The Greatest Estate Developer - Chapter 390: The Calm Before the Storm (2)

“Phew, whew. Lloyd Frontera, is it true? Is it true that if we came here, we’d meet others as strong as us?”

Dust swirled around as the Merfolk Queen stepped forward, flashing a sinister smile that made even the bravest shiver—a literal “killer smile.”

**‘Wow, she even has muscles on her cheeks.’**

Lloyd couldn’t help but marvel at the Queen’s physique. How much training would it take to develop muscles so defined that even her face showed veins? Instinctively, he hunched his shoulders but quickly put on a welcoming smile.

“Haha. Ha. Thank you for coming, Your Majesty.”

“Thank me? I was curious to see how well the Jewel of Truth was constructed, so I came anyway.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course. That’s why I brought my elite warriors along.”

The Merfolk Queen gestured behind her with a nod.

Following her gaze, Lloyd saw that the front yard of the lord’s manor had indeed become a gathering place for muscle-bound warriors—a sort of showcase of strength. The elite merfolk soldiers she had brought along crowded the area.

And that wasn’t the end of it.

Even as Lloyd looked beyond the Queen, more merfolk warriors continued to fall from the sky with thunderous thuds.

Some landed in the front yard, others in the training grounds at the back, and some even on the manor’s driveway.

It was like a merfolk bombardment.

“Well, there are certainly more of you than I expected.”

“Oh, it’s not that many. I only brought a thousand.”

“And… how exactly did you all get here?”

“You saw it. We jumped.”

“Jumped?”

“Yeah.”

The Queen’s muscle-bound smile gleamed even brighter.

“We’re a race born in the deep sea, navigating through typhoons and stormy waves with nothing but dolphin kicks. That means we’re confident in the power of our fins to propel us. Initially, moving without buoyancy felt strange, but it wasn’t an issue. If anything, moving on land with leaps felt easier since there’s less resistance than in the water.”

“Is that so?”

“It is. It was a refreshing experience. Especially when we soared 300 meters high with each leap—it felt so exhilarating.”

“And… how did you manage the landing?”

“You saw it earlier.”

The Merfolk Queen shrugged her broad shoulders.

“I landed using my upper body. It was more comfortable that way. Planting my hands on the ground allowed me to load all the stress onto my muscles. From my wrists and forearms to my biceps, triceps, shoulders, back, and core, I could feel every muscle in my body wake up. It felt amazing. And when I jumped again, I could fully utilize my fin muscles. It was like a full-body workout.”

“So, the entire journey here was just one big workout?”

“Of course. We landed on the nearest beach and leapt across several human villages on our way here. Fortunately, the humans were all very polite and friendly. When I asked where Frontera Territory was, they all eagerly pointed the way.”

“…With your physique, Your Majesty, anyone would be polite.”

“Hmm? What do you mean by that?”

“Oh, nothing. Anyway, thank you very much for coming. Please, allow me to show you to your accommodations.”

Lloyd swallowed a chuckle.

He could easily imagine the shock and fear the simple villagers must have felt upon encountering the merfolk.

**‘They must have been terrified. If I were one of those villagers, I’d be reaching for a calming tonic.’**

Despite his amusement, he quickly led the 1,000 elite merfolk warriors to the Hive Apartments.

After assigning them their quarters, Lloyd introduced the Merfolk Queen to Count Frontera.

Fortunately, the Count managed to meet the Queen without fainting.

Soon after, the other expected reinforcements began to arrive.

Next were the Orc Clan Alliance.

“Kweek! Frontera is a blood ally of the Iron Sand Clan! The Iron Sand Clan is part of the Orc Clan Alliance! The blood allies of the alliance are brave allies! We help you, friend, kweek!”

“We help you, friend, kweek!”

“We help you, brother, kweek!”

“We help you, girlfriend, kweek!”

“…There’s a traitor among us, kweek!”

A staggering 30,000 orc troops swarmed into the territory, their bulging muscles filling the streets. The orc alliance’s Grand Chief, Krash, visited the manor as their representative.

The young orc, Arosh, who had been living in the territory, beamed with delight.

“Uncle, kweek!”

“Oh, my nephew, kweek!”

**BANG!**

The uncle and nephew’s high-five echoed like a thunderclap, causing Count Frontera, who had come to greet them, to turn slightly pale.

However, the encounter was without incident.

The Grand Chief, though rough, was straightforward and respectful.

But when his eyes met those of the Merfolk Queen—

**‘That back muscle is something, kweek.’**

**‘Thick torso. That’s not an ordinary core.’**

—sparks flew as they exchanged looks of mutual desire to test each other’s strength, whether in arm-wrestling or lifting weights side by side.

The reinforcements kept coming.

From the Everglow Forest, 300 elite elven archers arrived, their quiet and calm demeanor contrasting sharply with the previous groups.

Then, 500 centaur sprinters from the Northern Plains galloped in.

A battalion of artillery from the Cremero County, two companies of mountain spearmen from Namaran, and a regiment of elite Mamluk cavalry from the Eastern Sultanate arrived one after the other, making the territory bustle with activity.

Finally, 10,000 royal soldiers from the Magentano Kingdom arrived from the west, knocking on the gates of the territory.

And leading them was none other than the Queen herself, Alicia Termina Magentano.

“…Huh?”

Lloyd, who had gone to greet the royal troops, rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

Leading the royal soldiers was an unexpected figure.

**‘What the… Why is the Queen here?’**

He was dumbfounded.

It was a completely unforeseen development.

Perhaps sensing Lloyd’s shock, the Queen looked at him and sent a conspicuous smirk his way.

“It’s been a while, Lloyd Frontera.”

“This humble one, Lloyd Frontera, is truly overjoyed to see Your Majesty, the rightful ruler of this land.”

“Is that so?”

“Indeed, I am honored beyond measure.”

“Hm, you seem more surprised than honored.”

“That is not the case, Your Majesty. How could I dare?”

“You’re not even good at lying anymore?”

“Absolutely not, Your Majesty. How could I dare?”

“Then why did you just look at me with such wide, startled eyes?”

“That was because of the deep concern I felt for Your Majesty’s well-being.”

“Concern? Worry? You, for me?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

This time, the Queen raised her eyebrows slightly.

Lloyd licked his lips, moistening them before continuing.

“As I mentioned in my request for aid, the upcoming invasion by the Hell Legion is no ordinary event.”

“That’s true. It will be an unprecedented invasion. But?”

“And so, I am deeply concerned for Your Majesty’s safety.”

“Surely not?”

“That’s exactly it.”

“Are you saying you dare to worry about the safety of your Queen?”

“My apologies, Your Majesty.”

“Tsk, tsk.”

The Queen clicked her tongue, looking at Lloyd with a mix of disappointment and amusement.

“How should I interpret this concern from someone who can’t even properly withstand my sword?”

“Please see it as my loyal devotion to my sovereign.”

“Loyalty? Is that all?”

“Pardon?”

“Hmm.”

“…”

Gulp.

Their eyes met.

What was this lingering hint of dissatisfaction in her gaze?

Why did it feel like sweat was suddenly pouring down his back?

**‘Why does it feel like she’s about to devour me whole?’**

Lloyd couldn’t help but shudder, quickly shaking off the chill by shrugging his shoulders.

“This will be an unprecedented and extremely difficult and dangerous battle, Your Majesty. Should anything happen to you, the repercussions for the kingdom would be unimaginable. I dare not…”

“Are you afraid of that responsibility?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

It was his honest truth.

In fact, even when he had sent the request for aid to the Magentano royal family, he had never imagined that the Queen herself would come.

He hadn’t expected it in the slightest.

**‘It would be a huge problem if anything happened to the Queen. That’s quite a burden.’**

Of course, the Queen was stronger than Lloyd.

But the enemies?

The Hell Knights were far stronger.

And considering that the Hell King himself would be leading them, there was no guarantee of safety.

However, it seemed the Queen had a different perspective.

“Lloyd Frontera, this is my territory.”

“Yes, I am aware, Your Majesty.”

“If my territory is under threat of invasion, do you think I would just stand by and watch with my arms crossed?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

“If you saw me that way, I’m disappointed.”

“My deepest apologies, Your Majesty.”

“Are you truly sorry this time?”

“Yes, I truly am.”

Lloyd swallowed his embarrassment and bowed his head.

If the Queen had decided to come here, there was no stopping her.

**‘It’s not like I can tell her to leave her troops here and return. I’ll have to make sure she doesn’t get hurt.’**

While her presence would undoubtedly be a tremendous asset, he would also have to ensure her safety.

As Lloyd was mulling over these thoughts, he noticed two figures hastily approaching.

It was Count Frontera and his wife.

“Your Majesty, I am Arcos Frontera, the one who was granted the honor of governing this blessed land. I am deeply honored to meet you.”

“I am Marbella Frontera, wife of Arcos Frontera, and I am honored to meet Your Majesty.”

It was clear how hurriedly they had come, as they didn’t have time to fix their hair or straighten their clothes before bowing deeply.

Their faces were flushed with a mix of surprise and nervousness.

It was understandable.

**‘Come to think of it, this is the first time they’ve met the Queen in person.’**

They must have been utterly shocked by the Queen’s unexpected visit to their territory.

The Queen’s lips curled into a pleased smile as she looked at the couple.

“I am also pleased to finally meet you both. Lloyd Frontera has spoken of you so often and with such pride.”

“…Excuse me?”

“He said you were the most excellent lords and parents he could ask for.”

“Oh…”

“Now that I see you in person, I can see that his endless praise was entirely justified. How could this not be a joyful and wonderful meeting?”

“We are eternally grateful for your grace!”

The Count and Countess lowered their heads in deep emotion.

The Queen’s smile deepened with satisfaction.

Then, she glanced subtly at Lloyd.

And that look seemed to say…

**‘I did well, didn’t I?’**

Gulp.

Was he supposed to nod in agreement?

But why did he feel so tense?

The Queen appeared to be seeking his approval or perhaps basking in the joy of making a good first impression on his parents.

In the end, Lloyd gave her a slight nod.

The Queen’s smile grew even more radiant.

“…”

What was this feeling?

Why did it feel like he was going through some sort of pre-marital meeting tutorial?

This didn’t feel like a mere misunderstanding at all.

**‘This is dangerous. Very dangerous.’**

An ominous sense of foreboding surged within him.

All Lloyd had ever dreamed of was meeting a normal woman, falling in love, getting married, and raising children together—a simple, happy life.

That was all he had ever wanted.

Nowhere in that dream had there been any mention of a fierce romance with the strongest woman on the continent.

**‘I can see it. I can feel it. This isn’t good. If this keeps up…’**

He might get caught.

Like a small dog being captured by a lioness.

But whether the Queen knew what Lloyd was thinking or not, she was now happily chatting with his parents.

She seemed genuinely happy.

Lloyd hadn’t realized she could smile so brightly.

As he watched her profile, even the early summer sunlight seemed to glow more brilliantly…

**‘…Hey! Get a grip, man!’**

Lloyd shook his head vigorously, trying to shake off the unexpected feelings that had crept up on him.

Now wasn’t the time to be indulging in soft emotions.

The real challenge was fast approaching.

He splashed some cold water on his thoughts and focused on the final preparations for the impending battle.

He executed the evacuation plan for the residents of Frontera and the neighboring Lacona Barony.

Thanks to Solitas’ cooperative mass teleportation magic, all the residents were safely relocated to the dragon’s lair.

It took five days.

And then, the morning of the Hell Legion’s invasion day dawned.

As the sun rose, Lloyd stepped outside.

He headed toward the northern part of the territory under the pretense of taking a stroll, making his way to the Jewel of Truth.

He had one goal in mind.

**‘Let’s see. I need to confirm what the outcome will be… all the preparations we’ve made… if they’ll be enough.’**

Were they truly prepared?

Would they survive?

Was there anything else they needed?

He felt the need to confirm it at least once.

But he couldn’t afford to use an Ending Spoiler.

**‘I’m short on CP.’**

He had used several Ending Spoilers in preparation for this crisis.

Although he had accumulated a decent amount of CP over time, he was now running dangerously low.

**‘But there’s still the Jewel of Truth. Focus, Lloyd, focus.’**

Lloyd plunged into the water.

He pushed aside his complicated thoughts and placed his hands on the altar.

He activated his mana heart.

He spun his circle.

**Kiiiing—!**

The giant jewel glowed faintly in the darkness 70 meters below the surface.

Soon, a familiar voice reverberated through all his senses.

**[For those who seek the true answer from the Jewel of Truth, you must reveal one secret truth about yourself that only you know.]**

Lloyd was familiar with this procedure.

He was ready with his answer.

**‘The secret I’ll reveal this time is…’**