History of the Greatest Territory Design - Episode 186
186fury. Coveted Talent (1)
“Lloyd Frontera, son of Arcos Frontera, meets the great and almighty Sultan..”
black marble floor.
gold-covered pillars.
A ceiling so high that you can't guess its height.
Lloyd's voice spread across such a vast space..
I stepped on the smooth marble, passed between the pillars, knelt and bowed my head toward the high throne sixteen steps above..
However, the Sultan, 'Samarkan al-Ahinshad', did not respond to Lloyd's greetings..
He just looks down at Lloyd with deeply sunken eyes..
‘Is it the author?.’
Sultan Samarkan's eyes became a little more complicated..
Lloyd Frontera.
I heard a lot about the author.
No, I knew a lot..
It had to be that way..
Operation Monster Domino, carried out under his instructions..
This was because the greatest emerging noble in the Kingdom of Magentano that resulted from that operation was Lloyd..
‘I thought it would be possible to render Magentano's eastern borderland incapable of recovery for at least several decades..’
failed.
Even though dozens of territories were wiped out.
In particular, one of the smallest fiefdoms held on until the end..
We blocked and defeated all the invading monsters..
That wasn't all.
Tens of thousands of refugees who lost their homes after being swept away by Monster Domino were accepted..
With full-scale support from the Magentano royal family, it emerged as a center for reconstruction..
Sultan Samarkan knew the secret.
‘It is said that the author was at the center of all the twists and turns..’
Lloyd Frontera.
Because of the author.
The author stopped Monster Domino.
He showed off his amazing talents and established the territory as a center for reconstruction..
That wasn't all.
‘They even launched a counterattack on our western border..’
A wrinkle appeared between Sultan Samarkan's eyebrows..
I still couldn't forget that report..
Some of the monster hordes sent towards Magentano have returned this way..
Border guards have suffered quite a significant blow..
But even that was said to be the work of Lloyd Frontera..
‘Sometimes, no, I often wondered. I was always curious after hearing numerous related reports. How brilliant is he? Perhaps it has an exaggerated reputation. But now that I actually see it... … He's much more shameless than I imagined..’
I remembered something from before.
Did a high-ranking palace official submit a report in a hurry?.
‘Who would have dared to shamelessly commit such bold extravagance and waste using the Padashar bestowed by me?.’
I couldn't even imagine.
Is this shameless?.
Or maybe I have a big liver.
If not, is it an overt protest?.
He was given a Padashar, symbolizing the Sultan's full favor..
Originally, it was supposed to be used with care and caution..
Or, it would be reasonable and common sense to be ashamed of the fact that you received favor from the head of an enemy country..
‘But what on earth did the author think that he dared to do such a thing? Besides, how can you be so calm even after being called here?.’
The Sultan felt strange..
I watched Lloyd like that for a while..
Finally his mouth opened..
“Lloyd Frontera..”
“Yes, did you call me?.”
“Yeah, it was good?”
“yes?”
“I mean, did it feel good to use Padashar so freely?.”
“Of course it comes. I really, really, truly appreciate it..”
“……Was it that much??”
“Long live the sultan, long live the sultan!”
“…….”
Lloyd bowed down and shouted loudly..
Sultan Samarqan kept his mouth shut..
Author, I thought you would be a little embarrassed..
I didn't know that I would be so happy to receive the favor of the ruler of an enemy country..
“That's amazing. Aren't you afraid that you will be suspected by King Magentano??”
“What do you mean by doubt??”
“I have a suspicion that you are betraying your country by recklessly taking advantage of me. You accepted the favor of the head of an enemy nation without any refusal or hesitation. No, on the contrary, he seemed to enjoy it and even show gratitude without hesitation. Still, you have nothing to worry about??”
“yes. I don't have any.”
“how?”
“Because His Majesty the King of Magentano spent more money on me..”
“…….”
“I regret to say this, but the amount you gave this time is still quite insufficient. But do not worry, great and almighty Sultan. Soin will never forget his gratitude throughout his life just for the grace that the Sultan has bestowed upon him so far..”
“under. He is truly shameless..”
The Sultan stopped laughing..
I wondered what kind of guy there was..
But strangely enough, I didn't hate it that much..
The reason was simple.
The sultan was the one who lived at the center of the court..
As such, I have experienced treacherous flattery and servile pretense throughout my life..
Numerous subjects tried to please him at every moment..
I'm trying to see more somehow.
Trying to get even a little grace.
Like a swarm of flies gathered in the sweet water of power.
Always pretentious and flattering.
But what Lloyd just said?
It wasn't flattery..
Sultan Samarqan was able to see exactly that point..
‘He is truly shameless and strange. A person who dares to say such words in front of Jim sincerely without any pretense?.’
There was no sense of pretense from Lloyd..
The words he just said.
Everyone was honest and sincere..
So it felt so amazing.
“What if I give you more gold and silver treasures? Are you willing to change the flag??”
Like poking around at an exciting new toy..
Or, like touching a ground puppy you’ve never seen with a tree branch..
The Sultan asked, twisting one side of his lip..
I was looking forward to what kind of answer I would get..
Indeed, Lloyd did not disappoint his expectations(?).
“I would like to first ask the great and almighty Sultan whether he would like to have under his command someone who changes his flag so easily..”
“Huh?”
“Boy, honestly, I like gold and silver treasures. It's not just good, it's very good. It is true that if you were to be guaranteed endless wealth and fame, it would be heart-wrenching. However, the small man does not know that if he just says that he will change the flag, he will lose the sultan's trust..”
“Hmm. I'd like to change the flag, but if I do that, I'll lose my trust.?”
“So it is. Therefore, I believe that the flag of temptation that the great and almighty Sultan is now waving is something that a small person cannot possess in his lifetime..”
“……Tsk. He is a clever man..”
The Sultan laughed curiously..
Lloyd Frontera.
Honestly, he was a desirable talent..
He was the one who disrupted his plans..
It means you have that much ability..
Moreover, he was also a person whom the King of Magentano cherished..
But if you include the author at this point,?
I thought it would be helpful for a long time..
‘But at the same time, if you change the flag for a few pennies of gold and silver... … It must be that disappointing..’
Even if such a person has ability, he cannot be trusted and used..
So, I tried to think about it..
The young friend seemed to have already realized this person's intentions..
‘This makes me crave it even more.’
I'm satisfied.
I'm more greedy.
But greed ends here.
Now is the time to slowly bring out the main point that called the author..
“Yes, if you do, I will ask you to carry a burden. Maybe you wanted to meet Jim.?”
“That's right.”
“So, as if to show off, he freely used the Padashar.?”
“It's like that too.”
Lloyd nodded..
it was true.
It was a planned money mess..
It was also a piece of money with a clear purpose..
A situation where the special envoy was being blatantly ignored..
This was because it was thought to be the most efficient way to get the Sultan's attention in that situation..
‘So I spent as much as I could. Ah, but it was much better than I expected. After all, people have to be good at making friends..’
Lloyd thought back to the past few days..
A lot of money made according to a plan and with a purpose..
Nevertheless, I really enjoyed it.
It's the first time in my life I've ever spent so much money..
I also learned a valuable lesson that this is why people care about money..
‘That's why people say you should have good friends. When I see people who brag about how much money they have and try to buy friendship with money, I really need to be friends with them for the rest of my life..’
A friend like that will help you forever..
If possible, you should protect the relationship with all your heart and soul..
For example, the Sultan in front of you right now is like that..
Lloyd took that lesson to heart and carefully opened his mouth..
“I am humbled to tell you this, but it is to beg the great and almighty Sultan to sit down at the negotiation table with the envoys..”
“What about Jim? Please engage in negotiations with the special envoy.?”
“That's right.”
“why?”
“Because war will be a misfortune for everyone..”
Lloyd's voice rang out loud..
The Sultan curled one lip..
“I don't think so.”
“yes?”
“Why is war a misfortune? All you have to do is win.”
“Does that mean that you are confident of victory in the war against Magentano??”
“That's not it.”
The Sultan's smile deepened..
“Where in the world can the promised victory be found? Jim is not foolish enough to be sure of that. I'm just confident that the war with the Magentano royal family will never be detrimental to me..”
“no way…….”
“That's a good look. Have you already guessed Jim’s intentions??”
“Are you trying to turn the clutter inside to the outside??”
“also. Jim didn't look at the wrong person..”
“…….”
Lloyd kept his mouth shut..
Turning the clutter inside out.
Overcoming political conflict with external enemies.
It was a classic method used by numerous rulers in the actual history of Earth..
His head was spinning..
‘Is there some kind of messy conflict domestically? They are probably trying to cover it up or release it through the war with Magentano. So what is the conflict? Think about it. Think about it. Memory, cheer up!!’
I worked hard to read the article in the novel Iron Blood..
I searched through all the drawers in my memories..
I hope so for a while.
Finally something dawned on me.
‘drought.’
Was it when Habiel was crossing the Sultanate in the novel, Iron Blooded Knight?.
There was an episode where we passed through an area suffering from a long drought..
I can't survive because of the drought..
I think we'll all die at this rate.
Nevertheless, the sultan paid no attention..
It is said that it is buried only in the wealth and fame of the capital Ahinsha..
That's why they're planning a rebellion.
They will bring down the sultan and start a new era..
Did local residents who were overcome by evil shout out?.
Did even the local empresses, influential nobles, respond to the call?.
‘Eventually a large-scale rebellion broke out. There was a civil war that lasted several years..’
At the end of the civil war, the sultan is defeated..
The towers of Ahinsha Palace are surrounded by layers..
He ends his life by jumping from the top..
That was the content from the novel Iron Blood Knight..
‘In other words, if the sultan is left like this, his position will be in jeopardy..’
Of course, it may be different from the novel..
Like the Namaran incident, the timing and scale of the incident are likely to vary..
But judging by how the Sultan looks now,?
‘There is a possibility that the rebellion itself will occur. So the Sultan doesn't mind going to war with Magentano. Through that war, they are trying to divert attention domestically and calm discontent. At the core of that dissatisfaction is the long drought..’
The puzzle finally came together in my head..
The sultan starts a war.
Recruit local men.
The families left behind, the elderly and the weak do not have the strength to revolt..
They just hope that their sons, husbands, and fathers who were conscripted and taken to war will be safe..
Moreover, the special situation of being at war helps the sultan..
The people will no longer be able to express any dissatisfaction..
If you express your dissatisfaction carelessly,?
It's perfect for accusing someone of being in cahoots with an enemy country that is at war..
Moreover, if the country is shaken by a civil war, the situation on the battlefield will become unfavorable, and the anxiety that family members taken to the battlefield will be in danger also puts a brake on the people's ability to express their dissatisfaction..
‘That's how they control the people. They force internal unity..’
Lloyd nodded inwardly, drawing up his own scenario..
What are the Sultan's intentions?.
What kind of situation is the Sultan in?.
then…….
What kind of rice cake can he present to the Sultan?.
“However, I would like to boldly say that I believe that drought is not an issue that can be easily covered up by war..”
“……what?”
This is a word that came out right away.
The Sultan's eyebrows twitched at those words..
Lloyd continued, having already calculated the angle of the conversation..
“I am truly sorry that I am telling you these words, but I am telling you this because I cannot bear to see the great and almighty Sultan, who has shown favor to me, being in trouble..”
“……That Jim would be in trouble.?”
“That's right.”
“explain.”
“yes. I'm sorry to inform you.…….”
“Leave out the rhetoric.”
Is this the reason why the keyword “drought” was pointed out at once?.
Before I knew it, the Sultan was looking at me with a straight face..
He wasn't smiling like before..
It's not bad.
The stage has finally been set for proper negotiations..
Lloyd said with that intuition..
“Since the great and almighty Sultan has told me so, I will tell you this directly, little man. As far as I know, I have heard that the Kandahar region of the Sultanate is suffering from a long drought. Do you buy it back??”
“Yes.”
“If you solve the chronic drought in the Kandahar region, will the great and almighty Sultan be able to negotiate with Magentano's special envoy as you wish??”
“……what?”
The sultan's beard twitched..
“Drought? you can solve it?”
“That's right.”
“In the middle of the desert, can you solve the drought that is drying up even the oasis? You?”
“It's like that too.”
“how?”
“I am sorry, but I cannot tell you that much until the great and almighty Sultan accepts my conditions..”
“why?”
the sultan asked.
Lloyd finally raised his head..
I spoke to the Sultan very politely, with my eyes filled with a vague feeling that I really had no choice but to answer like this so as not to offend my wealthy customer as much as possible..
“This is because it is a trade secret..”
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