The Greatest Estate Designer

Chapter 7: Improving The Constitution (1)

The Barony of Frontera. An ordinary rural area in the corner of the Loracian Continent.

The baronys troop size was beyond small. No, it was so small it was shabby. In total, there were only 5 knights and 100 soldiers. Even then, those mens capabilities were like a chaotic vigilante corps. That was the status of Baron Fronteras forces, as mentioned in the [Iron-Blooded Knight] novel.

. However from this day onward, you all will be reborn as elites in this field.

It was a sunny morning. The perfect weather to start the construction. Highlighted by the sunlight, Lloyd looked back at the 80 soldiers who gathered by the river and said, Here, I need you to diligently scoop and transport these.

His hand pointed to one side of the river. There was an awful lot of clay. Originally, the clay was buried beneath the ground.

However, I managed to dig it all up. Thanks to Ppodong.

This dawn, I went here secretly. In just 30 minutes, I made Ppodong transform and created a large-scale clay excavation site. When morning came, I brought 80 soldiers from the territory here. The purpose was to transport clay from the excavation site to the construction site. I looked around at the soldiers.

You must be wondering what all of this is about. You wondered why I mobilized you for this kind of work, didnt you?

..

But, this is how the military is supposed to be. Whats the point of an army? Of course its to work and work.

The Republic of Koreas army was like that. Combat training to defend the country? That one was important too, however, reality was a little bit different.

Constructing a drainage ditch in the military encampment; thinking on what to construct today and what else to build tomorrow. Every time I had a break, I spent it by working and working. So, my military life had gone by just like that.

I felt as if I was always summoned by the squadron administrator when I was in the military. This was the reason. He wanted the soldiers here to experience that feeling too.

Just to bully them? No, thats not it.

Its physical training through labor.

Clay is heavy. What if you walk around with a sack full of clay to transport it? Not only the lower body, but also the core of the abdomen, shoulders, back, as well as forearm muscles will be trained. While at it, improving your endurance was a bonus.

This so-called labor builds up muscles.

Thinking so, Lloyd said.

Anyway, today, for the revival of this territory, we will be doing the first small but precious shoveling activity. Itll be used for the fief residents ondol room construction project. That means youll be transporting the clay from here to the construction site.

. Yes, Young Master.

Several soldiers reluctantly responded. Lloyd snickered.

Okay, so lets start with stretching.

Pardon?

Do you want to get hurt while working? If you excessively move the materials while having a stiff body, your back couldve given out and your knees couldve gotten sprained. In that case, youre the one who would be at loss. Do you get it? This is why you need to warm up.

.

Follow me. One, two.

O, one two

Your voice is too small. Make sure you repeat after me and do the movements. One, two!

O one, two!

Lloyd was slowly warming up his body in front of the soldiers. At first, some soldiers were dumbfounded. But when Lloyd frowned, everyone started to move quickly.

He was known as a notorious scoundrel. At this moment, it was time for his usual notoriety which had been accumulated for so long to shine.

If you get hurt because you dont warm up your body, theres no point in training.

While at a construction site, stretching is more important than you think. The ground usually will be uneven all over or littered with dangerous things everywhere. Like most construction sites, the condition would be poor.

What if you move heavy stuff in a place like that with a stiff body? The probability of safety accidents occurring will increase. Lloyds heart wanted to prevent such a thing from happening anyhow.

I dont even have money to pay for the treatment. We could save money by preventing it. This is why Ive to shout out these stupid slogans with all of my heart.

After finished stretching, he assembled the soldiers in a circle and raised his hand. Follow me. Hands up.

Jajajak!

The soldiers looked around and intuitively raised their hands.

Lloyd shouted, leading the chant, I like wearing safety helmets!

Tak tak! He hit his helmet with his palm.

Soldiers repeated the safety slogan and copied the movements.

Ah, I like wearing safety helmets!

Well done. I like wearing safety gloves!

I like wearing safety gloves!

I really like wearing safety shoes!

I really like wearing safety shoes!

At first glance, it was a kindergarten-level childish slogan and inspection process. In fact, when Lloyd was working part-time in South Korea, he also used to think like that every morning. But, now that he looked back on it, maybe this inspection process had helped him finish his part-time job safely. That was what he thought.

This was why, after completing his inspection, he didnt forget to inform the soldier about safety protocols for the last time.

Dont forget the safety rules! If you think youre going to forget, you should take a look at this.

He picked up the sign he had made beforehand and planted it on the ground. On the sign, words were thriftily written.

<Safety First>

All workers!

Lets follow the safety regulations on-site.

Without a safety helmet, you could get brain death and perhaps it could make you a little bit smarter.

If you doing your work in a hurry as if youre pressed on time, youd become a patient with a little bit of time remaining.

Youre tired of using safety shoes? Yes, just so you know that your big toe is ready to achieve three stages of separation youd barely manage.

Do you think these are all lies?

Then ignore the advice and ascend to heaven along with a handful of dioxins¹Dioxins: a group of highly toxic chemical compounds that are harmful to health. It can remain for a long time and everywhere around us. It generally is dispersed and attached to soil and dust particles which is invisible to the eye..

ps) You think its someone elses story, right? LOL.

.

The soldiers were speechless. Everyone carefully touched their safety equipment without realizing it.

Good. Lets get started when youre ready. Group 1 will shovel the clay and put it in a sack. Group 2 will carry the sacks. Do it!

Yes, sir!

The transportation work had begun. The soldiers movements were quick, perhaps it was due to the intense mental education I gave just now. I was delighted to see it.

Theyre soldiers who belong to the territory, so theyre relatively obedient. Im glad I succeeded in convincing the baron.

Out of the blue, I remembered the events that happened 2 hours ago in the morning.

So, you want to mobilize the soldiers? The barons voice could be heard, inquiring. The voice was filled with curiosity.

Did it include curiosity, doubt, and bewilderment?

While casually continuing his breakfast, Lloyd answered, Yes.

Why?

I have something to do.

What do you have to do to mobilize 80 soldiers?

Construction.

Construction?

Lloyd, who had swallowed the bread, wiped his hands on the napkin. Taking out the documents I had prepared in advance, I held them out to the baron.

This is a business plan.

Business plan.

Lets take a look at it.

Thanks to Ppodong last night, I was confident I could start a full-fledged construction project. So, I wrote a business plan all night long.

This business absolutely needs the barons cooperation.

After all, this was a construction business within the territory. Therefore, the barons permission as the owner of this territory was a must. The same was true in terms of economy.

It costs money to hire separate workers.

Labor costs, or a daily wage. It was a must-paid expense at all construction sites. However, what if the baron mobilized his private soldiers for construction? You can get it for free without having to pay anything. After all, they were soldiers who were hired and paid by the baron.

With this, we can save a lot of money.

What if there are complaints among the soldiers?

We can give a little bonus called a special allowance.

Hmmm, but ondol construction.

Im sure youve heard Javiers explanation last night.

Yes, I did. The bizarre yet new heating system by heating up the stones on the floor. But, why?

Are you asking what my intention is?

Yes.

The barons gaze on my way was filled with questions. Fortunately, it wasnt as cold as it used to be.

Maybe its because I kicked out the creditors yesterday and gave him a sack of money.

That allowed the baron to afford this months interest. His gaze this way was naturally bound to be warmer.

Lloyd said, I wanted to collect money through the residents.

Money?

Yes. Money to pay off the debt.

.

At first, I was going to collect money by implementing special taxes, etc. But, thats.

Theres going to be a lot of backlash.

Yes, thats why. I came up with a legitimate way to do it to get as little backlash as possible.

So, what you came up with is the ondol construction business?

Yes, I will make money and the fief residents will be able to spend a warmer winter by paying a moderate amount of money. Its a win-win situation for each other.

But, something like this. The barons suspicious gaze turned my way. Where did you learn this?

Are you talking about the ondol?

Yes, Ive never seen anything like this in my life. Yet, where did you learn to do this?

Ive been thinking about it for a long time.

Thinking?

Yes. Lloyd nodded. At times like this, you have to be more brazen. He continued his words, Its just something Ive been vaguely thinking about since long ago. Stones dont cool down well once heated. So, what if we put flat stones on the floor and heat it somehow with a hot heat source down there?

.

But this time I got the opportunity to actually make it into reality, and it was better than I thought. Its warmer than I expected.

The one you made for the tavern owner?

Yes.

So your idea is to develop it into a business?

Yes. I nodded my head as it was obvious. Actually, I was absolutely confident.

However, the barons eyes which looked over here still had some suspicions that hadnt disappeared.

Thats right. You have thought of a good plan. This plan was very meticulous to the point of impressing me. To the point where I wondered if you really have this talent. However, you know

The baron questioned me, full of suspicion, Can I believe your intentions?

Pardon?

I mean, can I trust you?

I dont know what you mean.

You didnt mean to say that you have forgotten what you did two years ago, did you?

.

Two years ago. That was a part that never came out in the [Iron-Blooded Knight] novel.

With the situation right now, it was better to not answer any confusing questions. So, Lloyd waited silently.

Fortunately, the baron opened his mouth first, It was like this back then. Of course, you didnt have a grandiose business plan like now. I still clearly remember what you said at that time. You said, Father, this time I made up my mind to really study with all of my heart. So, trust and invest in me.

.

I was delighted. I thought you had finally come back to your senses. Therefore, I willingly gave you the money from selling the villa for vacation. To use it as an entrance fee for the academy. But, you got the money.

.

Squandered. Perfectly, without leaving even a dime. Along with a bunch of scoundrels youve been hanging out with for years, you used it to get drunk and throw a hot, dirty party with the girls.

. Oh, really. Lloyd, you son of a b*tch. I swallowed up the curse that was about to emerge.

Thats a mess, alright. I didnt expect him to do that.

No wonder the barons response was lukewarm even with the perfect business plan in front of him. Now that this body had done that much, its natural that its hard to believe me.

Uh, the real Lloyd, youre such a piece of sh*t,

With the high-level trolling the former owner of this body did, I was wondering the way to resolve this situation.

My brain was spinning at the speed of light. Finally, I came up with a clue to the solution. It was thanks to my past, which I had suddenly recalled.

But come to think about it, Ive had similar accident but on a much smaller scale.

It mustve been when I was in middle school. At that time, I forgot about the money my mom gave me to pay for school tuition. I remembered playing with my friends in the PC room every evening using it.

From LoL, Underwatch, to the War Ground. It was fun.

Eventually, I got caught by my mom. I got in a lot of trouble. I had to beg on my hands and feet for forgiveness. In the end, I had made an irrevocable promise so I could be forgiven by my mother.

Well, thats the only way for now.

Lloyd, who came up with a solution, raised his head.

I looked at the baron face to face. I promised, just like when I promised not to go to a PC room anymore to my mom that day, to the baron.

Ill quit drinking alcohol.

. what?

I meant exactly what I said. If you believe me this time, Ill completely quit drinking.

..

The look in the barons eyes became strange. He seemed to be asking if I was serious or if this was some kind of new trick.

Lloyd didnt answer. He simply looked back and didnt avoid the barons eyes at all. He remained silent, as if answering with those calm eyes.

How much time had passed by? Finally, the baron sighed.

Is that true?

Yes.

I cant drink well anyway. I dont really like it. So, I dont have any lingering feelings about not being able to drink. Therefore, if I gave up drinking and succeeded in gaining the barons trust, it would be a benefit, an enormous benefit I reckon.

And, finally.

. Alright, I get it. The baron nodded and returned the business plan. Ill trust you just this once because youve said so much. Ill let my administrator know. In carrying out the business as written on this plan, youll be free to use the soldiers of this territory in the future.

. Thank you.

This will be the last time I believe you. So, please dont let me down.

The barons eyes looked at me. Somehow, it seemed more generous than before, or it seemed a little bit sad.

At that moment, I felt a little strange because it made me remember my mothers gaze from the PC room incident in an instant. Lloyd finished his meal in a hurry and left the dining table.

. I went through that process of learning too, but as expected.

There were still many mountains to climb. At the thought, Lloyd smiled bitterly.

While he was momentarily lost in thought, a knight appeared to approach him while protesting.

. As you can see, I am an honorable knight. The order to supervise the transportation of this pile of dirt is unacceptable, even if its commanded by the Young Master.

The knight was facing me. He had a mean impression. Of course, Lloyd knew the name of this knight.

Sir Ulrich.

The knight was the one he personally appointed as a supervisor to lead the soldiers on-site today. He was one of the five knights of the Frontera Barony. When the baron fell into such a predicament, he was the first person who betrayed him.

He calmly stole the barons favorite horse and ran away.

That wasnt all. Didnt he even spit on Lloyds face when he encountered him while he was fleeing?

That was why I entrusted you with this site today.

I summoned him on purpose and made him lead the soldiers. It was because I expected him to protest in this way. And, he lived up to my expectations.

In silence, Lloyd grabbed the shovel. Then he smiled brightly at Sir Ulrich.

Aha. So you will refuse my orders?

Im not saying I reject it. Im just asking you to respect my honor as a knight kuak!

Slap

As soon as Sir Ulrich was about to talk back, the shovels head, which was wielded by Lloyd, struck Sir Ulrichs face fiercely.

Certainly, this territorys constitution needs to be improved at least once.

Sir Ulrichs molars were scattered in the air. In the meantime, Lloyds eyes coldly glistened.

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  Dioxins: a group of highly toxic chemical compounds that are harmful to health. It can remain for a long time and everywhere around us. It generally is dispersed and attached to soil and dust particles which is invisible to the eye.