The Greatest Estate Developer - Chapter 4

“It's quite warm,” she said as her wrinkled hand stroked the floor. With curiosity, she first pressed her palm to the floor and then flipped to the back of her hand to touch it.

Suddenly, surprise filled her face. She tossed the cushion aside and plopped herself on the toasty-warm floor. A smile of satisfaction curved across the white haired woman's face.

“So nice… so very nice”

The elderly lady had slight dementia, so she was more direct. Hearing her words of approval, the pub owner looked back at Lloyd. His face, too, was filled with a smile of gratitude.

“My mother loves it, Young Master”

“Does she?”

“Yes”

“Just like I told you, this heated flooring system is very warming” Lloyd shrugged. He was relieved that the heated flooring was a success.

It was still very early spring, and the morning was crisp. The outside held the chill of the final cold snap. However, inside where the fire was lit for the heated floors. It was different. The floor was toasty, and the air likewise was cozy. The pub owner was in the middle of removing his coat.

“You saw me light the fire earlier, right? All you have to do is light the fire in the furnace outside the door. If you light it once like that, the heat will last about two days. This here, it really doesn't cool off as much as it'd seem”

“Two days, you said?”

Once lit, the heat lasted two days. The pub owner's eyes became wide with wonder.

Smiling, Lloyd said “Test it out and see if what I said is true”

“I… I definitely believe you”

“Really?”

“Yes. Um, may I be more direct?”

“Go ahead”

“I really believed you were trying to fool me, Sir”

“Me? Fool you?”

“Yes. I never imagined you would actually build this for me”

Well, that was understandable.

To reiterate yet again, Lloyd Frontera was a scumbag. He'd never done anything for anyone in his life; he wasn't the type. So it made sense that the pub owner didn't trust him.

“However, despite my misgivings, you've given me such a magnificent heated floor. I swear, I've never seen such a thing in my life.”

“Really?”

“Yes. My mother loves it so much. I don't know how to express my gratitude to you. Praise be to the heated floor!”

I hope someone can see this! Everyone is praising the magnificence of the Korean heating system!

He coughed nervously and replied “Ahem, no need to thank me. It was just for the contract”

“Ah, the contract”

“Right. The contract”

It was only a transaction between one another; he was commissioned to build the heated floor, and the pub owner would be reimbursed for damages.

“However… I think the cost of this heated floor is greater than the cost of what was broken. Sir, please wait here a moment”

Lloyd had no idea what the man was thinking as he promptly stood up. He returned shortly with a leather pouch in his hand.

“Please, take this”

“What is this?”

“A small token of my sincerity”

Clunk. The pouch fell with a heavy metal sound. There were coins inside.

“Gosh, you didn't have to…”

Obviously, Lloyd took up the pouch without hesitation, and then gave out tips on the heated floor's use as a thank-you.

“See this window here? On a chilly night, leave this window slightly open at dawn to let in the cold air. Then fire up the furnace to the max and cover the floor with a blanket. Wrap some tangerines, roasted potatoes, or sweet potatoes in it to eat. Do you know what will happen next?”

“What will happen?”

“The air will be fresh and your bottom will be warm. You'll be like a fish at the meetings of the warms currents and the cold currents, I suppose”

“...”

The pub owner tilted his head to the side while, with a farewell, Lloyd left the room.

There was a large group of spectators gathered around nearby. They were still looking his way as they chattered amongst themselves, their faces holding a mixture of some surprise and a lot of doubt.

But of course. A laugh escaped him.

He thought about all the rumors swirling about him. That he was unstable, that he was digging a grave for when he killed himself, that he was swindling the pub owner. There wasn't a single good rumor.

Yet, before them all, was a fully completed heated flooring system. All those elaborate rumors were shattered before their eyes.

So they'll be even more curious. They'll wonder what kind of building's been made, what it's for, and why the pub owner likes it so much. They won0t have a clue about anything.

Lloyd stood by and let the rumors fly. He had no reason to stop them, in fact it was actually a good thing.

It'll be a free advertisement.

Advertising was important; it was life. That was true for contractors too. This was even more true in South Korea. The smallest apartment began with a promo.

Broadcasting, leaflets, outdoor ads, and telemarketing were the basics. Another obvious option was the internet and social media's viral advertising. That was to say use whatever means necessary.

That way I'll take advantage of the widespread promotion while also removing the criticisms. Then when I open the model house, people will flock to it like seagulls.

As a result, there would be a whole line of contract requests, and it would become a proper business, or so Lloyd supposed.

Thanks to the rumors, I've got a crowd gathered here without spending a dime. This is a rare opportunity.

There were probably well over a hundred villagers looking his way and murmuring. But Lloyd didn't see the people of the estate. He saw potential contractors. In a word, they were money-making customers.

Starting now, the model house is open. He stood before the crowd, and their eyes all focused on him.

He cleared his throat and began, “Are you all wondering what it is I've made here?”

“...”

As expected, no one replied.

They all only kept their eyes fixed on him. Lloyd smiled. Since this was the expected response, it wasn't so bad.

There was no need for a long conversation. Then come in one by one and take a look for yourselves”

He carefully approached the crowd. He snagged the sleeve of the woman in front and brought her, as her face paled, into the room.

After all, it was the ladies who started the rumors.

With the consent of the pub owner, they began the tour. The woman's eyes widened at the warmth of the floor. After that, the rest was a breeze. The other onlookers took their turns looking around and experiencing the heated flooring.

As they entered, their smug faces became ones of admiration. Lloyd greeted them from a table he set up. The table was for heated flooring contracts.

“Now that you've seen it, what do you think?”

“It's… it's much nicer than I expected”

“Isn't it?”

“Yes. I don't think we'll have to worry about the winter cold anymore”

“That's why I've prepared this ahead of time. Want to take a look?”

“This here?”

“This is a blueprint. It's a kind of pamphlet”

Lloyd faced the people and handed out the papers. Actually, these were the papers Lloyd stayed up all night to make. The pamphlets contained drawings of two different types of heated flooring systems.

“Type A is the one you see here, where the heated floor is built in a separate building in the yard. Type B involves tearing up your existing floor on the ground level and remodeling it. If you order both, you'll receive a ten percent discount”

“...”

“Yes. The oldest is seven, and the youngest is five”

“In the winter, doesn't it bring tears to your eyes to watch your children shiver and cough in the cold? Doesn't it pain you to see them huddle in front of the fireplace to keep warm? Even the thought must be heart-wrenching”

“...”

“If you sign the contract now, I'll give you a special deal where you receive five free bundles of firewood”

“...”

“Consider wisely. This chance doesn't come by every day”

“Well, even so…”

“What, you don't want to?”

“...” The man clamped his mouth shut..

Lloyd understood how he felt. It's because he doesn't trust me.

Or, actually, because he was afraid. It made sense, after all. He may be a different person, but these people were unaware of it. To them, he was only the same old Lloyd Frontera, the brute of the barony. The human trash that only drank and ran amok.

I can't expect them to suddenly believe in me after showing them just one decent heated flooring system.

Perhaps they thought it was a scam or that he was following around, so they hesitated to sign a contract. However, he had already expected as much.

“So? You won't sign a contract?”

“...”

“Really, is that how you're going to be?”

“...”

The man flinched as Lloyd stared at him intently. He already figured out the meaning behind the man's gaze.

He probably thinks I'll make his life here difficult if he doesn't sign the contract right now. He's wrecked with anxiety.

Lloyd stifled a bitter smile. Using the discomfort and fear of the villagers felt like a cheap shot. But for now, it was the best plan.

It won't hurt to take advantage of my despicable reputation once in a while, anyway. It's not like I'm going to take off with the down payments and never build anything.

The very beginning was the most important. He had to obtain contracts no matter what. After that, he was confident that good rumors would arise. So for now, he had to go the cheap route and make good use of Lloyd's notoriety.

“Ah… I understand”

He was rationalizing between being conned and avoiding an oncoming disaster.

With hesitation, the man signed the contract. It was the same for the next and the next and the next. Of course, Lloyd was assured that he could make those faces brighten later on.

That's just how efficiently the heated flooring system works.

That was his conclusion based on his investigations in the past few days. The fireplace system that was prevalent in the area had its limitations.

Contrary to appearances, the efficiency of a fireplace is low. It only heats what's close by, and because it only warms the air, it cools off quickly. The heat doesn't stay inside for long. Additionally, the ash and smoke burn the eyes. It's hard to care for since you can't use just any firewood. To keep the light and heat from going out, one person has to stay up all night to watch over it.

A heated flooring system, on the other hand? It offset its own shortcomings. So Lloyd continued confidently to threaten (?) the villagers.

Before the afternoon came to a close, Lloyd secured thirty-two type A contracts and fifty-seven type B contracts. He had a hefty sum of deposits to boot.

Awesome!

Of course, it wasn't a whole lot of money, and he didn't have anywhere near enough to settle the baron's debt. However, it was from here on out that was important.

Although it was a bit forced, when I make these heated floors to their satisfaction, good news will come of it. Then I'll even be able to branch out to other regions.

Branding the heated flooring system and building a business around it here in this region was Lloyd's first place and goal.

Whew, he finished up the final contract as he let out a sigh. Then he took a look around at the red tinted sunset that he didn't see before. He turned away and saw Javier headed in his direction.

“Hey, you. You're strong, right?”

“Yes, I suppose so”

“Then what do you think of being a human crane or forklift?”

“Sir?”

“You said you're strong. Could you use that strength to dig up the ground and lug logs?”

It was a sincere request. Javier was an incredible knight. Certainly, his strength surpassed that of human limitations.

So if Javier were to do the heavy lifting? His future construction projects would become much simpler and speedier. Efficiency would increase. At the same time, he could take on more projects and greatly increase his income.

However Javier shook his head without hesitation “I cannot”

“Why not?”

“Because the baron has given me the mission of your personal protection”

“So, he wouldn't allow you to be a construction worker?”

“That is correct”

“But you've helped me up until now”

“That's because, as a knight, I thought it was my duty to assist the pub owner's elderly mother”

“Protection of the weak?”

“Yes. However, the request you've just made is different”

“You won't help me with my business?”

“That is correct”

“You're certain of this?”

“Indeed”

Of course, he'd be the resolute type. Lloyd smacked his lips. But still, I definitely need heavy equipment.

The difference between having and not having the equipment meant up to ten times longer a construction period. Actually, even the type of construction options that were possible would change.

If I want to make big money, I've got to build on a larger scale.

He was satisfied with heated floors for now, but he wanted to surpass that level at some point. The amount of money he could make with it was limited.

I don't want to be paying back debt until I'm at a ripe old age, he worried.

His life in Korea was topsy-turvy because of money, and he really didn't want to live that way here too.

So, if I intend to pay this whole debt off with a construction company, I have to figure out this heavy equipment issue.

The entire way back home, he pondered deeply. Yet Lloyd couldn't come up with anything. Javier's cold eyes stared at him; his look had seemingly changed from before.

♣

I'm at a loss for words.

Javier was quite flustered as he followed behind Lloyd. Lloyd Frontera was the eldest son of his Master Lord Frontera.

He had been in charge of escorting him for the past few months, which disconcerted him even more.

Was this drunkard always this kind of person?

Lloyd was a scumbag not just in the opinion of the strict fellows but also in the eyes of the average people. He had no patience, and one could expect neither manners nor refinement from him. He was merely a worthless existence, constantly guzzling alcohol.

The day of the foreclosure on his family's home was no different.

Honestly, I hated him. Well, I still do.

The more he got to know him, the more he was unlikeable. If he weren't his master's son, he probably would've already sliced him up. Although Javier was escorting him, he despised his existence. To him, Lloyd was nothing but human garbage. He was sure of it up till a few days ago.

But he's different now, all of a sudden.

It was a few days ago, the morning of the day after he caused a scene at his regular pub. Javier still clearly remembered what Lloyd was like that morning.

I barely had to call him twice to wake him up.

That was unimaginable before. The miscreant even remembered and called Javier's name for the first time. But that was just the beginning.

He sought out the pub owner to appease him, and instead of compensation, he promised to make him a heated floor.

Up until that point, Javier thought he was just up to some trashy mischief. However, that wasn't the case. He actually built the heated floor and kept his promise to the pub owner.

It didn't stop there. Lloyd even drew up contracts for all the villagers gathered there.

Is he trying to make money? No, that's only an excuse.

Somehow, Javier felt that Lloyd had a bigger goal in mind. Of course, what exactly that was, he couldn't guess. But he was still certain that this behavior wasn't characteristic of Lloyd.

It's as if he's become a different person overnight.

His manner of speech was different, his attitude and expressions and he suddenly had skills to show off. He designed structures and showcased new heating systems.

It was puzzling.

He wondered if maybe he really was a different person. Yet, no matter how closely he watched, the man walking ahead of him step by step was the brute, Lloyd Frontera.

Then maybe he's been hiding this side of himself the whole time.

That was the only explanation; the only thing that made sense of it all.

Beforehand he led a leisurely life as part of a baron's family, but once the household hit hard times, he's showing his true self?

He really had no idea if that was the case of course, it was too soon to make any conclusions.

For now, I'll stick to my mission.

And if it was possible, he'd continue keeping an eye on the brute. Javier promised to himself as he glared at the back of Lloyd's head.

At that moment, an unexpected message popped up in front of Lloyd.

♣

Ding Dong!

[Your likeability with Javier Asrahan has increased by two points.]

[Current RP with Javier Asrahan: -29]

[You have earned 36 RP by improving relationships with main characters.]

[Current RP: 36]

[Investing in RP will allow you to develop special skills]

What's this again?

The message floated ahead of him, and Lloyd's eyes fluttered around as he read it.