Knights, Let’s Smash Them

44 – Chicken and Spices (2)

The Knights of the Snow Leopard say that 6:00 p.M. Is “The cock crows.”

There is no specific meaning, because that is the time when chicken is the worst.

‘It’s really going to turn.’

The moment I remembered food that I had forgotten about for years.

I felt as if I had found an old girlfriend I had long forgotten about.

Of course, I’ve never had a girlfriend before, so I don’t know exactly what that feeling is.

What is that…… It must be similar to the one shown in the theatrical version of the anime where the body changes.

Anyway, that made me want to eat chicken so much.

It must have been yesterday that I talked about chicken with vice-captain Emain.

I thought of chicken when I woke up this morning, I thought of chicken when I had lunch, and I thought of chicken when I saw Lucy playing with butterflies in the count garden near the knights headquarters.

All in all, it reminded me of how the bastard Pirhak had called Lucy yellow, and now, whenever I see Lucy, I’ve come to the point where I think of a golden brown and crispy batter.

.

As soon as the belly button clock started f*cking, the count’s vassals gathered in the meeting room burst into laughter.

“Even the black fox magistrate of the world can’t stand hunger.”

“Ah…… That, that’s it. I didn’t eat a full lunch…….”

I smirked and patted the papers on the desk to organize them.

After hearing that she didn’t eat well, Xi’an Ne, who was sitting next to her, looked at me with worried eyes.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I am not that hungry. I guess it’s more because I just had a good idea.”

“I’m glad. Quickly finish the meeting and go to dinner.”

Xianne whispers softly and smiles.

I’m sorry for her consideration, but in fact, this hunger cannot be quenched no matter what delicious food you bring to the Rupel estate.

This is a disease that can be cured by eating chicken.

“By the way, Magistrate of Luvern? I can see what the iron road construction was about, but what the hell did you put the ‘Lupel Cooking Contest’ in here?”

The judicial officer, who was flipping through the proposal I had written and submitted, said.

He is one of the seven officials who assist Count Rupel, and is the de facto second-in-command of the Rupel estate.

Judge Arthur Tarantino.

In terms of rank, he is definitely inferior to the consul, who is of the vice-count rank, but considering that the consul is an honorary position, he is the one who leads the 7-member vassal.

I heard that the family he belongs to is not a commoner, baron, or knight family, but a direct descendant of a viscount.

Afraid that someone might not be a judicial officer, I calmly continued my explanation toward him, who was looking at me with interrogation eyes.

First of all, let’s spread rice cakes and put up a meat shield.

“It was a tournament suggested by vice-captain Emain, but I supplemented it because the intention was novel and it was judged to be helpful for the development of the territory.”

“Vice-captain Emain?”

Aside from the treasurer, Count Rupel’s vassals didn’t seem to trust me that much.

If I had handled it alone this time, there might have been a check.

As soon as the name of vice-captain Emain Lua, who had known them for a long time, was mentioned, the small distrust that had been there was dispelled.

“The Iron Road I mentioned, of course, is to make the export of iron ore much more efficient, but at the same time, it is also to drastically increase the number of merchants entering Rupel Manor.”

“I agree with that. We built a huge road from Jahed to Monderto, the free city of Baron Kirten, but of course we cannot be the only ones using it.”

Antonio added, the tribune who will actually take on the role of general manager in this road construction.

Befitting the word Homin, which protects the people, he was a native commoner who was born and raised in the Rupel estate.

It was the domain of the tribune to mobilize local residents, which were essential in road construction.

“Isn’t there an item in the report here that says to keep the roads clean and safe and to demand a toll from passing merchants?”

“Yes!! Then you’ll get a side income as well!!!”

At the words of the tribune, Treasurer Edwin Carleton started to rush.

Since he was a treasurer and managed tax affairs at the same time, he reacted sensitively to the keyword ‘toll tax’.

“But you must know for sure. Although the economy of Rupel Manor has entered a recovery phase, the numbers that had collapsed before that time are too high, so if external capital comes in as it is, it may rather cause uncontrollable inflation.”

I tapped on the desk.

In the meantime, our cute knight leader Sianne said, “Inflation…… What do you mean?” And look at me

I explained that it is a phenomenon in which the money supply increases, the value of money decreases, and the price of goods steadily rises.

“In short, it means that the price of goods is so high that the local residents and local merchants cannot afford to purchase them.”

Of course, there is no way that each of the count’s vassals doesn’t know the word inflation, and the rest of the vassals usually nod their heads in agreement with my opinion.

“The Lubern Magistrate is right. Up until now, the Rupel domain had been overly dependent on the aid of Baron Kirten and the ore exports of Jared. The vitalized economy was also driven by domestic demand.”

“Inflation is still happening. It is especially noticeable in Petalonto, where traffic at the top has suddenly increased.”

Provincial mayor Hamon Balgrub, who is in charge of managing the capital Petalonto, also adds his opinion.

“Already, unlike before, the people of the Rupel Territory are starting to have more economic leeway. According to the documents provided by the Treasurer, the types of goods purchased in Petalonto are increasingly being traded from necessities to luxuries.”

Accessories, fine clothes, and luxury items such as cigarettes and alcohol.

And ‘spice’.

Spices were a food item, but they were also a luxury item.

It was oil that was in a similar position, but as the alchemist guild in the capital spread the method of extracting it efficiently to the civilian population, its value rapidly declined.

From noble mtl dot com.

In the case of spices, it is because alchemy or magic have not developed an easy way to grow them.

But, as I just said, it’s just food.

The price was relatively lower than that of ‘high-value luxury items’ such as jewelry or silk clothes, and it had characteristics that even the common people could easily access.

Of course, it is only natural that price fluctuations will occur significantly.

To be honest, even the residents of Rupel Manor would prefer to buy plenty of spices and eat delicious food rather than buying useless jewels.

“Ugh… ….”

“Therefore, it is necessary to establish an independent spice import route by cooperating with the merchants who have been trading with our existing territory, and to prevent merchants from inducing unnecessary capital outflows by secretly contracting prices.”

“So you’re saying we’re going to do it in the name of a cooking contest?”

“Yes. I thought it was important to build a line to import spices in advance before the completion of the Iron Road while increasing the accessibility of the common people to spices.”

At my words, the tribune agreed. I was surprised to see that they looked at me more favorably than I thought.

“I think it’s a good idea. If ordinary people can also enjoy a variety of foods, their quality of life will be much higher.”

“If possible, I also like the intention of making special dishes only for the territory that can bring tourists and outsiders to Rupel Manor in addition to merchants. Hey, it’s our administrator! Ahahahaha!!”

The treasurer was originally on my side, and let’s add the support of the tribune, who can be seen as the representative of the common people.

Judge Arthur slammed my papers knowingly.

“Anyway, most of the blueprints for the Iron Road have been completed, so from now on, it will be entirely up to the tribune to succeed.”

“Is it possible or not?”

“To be honest, I don’t know if cooking contests are still that important…… This idea came from the Knights from the beginning, so we’ll let the Knights take care of it.”

“Oh, I see…” ….”

She was Xianne, who had suddenly taken on the responsibility, but knowing that I would do the work anyway, she wasn’t too embarrassed.

“Then I’ll end the meeting here.”

As soon as the judge stood up, the other vassals also stood up and left the meeting room.

“Let’s talk about the road expansion and opening as the two of us discussing it again. We should also invite the mayor and village head of the connecting cities or villages.”

“I believe in Antonio Tribune, hahahahaha!”

“It is a new feeling to hear such a compliment from the world’s black fox. See you then.”

Finally, as we made our way out of the meeting hall to the tribune, the only ones left were me and Xianne.

“But isn’t a cooking contest too broad…… ?”

“Don’t worry. I know the rules well, right?”

“Is there a cooking contest in the capital?”

“Ah, it was like an annual event…… I don’t feel like that, but I plan to do it properly in our Rupel estate.”

Who am I?

Although he is called Lubern Aloy now, he originally came from a content kingdom that was directly exposed to all kinds of video media.

Starting with opening celebrities’ refrigerators, when cooking entertainment was in full swing, I really only watched that.

I still remember vividly how the variety show was structured and how it progressed.

‘Oh, it would be nice if we could hold it regularly like a local festival?’

Come to think of it, there’s no such thing as a festival in Rupel Manor, right?

I have already started to fill my head with how to hold the event.

Of course, Xianne seemed worried about other things.

“But if we were asked to take over the tournament, how would we organize the budget… ….”

The leader of the knights was one of the seven retainers, but in reality, like the mayor, it was an organization that was somewhat out of the control of the retainers.

If you ask the treasurer for the budget, it will be possible, but since there is still a lot of budget to be spent to complete the Iron Road.

It would be better to conduct this cooking contest entirely with the Knights’ budget.

You can’t suddenly destroy the treasury’s safe, which was made in the black, with a deficit.

Besides, it seems that the judicial officers and other officials still haven’t really felt the need for the cooking contest.

In the end, what I chose.

“Xianne, let’s go to the capital together.”

“Huh?! Suddenly!?”

“Shouldn’t we secure funds?”

My slush fund left unattended in the capital.

I was dragging it and writing it.

Why?

Because chicken is a major issue for Koreans.

It would be perfect if you get acquainted with the spice merchants.