The Greatest Architect

“Haha, what brings you here so early in the morning? ”

It was a typical breakfast spot.

The menu was the same as usual.

A whole loaf of wheat bread and a handmade sausage.

Slight salad and fried egg with goat milk cheese.

For the nobles, they were the barons who sat at the table in front of a rather rustic breakfast.

They look this way and smile.

But it's a different laugh than usual.

It's bright, but there's a shadow in it that I don't know why.

If your normal smile is 100% happiness, now it's 90 for happiness and 10 for pain.

Lloyd did not miss that little difference.

I stabbed him directly from the heart, without needing to express it.

“Do you have a headache? ”

“Huh?"

The baron stops.

It was like how I knew it.

I answered the question with a simple smile.

“Haha, how did you know that? But I've been struggling with my head since dawn. Isn't that right, ma'am? ”

“Yes. I think we should change the pillows since we're sick together. ”

“Hmm, I don't think it's just the pillows. ”

“Then why? ”

“Maybe because we're a couple? ”

“You mean like a couple? ”

“Haha, of course. You know my heart so well. I think of my wife, and her love for me hurts as much as I do. ”

“Oh, you too. ”

“ ……. ”

In the meantime, the barons boast of gold beads in the countryside, no, launching brute salt bombers.

Seeing that, Lloyd couldn't hide his bitter smile.

And I was sure.

‘Everyone in this mansion wins a headache. ’

He had a huge headache from the moment he woke up in the morning.

At first, I thought it was just you.

But it wasn't.

Neither did Xaviel, nor the maid who brought him breakfast.

All three symptoms were the same.

Temples, exactly.

You are severely tenacious.

From then on, I thought there was something here.

Maybe it wasn't just a headache.

So I even picked up the morning and came here.

The way to the barons.

Meanwhile, I also checked the status of the maids and servants I encountered.

Everyone winked at each other.

I grabbed them and asked.

Don't you have a headache?

Then they all gave the same answer.

Since I woke up this morning, I felt like my head was going to break.

And now, the barons were showing the same symptoms.

‘There's something here. ’

This situation where everyone in the mansion suffers from the same symptoms of headaches.

It was definitely not suspicious.

But Lloyd smiles.

“Haha, got it. I'll be going, then. ”

“Huh? Are you leaving already? ”

“Yes, I'm just here to say hello. We still have a lot to do. ”

“Don't overdo it. Take it easy.”

“Yes, of course. ”

The baroness walks away escorted.

Even then, he didn't lose his bright smile.

I have not informed the barons of this situation.

It was because I thought it was a timeline.

‘At this point, it wouldn't have made a difference if I had told the barons about this headache. There's no way that's gonna solve this. ’

Of course, there is no solution.

Rather, from the moment I was informed of this situation, I was more likely to have a party at the Great Hall of Worries.

First, we need to determine the cause. ’

You have to know the cause to find a solution.

It would be appropriate to inform the barons.

That's how Lloyd came out of the hallway.

Xaviel, who was waiting in the hallway, lit up his eyes.

“How are you two doing? ”

“Exactly. It's the same. ”

“Do you have a headache? ”

“Huh."

Xaviel's expression darkens.

Lloyd taps him on the shoulder.

“Why are your ears so soft like a dog that can't get a snack? ”

“Yes? I'm not a dog……. ”

“Let's go. We've got work to do. ”

“Yes.”

Lloyd leads the way.

They left the mansion.

Early morning for autumn.

I followed the paved road down to the main street of the territory.

It was quite a crowded area, like the place where most of the territory's footsteps took place.

A farmer who goes out to work in the morning.

The girl who carries the milk that she received at dawn.

A boy chopping firewood for today.

Everyone was having a busy day as a pastoral morning scene.

But there was one thing they all had in common.

It was a slight frown.

‘Hmm.'

Lloyd's glances were also wrinkled.

I can see the faces of those who insist on sticking their heads.

He approached the farmer who was working the field.

“Hey, strong and strong morning. ”

“Uh! Young Master? ”

The farmer stopped as if he had just seen this way.

A welcoming look on the farmer's face.

You grin brightly while grabbing his hand.

“Oh, what brings you here so early in the morning?" How have you been? ”

“Farewell. Didn't we see it yesterday? Writing Marez Gadget's immigration agreement. ”

“Oh, that's right. ”

“Now will you let go of my hand? I appreciate the hospitality, but is it too much? ”

“Ah, ah? Oops!”

The farmer quickly let go of his hand.

Lloyd looked at the farmer with meaningful eyes.

“But you know what? Do you have a problem with me? ”

“Yes? Oh no, that's not... ”

“Then why are you smiling and making an impression? ”

“Yes? Me? ”

“Huh."

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, absolutely. ”

“Oh my... I've had a headache since morning so I don't even know... I'm sorry, young lady. ”

“You've had a headache since morning? ”

“Yep.”

The farmer frowned.

“Not just me, but all my wife and kids have been having headaches since morning. But what can I do? I had a bad dream last night. ”

“Aha. You had a bad dream, didn't you? ”

“Yes, I should pray and sleep this evening. ”

“Yes, you do that. ”

“Yes, Young Master. So I'll be going now. ”

“Yes. Be strong again today. ”

“Yep!"

The farmer insisted on walking.

Lloyd's expression, waving his hands and smiling at him, hardened for a moment.

He looks back at Xaviel.

“That's what I thought, right? ”

“Yes, I think so. ”

Xaviel's expression is hard.

“Maybe if the whole family as well as that farmer were the same.... ”

“Not only are the villagers experiencing the same symptoms, but so are the settlers. ”

It was definitely not suspicious.

Since then, Lloyd has been traveling with the colonists.

I gently recalled people's symptoms, so that they wouldn't become aware of the reality and panic.

Results were all the same.

I had the same headache.

In other words, the entire territory was showing the same symptoms.

Lloyd and Xaviel's expression became serious.

“This isn't a joke. What is the cause?”

“Could it be an epidemic? ”

“Hmm, maybe. Or other environmental factors. ”

“Environmental factors? ”

“If there's an environmental factor that affects the entire territory, there could be air or water. ”

Lloyd had already weighed in on the possibilities of environmental factors.

His guess was right.

Two people were sure of that when they heard the answer of a shepherd boy.

“Yes, my head hurts. But that's not the point. ”

“That's not the problem? ”

Lloyd's reaction made the impression that the shepherd boy was embarrassed.

“My kids don't drink water since yesterday. ”

“Kids?"

“Sheep and dogs. ”

“Aha. Animals don't drink water? ”

“Yes, I don't know why. It's just been going on since yesterday. I try to forcefully feed it, but I keep turning my head. ”

“... Really? Not one or two, but all of them? ”

“Yes. That's why I'm going crazy. Come on, seriously. ”

“Yes, I see that now. Thank you."

“Yes?”

A shepherd boy with a crooked head.

Lloyd quickly walked away from the boy.

You walk alongside Xaviel and exhale loudly.

“Phew, I found it. ”

“Cause? ”

“Well, that's a little puppy dog, really. ”

“Yes?”

“The Lakona Bird. Goatee who wants to rule the southern territory. Give me half of Marez 'dog patch. ”

Lloyd grits his teeth as he makes his way to the mansion.

“This is his doing. ”

“How did you make that guess? ”

“No guessing. With this much evidence, it's obvious. ”

Lloyd smiles.

The information I learned while reading the article about the Blood of Novels.

Based on that, I came to my own conclusion.

“Let me ask you a question. What was the specialty of the Lakona Birch? ”

“Well, I know it's beautifully dyed. ”

“Yes. Deep, mysterious colours with very little water. But how do you dye a specific piece of cloth? ”

“I've heard of Radona Berries. ”

“Yes. I actually concentrate the juice of the radonna fruit and coat it with cloth. ”

“But why……. ”

“Radona Fruit on that cloth. It's a little toxic for headaches. This headache that we're having right now. ”

“ ……. ”

Xaviel's eyes widen slightly.

Lloyd's explanation followed.

“And the Prona River runs through our lands to the north and south. You do know this river flows from the south through the stables and into our territory, right? ”

“Yes.”

“There's your answer. Do you know what it is?”

“…… Yes, I don't want to believe it. ”

“Yes. A dye workshop with radonna berries. They left the effluent in the pro or river. ”

“Did you mean it? ”

“Huh."

“Why……. ”

“It's for blackmail. Besides, this is an effective threat. There are no neighboring lands to the north of our territory where the river flows. It's just a valley in rough terrain. So when the river reaches another land far away? The toxin will be diluted enough. It means we're only young, but we're going to be harmed by the poison. So let's go back to the mansion. As soon as possible.”

Lloyd hastens to his feet.

To tell the baron about this?

It wasn't.

If you're right.

That's why the man he sent probably arrived at the mansion by now.

‘And in this case, my strong feeling doesn't go away. ’

He rushed to the mansion.

♣

At the same time, the baron's office.

Things were going according to Lloyd's expectations.

I already have a visitor for the baron.

It was sent by Birkhoff Lacona.

Not big, but sturdy.

Stable posture and sharp eyes.

Earlier, when he came to Lloyd, he was Lord Kurno, the chief knight of the order, who made fun of him on his behalf.

Lord Kurno is still pouting at the baron of Frontera.

“My lord, there is only one demand. Half of Marez Marsh developed without permission by your family will be returned as a self-proclamation. ”

“Unauthorized? Nonsense. ”

The baron made an impression.

“I'm sure my son explained that to you the other day. Marez Marsh has been abandoned for generations, and this time we have developed it with special funding and manpower. In that case, don't you understand that the person who developed it owns the land? ”

“You don't want to understand. So he ordered the condensate from the dye workshop to be dumped into the river. ”

“…… what? ”

“As you have heard. You've been having headaches all morning, haven't you? You've had enough of your own will. ”

“What is that now……. ”

“Listen carefully. Birch announced that he would not stop draining the Ladona fruit concentrate until you gave up half of Marais marsh. As far as the baron is concerned, he should know. What effects Radona Fruit Toxicity has. ”

“ ……. ”

“What do you think? Would you like to give me half the marsh now?" ”

“Lord Kurno. Let me ask you one thing. Is this a threat? ”

“Yes.”

“ ……. ”

A knight called Lord Kurno nods openly.

The baron has lost his words.

I had my teeth sharpened.

“What kind of inferior threats? Your master doesn't seem afraid of the law. You think this is gonna give me half the crap my son's been working on? ”

“I think you will. ”

“Before that, I will formally bring this matter before the Royal Noble Court. ”

“Do it.”

“What?"

“Do it. ”

I recall Lord Kurno laughing in my mouth.

“Legal action. Well, good. The baron will probably win by the end of the day. ”

“But aren't you afraid? ”

“I'm not afraid. He won't last long. ”

“What……. ”

“No matter how fast the verdict comes out, it will take years. Besides, the noble court is notoriously expensive. But are you confident you can hold out? ”

“ ……. ”

“You seem to have been having a rough time with your funding lately. ”

A blatant disregard in Lord Kurno's eyes.

The baron had to bite his lip without even knowing it.

‘What the hell. ’

Feels like I got hit in the head with a hammer.

I was angry.

I couldn't think of a way to deal with it.

The only countermeasure I could think of was filing a lawsuit against the Noble Court.

The opposing Pokémon are already joking about whether or not they even have that in mind.

‘What should I do? ’

It was a dead end.

Come to think of it, they were right.

His funding was the worst.

Lloyd's been running bases lately.

They say it's enough to keep you from losing interest.

Nevertheless, the future was still not bright.

But what if I have to pay for the aristocratic court's lawsuit?

‘You won't make it. ’

I tried to be as cold as I could.

But the conclusion was that it was too much.

In other words, it was only concluded that he would not have the strength to continue a long and difficult legal workshop.

‘But I can't keep living with this situation. ’

I couldn't just buy headaches as a reference.

The colonists are probably just having a headache right now.

But over time, what if everyone finds out what caused this headache?

"You can't live without drinking water. But I wouldn't put up with such a painful headache. Eventually, they won't be able to survive, and one by one, they'll move to another. ’

Perhaps the place to move like that would be the one over there.

In other words, this side had no response and had no choice but to get hit.

But there seemed to be only one way to prevent such a terrible situation.

‘I guess I have to stay down. ’

Listening to their demands.

Surrendering half of Marez Gadget.

It was the only option I could think of for the baron over and over again.

Cadduk!

I changed my teeth without even knowing it.

I wanted to smack Lord Kurno in the face.

But I couldn't.

Now the acronym is this way.

We have to listen to their demands.

It was necessary for the lives of the colonists and the stability of the territory.

‘Yes, it was a land I could never use anyway. Let's be thankful we can salvage at least half. ’

Angry, but can't help it.

Let's settle for this.

That's how I felt.

I raised my head.

You look at Lord Kurno laughing at this side.

I hesitated a few times, then finally opened my mouth.

“Phew. Fine... ”

“Why don't you get the hell out of here? ”

Kuang!

The door to the Oval Office slammed open.

The baron and Lord Kurno head back towards you.

Thanks to you, they were able to see.

“Sorry, I'm in a bit of a hurry. I'm talking to him. ”

He was panting for a jump.

I'm sweating.

Lloyd smiles bitterly and points at Lord Kurno.

And the countermeasures I came up with while I was running here were in my mouth.

“There's a way I don't have to hand the land over to these bastards. I'll tell you slowly, let's get rid of that bastard first. If you want to beat me, beat me. ”