Chapter 356. The Fear of After-Service (1)
*Whooosh!*
A gigantic bone wing sliced through the air. The enormous body of Yongyong soared into the sky.
King Venetogna was terrified, struggling to maintain control over his bladder.
‘…H-Heugh!’
He couldn’t collect himself. He had merely conducted a meeting with a madman who brought a bone dragon into his capital. He had hoped to save his kingdom from the brink of ruin. He never imagined that the conclusion would be an abduction. He certainly did not expect to find himself 3,000 meters in the air, free-falling on a bone dragon’s palm.
‘H-Hee, Hic, Heck!’
Whoosh! Whoom! Whoa! Whoo!
Every time Yongyong’s enormous wings stirred the air above, accelerating with a monstrous noise, the wind hit King Venetogna’s face and body. He shuddered with each impact, praying not to fall. He tightened his trembling legs with all his might. Despite everything, he tried to maintain his royal dignity and pride.
“What is this… this… outrageous act!”
He shouted as loudly as he could, hoping his voice wouldn’t tremble. He forced his eyes to shine fiercely, refusing to bow or cower. He vowed to die with dignity if it came to that, standing tall.
This startled Lloyd.
“W-Wait!”
Lloyd quickly reached out, afraid King Venetogna might be blown away by the wind. He grabbed the king’s shoulder to prevent an unintended plummeting death.
“I apologize! I felt you wouldn’t believe me unless I did this!”
“Believe what?”
“That we completed the railroad through the Pantara Mountains for trade! If you don’t believe me, I figured showing you would be best!”
“Showing me? Now you’re spouting nonsense again?”
“No, I’m proving it’s not nonsense! So please, just bow your head for a moment!”
“…Heugh!”
Lloyd pressed down on King Venetogna’s shoulder. The king couldn’t resist and sank to his knees. He bristled with anger at Lloyd’s audacity to push a king down, his beard trembling with rage.
But before he could yell, Lloyd’s words interrupted him.
“Do you see that?”
“…What?”
The king, having lost the timing to shout in anger, followed Lloyd’s gesture. He looked down at the distant Pantara Mountain’s base.
He gasped involuntarily.
“Huh?”
It was straightened. The peaks and canyons were neatly trimmed and organized. Though there were still steep slopes, it was clear…
“What is that?”
Lines ran along the slope of the canyon. They zigzagged up the hillside. On closer inspection, they weren’t just lines drawn on the ground; they were roads. Steel rails were laid along these roads, and a large, unfamiliar cart was clattering up the slope along two steel lines.
“That’s the railroad and train I mentioned.”
Lloyd’s lips curled into a smile, feeling relieved that he had timed the test train perfectly.
Standing beside the king, looking down at the tracks, Lloyd explained, “The principle is simple. The long carts move along rails laid at regular intervals, fitting the wheel size perfectly.”
“But how does it climb that slope…?”
“Well, various technologies are involved. I can’t reveal the trade secrets, though.”
“…”
King Venetogna fell silent, and Lloyd’s voice grew serious.
“First, I sincerely apologize for today’s rudeness towards the rightful ruler and king of Veneto Kingdom. I feared prolonged unnecessary talks might lead to a hostile atmosphere, so I took extreme measures. But this forcible act deserves criticism.”
“…”
“However, I believed showing it to you directly was the best way to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, disputes, and emotional conflicts.”
“…”
“I know these are just my excuses. I earnestly ask for your vast understanding to overlook my rudeness today.”
Lloyd’s voice was genuine, not just a façade. He truly meant it.
‘Of course, I brought a king here like this. Honestly, even I thought it might be too much.’
Lloyd had pondered over it. But in the end, he went ahead, knowing that more moderate measures would waste time and effort. Given the time freeze effect, the king and his people would think the dragon’s demolition was less than a month ago. They wouldn’t believe a trade route over the mountains was completed in such a short time.
Explaining that would have been exhausting. Considering the heightened alert due to the dragon’s demolition, it was frustrating to think about. So he decided to show them.
‘Now, I need to soothe him. I was quite rude.’
The king was an elderly man, and he seemed quite shocked. His face was still pale. Lloyd felt guilty and removed his coat, carefully placing it on the king’s shoulders. He didn’t speak further, believing silence was golden at times like this, and waited respectfully for the king’s response.
“…”
King Venetogna’s white, thick beard twitched. He was genuinely surprised by Lloyd’s behavior.
‘He… apologized to me?’
He hadn’t expected it. He was abducted and thought he was as good as dead. Yet, the man who kidnapped him was offering a sincere apology, explaining his actions with honest and respectful eyes, and showing proof of his claims.
‘Could it be true?’
It might be a trick to disarm him, but King Venetogna shook his head.
‘No. It’s too advantageous for him. I am just an old, powerless man kidnapped by them. If they wanted to harm me, it would be easy.’
Yet Lloyd Frontera didn’t harm him, didn’t threaten him. Instead, he showed proof of his claims and sincerely apologized.
‘If he wanted to kill me, he could do it here and now. It’s not like my kingdom could stop him.’
If Lloyd intended to invade and destroy Veneto Kingdom, he wouldn’t need to complicate things. He could kill the king here, march into the capital with the dragon, and destroy everything. The kingdom’s defense would collapse without its leader.
‘But he’s not doing that.’
King Venetogna slowly dropped his suspicion, keeping just a hint of doubt. With a slightly annoyed feeling at being kidnapped, he asked Lloyd sharply.
“You are quite a peculiar man. Let me ask, Lloyd Frontera, is this your usual way?”
“No, not usually.”
“Then?”
“Usually, I’m a bit more ruthless.”
“…”
“I apologize. That was not meant as a threat. I had no such intention.”
“…”
That definitely sounded like a threat. King Venetogna licked his dry lips, realizing the situation.
‘I have no choice but to start this negotiation at a disadvantage.’
Lloyd held all the cards, and behind him was the powerful Magentano. In this situation, the `best he could do was to be thankful Lloyd wasn’t harming him or invading his kingdom.
‘This isn’t a negotiation but a notification.’
Although humiliating, it was the harsh reality. King Venetogna hid his heavy heart and spoke.
“Then, I suppose I should listen.”
“To my queen’s wishes?”
“Yes. It seems I have no choice but to hear it.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“I should be the one thanking your queen for not choosing to invade.”
He spoke with a bitter smile, and Lloyd replied more respectfully.
“Understood. I will convey my queen’s wishes. Queen Alicia Termina Magentano desires direct interaction and trade with your kingdom.”
“Interaction? Trade?”
“Yes.”
Lloyd nodded and continued.
“As you may know, my homeland, Magentano, has always aimed to expand to the southwest since its founding. However, it has repeatedly failed due to insurmountable geographical barriers.”
“Because of the Pantara Mountains.”
“Exactly. So, Queen Alicia Termina Magentano specifically ordered me to build a stable trade route over the Pantara Mountains.”
“Are you sure it’s not an invasion route?”
“Whether the railroad below is used for trade or invasion is up to your kingdom and my queen.”
“You mean you just opened the way, and how it’s used is up to the politicians? That’s irresponsible.”
“I apologize. But it’s the truth.”
“Indeed, the truth is the truth. I won’t deny it.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“Understanding, you say.”
King Venetogna clicked his tongue. The more he talked to Lloyd Frontera, the more he found him insufferable and admirable. His evasive rhetoric and shameless demeanor, despite his obvious intentions, were irritating yet impressive. He envied Alicia, thinking she was lucky to have someone like Lloyd.
‘Who knew I’d envy that ambitious, fierce woman.’
Lloyd’s actions today—boldly crossing lines, seizing control, and steering the negotiation—made him feel like he was dancing on Lloyd’s stage, minimizing resentment skillfully.
“So, you’re not just trying to push the political responsibility onto an old man like me with flowery words, are you?”
King Venetogna subtly tested Lloyd, mixing sincerity and probing in his question. He wanted to see if Lloyd, despite the circumstances, genuinely considered him a partner.
Lloyd didn’t disappoint. As if anticipating the king’s thoughts, he beamed confidently, prepared to meet the king’s expectations.
“Of course.”
“Of course?”
“Yes.”
Lloyd nodded with conviction, like a salesman catering to a new client.
“After-sales service is essential for any deal, right?”
That’s how it should be, to keep clients happy and loyal. Lloyd’s smile grew warmer, embodying hospitality, service, and exploitation.
