Chapter 341: How to Break Through a Mountain Range (1)
“I decree.”
Queen Alicia’s resolute voice captured everyone’s attention. She turned her gaze to Marquis Alcante, the leader of the faction supporting the decree.
“Marquis Alcante, I understand your concern. You fear the curses, misfortunes, and decline of the kingdom’s fortune if the royal family disobeys the decree, correct?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Good. Now, Marquis Cordoba.”
The Queen’s gaze shifted to Marquis Cordoba, the leader of the opposition.
“I understand your opposition to the decree. You fear that the royal family will lose the sacred artifact and its authority if the decree is followed, correct?”
“Yes, indeed, Your Majesty.”
The representatives of the two factions bowed their heads. A faint smile of satisfaction appeared on Queen Alicia’s lips.
“Indeed. My assumptions were not wrong. You are true loyal subjects, beyond reproach. Both the supporters and the opposition.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Both sides responded in unison. The Queen continued her declaration.
“I am truly pleased. How can I not be, with such loyal subjects to the royal family? However, this also brings me great concern. Such excellent subjects are divided, each presenting valid arguments and clashing. I spent a sleepless night pondering which side to support. And just now, upon entering this hall, I reached a conclusion. Lloyd Frontera.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Lloyd quickly bowed his head, suppressing the smile threatening to form at his lips. He eagerly listened to the Queen’s forthcoming declaration.
“My loyal subject, the eldest son of the Frontera family. I ask you this: Are you prepared to receive the royal artifact, the Summer’s Eye, as decreed? More importantly, can you prove your readiness?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Grant me the opportunity to prove myself in any way you see fit.”
He spoke solemnly, inwardly clenching his fist in triumph.
‘It’s happening.’
He felt it. The proposal he made to the Queen two days ago had worked.
‘The fact that she came to the assembly today means she accepted my proposal.’
He listened intently for her declaration, and soon it came.
“Good. Lloyd Frontera, I propose this: I highly regard your numerous successful accomplishments and wish for you to use your outstanding abilities for the prosperity of the royal family and the kingdom. Therefore, I propose this: Lloyd Frontera, open a large-scale trade route through the Pantara Mountains in the southwest of the kingdom.”
As soon as the Queen’s declaration fell, Lloyd shouted ‘Yes!’ inwardly. The other nobles widened their eyes in surprise. A meaningful smile lingered on Queen Alicia’s lips.
“This is my test for you, Lloyd Frontera, and my mediation for all present here. I proclaim that if Lloyd Frontera successfully opens a trade route through the Pantara Mountains, I and the royal family will honor the decree and bestow upon him the Summer’s Eye.”
The Queen walked towards Lloyd, her footsteps echoing in the hall. Lloyd bowed his head even lower.
“How about it, Lloyd Frontera? If you succeed in opening the trade route, you will receive the Summer’s Eye as decreed. If you fail, you will not. Do you accept this proposal?”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
There was no reason to hesitate. He immediately prostrated himself, accepting the proposal like a cat eagerly licking up a treat offered by its master. A satisfied smile formed on the Queen’s lips.
“Good.”
Queen Alicia was pleased. She had indeed spent a sleepless night. She had mulled over Lloyd’s proposal, weighing the benefits and risks it posed to herself and the royal family.
‘It was an excellent proposal. Almost too good.’
Anything too sweet should be approached with suspicion, especially in court. This proposal was just that. It was too good. There seemed to be no downside for her.
If Lloyd succeeded, the royal family would gain a trade route that would ensure centuries of prosperity in exchange for the Summer’s Eye. If he failed, they would not lose the artifact and suffer no real loss.
‘No, even in that scenario, I gain something. By mediating the divided opinions and nobles, my political influence will only strengthen.’
It was a deal full of benefits for her. Should she view this with pure intentions? What if Lloyd harbored ulterior motives? She had doubts and analyzed the situation, considering the worst possible outcomes.
In the end, she reached a conclusion.
‘If he truly harbors ill intentions and rises against the royal family… neither I nor the royal family could stop him.’
Resisting would only result in losing the throne. The only way to minimize losses would be to recognize the independence of the Frontera territory and appease him. Therefore, she couldn’t afford to make an enemy of Lloyd Frontera.
It was like riding a tiger.
‘Have I nurtured him too much?’
A bitter thought crossed her mind. Suddenly, a clear solution came to her.
‘Perhaps I should make him part of the royal family.’
Maybe that was the better option. Currently, they were strong political partners, but such relationships could change depending on benefits. Binding him by blood might be the safest option.
‘…Tsk.’
Alicia clicked her tongue inwardly at the idea she was considering. How did she end up pondering such schemes?
Perhaps it was this line of thinking that made her see Lloyd’s polished head more irritatingly endearing. Regret seeped in—she should have landed a solid blow during their duel two days ago.
But such thoughts were fleeting. She quickly erased any complicated expressions, replacing them with her usual imperious gaze. She surveyed the chamber with a commanding presence.
“Very well. As you have seen, the wise and loyal Lloyd Frontera has willingly accepted my test. Thus, it is now your turn. Does anyone have any objections to my mediation?”
“….”
Of course, there were none. Both the supporters and the opposition bowed respectfully.
However, their expressions differed significantly. The supporters looked bitter, their lips tasting the sourness of defeat.
They thought, ‘In the end, the Queen sided with the opposition.’
Despite the supposed mediation, it felt like a declaration that Lloyd wouldn’t receive the Summer’s Eye.
The supporters felt it was almost a disregard for the decree.
Their thoughts were understandable.
‘A trade route through the Pantara Mountains? No matter how skilled Lloyd Frontera is in civil engineering, it’s an impossible task.’
Nine kings of the Magentano dynasty had attempted to open a trade route through the Pantara Mountains. All nine had failed. This tenth attempt would surely fail too.
They believed Lloyd would never get the Summer’s Eye.
The opposition felt the same.
‘Good. The Queen heeded our advice!’
They were inwardly rejoicing.
An impossible task had been assigned to Lloyd.
If he failed, he wouldn’t receive the artifact. The opposition believed the Queen had made the right decision to protect the kingdom’s interests.
And if, by some miracle, Lloyd succeeded?
The trade route would benefit the kingdom greatly. The opposition could accept that outcome, albeit reluctantly.
‘Though such an event is highly unlikely.’
Believing they had won, the opposition exchanged subtle nods of satisfaction.
Meanwhile, Javier and Julien were whispering to each other almost entirely with their eyes.
“Sir Asrahan?”
“Yes, Julien.”
“About the Queen’s declaration…”
“Yes.”
“It seems unfavorable to my brother, but… this is what he wanted, right?”
“Most likely.”
“Yeah, it fits. My brother is that kind of person.”
“Indeed. He’s cunning, meticulous, and never does anything that would put him at a disadvantage.”
“…Hearing it that way makes it sound impressive.”
“In what sense?”
“In many ways.”
“…I agree.”
Was it praise or criticism?
Julien and Javier weren’t sure. But they both glanced at Lloyd, pondering the same question.
‘What’s going on in that mind of his?’
How sharp does one have to be to plan such schemes?
What kind of calculations does one have to make to pull off these maneuvers?
They couldn’t fathom it.
One thing was clear, though.
Queen Alicia, matching Lloyd’s cunning step by step, was also no ordinary person. Perhaps these two were the ultimate partners in their respective fields.
And so, amidst the mixed reactions of the nobles, Alicia and Lloyd exchanged knowing smiles.
They seemed to declare ‘Negotiation successful!’ through their eyes.
♣
The next day dawned.
After attending the Noble Assembly, Lloyd immediately left the capital.
‘I’ve settled the negotiation with the Queen. Now it’s time to work!’
Naturally, there was no time to rest. Successfully negotiating with the Queen meant it was time to produce the desired results.
‘…Thinking this way, it feels good but also a bit sad.’
Lloyd sighed deeply.
When would he get to rest?
When would he enjoy a carefree, relaxed life?
Would the dream of a leisurely life as a building owner ever come true?
A wave of melancholy washed over him, and his shoulders trembled slightly.
‘I want to rest. I want to play. I just want to laze around, watch TV, eat chicken, and laugh without a care.’
When was the last time he lived like that?
He couldn’t remember.
But the moment of melancholy was brief. Lloyd slapped his cheeks with both hands, refocusing.
He checked the route of Yong-yong, the dragon flying them, and looked up.
The freezing wind cut through, numbing his cheeks.
His hair fluttered as he looked down from the dragon’s back.
There lay the Pantara Mountains.
“…Wow.”
No matter how many times he saw it, it was always awe-inspiring.
Everywhere, jagged peaks rose like knives.
It looked like an endless series of towering cliffs.
‘The slopes aren’t just steep; they’re covered in ice and perpetual snow.’
Everything was slippery.
Even the world’s top rock climber or a Spider-Man-like figure would want to check their life insurance policy before attempting to scale these peaks.
It was a dangerous terrain.
‘Man, I must be crazy to think I can build a railroad here.’
Even to himself, it seemed absurd.
But Javier, riding behind him, seemed to feel the same.
Gazing at the scenery below, he asked skeptically.
“Sir Lloyd?”
“Yeah?”
“Can we really build a railroad here?”
“Seems impossible, right?”
“Yes.”
Javier nodded without hesitation.
“I understand the concept of the train and tracks now. We built one in Hell together. But this… the terrain is too steep. Even if we lay tracks, the train won’t be able to climb these slopes.”
“True.”
Lloyd nodded.
It was a valid and sharp observation.
No matter how advanced the railroad was.
Even with a narrow-gauge track and systems like switchbacks.
A train couldn’t operate on such steep cliffs.
It was an absolute impossibility.
Lloyd knew this better than anyone.
‘Trains need metal wheels running on metal rails. They slip. On steep slopes, they can’t climb and will slide down. Braking would be difficult, and accidents would be inevitable.’
In South Korea, the maximum gradient for railway construction was set at 35 permil (‰ = 1/1000).
‘The railway should not exceed a 35-meter elevation difference over one kilometer. Beyond that, trains become unsafe.’
Only 35 meters of elevation change over one kilometer.
That small gradient already posed challenges for trains.
But here?
‘Even the gentler slopes here have a 35-meter elevation change every 100 meters.’
It was impossible for a train to traverse without wings.
Yet Lloyd wasn’t worried.
“If it were impossible, why would I propose this to the Queen?”
“Then you have a method?”
“Of course.”
“What is it?”
“Curious?”
“Yes.”
Javier nodded, genuinely intrigued.
Having witnessed Lloyd’s ingenious civil engineering solutions, he was eager to see what new method Lloyd would employ to conquer this treacherous terrain.
With a shameless grin, Lloyd responded.
“We’ll demolish the mountain range.”
“Excuse me?”