Lord Frontera's barony was an ordinary rural estate in the corner of the Lorasian continent. His military forces were abysmally small. Not only were they small, but they were also pathetic. There were five knights and one hundred soldiers. Even then, they were more like a vigilante gang. That was how the novel The Knight of Blood and Iron described the condition of Lord Frontera's dominion.
It was a sunny morning, the perfect weather to start construction. Under the sun, Lloyd spoke to the eighty men gathered by the river. "From today on, you will be reborn as elite soldiers on the field. If you work hard to dig up and move everything here, that is." He pointed to the riverside. There was red clay where he pointed. A tremendous amount of it at that.
The red clay had been buried deep in the ground. However, he was able to dig it up thanks to Ppodong.
Ppodong had secretly come here early in the morning and created the mound of red clay in just thirty minutes by transforming. Afterward, he brought eighty soldiers of the estate here at sunrise so they could transport the red clay to the construction site.
He looked around at his troops. "You're probably wondering what's going on and why you're being tasked with this kind of labor. That's just how the military is. What's the highlight of the military? It's work."
The Korean army was the same. What about the battle training meant for protecting the nation? That was important too, but real life was a little different. From trench to drainage construction, he was building one thing today and another the next. He was given project after project, and his time in the military went by before he knew it.
He felt like he became the staff sergeant's personal summoner. That was why he wanted to give this estate's soldiers the same experience. It wasn't just to torture them. It was physical exercise disguised as menial labor.
The red clay was heavy. If you carried around a sack full of red clay? It not only trained the lower body but also the abdominal core, shoulders, back, and forearms. The boost in endurance was also a bonus. Labor builds muscle.
With that thought, Lloyd spoke out. "Anyway, we are about to break ground on our estate's renaissance. I'm talking about the heated flooring construction for the people. To do that, I need all of you to move that clay to the construction site."
"Yes, young master…" A few soldiers grudgingly replied.
Lloyd smiled. "Good. Then let's start by stretching."
"Do you want to get hurt while working? It'll be your loss if you hurt your back and knees from pushing your stiff body to carry the heavy supplies. Understand? So, you should warm up your body."
"Copy my moves. One, two."
"O-one… two…"
"You're too quiet. Move properly. One, two!"
"O-one, two!"
Lloyd slowly warmed up his body in front of the soldiers. The soldiers seemed dazed at first. But they started moving faster once Lloyd started making a face at them. The infamous master troublemaker. The notoriety he had amassed this entire time paid off. There's no point in training if you don't warm up and end up getting hurt while working. Stretching was more important than you'd expect on a construction site.
The ground could be bumpy, or there could be dangerous objects littered everywhere. Most construction sites were in similarly poor conditions. And if you tried lifting heavy objects without properly warming up? Inevitably, the likelihood of an accident happening went up. Lloyd intended to avoid such accidents at any cost.
"I don't have money to give for treatment. I'll save that money by taking precautions." That's why he was shouting these stupid-sounding chants with all his heart.
He gathered the soldiers in a circle after he finished stretching. He raised his hand. "Copy my moves. Raise your hand." One by one, the soldiers raised their hands while glancing at each other. Lloyd shouted out a chant. "I will wear a safety helmet!" Tap tap! He hit the helmet he was wearing with his palm.
The soldiers shouted the chant while copying his movement. "I-I will wear… a safety helmet!"
"Good job. I will wear safety gloves!"
"T will wear safety gloves!"
"T will wear safety shoes!"
"T really will!"
At first glance, it was a childish chant and inspection process that better fit a kindergarten classroom. Lloyd thought the same when he was a part-time construction worker in Korea during morning assemblies.
But now that he looked back? He suspected this inspection process was what allowed him to finish his part-time job safely. That thought sometimes crossed his mind. That's why he didn't forget to pound safety protocols into the soldiers' heads one last time after finishing the inspection.
"Don't forget about the safety precautions. If you think you'll forget, then take a look at this." He picked up the sign he made in advance and stuck it in the ground.
The sign had these words written precisely on it:
Safety First!
Workers! Always follow safety precautions on site. If you rush in without a helmet, you may end up closing the barn door after the horse has bolted.
For some reason, if you act recklessly like you're leading a warfare maneuver, you will end up like a victim on the battlefield. You're too lazy to wear safety shoes? I hereby see your big toe has finished preparing its launch to separate into three sections like a rocket. Does this all seem like a lie? If so, ignore all my warnings and die from dioxin poisoning.
P.S. You think it can't happen to you, right? Ha!
The soldiers went silent. They all carefully adjusted their safety equipment.
"Good. Let's start if you're ready. Group one, fill the sacks with red clay. Group two, carry the sacks. Go!"
"Yes!"
The floor heating project started on an intense note.
Perhaps due to their mental training, the soldiers were moving fast.
He felt pleased watching them.
As expected, they're relatively obedient since they're the estate's soldiers. Persuading the baron was a good decision.
Suddenly, he thought of the incident that happened two hours ago that morning.
****
"So, you want to mobilize the soldiers?" His questioning voice held confusion. Along with confusion, it also held suspicion and disbelief. Lloyd calmly continued eating breakfast and replied, "Yes."
"For what?"
"There is work I need to assign them."
"What kind of work are you assigning for you to mobilize eighty soldiers?"
"It's construction work."
"Construction?"
"Yes."
Lloyd swallowed his bread and wiped his hands with a napkin. Then he pulled out the document he had prepared. He pushed it over to the baron.
"This is a business plan."
"What do you mean by a business plan?"
"Please look at it carefully first."
It was all because he got Ppodong last night. He finally had the confidence to start a full-scale construction business. Thus, he spent all night writing a business plan. The baron's cooperation was necessary for this business.
Regardless of anything, it was a business within the fiefdom. As such, he needed permission from the baron, who was the lord of the manor. It was true from an economic perspective as well. It costs money to separately hire laborers. Personal expenses or daily wages. These were necessary expenses for all construction sites.
But if the baron mobilized his personal soldiers for construction? He could work them for free since these soldiers were hired by the baron and already on salary.
"Therefore, you should be able to save a fair amount of money."
"What if there is discontent amongst the soldiers?"
"You can appease them by giving extra cash to them under the guise of providing a bonus."
"Hmm, but a heated flooring construction business?"
"I was under the impression you listened to Javier's explanation last night."
"Yes. Yes, I did. I heard about the strange new heating method that warms the rocks laid on the ground. But why?"
"Are you questioning my intentions?"
"Yes."
The baron's eyes looking his way were full of suspicion. But thankfully, they weren't frigid like before. It's probably because I chased out the debt collectors and presented a money sack to him yesterday. The baron was able to take care of this month's interest thanks to that. No small wonder his eyes softened toward Lloyd.
Lloyd spoke. "I wanted to collect money through the villagers."
"Money?"
"Yes. Money for the debt."
"I thought of gathering money through special taxes at first."
"But with that…"
"The backlash would be severe."
"Yes. That was why. I thought of the most legitimate method that would have the least backlash."
"So, you're saying a construction business for the so-called heated flooring is what you came up with?"
"Yes. I would make money, and the villagers would be able to have a warm winter in exchange for paying a fair price. It's a win-win situation."
"By the way, where did you…" The baron's particularly suspicious gaze turned his way. "Where did you learn this?"
"Are you talking about the heated floors?"
"Yes. It's my first time ever seeing something like this. So where did you learn about it?"
"I thought of it a while ago."
"Thought of it?"
"Yes." Lloyd nodded his head. He needed to be brazen in these kinds of moments. He continued talking. "It's just something I vaguely thought about over the years. A heated stone doesn't cool easily. So, I wondered what would happen if I laid flat stones on top of a floor and then blew hot smoke underneath them. I got the opportunity to actually build it this time, and it turned out better than I thought. It was warmer than expected too."
"Do you mean the heated floors you built for the pub owner?"
"Yes."
"That's how you came up with the idea to make it into a business?"
"Yes." He nodded his head like it was obvious. Truthfully, he did have absolute confidence. But there was still a stubborn trace of suspicion in the baron's face.
"Yes. The plan is good. This is a well-made plan that's worthy of praise. I almost can't believe you're so talented. But…" The question the baron threw at him was riddled with doubt. "Can I trust your intentions?"
"What?"
"I'm asking if I can trust you."
"I'm not sure what you mean…"
"You couldn't have forgotten what happened two years ago, right?"
Two years ago… That part didn't appear in the novel. It was not in The Knight of Blood and Iron. It didn't seem like a good idea to give a sloppy response right now. Lloyd waited in silence. Luckily, the baron spoke up first.
"You were the same then. Although, you obviously didn't have a robust business plan like now. I clearly remember what you told me. You said, 'I will really pull myself together and study hard this time. So please believe me and make an investment.'"
"I was happy. I thought you would finally mend your ways. That was why I readily gave you the money that came from selling the villa for the academy tuition. But…"
"You completely wasted every single cent with the scoundrels you used to go along with! All the while, you shamelessly played around with women and threw grimy parties in a drunken stupor."
Ah, seriously. Lloyd, you bastard. He swallowed the curse words that threatened to come out of his mouth. He's a troublemaker, alright. I never dreamed he would've done something like that. He thought it was no wonder the baron had such a lukewarm reaction to a perfect business plan. It was a given he couldn't be trusted after doing something like that. Ugh, you're a piece of trash, original Lloyd.
His body's old owner was massively trolling him. He wondered how he would bounce back from this. His brain worked at the speed of light. And at last, he found a clue to the problem. It was thanks to the memories of his past that suddenly came to him.
Come to think of it, I caused similar trouble before, even though it was on a much smaller scale.
It was probably when he was in middle school. He stole the money his mom gave him for his school tutoring at the time. He remembered using it to go to the arcade with his friends every night.
From first-person shooting games to car racing, and even battle arena games… It was a fun time.
However, he ultimately got caught by his mom. She was extremely angry. He had to go on his knees and beg for forgiveness. After a while, he finally earned his mom's forgiveness, but only after making an unbreakable promise.
Tsk, that's the only option I have right now.
Lloyd lifted his head once he found a solution and faced the baron. He spoke to the baron just like when he promised his mom he would never go to the arcade again. "I will quit drinking."
"What…?"
"Just as I said, I will completely quit drinking if you give me your trust in this."
The baron's look became strange. It seemed to ask if he was serious or if he was up to something.
Lloyd never replied. He just didn't avoid the baron's stare. He stayed silent as if he was answering yes with his tranquil eyes. He didn't know how long they stayed like that.
The baron finally let out a sigh. "Is that true?"
"Yes."
He was a lightweight anyway and didn't really like alcohol either. There was also nothing he particularly missed about getting drunk. So, if he gained even a little bit of the baron's trust by giving up alcohol, that would truly be a huge win.
And at last…
"I will trust you just this once since you went so far as to promise that. I will report to my executive officer that you are allowed to freely utilize the estate's soldiers in order to advance this business."
"Thank you."
"This will be the last time I trust you like this. Please don't disappoint me."
The baron's expression somehow felt gentler than earlier and even seemed to pity him a little bit.
The image of his mom during the arcade incident suddenly flashed in his head, and he briefly felt a strange emotion.
Lloyd hurriedly finished his meal and left the table.
****
I got through that step, but there are many more obstacles I have to overcome as expected. With that thought, his lips curved to a bitter smile. It was because of the knight who had approached him while he was briefly lost in thought.
"As you know, I'm an honorable knight. I can't accept an order to oversee these dirt sacks getting carried even if it comes from the young master."
The soldier looking his way had repulsive facial features. Of course, Lloyd knew his name.
Sir Ulrich.
The man he personally chose to lead the soldiers on site today. He was one of the five knights of the Frontera barony. Out of them all, he was the least skilled.
Even in his position, he was the first to betray the crumbling barony. He stole the baron's favorite horse and ran away. That wasn't all. He even spat on Lloyd's face during their encounter while he was running away. That's why I entrusted you with supervising the site.
He called him on purpose. He entrusted him to lead the soldiers. He was looking forward to seeing him resist like this. And the bastard didn't fail to give him the reaction he was waiting for.
Lloyd wordlessly grabbed his shovel. Then he brightly smiled at Sir Ulrich. "Oh, so you will defy my order?"
"I'm not defying it. I am asking you to respect my honor as a knight… Ugh!"
Slam!
The moment Sir Ulrich tried to talk back, the head of the shovel Lloyd wielded violently hit him in the face.
There's definitely a need to revamp the estate at once.
Lloyd's eyes glinted coldly as Sir Ulrich's back teeth scattered in the air.
Translator: https://bettertranslation9.wordpress.com