12: Eat your fill

When Rein was studying at the Knight Academy, the Knight Academy was only responsible for teaching and daily room and board; they did not cover other cultivation resources consumed by students, such as Magic Potions and Enchanted Equipment.

Just speaking of Magic Potions, the lowest-grade potions cost around 1 to 10 Gold Coins per bottle.

An ordinary Black Iron Rank Professional would typically consume one Low-grade Magic Potion per week to aid cultivation, while a Bronze Rank Professional could consume one Low-grade Magic Potion every two to three days.

A Silver Rank Professional like Rein could consume one Low-grade Magic Potion per day, and the effect of using Low-grade Magic Potions was not good for Silver Rank Professionals; it was best to use Mid-grade Magic Potions.

A bottle of Mid-grade Magic Potion starts at 20 Gold Coins and can go up to hundreds of Gold Coins, and these are often priceless—you might not be able to buy them even if you have the money.

If Rein were to use Magic Potions without restraint, he would need thirty bottles of Low-grade Magic Potions and four or five bottles of Mid-grade Magic Potions per month.

Converted into Gold Coins, Rein would spend thousands of Gold Coins per month just on Magic Potions.

This does not even include Magic Potions with special amplification effects, which are even more expensive.

Most Professionals cannot continuously use Magic Potions, and Rein was no exception.

In his memory, Rein had only used Mid-grade Magic Potions twice: once when his family provided it for him to break through to Silver Rank, and another time as a reward for graduating first in his class from the Raging Bear Fortress Knight Academy.

Just based on Gold Coin consumption, ordinary people simply cannot afford the cultivation expenses of a Professional, and this only accounts for Magic Potions, not other items like Enchanted Equipment used by Professionals.

Even for noble Professionals like Rein, cultivation requires too many resources to sustain, especially since every noble family has more than one Professional.

Of course, if you are penniless, you can cultivate without the aid of Magic Potions, but the speed of cultivation would be extremely slow.

If a Warrior Professional uses Magic Potions for assistance, they can advance from Black Iron Rank to Bronze Rank in just one or two years. If they use some Mid-grade Magic Potions, they can advance from Black Iron Rank to Bronze Rank in a few months or even less time.

However, if cultivation proceeds step-by-step, it would take an ordinary Professional at least five years to advance from Black Iron Rank to Bronze Rank, and if their aptitude is slightly worse, there is no limit—they might never advance to Bronze Rank in their lifetime.

Therefore, the demand for Magic Potions among Professionals is enormous, and Magic Potions are always in short supply. They cannot be purchased through ordinary channels even with Gold Coins; they can only be acquired through special channels.

Rein usually only took Low-grade Strength Potions to aid his cultivation, and not very frequently, making it impossible to meet the consumption rate of one bottle per day.

Theoretical consumption is just theory. Rein had never seen anyone consume one bottle of Magic Potion per day, even at the Knight Academy.

More than half of Rein's funding for Magic Potions came from the Derrick Family, and the rest was earned by Rein doing tasks at the Knight Academy and later exchanging Military Merits in the army.

The Derrick Family has many Professionals, and they also have the Magic Wolf Knights to support. Calculating this, an annual income of 12,000 Gold Coins is simply not enough. It's already good if they aren't in debt, let alone saving money.

"No wonder the family doesn't hold Balls, the favorite activity of nobles—they are simply too poor to afford it."

Rein now understood why the Family Treasury had such meager reserves. The territory basically had no surplus; they spent as much as they earned.

"Given this income and expenditure situation, it's quite impressive that the family managed to save five thousand Gold Coins over the years."

Rein thought about the small box of Gold Coins in the Family Treasury and felt that the ancestors of the Derrick Family must have had a tough life.

"I see. Since the territory's Grain income is gone this year, and there aren't many Gold Coins left, life will be difficult in the future!"

"It won't be that bad, Lord!"

"Although the territory's income is reduced now, expenses have also been greatly reduced. Some expenses can be cut or canceled outright. If we just endure this year, things will improve later."

"Once the Grain is harvested during the September Harvest Season, we can sell some more. The Gold Coins earned will be enough for the territory's basic operation."

Fornal had calculated that the biggest expenses for the Red River Territory now were Rein's cultivation costs and the Guard Army expenses for two hundred and fifty men. If they economized, a few thousand Gold Coins would be enough.

"Sell Grain again?"

"Then where will the territory get Grain? Will we even be able to feed ourselves?"

Rein turned around in surprise and questioned Fornal.

At that moment, the two of them happened to walk up to the Shed where food was being distributed.

Rein didn't wait for Fornal's reply and walked straight in. He immediately saw several large pots boiling over fires.

"Lord!"

Several Peasant Women working in the Shed quickly knelt down when they saw Rein enter.

"Rise!"

"What is cooking in the pots?"

Rein glanced at the boiling pots. Various messy things were mixed inside, which looked completely unappetizing. Rein stepped forward and took a sniff; the smell was barely tolerable.

"Lord, this is Mixed Grain Porridge. It contains Grain mixed with some Wild Vegetables. Since the work has been heavy these past few days, I specifically instructed them to add a few fish as well."

"Paired with Black Bread, it's already quite substantial!"

The Peasant Women dared not speak, and Fornal answered Rein's question directly.

Rein casually picked up a piece of Black Bread piled next to the large pot.

Feeling the hardness of the Black Bread in his hand, Rein slammed it against the corner of a wooden table with a bang. The Black Bread remained intact, but the wooden table lost a corner.

Fornal said, "Lord, although this Black Bread is a bit hard, it softens quickly when soaked in soup, so eating it is not a problem."

"How much Grain is consumed here in a day?" Rein asked, putting down the Black Bread.

"Lord, this Upstream Farmland on the East Bank has twenty Sheds in total to feed 1,500 people, consuming about 400 Catties of Grain, dozens of fish, and some Wild Vegetables and Bran every day."

"400 Catties of Grain?"

"If the Lord thinks that's too much, we can reduce it further."

"Reduce it further? Can they even eat until they're full?" This low consumption rate surprised Rein even more.

"Of course, there's no problem, Lord."

"In the past, one Catty of Grain could make three Black Breads, enough Rations for three Serfs for one day."

"Now, the Red River Territory no longer has Serfs; everyone is an ordinary vassals, and the food standard has been raised."

"400 Catties of Grain, plus dozens of fish and other Bran and Wild Vegetables—this is enough to feed 1,500 people, especially since there are many elderly and children among them who eat less."

Fornal's answer made Rein understand why he had previously said that 5,000 Tons of Grain used to be enough for the Red River Territory.

Rein had just been wondering how the Red River Territory, with over 30,000 people, only consumed 5,000 Tons of Grain annually.

Rein had calculated that one person's daily Rations should be at least 2 Catties, but he hadn't expected Fornal's calculation to average less than 1 Catty per person per day, and this didn't necessarily consist entirely of Grain but also included things like Wild Vegetables and Bran.

"Fornal, what are these Black Breads made of?"

"One piece of Black Bread weighs at least two Catties, right? One Catty of Grain can make three Black Breads—how is that possible?"

The conversion formula Fornal described was eye-opening for Rein.

"Lord, besides Grain, other things are added to the Black Bread."

"What things?" Rein asked curiously.

"Everything edible we can find. Primarily Bran, but also things like Insects, Mice, Sawdust, Grass Leaves, and other miscellaneous things, all crushed and mixed together."

"Lord, as you know, Serfs aren't picky eaters. As long as it's edible and keeps them from starving, it's fine."

Rein fell silent after hearing Fornal's words.

In the Kingdom of Asriel, Serfs had no rights; not starving was the best possible outcome.

After a moment of silence, Rein glanced again at the mountain of Black Bread piled next to him and slowly walked out of the Shed.

Looking at the busy crowds in the fields, Rein did not just take a cursory glance this time but carefully observed the movements of every single person. With his Silver Rank strength, Rein had excellent eyesight and could see far away.

Just a moment later, he made a new discovery: the enthusiasm for labor among the people in the fields was not as good as Fornal had claimed, and the efficiency was low.

Many people appeared to be working, their hands constantly moving, but the actual result was minimal. It wasn't that they were slacking off, but rather that they simply had no strength, working mechanically with intermittent effort.

This confirmed what Rein was thinking.

"Fornal!"

"I'm here, Lord!"

"It's almost lunchtime, isn't it?"

Fornal looked at Rein, somewhat puzzled, and said, "Yes, Lord, it's almost time."

"Go, have people haul Grain from the Granary. Go now. Haul another 5,000 Catties of Grain from the Granary and distribute it to all the Sheds."

"Starting today, everyone in the Red River Territory who works for the territory must be guaranteed at least two Catties of Grain per person per day. This does not include Wild Vegetables or Bran, and certainly not things like Mice or Insects."

"I will have Wayne and Alger assist you in distributing the Grain."

Upon hearing Rein's command, Fornal quickly said, "Lord, won't this be a bit too extravagant? Two Catties of Grain per person per day is quite a lot. This will significantly reduce the amount of Grain the territory can sell later. Our ordinary vassalss used to only get one Catty of Grain per person per day; doubling it is too much."

"Furthermore, the territory's harvest is poor now, and our reserves aren't abundant. If we consume Grain like this, won't..."

Fornal wanted to say more, but Rein directly interrupted him.

"Enough. Do as I command. Go haul the Grain now. I want everyone to have a full meal starting this noon—a full meal of real Grain, not this Black Bread."

Rein casually crushed a piece of Black Bread nearby and tossed it out. The Black Bread, which had been harder than the wooden table moments ago, was now as fragile as paper in Rein's hands.

Fornal was stunned watching the Black Bread turn into powder and scatter in the wind, and he immediately agreed.

"Yes, Lord, I will go haul the Grain right away."

Fornal hurried away with his men. Some people working in the fields were surprised to see the Administrator leaving in such a rush.

However, they soon understood the reason.

Carts of Grain were hauled out of Red River Fortress and brought into the Sheds in the fields. Soon, pots of Thick Grain Broth were freshly cooked. The rich aroma of Grain wafted across the fields, and everyone working in the fields smelled the fragrance, swallowing their saliva.

"Why did the Lord cook so much broth? It smells so good!"

The sound of swallowing saliva rose and fell.

"Is this for us to eat?" one person asked cautiously. After saying this, he felt a little ridiculous himself.

How could it possibly be for them to eat?

But the following answer surprised everyone greatly.

"You asked correctly. It is for you to eat. The Grain was hauled here by the Lord's personal order, and it is for everyone to eat." The Soldier hauling the Grain answered the farmer loudly, his voice echoing across the fields.

"The Lord said that from now on, everyone can eat two Catties of Grain per day. No Bran or Wild Vegetables—it's two full Catties of Grain, for everyone."

"My heavens, is this true?" The Old Farmer in the field couldn't believe the scene.

"Of course, it's true. The Lord said everyone must eat until they are full, and only when they are full will they have the strength to work for the territory."

"This is the Lord's Grace upon everyone!"

Although Alger and Wayne didn't understand why Rein was so kind to these Commoners, it didn't prevent them from carrying out the orders. The two men vigorously publicized Rein's Grace.

"Praise the Lord."

"Praise the Lord."

"It smells so good!"

Cheers erupted from inside the Sheds and quickly spread throughout the fields. Everyone happily and heartily ate this delicacy, which was rarely tasted in ordinary times.

Praises for Rein mixed with the sounds of food being swallowed, punctuated by occasional sounds of satisfied laughter.

Dom squatted by the field and heartily drank the Thick Grain Broth, not minding the scalding temperature, quickly pouring it into his mouth as if afraid the food would vanish.

This was already his second bowl, and the aroma of the Grain still intoxicated him.

Dom was originally a vassals of the Rock Crystal Territory, located in the northernmost part of the Red River Valley. When the Lord of Rock Crystal Territory abandoned his land and fled, Dom, who accidentally witnessed the escape, quietly followed and ran out of the territory, thus avoiding being killed by the Fel Orcs.

The desperate flight terrified him all the way until the Fel Orcs were defeated and he was taken in by the Red River Territory, only then did he feel slightly settled.

He originally thought he would continue the life he had in the Rock Crystal Territory, working for the Lord/Master day after day until he died.

He hadn't expected that just two days after arriving in the territory and barely having done any work, he could now drink pure Thick Grain Broth—a delicacy that only the Administrator and the Knight Master could enjoy in the past.

A Lowlife like him could only enjoy a small bowl of this during the annual Harvest Festival; it would be impossible to be so extravagant normally.

"It smells so good!"

Dom gulped down his second bowl, stood up, and returned to the Shed to get a third bowl. The Soldiers distributing the Grain had said everyone could have three large bowls, and Dom still had one more.

Watching his empty bowl being filled with Thick Grain Broth, Dom's heart was also filled.

Although he was already somewhat full after two large bowls, it didn't stop him from continuing to heartily drink the third bowl.

After finishing the third bowl, Dom rubbed his swollen belly and lay down on the ground contentedly.

"Great Lord, the Lord is truly a Living Saint."

Dom mumbled to himself. Compared to the former Lord of Rock Crystal Territory, the current Lord of Red River Territory was simply too perfect. Dom prayed in his heart that life would continue like this forever.

"Great Lord!"

"May the Gods bless you!"

Similar scenes unfolded in the Sheds throughout the fields. Rein had Fornal, Wayne, and others deliver his message to every working Red River Territory Subject.

Rein wanted them to know that if they followed him, Rein, they would have food and eat until they were full.