Chapter 121. Extracting investment money (1)
“I think I will be a bit busy for the time being.”
“What?”
What?
Could it be because of the sudden voice?
The baron’s fingers tightened.
The small carving knife swung away.
The baron’s other hand made a long scratch on the wooden doll being made.
“Ouch, this….”
A sad expression comes to mind for a while.
Baron Frontera took his eyes off the wooden doll.
“Are you going to be busy?”
“Are you okay with that?”
“Oh it’s okay. It’s a place to cut anyway, so there’s no problem. He didn’t even hurt his hand.”
“thank god.”
Unlike his words, Lloyd felt a bit regretful.
A hobby that the baron enjoyed making wooden dolls.
I heard that it was a hobby that I stopped after the family was weighed down by private loans.
Then recently started again.
I’ve paid off all my debts
The family crisis is over.
There must have been a meaning to quietly enjoy the daily life that was regained after a long time.
But now, it seems that the daily life will have to stop again for the time being.
“Refugees have come to our estate.”
“What?”
The baron, who was trying to repair the scratch with the carving knife again, hesitated.
“What do you mean by refugee?”
“It is literally. The number is about eighty.”
“Did you find out where you came from?”
“yes. It is the barony of Sortino in the south.”
“what? for a moment. As for Sortino….”
“Yes, it is adjacent to the Eastern Mountains. Just like us.”
“….”
The baron’s eyes slowly widened.
A territory adjacent to the eastern mountains.
It must be because he understood the meaning.
said Lloyd.
“Unfortunately, they said they couldn’t cope with the monster domino phenomenon. I heard that the manor itself is completely in ruins.”
“Then what about the Baron Sortino family?”
“It is said to be missing.”
“Such a tragedy….”
“First of all, we ordered to provide warm water and food to the refugees. However, I have something to tell you.”
Lloyd said quickly before the baron’s expression darkened further.
“Probably more refugees will come in.”
“Yes, I guess. That’s why you said you’ll be busy for the time being.”
“yes.”
“And what about news from other territories? Did you hear anything?”
“doesn’t exist. Just-”
“Just?”
“I think most of them have suffered something similar to Baron Sortino.”
“….”
The baron’s mouth fell shut.
It was hard to believe, but it felt real enough.
Hundreds of thousands of locusts that first attacked the territory.
It was because the baron was also the one who directly experienced the shock and horror.
‘Yes, if such a situation arises, where can I prevent it…It probably wasn’t much.’
Even now, it was the baron who often dreams of that day.
At times like that, I would wake up soaked in a cold sweat and toss and turn.
So, this is not an easy problem to see.
click.
The baron put down the wooden doll and the carving knife.
“if…You mean those refugees will come to our estate?”
“yes.”
“how much?”
“I think most of them.”
“what?”
“So even if you set it as a minimum, it seems that thousands of people will easily pass 10,000 units for the basics.”
The baron’s eyes widened.
Lightly at least thousands to 10,000 units.
It was a number that far exceeded expectations even from the point of view of the baron, who was preparing his mind to some extent.
It was natural.
The baronial territory of Prontera, which he has ruled so far.
The total population of this territory was less than 5,000.
In other words, his son was saying that in the future, refugees several times more than the population of the territory would flock here at once.
“that…No matter what the circumstances, is that really going to happen?”
“I think it might be.”
“….”
Gulp Baron’s throat vibrates.
Lloyd is always right.
Looking back, it was always like that.
Have you ever suffered a loss by doing what your son told you to do?
How many things have you gained so far by believing in those words?
Perhaps this time too.
Besides, there was sufficient reason to believe his son’s words.
“but. Come to think of it, what you said makes sense.”
The baron collected his thoughts with a thoughtful expression.
“Most of the territories adjacent to the eastern mountains must have suffered great damage. Besides, the territories adjacent to the west would have been no exception.”
“Yes, I will.”
“yes. Looking at it that way, there aren’t that many places for refugees to go.”
“yes. There are other mountain ranges further west, and the south is a foreign country.”
“Even so, you won’t be able to move to the east where the monsters are coming, so in the end the only place to go is the north….”
“There are probably only us and the Viscounty of Lacona in that route. Of course, there is Cremo, the central city of this province, but it is too far away.”
“yes. To make matters worse, since winter is coming, it will be too difficult for a starving and naked refugee to get to Cremo.”
“yes. They will probably flock to suitable places to spend the winter.”
“That means it will be our manor.”
“yes.”
A smile crept across Lloyd’s lips.
After all, the baron is a person who can communicate.
He lacks the courage to overcome difficult times, but at least he knows how to listen to the advice of those around him.
Especially in the current situation, that was really, really important.
“So it is. I think I need to prepare two things before people rush in.”
“Two?”
“The most urgent thing when accepting refugees is food and shelter.”
“Food and shelter.”
The baron’s expression darkened.
“I guess we have to stop the festival for now. I’ll have to stock up on a little more food. But that alone seems to be far short of enough to sustain tens of thousands of people all winter long.”
It was true.
The food currently stored in the territory was never plentiful.
The Marez clearing land had its first harvest.
However, there was a lot of trial and error because it was the first time to pack a clearing.
It was still barely enough for the villagers to eat food for the whole winter.
But what if refugees are added?
Even if the number of refugees is several times the number of local residents?
that has no answer
The baron said the first thought that came to mind.
“Should I even earn an income? In Cremo?”
“Well, that would be a good way. But I’d like to leave that as the next best thing.”
“Does that mean there is a different best solution?”
“yes.”
“What was it?”
“A locust. The bell caught the volcanic eruption the other day.”
“….”
The baron’s expression froze.
“…what? You’re going to eat that locust carcass? To the refugees?”
If that was the case, wouldn’t everyone throw up in rejection?
Or maybe everyone is so angry that they start a riot.
It was the first thought that came to mind in the baron’s frozen cerebral cortex.
Actually, it wasn’t even a crowd.
to eat locusts.
It was something he had never imagined.
No, it was a very unfamiliar concept to the people of Laurasia.
Unlike Lloyd, who is from Korea.
‘Grasshoppers look a bit like that, but if you cook them well, they’re quite good as a beer snack.’
Moreover, it was the same when thinking of the chrysalis, a snack enjoyed by the majority of Koreans.
He, a Korean, and Baron, a Laurasia Continental.
The standards for rejecting insect food were different between the two.
said Lloyd.
“it’s okay. won’t die No, it will taste better than you think. And the nutrition is incredible.”
“But no matter how much the bugs….”
“Besides, it’s not a small bug. So it will be better.”
“Would it be better?”
“Because I won’t be able to eat it whole.”
One of Lloyd’s lips curled up.
“These locusts are 70 cm long. Even if you remove the head or legs and peel off the skin, leaving only the kernel? It should be a good 50 cm. That’s why.”
“so?”
“yes. No one can eat it all at once. Wouldn’t it be nice to think of a steak as that size?”
“ah….”
A strangeness appeared in the baron’s eyes.
It seems to be picking up slowly now.
“Are you saying that you’re going to cut only the lean meat into small pieces and eat it anyway?”
“Yes, that is it.”
Lloyd’s smile deepened.
Human psychology is like that.
The more food ingredients are preserved as they were when they were alive, the more people feel a great sense of rejection. The likes and dislikes intensify. That’s why most of the dishes are trimmed to hide the original shape.
Moreover, refugees are not mukbang BJs or food fighters.
No one takes and eats a round shape that is over 50 cm long.
So what about when people are served locust meat?
It will be finely chopped and processed on the plate.
“Of course, that doesn’t mean that the objection to locust meat will completely disappear. That’s why it seems like we need to develop a menu.”
“Menu development?”
“Because it must be necessary to eat deliciously.”
Lloyd shrugged.
“For now, let’s move. I think we need to deal with urgent matters first.”
“Yeah, that would be nice.”
The baron also nodded.
If the refugees’ testimony is true.
If Lloyd’s prediction is indeed correct.
I had to hurry up and get ready right now.
♣
The baroning became busy.
Large numbers of refugees flocking forward.
Preparations to greet them (?) were steadily made.
The first was the processing of locust meat obtained in large quantities.
They were already baked to a crisp by the Volcanic Explosion skill.
In addition, the weather was cool, so the storage condition was excellent.
trimmed it
Xaviel was in charge of the processing work.
“Come on, everyone, look at me and follow me. like this from here. like this.”
He demonstrated with a dagger.
The crispy-cooked locust skin peeled off in an instant.
Shrimp-like white skin quickly revealed itself.
“Is it that easy?”
“….”
Of course, it was never easy.
The guardsmen grunted and peeled off their skins.
The meat of the locust, which was only the flesh, was left in the hands of the women of the estate.
The women followed the Baroness’s lead.
“Actually, I tasted it a little earlier.”
said the baroness politely.
The eyes of the women widened at her words.
You said your wife ate that first? did you taste it? That nasty locust?
“Yes, that’s right. I chewed and swallowed it. It was a better experience than I thought.”
“….”
“Based on that experience, I thought I would need a slightly stronger seasoning. I had a slight sniff. That’s why.”
The baroness smiled gracefully.
An old booklet was tucked on the countertop.
“I’m sure everyone knows this cookbook. If you are a well-rounded and dignified wife, of course, this is a luxury cookbook that you would like to own or want to have at least one copy, ‘I Will Become the Dragon King’s Chef’.”
“Oh my goodness.”
A murmur of envy arose among the women.
It wasn’t even a crowd.
I will become the dragon king’s chef.
That cookbook was literally one of the best cookbooks on the Laurasia continent for hundreds of years.
This is because it is a rare cookbook called a legend, written and left by a foreign girl who served a dragon in a human body hundreds of years ago and became a maid.
“Yes, that cookbook you all know is right. You’ll remember my son’s last fight against the Warlock. It was brought from the Warlock’s Lair at that time. So I’m thinking of developing a locust dish by referring to this cookbook. How do you all feel?”
“…!”
Of course, the heads of the women nodded at the speed of light.
With so many people preparing food for the refugees, Lloyd was also busy.
However, his busyness was quite different from that of others.
he walked
I just walked all day.
I walked all over the estate all day every day.
He walked without hesitation, as if he had been caught on a walk.
Sometimes he would stop and nod his head.
There were times when I looked around and sighed, or lost myself in thought.
Like that, Lloyd walked and looked around and walked to every corner of the estate for several days.
It looked as if the soul of Kim Jeong-ho, a great man who drew Daedongyeojido, had possessed it.
Of course, none of the locals thought him strange.
“Of course there must be a reason. Because you are Lord Lloyd.”
“Nothing. Because you’re Lord Lloyd.”
“It is. Because you are Lloyd.”
Now, the troublemaker of Baron Prontera, who was more shunned than the walking plague, was nowhere to be found.
Instead, all of his actions were defined and understood in one word.
Because you are Lloyd.
That one word was enough.
Now, even if the male Lloyd walked around on his hands while standing on his hands, rolling forwards, backwards, and tumbling, the residents seemed to understand him with the generous words, “Because you’re Lloyd.”
In any case, more than a fortnight passed.
In the meantime, Lloyd’s prophecy came true one by one.
Refugees flocked in every day. continued to flock more flocked rushed endlessly.
A small group of about 10 people.
Big groups over 100 people.
everyone.
eastern region.
Refugees from all over the territory began to form a bustling crowd.
When this really happened, Baron Frontera’s complexion turned pale.
“What should I do with this?”
The morning of the 16th day since the refugees began to flock.
The baron summoned Lloyd.
He complained in an anxious voice.
“Whoa. After hearing what you said, I prepared my heart, but when it comes down to it, people are pouring in endlessly like this, so I feel afraid first.”
It was honestly true.
I expected.
There will be a huge influx of refugees.
I prepared my mind and made up my mind.
But have you ever actually experienced something like this?
Do you see with your own eyes the scale of the refugees flocking to you?
I felt something on my skin.
It felt like a much more serious situation than I had vaguely imagined.
It was almost out of breath.
“I made various preparations, such as locust meat, but this father is afraid. Will I be able to take care of them properly? Or should I get only the right number and send the rest inevitably to other places? Is it possible to provide them with a place to rest their eyes from the cold wind right now? I was so worried that I couldn’t sleep last night.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
“It is. Daejeon How should I accept this situation…. So that’s it. This father heard that you have recently been looking around every nook and cranny of the territory. Did you find a solution to their housing problem that you didn’t mention before?”
The baron recalled the report he heard a few days ago.
Did Lloyd say that he walked all over the estate all day long?
so i guessed
His son must be doing something called surveying. When he mentioned locust meat a few days ago, he thought it was to prepare housing measures that he hadn’t told me about.
Indeed, the baron’s guess was not wrong.
“Yes, we have prepared countermeasures.”
“As expected. thank god. So, what was the solution?”
“Well, it’s natural to build a temporary tent right away. In the end….”
“Finally?”
the baron asked hopefully.
Lloyd smiled sweetly.
“Have you ever heard of an apartment?”
