Chapter 380: Helen·Faust - Five - III
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.
"Thoughts..."
Ravenna looked out the window, and even from the upper district of this lord\'s city, she could see the scenes of the commoners\' celebrations.
Under Ansel\'s assurance of no intervention by extraordinary beings, and even maintaining order on the surface, it was undeniable that the residents of Pelican City, regardless of their status, would have access to the highest quality food from now on, without ever having to worry again.
This is the significance of being extraordinary, this is indeed the essence of extraordinary existence.
When the malicious nightmare of "why you pursue" surfaced in her mind, Ravenna finally found a way to confront it.
"I believe I can now answer that question posed by you, father," Ravenna said, her purple eyes behind the gray frames shimmering slightly.
"This is the reason I chase that future."
Her voice slightly elevated, her emotional fluctuation was distinctly vivid.
"Oh... Is that so?"
Ravenna\'s resolve seemed even firmer, as if a shackle had been removed, yet Ansel merely smiled.
He twirled a strand of Ravenna\'s hair around his finger, casually saying, "But what if, Ravenna, it was only after witnessing such a scene that you found your current resolve."
"Doesn\'t that further prove..."
The devil whispered in her ear, "that your previous perseverance was without foundation?"
"..."
In just a moment, the passion burning within Ravenna was thoroughly extinguished.
The chains that seemed about to break were now wound tighter, even seeming to strangle her throat.
"But it doesn\'t matter."
Ansel\'s hand glided over the back of Ravenna\'s head, caressing her snow-white neck, and rested on her soft waist, drawing the petite miss puppet into his embrace.
"Why bother so much about the past?" he gently propped his chin on Ravenna\'s head, "Your determination now, the you now, are all real."
"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.
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.