chapter 233
233 – Clendor confirmed to be in charge of tuna ramen!
In the end, everything was as Ed predicted.
As the sealed power of annihilation is gradually released, the frequency of demonic invasions increases.
The political tendencies of each country have become closed-minded.
It seeks only its own interests and destroys the chain of union between countries.
“I believe in empire. The sincerity and miracles you have shown. I believe that that power will save the world. Clendor supports Count Ed.”
However, there were countries that still maintained close relationships with the empire.
Ironically, the Kingdom of Klendor, which had the worst relationship with the Empire, became a strong ally of the Empire.
That’s because Princess Bianca, who took control of her government and became queen, was able to ascend to the throne with Ed’s help, and she had a personal crush on him.
“But is this… Correct?”
Ed actively spread technology to the Kingdom of Clendor.
Klendor has now become a strong ally of the Empire.
As promised, we spared no effort in providing technical support so that they could have a strong naval force.
However, the technology that Ed spread was completely different from what Queen Clendor had in mind.
“How is this!! “Can it be a technology that will save the world?!!!”
The queen yells while pointing at the huge fishing boats lined up in a row.
However, Ed’s expression did not move at all.
She spoke with an indifferent expression, still with her arms crossed.
“Her Majesty the Queen. “What do you think are some things that should be considered important in war?”
“····Yes?”
“There is an answer to my question. “Think about it.”
The Queen frowned and tilted her head.
In the meantime, I trusted Edgar Fix’s promise to provide a powerful battleship and supported everything he wanted.
You suddenly put out a fishing boat and asked such an absurd question.
‘This is not a man who would do something like this out of thin air.’
But the opponent is Edgar Fix.
After Queen Clendor thought it over, she quickly gave an answer.
“Isn’t it military power? Overwhelming military power. That’s why I want to purchase a battleship made with your technology.”
“Military power… Of course. But isn’t there something more important than military power?”
“·······.”
Queen Clendor glanced at her fishing boat.
Is this really the answer Edgar Fix wants?
“Are you really talking about supply?”
“Yes. That’s it. Supply. “Timely support can be said to be the basis and end of war.”
“······What is that? Clendor’s finances are strong. She said we wanted a strong military, a fishing boat like this—”
“There is no option for that.”
“····Yes?”
“It means that Klendor’s finances cannot withstand this war.”
“···What is that?”
“Everything will be lacking. As the Sea Devils begin to unleash, fishing catches will be drastically reduced, and as the land becomes devastated in the aftermath of war, so too will crops. Even if you try to open the storehouse, it will only be a temporary solution, and eventually, when the food runs out, rioters will rise up everywhere and try to plunder the property that the nobles have stored away. However, commoners who are powerless because they cannot use mana will crave the power of the devil. “I thought I would rather survive by becoming a devil than by starving to death.”
“······.”
“War is not just fighting the devil. In times of crisis, we need to strengthen our internal capabilities. “We need to load an overwhelming amount of food, enough to easily cover several years’ worth.”
The princess felt overwhelmed as she listened to every word Ed recited.
Indeed, he, a descendant of the Celestials, was looking far into the future.
“···Indeed. If the devil’s invasion becomes more severe than now, there will be disruptions in food supply. Even if you try to bring it to another country…”
“They probably don’t want to sell it. “Because everyone has to endure difficult times.”
“······.”
“At that time, currency will have no value. What is the use of having currency when economic activity is impossible? “The only way to survive is to prepare for food disasters.”
The queen felt a shiver run down her spine.
As Ed said, if a mob breaks out due to lack of food, the person most at risk is none other than the queen herself.
“···Good. She will try to trust Gong’s insight. But what is this fishing boat used for?”
After that, the queen accepted Ed’s proposal.
I asked about the purpose of fishing boats.
Ed grinned and guided her queen.
“Let’s get on. “I’ll let you know.”
-Tal···Tal···Tal···Tal···Tal···Tal···uuugh! Buuung!!
A fishing boat heading out to sea with an exciting engine sound.
This fishing boat, which was a combination of magic engineering and modern technology, was none other than a tuna fishing boat.
This fishing boat was built to store large quantities of tuna cans that are excellent in taste, cost-effectiveness, and shelf life.
“Pix ball! “Isn’t it impossible to store skipjack tuna for a long time?”
However, the queen did not know about canned tuna, and she had doubts about whether bonito, the raw material of tuna, was suitable as long-term food.
At this time, Edgar said, holding out her tuna can to the Queen.
“Try it.”
“····Yes? What is this?”
“It’s canned tuna. “I’ll just pick the part that looks like a handle.”
Ed removed the lid from her tuna can and held it out to the Queen.
Of course, they also gave us a spoon so we could scoop up the tuna.
Soon, the queen tried a spoonful of tuna.
“····Hmm!?”
It was delicious.
Although there was a little too much oil, the salty seasoning was well absorbed into the meat.
“It’s not bad…. “Is that skipjack tuna processed like this?”
“Yes. “The ultra-fast freezing method involves freezing the caught tuna and then bringing it to the factory and processing it into cans.”
“···How many tuna can be caught once sailing?”
“It’s tens of thousands of tons.”
“Tens of thousands of tons…?”
“Oh, it’s about 2,700.”
“Yes???”
The queen’s eyes widened.
She was recognized from the time she captured numerous skipjack tuna in a net.
I can’t believe that so many tuna can be caught in one sailing trip.
“Then… how many cans of tuna can per fish?”
“You can think of it as approximately 10.”
“10…”
The queen’s mouth opened wide.
To think that such high-quality food can be swept up in just one voyage.
“Then, for how many years can it be stored?”
However, one problem remained.
Food is bound to spoil someday.
In particular, meat is much more perishable.
No matter how much you harvest, it is meaningless if it rots before you can eat it.
“Hmm… About 10 years at most.”
“Yesssss!?”
However, the queen’s face was so surprised that it was even bizarre as Ed continued to say what she said.
This high-protein food can be stored for 10 years?
“Well, isn’t the taste deteriorating… or to the point where you can force yourself to eat it?”
“No. “In any case, it stays the same.”
Gulp.
The Queen swallowed her saliva with a twinkle in her eye.
Ed, who read the queen’s expression, smiled and said.
“Anyway, it’s chilly, maybe because it’s early morning. “War it.”
Ed said and wrapped his cloak around her queen.
Queen Bianca, who had a crush on Ed from the moment they first met, blushed and slurped down her tuna soup.
It was delicious.
“Please wait a moment. “I know what goes well with canned tuna.”
And Ed went into the warehouse, saying there was food that went well with canned tuna.
Soon, Ed came carrying two cup noodles and a thermos filled with hot water.
Ed had been concerned about the smooth loading of food for a long time.
In this way, the foundation has already been laid for mass production by establishing a ramen factory.
“What is this?”
“It’s called ramen.”
“Ramen?”
“This is also a food with a long shelf life. A maximum of about 500 can be stored.”
“500 Days…”
The queen stroked her chin.
Although it is much worse than canned food, 500 days is not a short storage period.
“More than anything, this food is efficient. “Compared to the ingredients used, the feeling of fullness and nutritional balance are excellent.”
The queen looked at her ramen with her curious eyes.
The recipe ended with opening the lid, sprinkling powdered soup, and pouring hot water.
Soon, an appetizing smell began to bloom.
-Gulp.
“Now, try it.”
After Ed put the lid on, three minutes later she gave the queen her ramen.
The Queen immediately picked up her noodles with the fork that Ed had given her and then tried to inhale them into her mouth.
As the curly and springy noodles passed through my lips and touched my tongue, the rich taste of the salty ramen soup and the chewy noodles were a perfect harmony.
The queen soon became curious about the taste of the soup and slurped down the steaming ramen soup without realizing it.
“Uh-huh!”
Then, without realizing it, she let out a deep, unclean voice.
The queen, her face flushed with shame, coughed and stared out at the distant sea.
Ed grinned and held out her can of tuna.
“Now, eating ramen and tuna together is delicious. Please try it.”
“······.”
The queen slurped the tuna with her fork and then added it to her ramen.
Eventually, the tuna oil was spread evenly into the soup, and the queen inhaled her noodles and tuna at the same time.
She then tried drinking the soup.
“Kuh—! ······Mmm.”
In a moment, without even realizing it, I grow up! She almost spat it out, but this time she was the queen who succeeded in restraining herself.
Definitely eating tuna and ramen on a cold morning like this was a delicacy even for the queen.
However, Ed began to persuade the queen by saying that he could mass-produce such high-quality food so that commoners could eat it.
“How do you feel? “If only commoners could taste food like this.”
“······.”
“The queen who generously provides meat and noodles in times of food shortage. Public sentiment will skyrocket. “If she is unprecedented in history, she can be crowned queen.”
······Ramen Queen!
It may sound a bit odd, but it was definitely an attractive proposition.
If it is a king’s duty to take care of his people, isn’t the most urgent task to be their food?
Doesn’t the military power of the empire, which is the most friendly country, already possess an overabundance?
‘I walk a different path. Let’s try to trust Lord Fix.’
Now that numerous countries are implementing lockdown policies and strengthening their military power.
Queen Clendor decided to buy Ed a fishing boat and a ramen factory.
“An excellent choice. “Since I broke my promise to give you a warship and provided a fishing boat and a factory, I will especially give you an additional seaweed factory to the Queen.”
···Kim factory?
The queen immediately showed curiosity.
What is the seaweed factory that Ed mentioned?
However, when she confirmed the reality, her queen’s expression became as cold as uncooked ramen.
“Isn’t this trash in the sea?”
The next morning.
The queen frowns as she looks at the vast expanse of seaweed.
That’s because the Clendor people treat seaweed as garbage in the sea, so they don’t think of it as something to eat.
“This… Must be difficult. Even when we harvest this seaweed, we just throw it away. “It’s just trash that gets caught in the net needlessly.”
Clendor, a Viking country that has long grown its national power through plunder and piracy.
They are called ‘warriors of the sea’ and mainly consumed meat.
That’s why they don’t even pay attention to the seaweed that comes with them while catching fish.
“Then try just one slice of this.”
At that time, Ed held out a container filled with seasoned seaweed.
However, because in the queen’s eyes, it was a bucket full of trash, she could only frown.
‘Still, it was recommended by Lord Fix…’
But the person who invited him to taste it was none other than Edgar Fix.
I never once lost anything by listening to him.
The queen lifted a piece of seaweed with her tongs and her hands, and tried to put the seaweed into her own mouth.
The crunchy texture and the savory and salty taste spread like crazy.
“Huh?”
The taste of seaweed that gently melts the moment it touches your tongue.
The queen absentmindedly picked up another piece of seaweed and put it in her mouth.
This time, the same savory and salty taste danced in my mouth as before.
“Huh? “Why is it delicious?”
The queen continued to pick up the seaweed.
Check. Chop. Chop. Chop.
He brought it into his mouth.
It was delicious no matter how I ate it.
“How do you feel? Do you like it? This seaweed also has a shelf life of up to one year. “If you don’t oil it, it can be stored longer than this.”
The queen’s eyes sparkled.
This delicious snack has a long shelf life, making it a favorite food in many ways.
“So far we have been throwing away good food. “I can’t believe it can be this delicious depending on the recipe.”
“It is a food rich in nutrients. “It would be a waste to throw it away.”
“hehehehe… Good. “I will gratefully receive the grace that the Duke has bestowed upon me.”
After all, Edgar Fix is Edgar Fix.
I felt it from the moment I first saw him, but his abilities were not limited to force.
It is equipped with both the insight to predict the future and the wisdom to prepare for it.
In particular, the ramen she had ever eaten was the best food that was ridiculously cost-effective.
“The ball has surprised me many times. Thanks to you, I learned a lot. “We will continue to interact often.”
Queen Bianca was jealous of Edgar.
What if he became his spouse and supported Clendor reliably?
Of course, the possibility of such a thing happening would be close to 0%, but Queen Bianca of Clendor smiled broadly and envisioned that future.
And Ed also smiled, looking at the steam on her mouth.
The two leaders held hands.
***
The food problem is being somewhat resolved.
We succeeded in dispatching engineers to several friendly countries and enabling them to enter a mass production system.
‘Other plans are also proceeding safely.’
Also, building a wall by joining forces with surrounding territories.
Building ‘Noah’s Ark’ to shelter people in crisis.
Calculating the possibility that the Archduke will hit me and establishing an appropriate strategy is also progressing successfully.
More than anything, all the children of the Grand Duchy have entered the stage of awakening.
I have laid all the foundations for this world to endure even without me.
‘There really isn’t much left now.’
However, as preparations progressed, the time I could exist in this world became less and less.
Among the many world lines, this is the first one where the Prince of Hell feels threatened.
They are trying to seal me at all costs.
‘It’s okay. ‘Intentional defeat is not defeat.’
But as always, intentional defeat is not defeat.
Even though my numerous regressions have ended in failure, it is as if I am still fighting.
Not everything ends with my seal.
As long as the world holds on, hope still remains.
“Then let’s go.”
So today, I moved to lay the foundation.
Now it is time to put Noah’s Ark into operation.