The Greatest Estate Designer

Chapter 16: Exemplary Punishment (1)

CW: Theres a little graphic depiction of violence

Sir Neumann was a senior knight of Frontera Barony.

He hated this rural territory.

He wanted to be successful, living in luxury.

However, reality wasnt that pretty.

The Frontera Barony is a remote land in the countryside of the kingdom. In its own way, the place was nice to enjoy some rustic peacefulness. But that was all. Enjoying such complacency, he thought, was only suitable for a retired old man.

In other words, this place didnt suit him. He believed that his talent shouldnt rot away in a place like this.

I wanted to escape!

I wanted to abandon this land and leave.

I wanted to be successful and play in bigger water.

I wanted to enjoy wealth and honor that everyone would envy.

To do so, he wanted to withdraw the oath he pledged to Baron Frontera.

However, that was impossible. Knights who withdrew their oath to the Lord are ostracized wherever they go. No lord would be willing to take such a knight as a subordinate.

A knight who betrayed his master. A knight who strayed from his chivalry.

An abandoned knight, he would be branded as such.

So, he thought, If he cant leave his master and this territory, why not make them bankrupt and perish? Like that, he wont be branded as a traitor. Hell be able to leave this godforsaken land without any blame.

The plan was put into action. He contacted an outsider. He sold information about the territory and the baron. As a result, the baron was caught up in a huge investment scam.

After suffering from severe financial shortage, the baron was forced to reach out to the loan shark.

He was glad. The barons bankruptcy was sure to be imminent. That meant the day of his freedom is near.

All of my plans were successful. All I had to do was to wait a little bit longer. But, why? Why is this happening?

Why am I here getting beaten up by the greenhorn Young Master right now?

Swish!

.!

A shovel was closing in. The flat shovel head grew bigger and bigger in his vision. With a clear and fine sound that rang throughout the world, his head turned because he got smacked. The intense impact that resonated throughout the inside of his aching bones was a bonus.

Whack!

Keuk!

Sir Neumanns legs felt weak. But, he managed to keep on standing.

Instead, he screamed gutturally to the world, feeling unfair, S, stop! I already have no sword in my hand!

That was the truth. He lost the sword earlier. From then on, he was unarmed.

The winner of the duel was clearly decided. At this point, the duel shouldve ended. According to Sir Neumanns common sense and the most universal and reasonable procedure, the result shouldve been concluded.

However, reality was even a bigger sh*thole.

So what if I was empty-handed? Lloyds attack still didnt cease.

When I fell down and tried to stand up, I still got beaten. I repeatedly shouted that I surrendered, however he kept attacking as if he didnt hear anything. Even when I tried to run away, he followed and swung his shovel again!

Ss, Ssto! Stop! Dont insult me anymore! I couldnt stand it so I shouted loudly.

However, there was no answer.

Instead of an answer, only a shovel swung closer, determinedly.

Whaaack!

. Cough!

The pain went off again.

Somebody, please stop him.

My eyes were unfocused. If I continued to get beaten like this, I felt like I could die.

There was no time to think about my pride. I gazed desperately at Baron Frontera, who was sitting on the platform.

My Lord! Please help me!

Even when the duel was over, Lloyd still swung his shovel like a madman. The only one who can stop that son of a b*tch is his father, the baron.

Thinking so, Sir Neumann desperately turned to the barons direction.

I raised my head and reached out to the baron with a pathetic look in my eyes.

Please!

As the most forefront knight, it didnt even occur to me at the moment that I had betrayed my master, the baron. Regardless of my ingratitude, avoiding this situation was much more important.

Fortunately, my feelings reached the baron. I saw the baron standing up on the platform.

Lloyd, stop it. I think the duel is already over.

Baron Fronteras voice echoes throughout the training ground. Although it was quiet, the voice contained authority as the master of this land.

At this point, everyone thought.

Oh, at this point, the scoundrel Young Master will cease his shoveling.

Farmer A, woodcutter B, housewife C, and soldier D, all thought the same thing.

That train of thought was natural. That was the command from his father and the owner of this territory.

No matter how misbehaved Young Master Lloyd was, nobody thought he would disregard the territory lords orders by continuing to beat Sir Neumann. Though, everyones assumptions were splendidly wrong.

<Lloyds POV>

The clear beating sound continued to attack everyones cochlea¹Cochlea: is a part of the inner ear that plays a key part in the hearing sense..

Wham!

The shovel was raised in a beautiful arc just like the tee shot of a skilled professional golfer! It resulted in a powerful blow to Sir Neumanns jawline.

.Kuak!

What do you mean, kuak? Its not over yet, You should get hit more.

Keu, keuhhk, ugh! Cough!

Does it hurt? Is it unfair? Do you think Im crazy? Huh?

St, grrrrtk, stop!

Do you want me to stop?

Tha, thats right

Who are you to tell me what to do?

Whack!

I hit his back with the shovels handle. Sir Neumann cowered and screamed about it being painful again.

However, Lloyds gaze at Sir Neumann was still cold.

Does it feel unfair? Theres no choice for you. Because youre an example. If you dont want to get beaten like this, you shouldnt have turned your back on someone who trusts you.

Frankly, that was my honest feeling.

Technically, hes a traitor. However, what if youre being soft and then forgive him? Will there be a beautiful story of repentance, reflection, and rebirth to become a new person?

No, absolutely not.

Lloyd shook his head. Such stories only exist in fairy tales.

I knew too well how vile and nasty reality was. Because I had lived a loathsome life at the very bottom when in the Republic of Korea.

That was also the case in the goshiwon. Just like the man who got caught stealing my soy sauce out of the shared fridge. I shouldve been angry that time. I shouldnt have let him go.

Frankly, I was flustered at the time. I missed the timing to get angry. Eventually, I only laughed awkwardly and told him to not do it again next time in a nice tone. And then what?

He kept stealing.

Whats worse, later he even asked me why I am so inflexible about sharing while living with each other. Looking back at it now, it felt so ridiculous I could only laugh.

But youre going to let this guy go? Thats nonsensical.

Human beings got brazen about even a single achievement that wasnt actually that good.

But, what if you forgive the man who sold his Lord out? What if you do him a favor?

You became a pushover.

After that, those people of the same kind will think that we are easy, so they will hold hands to do similar things and line up just like vienna sausages.

So, youre going to be an example today. That means youll get trampled on until youre on the brink of death. Its not over yet. Cut the bullsh*t and get up.

I had prepared many weapons only for this day.

Lloyd reached out his hand and yanked Sir Neumanns nape. His other hand raised the shovel.

However, at that moment.

Did you not hear me order you to stop! The barons roar could be heard. Lloyd flinched.

Then, he looked back at the baron and answered casually.

I heard you.

Whack!

Along with the answer, the shovel struck Sir Neumanns head again. The corners of the barons eyes twitched.

Are you aware of what youre doing right now?

Absolutely.

Whabam!

Every time Sir Neumanns head got hit, his body jolted.

Anger emerged from the barons eyes.

Youre dishonoring your opponent when the duel is already finished. And is that all? He is also the descendant of a family who had served our barony for five generations and a senior knight of the territory.

Thats right. And even though hes been so trusted, he betrayed the Lord and the territory.

What did you say?

The baron paused.

Lloyd replied nonchalantly, I knew you would ask me, so I prepared it in advance. Take a look under the cloth of the table at the platform.

What the.

There should be something Ive prepared.

.

The baron was taken aback.

What the hell is he talking about? Sir Neumann had betrayed himself and the territory? Look under the cloth of the table at the platform?

In the midst of confusion, the baron lifted the cloth on the table. Before long, his eyes widened.

This is.

There was an envelope under the cloth. He took out the envelope and opened it. Three to four handwritten letters were inside.

What is this?

Ill tell you when youre done reading it.

.

Something didnt feel right. Lloyds attitude was too confident to dismiss it as him seeking trouble.

The baron shifted his gaze to the letters, reading them slowly, one by one. It was not long before his eyes gradually trembled nervously. Eventually, he hastily read the contents of the letter with shaking hands.

Oh my

Grip!

The baron clenched his fist, crushing the letters. Before he knew it, he glowered at Sir Neumann with an incredible stare.

It was inevitable.

The letterswhich Lloyd showed to the baronwere the letters Sir Neumann received from selling Frontera Baronys internal information to the con-man.

<Arcos Fronteras POV>

Tordes.

A name came to mind. He was a young merchant who had approached him. He was passionate, cautious, and adventurous-looking.

One day, he staked his honor and said that there was good land with good soil. Right now, the land was worthless. However, a few years later, the value would increase.

So, what if I bought the land in advance right now? He bet my fortune would be multiplied many times in the future.

I took his words.

Of course, there are risks in every investment.

What if the results of the investment are bad? What if its less profitable than he thought?

At that time, I thought I could just resell the land I bought. At least, I felt relieved that my predicament still could be salvaged.

Without hesitating any longer, I bought the land with the territorys funds and took a debt.

Then, I lost all those funds.

It turned out the property that I bought was a fake property that existed only on paper.

Naturally, I lost all of my investment. Tordes, who had deceived me, gobbled up my investment and went into hiding without leaving any trace behind. Overnight, I was in debt without an income.

But was it Sir Neumann who told Tordes the details of the financial status of the territory, my personal tastes, preferences, interests, etc?

I remembered the gifts I received from Tordes. From mahogany furniture to shirts adorned with pacific sea eagle feathers. All of the gifts were my cup of tea.

It was the same with choosing a topic for conversation, too. Our interests always matched when talking to each other. I wondered how he could always scratch at my right itchy place properly.

I thought were very compatible. He approached me like that and won my trust.

The end of that trust was a painful betrayal and bankruptcy. However, it was Sir Neumann who collaborated with that swindler.

Ba-dump! Ba-dump!

I felt my blood boil. The sound of my heart beating pounded on my eardrums. I felt light-headed as if my eyes turned black.

<Lloyds POV>

A bitter taste was left on Lloyds mouth as he watched the baron.

It mustve been a shock.

The truth was that the one who had been right next to him was the bane of his destruction. He mustve felt shocked and betrayed when he realized it. Even from afar, the barons complexion was pale. If he fell down right now, it wouldnt be strange.

I wondered if I shouldnt have shown you that letter. But, there was no other choice.

I have to show you evidence like that for you to realize the situation youre in.

I had Ppodong scamper around for this. Ppodong infiltrated Sir Neumanns bedroom, and I had him find those letters.

The [Iron-Blooded Knight] novel mentioned that Sir Neumann stored the scammers reply letters in his night table drawer.

As expected, the novel was correct.

Ppodong secretly snuck into Sir Neumanns bedroom with his small body as a hamster. Even if he was in his small body, he was powerful so he could open the drawer without much difficulty. That was how I was able to obtain the letter, which was the evidence of the betrayal.

In that letter, the con-man promised to hire Sir Neumann in the future. Along with a magic signature to prove that the letter was real. Thats why Sir Neumann couldnt get rid of this letter carelessly. Thanks to that, Im able to catch him.

Suddenly, it felt even more bitter.

If only this had been the case in South Korea. If only the fraudsters who deceived my father had left some evidence. If there was, his family wouldnt be so miserable.

At least, my father and mother wouldnt have died.

Phew, lets not get sentimental right now.

Lloyd shook his head. Now was not the time to be sentimental. It was time to take advantage of the situation he had designed.

With that in mind, Lloyd raised his head. He spoke to the baron whose complexion was still pale.

Are you all right?

.

If youre dizzy, sit down for a while and catch your breath.

. I understand.

The baron barely managed to respond.

Looking at him, Lloyd thought. As expected, the baron is not a strong man. He is just a kind man who is only capable of leading the territory in a good faith. Such a man is praised as a saint in times of peace.

However, in times of crisis, what if the ability to overcome adversity is required?

His good heart will be easy to be taken advantage of. He quickly turned into a pushover. In other words, he will get eliminated by natural selection.

Its clear that hes hesitating on how to deal with his underling even though he realized he had been betrayed.

The baron was obviously looking shocked and confused. Sir Neumann had been considered as his underling until now.

How to accept his betrayal. How to deal with him.

He must be hesitant because he doesnt have a strong heart.

Then, Ill do it for you.

Someone has to do it anyway. If you dont do it now, the territorys law and order will be ruined.

Thinking so, Lloyd opened his mouth.

I, Lloyd Frontera, the son of Arcos Frontera, would like to say something as the heir of this territory.

Hi! Id greatly appreciate it if you would buy me a coffee!

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  Cochlea: is a part of the inner ear that plays a key part in the hearing sense.