"I will hereby give an order." Everyone's attention was drawn to Queen Magentano's solemn voice. Her gaze turned to Marquess Alcante, the supporting group's leader. "I am aware that you are concerned about the misfortune or curse that may befall the imperial family if the prophecy is not fulfilled. Is that right?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Good. Next, Marquess Cordova. Her gaze then shifted to the leader of the opposing party this time. "I am equally aware of why you oppose following the prophecy. You must be concerned about the imperial family losing the power that comes from owning a divine item. Am I correct?"
"Yes. That is exactly it, Your Majesty," answered Marquess Cordova.
The two representatives bowed. Her lips formed a content smile. "As I expected, my assumptions were correct. I am proud to have you all as my loyal subjects, from both the opposing and supporting sides."
"I am overwhelmed with gratitude, Your Majesty," said both of the representatives.
"I am truly overjoyed," she continued. "How could I not be when I have a group of loyal subjects as trustworthy as you all? At the same time, I struggled to sleep last night due to the heavy burden in my heart after seeing my outstanding subjects divided in half and fighting each other over this matter. However, I came to a decision as soon as I stepped in here. Lloyd Frontera."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Lloyd quickly lowered his head, concealing the smile that was about to form on his lips. His ears perked up.
"My loyal subject," Queen Magentano continued. "The eldest son of Count Frontera. I would like to ask you a question. Are you prepared to receive the Tears of Summer, as predicted by the prophecy from Heaven? No, can you demonstrate that you are prepared?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, please grant me the chance to prove myself," Lloyd spoke confidently. He clenched his fists.
It worked. I knew it.
It really worked. He had a feeling that his offer to her two days ago was a success.
Well, the fact that she came to the chamber room is enough proof that she accepted my offer.
He then perked up his ears, waiting with bated breath over what she would say next.
"Good, Lloyd Frontera." Queen Magentano's gaze focused on him. "Hence, I have a proposal for you. Given my high opinion of the countless accomplishments you've achieved, I sincerely hope you will make wise use of your excellence for the prosperity of the imperial house and nation. I ask you to open a large trade route across the Pantara Range, which currently acts as a wall to the southwest."
Lloyd's heart screamed "Yes" as soon as the declaration was made, while the nobles went wide-eyed. Her eyes lit up with a meaningful smile. "This is my test for you, Lloyd Frontera, as a means of mediating the situation. I say that if he succeeds in building a trade route across the Pantara Range, he will be given the Tears of Summer."
Clack. Clack. Her shoes clattered as she moved closer to Lloyd, who lowered his bow further down when she approached him. Her solemn voice spoke toward his chestnut-shaped head.
"How about it, Lloyd Frontera? If you succeed, you will be given the Summer Tears. If you fail, you will not. Do you want to accept my offer?"
"I am overwhelmed with gratitude, Your Majesty." Lloyd had no reason to be hesitant. He collapsed to the ground as soon as she finished speaking like a cat anticipating a salty snack on its back.
"Good," she said, smiling contentedly. She, too, was content. She had stayed up all night last night thinking about Lloyd's proposal and weighing the pros and cons of accepting it.
It was too good of an offer. I was rather suspicious of it.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. That was the principle she had developed over her many years in the palace. And Lloyd's proposal was too good to be true with no risk involved in it for her. If he succeeded, she would acquire a trade route that would promise the imperial family hundreds of years of prosperity in exchange for the Tears of Summer. If he failed, she would not obtain a trade route but would keep the Tears of Summer. Ultimately, she would not even have the smallest loss either way.
No, I will benefit even before then. My political influence will strengthen from acting as a mediator over the divided nobles.
As such, the queen pondered whether she should believe Lloyd's intentions to be pure. But what if he had an ulterior motive? She even considered the worst-case scenario to be safe. Finally, she came to a conclusion.
If he does have an ulterior motive and stages a riot against the imperial family... None of us would be able to stop him.
Any resistance on her part would simply result in the loss of her sovereignty. Should any coup break out, the best way to mitigate the damage would be to console him and treat his fiefdom as an independent kingdom. This clearly meant one thing: she could no longer make an enemy out of him. It would be playing with fire.
Did I let the fire grow too large?
She wistfully thought out of nowhere. Just then, a surefire solution for her concern suddenly came to the queen's mind.
Should I make him a member of the imperial family?
That appeared to be the more compelling option. Despite the fact that they were political partners on good terms, their relationship was something that could change at any time based on the opportunities that were present. It could be safer to completely tie him down through marriage.
Tsk...
When her thoughts reached that point, the queen clucked her tongue. She irately wondered how she ended up in her current predicament. Lloyd's chestnut-shaped head looked even more spiteful in her eyes, and she felt a pang of regret for not beating him up properly two days ago. But those thoughts and feelings of hers vanished as quickly as they appeared. She immediately erased the conflicted look that briefly appeared on her face and studied the chamber room with her signature gaze full of arrogance and intimidation.
"Very good," she announced. "As you can all see, being a wise man, Lloyd Frontera agreed to go through my test. Now, it is your turn to speak. Is there anyone who opposes the agreement I devised?"
As expected, no one spoke up. The nobles from both sides all bowed to show their respect. However, the expressions on their faces suggested otherwise. The supporters of the prophecy had a bitter look in their eyes and clicked their tongues in disappointment.
Haah... Her Majesty is siding with the opposition in the end.
To them, the test sounded more like a complete refusal to bestow Lloyd with the Tears of Summer. They believed the agreement was only a formality. A proclamation to disregard the prophecy. Their interpretation of the situation wasn't unreasonable.
A trade route across the Pantara Range? I know Lloyd Frontera is exceptionally skilled and has an impressive record of achievements... But this is an impossible construction to begin with.
A number of former kings had attempted to open a trade route in the aforementioned range. There were nine attempts in total, and they all failed. This would be the tenth failure. Lloyd would be unable to obtain the Tears of Summer. It was never going to happen. The proponents saw this as a simple fact, and the same thought lingered in the minds of the opposing faction.
Fantastic. Her Majesty has sided with us!
Inwardly, the opposing nobles rejoiced. The condition that Lloyd would only receive the Tears of Summer if he completed such an impossible construction was the same as refusing to give the divine item to him. They all nodded, satisfied and happy.
Her Majesty is truly wise. Of course, that's how it should be. We cannot give away a divine item of the imperial family to a lowly retainer, even if it's to follow a prophecy delivered by an angel. That cannot be done, even if it's just for the sake of protecting the dignity of the imperial family. It is unacceptable, even if not doing so goes against a prophecy from Heaven.
They did, however, entertain the possibility of Lloyd accomplishing the impossible and successfully constructing a trade route. That would not be a bad outcome for them either.
Although it is unlikely.
Therefore, the opposing faction exchanged glances and quietly celebrated their victory, overjoyed that their side had won. Javier and Julian were whispering in one corner.
"Sir Asrahan," whispered Julian softly.
"Yes, Master Julian."
"About Her Majesty's declaration," he said. "That looks unfavorable to Lloyd on the facade. But that is not the case in reality, is it? Lloyd intentionally masterminded this whole situation, hasn't he?"
"He likely did," seconded Javier.
"Yes, that should be it. That's the kind of person my brother is."
"Yes," seconded Javier once again. "He is sly, cheap, meticulous, and never does anything that will come at a loss for him." Julian looked at Javier for a second in a daze. "He sounds impressive somehow when you say it like that..."
"In what way?"
"Well, in many ways."
Javier was slightly taken aback that he was feeling the same way. "I agree..."
None of them knew whether that was a compliment or an insult directed at Lloyd. At the same time, one question appeared simultaneously.
I wonder what goes through that man's mind.
It remained a mystery to them. How cunning and calculated did one have to be to be able to pull this scheme off? But there was one thing they were both certain of. The queen, who expertly reacted and danced to Lloyd's cunning tune at every chance without fail, was equally extraordinary. In terms of business, those two were none other than soulmates. And accordingly, Queen Alicia and Lloyd were staring at each other with a mysterious smile amidst the mixture of emotions from the nobles around them. Their smiles seemed to say, "It's a deal!"
♣️
The following morning rolled around. Lloyd, who had appeared at the chamber room the previous day, immediately left the capital.
Now that things have gone well with the queen, it's time for me to get back to work!
This went without saying for Lloyd. There was no time to take a break. Since he successfully completed his negotiation with the queen, it was time for him to put in some hard work and obtain results.
That thought makes me happy and sad at the same time...
Lloyd let out a heavy sigh. He wished he could take a break and relax like the rich and lazy bum he fantasized and dreamed of being. Would his dream of becoming a wealthy bum with a secure lifestyle ever come true? Lloyd was suddenly overcome with a sense of doubt that made his shoulders sag.
I want to rest. I want to play. I want to laze around, playing video games and watching TV in the corner of my room, giggling and chuckling over nothing with a bucket of fried chicken.
Lloyd couldn't recall the last time he did any of those activities. Those resentful thoughts of his, however, were fleeting. He slapped his cheeks to wake himself up, then confirmed Yong Yong was currently flying in the right path, and finally raised his head.
Whoosh! A gust of cold wind stung his cheeks. Between the thick strands of hair blowing in front of his eyes, he could see the Pantara Range spread out below him.
"Haah..."
Lloyd realized once more how rough the terrain of the range was. It looked like there were knife or ax blades randomly planted everywhere in the ground. Alternatively, the land seemed to have hundreds of potato chips embedded across it. The steep and clean-cut cliffs seemed to go on forever. That was Lloyd's initial thoughts after seeing the Pantara Range.
Not only are the slopes steep, there are several parts of the land covered in ice and permafrost.
It looked so slippery that the best climbers in the world or even spider men would double-check their life insurance before stepping foot on it. That was how dangerous the range was.
Tsk. I'm a madman, too, for volunteering to make a railroad across this place.
It was so ridiculous that even Lloyd let out a chuckle at the thought himself. The feeling must have been mutual as Javier curiously threw him a question, "Master Lloyd, are you sure you can... build a railroad here?"
"Seems impossible, right?"
"Yes," Javier said, nodding. "I've become familiar with your design for trains and railroads after helping you with the construction in Hell. But how you could install a railroad on a terrain like this with such deep slopes is beyond me. Even if you do, I doubt the train will be able to properly travel upward."
"You're right," Lloyd agreed with a nod. It was an excellent and accurate point. It would be impossible for any train to move upward on these cliffs, even with an amazing railroad that featured loops and switchbacks. It was completely impossible. That was an undeniable fact. Lloyd understood this better than anyone else.
Of course, it won't run. Trains run on metal rails. But if they're slippery and sloped, accidents are bound to happen.
And that was why South Korean companies designated the maximum slope of a railroad to 35%.
The elevation difference was limited to under 114 feet for every kilometer along a railroad. If it surpassed that, the train would have a risk of slipping.
The maximum permissible difference in elevation per kilometer was 114 feet. Anything beyond that would jeopardize the operation of a railroad. But in this case...
Looks like it's 114 feet for every 30 feet distance, and that's for areas with tolerably steep slopes.
The trains literally needed wings to run. Despite the obvious challenge at hand, Lloyd was unconcerned.
"I wouldn't have suggested the offer to the queen if the job was impossible," replied Lloyd.
"Does that mean you have a way?"
"Of course."
"What is that?"
"Are you curious?"
"I am." Javier gave a nod. He was genuinely interested. He was curious about the extraordinary methods and skills his young master would employ to overcome the challenges this horrifying terrain presented.
Lloyd gave a brazen smile. "I am going to break it down to pieces."
