Chapter 164. City on the Cliffs (2)
“You’re Lloyd Frontera? When I actually met this, it seems that the rumors are very wrong. Rumors never said that he was handsome because he was so tall. Heh heh heh!”
…It’s a start again.
Lloyd let out a light sigh.
And I took a look.
The luxurious drawing room of Count Namaran’s mansion.
I saw an old man coming across the space.
An impression that somehow resembles Santa Claus.
Namaran was Countess.
I thought he was walking this way, but he patted Xaviel on the shoulder with a satisfied face.
“Was it difficult to get here?”
“No, not so much.”
“I did. Come over here and sit down. haha. He’s a handsome friend to look at again and again.”
The count’s smile toward Xaviel grew warmer.
Watching it brings out a bittersweet smile.
under.
what should i say about this
Should I step up and say, ‘Hey, actually, I’m Lloyd Frontera.’
Lloyd shook his head softly.
‘No, somehow that’s more miserable.’
The left nostril and the right nostril vibrated twice.
At that time, fortunately(?), a lady named Nama came forward and gave it to me.
“Hey father?”
“hmm?”
“Actually, this is….”
She pointed this way with a slightly perplexed face.
Only then did Count Namaran’s gaze creep toward us.
He tilted his head.
“this way? Ah, it must be the escort knight for Youngshik in Frontera? Rumor has it that the escort knight and sword master, Sir Xaviel Asrahan, looks like a god-formed statue. Hmm, judging from the state of this friend’s face, it doesn’t seem like the dark side of the rumor.”
The Count turned to Xaviel.
“Looks like you didn’t bring Sir Asrahan with you this time. If I had a chance, I wanted to meet the rising sword master of the kingdom. Too bad. I’m really sorry.”
The Count licked his lips, as if he was really sorry.
Lloyd, too, had to taste the bitterness of life.
The lady Nama said with a more embarrassed face.
“Here, father. This is Prince Prontera.”
“Hmm?”
“This is Lloyd Frontera….”
“….”
The count’s movements stopped.
Everyone in the drawing room was silent for three seconds.
Soon the count’s white beard stirred.
“This one?”
“yes.”
“Lloyd Frontera?”
“Your father.”
“Then what about over there?”
“This is Sir Xaviel Asrahan.”
“The rumored sword master?”
“yes.”
“Kuhm! hmm! No matter how you look at it, that side seemed aristocratic, right?”
“Ah father. No matter how much Lord Ashrahan looks much more noble than Prince Frontera, and even if that is an undeniable and undeniable fact, if you say it so openly….”
…construction and what
Should I just hit it all up and go home?
Lloyd swallowed bitter inhalations, feeling the harmful effects of superficialism soaring like an ongdal spring in a deep mountain.
But the more shameless the more it is like this.
“nice to see you. This is Lloyd Frontera.”
I took advantage of the opportunity (?) to introduce myself that I finally seized.
Count Namaran smiled broadly as if embarrassed or ashamed.
“this. There were a lot of rudeness from the beginning.”
“it’s okay. Because it’s not the first time.”
“is it? also.”
…what is it too!
Lloyd shouted inwardly.
For some reason, these women have been hitting people’s stomachs with facts ever since.
But oddly enough, I didn’t feel bad.
On the contrary, I felt pity when I saw Count Namaran smiling kindly.
It was because he remembered the scene he had seen on the way to the mansion.
‘They don’t know at all that beings like cancer cells are taking root in the city he rules.’
The Cannavaro we met earlier.
The person who caused the Namaran incident in the original work.
In addition to that, it was Lloyd who had seen unexpected things.
‘I didn’t know that Cannavaro was using that pattern.’
Reaper with a black dragon head.
It was a pattern from the place where the undead mastodon was excavated.
It was a clue that the Necromancer who manufactured it must have used it.
It was also the new mark of the royal family used by the tyrant Alicia in the novel Iron Blooded Knight.
However, Cannavaro was using that pattern.
The meaning was clear.
‘There is a possibility that the author is deeply related to or the same person as the necromancer who buried the undead mastodon near our territory.’
It’s not just there.
I feel like things are getting bigger and bigger.
So, I’ll have to dig into this sometime.
Capturing those thoughts, Lloyd raised his gaze.
First of all, from the work with Count Namaran right in front of me.
Thinking so, I spread a commercial smile.
He loaded the prepared remarks onto his tongue.
“Anyway, it’s an honor to meet you, Count. It is an even greater honor to be able to lend a hand in resolving the chronic problems plaguing your city.”
“hmm? What does that mean?”
Count Namaran tilted his head.
I asked curiously.
“Is it a chronic problem? Could it be that my daughter never got married?”
“no. I was referring to the cliff collapse problem.”
“Cliff?”
“yes.”
“Then what about marriage?”
“Oh that….”
“Did you come to repair the cliffs in the city rather than accept our family’s marriage proposal?”
“yes.”
It seems that this is another misunderstanding.
Lloyd said with a bitter laugh.
“I am ashamed to say this, but your daughter deserves too much of me. Even if you don’t have to be someone like me, you will be able to connect with even better people.”
“…Big hum. I’m still sad.”
“sorry. Still, if you think about it differently, you can still send your daughter’s wedding book later, but it won’t be difficult to save it again after the ground collapse continues.”
“Is that how it is?”
“yes. I think so.”
“One word is a liquidation flow.”
“thank you.”
“It’s also shameless.”
“sorry.”
“So you’re saying you’re here to help solve our city’s crumbling cliff problem?”
“That’s an accurate summary.”
Fortunately, Count Namaran seemed to be a man with a down-to-earth mindset.
From then on, he did not mention the matter of marriage.
Instead, he asked with a more serious look.
“I have heard of your reputation as a builder. I have heard of your exploits in Cremo and of the new bridge you have built on the royal road. But I didn’t sit idle on the cliff issue here either. I called a famous builder and made every effort. And all failed. Are you saying that you are confident?”
“yes.”
No need for a long answer.
Lloyd hurriedly brought out the words he had thought of beforehand, as if pointing out only the gist.
“I will direct and supervise the construction, and the Count can provide funds and manpower. If the construction ends in failure or a serious defect is discovered, I will pay the pre-negotiated penalty to the Count.”
“A penalty?”
“yes. Let’s look at it from here first.”
Lloyd pulled the papers out of his bosom.
The Count raised one eyebrow slightly.
“What is this?”
“This is a construction order contract.”
It was written in advance the day before departure from the Frontera estate.
Lloyd said, pointing out every corner of the contract.
“As you can see here, the count will be entrusting me with the authority and responsibility for construction. I take on the role of technical support and general supervision in the field surveying and design construction process. In return, you will receive a certain amount of money when the construction is completed stably.”
“Hmm, the amount…Is it worth it?”
“Because it’s something I can’t do.”
“I’m also self-confident.”
“I think it’s rather cheap for the amount of investment it takes to permanently stabilize the city’s ground.”
“But what is this item here? Long-term management costs?”
“Ah, that’s the cost of taking care of the facility even after construction is over.”
“Should I pay you this amount separately every four quarters a year?”
“yes. No matter how successful the construction is, continuous facility management is essential.”
“Hmm…. I guess this.”
Count Namaran stroked his beard.
And he looked at me with suspicious eyes.
“Are you trying to rob my warehouse over and over again? Are you greedy enough?”
“It’s just getting a fair price for the work you do. That’s why this penalty item has also been set up here.”
“Yes, penalty. I’ve been curious about it since before, let’s see.”
Count Namaran’s eyes scanned the bottom of the contract.
Soon he shook his head.
“I like this.”
“Isn’t it?”
“To think that if the construction fails or there is a major defect in the result, you will vomit three times the construction price at me. Will this be okay?”
“It’s a contract.”
“Is that why you wrote these documents?”
“That way, we can have a minimum trust in each other, wouldn’t it?”
Lloyd grinned.
A contract is the minimum device that guarantees mutual trust.
That was Lloyd’s idea of the contract.
‘Because I’m leaving a promise as clear evidence. It would be rather difficult without a contract.’
In particular, the one who is hired becomes infinitely more difficult. be at a disadvantage The odds of being unfairly disadvantaged are greatly increased.
My experience in Korea was telling me that well.
‘When was it? It was when I went to the Pohang site.’
It reminded me of the days when water rose in the midst of Nogada.
One day, I got a call from the captain who took good care of me at the site.
There is a 15-day job in Pohang.
There will be overtime work almost every day to provide lodging. it will be salty
As soon as I heard it, I shouted ok.
That’s how I went to the Pohang site.
As soon as they arrived, they were put into work immediately after safety training.
But that’s when I made a big mistake.
‘I didn’t write an employment contract. It was like that on the spot. I’m really busy right now, so I can do it first and use it later.’
At the time, I just thought that was the case and moved on.
that good is good
I can use it later, but I’m afraid I’ll make a bad impression if I act picky.
I’m afraid I’ll hear you say it’s unusual.
I don’t like splashing like that.
I agreed and started working.
That was a fatal mistake.
‘In the end, the money I worked on there kept being pushed back, and then half of it was taken away.’
tomorrow will give
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, and so on.
All kinds of excuses and shouts came and went.
Only some team leaders and foremen who issued bills through subcontracting received money, and the rest became duck eggs in the Nakdong River.
Thanks to yourself?
After trudging back to Seoul, I had to suffer from the hardships of life for a month.
I had to crawl because I couldn’t pay the entrance exam fee on time.
It was because of the bitter experience of that time.
‘The contract must be written even if the sky is divided into two parts, or even if the earth is destroyed tomorrow.’
That way there will be no gossip.
Both the person doing the work and the person doing it become comfortable and peaceful.
That’s how Lloyd successfully completed the drafting of the construction order contract with Count Namaran.
“thank you. Then, the Count can prepare the funds, materials, and manpower for the construction as specified in the contract.”
“How much can I prepare?”
“From now on, I will set up the construction plan and schedule. When the outline comes out, I will tell you separately and ask for it.”
“haha. As a meticulous friend.”
“I tend to try to do that.”
After bowing to the Count, she withdrew from the drawing room.
We unpacked at the guest accommodation where we would be staying for the time being.
As soon as he unpacked, Lloyd looked at Xaviel.
“hey.”
“Is there anything else you want me to do?”
“Are you quick enough to notice?”
“Originally it was fast.”
Xaviel, who was taking out his personal toothbrush and towel and organizing things in the seat across from him, replied as if tossing it.
“Usually at times like this, Lloyd-sama calls me for one of two purposes.”
“which?”
“Try to crack a joke or make me do something special.”
“Then did you feel it was the latter now?”
“yes.”
Xaviel nodded.
“Because the left nostril isn’t wide open.”
“huh?”
for a moment.
what does that mean
I was dumbfounded for a moment, but Xaviel’s reply continued.
“Did you not know? When Lloyd tells a trivial joke, he always opens his left nostril.”
“….”
“That’s why you can see the hairs growing in the nostrils very well.”
“It’s a lie.”
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe me. Because it is true.”
“….”
I feel like I’ve been completely defeated after being hit by a diss that is full of my body out of the blue.
But first, what to do now.
Lloyd grabbed onto his crumbling mentality and said.
“okay. assuming you’re right Do what I tell you to do.”
“What is it?”
“You know Mr. Cannavaro, right? The person I saw earlier at the distribution center in the square inside the gate.”
“I know. Are you trying to go after him?”
“How did you know?”
“Because I saw it. A small pattern embroidered on his clothes.”
“Then don’t you mind explaining why I’m asking you to do this?”
“of course. but….”
“but?”
“To be honest, I don’t like the act of sneaking up on someone’s back.”
Xaviel frowned slightly.
“I don’t think it’s an act that suits my convictions or duty. However, I believe that the pattern and the security of our territory are closely related, so I am following Lloyd’s order. Please remember this fact.”
“I don’t feel like it, but you’re saying that there’s a need to investigate the pattern now?”
“yes.”
“Then let’s go.”
“….”
Xaviel showed an uneasy expression.
But I didn’t add any words.
“I’m coming.”
He let out a small sigh, grabbed his sword, and left the inn.
After that, Lloyd also went out to the city alone.
The walls and the ground around the city were examined in more detail.
In the meantime, the day went by.
It was late at last.
It was around the time when unfamiliar constellations adorned the midnight sky when Xaviel returned to his lodgings.
“Lloyd-sama, there is something I must tell you.”
During the half-day following Cannavaro, what was he looking for?
What should I look at to make me look so serious?
Xaviel opened his mouth with an unusual expression.
