Chapter 236 - Episode 229: Helping Each Other in Times of Need ②
Two days after receiving the reports from Bart and Philip, Noein headed to the main office of the Miles Company in Retovik, bringing the two of them along.
Guided into a reception room, Noein sat in a chair as Benedict came to welcome them. Philip, who had accompanied them, sat beside Noein, while Bart and Matilda stood behind them.
"I am truly humbled that His Excellency Arqvist would go through the trouble of visiting us in person. I cannot find the words to apologize for the inconvenience caused by our own lack of capability..."
"Please, do not let it concern you. Since this is a major decision, I simply thought it best that I speak with you directly, so I took the liberty of coming. Rather, I am the one who should apologize for visiting so suddenly."
Noein smiled at Benedict, who was bowing repeatedly across the table, shrinking back to a degree that was almost pitiful to watch.
"Now then, may I get straight to the point?"
"Y-yes. Please do."
Benedict nodded with a tense expression in response to Noein's inquiry.
"Then... regarding the consultation I received from you the other day, Benedict-san, concerning the pending payment, I have decided to grant my approval as the head of the House of Viscount Arqvist."
"T-then...!"
"However, in exchange, I have one request of my own."
"...I am listening."
Benedict's expression brightened for a fleeting moment, but it tightened again at Noein's following words. He had an air that seemed to say, "As I thought." It appeared he had expected some sort of demand the moment the lord, Noein, came in person.
"Currently, the kingdom is in a state of extreme chaos. Logistics are stalled. There are things that are running low in my territory as well..."
"...Is it salt, sir?"
"As expected of Benedict-san. That is correct."
Noein had figured Benedict would guess that much, so they answered without showing much surprise.
The noble territories in the northern part of the kingdom rely on imports for salt, except for a few territories that possess rock salt mines in the mountains. The Arqvist territory is one of them.
The primary sources for salt imports are the coastal regions of the southern kingdom that have salt pans, or the Republic of Betumia, which possesses the technology to produce salt more cheaply and in larger quantities. When logistics within the kingdom stall, salt inevitably tends to become scarce in the northern kingdom.
"This year, to make up for the shortage of wheat, we are hunting many beasts and monsters. Since salt is necessary for the long-term preservation of meat... I wonder if it would be possible to purchase salt from somewhere using the Miles Company's connections? I would like to make the payment in lapis lazuli."
"...I see. Currently, like other gemstones, the value of lapis lazuli has fallen. Conversely, the value of salt has risen... it will be expensive, but is that acceptable?"
"I do not mind. Do you have a source for the salt?"
Currently, there was a slight surplus of lapis lazuli in stock. Noein asked, thinking that if they were just going to hoard it, they would rather exchange it for necessities.
"...To the northwest of the Marquis Bechtolsheim territory, there is a mountain path that leads to the northern part of the continent through the Lestio Mountains. Among the trade routes to the north, it is relatively large, and three countries as well as the northwestern part of the Roadberg Kingdom trade via that route."
Benedict began to explain. Noein knew as general knowledge that the area beyond the Lestio Mountains, the northern part of this Adleon continent, was a region where small countries were lined up.
Furthermore, they had heard that because the cold wave was blocked by the Lestio Mountains, the northern part of the continent had been almost entirely unaffected. This year, the Roadberg Kingdom was actively importing food from the northern group of small countries, but because the scale of those countries was small, it was said to be like pouring water on hot stones.
"It seems these countries possess rock salt mines in the northern Lestio Mountains, and salt is imported, albeit in small quantities. The Miles Company has connections with a merchant guild in one of those countries, so if we say we will sell lapis lazuli at a bargain price, I believe we could specially purchase a substantial amount of salt."
The estimated price of salt that Benedict mentioned was nearly ten times the usual price when considering the value of lapis lazuli during normal times.
"...It is quite expensive, isn't it?"
"Because the northern countries are all small, the amount of rock salt mined per country is small itself, and we would have to force the procurement of salt almost like a back-alley deal. Naturally, the price rises... please forgive our lack of capability."
"I see... well, it cannot be helped. I will ask this of you."
Noein nodded with a wry smile, and after that, they entered into negotiations regarding the specific procurement amount and price.
.....
"...Somehow, it ended without any problems."
"Thank you for your hard work, Noein-sama."
The moment they climbed into the lord's carriage to begin the journey back to the Arqvist territory, Noein let out a sigh. Matilda offered words of appreciation.
"Judging by that reaction, President Benedict likely didn't notice our desperation."
"As expected of His Excellency Arqvist, your way of speaking was splendid."
Bart and Philip, who were also in the carriage, added.
"I'm glad it looked that way to you two as well... With this, my territory's life has been sustained."
To Benedict, Noein had phrased it as "if possible, I'd like to obtain salt," but the actual salt shortage in the Arqvist territory was far more serious.
Because bandits had begun prowling the highways due to the effects of the famine, merchants were reluctant to risk selling precious salt over long distances, leading to a shortage of salt in the northern kingdom. Being a newly developed territory with few procurement routes for necessities, the Arqvist territory had been the first to suffer the adverse effects.
From the beginning of the development, Noein had been proceeding with salt stockpiling by relying on Eliza's shop, which was Anna's family home, but that had become relatively insufficient due to the rapid population increase over the last few years. It was predicted that before winter, they would fall into crisis not because of a lack of food, but because of a lack of salt.
Fortunately, they were able to ask for the purchase of salt as the consideration for the Miles Company's pending payment, but if they had asked unilaterally, it would have cost even more than now. Had their level of desperation been realized, they might have been taken advantage of.
"Between the northern group of small countries and Betumia, which apparently exports food and buys mining resources, there are many opportunities to be helped by foreign countries this year."
"That is true. Especially Betumia—you could even call them the savior of the Roadberg Kingdom."
"The House of Count Kivileft probably is as well... thanks to that house securing food imports from Betumia, I wonder how many citizens' lives are being saved."
"...I suppose."
Philip looked slightly puzzled at the way Noein answered with a wry smile.
Maximilian likely isn't thinking about the lives of the people. He probably has nothing on his mind but making a killing with tariffs and currying favor with the royal family in the process. Regarding the actual work of food imports, he undoubtedly intends to let a powerful merchant under his thumb monopolize the trade and make a fortune in bribes.
"Potatoes were originally imported from Betumia, and from here on, they'll probably spread rapidly throughout the entire Roadberg Kingdom except for the northwest... we relied too much on wheat and barley until now."
"It is ironic that because of that, the Lancel Kingdom is now more well-off than we are," Bart nodded at Noein's mutter.
In the Lancel Kingdom, where the history as a nation is shallow and there is little social leeway, rye—which the citizens of the Roadberg Kingdom despise as "food for the poor"—and oats—which they laugh at as "fodder for livestock"—are still staples. It seems the production volume is also high.
As a result, rye, which is very resistant to cold, largely survived even after the cold wave, and immediately after the end of winter, large-scale cultivation of oats was carried out; it is expected that the Lancel Kingdom will restore its food situation by winter.
Even so, the damage from the cold wave is not small, and the scars of the civil war likely still remain, but it was rumored that the chaos was smaller than in the Roadberg Kingdom.
"Really, you never know when or how the state of a country or the balance of power will change."
"I doubt anyone thought it would become like this from a single cold wave..."
Philip answered with a wry smile to Noein, who spoke while letting out a deep sigh.
"...Well, regardless, as long as we can secure salt, the Arqvist territory should be fine now. After that, we can just shut ourselves in the territory and live quietly."
As a result of asking Clara to research in history books, there were several records of sudden great cold waves hitting the southern part of the continent in the past. However, all of them were for a single year, and as far as records showed, there were no examples of them continuing for two years or more.
If those records were to be trusted, society should stabilize again as long as they survived this year.
Salt can be obtained. In autumn, thanks to Betumia, a substantial amount of money will be obtained. After that, they just have to survive the winter. It's probably fine now. That is what Noein thought.