Chapter 76

The most important virtue of a leader is not their benevolent character, their cold demeanor, their gentle and warm manner like a father, or their inclusiveness that loves even common folk.

In fact, what is truly needed is the ability to resolve the “issues” of the subjects and the judgment to identify the causes of those issues.

The other virtues, to put it a bit exaggeratedly, are merely good talents that shine when coupled with problem-solving abilities.

Because a leader, like a doctor who understands and treats the ailment of their patient, must first solve the problems to save those people, even if they have a dirty personality and are fond of women.

Thus, I decided to step forward as the “ruler of Blueport” to directly demonstrate the ability to solve these problems.

And to solve these issues, while my knowledge is important, the perspective of “an old person who has lived in that region for a long time” concerning various natural environments is essential.

So, as soon as I arrived at the dock where the ship was moored, I immediately boarded the ship with a few elderly fishermen and soldiers and headed toward the area reported to have turned white.

**

While the desire to strive to solve problems was good, penetrating the sea aboard a particularly small medium-sized fishing boat compared to modern ships was an ordeal beyond imagination.

Fortunately, I wasn’t the one steering the ship, so I only had to endure sitting on board…

There are those who get seasick even on modern large vessels over 1,000 tons, so navigating the choppy seas on a mere 50-ton skiff… was truly dreadful right now…

“Hey, are you crazy? Didn’t I tell you to secure the beer barrel properly? Luckily, I avoided it, but my arms and legs almost got smashed!”

“I’m so sorry!!”

“If you’re sorry, does the sailor’s life end? No, call everyone above and below you!!”

“Captain Sarius, please save me…”

“Even with the Count aboard, you make this kind of mistake and still say such things! You idiotic worthless fool!”

It shook so much that the 200-liter beer barrel meant to replace water rolled around.

At least people unconsciously maintain their balance and do not fall, but that unique swaying and nausea was simply unbearable.

Thus, I had no choice but to endure by looking out at the wide sea through the window of the cramped cabin assigned to me.

Staring at the ocean, I felt slightly less trapped, and my nausea began to subside a bit.

After some time spent gazing at the sea, my queasiness finally subsided slightly; I almost threw up.

And then, when I looked around, I noticed a veteran sailor standing next to me.

No matter how inexperienced I was at being on a ship, showing up as a ‘Count’ with the appearance of a ‘child barely holding back seasickness’ would undermine my dignity.

So I called the sailor over and said.

“You saw nothing, understand? No, remember that I was in the cabin spreading maps and devising grand strategies.”

The sailor answered with a very tense expression upon seeing me.

“Yes, understood. Count, your cautious preparation for the future deeply impressed me!”

Well, if it’s just this much… Surely that guy won’t spread rumors while drinking.

I waved my hand to instruct the sailor to leave, but he spoke to me before exiting.

“Count, we are soon arriving at the place where they reported the sea turning white! Captain Frost has requested you immediately!”

“Thank you, let’s go together.”

Following the sailor’s words, I stepped out of the cabin and climbed up to the deck.

Once on the deck, I saw Captain Frost, who was on alert for ‘pirates’, and his subordinate soldiers, all of whom were stuck to the deck like limp seaweed, unable to adapt to the unfamiliar sea.

Some were holding onto the ship’s railing, constantly gagging, even vomiting the meat and drink they had consumed at the banquet days before…

Honestly, I was somewhat envious of them.

Because when it swayed, my stomach felt so nauseous that I wanted to throw up.

Shortly after, the ship’s captain approached me and said.

“This is the area the young ones reported had turned white. It still looks slightly white; why not take a look?”

Upon hearing this, I looked at the sea, and the waters surrounding this area had turned almost paper white, rather than the deep blue I had seen before.

To check the state of the seawater, I ordered the rookie sailor beside me.

“Go fetch some of that seawater immediately. And bring some of the elderly fishermen as well.”

“Yes, understood! Count!”

A bit of time passed, and the sailor returned, grunting, with a bucket filled with over 10 liters of seawater.

Normally, seawater drawn from anywhere should be ‘transparent’, but this seawater was still pure white as reported.

So, I made a firm decision and reached my hand into the murky seawater, as if it were filled with milk.

When I did, a slimy sensation enveloped my hand, akin to touching a greasy sponge.

This can’t be… is it that white, sticky liquid I once saw in an adult video? I hope it’s not.

Concealing my disgust, I grimaced and said in front of them.

“For now, it’s nothing harmful. There’s no issue with the sea; it’s just fish sperm…”

Hearing this, the elderly fishermen asked.

“Could this possibly be that ‘herring’ which our fathers frequently consumed in their youth… My father passed away saying just before he died, ‘The sea is white, I see the white sea… If we cast our nets, there will be plenty of herring, at least we won’t go hungry…’”

“How would I know better than you, who aren’t a fisherman? However, as far as I know, yes, this is herring sperm. If we cast nets here, there will indeed be a load of herring that your father sought. Crew, drop the anchor and let’s start fishing for about an hour.”

After saying that, I set up a makeshift sundial I had prepared on the sunlit deck.

The shadow of the sundial was indicating ‘Leo’, so I just needed to stay until it moved to ‘Virgo’.

Then, I returned to the cabin and began writing down my memories regarding the ‘herring recipes’ used in the great city of Amsterdam, which had been built atop herring bones, onto paper.

Surely, it was just a matter of removing the herring’s guts and soaking it into an immensely salted brine, right?

But how did I make that dense saltwater again? I distinctly remember boiling it…

So, I started sketching the tools that could be used throughout this process, thinking about utilizing craftsmen.

A gigantic pot that could hold seawater to heat, a cutting board, a knife, and a container to hold the fish… Just as I was roughly sketching, a soldier came in through the door and said.

“Count! The captain of this ship says, although not all specified time has passed, the baskets for herring are already full. Should I relay that you’d like to see it?”

“I will go up immediately.”

I promptly went up to the deck, where immense cheers erupted.

“It’s half water, half fish!”

“If I exaggerate a bit more, we could catch them barehanded! It’s amazing!”

“What kind of fish is this? We’ve only had 10 people fishing, yet we’ve got this much already?”

“These guys are surprisingly plump; if we grill them after salting, they’ll be delicious! Just imagine eating them with beer after grilling!”

“You’re truly wise, Captain! You’ll treat us!”

Pushing through the rejoicing crew, I went to check the baskets containing the herring.

A huge box capable of holding around 100 kilograms was filled with still-wriggling herring.

With this much herring, it could feed about 300 serfs for a day.

So, I just laughed like a madman.

“Once, that disgraceful Kim Mal-saeng who studied the Hanseatic League said it was all about herring bonds, and I mentioned to my professor that I would write a paper to change the name of the Hanseatic League to ‘Herring League’… Now that I’m a lord, and a ruler, experiencing this firsthand, I finally understand. It’s food replication. Hahaha…”

Normally, I wouldn’t be able to laugh like this in front of reliable people like Ela or Balt, but right now, I had no choice but to laugh.

Because by preserving this herring into pickled herring, I could provide as much delicious protein as desired, even to the serfs in the nearby mountains.

If I sell this, I can hold both the economic and monetary reins over the Northern Confederation struggling with food shortages, and even if the four-crop rotation fails, I could survive several years without causing deaths from famine.

And before the era of the Industrial Revolution, particularly before the nitrogen fixation method created by Fritz Haber came about, a lord capable of preventing famine, or simply a person like that, would, as mentioned in the Bible, inevitably be hailed as a king.

Why do you think, in the Bible, when Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes, the Jews shouted, “Hey, if we follow this guy, we won’t starve! We’re invincible!” and stirred chaos against the Roman soldiers?

Truly, it’s an ‘unexpected fortune’ I never imagined…

Therefore, to utilize that fortune to the utmost, I commanded the sailors without wasting a single second.

“All hands turn back to Blueport as fast as possible. You will be rewarded with 2 silver coins for the captain, 1 silver coin and a half for the officers under the deck, and 1 silver coin for the sailors, while I will treat you all to a modest banquet.”

Hearing those words, the sailors moved swiftly and turned the ship around.

Thanks to that, I would have to spend a few delightful nights with Chris in the coming days, but as long as I could seize the herring, I was sure she would appreciate it.

**

As soon as I returned from the sea, I distributed the promised rewards to the sailors and ordered that any tavern near the sea be secured to provide alcohol and ‘herring appetizers’ for the sailors.

Through this, the people of this city would now earnestly realize that working for their lord would surely bring them rewards.

Because other lords only offer a meager banquet and barely any rewards for such trivial tasks.

Perhaps the money a craftsman earns for a day comes to about 5 silver coins, and under the pretext of forced labor, they plan to give them only 3 or 4 coins.

Schwabin would undoubtedly say something like this.

“Serving me is the glory of your family’s lineage. You foolish sailors! Isn’t the ability to brag about that the greatest reward?”

Then, the next day, I immediately ordered the soldiers to post the announcements I had mentioned throughout the city.

[Whoever brings back the appropriate brine concentration for pickling herring, or a small knife capable of removing the herring’s guts at once will be rewarded with 200 gold coins. If both are completed simultaneously, a reward of 500 gold coins will be granted. -Count SIEL von Croilet-]

When the knights see this, they will probably think I’m insane for offering such a large sum of money for just a knife and brine concentration.

However, if I can properly identify just these two, the amount of money this city could earn annually would easily reach a minimum of 1 million gold coins.

Of course, this wouldn’t only be from the money made from selling herring, but also from the economic effects spawned by those creating livelihoods from selling the herring…

Regardless, I would likely end up with around 100,000 to 200,000 coins here and there…

Thus, I must move swiftly.

Let’s begin the replication of money akin to sugar.