Chapter 52
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Translator: Prime Works
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Strength in Numbers (2)
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"There's a way you don't have to hand that land over to those scumbags. I'll explain it slowly, but first, let's chase out that rude bastard. And while we're at it, give him a good beating."
"......What?"
Lloyd burst into the office, kicking the door open.
The baron was startled by the boy's words.
He had been in despair.
He had been utterly dejected.
His headache had been excruciating since morning.
He had vaguely sensed something was off.
But he hadn't imagined it could be the work of Viscount Rionero Racona.
That was why Sir Kurono's message from the viscount had been such a shock.
Deliberately dumping toxic wastewater from the dye workshop into the river.
The wastewater would cause headaches for the entire territory until he handed over half of the Marez Reclaimed Land.
'Half of the Marez Reclaimed Land.'
That was what the viscount demanded.
They would keep dumping until he complied.
It was blatant blackmail.
Unjust blackmail, at that.
But he had no way to fight back.
He had threatened to take it to the kingdom's noble court, but it was useless.
Instead, he was mocked: if he could endure the long wait for a verdict, go ahead and try.
He was furious.
Humiliated.
But there was nothing he could do.
Of course, besides the noble court, he could inform the great lord governing this region, Count Creemo, and request 'fair mediation.'
But that wasn't a great option either.
'Count Creemo has no reason to be proactive about resolving disputes.'
Worse, the wealthy Viscount Rionero Racona might bribe the count.
It could lead to an outcome worse than surrender.
In such cases, the world sides with power and money, not justice. That was the dirty law of this world.
'Haa.'
A sigh escaped him naturally.
The situation was dire.
This was a fight with no chance of victory.
In the end, the baron compromised with cold reality.
He convinced himself it was for the territory's people, a rational decision to avoid greater damage since resistance was futile.
He was about to declare surrender to Sir Kurono.
That was when Lloyd stormed into the office.
"Wh-what? What do you mean? And how do you know about this?"
The baron was shocked.
The viscount's blackmail via Sir Kurono.
His own anguish in response.
That conversation had only taken place here, in the office, between him and Sir Kurono.
And it was happening right now, in real time.
There was no way or time for it to leak out.
Yet Lloyd knew the contents of their exchange. It was astonishing.
Had he been eavesdropping outside the door?
But that seemed unlikely.
Lloyd was panting, sweat pouring like rain.
Meaning he had rushed here.
"Whew, whew. Good thing I wasn't too late. No need to be surprised. I investigated the cause of the headaches since morning and pieced it together."
"Pieced it together?"
"Yes. You've just heard the viscount's blackmail, right? About dumping toxic dye wastewater unless you hand over the Marez Reclaimed Land."
"......"
Lloyd's guess hit the nail on the head.
The baron fell silent.
Lloyd continued.
"So let me say it again. You must not hand over even an inch of the Marez Reclaimed Land. You don't need to at all."
"The reclaimed land? To Viscount Rionero Racona?"
"Yes."
Lloyd wiped the sweat streaming from his forehead to his cheeks with his sleeve.
He caught his breath and walked to the center of the office.
He now faced Sir Kurono.
Staring into Sir Kurono's eyes, he said,
"Why yield to thieving bastards who want to swallow land someone else sweated blood to develop for free?"
"......"
Was it because of those words?
A faint heat flickered in Sir Kurono's eyes.
But Lloyd pressed on regardless.
"So the only response is this: if you want land, sweat and work for it yourselves. Don't cling like parasites sucking blood."
"Was that meant for my ears?"
Sir Kurono twisted his lips and retorted.
A smirk curled on Lloyd's.
"Yeah. Quick on the uptake for a parasite."
"Are you insulting me right now?"
"Oh. Sharp, too. Clap clap."
"You're making a mistake."
"Ah. You're saying you're the viscount's messenger, his proxy, so insulting you insults him? Too bad. I am insulting the viscount."
"Those words—are they sincere?"
"Yup."
"......"
Lloyd's reply was utterly matter-of-fact.
Sir Kurono was at a loss for words.
Lloyd's cheeky insults kept pummeling him.
"Hey. Don't you get tired of it? Honestly? Serving a guy like that?"
"My liege is, of course......"
"A man without a conscience. That guy's lived his whole life without paying the conscience tax."
"No, I......"
"But you can't quit? Loyalty still burning strong? Then you'll never need to climb mountains in life."
"Why would I climb......"
"Your life's heading straight to the hills."
"......"
"How about it? Feeling a change of heart yet?"
"No, not at all. Lloyd Frontera. You're seriously insulting my liege, making him a laughingstock."
"Tsk tsk. Did a full 360 in the meantime, huh."
"......"
"So scram and tell your master clearly: no Marez Reclaimed Land. Not half, not an embankment inch, not a speck of dirt."
"We'll keep dumping toxic waste. Aren't you scared?"
"So what? I grew up big and strong breathing fine dust without a mask year-round."
"What does that......"
"Anything else? You're really clingy. Just go."
Lloyd waved him off irritably.
Sir Kurono's face hardened coldly.
"You'll regret today's actions."
"So?"
"......"
"What. Why. Huh."
"......"
"Good grief. Still here?"
"......Hoo. We'll see."
Sir Kurono's jaw muscle twitched as he retreated.
He slammed the office door shut behind him.
Only then did the baron snap out of it.
He grabbed Lloyd's sleeve.
"What in the world...... Is this okay?"
"Pardon? Okay how?"
"You rejected the viscount's demand outright and showered insults on his messenger. Won't there be backlash?"
"Sure, whatever."
Lloyd grinned.
What a relief.
He had sensed the headache was unnatural since morning.
He had diligently tracked its cause.
And on the way here, he had come up with a counterplan.
"I told you earlier. There's a way to not hand the Marez Reclaimed Land to those guys."
"A way? Let's hear it. No, sit first."
The baron seated Lloyd.
Now Lloyd, Haviel, and the baron sat around the table, and the chaotic office atmosphere finally calmed.
The baron's mind settled too.
"Alright. Seeing your confidence, there must be a solid plan. Right?"
"Yes."
Lloyd nodded.
"How about we install a water supply system while we're at it."
"What?"
The baron tilted his head.
A water supply?
What was that?
"Explain more."
"Well, simply put, it's piping clean water from a distant source straight to the territory."
"Clean water from afar?"
"Yes."
Lloyd nodded.
Wrinkles formed on the baron's brow.
"Bringing in water...... Never heard of such a method."
"I've been thinking about it for a while."
"You?"
"Yes."
Lloyd nodded again.
Truth be told, saying he'd thought of it himself was a lie.
The classic aqueduct system.
It was a technology the Roman Empire in his old world had implemented in ancient times.
Rome had early on mastered bringing clean water from distant sources to the city, thriving without shortages of daily water.
Lloyd planned to introduce that system now.
Of course, he shamelessly took credit for it.
"I've wondered sometimes. Relying solely on the river for daily water must be troublesome at times, right?"
"Hmm, true."
"Yes. Droughts dry the river, or floods bring murky sediment, making it hard to use. That's why—a reliable water source that supplies steadily year-round, piping from there. Wouldn't that be great?"
"Um, that's impressive. But—"
The baron tilted his head.
"Do we have a way to build it?"
"Yes. I've been diligently, fervently pondering it."
*Of course, ancient civil engineers did the work.*
Lloyd brazenly omitted the end and replied.
But even then, the baron's expression didn't brighten.
No matter how great the water system, it wouldn't solve the immediate problem tormenting everyone for a while.
"Right. Your idea is brilliant. Bold, too. But I'm still worried. Building this water supply will take considerable time, yes?"
"Yes."
"Then where do we get clean water in the meantime?"
An immediate water solution.
That was the baron's concern.
No matter how good the aqueduct, it's useless until built.
Until then, they'd drink contaminated river water and suffer headaches.
But the baron's worry was unfounded.
Lloyd had already agonized over the same issue.
And prepared the answer long ago.
"There's a solution for that too."
"A solution?"
"Remember Hamang, one of my contracted summons?"
"Ah, the one that balloons huge after drinking water? Normally suffocatingly round and cute, pink baby hippo with barely visible fluff on its sides?"
"......You're surprisingly detailed about it."
"Ahem! It just struck me as adorable."
"......"
"Anyway, using that summon?"
"Yes."
Lloyd nodded.
"We'll use Hamang to haul massive amounts of water. Fill temporary reservoirs with it."
"Indeed. Fetching water like that means no shortages while building the aqueduct."
"Yes. So before starting, I have one request."
"A request? What is it."
"Issue a proclamation in the lord's name to the people."
"A proclamation?"
"Yes."
Lloyd explained.
"Then...... like this...... this and that...... blah blah blah...... that's the plan."
"Hmm, I see."
Lloyd explained earnestly, the baron nodding.
The worry on the baron's face gradually faded. Vanished. Confidence that they could pull it off began to bloom.
A dispute that seemed hopeless due to disadvantage.
Now, hope to overturn it cleanly and shove it down their throats.
♣
That afternoon, Frontera Territory's residents received the lord's proclamation.
The content was concise.
It revealed the cause of everyone's headaches.
"What? So our heads splitting since morning was Viscount Rionero Racona's doing?"
"That's right."
"Where'd you hear that?"
"From the lord's proclamation earlier."
Farmers with farmers.
Woodcutters and shepherd boys.
Housewives and neighborhood grannies.
The proclamation spread like wildfire among the residents.
"You know the dye workshop? They dumped poison into the river."
"Good heavens. An accident?"
"No. On purpose."
"Egads, insane. Who does that?"
"Right? And get this—that viscount demanded something weird from our lord."
"A demand? What kind?"
"You know the Marez Reclaimed Land?"
"Yeah. My son's in the engineering corps."
"He demanded half of it."
"That viscount guy?"
"Yeah."
"What nonsense? My son shoveled sweat and blood for that land! Hand it over free? End times, I tell you!"
"Exactly."
The residents seethed like boiling pots.
Some clenched fists in rage, cursing the viscount.
Others vented fury at being victimized.
Perhaps that's why.
The next morning, when word spread that Lord Lloyd Frontera was starting construction to overcome the poison dumping crisis.
Most able-bodied residents volunteered—no, enlisted—in an unprecedented event.