Chapter 57. Devil’s Contract (2)
The air in the waiting room instantly cooled.
Deep anger flashed in the viscount’s eyes.
Receiving that gaze, Lloyd’s expression became more calm.
“Is that so?”
He shrugged.
I tilted my head.
shamelessly asked.
“It seems that the Viscount is still unable to let go of his pride? In fact, I doubted it before, and I must have been shocked after checking my heart. But ‘was it you?’ Isn’t that a very contrived question?”
“what….”
“You look good now. Let’s keep going like this.”
right!
He buried himself on the sofa and raised his hand.
He snapped his fingers in a light hand gesture.
“look. After all, didn’t the Viscount guess what I did? How nice it would have been if I had told you honestly and openly as soon as I saw your face.”
“…So you’re saying you’re the one who played a joke on our dye studio?”
“yes. I did.”
“What the hell have you done?”
“Are you curious about how?”
“Whoa. of course.”
Still glaring at Lloyd, the Viscount let out a deep sigh.
It had to be.
dye workshop.
It was a self-made viscount who sighed when he recalled the recent incident there.
‘My most precious dye studio….’
The dye workshop was the goose that laid golden eggs for the Viscount.
Cloth Laconata dyed with a special treatment of the concentrate of the radona fruit.
The Lakonata fabric he made was extremely beautiful.
Brilliant and colorful colors were basic.
The unique deep luster that is difficult to describe in writing was unparalleled.
It was impossible to even imitate in other territories.
It was the same even when using Radona fruit.
the western slope of the Eastern Mountains.
It was possible to realize its unique color only by using the radona fruit collected in the region.
What if the radona fruit here is planted elsewhere?
There was no distinctive color and gloss.
It was impossible to transport Radona fruit and use it.
If so, the fruit has deteriorated during transportation.
Likewise, the color of the cloth came out altered.
In addition, the self-governing territory had special know-how accumulated over a hundred years of producing lakonata.
Thanks to this, Lakonata cloth could be treated as a precious specialty produced only here in the Lakonata Vichy.
Of course, it was also the biggest source of income to feed the Viscounty of Lacona.
Literally, it was a goose that laid precious golden eggs.
But at some point, the goose became strange.
no it died
‘that…It was nonsense.’
It was one morning about 50 days ago.
The director of the dye workshop came to visit him.
As soon as he saw himself, he said he started praying for him.
I’m sorry.
that he committed a mortal sin
He said that the Lakonata fabric came out strangely.
When the dye was finished, the color changed strangely. It was said that the unique luster had completely died.
‘At first, I thought it was only that day.’
I just thought the result of the day was strange.
There was something wrong with the raw material fruit.
Or something is wrong with the fabric.
I only knew it like that.
but it wasn’t
the next day too.
the next day too.
for ten days to pass.
let a month pass.
The color and luster inherent to Lakonata cloth did not return.
The beautiful color has died, dull and dingy like never before.
The brilliant luster was nowhere to be found, and it just became dull.
A waste product that cannot be sold.
It has turned into garbage.
‘It was from then.’
The dye workshop was in an emergency.
The raw material, the radona fruit, was completely replaced.
I had to throw away all the concentrated liquid and make a new one.
Even so, Lakonata’s color did not return.
I even tried changing the fabric entirely.
But the result was the same.
The lost luster also did not return.
Merchants who had been steadily buying natural Lakonata turned their back.
Even the customers I had been dealing with for quite a long time started to cut off one by one.
The source of income for the vassal territory, which had always been reliable, had disappeared.
However, the cause of the situation could not be found so far.
Why did Lakonata lose its color and luster?
Even after numerous attempts.
no matter how hard you try
Couldn’t figure out the cause.
As a viscount, I was going crazy and jumping.
The stress was so bad that a handful of hair fell out every day.
I even had stomach pains, and every night a sick feeling came up my throat.
Even so, all the viscount could do was doubt without income.
‘Yes, that guy. Lloyd Frontera. Suspicion of him was all I could do!’
In fact, it was just a heart attack without evidence.
But I couldn’t help but doubt it.
It was because he had illegally discharged the wastewater from the dye workshop.
Because that’s how he inflicted great damage on Baron Prontera and even threatened him.
At this point, he thought it would be the people of House Frontera who would hold the most grudge against him.
And among them, the prime suspect(?) was Lloyd.
‘A young but thoroughly thorough guy.’
That thoroughness and shrewdness that have already been shown many times.
If he had that kind of personality, he thought that he would be able to do this well enough. No matter how much I thought about it, I could only think of Lloyd who would do such a thing.
What I didn’t know was just how the trick was done.
That’s why the viscount suddenly granted Lloyd’s unannounced visit and request for an interview today.
I wanted to confirm.
What tricks he did to his dye studio.
Please, I just wanted to figure out how to do it.
“What the hell did you do to my dye studio?”
The viscount ground his teeth.
I glared at Lloyd.
curse?
Or bad magic?
If not, it is not explained.
Lloyd laughed.
“Hmm. First of all, I want to commend you for naming me as the cause. You are better at guessing than you look. But what about this?”
he shrugged.
“Strictly speaking, the incident at the Viscount’s dye studio wasn’t something I did on purpose, right?”
“What does that mean?”
It’s not something you did on purpose.
What else are you trying to play with?
The viscount hardened his expression.
Lloyd’s smile deepened.
And finally, the cause of the situation at the dye workshop was mentioned.
“It must have happened inevitably because we were building an aqueduct.”
“Aqueduct?”
“yes. built in the valley beautifully.”
“What does that have to do with the work of our dye workshop? say it right! Don’t go round and round like you’re teasing!”
Finally, the viscount exploded.
He almost sat down on the edge of the sofa and leaned over the table towards Lloyd.
Lloyd leaned back comfortably on the sofa.
“Tsk. Have a quick temper. Do you know the properties of limestone?”
“…what?”
“Limestone is a type of sedimentary rock made of calcium carbonate.”
“What is that….”
What kind of nonsense is that?
Lloyd’s calm explanation continued.
“Clams, corals, spongy plankton, and many other organisms make their skeletons or shells out of calcium carbonate. And when they die, that calcium carbonate builds up at the bottom of the sea. It is deposited and hardened over countless hours. That is limestone.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Shh. Please listen carefully to the end. Anyway, the limestone that was created is used as a pretty good building material. Just like this time when I built the aqueduct in the valley halfway up the mountain range. And on the other hand, the limestone bed also turns the surrounding water into limewater.”
“limewater…?”
“yes. It sounds great, but it’s actually simple. Calcium ions and magnesium ions in limestone are dissolved in water, so you can see that the composition ratio of various minerals has changed very slightly.”
“What does that have to do with the dye workshop now?”
“It does matter.”
“why?”
“The water that flows at the bottom of the valley where I built the aqueduct is the headwaters of the Prona River that flows to the Viscount’s estate and ours.”
“what…?”
The viscount’s stiff expression went blank.
It was like someone getting hit in the back of the head.
Lloyd’s calm explanation continued.
“Do you feel a little better now? Hard blasting was done to build an aqueduct in the valley. The limestone bedrock buried in the valley slope was blasted, dug up, and pulled out. Oh, in the process, the quarried limestone was finely chopped and processed, so you had to use a lot of tools. Enormous amounts of limestone crumbs and chips were deposited throughout the valley. Countless, like gravel and sand under the creek water. Thanks-”
Lloyd smiled the whole time.
That smile slowly turned evil.
“This means that the water in the valley has changed a little bit closer to limewater than before.”
“then…no way…The reason why the color of Lakonata in our dye studio has changed….”
“yes. This is because the composition of the Prona River has subtly changed.”
“what…does not make sense….”
“Of course you didn’t realize it at all. Because the change is so small and subtle. It’s not like you can taste it. It’s not likely to have a significant impact on people or the environment.”
Lloyd’s evil smile deepened.
It was as he said.
Limestone blasting and processing carried out in the valley.
Therefore, it was difficult to say that there were many minerals in the valley water.
In fact, the impact on the environment around people and other creatures was also minimal.
As a similar example of the effect on the human body, it could be said that the degree of radioactivity of potassium contained in the tropical fruit banana.
‘Although bananas contain a radioactive isotope of potassium, you have to eat at least 100 million bananas a day to be exposed to radiation by eating them. It’s similar to that, the changes and effects that will occur on the human body due to the minerals mixed in the Prona River. If you want to die of mineral overdose, can you just take one shot of 100 million liters of river water?’
As such, the impact of limewater inflow was minimal.
Of course, that was only true of people and the environment.
“But it will be different for the Viscount’s dye studio. He probably draws water from the river for dye coloring and washing. That’s probably how the wastewater flowed into our estate was made. Right?”
“….”
“It was originally like that. It’s a chemical action. Oh, you don’t know what chemistry is. In any case, even small changes that do not affect people have a big impact on sensitive work such as dyeing.”
“That….”
“Oh, what should I do with this? My heart is about to ache I also like the beautiful Lakonata fabric.”
“….”
“But now, you won’t be able to save that Lakonata forever. That river will be in that state for at least 10 years. However, there would be no way to draw water from other places and use it. What if I made distilled water to get rid of lime? In the end, the composition of the water will change again, so the Lakonata color will still be in a state of runaway.”
“I will sue! I will definitely inform the noble court of this injustice!”
“Yes, file a complaint.”
cried the hot viscount.
Lloyd smirked.
“If you want, feel free to sue. So do you think you can win?”
“what?”
“Lime water is not a contaminant in the first place. Not toxic, of course.”
“….”
The viscount was speechless.
Lloyd’s mercyless fact violence, no bombardment followed.
“Besides, what about this? The limestone and the numerous stone fragments scattered in the valley were not intentionally scattered. It was inevitably sprinkled in the process of development. Do you know that this does not satisfy the ‘intentionality of action’ that is important in the Kingdom Law?”
“High willfulness?”
“yes. It is the willfulness of an act. This means that the action was not done with the intent to cause harm. Besides, if you take a closer look at this situation, the cause lies with the Viscount?”
“Why is it with me!”
“Didn’t the Viscount illegally discharge toxic wastewater into the Prona River that flows into our territory? So, to overcome that, I worked hard to build an aqueduct in the valley. In the course of that act, the limestone had to be blasted fiercely for quarrying, and the water in the valley turned into limewater, and the color of the Viscount’s precious Lakonata fabric turned into a dung-colored monster shouting Good Morning Hellgate. ”
“Heh heh…m what…that….”
“Oops. Do you understand now? But don’t cry.”
“Nonsense. Nonsense….”
The upper body of the Viscount, who was leaning forward as much as possible.
The back of the sofa collapsed helplessly.
He stretched his body helplessly.
I stared at the ceiling with devastated eyes.
The viscount finally realized the cause of this situation.
His eyes were already unfocused.
‘I must have been properly treated by him.’
It felt like being hit in the back of the head with a hammer.
But I couldn’t think of a way out.
No matter how hard I tried, there was no sharp solution.
Sue to the noble court?
I thought that was also useless.
‘Can’t win. It’s as he said. Lime water is not toxic. Because it’s just water. But how can I file a complaint with that?’
Moreover, even if they filed a lawsuit, there seemed to be no answer even if Heaven really helped them and won in court.
‘Because it will take at least a year for a verdict to come.’
During that time, the Lakonata cloth would continue to be in the same condition as it is now.
Many traders will all fall away.
In other words, they lose their specialties and become beggars.
‘That devilish bastard!’
Lloyd looked over and smiled happily.
The sight gave me goosebumps.
I couldn’t even guess how far he had designed and calculated this situation.
No, even if he struggled here, he would have calculated everything in advance and deal a bigger blow.
‘If it’s that guy, that’s enough.’
My fingertips trembled.
An inescapable sense of defeat.
An insurmountable feeling of hopelessness.
Wouldn’t an ant in ant hell feel this way?
Someone told me to calmly close my eyes when life is difficult.
The bleak darkness that seemed like that felt like her own future.
‘Can’t win. There is no way.’
Eventually, the viscount gave up.
No matter how much I calculated, there was no way to win.
So, he had only one option left.
“I…I was wrong.”
The viscount lowered his head.
he said with a sad face.
“The discharge of wastewater to your estate will be stopped immediately. So please, please. Just this once…Can’t you forgive me?”
“You mean forgiveness?”
“Yes.”
The Viscount bowed his head even deeper.
My teeth were grinding inside, but there was nothing I could do about it.
However, an unexpected answer came back from Lloyd.
“Hmm. But what about this? The river water that has turned into limewater is no way.”
“…what?”
“It means that no matter how much you try to clean up the limestone fragments that have spread in the valley now, it will be useless. Because of the large-scale blasting work, the limestone bedrock was too exposed.”
“What is that….”
“Really. Originally, it was lightly covered with a bed of silicates, which are limestone rock clastic deposits. It must have been wrapped around the limestone like a kind of membrane. But it’s all broken. Limestone is all exposed, so there is no way anymore.”
“Oh no, what does that mean? then….”
“That means the river will continue to look like this.”
“….”
The Viscount was at a loss for words.
I thought there would be a solution if I apologized.
That was my last hope left.
That hope was about to disappear.
But that was then.
A demon sitting in front of you.
No, Lloyd Frontera smiled meaningfully.
“Well, since you’re asking for forgiveness like that, it doesn’t mean there’s absolutely no way to revive your Lakonata, Viscount, right?”
“Something like that!”
“Oops. Let go of your sleeves.”
“Oh sorry. Stop because I’m in a hurry….”
“All right. Because I understand your feelings. Then may I offer you a suggestion.”
“proposal?”
“Your suggestion.”
The viscount bit his lip and looked at Lloyd.
I waited for an offer from him.
Lloyd’s mouth finally opened.
“My suggestion is this. Viscount? Do you value Lakonata, a specialty of the dye workshop?”
“That’s right.”
“You really want to revive it and protect it, don’t you?”
“That too, of course.”
“great. Then-”
Lloyd’s eyes smiled.
From the first wastewater incident two months ago.
The big picture I had in mind was finally brought out as a proposal.
“If you want to revive that special product and continue it as a beautiful tradition, please use water supply from our estate. Of course, pay a hefty water bill every month.”
