Extreme Cold Era: Shelter Don't Keep Waste-Chapter 694 - 648 Attending the Banquet

Perfikot's willingness to attend the banquet is a major piece of news for everyone.

Although Perfikot is not particularly averse to socializing or completely abstains from attending any banquets, she often finds it too bothersome to deal with those she considers unworthy of wasting time, as Perfikot does not like wasting time with fools.

However, occasionally, Perfikot can spare some time to engage superficially.

Especially when she deems it necessary to understand a city's consumption level, living conditions, and other aspects through a banquet.

Don't find it strange; a banquet can often reveal quite a lot of information.

As long as one pays attention to gathering information, with a little observation, one can learn a lot, especially since this is a high-profile banquet welcoming the actual ruler of the Northern Territory, with even more critical important information to be gathered.

For instance, the security level of the banquet can let Perfikot understand the local armament and military level, since she is the Lord of the North, and ordinary hotel security is out of the question for protective duty.

The food prepared at the banquet can also reflect the local consumption level, material circulation status, and even further understand the local consumption structure.

Although this banquet to host the Lord of the North is merely a simple welcome reception, it represents the face of Beloburg's city hall; being too simple or shabby is a disgrace to the entire Beloburg.

Of course, excessive opulence is absolutely unacceptable.

Perfikot's own personality and preferences have a decisive influence on the style of the banquet, which will be reflected in the preparation stages beforehand.

Ultimately, what is presented to Perfikot must be a respectable banquet that matches her status without making her feel it is too extravagant or inadequate.

Being able to prepare such a banquet in a short period is a great test and showcase of Beloburg city hall's execution capabilities and organizational degree.

As for the guests attending, Perfikot is not very concerned, as her status is evident, and those invited would naturally be familiar faces.

Relatively speaking, those so-called 'foils' and 'backgrounds' at the banquet, the middle to lower-level nobles used to support the scene, can better reflect the overall appearance of the city.

Such as whether these middle to lower-level nobles' clothes are newly made, whether their carriages are rented or owned, all this can fully reflect the local economic level and consumption level.

Although evaluating middle to lower-level nobles as median somewhat disregards the lower class populace, at least for Perfikot, this helps her understand the upper social echelon of Beloburg.

The opulence of the upper society corresponds to the prosperity of the city's service industry, such as hotels and restaurants, and their supporting supply systems.

If Beloburg's consumption level can support such a system, it would create numerous job opportunities and drive economic growth for the city.

Despite this economic growth not being entirely favorable, at least it genuinely allows the lower class populace to earn a bit more.

Actually, this is one of the reasons why Perfikot agreed to attend this banquet; if Beloburg's upper society is too extravagant, she must consider adjustments.

The luxurious lifestyle of the nobility can indeed promote economic development and stimulate domestic demand and consumption, but excessiveness breeds a climate of extravagance, which is detrimental to the healthy development of the city.

These considerations are necessary for her role as the ruler.

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While Perfikot pondered various issues concerning Beloburg, the city hall was immensely relieved that they had not mistakenly assumed Perfikot wouldn't attend and failed to prepare the banquet.

After all, it's not easy to adequately prepare a banquet fit to host the Lord of the North if done at the last minute.

A hastily prepared banquet often insults more than not preparing, potentially embarrassing both the host and guest.

Although canceling a pre-arranged banquet due to the absence of the main guest wastes resources, failing to prepare is never an option.

Moreover, sometimes, even if the main guest does not arrive, the banquet can continue, so Beloburg city hall usually downgrades the banquet level to host the invited guests.

Most guests understand this approach since Perfikot rarely attends banquets, which is common knowledge.

If she doesn't attend, the originally 'prospect of the moon with stars' banquet format would be changed to 'a constellation of stars' instead.

This means the highest ranking guests will become the main figures, and the banquet will shift to mutual exchanges among them.

Regarding more middle to lower-level guests, naturally, they also have their social circles, and the banquet is an excellent occasion for exchanging interests, bringing relations closer, and probing for information.

The food and drinks at the banquet are indeed lavish, but nobles do not simply indulge in wanton consumption.

In fact, most nobles eat a bit of light snacks before attending a banquet, since usually they won't get full at the event.

After all, everyone attends the banquet, never for the food.

Even Perfikot, when attending a banquet, is not there to gorge herself without restraint.

On one hand, there is the issue of image, on the other hand are etiquette and rules; even if she can completely ignore all this, behaving too eccentrically would create significant trouble.

Public criticism is minor; the real issue is making loyalists feel she lacks maturity and gravitas.

In simple, understandable terms, 'viewed as unfit to be a ruler,' which can lead to subordinates' disloyalty.

Etiquette and rules are not the aristocrats' pedantic fuss or bother, nor mere empty formalities, but a direct way of defining and distinguishing identity ranks.

What is displayed is precisely the differences and distances in status, position, and various aspects between people.

Hence there are dining etiquette, dress etiquette, and many complex rules for people to distinguish one's identity and rank through behavior, attire, speech, and actions.

Thus, even as Perfikot, the Lord of the Northern Territory and actual ruler of this land, she must adhere to those seemingly lengthy, cumbersome rules.

Spending at least an afternoon on bathing, grooming, dressing, selecting clothes, jewelry, shoes, and socks, and when everything was finally ready, the sky had gradually darkened, and only then did she board the carriage sent by the city hall to attend the banquet.