liquidated damages clause.”
“Right, the damages. Been curious—let’s see.”
The Namaran Count scanned the bottom of the contract.
Soon, he nodded.
“This I like.”
“Right?”
“If construction fails or major defects, you pay me triple the fee. You okay with that?”
“It’s a contract.”
“That’s why you made this document?”
“It builds at least minimal trust between us.”
Lloyd smiled brightly.
A contract was the bare minimum device to guarantee mutual trust.
That was Lloyd’s view on contracts.
‘Leaving promises as clear evidence. Without one, it’s trouble.’
Especially for the hired side—it becomes endlessly disadvantageous. Unfair losses skyrocket.
His experiences in Korea proved it.
‘When was it? The Pohang site.’
Memories of his peak grunt work days surfaced.
One day, a call from the foreman who liked him at the site.
Two weeks’ work in Pohang.
Room and board provided, overtime almost daily—good pay.
He’d yelled okay immediately.
Off to Pohang.
Safety training right away, then straight to work.
But he made a grave mistake then.
‘No labor contract. The site said they were swamped, so work first and write it later.’
He’d brushed it off then.
Good is good.
No need to be picky and ruin the impression.
Might get called fussy.
Hated standing out.
So he agreed and started.
Fatal error.
‘In the end, wages kept getting delayed, half got stiffed.’
Tomorrow for sure.
Next month definitely.
Don’t be like that, we don’t want to do this either—excuses and shouting flew.
Some team leaders and foremen who issued invoices via subcontractors got paid; the rest became Nakdong River duck eggs.
Thanks to that, he?
Stumbled back to Seoul, struggled with living expenses for a month.
Couldn’t even pay motel rent on time, had to grovel.
That bitter lesson.
‘Always write the contract. Even if the sky splits or Earth ends tomorrow.’
No loose ends.
Peaceful for both employer and worker.
Thus, Lloyd safely finalized the construction contract with the Namaran Count.
“Thank you. Then, as stated, please prepare the funds, materials, and manpower for construction.”
“How much?”
“I’ll draw up the plan and schedule now. Once outlined, I’ll request specifics.”
“Ho ho. Meticulous fellow.”
“I try.”
He bowed to the count and left the parlor.
Unpacked in the guest quarters for their stay.
Right after, Lloyd looked at Haviel.
“Hey.”
“Another task?”
“You’re getting sharp.”
“Always have been.”
Haviel, unpacking his personal toothbrush, towel, etc., across from him, tossed back casually.
“Usually when you call me like this, it’s one of two things.”
“What?”
“Trying lame jokes or assigning me special work.”
“So you figure it’s the latter now?”
“Yes.”
Haviel nodded.
“Your left nostril isn’t twitching.”
“Huh?”
Wait.
What’s that mean?
Stunned for a moment, Haviel continued.
“Didn’t you know? Whenever you try silly jokes, your left nostril always, invariably twitches.”
“…….”
“So the nose hairs sprouting inside are perfectly visible.”
“L-Liar.”
“Don’t believe me? It’s true.”
“…….”
Felt like a total defeat from an out-of-nowhere, packed body diss.
But business first.
Lloyd clutched his crumbling mentality and said,
“Fine, you win. Do what I say.”
“What task?”
“You know Cannavaro? The guy at the ration station inside the gate earlier.”
“Yes. You want me to tail him?”
“How’d you know?”
“I saw it too. The small emblem embroidered on his clothes.”
“No need to explain why, then?”
“Of course. But…….”
“But?”
“Honestly, sneaking after someone doesn’t sit well with me.”
Haviel furrowed his brow slightly.
“It doesn’t suit my beliefs or duties. But since that emblem ties closely to our territory’s safety, I follow your orders. Remember that.”
“You’re reluctant personally but see the need to investigate?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s go.”
“…….”
Haviel showed unease.
But no further protest.
“I’ll be off.”
A small sigh, then he buckled his sword and left the quarters.
After that, Lloyd headed out alone into the city.
He surveyed the walls and surrounding ground more closely.
The day passed like that.
Night deepened.
Haviel returned to the quarters around midnight, when unfamiliar constellations adorned the sky.
“Lord Lloyd, I have something important to report.”
What had he seen in half a day tailing Cannavaro?
What would make his eyes so grave?
Haviel opened his mouth with an unusual expression.