The World Best Engineer novel - Chapter 16

Chapter 16

CW: There’s a little graphic depiction of violence 

Sir Neumann is a senior knight of Frontera Barony.

He hated this rural territory.

He wanted to be successful, living in luxury. 

However, reality wasn’t that pretty. 

The Frontera Barony is a remote land in the countryside of the kingdom.

In its own way, the place was nice to enjoy some rustic peacefulness. But that was all. Enjoying such complacency, he thought, was only suitable for a retired old man. 

In other words, this place didn’t suit him. He believed that his talent shouldn’t rot away in a place like this.

‘I wanted to escape!’

I wanted to abandon this land and leave. 

I wanted to be successful and play in bigger water.

I wanted to enjoy wealth and honor that everyone would envy.

To do so, he wanted to withdraw the oath he pledged to Baron Frontera.

However, that was impossible. Knights who withdrew their oath to the Lord are ostracized wherever they go. No lord would be willing to take such a knight as a subordinate.

A knight who betrayed his master. A knight who strayed from his chivalry. 

An abandoned knight, he would be branded as such.

So, he thought, ‘If he can’t leave his master and this territory, why not make them bankrupt and perish?’ Like that, he won’t be branded as a traitor. He’ll be able to leave this supreme-rulerforsaken land without any blame.

The plan was put into action. He contacted an outsider. He sold information about the territory and the baron. As a result, the baron was caught up in a huge investment scam. 

After suffering from severe financial shortage, the baron was forced to reach out to the loan shark.

He was glad. The baron’s bankruptcy was sure to be imminent. That meant the day of his freedom is near.

‘All of my plans were successful. All I had to do was to wait a little bit longer. But, why? Why is this happening?’

Why am I here getting beaten up by the greenhorn Young Master right now?

Huik!

“….!”

A shovel was closing in. The flat shovel head grew bigger and bigger in his vision. With a clear and fine sound that rang throughout the world, his head turned because he got smacked. The intense impact that resonated throughout the inside of his aching bones was a bonus.

Whack!

“Keuk!”

Sir Neumann’s legs felt weak. But, he managed to keep on standing. Instead, he screamed gutturally to the world, feeling unfair.

“S, stop! I already have no sword in my hand!”

That was the truth. He lost the sword earlier. From then on, he was unarmed.

The winner of the duel was clearly decided. At this point, the duel should’ve ended. According to Sir Neumann’s common sense and the most universal and reasonable procedure, the result should’ve been concluded.

However, reality was even a bigger sh*thole.

So what if I was empty-handed? Lloyd’s attack still didn’t cease. 

When I fell down and tried to stand up, I still got beaten. I repeatedly shouted that I surrendered, however he kept attacking as if he didn’t hear anything. Even when I tried to run away, he followed and swung his shovel again!

“Ss, Ssto! Stop! Don’t insult me anymore!”

I couldn’t stand it so I shouted loudly.

However, there was no answer.

Instead of an answer, only a shovel swung closer, determinedly. 

Whaaack!

“…. Cough!”

The pain went off again.

‘Somebody, please… stop him.’

My eyes were unfocused. If I continued to get beaten like this, I felt like I could die.

There was no time to think about my pride. I gazed desperately at Baron Frontera, who was sitting on the platform.

‘My Lord! Please help me!’

Even when the duel was over, Lloyd still swung his shovel like a madman. The only one who can stop that son of a b*tch is his father, the baron.

Thinking so, Sir Neumann desperately turned to the baron’s direction.

I raised my head and reached out to the baron with a pathetic look in my eyes.

‘Please!’

As the most forefront knight, it didn’t even occur to me at the moment that I had betrayed my master, the baron. Regardless of my ingratitude, avoiding this situation is much more important.

Fortunately, my feelings reached the baron. I saw the baron standing up on the platform.

“Lloyd, stop it. I think the duel is already over.”

Baron Frontera’s voice echoes throughout the training ground. Although it was quiet, the voice contained authority as the master of this land. 

At this point, everyone thought. 

Oh, at this point, the scoundrel Young Master will cease his shoveling. 

Farmer A, woodcutter B, housewife C, and soldier D, all thought the same thing.

That train of thought was natural. That was the command from his father and the owner of this territory.

No matter how misbehaved Young Master Lloyd was, nobody thought he would disregard the territory lord’s orders by continuing to beat Sir Neumann. Though, everyone’s assumptions were splendidly wrong.

<Lloyd’s POV>

The clear beating sound continued to attack everyone’s cochlea1.

Wham!

The shovel was raised in a beautiful arc just like the tee shot of a skilled professional golfer! It resulted in a powerful blow to Sir Neumann’s jawline.

“….Kuak!”

“What do you mean, kuak? It’s not over yet, You should get hit more.”

“Keu, keuhhk, ugh! Cough!’”

“Does it hurt? Is it unfair? Do you think I’m crazy? Huh?”

“St, grrrrtk, stop…!”

“Do you want me to stop?”

“Tha, that’s right…”

“Who are you to tell me what to do?”

Whack!

I hit his back with the shovel’s handle. Sir Neumann cowered and screamed about it being painful again.

However, Lloyd’s gaze at Sir Neumann was still cold.

‘Does it feel unfair? There’s no choice for you. Because you’re an example. If you don’t want to get beaten like this, you shouldn’t have turned your back on someone who trusts you.’

Frankly, that was my honest feeling.

Technically, he’s a traitor. However, what if you’re being soft and then forgive him? Will there be a beautiful story of repentance, reflection, and rebirth to become a new person?

‘No, absolutely not.’

Lloyd shook his head. Such stories only exist in fairy tales. 

I knew too well how vile and nasty reality was. Because I had lived a loathsome life at the very bottom when in the Republic of Korea.

‘That was also the case in the goshiwon. Just like the man who got caught stealing my soy sauce out of the shared fridge. I should’ve been angry that time. I shouldn’t have let him go.’

Frankly, I was flustered at the time. I missed the timing to get angry. Eventually, I only laughed awkwardly and told him to not do it again next time in a nice tone. And then what?

‘He kept stealing.’

What’s worse, later he even asked me why I am so inflexible about sharing while living with each other. Looking back at it now, it felt so ridiculous I could only laugh.

‘But you’re going to let this guy go? That’s nonsensical.’

Human beings got brazen about even a single achievement that wasn’t actually that good.

But, what if you forgive the man who sold his Lord out? What if you do him a favor?

You became a pushover.

After that, those people of the same kind will think that we are easy, so they will hold hands to do similar things and line up just like vienna sausages.

“So, you’re going to be an example today. That means you’ll get trampled on until you’re on the brink of death. It’s not over yet. Cut the bullsh*t and get up.”

I had prepared many weapons only for this day. 

Lloyd reached out his hand and yanked Sir Neumann’s nape. His other hand raised the shovel.

However, at that moment.

“Did you not hear me order you to stop!” The baron’s roar could be heard. Lloyd flinched.

Then, he looked back at the baron and answered casually.

“I heard you.”

Whack!

Along with the answer, the shovel struck Sir Neumann’s head again. The corners of the baron’s eyes twitched.

“Are you aware of what you’re doing right now?”

“Absolutely.”

Whabam!

Every time Sir Neumann’s head got hit, his body jolted. 

Anger emerged from the baron’s eyes.

“You’re dishonoring your opponent when the duel is already finished. And is that all? He is also the descendant of a family who had served our barony for five generations and a senior knight of the territory.”

“That’s right. And even though he’s been so trusted, he betrayed the Lord and the territory.”

“What did you say?”

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The baron paused. Lloyd replied nonchalantly.

“I knew you would ask me, so I prepared it in advance. Take a look under the cloth of the table at the platform.”

“What the….”

“There should be something I’ve prepared.”

“….”

The baron was taken aback. 

what the .... is he talking about? Sir Neumann had betrayed himself and the territory? Look under the cloth of the table at the platform? 

In the midst of confusion, the baron lifted the cloth on the table. Before long, his eyes widened.

“This is….”

There was an envelope under the cloth. He took out the envelope and opened it. Three to four handwritten letters were inside.

“What is this?”

“I’ll tell you when you’re done reading it.”

“….”

Something didn’t feel right. Lloyd’s attitude was too confident to dismiss it as him seeking trouble. 

The baron shifted his gaze to the letters, reading them slowly, one by one. It was not long before his eyes gradually trembled nervously. Eventually, he hastily read the contents of the letter with shaking hands. 

“Oh my…”

Grip!

The baron clenched his fist, crushing the letters. Before he knew it, he glowered at Sir Neumann with an incredible stare.

It was inevitable.

The letters—which Lloyd showed to the baron—were the letters Sir Neumann received from selling Frontera Barony’s internal information to the con-man. 

<Arcos Frontera’s POV>

‘Tordes.’

A name came to mind. He was a young merchant who had approached him. He was passionate, cautious, and adventurous-looking.

One day, he staked his honor. And said that there was good land with good soil. Right now, the land was worthless. However, a few years later, the value would increase. 

So, what if I bought the land in advance right now? He bet my fortune would be multiplied many times in the future.

I took his words.

Of course, there are risks in every investment. 

What if the results of the investment are bad? What if it’s less profitable than he thought? 

At that time, I thought I could just resell the land I bought. At least, I felt relieved that my predicament still could be salvaged. 

Without hesitating any longer, I bought the land with the territory’s funds and took a debt.

Then, I lost all those funds.

‘It turned out the property that I bought was a fake property that existed only on paper.’

Naturally, I lost all of my investment. Tordes, who had deceived me, gobbled up my investment and went into hiding without leaving any trace behind. Overnight, I was in debt without an income. 

‘But… was it Sir Neumann who told Tordes the details of the financial status of the territory, my personal tastes, preferences, interests, etc?’

I remembered the gifts I received from Tordes. From mahogany furniture to shirts adorned with pacific sea eagle feathers. All of the gifts were my cup of tea.

It was the same with choosing a topic for conversation, too. Our interests always matched when talking to each other. I wondered how he could always scratch at my right itchy place properly.

‘I thought we’re very compatible. He approached me like that and won my trust.’

The end of that trust was a painful betrayal and bankruptcy. However, it was Sir Neumann who collaborated with that swindler. 

Ba-dump! Ba-dump!

I felt my blood boil. The sound of my heart beating pounded on my eardrums. I felt light-headed as if my eyes turned black. 

<Lloyd’s POV>

A bitter taste was left on Lloyd’s mouth as he watched the baron. 

‘It must’ve been a shock.’

The truth was that the one who had been right next to him was the bane of his destruction. He must’ve felt shocked and betrayed when he realized it.  Even from afar, the baron’s complexion was pale. Even if he fell down right now, it wouldn’t be strange.

I wondered if I shouldn’t have shown you that letter. But, there was no other choice.

‘I have to show you evidence like that for you to realize the situation you’re in.’

I had Ppodong scamper around for this. Ppodong infiltrated Sir Neumann’s bedroom, and I had him find those letters.

The [Iron-Blooded Knight] novel mentioned that Sir Neumann stored the scammer’s reply letters in his night table drawer. 

‘As expected, the novel was correct.’

Ppodong secretly snuck into Sir Neumann’s bedroom with his small body as a hamster. Even if he was in his small body, he was powerful so he could open the drawer without much difficulty. That was how I was able to obtain the letter, which was the evidence of the betrayal.

‘In that letter, the con-man promised to hire Sir Neumann in the future. Along with a magic signature to prove that the letter was real. That’s why Sir Neumann couldn’t get rid of this letter carelessly. Thanks to that, I’m able to catch him.’

Suddenly, it felt even more bitter.

If only this had been the case in South Korea. If only the fraudsters who deceived my father had left some evidence. If there was, his family wouldn’t be so miserable.

At least, my father and mother wouldn’t have died.

‘Phew, let’s not get sentimental right now.’

Lloyd shook his head. Now was not the time to be sentimental. It was time to take advantage of the situation he had designed.

With that in mind, Lloyd raised his head. He spoke to the baron whose complexion was still pale.

“Are you all right?”

“….”

“If you’re dizzy, sit down for a while and catch your breath.”

“…. I understand.”

The baron barely managed to respond.

Looking at him, Lloyd thought. As expected, is not a strong man. He is just a kind man who is only capable of leading the territory in a good faith. Such a man is praised as a saint in times of peace.

However, in times of crisis, what if the ability to overcome adversity is required?

His good heart will be easy to be taken advantage of. He quickly turned into a pushover. In other words, he will get eliminated.

‘It’s clear that he’s hesitating on how to deal with his underling even though he realized he had been betrayed.’

The baron was obviously looking shocked and confused. Sir Neumann had been considered as his underling until now. How to accept his betrayal. How to deal with him. He must be hesitant because he doesn’t have a strong heart. 

‘Then, I’ll do it for you.’

Someone has to do it anyway. If you don’t do it now, the territory’s law and order will be ruined.

Thinking so, Lloyd opened his mouth.

“I, Lloyd Frontera, the son of Arcos Frontera, would like to say something as the heir of this territory.”