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History of the Greatest Territory Design - Episode 58

58fury. devil's contract (3)

“Of course, you pay a large water bill every month..”

Cooung!

The Viscount's heart sank..

Even the Viscount himself could not figure out the reason..

Actually, I didn't even understand what the water tax meant..

But even though I don’t know the meaning, I got the feeling.

From the moment I heard it, I started to feel anxious..

A sense of crisis arose that something had gone wrong..

The Viscount gathered his courage and asked a question..

“Hey, I'm sorry... … What is the water tax??”

“Oh, is this your first time hearing this? It's simple. This is the tax you pay for using clean water from the water supply..”

“So, water use tax.?”

“You understand quickly..”

“Putting a tax on water?”

“yes.”

Lloyd grinned as if asking something so obvious..

“From the water intake station, through a clean conduit, to the reservoir on the estate. We provide a stable supply of the highest quality water that our customers can trust. Clear, clean water that grandfather drinks, grandmother washes her face with, mom and dad make soup, and children splash around in the water. How is it. Doesn’t your heart beat just thinking about it??”

“…….”

The viscount had no answer..

Lloyd chuckled..

okay.

Of course my heart will race.

Your heart must be pounding triple axel to the 16-beat Jajinmori rhythm at the unprecedented concept of charging a usage tax on water..

‘So you touched the wrong person.’

Lloyd's smile became slightly evil..

Suddenly, I remembered the time when I first planned the water supply system..

Perhaps it was the day when I climbed the eastern mountains with Javiel and went on a surveying field trip..

At first, I was only thinking about overcoming the crisis facing the Barony..

At this point, I was placating myself by thinking that even if it costs money, it won't be a big loss if I create a stable water supply system..

But the truth was, I was resentful..

building a water supply.

it was good.

It was really good.

However, to move on with relief that the crisis had been overcome, I felt like the knot in my heart would not be resolved..

‘No matter what, I wanted to give you a big treat at least once..’

Do-it-yourself before your eyes.

What did they do to give up the Marez reclaimed land?.

Toxic wastewater was illegally discharged into the river..

When I asked about it, it came out as a stomachache..

No, he even threatened me..

He even sent a knight under his command to convey the message that he would not stop discharging toxic wastewater until half of the Marez reclaimed land was released..

Being rude or.

There is no case.

It was a literal tyranny that went far beyond the line of.

‘So I couldn't sleep well at night at that time..’

When I lay down to sleep, gold coins fluttered before my eyes..

Ondol rooms are still being made and sold one by one..

Even though I was paying off the interest, I still had some money left over..

Various construction projects were carried out with the funds..

Even then, I saved up all the extra money I had left..

‘But suddenly something came up where I had to pour it all out. Because of you.’

Lloyd's eyes turned cold towards the Viscount..

As I remembered the emotions of that time, my blood ran cold again..

Maybe it was because of those feelings.

The day I went on a surveying field trip with Habiel.

When I discovered a limestone bedrock in a valley halfway up the mountain range, I clenched my fist without realizing it..

I burst out in cheers, shouting ‘This is it!’.

Slightly exposed limestone bedrock.

Water flowing down one side of a wide valley.

That was when I found out that the water was upstream of the ‘Prona River’ that flows into the Viscounty and Barony territories..

A calculation was made explosively in my head..

The angle came out in an instant.

a picture was drawn.

The original plan was to end with only waterworks being built..

It was the moment when a plan to fuck the Viscount was added to the plan..

‘It was from then on..’

Lloyd's redefined the nature of the waterworks construction plan.

It was not just for the development of the territory..

It was set as a literal secret weapon to attack the Viscount..

That's why.

“Don't worry. There will never be a shortage of water to supply. because. From the time I first prepared for the construction of the water supply system, I calculated the amount of water to be supplied to the Viscount’s dye workshop and designed the size of the water pipes and water intake station..”

Yes.

everything went according to plan.

“We also investigated the route to install water pipes from our territory to the Viscount's dye workshop. The ground was very stable. The slope was just right, so it was quite easy to set the water flow rate in the conduit..”

“what is that……?”

“This means that not only the survey but also the design has been completed. As long as the builder sends an OK sign, construction can begin immediately starting tomorrow. You will probably be able to receive clear water from the dye workshop in about 15 days at the earliest..”

Lloyd's smile was relaxed..

I'm just saying it now, but I really wanted to see the Viscount's face shaking like that..

“So think carefully. I hope that you will also carefully consider the Viscount’s position. You probably don't think it's unfair to charge a fee for water.?”

“that…….”

“Yes, you may feel a little reluctant because it is an unfamiliar concept. But, if you don't like it, everything, including the dye workshop and La Conata specialty products, will fail..”

“…….”

The Viscount's fingertips were shaking terribly..

That's how Lloyd's smile became more relaxed..

Javiel, looking at the two like that, had to clenched his fists without realizing it..

‘It's scary..’

Javiel unconsciously shook off the goosebumps on his forearms..

The master he serves, Lloyd Frontera..

I knew from a long time ago that he was dirty and had a twisted personality..

But I didn't know it would be like this.

‘I never thought he had a plan like this.’

Even when the waterworks construction was completed earlier,.

In the meantime, Lloyd suddenly asked me to go collect the money..

It was Javiel who could not even imagine a situation like this..

No, actually, I just thought I couldn't understand it..

It was like that when I came down the mountain range with Lloyd..

It was always like that, even when Lloyd visited the Viscount's mansion and even when he applied for an interview that would not have been accepted..

‘I just thought Lloyd came to vent his anger..’

So I stopped it.

This is callous behavior.

It's like being swayed by emotions and creating more conflict..

Did you stop Lloyd for a moment?.

‘But I was wrong.’

Javiel accepted it obediently..

I had no choice but to admit this much..

That master you serve is really…….

‘Kill it completely and thoroughly. It almost makes me feel sorry for the viscount, who has been obnoxious all this time..’

It was his honest impression..

Lloyd was great, but I felt sorry for the Viscount that much..

In fact, his feelings for Viscount Lacona were not very positive..

He was the persecutor of his master, the Baron..

But now I felt sorry for the viscount..

No, it was so pitiful, pitiful, and pitiful that I couldn't help it..

In reality, while Javiel was watching, the Viscount was not only shaking his fingertips, but even his lips and eyebrows..

Feeling like an ant in ant hell.

It was because I felt such despair..

‘Wrong. There's no way out of this.’

I never would have thought he was this thorough..

I never thought I would put pressure on myself in this way..

I didn't expect it even in my dreams.

No, he never imagined there would be a method like this..

Waterworks?.

Bringing clear water from far away.

While making something like that, you even calculated in advance the amount of water to be supplied to the dye workshop..

‘He was planning to stop me and kill me from the beginning..’

The Viscount's eyes turned to Lloyd..

A young guy who's still looking this way and glaring.

I no longer felt like a kid..

The more I looked at it, the more I got goosebumps..

‘Why would I touch a guy like that?.’

If I could, I wanted to turn back time two or three months ago..

I wanted to slap myself for calling the dye factory supervisor and ordering him to discharge the wastewater into the river..

But it was already too late.

There is no way to turn back time.

There is only one way to revive the dye workshop..

“……Phew. I understand.”

In the end, Viscount Lacona nodded grimly..

One side of Lloyd's lip curled up..

“What I mean is that I understand?”

“I will accept your offer..”

“Are you saying you are going to install a water supply in the dye workshop??”

“……That's right.”

“Well thought out.”

fluttering!

Lloyd moved as soon as he finished speaking..

I took out the rolled up document from my pocket..

I spread it out on the table..

The Viscount’s eyes wavered..

“This is something?”

“Well, whatever. This is a water supply contract..”

“…….”

The Viscount was speechless..

Seriously, I wondered if there were all these guys..

Once again, the feeling of reality reached my skin..

Even the contract was meticulously prepared in advance..

I thought that that guy was really determined to scratch and suck out every bone in this place..

‘Ugh…….’

The Viscount’s sad eyes moved..

I looked at the contract as if reading a declaration of defeat..

Meanwhile, the Viscount's eyes shook greatly once again..

“This is something?”

“What do you mean??”

“Here, this is it.”

The Viscount touched the contract with a puzzled hand..

At the place he pointed to, there was written the water tax that the Viscount had to pay to the Frontera family every month..

“Is this number possibly wrong??”

“why? Do you think there are one or two more zeros??”

“That's right. I think there was a mistake and I wrote it wrong.…….”

“It's written correctly..”

“…….”

“The amount in the contract is correct..”

“what…….”

“Do you think it's expensive??”

“Of course…….”

The Viscount could not bear to continue speaking and looked at the contract again..

There was an absurd amount written in the water tax category..

‘It's just water.’

Putting a price on water was also shocking..

However, that amount was unrealistic enough to slap him in the face as he fainted, adding about 3,000 to his face in a round trip..

Lloyd's scolding came towards the viscount..

With a truly pitiful expression.

“what the. Do you still feel like the water is free??”

“…….”

“You thought it was okay to use it just because it flows down the river, right? But what should I do? You are the one who first told our people about the importance of the water in that river..”

“…….”

Toxic wastewater discharge incident committed by himself.

Thinking of that, the Viscount's face darkened..

Lloyd continued..

“Thanks to this, all of our Yeongji family realized this painfully. Water isn't free. It's a resource that can be used up at any time. Sometimes, you have to pay a big price to get it..”

it was true.

Just a sip of clear water.

A glass of water that you can safely drink.

To get it, most of Youngjimin had to roll up their sleeves..

Even children had to move rocks to create a temporary reservoir. Even ondol construction had to be completely halted and all engineers had to climb the eastern mountain range..

It was a time of sweating, cutting down countless giant bamboos, shoveling, and building an aqueduct..

Only after such a process were the residents of the Barony territory able to regain clear water..

A painful lesson that sometimes water isn't free..

Now it was time to teach the Viscount his lesson..

“So, that is. I can't understand at all. Why do you think this is expensive? Think about it. Don't you think about the effort it would take to bring clean water all the way here??”

“…….”

“Is designing and installing water pipes something that can be done quickly? It is a job that requires enormous technical and labor force. And is it just a matter of installing it? No management? Also, who manages it??”

“Of course…….”

“yes. I will do it. Our Frontera family does it. You should always check the pipes for leaks. We also need to manage floating matter and sediment at the water intake site. Sometimes old pipes also need to be replaced. Does that feel like a child's joke? Does this still mean that the water bill is expensive??”

“Well, that's…….”

“If you don't like it, don't do it, then.”

fluttering.

The contract spread out on the table disappeared..

To be exact, it was instantly rolled up in Lloyd's hands..

I was trying to get back into his arms..

The Viscount moved reflexively..

“Now, wait a minute.!”

Suddenly!

Without realizing it, the Viscount stretched out his hand..

I grabbed Lloyd's wrist as he took the contract to his chest..

Only then did the Viscount realize his hasty actions..

“Ah, hahaha.”

The Viscount laughed awkwardly..

Lloyd smiled sweetly at the viscount..

“Have you changed your mind??”

“Yeah, I guess so..”

“great. You are wise..”

Chorak!

The rolled up contract is back on the table..

Lloyd said.

“I won't talk too much. Both sheets are the same, here, here, and here. Please sign..”

“…….”

The Viscount took up his pen..

A sad look was written all over my face as I was inking..

But now the Viscount was keenly aware that there was really no other way..

“Phew.”

The signature followed with a long sigh..

While the signing continued, Lloyd's clown also quietly ascended to heaven..

‘done. With this, we are completely free from the interest we used to pay to loan sharks..’

He clenched his fists..

I remembered the debt the Baron family owed to loan sharks..

I thought about the huge amount of interest I had to pay every month..

But from now on, I'm done worrying about interest..

The reason was simple.

The contract presented to the viscount now..

The water tax you will receive every month.

This was because the amount of the water bill was the same as the interest paid to the loan shark..

In other words, from now on, the viscount will be paying the baron's interest instead..

A future with zero interest worries.

In the future, I will be able to use the money I am saving to pay off my debt.!

‘Actually, I just wanted to destroy the Viscounty's dye workshop itself..’

Or I wanted to tell them to pass on that skill..

But Lloyd shook his head..

‘The Viscount would not have accepted that offer even if he died..’

It was obvious even without looking.

Not only could it not be accepted, but it could have caused a bigger backlash..

‘In a worst case scenario, the Viscount could send his petition directly to the King rather than to the noble court..’

Changing the composition of the river water ruined specialties..

There was a huge difference between asking for a water tax in exchange for reviving it and asking for the dye workshop itself to be released..

If the former is an act that can be seen as a good of trade,.

The latter can be seen as a clear category of threat..

‘If you try to swallow a piece of cake that is too big for no reason, you get caught up in gossip, and if the king criticizes you, you could suffer great losses. It is only politically and realistically good to benefit only to this extent. Anyway, we have to continue to be neighbors with the Viscounty Territory..’

Reality is not a land grab like the Romance of the Kingdoms game..

Collecting huge water bills every month.

That's how you stick an extra large straw and suck money out over and over again..

That was exactly what Lloyd thought was the wisest and maximum realistic benefit, the Maginot Line..

“Phew. Can I sign here too??”

Before I knew it, the Viscount's signature was being completed..

Where the Viscount points.

All you have to do is sign the last one and the contract will be complete..

It was the moment Lloyd was about to answer, thinking that..

“Just wait a moment, my lord.!”

Kwaang!

The reception room door opened violently, as if broken..

A stocky-looking man rushed in through the open door..

and shouted.

“You shouldn't have to pay water bills to a coward like me! So please stop signing that unfair contract and kick that ruthless bastard out, my lord.!”

An earnest lament shouting through black beards.

Not big but stocky physique.

It was Sir Crono, the senior knight of the Viscounty..

He pointed in this direction and shouted sternly..

“Lloyd Frontera! How dare you insult my lord like this and still get away with it?!”

It was literally a sudden intrusion..

It was an act of tampering with a contract that had already been concluded..

That's why.

Lloyd looked at Lord Cournot with warm eyes..

I sincerely answered what Sir Cournot had just shouted..

“huh.”

At the same time he thought.

Now that I think about it, that guy was a bit annoying before too..

But, despite being true to himself, he had forgotten about that guy..

‘But how pretty is it that you came to me and appealed to me with all your might to ask me to take care of you?.’

Lloyd's smile as he looked at Sir Cournot became even more rewarding and gratifying..