History of the Greatest Estate Design - Episode 164
164fury. city on the cliff (2)
“Are you Lloyd Frontera? Now that I've actually met him, it seems like a lot of the rumors are wrong. The rumors never said anything about him being this tall and handsome. Hehehe!”
……It's starting again.
Lloyd let out a light sigh..
And then I looked up.
The luxurious drawing room of Count Namaran's mansion.
I saw an old man coming across the space..
Looks somewhat like Santa Claus.
It was Count Namaran..
He seemed to be walking this way and patted Javiel on the shoulder with a satisfied look on his face..
“Wasn’t it difficult to get here??”
“No, not so much.”
“That's right. Come here and sit down. haha. I see him again and again, he's a handsome friend..”
The Count's smile towards Javiel becomes more affectionate..
When I look at it, a bittersweet smile naturally blooms..
under.
What should I say about this?.
Should I come out now and say, 'Hey, actually, I'm Lloyd Frontera.'.
Lloyd shook his head gently..
‘No, somehow that's more miserable.’
Left nostril and right nostril fluttered twice..
At that time, fortunately(?) Lady Namaran came forward and gave it to me..
“Come on, Dad.?”
“hmm?”
“Actually this is…….”
She pointed in this direction with a slightly embarrassed look on her face..
Only then did Count Namaran's gaze move creakingly in this direction..
He tilted his head..
“this way? Ah, I guess he's Frontera Yeongsik's escort knight? Rumors say that Sir Javiel Asrahan, a guard knight and sword master, looks like a statue made by God. Hmm, judging by the state of this guy's face, it doesn't seem like he's the gloomy guy that the rumors say..”
The Count looked back at Javiel..
“I guess they brought Sir Asrahan with them this time. If I had the chance, I would like to meet the kingdom's rising sword master. Too bad. It's really a shame.”
The Count seemed to be truly disappointed and licked his lips..
Lloyd also had to deal with the bitter taste of life..
Lady Namaran said with an even more embarrassed face..
“Hey there, father. This is Prince Frontera..”
“Umm?”
“This is Lloyd Frontera…….”
“…….”
The count's movements stopped..
Everyone in the living room was silent for 3 seconds..
Soon the count's white beard was shaking..
“This is?”
“yes.”
“Lloyd Frontera?”
“yes father.”
“Then over there?”
“This is Sir Javiel Asrahan..”
“The rumored sword master?”
“yes.”
“Huh! hmm! No matter how I looked at it, it felt like nobility over there.?”
“Ah, father. No matter how much Lord Asrahan looks much more charming than Prince Frontera, and even if that is a solid fact that cannot be denied, if you say it out loud like that,…….”
……Construction or something.
Should I just throw it all away and go home?.
Lloyd swallowed a bitter inhalation, feeling the harmful effects of lookism rising like a spring deep in the mountains..
But at times like this, the more shamelessly.
“nice to see you. This is Lloyd Frontera..”
I finally took advantage of the opportunity(?) to introduce myself..
Count Namaran smiled shyly, as if embarrassed..
“this. There were a lot of rude comments from the first meeting..”
“it's okay. Because it’s not the first time this has happened.”
“is it? also.”
……What is it?!
Lloyd shouted inwardly..
This father and daughter have been hitting people in the face with facts for some reason..
But strangely enough, I didn't feel bad..
No, rather, I felt sad when I saw Count Namaran smiling kindly..
It was because it reminded me of the scene I saw earlier on the way to the mansion..
‘This man has no idea that cancer-like beings are taking root in the city he rules..’
The Cannavaro we encountered earlier.
The person who caused the Namaran incident in the original work.
In addition, Lloyd saw something unexpected..
‘I never knew Cannavaro was using that symbol..’
black dragon-headed reaper.
It was a pattern that came from the place where an undead mastodon was excavated..
It was a clue that the necromancer who manufactured it was believed to have used it..
It was also a new symbol of the royal family used by tyrant Alicia in the novel Iron Blooded Knight..
But Cannavaro was using that pattern..
The meaning was clear.
‘There is a possibility that the author is closely related to the necromancer who buried the undead mastodon near our territory, or is the same person..’
It's not just there.
I feel like things are becoming more connected and growing..
So I guess I'll have to dig into this at least once..
Lloyd raised his gaze, keeping that thought in mind..
For now, let's start with the incident with Count Namaran in front of us..
Thinking like that, I smiled a business smile..
I loaded the sharp message I had prepared in advance onto my tongue..
“Anyway, it's an honor to meet you, Count. In addition, I am even more honored to be able to help solve the chronic problems plaguing the Count's city..”
“hmm? What does that mean??”
Count Namaran tilted his head..
I asked curiously.
“A chronic problem? Could it be that my daughter couldn't get married??”
“no. I was talking about the cliff collapse issue..”
“Cliff?”
“yes.”
“Then the marriage?”
“Oh, that's…….”
“So, you didn't come to accept my family's marriage proposal, but rather to repair the city's cliffs??”
“yes.”
This seems to be another misunderstanding..
Lloyd suppressed a bitter smile and said.
“I am embarrassed to say this, but your daughter is too much for me. Even if you're not a guy like me, you'll meet better people..”
“……Huh. I'm still sad though.”
“sorry. Still, if you think about it another way, you can send your daughter's wedding home later, but wouldn't it be difficult to revive it once the ground collapse progresses further?.”
“Is that how it happens?.”
“yes. I think so.”
“One word is like a stream of water in Cheongsan.”
“thank you.”
“It's shameless.”
“sorry.”
“So, I guess you came here to try and solve the problem of our city's collapsing cliffs.?”
“That's an accurate summary..”
Fortunately, Count Namaran seemed to be a person with a realistic mindset..
From then on, he did not mention the marriage issue..
Instead, he asked with a more serious look in his eyes..
“I have heard of your reputation as a builder. I also heard about your exploits in Cremo and the new bridge built in the royal capital. But I haven't just sat here and idly dealt with the cliff issue. They called in a famous construction company and made every effort. And they all failed. But are you still confident??”
“yes.”
There is no need for a long answer.
Lloyd slowly said what he had thought about in advance as if he was just getting the point across..
“I can direct and supervise the construction, and you can provide funds and manpower. If the construction ends in failure or a major defect is discovered, I will have to pay the count a penalty agreed upon in advance..”
“penalty?”
“yes. Would you like to look at it from here first?.”
Lloyd took out a document from his pocket..
The Count slightly raised one eyebrow..
“This is something?”
“This is a construction order contract..”
It was written in advance the day before departure from Frontera territory..
Lloyd said, pointing out every detail of the contract..
“As you can see here, the Count will be delegating authority and responsibility for construction to me. I am responsible for providing technical support and overall supervision during the on-site surveying, design, and construction process. In return, you will receive a small amount of construction payment when the construction is completed stably..”
“Hmm, the amount… … It's worth it?”
“Because it’s something I can’t do without myself..”
“I'm also confident.”
“I think it is a rather cheap investment for permanently stabilizing the city's ground..”
“But what is this item here? long-term management costs?”
“Oh, that's the cost of maintaining the facility even after construction is completed..”
“Do I have to pay you this amount separately, four times a year, every quarter??”
“yes. No matter how successful the construction is, continuous facility management is essential..”
“Hmm… … . I guess this.”
Count Namaran stroked his beard..
And looked at me with suspicious eyes..
“Are you planning to rob my warehouse over and over again? I'm quite greedy?”
“It's just a matter of receiving fair compensation for the work you do. That's why this penalty item is also set here..”
“Yes, penalty. I've been curious about this for a while now. Let me see..”
Count Namaran's eyes scanned the bottom of the contract..
Soon he shook his head..
“I like this.”
“That's right?”
“If the construction fails or there is a major defect in the result, you will spit out three times the construction cost to me. Is it okay if this happens??”
“Because it's a contract..”
“That's why I wrote this document?”
“Wouldn't that be the only way to have a minimum level of trust in each other?.”
Lloyd grinned..
A contract is the minimum device that guarantees mutual trust..
That was Lloyd's idea about the contract..
‘Because you are leaving clear evidence of your promise. If you don't have a contract, it's more difficult..’
In particular, it becomes extremely difficult for those who are hired. It becomes disadvantageous. The likelihood of being unfairly disadvantaged increases significantly..
My experience in Korea speaks volumes about that..
‘When was it? It was when I went to the Pohang site..’
It reminded me of a time when hard work was at its peak..
One day, I received a call from the foreman who looked favorably on me at the site..
I have a fifteen-day job in Pohang..
They said there would be overtime work almost every day to provide room and board. It'll be salty.
As soon as I heard it, I shouted OK..
So I went to the Pohang site..
Upon arrival, we were immediately put to work after safety training..
But then I made a serious mistake..
‘I didn't sign an employment contract. It was like that on set at the time. I'm very busy right now, so I'll do my work first and write separately later..’
At the time, I just thought it was okay and moved on..
Good things are good things.
I can use it later, but I'm afraid I'll get a bad impression if I act fussy for no reason..
I'm afraid I'll be called unusual..
Because I don’t like standing out like that.
I said okay and started working..
That was a fatal mistake.
‘In the end, I kept getting pushed back and getting pushed back with half of the money I had worked for there..’
I'll give it to you tomorrow.
It will definitely be paid next month.
Don’t be like this too much, we’re not doing this because we want to be like this, etc..
All kinds of excuses and shouting were exchanged..
Only some team leaders, foremen, etc. who issued invoices through subcontracting received the money, and the rest became Nakdong River duck eggs..
Thanks to you, I?
After trudging back to Seoul, I had to suffer from hardships for a whole month..
I had to struggle because I couldn't pay the entrance exam fee on time..
It was because of the bitter experience at that time..
‘A contract must be written even if the sky splits in two, or even if the Earth were to perish tomorrow..’
That way there will be no back-talk..
Both the person doing the work and the person doing the work become comfortable and peaceful..
In this way, Lloyd successfully completed the construction contract with Count Namaran..
“thank you Then, Count, please prepare the funds, materials, and manpower for construction as specified in the contract..”
“How much can I prepare??”
“From now on, I will make a construction plan and schedule. When the outline comes out, I'll ask for it separately..”
“haha. I'm a meticulous friend..”
“I tend to try to do that..”
He bowed to the count and retired from the drawing room..
I unpacked my luggage at the guest accommodation where I will be staying for a while..
As soon as he unpacked his luggage, Lloyd looked at Javiel..
“hey.”
“Is there something else you want me to do?.”
“You have become much more perceptive?”
“It was originally fast.”
Javiel, who was taking out personal toothbrushes, towels, etc. and organizing them in the seat across from him, responded as if throwing them away..
“Usually, in times like this, Lloyd calls me for one of two reasons..”
“which?”
“Try to make a joke or make me do something special.”
“Well now I feel like it's the latter?”
“yes.”
Javiel nodded..
“My left nostril isn't flaring..”
“huh?”
for a moment.
What does that mean?.
I was dumbfounded for a moment, but Haviel continued to reply..
“Didn't you know? Whenever Lloyd tells a lame joke, his left nostril always, always, without fail, flutters..”
“…….”
“That's why the hairs growing inside the nostrils are very visible..”
“Huh, lie.”
“It doesn't matter if you don't believe it or not. Because it's true.”
“…….”
I feel like I was completely defeated after being hit by a diss all of a sudden..
But first, let's start with what to do now.
Lloyd said, holding on to his crumbling spirit..
“okay. Let's just say you're right. Let’s do what I tell you..”
“what's going on.”
“You know Mr. Cannavaro, right? The person I saw earlier at the distribution center in the square inside the castle gate..”
“I know. Are you asking me to dig up that person??”
“How did you know?”
“Because I saw it too. It's a small pattern embroidered on his clothes..”
“Then, you don’t have to explain in detail why I’m ordering this.?”
“of course. but…….”
“but?”
“To be honest, I don't like the act of prying into someone's back..”
Javiel frowned slightly..
“I don't think it's an action that suits my beliefs or my duties. However, since I believe that the pattern is closely related to the safety of our territory, I am following Lloyd's orders. Please remember this fact.”
“I'm saying that I don't feel like it, but I need to examine that pattern, right now.?”
“yes.”
“Then let's go.”
“…….”
Javiel showed an uneasy look..
But I didn't add anything..
“I'll be back.”
I sighed softly, put on my sword, and left the dorm..
After that, Lloyd went out to the city alone..
We looked more closely at the walls and the ground around the city..
Meanwhile, the whole day has passed..
Finally the night fell.
When Javiel returned to his lodgings, it was around the time when unfamiliar constellations were decorating the midnight night sky..
“Lloyd, I have something to tell you..”
What on earth did he see during the half a day he spent following Cannavaro?.
What kind of thing do you have to see to make you look that serious?.
Javiel opened his mouth with an unusual expression..
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