The Returned Lord Is a Genius of Gun Law - Chapter 29
chapter 29
The Return of the Lord: Gun Law Genius – Episode 29
The Returning Lord is a Gun Law Genius – Episode 29
Episode 29
Eugene spread several sheets of parchment across the center of the round table.
“Everyone is here.”
His voice drew nods from the retainers seated around the table.
Crawford, Leon, Jerome, and Eliana—the four pillars of the Crocus Estate—sat before him.
“Today, we’ll discuss the development plan for Crocus.”
Eugene pointed to the uppermost parchment. The rough yet precise lines of the blueprint were densely covered with intricate diagrams, cross-sections of structures, and detailed explanations.
“What is this…?”
Crawford leaned forward, scrutinizing the blueprint.
“This is the water and sewage system,” Eugene said calmly. “It will supply clean water to Crocus Castle and the entire territory, and treat wastewater.”
“Water and sewage…?” Crawford asked, his expression one of confusion. “We can just draw water from the wells. Why bother with something so complicated?”
“Well water is easily contaminated,” Eugene replied, unfolding the next blueprint. “Especially if a latrine is nearby or rainwater pools around the well, it can cause epidemics. To prevent this, we need to draw water from a clean source and properly dispose of waste.”
The retainers fell silent, gazing down at the blueprint.
In Amir, such an idea was unimaginable.
Water was drawn from wells or springs.
Waste was collected in latrines and used as fertilizer.
That was simply the way things were.
“Next is this,” Eugene said, unfolding the second blueprint.
It was a parchment depicting the floor plan and internal structure of a building.
“A public clinic.”
“A clinic… Don’t we already have a healer in the territory?” Leon asked cautiously.
“One isn’t enough. And we lack proper facilities,” Eugene replied, his finger tracing the lines on the blueprint. “We’ll build examination rooms, treatment rooms, and a pharmacy here. We’ll also need to hire additional healers. I’ll teach them the basics of Earth’s medical knowledge.”
“Three people?” Crawford’s eyes widened. “That’s quite an expense…”
“We can cover it with magic stones,” Eugene replied concisely. “The 500 kilograms of magic stones we’ll receive from Count Bolton are worth 50,000 gold amils at market value. That should be enough.”
Eugene shrugged. “At the very least, we’ll need that much to create a place where people can live.”
“Then, as soon as the compensation arrives…”
Just as Crawford was about to express his admiration,
Bang!
The conference room door burst open violently.
“L-Lord!”
A drenched guard stumbled in, gasping for breath.
All eyes turned to him simultaneously.
“What is it?” Eugene asked calmly.
“An imperial decree from the royal court!” The guard’s voice trembled. “It states that the Special Investigation Delegation for the Eastern Conflict will arrive at the duchy tomorrow at noon!”
An imperial decree.
The moment that word hung in the air, the hopeful atmosphere in the grand hall froze. The color drained from the faces of his retainers.
But Eugene remained unfazed.
An imperial decree…
A command from the Emperor.
Within the empire, it carried absolute authority that none could defy.
Which meant…
This magic stone mine must be important enough to move the Emperor.
Eugene’s eyes narrowed.
Bolton? Or a greater power lurking behind him?
It doesn’t matter which.
Slowly, Eugene turned his head to gaze at his retainers.
A heavy silence pressed down on the conference room, as the pale-faced lords stared at each other.
“My Lord…” Crawford began, his voice trembling.
“Th-this is…!”
“Good,” Eugene replied calmly. “First, have the guards withdraw.”
“Yes, my Lord…!”
The guards hastily closed the door and left, and silence returned.
Eugene slowly rolled up the blueprints on the table.
“Noon tomorrow,” he murmured.
There’s no need to seek out the First Princess just yet.
That would be his last resort. Eugene knew well that accepting help for such a minor matter would diminish his own value.
“Then… let’s give our guests a proper welcome.”
Despite his calm tone, his eyes were icy.
Noon the next day.
Inside the main gate of Crocus Castle, 150 soldiers stood in formation on the parade ground.
Eugene, accompanied by his retainers, stood before the soldiers, gazing into the air.
“……”
The midday sun hung directly overhead.
This was the appointed time for the envoy to arrive.
And then…
Whoosh!
The moment the clock struck noon, the air in the center of the parade ground began to shimmer.
Waves of magic rippled through the air, and tension spread among the soldiers.
Ziiiing!
Soon, the space tore open as if ripped apart, revealing a massive circular gate etched with the crest of a two-headed eagle.
A gate?
Eugene narrowed his eyes.
A magical means of transportation that connected spaces.
A technology so costly that only a handful of nobles could afford it.
This must be a special magic used only by the imperial family.
Whoosh!
As the gate fully opened, a flag emerged from within.
A silver eagle on a blue background.
It was the crest of the Fifth Prince, Edwin.
“The Fifth Prince’s faction…!”
Crawford muttered under his breath as knights in black armor, led by the flag, emerged from the gate.
Twenty knights quickly formed ranks on both sides of the training ground with practiced movements.
So the Fifth Prince was the Bolton Earl’s patron.
Eugene’s gaze turned cold as he recognized the crest.
Next, a lavishly decorated carriage emerged from the gate.
Soon, the carriage door opened, and a man stepped out.
The man appeared to be in his late thirties, with a cold and sharp demeanor. He wore a blue cloak emblazoned with the crest of the Fifth Prince on his chest.
Count Lawrence…
Eugene knew him from Crawford’s explanation: one of Fifth Prince Edwin’s trusted confidants, a man with more real influence than Count Bolton.
It was then that Lawrence’s gaze fell upon Eugene.
Eugene met the cold, contemptuous look—as if he were a bug—without changing his expression.
Seeing this, Lawrence’s eyes grew even colder.
“By imperial decree!”
An elderly man in royal ceremonial robes emerged from the gate and shouted. He was an official of protocol.
“Regarding Count Bolton’s invasion, which threatened the peace of the eastern territories!”
The voice of the master of ceremonies echoed through the hall as he unfurled the scroll.
“To investigate the truth behind the unknown weapon Crocus used during his defeat!”
An unknown weapon…
Eugene’s eyes narrowed at the words.
He could guess their true purpose for coming to find Crocus.
They were here to assess the capabilities of Eugene, who came from Earth, and Crocus himself.
“By order of His Highness, the Fifth Prince Edwin von Zaren Amir, Baron Lawrence has been appointed as a special investigator! Therefore, the investigation team will remain here until the investigation is complete and the truth is revealed!”
The master of ceremonies finished his declaration.
A heavy silence hung in the air as Lawrence slowly approached Eugene.
“Baron Crocus.”
His voice was cold and sharp. “I am here on the orders of His Highness Prince Edwin, the Fifth Prince.” Though his tone was polite, the hostility beneath it was undeniable.
“Welcome, Lord Lawrence,” Eugene replied calmly. “You must be weary from your journey.”
“Weary? I am merely here to investigate those who disrupted the order of the East.”
“Investigate…”
Despite the blatant hostility in his words, Eugene met his gaze without changing expression. “Crocus was invaded, yet you come here to investigate them instead of Bolton. I find that curious.”
Lawrence scoffed. “To counter Count Bolton’s legitimate military action, Crocus used weapons from Earth. Since Imperial soldiers and knights lost their lives as a result, it stands to reason that they must be investigated.”
His voice grew colder with each word.
“His Highness Prince Edwin of the East prioritizes the stability of the eastern regions above all else. Any threat to that stability… must be dealt with swiftly.”
It was an overt and direct threat.
Meeting his gaze, Eugene considered:
Prince Edwin of the East…
The prince who supported Bolton.
And one of his trusted confidants, Baron Lawrence.
Interesting.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Eugene’s mouth.
“I believe you are mistaken, Baron,” Eugene said calmly.
“Crockers merely defended his own territory. Bolton was the invader, and Crockers was the defender.”
“Defense?” Lawrence scoffed. “Is slaughtering imperial knights with Earth’s weapons considered defense?”
“Slaughter is an exaggeration,” Eugene’s voice remained steady. “There were simply unfortunate accidents during the conflict.”
“……!”
Lawrence’s eyes grew even colder.
An invisible tension filled the training ground as their gazes clashed in mid-air.
Eugene was the first to break eye contact.
“We’ve prepared lodgings for you. You must be tired from your long journey, so please rest well today.”
“Thank you, but that’s unnecessary,” Lawrence replied curtly. “We’ll begin our investigation immediately. First, we need to meet the captured knights.”
“Understood. I’ll guide you. Jerome, please show him the way.”
Eugene nodded slightly and turned to Jerome.
“Yes, my lord. Count, please follow me.”
Soon, Lawrence and the investigation team entered the castle, following Jerome.
Eugene thought to himself:
This is quite serious.
His eyes gleamed coldly.
Though I doubt they’ll find anything.