"I am currently having new land cleared and cultivated."
"I am aware of that, sir."
"Rice will be the main crop, but I have granted them extra land, so some will likely want to grow other crops on the side. I want you to procure seeds for that."
"Understood. I shall arrange for them to be brought in."
"Good. Next time, come directly to the Governor-General's Office."
"—! You honor me with your grace."
Being able to meet and do business directly with me.
Deciding that this was the greatest triumph of the day, Jammy stood up with a joyful expression and bowed deeply once more.
Leaving Jammy behind, I exited the shop alone.
The commotion around the salt shop had settled down; the storefront was cordoned off, and the onlookers had dispersed.
Walking away from the salt shop, I turned thoughts of Jammy over in my mind.
My first impression was that he was a decent merchant.
I wanted to learn a bit more about him.
I also wanted more information.
I figured I would ask Cindy, seeing as she was a merchant herself.
Still, seeds, huh—
"Seeds, you say...?"
Catching myself on my own muttered words, I stopped dead in my tracks.
☆
That night, inside my office.
As I was processing various documents—reports, petitions, and directives—Cindy, whom I had summoned, arrived.
"My sincerest apologies! I hurried back the moment I received your summons, but..."
The first words out of Cindy's mouth were an apology for being late.
When she raised her head, a deep look of exhaustion was visible on her face.
Even so, her expression conveyed her readiness to answer my call at any cost.
"Think nothing of it. You must be busy, flying all over the place."
"Not at all! For Your Majesty—no, for Lord Noah's sake, I am at your service anytime!"
"No need to be so tense. I have something I want to consult you about."
When I said that with a gentle smile, Cindy tilted her head, looking slightly bewildered.
A consultation was something usually done between people of the same rank, or between those in the same line of work.
In our current situation, the dynamic was between a governor-general and a merchant; normally, there would be no "consultation," only orders handed down from above.
That was why Cindy seemed to hesitate for a moment.
"A... consultation, my lord?"
"First, a question. As things stand, what do merchants do when dealing in seed rice?"
"Seed rice, my lord? Um, since that is not something that happens very often..."
"I know. Most farmers produce and keep their own seeds. Procuring seeds from elsewhere usually only happens after disasters, I imagine."
"Yes. Therefore, in such times, it is standard practice to go around to other farming households and buy up their surplus."
"Does that make for a viable business?"
Cindy slowly shook her head.
"No. As you say, Lord Noah, most farmers breed and store their own seeds. Furthermore, most of them tailor their farming methods to the specific seeds they produce themselves. Unless there is a disaster or extraordinary circumstances, they avoid using seeds from elsewhere, so it does not make for a viable business."
"I was just discussing that kind of thing with Noufe—sorting seeds using muddy water and the like. It seems every farming household has its own method."
"I see..."
Cindy gave a vague reply.
Her face showed that she still could not fathom where this conversation was heading.
"Is it profitable during disasters?"
"To some extent, yes, but not enough to rely on. In many cases, it is closer to unpaid labor."
"I see."
I nodded quietly.
Now that the premises were laid out, I decided to get to the main point.
"Let me ask you plainly. Do you think a business in the vein of a 'seed merchant' could be viable during ordinary times?"
"Pardon? Um... that would likely be... difficult, I believe."
Cindy looked hesitant to speak.
"They are needed during disasters, but even if such a shop existed, in peacetime everyone would likely think it best to just harvest their own seeds. There would be, um, no real advantage to it."
"Then what if there was an advantage?"
"An advantage?"
Cindy wore a look that clearly asked, What do you mean?
"You know that Noufe and I are currently cultivating a new strain of rice, right?"
"Yes, an epoch-making variety that can be harvested twice a year."
"Would those seeds—the seeds of a new strain of rice—not serve as an advantage?"
"Well... I believe they would sell temporarily, but after that, each farmer would simply keep their own seeds, would they not?"
"Then what if new strains were released periodically?"
"New strains, periodically?"
Cindy parroted my words.
"............—!!"
A silence lasted for several breaths.
That was just how unthinkable the concept was to Cindy's conventional understanding.
However, the moment she understood, Cindy's expression shifted completely.
Her eyes flew wide; her astonishment passed in an instant, replaced by a look of sheer excitement.
"I-If that is the case...!"
"Indeed. In short, all we must do is continue producing seeds with added value—whether higher yields or pest resistance—beyond what farmers could achieve on their own. Individual farmers would never have the time or resources for that, but a specialized seed merchant could do it."
"Yes! That is incredible, Lord Noah! If the rice consistently yields more than what the farmers produce on their own, it could truly become a viable business!"
"Right."
I nodded and added,
"Is that all?"
"Is that all...?"
"Assuming it makes for a viable business, is there anything else you see as a merchant?"
Asked this, Cindy pondered seriously for a dozen seconds or so before answering.
"...I believe a wide variety of seeds could be sold. Even for the same crop, there could be varieties that require less labor but grow reliably, or varieties that demand more effort but promise a proportional return. Depending on soil quality or the water available for irrigation, an assortment of seeds could become commodities."
"Indeed."
I nodded.
"There is another advantage for the farmers."
"What would that be?"
"Under the traditional method, what does a farmer do if they want to obtain good seeds?"
"They take them from their best crops as they are—ah."
Realization struck Cindy.
"Exactly. It is only natural to believe that good seeds come from good crops. At the very least, no one intends to take seeds from poor crops. And if a crop is excellent, human nature makes one want to harvest it at the optimal moment to maximize profit."
"If a seed merchant exists, they could obtain the best seeds without having to worry about that..."
"There is yet another point."
"T-There is still more!?"
Cindy gasped.
Her face asked what else could possibly remain.
"Do you ever perform simple, repetitive tasks?"
"Pardon? Repetitive tasks? Yes, occasionally."
"Which is easier: doing the exact same thing continuously, or mixing in slightly different methods along the way?"
"That would be doing the exact same thing continuous—ah."
"That is the gist of it."
I gave a faint smile.
"The same applies to crops and seeds. Rather than each farm setting aside a portion of their fields for seed cultivation, crop farmers can harvest everything they plant, while—let us call them seed farmers—harvest strictly for seeds. That way, both sides have an easier time, and the results will be far superior."
"Yes! I believe that is absolutely true! It is brilliant!"
Completely thrilled, Cindy's eyes sparkled.
In her sheer excitement, the exhaustion that had marked her face when she entered the room had vanished without a trace.
"I will provide the funds."
I looked straight at Cindy.
"First, buy up good seeds, and then produce them in large quantities."
"Yes! Understood!"
After giving a few more instructions, Cindy took her leave.
☆
A few days later, in the Central Plaza of the provincial capital, Larak.
Normally just an open square, a platform would be erected there according to the needs of the moment.
On this day, too, a platform had been built for an execution.
Realizing an execution was to take place, the gathered onlookers were buzzing with commotion.
"Another beheading today, huh?"
"Is it just one guy?"
"Doesn't matter, just get on with it already!"
The crowd's gaze was fixed upon a young man tied up on the stage in the center.
Unlike the ones executed a short while ago, this man had a gag stuffed in his mouth and his limbs bound, but his face still held the color of life, and he was struggling desperately.
Facing the man, the executioner—the official responsible for carrying out the death sentence—looked up at the sky to check the time by the sun.
"It is time. Do you have any last words?"
When the executioner said that, one of his subordinates approached the condemned man and removed the gag.
With his mouth freed, the condemned man pleaded desperately.
"Gasp! Why only me?! I didn't even do that much! Everyone else got a suspended sentence, didn't they?! Why am I the only one—"
"...It seems you have nothing of note to say. Carry out the execution."
Without listening to the condemned man's protests, the executioner handed down the order.
Though the condemned man continued to struggle, his head fell cleanly just moments later.
Seeing that, the crowd erupted into cheers once again.