Chapter 191
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Prime Works
Chapter: 191
Chapter Title: Between Kidnapping and Fishing (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“When vehicles pass near the top of a retaining wall, creating a uniform distributed load like a building, those loads increase the earth pressure on the wall. Fixed loads like buildings are converted into the weight of the backfill soil behind the wall, treated as additional soil, and the earth pressure is calculated accordingly.”
“Hang on a sec...”
It was early evening, just after sunset.
In a lodging in the desert city of Kandara.
Under the flickering candlelight, a calm voice rang out steadily.
The voice was serious.
At the same time, utterly monotonous.
No variation in pitch, no emotion whatsoever.
All it carried was an endless recitation of excessive knowledge.
Before this calm yet merciless(?) barrage of a lullaby, a certain woman pleaded.
Please stop.
She’d collapse at this rate.
She’d unjustly shut her eyes and not wake until morning.
But the low voice reciting the lullaby showed not a shred of mercy, tolerance, or give.
“The effects of roads or railways installed near the top of the retaining wall can’t be precisely converted to static loads because they cause dynamic reactions from repeated loading. However, for roads, it’s standard to assume a uniform distributed surcharge of 1 tonf/m² for DB-24 and DB-18 loads, and 0.7 tonf/m² for DB-13.5 loads.”
“......Kuwool.”
The resisting woman, Serazad, fell asleep.
A smile crept onto the merciless man, Lloyd’s lips.
“Good.”
As expected, Swordmaster syndrome patients were best put to sleep with lullabies.
They suffered from such deep-rooted insomnia to begin with.
Always plagued by sleep deprivation.
Lullabies worked like a charm.
No worries about tolerance buildup from daily use either.
‘If anything, it becomes a habit.’
Once someone chronically sleep-deprived experiences deep sleep from a lullaby?
Once they taste that life-changing sound sleep?
It imprints intensely on the body.
They start craving the lullaby.
The body demands it more.
Begging for it to soothe them.
It becomes a habit the body seeks before the mind.
‘Haviel’s been steadily proving that all along, heh heh heh.’
Even after becoming a Swordmaster and gaining control over his senses, Haviel still relied on it to some degree.
‘So the sultan’s daughter won’t be any different.’
If Haviel couldn’t kick it, neither could she.
She’d sleep soundly without waking until morning.
Certain of that, Lloyd quietly left Serazad’s room.
He returned to his own lodging with light steps.
“Haviel? You been waiting long?”
But no answer came.
For some reason, the room was completely empty.
Lloyd shrugged.
“Tch. Out for a stroll, huh. Missed his chance to sleep if he doesn’t now.”
Too bad, but that meant no sleep for Haviel tonight.
No intention of waiting for him.
Lloyd planned to hit the hay right away.
“Alright, bed time.”
He kicked off his boots and flopped straight onto the bed.
He needed to catch even a wink now.
Had to wake at midnight no matter what.
Ride Komingi, bring Hamang, head to the western mountains for water.
Shut-eye now meant three or four hours of rest.
As he closed his eyes with those thoughts, the past few days flashed in his mind.
The locals’ suspicious, cold stares.
Figured he was the sultan’s lackey.
A despicable frontman.
Eyes glaring with resentment.
He’d laid it on thick in response.
Hauled water daily from the western mountains.
Handed it out to his detractors, taking full credit.
‘Do the same tomorrow. Gather folks in the morning, distribute water. How many days now? Two weeks? About time their looks change. Time for a bite. Wonder if it’ll come today.’
Who knew.
He’d just cast the line.
Up to the fish to bite.
So he’d wait.
Scattering the tastiest bait.
Gazing at the still surface.
Anticipating the movements below.
Just waiting for ripples of change.
So I...
‘......’
Vision blurred.
Mind foggy.
Body floating.
Or sinking into the bed.
Sleepiness surged.
Consciousness drifted to dreamland.
Body relaxed.
Breathing eased.
Throat suddenly constricted.
Kwaak!
“......!”
A hand gripped his nape, pressing down.
Lloyd’s eyes snapped open.
He reached out reflexively.
No, tried to—but failed.
Someone pinned his arms. His whole body. Both arms. Even legs.
“......Grk! Urk! Mmph!”
Lloyd thrashed with his neck and limbs pinned.
Multiple assailants.
He strained to make them out.
Dark room, lights out.
In the gloom, silhouettes of attackers flickered.
‘Ten?’
No, more.
Five holding him down.
Another six or seven circling around.
He activated Asrahan Heart Method instantly.
Kiiiiing-!
“Gah?!”
“Strength...”
“Don’t let go!”
He absorbed the mana of those pinning him.
Dizziness and weakness must’ve hit them suddenly.
Panicked voices from the men.
But then—
Pak!
Head burned.
Vision flashed.
Hit with a club?
World spun.
Asrahan Heart Method deactivated.
Men’s hurried voices faintly.
“......Hah, huff. What the hell.”
“Don’t just stand there, tie him up quick.”
Rustle rustle, creak creak—sounds of pulling something out, binding.
Wrists and ankles tightened.
Bound tight.
Circulation cut? Hands and feet went numb fast.
Gag stuffed in his mouth too.
“Cover his head too. No telling when he’ll come to.”
Sack over his head—pitch black.
“Hurry. Before that silver-haired guard gets back.”
Haviel.
Where are you?
Lloyd strained to lift his head.
But the sack blocked his view.
Too late to reactivate Asrahan Heart Method—bound too tight, pointless struggle.
Yet Lloyd stayed calm.
No panic for rapid charge options.
Just thrashed hard a few times instead.
Stopped when ropes chafed his bound wrists and ankles.
“Get the picture now?”
Nod.
Question dropped his way.
Lloyd nodded.
Satisfied response.
“Resisting now just tires us both. Quick on the uptake—nice. I like it.”
“......”
“Alright, move out.”
Big guy hoisted him over shoulder like a sack of rice.
Lloyd didn’t resist.
Pointless moment.
Just focused senses on sounds around, air flow.
‘Heading to city outskirts, as expected.’
Footsteps.
Street dogs barking.
Wind direction, scents.
How long carried?
Dropped on hard ground.
“Kneel.”
Obeyed the command.
Sack finally yanked off.
“......”
Forehead throbbed from earlier hit.
Frowned, looked up.
Dim room.
About twenty silhouettes encircling him vaguely.
‘Abandoned warehouse?’
Rotted wood smell.
Stale dust thick in air.
Few windows boarded up haphazardly.
High ceiling with exposed beams, cobwebs draped everywhere.
Perfect vibe.
‘Whew. Textbook kidnapping scene.’
Lloyd sighed inwardly.
Felt like a scene from a gangster flick or noir film.
He grinned despite himself.
Gag removed, he asked the men,
“Who are you guys?”
But they just stared silently.
Heavy silence closed in like a noose.
Answer came late.
“Still not grasping your situation? Seems like you’re confused. We ask, you answer.”
One man stepped forward from the circle.
Tall, broad shoulders.
Strapping blond build.
He approached.
Dropped to one knee, eye level.
Stroked scruffy beard, eyes cold.
“Why the good deeds in our city?”
Questions continued.
“You bring water daily in that weird monster’s gut, hand it out. Brag about it all day. Suspicious. Charity’s nice, sure, but yours screams ulterior motives.”
Eyes grew icier. Sharper.
“What do you want? What’re you plotting with such obvious ‘generosity’?”
Man’s gaze like interrogating a criminal.
Or a judge weighing guilt.
No—murderous.
Surrounding men’s vibe matched.
If wrong answer.
Or defiance, silence.
They’d do anything, no hesitation—atmosphere screamed it.
That’s why.
Lloyd’s mouth flew open fast.
“Ah, what a welcome question.”
Like he’d been waiting.
Eager for the chance to respond.
Licked his lips.
No blinker.
Full throttle ahead.
“Just as I was drifting off, you guys jump me, drag me here—frustrating. Gagged me right away. Huge relief you’re asking now. Seems you’ve got tons of questions, so let me introduce myself first. Pleasure. I’m Lloyd Frontera, eldest son of Count Arkos Frontera of Frontera County in the Magentano Kingdom.”
“Uh, pleasure...”
“On your question: I sense you doubt my good deeds, wonder my intent. Noble folks hide charity, so yeah, mine stands out—gotta admit. Wanted to explain, clear it up. Perfect timing.”
“Of course...”
“First off, I’m no sultan’s lackey or frontman. You won’t buy that easy, so let’s go step-by-step: Frontera County history, my family’s woes. About two years and some months back. Still a barony then, we took huge debt. Sky fell, ground caved—despair. But couldn’t quit. Life’s trials like anyone’s, just another test—sparked will, hope. So I pitched the tavern owner in the central village...”
“Hey, wait a...”
“So I did ondol... blah blah... steeled resolve for better paving... chatter chatter... felt family and folk’s expectations, zeal, hit the mines... yammer yammer... shed pressure from attention, pushed on in Creemo... prattle prattle... but queen’s crisis—no backing down, triple-blasted... blab blab...”
Lloyd’s nonstop torrent poured out.
Men around him grew bewildered in real time.
Not what they expected.
Suspected sultan’s stooge.
Subdued by force, dragged here.
Planned to grill: intent in city? Plotting what?
Expected stubbornness.
Resistance, silence.
Then harsh lynching, no qualms.
That’s the mindset.
Never dreamed of enduring one man’s unfiltered life saga(?), endless medley grinding ears raw, blistering cochleas.
Blond man finally burst.
“S-Stop!”
“......Pardon?”
“You mocking us?!”
“No. You questioned my intent, doubted—so explaining fully, honestly.”
“But...”
“Anyway, not done. You asked, so hear the answer. Now the thrilling part: Captain Frontera debuts, annihilates locust swarm.”
“......”
“So, moment I gripped that pot lid—deep crisis, duty surged from my core, unknown even to me. That’s why I...”
Stop.
Please stop, you madman.
Blond man wanted to beg.
Other men same—despairing(?) faces.
Endless, overly frank explanation glazed their eyes. Nodded soullessly, listening.
Meanwhile, Lloyd snuck a glance aside.
Warehouse corner, crudely boarded window.
Exchanged looks with Haviel waiting outside since earlier.
Lloyd smirked inwardly.
‘Fishing, complete.’
Rebels bit as planned.
Time to find their burrow they’d hoarded as hideout.