Within the lord's castle of Pelican City, Ansel and Ravenna were in a room arranged by Leonard, observing a screen that projected images of Laurel and others.
"It appears... a dire event is on the horizon."
Ansel, supporting his chin, watched Ravenna with a smile that was not quite a smile, "Mr. Reginald does not seem to be a reputable merchant by any stretch of the imagination."
Ravenna, gazing at the two men holding hands on the screen, remained silent for a long while before softly responding, "It matters not, as long as the grain can flow into the market as intended."
"Because the frenzied pace and volume of production are bound to keep its price from soaring, thereby allowing a greater number of people access to superior quality food?"
The young Hydral said with a beaming smile.
"...Indeed."
Miss puppet continued to watch the screen, not out of pretense, but truly harboring such a belief.
— As long as the grain could enter the market and appear on more people's dining tables, her goal would be achieved.
"Rather, it's preferable this way," she whispered, "If the farmers' grain were to accumulate in Pelican City, it would be a waste. Moreover, only them selling their grain outward could not possibly affect the entire food market."
Ansel smiled without comment, while the scene on the screen shifted to Breeze City, located within Hydral's territory and formerly part of the Spirity Lake domain.
There, the plot between Laurel and Reginald did not take place, but the atmosphere of excitement and joy throughout the city was unmistakably similar.
"It seems the first week has been quite effective."
Ansel, leaning back on the couch, spoke leisurely, "Setting aside the matter of those two farmers in Watson's domain, the food situation in Pelican City should be resolved within a few days. Just a week, and every household will be able to enjoy soft, fragrant bread, and by then, the second batch of crops will also be ready. Truly~ it is remarkable."
He tilted his head towards Ravenna, his face alight with amusement, "As the creator of this masterpiece, do you have any thoughts, Helen?"
"... The creator is not I, but you... Father."
Ravenna bowed her head slightly, "The concept of the soil enhancer was your proposal."
"Ha... Then, let us speak only of your thoughts," Ansel did not deny Ravenna's words, merely squinting his eyes as he spoke.
"Right, Helen?"
Ravenna Ziegler trembled slightly.
When one has no choice, facing the unavoidable pain and despair, an astonishing will and enlightenment can burst forth.
But what if... there is a choice?
And it's a choice so beautiful, so blissful, so comforting, completely fulfilling her wishes, her desires, satisfying so much?
Ravenna is not a weak person; she could sacrifice even her own feelings, so she certainly couldn't be weak.
But in this matter, whether she is weak or not is irrelevant, it doesn't make a difference.
Because this denies Ravenna's perseverance after Eileen's death, the perseverance she painfully pursued for fifteen years, denies her determination to sacrifice human lives on the scales, denies... her essence, her everything.
Thus, Ravenna couldn't face this matter, and Ansel, on the other end of this inability to face, offered her a warm, sweet, and malicious embrace.
Miss Helen rested on Ansel's chest, murmuring in a daze:
"Yes... Father."
The cheers of the commoners, the aroma of wheat, the hunger that is about to depart...
Yes, everything now, including herself, must be real.
*
Q&A
Q: Why low grain prices would bring nightmare?
A: When there is a significant increase in grain production, farmers are forced to lower prices in order to sell their excess grain. However, due to the inelastic demand for grain, farmers can only sell their grain when they significantly reduce the prices, resulting in a sharp decline in grain prices during times of abundant harvest. Stay updated with m-v l|-NovelFire
If the percentage decrease in grain prices exceeds the percentage increase in grain production, it leads to a situation where production increases but income either remains stagnant or decreases. This is what "low grain prices harm farmers" signifies.
Since grain is a fundamental necessity for livelihood, most countries place great importance on domestic grain production, especially those with a sizable population. They implement various support policies in the grain market to ensure food security and protect the interests of farmers. The United States is an example of such a country, but overall, the results are not ideal.