The Greatest Estate Developer - Chapter 44: The Third Random Draw (1)

*Ding Dong.*

[New skill option has been unlocked.]

[Design Skill Exclusive Option ③: Simulation Mode – Enables manipulation of topographical data obtained via the Survey Skill within a virtual design space. This allows observation of various physical changes occurring within the terrain.]

“What?”

Lloyd blinked in surprise.

Was it because sweat had dripped into his eyes?

No, it wasn’t that.

It was the message in front of him—it was simply too unbelievable.

“What the… What is this?”

A new option for the Design Skill?

And it was the simulation feature he’d been longing for?

It was an unexpected and unprecedented achievement.

However, Lloyd didn’t just sit there stunned.

Having experienced the power of skill options from the growth of Survey, Design, and the Asrahan Heart Technique, he knew better than anyone how valuable they were.

This was no exception.

“Seeing is believing.”

No amount of reading manuals or playing through tutorials could compare to diving headfirst into a game.

Lloyd immediately activated his Design Skill.

“Design.”

*Whirrrr…!*

A virtual holographic space unfolded before him.

It was a design space visible only to him, completely hidden from others around him.

He uploaded the Marez Swamp’s survey data into the design space.

*Whoosh!*

The terrain of the Marez Swamp appeared within the virtual design space.

So far, it was no different from the usual survey-to-design process he’d done countless times before.

But this time, there was one new feature—a selection panel at the bottom of the virtual space.

[Simulation Mode: On]

“This must be it.”

Even at a glance, it was clear what this selection panel was for.

Lloyd pressed the button.

[Design Skill Option ③: Simulation Mode activated.]
[The terrain data currently uploaded into the design space has been designated as the simulation target.]

*Zap!*

The background of the design space brightened.

The terrain of the Marez Swamp now displayed numerous dots and lines, resembling polygonal graphics.

“Does this mean the controls are similar, too?”

Curious, Lloyd reached out and pinched one of the terrain lines forming a small hill. He pulled it upward.

*Rumble…!*

The terrain rose proportionally with his gesture.

A new hill appeared on one side of the Marez Swamp, and he could clearly see the mud and water from the hill seep down into the surrounding lowlands.

“Whoa.”

It felt like he had become a god or like he was using a terrain editor in a simulation game.

“This is amazing.”

He swallowed hard.

As a civil engineering student, Lloyd understood that civil engineering wasn’t just about constructing buildings.

“That’s architecture. Civil engineering goes beyond individual structures—it’s far more expansive.”

There was a line from a famous movie: Wind isn’t calculated; it’s overcome.

Lloyd believed the approach to terrain in civil engineering was similar.

“Well, maybe not entirely the same. Terrain is both calculated and overcome.”

Civil engineering was about planning and shaping terrain to enhance human life.

Carving tunnels through mountains.

Reshaping rugged coastlines to build harbors.

Calculating and mastering terrain to construct roads and railways.

Designing water and sewer systems.

Reclaiming land and erecting levees.

Building bridges on steep cliffs to connect lives.

Since the dawn of civilization, civil engineering had wielded enormous influence over humanity’s development.

Achieving such feats required meticulous calculations and experiments with terrain.

“And now I have a tool for that in my hands.”

Lloyd clenched his fist.

He immediately dismantled the miniature model he had built in the backyard.

After cleaning off the mud from his body, he locked himself in his room for five full days.

During that time, he simulated countless levees and channels in the Marez Swamp using Simulation Mode.

He meticulously planned and reviewed his swamp reclamation project.

This allowed him to refine his initial analog-based model from the backyard into a much more sophisticated version.

Of course, Javier had to deal with Lloyd’s behavior throughout this process.

“Lloyd, it’s time for lunch.”
“Just leave it there.”
“I really think you should eat now.”
“Hmm, I’m busy. Can’t you not interrupt me?”
“You didn’t even eat the breakfast I brought you earlier.”
“Oh? Are you nagging me now?”
“I’m just concerned.”
“Concerned? You? About me?”
“Yes.”
“That’s absurd. You’re worried about me? Who are you, and where have you hidden the real Javier?”
“…….”
“Kidding. Can’t you see how focused I am?”
“Yes.”
“Doesn’t my serious face and sharp gaze scream focus?”
“No, but I do see a crazy person flailing their arms in thin air all day.”
“Oh, so sarcastic. Now I know it’s you, Javier. But sorry to burst your bubble—I’m not crazy.”

Lloyd continued moving his hands in the air as if he were orchestrating an invisible symphony.

To Javier, it must have looked utterly bizarre.

“I guess it makes sense. The virtual design space created by my skill is visible only to me.”

In reality, Lloyd was carefully manipulating the Marez Swamp terrain in Simulation Mode. He was experimenting with ways to apply vertical drainage techniques.

But Javier couldn’t see any of this.

To him, Lloyd was just waving his hands at nothing.

“I’m just brainstorming. Haven’t you heard the saying that all the body’s nerves converge in the hands?”
“So?”
“Moving my hands like this stimulates my nerves, which boosts my brain activity.”
“Still, Lloyd, you need to eat.”
“Oh, come on. You’re not my mom.”
“If you keep refusing meals, I’ll report to the baroness that you’re neglecting your health.”
“…Tsk, fine.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said, it’s too noisy to concentrate with you nagging, Mr. Model Citizen. Fine, I’ll eat if you sit in that armchair for a moment.”
“What are you planning?”
“Just sit quietly, and I’ll eat, okay?”
“Is that a promise?”
“Do I look like someone who lies?”
“…Fine.”

Javier sat in the armchair, and Lloyd’s lips curled into a sly grin.

“Good, stay put. Now relax for a bit. Packed Drain (PD) techniques are similar in principle to sand or paper drains, involving… yada yada… inserting casing pipes into the ground up to a depth of… blah blah…”

“Wait, what are you—”

*Zzz…*

A surprise lullaby.

Lloyd recited his old engineering textbooks aloud, lulling Javier into a peaceful slumber.

As Javier’s eyes grew heavy and his head began to droop, Lloyd gently adjusted him so he could rest comfortably against the armchair.

He continued his “lullaby” until Javier was fully asleep.

“For example, plastic board drains (PBD) can be divided into two main types. The first is… yes, yes, sleep well… poof.”

*”Zzz…”*

Javier had fallen into a deep sleep before he knew it.

With his environment now “optimized,” Lloyd devoted himself fully to the simulation mode.

Days passed—one, two, three.

Every day, Javier’s nagging alternated with Lloyd’s impromptu lullaby services.

Meanwhile, the plan to reclaim the Marez Swamp steadily took shape.

“Done.”

On the fifth day, Lloyd’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.

Now, it was time to assemble the appropriate work crews and equipment for the project.

♣

“Ppodong? Bangul?”

“Ppodong!”

“Bangul!”

The moonlight shone brightly that evening.

Lloyd stood in the backyard of the estate.

Naturally, Javier was soundly asleep.

“I’m thinking of summoning a new friend for you two.”

“Ppodong?”

“Bangul?”

“I thought it might be fun for you both to watch the process.”

Lloyd chuckled.

Tonight, he planned to summon a new fantastical creature.

This was to aid in the reclamation of the Marez Swamp.

“If possible, I’d like one with water-related abilities. But even if it doesn’t, as long as it’s as big as you two, it’ll do.”

For the swamp reclamation, Lloyd intended to use the *vertical drainage method.*

This method involved drilling numerous vertical holes into the swamp’s base and inserting drainage materials to strengthen the soft ground.

“Based on the survey, the Marez Swamp is similar to pre-reclamation Dutch land.”

A low-lying area where mud and water had accumulated for centuries.

The thick peat layers were saturated with water, creating soft, easily collapsing terrain.

But once the water was removed?

“It becomes much easier to manage.”

Peat layers compress under their own weight when water is drained—a phenomenon known as *consolidation.*

“Draining the water is key. But I don’t have the equipment for vertical drainage—not even pumps.”

There were alternatives.

Javier could blast holes into the ground, and the fantastical creatures could help remove the water.

That’s why Lloyd was summoning another creature now.

“Ppodong? Bangul?”

“Ppodong!”

“Bangul!”

“It’d be great if the new ones are as good at moving water as you two.”

Lloyd spoke sincerely.

Both Ppodong and Bangul were excellent at handling water.

Ppodong used his enormous cheek pouches, while Bangul relied on her expandable stomach to transport water in volumes rivaling large tanks.

“Just a few more creatures with similar abilities and size—four or five should do.”

Fantastical creatures possessed unique skills and abilities, and most were impressively large when transformed.

Lloyd intended to fully utilize the advantages of their size.

“The specific ability doesn’t matter. If it’s water-related, that’s a bonus, but all I care about is size—something huge, capable of moving large amounts of water by mouth or body!”

He was ready to roll the dice.

“Honestly, I’ve been incredibly lucky so far.”

Ppodong and Bangul had both provided the exact abilities he needed at the time.

But Lloyd knew better than to expect the same luck this time.

With his resolve set, Lloyd opened the random draw interface.

*Ding Dong.*

[FANTASTICAL CREATURE RANDOM DRAW]
[Invest RP to summon a fantastical creature. Powerful and unique creatures will pledge absolute loyalty to their summoner and offer various abilities.]
[Random Draw Cost (3rd draw) = 100 RP]

“Hmm.”

The cost had risen by about 1.5 times since the second draw when he had summoned Bangul.

“But it’s fine. I’ve saved my RP carefully for this.”

Lloyd checked his RP balance: 931.

The recent “swamp picnic” with the baron had netted him an additional 20 RP.

“I have plenty of RP.”

He had resisted the temptation to spend RP impulsively, treating it as his ultimate resource.

And now, he was glad he had saved.

“My goal is to summon four more creatures with similar size and water-carrying abilities as Ppodong and Bangul.”

With the cost increasing by 1.5 times for each draw, he estimated that 800 RP should be sufficient.

“Let’s do this.”

His gaze settled on the option below.

[Would you like to execute the random draw?]
[YES / NO]

Without hesitation, Lloyd chose *YES.*

[Executing the random draw.]

*Whoosh…!*

A magic circle materialized in the air, casting a pale light around him.

The space trembled as a new silhouette began to emerge.

The first thing he noticed was its round body.

Then its head—round.

Its rear—round.

Its legs—round.

The entire silhouette was as spherical as a ball.

“Don’t tell me it’s the same type as Ppodong?”

Lloyd sharpened his focus, scrutinizing the emerging creature.

Finally, with a crackling burst, the third fantastical creature revealed itself.

*ZAP!*

“Hamang!”

Something squeaked adorably.

It flew toward him and nestled snugly in his arms.

Lloyd instinctively caught the creature with both hands, feeling its soft, plump texture.

As soon as he felt it, he looked at it.

His eyes widened in disbelief as he murmured to himself.

“…Why is a water-hungry hippo showing up here?”

“Hamang!”

Sitting in his hands, the tiny, chubby pink baby hippo, *Hamang*, looked up at him and beamed.