Establishing continuous trade was very necessary. To a country, it was naturally not bad to produce and sell everything on its own. This way, they would not be controlled by others.
However, if they wanted to gradually start the construction of a self-sufficient country from zero to one, it would be a waste of time and resources. That was not a good choice.
They would produce an excess of resources and use this portion to trade for the other necessities needed by the country. This was what many countries chose to do. This was the case when demonic creatures ruled their territories, as well as the Silver Moon Tree Court, the dwarves, and the orcs.
Apart from the Empire, there were no exceptions… This naturally did not mean that the Empire already had all kinds of resources and plants, but that there was no need for trade in the Empire.
This was because civilians did not need food variety to increase their happiness.
As long as they could eat until they were full (and not starving), it was enough.
The Empire had never expected these materials that could be consumed at will to become weapons for the civil servants to improve the environment… even though these commoners were an indispensable part of the Empire.
"Little Ti?"
Accompanied by Ira's call, the incubus servant who appeared in a kneeling posture appeared on this open-air platform. She… no, he quietly waited for Ira's instructions.
"Ask Celina and that ghost lady and let them buy some [Poison Eating Tree], which is a crop called the Ancient Priest Tree. Tell them that it's a tuber crop that's convenient to plant."
As Ira said this, Tikap immediately nodded and disappeared.
"Poison Eating Tree? What's that? The Ancient Priest Tree?"
Under Vera's question, Ira stuck his head out and looked at Tikap, who seemed to be repeating his words. He explained, "I think I've already explained it clearly. It's a tuber crop, like taro."
"I can tell. I'm asking about something else…"
Facing Vera's confusion, Ira understood what she really wanted to ask. He said, "That came from the Silver Moon Tree Court. Later on, it was commonly planted in the orc territory. It's a food crop that looks like a tree."
"Although it might not be as delicious as wheat and is very troublesome to eat, requiring a lot of processing, because it's convenient to plant, I think we can plant the ancient priest tree as a substitute for wheat and become one of the foods of the Demon King's Territory."
"We only need to cut down the branches of the tree slightly and eat them after a complicated process. We can insert the untreated branches into the ground. If we're lucky, with enough rain, new crops can grow. The rainfall here is quite suitable."
These words were very clear. Ira felt that the crop called the [Ancient Priest Tree] was very suitable to be planted as a staple food or supplementary food to the blue mushroom.
"Uh, why didn't I hear you mention this crop when I was in the Empire? The people of the Empire don't eat this at all. If it's very convenient to plant, why didn't you promote it in the Empire?"
Vera looked at Ira suspiciously. According to his description, this crop was very suitable for poor people to eat. Ira should also be someone who cared about the poor.
"…"
Regarding this, Ira did not know where to start. He organized his words and said, "In fact, this crop is very popular in the Duchy. The Empire already has black bread as rations, and the nobles don't need the commoners to obtain more food."
"Moreover, if I propose the existence of such a thing and want to bring it into the Empire, I'll first face opposition and conflict from the nobles, because this is suggested by me, Chief Consul Ira."
Ira, who was sighing, shook his head helplessly. He looked at Vera, who was nodding in agreement, and added, "Moreover, this crop is poisonous. It has to be detoxified before it can be eaten."
"I can foresee it. There will definitely be nobles who claim that the civilians under his rule have been poisoned because of the crop I introduced and criticize me for it. Then, I will fall into an endless wave of attacks."
Ira had spent decades making this not-so-small beast of the Empire grow claws and bone spikes that were enough to tear apart other beasts, but the rotten sores on this beast still existed.
Be it the huge beasts themselves or the sharp claws, they could not deal with the sores… After Ira left the Empire, he completely understood this. If he wanted to change the Empire, he had to first jump out.
Only other huge beasts could cut out the rotten wound of the Empire along with the flesh and blood that had to be abandoned.
"It's really not easy for you."
Amidst Vera's sigh, Tikap's voice appeared in front of Ira again. He reported, "Lord Ira, the Demon King asked how many you want to buy, although I think she might not understand what the Ancient Priest Tree is."
"…"
"Ah, I'm grateful for her trust."
Ira shook his head at a loss whether to laugh or cry, then he immediately became serious. He replied, "Just buy seven to eight silver coins worth of them. If there's a problem with the funds, you can buy fewer. You might be scammed, but you don't have to care too much."
"Yes."
"…"
"Everyone really trusts you… I don't have any extra funds to buy my experimental materials." Vera said sourly.
She looked at the disappearing Tikap and said something she did not believe, "My research is clearly also for the Demon King's Territory…"
Amidst this, Ira glanced at the former Imperial Palace Mage who had chosen to become a lich for a few wrinkles. He complained, "You said that it's to explore the truth of magic, so I might believe you more."
"Alright, actually, I'm trying to refine a super aphrodisiac and try to turn you around. Then, I'll make a pile of little liches with you."
Looking at Vera, who was talking nonsense, the corners of Ira's mouth twitched as he complained, "I don't think the lich still has the ability to have children, nor do I think that as the Consul, I will have descendants."
Hearing this, Vera was clearly stunned. She widened her eyes in shock and said, "Ah? The Consul can't have children? No way?!"
Ira only quietly leaned against the wall. After a long time, he said, "There's always a price to pay for a powerful and not difficult power. This is not a secret in the Empire… Perhaps it's because of this that the Consul is the right-hand man of the royal family who will definitely not be suspicious."
Ira himself knew very well that Isabella and Yosef did not trust him just for this reason.
"You're really a group of… lunatics."
Ira only smiled at Vera's sharp comment. "I hope you can call them heroes."
"Wait, what about you?"
"I have my own selfish desires. I only fight for the country I want. Be it the Empire or the Demon King's Territory, they're both just replacements of that world, that ancient country…"
Facing Vera, who had sensed the flaw in his words, Ira said this. He looked in the direction that seemed to be very, very far away.
"In other words, substitutes."