Chapter 354: Bluff with Confidence (1)
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The massive wings of the bone dragon, Yongyong, beat through the air, creating a whirlwind over the southwestern slopes of the Pantala Mountains.
Lloyd’s hair fluttered in the wind as he looked up.
“Ah, the weather is great.”
How long had it been since he felt the warmth of the sun?
It felt like every cell in his skin was doing a happy tap dance.
‘Nearly 11 months, I think.’
He had spent that time using time freeze.
The problem was that the Pantala Mountains, standing like a wall, blocked almost all direct sunlight.
“Because of that, we hardly got any sunbathing except during the downhill construction over the mountains, right?”
“Indeed.”
Javier smiled faintly, perhaps in a good mood from the rare sunbathing.
“In fact, even during the downhill construction after the test run, clouds covered the southern sky, and those clouds were part of the time-frozen area, so we couldn’t enjoy proper sunlight. Because someone decided to freeze time just at that moment.”
“Hmm, so you’re saying it’s my fault that everyone at the site ended up with pale faces from lack of sunlight?”
“Precisely. I’m glad you understood so well.”
“You’re not losing a word these days, are you?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Then?”
“I’ve never lost, even before.”
“…”
“By the way, Lord Lloyd.”
“Yes.”
“Is it really okay for us to fly like this on Yongyong?”
Javier’s faint smile disappeared, replaced by a look of concern.
“Considering the Kingdom of Veneto on the other side of the mountains, they will be very alarmed at the sudden appearance of Yongyong.”
“Probably, yes.”
“That’s why I’m asking.”
“You’re worried that entering the territory of the Kingdom of Veneto on Yongyong without prior consultation or notification might spark an international dispute, right?”
“Exactly.”
Javier looked at Lloyd with a questioning gaze.
Lloyd, brushing his hair back in the wind, smirked.
“There are many reasons, but to sum it up… because we can.”
“Because we can?”
“The Kingdom of Veneto won’t dare touch us. There’s an overwhelming difference in power, and they won’t have any countermeasures against the bone dragon.”
“But still…”
“I know. This goes against international and diplomatic norms. It could provoke not only the Kingdom of Veneto but also make other neighboring countries wary of the Magentano royal family. It could be seen as reckless if I don’t handle it properly.”
“So, you’re saying you’ll handle it properly?”
“Of course.”
Lloyd shrugged.
He looked at the capital of the Kingdom of Veneto, now visible as a small dot in the distance.
“Honestly, I initially considered visiting the Veneto royal family calmly and gently, without Yongyong. But I didn’t want to do that.”
“Why not?”
“It seemed annoying and troublesome.”
Lloyd’s response came with a grin.
“Think about it. If we go alone, they’ll question us about being from the Magentano royal family, check our identities and credentials, ask why we didn’t seek prior permission, inquire about the purpose of collapsing the Pantala Mountain peaks, and whether it’s an invasion. It would be extremely tiring.”
“But still…”
“I know. It’s a necessary procedure. But I find it annoying and a waste of time. Besides, we have a good way to skip those steps, don’t we?”
Lloyd patted Yongyong’s head confidently.
Javier let out a wry smile, recovering his lost composure.
“So, to sum up, you chose this radical approach to save time and avoid the hassle of various procedures and processes.”
“Yes.”
“But Lord Lloyd, this could bring disgrace to the Magentano royal family and His Majesty the King…”
“No. It’s fine. The King of Veneto will actually be pleased.”
“What?”
“Thanks to Yongyong.”
“What do you mean…”
“Just watch if you’re curious. We’re almost there. Get ready.”
Lloyd grinned slyly.
Indeed, the capital of the Kingdom of Veneto had grown closer.
A while ago, it was just a tiny dot.
Now, it had grown to the size of a large shield or a cauldron lid.
And it was still getting closer and bigger.
Thanks to that, the Grand Master Javier could hear it clearly.
“It’s a bone dragon!”
“It’s an invasion!”
“Mother!”
“Come here! Hurry! Hide!”
Desperate cries echoed from all over the capital.
People pointed to the sky, shouting warnings.
Women ran to find hiding places, clutching crying babies.
Guards ran around clanking, bells tolled for an emergency, and goods from market stalls clattered.
“…”
This feels like we’re villains.
It feels like we’ve become unintentional invaders.
Doesn’t this fake Lloyd Frontera feel any guilt?
Javier felt a prick of conscience as he looked at Lloyd.
But Lloyd…
“Good, the people have cleared the square, making it easier to land.”
Was delighted that the square was empty!
“…”
Really, his character.
Just once, I’d like to smack that back of his head.
Javier clenched and unclenched his fist.
Meanwhile, Yongyong gently landed in the capital square.
Kuwaaaang-!
A deafening roar and vibration shook the ground!
Five flowerbeds in the square were crushed and flattened under the massive feet!
But Lloyd was utterly indifferent to the sacrifices of the square’s flowerbeds, which were a product of someone’s sweat and tears.
Instead, he shamelessly stood on Yongyong’s head, looking around the square.
Then, he raised his voice, infused with mana, so everyone could hear.
“I am Lloyd Frontera, the eldest son of the Frontera family, invited by the royal family of Veneto. I have come as promised to see the great and rightful ruler of this land, King Venetogna.”
It wasn’t a loud shout.
But infused with mana, it carried far and clear.
It poked at everyone’s eardrums.
Thanks to that, everyone froze momentarily.
They tilted their heads in confusion.
‘What? Invited by our royal family?’
‘That man and the bone dragon?’
‘Hmm, was there such a thing?’
‘Never heard of it.’
A young man who had been trembling in fear of the impending catastrophe.
A woman peeking at the square through a side window.
An old man trembling because he couldn’t hide in time.
A crossbowman of the city guard rushing towards the square.
All showed puzzled expressions.
Naturally so.
‘Of course. That was a bluff.’
Lloyd inwardly smirked.
What he had just said was a blatant lie, a bluff.
He had never been invited by the Veneto royal family.
He hadn’t arranged a meeting with King Venetogna.
But he bluffed with confidence.
The reason was simple.
‘This way, things will go smoothly.’
Not just smoothly.
The royal family of Veneto and King Venetogna would be very satisfied with today’s meeting.
Moreover, based on that satisfaction, the Veneto royal family would become an active partner in the operation of the Pantala Mountain trade railroad.
With these calculations in mind, Lloyd looked around the square.
“Once again, I reiterate, I have come to this place today by invitation of the Veneto royal family and the rightful ruler of this land, King Venetogna. But seeing as there is no preparation for the guest, I am worried I may have mistaken the date. If it’s okay, please inform the royal family of my arrival and convey it to the great King Venetogna. I would be very grateful.”
He spoke even more shamelessly.
As if it were true.
Politely, so no one could doubt him.
Blatantly, with a triple layer of titanium-plated cheeks.
The effect was immediate.
“Stop! Halt!”
An officer of the city guard, leading troops towards the square, urgently shouted.
The company of about 200 medium infantry he was leading halted.
They weren’t the only ones to stop.
A company of 180 crossbowmen.
300 spearmen.
Even the cavalry detachment, who had been hastily saddling up, received the command to halt from their commanders.
Meanwhile, the officers who had given the halt order all had similar thoughts.
‘If what that man just said is true… this isn’t an invasion by the bone dragon?’
Lloyd Frontera, standing on the bone dragon.
He had clearly stated.
He was invited by the king.
He was supposed to meet with the king.
There was some kind of mistake.
Could someone inform the royal family?
So, if they carefully interpreted his words…
‘We don’t have to fight that bone dragon?’
Relief and smiles of gratitude spread quickly.
They felt like they were saved.
The tension drained from their bodies.
To be honest, they had been truly scared.
No matter how many troops they had, hundreds or thousands.
They had all worried about how to fight and survive against the bone dragon.
It was the same for the officers, regardless of their patriotism or duty.
They valued their lives too.
But now, the man who had come riding the fearsome bone dragon was saying he had been invited.
That he didn’t intend to fight.
That he just wanted to speak with the king.
It was music to their ears.
From then on.
“You there! You!”
Officers began selecting the fastest runners from their units.
And they gave the most urgent orders of their military careers.
“Run to the royal palace and deliver what we just heard, quickly!”
“Yes, sir!”
Each unit, advancing towards the square, sent their fastest runners racing to the palace.
Soon, Lloyd’s bluff reached King Venetogna.
“…What? That man claims to have received my invitation?”
“So he says, Your Majesty.”
“…”
King Venetogna closed his mouth.
He had been prepared for the worst, thinking the bone dragon might reduce the royal palace to ashes.
‘But what is that man thinking? Why is he claiming he received my invitation?’
He had never invited anyone from Magentano.
He had never arranged a meeting.
Moreover, what had that bone dragon done a few days ago?
It had destroyed two peaks of the Pantala Mountains in a show of force, an act of blatant aggression.
Gritting his teeth, King Venetogna concealed his emotions.
Instead, he responded with a natural smile.
“Haha. I never imagined the Magentano royal family would respond to my request in this way.”
“…What? So, Your Majesty, does that mean the man and the bone dragon were truly invited by you?”
“Indeed.”
King Venetogna replied calmly.
He turned to the Supreme Commander, who looked puzzled.
“I have been considering. Though our forces are not weak, if we engage in a large-scale battle with Magentano’s powerful invading forces, the losses will be immense. Even if we win, the damage will be great.”
“Your words are wise, Your Majesty. So, you secretly contacted the Magentano royal family to avoid such conflicts and losses?”
“Exactly. I apologize for not informing you, but sometimes in politics, even allies must be kept in the dark.”
“I am merely in awe of your wisdom, Your Majesty.”
“Haha. Thank you for understanding.”
Good.
It was natural.
King Venetogna silently praised his own acting skills.
The Supreme Commander accepted the situation.
This was crucial for the king.
‘We must play along with that absurd lie of Lloyd Frontera. Only then can we avoid an immediate conflict.’
A bone dragon had intruded into the capital.
Refusing dialogue and opting for conflict?
He had a terrible conviction that the outcome wouldn’t be pretty.
“Let us go and hear what he has to say.”
King Venetogna smiled leisurely as he rose from his throne.
From now on, he would try to understand the intentions of this Lloyd Frontera, who had suddenly barged into the capital with a bone dragon.
‘What scheme is he plotting with this trickery?’
Half worry.
Half fear.
And a dash of resolve.
King Venetogna’s solemn steps headed towards the square.
Little did he know that today would be a dramatically eventful day in the history of the Veneto royal family.
