Chapter 72

After promising to sign contracts with the nobles the next day, receive the payment, and upon returning to the Arquvist territory, send several crossbows to each domain, Noein was finally freed from the barrage of questions from the nobles.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the gift I brought today is not just the crossbows. There is one more thing I would like to introduce."

Since this was something Noein had already discussed beforehand, neither the Duke Behotelsheim nor Arnold was surprised.

However, the nobles gathered around Noein were excited to see what the next item would be.

"Please take a look. Compared to the crossbows, this is a humble offering... a dish made from a rare crop grown in my territory."

As he spoke, Noein signaled, and Rosetta entered the room carrying a large tray.

On the tray was a dish made from thinly sliced potatoes, fried in oil, and sprinkled with salt.

To present this as a gift, Rosetta, the maid with the best cooking skills, had accompanied Noein on this trip and prepared the dish.

"This is a crop known as potatoes, widely known in the Southern Continent, fried in oil. Potatoes can serve as a staple food depending on how they are prepared, but this way of eating them is suitable as a snack with wine."

The reaction from the nobles to the potatoes was smaller compared to the crossbows.

However, since they had already accepted Noein as a member of the faction, they tried the unusual dish and showed a positive reaction, saying, "Hmm, interesting texture," and "Indeed, it goes well with wine."

"Of course, the taste and novelty are important, but potatoes have other advantages. In a certain country, they are called the 'crop that saved the nation' and have significant benefits in terms of food supply."

Noein explained the benefits of potatoes to the nobles.

Potatoes are easier to grow and multiply than wheat, yield more per unit of farmland, require less processing before eating, keep well, and are highly nutritious. He explained these points, comparing them with specific numbers to wheat.

This was a very convenient story for the noble lords who were always struggling with food security.

Potatoes are a useful crop, but it is difficult to popularize something previously unknown, especially something to be eaten.

So Noein took advantage of the good impression he had made with the crossbows and tried to make the nobles recognize the existence of potatoes all at once.

"Growing this in addition to wheat could serve as a preparation for famine..."

"Perhaps it would be good to feed the poor with this crop?"

After hearing the advantages of potatoes from Noein, the nobles began to discuss how to use them.

Among them, an unexpected person pushed through the crowd and approached Noein.

"...Lord Arquvist, can I buy these potatoes right away? And if you have established detailed cultivation methods, I would like to hear them."

"I would be delighted to sell them to you, Lord Marcell. We have also studied the cultivation methods, so I can teach you efficient growing techniques."

"I see... I am grateful. I would like to discuss the specifics later."

The nobles were surprised that Lord Marcell, who had been looking at Noein with displeasure, said "I am grateful" in a somewhat unenthusiastic manner and then returned to the side of Duke Behotelsheim.

"You surprised me, Edmund. Did you really like the taste of that dish so much?"

"Ha ha, you jest. Your Excellency must have also realized the value of potatoes after hearing their characteristics... They have tremendous value as military supplies."

Lord Marcell replied with a displeased look to Duke Behotelsheim's teasing tone. He reluctantly but fully acknowledged the usefulness of the potatoes Noein had brought.

"Indeed, with that crop, the food situation would be incomparably more stable than it is now... If it spreads, the Northwestern Faction will eventually make great strides both militarily and economically."

"That's right. With those crops, we can reduce the agricultural population and increase the number of professional soldiers per capita. It may seem mundane, but it is a gift on par with the crossbows."

When Count Shvarov joined the conversation and expressed his thoughts, Lord Marcell nodded in agreement.

Food stability directly leads to social stability, and a stable society forms the foundation of a strong military. Understanding this, Lord Marcell had latched onto the potatoes despite his personal feelings towards Noein.

On the other hand, Noein also thought that Lord Marcell had probably considered this much when he asked the question earlier.

(He's not just a stubborn old man...)

Seeing a glimpse of Lord Marcell's flexible thinking, which was not typical of a conservative noble, Noein significantly revised his opinion of him.

Seeing Lord Marcell's reaction, the other nobles also seemed to realize that the potatoes had more value than they initially thought and began negotiating with Noein again.

Without hesitation, Noein agreed to deliver the potatoes and their cultivation manual along with the crossbows.

By stabilizing the food production in the northwest and, by extension, the entire kingdom, security would improve, society would develop, and this would ultimately lead to the peace and prosperity of the Arquvist territory.

With this in mind, Noein's reform plan took its first step.

...

After the banquet, Noein returned to his lodging and had a light drink with Arnold, who had also returned, as a sort of debriefing.

"I thought you wouldn't fail even in your first social setting... but you not only handled it smoothly, you easily won the hearts of the Northwestern Faction's nobles."

Sighing, Arnold said, almost giving up on being surprised.

Despite being a mere knight, the lowest-ranking noble, Noein had secured a solid position within a major noble faction in just one banquet.

From Arnold's perspective, his own efforts to gain recognition as the head of a noble family seemed ridiculous. He wanted to say, "You got recognized so easily, it's unfair."

"The two gifts worked better than I expected... But if I received high praise, wouldn't the evaluation of Lord Koenitz, who introduced me, also have greatly improved? It's a win-win situation, isn't it?"

"That's true, but if you start boasting about your neighbor's success as your own achievement, I'm done for."

As a lord, Arnold had his pride and couldn't be as shameless as to boast, "My acquaintance is a great guy," as if it were his own accomplishment.

"By the way, you'll meet the nobles of the Northwestern Faction again tomorrow to sign the contracts for the crossbows and potatoes, right? It must be tough to be so busy with work while visiting one of the largest cities in the northwest."

"Yes, the thought of signing so many documents in one day is a bit daunting... but it's for the development of the northwest."

"Hmm, how selfless of you."

Arnold replied sarcastically to Noein's words.

It was clear that Noein wished for the development of the northwest and the strengthening of the faction, but it was not out of a sense of duty or mission, but rather because "it would benefit the Arquvist territory."

Arnold inwardly sighed with relief, thinking that it was truly fortunate that Noein had been granted a territory in the northwest of the kingdom.