The Supermarket System

Chapter 51: 51. Support

"Why do you want to borrow the kitchen? There’s already a chef who’ll cook for you if you want," said Nicho.

That morning, Kai went to see Nicho just to ask him to help him and borrow the kitchen. As it happened, the Verdez family home had another kitchen available, so Kai asked for permission to use it.

"It’s too early in the morning for me to make that kind of commotion, Nicho, so I decided to cook for myself. I’ve already asked the Countess for permission, so don’t worry," said Kai.

"No, that’s not what I meant... besides, can you even cook?" asked Nicho.

Kai, who had just taken out some sukun or breadfruit and bananas and placed them on the long wooden table in the kitchen, turned to Nicho and replied.

"I thought you’d found out a lot about me, but it turns out you don’t know I can cook, huh? Have you ever been to my shop in Arslan?" Kai asked.

Nicho shook his head, then said, "No, but my assistant went there; he also delivered the beer ordered by the restaurants and bars in Arslan."

"Oh, that’s too bad... you should know that I occasionally put on cooking demonstrations there, using ingredients from my store, then put together a package of all the ingredients I used, and boom! My sales skyrocketed. I also use a magic recording device and a broadcasting device so everyone can see me more clearly."

Nicho was stunned to hear all that. It was the first time he’d heard such information from Kaileon.

"Wait, you use expensive equipment like that just to sell stuff? But... you’re right. Not everyone knows how to cook certain ingredients—hey, wait a minute, what kind of fruit is that?" Nicho’s attention was diverted as Kai cut the sukun fruit into small pieces.

"Just like you said earlier, not everyone knows about food—just like this bread fruit. The vendor didn’t even know the name of this fruit, but she just knew it was edible... By the way, something just popped into my head right now," said Kai, staring at the fruit he’d cut into triangles.

"Oh yeah? What idea do you have, Kaileon? I’d love to hear it—"

"And then steal my idea? Huh, I’ll keep this to myself," Kai replied quickly, sticking out his tongue in mockery at Nicho.

Nicho let out a bored sigh, then grabbed a banana from the table. He peeled it and took a bite. He was surprised by the taste of the banana.

"Why isn’t this banana very sweet? Is this just a type of banana that isn’t sweet?" Nicho asked, confused.

Kai chuckled at Nicho’s bewildered expression.

"Oh my gosh, I got that banana from a coastal village. It’s a type of banana with longer and bigger fruit, but it’s not as sweet as the ones usually sold. Also, the flesh is denser, making it perfect for cooking as a snack. I’ll show you how to use flour for things other than bread."

Nicho was even more confused by this, because in that world, they only used flour for bread. As a result, there was only wheat flour and whole wheat flour. Even bread and pastries hadn’t been developed much in this world yet. Once again, this was because flour and sugar were mostly only available to the nobility. Few ordinary people knew how to make flour or bake their own bread.

In fact, the nobility had even established special schools to teach how to make bread and pastries. Only those with money could attend those schools.

"Snacks, you say?" asked Nicho.

Kai nodded, "Yup! These are called fried snacks; they’re made with flour. Watch how I make them—I’m not sure you’ll like them, but I think they’re delicious. Keith likes fried snacks, too."

"Your tall and handsome assistant?"

Kai nodded, then immediately got to work.

He dissolved the flour in water, using clean water that he conjured with his magic.

Kai had just learned that he had to first visualize the kind of water he wanted to conjure. So he visualized clear mountain water, and that’s exactly what came out.

After making a thin flour mixture, he added a few spoonfuls of sugar and stirred it again until the sugar dissolved.

Earlier, Kai had already heated vegetable oil in a skillet.

He then dipped the sliced breadfruit into the flour and sugar mixture, and then placed it in the hot oil.

Curious, Nicho tried it too, and he picked it up quickly.

After the breadfruit, they fried bananas the same way.

Finally, they had hot fried bananas and breadfruit.

"I’ll make some hot drinks too. You can take the fried snacks out to the porch—Keith is there. Let’s eat while we discuss our partnership, okay?" said Kai.

Nicho nodded and took the fried snacks to where Keith was.

Keith hadn’t joined Kaileon in the kitchen because he was keeping Count Verdez company during a serious conversation.

After Nicho left, Kai bought some coffee from the supermarket system, since that was much more convenient. He poured the ready-made coffee into cups and carried them out to the porch.

When Kai arrived, the count and Keith were already raving about the fried snacks Kai and Nicho had made.

"Are you sure these fruits come from a village near the coast? Just frying them in flour can make them this delicious? Why didn’t anyone think of this before? Frying bananas in flour also! Amazing... so, where did you get the vegetable oil to fry them?" Count Verdez asked one question after another, leaving Kai, who had just arrived, feeling confused.

"Hahaha, calm down, Count Verdez... let’s sit down and talk calmly. Actually, there’s another collaboration I’d like to start with you: selling flour. But the people aren’t ready for that yet, because they don’t know how to use flour in food other than to make bread—and even then, ordinary people can’t bake it. Meanwhile, the people of Arslan have wheat fields that they sell to the nobility at low prices. I’ll teach them how to use flour, but before that, there needs to be a high demand for it."

Hearing Kaileon’s words, Count Verdez felt as if he were young again. His mind opened up once more, and enthusiasm surged through him.

"This is very interesting. You want to help the people of Arslan become self-sufficient, don’t you? Hahaha, finally I can breathe a sigh of relief. I thought Arslan would fall soon because it’s been declining more and more over time. It turns out there’s a young man as smart as you, Kaileon," said Count Verdez.

Kai smiled faintly, then said, "You’re overpraising me; after all, there’s still no proof that this will succeed."

The old man shook his head. "No... when I look at you, it’s just like looking at Nicho. It’s as if I see a bright future in both of your eyes when I look at you two. I’m serious. Whatever it takes, Verdez will support you fully, Kaileon Arslan."

The sincere smiles from Count Verdez and Nicho made Kai feel as if he might melt right then and there.

Finally, there were powerful nobles willing to support him.

"I’ll also support you if you want to become a duke—"

Kai quickly shook his head, cutting Count Verdez off.

"No, Count Verdez, I don’t want that position at all."

Count Verdez and Nicho were both surprised to hear this.

"Then what are you trying so hard for, Kaileon?" asked Nicho.

Kai smiled broadly at that, then answered confidently.

"Of course, it’s for those people who are suffering. I may have lived in a gilded cage since I was a child, but believe me, I understand their suffering. I know what it’s like to be starving, weak and helpless, with no one to help. Those poor people shouldn’t have to endure that for much longer. It’s time for me to rise up and help them rise up as well."

Keith, who had been silent the whole time, was deeply moved by his young master’s words. Keith himself knew that Kaileon’s suffering—before his powers awakened—had been excruciating. He had even nearly died.

Even so, Kaileon’s heart was vast. He could still understand his father’s perspective and was willing to forgive him, even though he knew his father was one of the causes of his suffering.

Not everyone could do what Kaileon did.

Keith felt he had made the right decision to work for Kaileon.

Before Nicholas and Kaileon arrived, Keith had actually just answered Count Verdez’s question about Kaileon. Count Verdez wanted to know if it was true that Kaileon had been locked up in the Arslan pavilion and had suffered at the hands of the Duchess.

Keith, who had been instructed by Kaileon to answer honestly, finally told the man everything. How much Kaileon had suffered, how the Duke was indifferent and continued to wage war, and how the Duchess treated him. Then, just as Keith was thinking of quitting his job, he received a letter from Kaileon asking him to work for him. Keith also recounted Kaileon’s efforts on behalf of the poor, so they could eat well.

Naturally, Count Verdez felt sympathy for Kaileon, and that was indeed Kaileon’s main purpose for coming here:

to seek as much support as possible from influential people, especially among the nobility.

And yes, of course, Kaileon succeeded.

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