If he wanted his customers to walk in with one hand tied behind their backs, so be it.
With the kind of heaven-defying items sold here, such a rule was more than reasonable. After all, if anyone could purchase more than one item a day, they would likely try to clear out the entire store.
It was unknown how such a miraculous meal was made, but it was certainly no simple task. Allowing it to fall solely into the hands of one person would indeed be a waste.
"In that case, I'll take one Spicy Dragon Flavour Instant Noodle," Tiana said, the words flowing more naturally this time as she stored away one crystal and handed the other to Jonathan.
This time, Jonathan accepted it.
[ Main Task: Sell 30 Spicy Dragon Flavour Instant Noodles (2/30) ]
Tiana exhaled softly in relief. At that moment, she finally believed, Jonathan truly bore no grudge against them.
Meanwhile, Kafla's shoulders slumped in defeat. She had wanted to purchase another Spicy Dragon Flavour Instant Noodle. Still, she gave up the idea the moment she heard Jonathan's words.
Jonathan took out a cup of Spicy Dragon Flavour Instant Noodles and handed it over to Tiana. "You can open the lid and head over to the water dispenser to fill it up," he instructed.
Tiana nodded. She quickly accepted the instant noodles, bowed respectfully to Jonathan, and walked away with Kafla following beside her. Upon reaching the water dispenser, she repeated the same steps Kafla had taken earlier before returning to their seats.
Jonathan had already moved over and placed another pair of chopsticks beside her. He stood nearby, quietly observing, curious to see the results of the Spicy Dragon Flavour Flavour Instant Noodles once again.
'Hey, System, can you tell if any changes occurred in her after she ate the Spicy Dragon Flavour Instant Noodles,?' Jonathan asked, glancing discreetly at Kafla.
[ Yes, Host. After consuming the Spicy Dragon Flavour Instant Noodles, her mana circulation increased by the equivalent of three years' progress. She also gained a temporary fiery energy that harmonises with the icy energy inside her, allowing her to absorb mana from both fire and ice-type sources. ]
Jonathan blinked in surprise. He had asked out of habit, never expecting an actual response this time. Hearing the System's reply, he couldn't help but be astonished by the results of the noodles.
No wonder the two women had come back so quickly after Kafla awakened. If he were an Ascendant himself and discovered that eating something could directly increase his cultivation, he would've reacted the same way.
Whoever dared cause trouble for him would probably think twice after witnessing this kind of miracle.
'How did you find out all that?' Jonathan asked curiously.
[ I scanned them the moment they entered the store to ensure they posed no threat to the establishment or its owner. It takes some time to process, but Host doesn't need to worry; your safety is guaranteed. The System will handle that for you. ]
'Is there any way for me to increase my own strength?' Jonathan asked, refusing to believe that he would remain the only one unable to awaken even the slightest trace of magical power.
[ The Host should focus on developing the store if you wish to awaken magical power. The more customers the store attracts, the more its reputation grows. As the store's reputation increases, the Host will be able to open branches across this world, and even in other dimensions. As long as the Host continues to work hard, anything is possible. ]
The System's response came swiftly.
Jonathan's brow twitched upon hearing it.
Of course, he should've expected that kind of answer. Still, he couldn't bring himself to dismiss it entirely. After all, he hadn't yet encountered any real danger that would force him to test the system's limits. Hence, despite the system's words, he had no idea how much protection it could actually grant him.
'Alright, I'll trust you for now,' Jonathan muttered. 'But… isn't there any way for me to experience these extraordinary effects myself?'
[ As the owner and manager of the store, the Host is immune to the extraordinary effects of the products. These meals are designed exclusively for customers to ensure repeat patronage. The System advises the Host to abandon such thoughts immediately, because continued obsession could lead to disastrous consequences. ]
Jonathan froze. 'Wait a minute, wasn't this basically the same as the saying that a dealer shouldn't take his own product?'
[ Affirmative, Host. ]
Jonathan sighed, dark lines forming on his forehead. He had wanted to ask whether this kind of restriction was even legal, but, remembering the overwhelming effects these meals had had on both Van and Kafla, he quickly realised how ridiculous that question would sound.
Meanwhile, five minutes later, Tiana gently lifted the lid of her cup. Instantly, an intoxicating aroma burst into the air, thick, rich, and fiery, like steam erupting from a volcanic spring.
This time, it was Tiana's turn to be engulfed by the same overwhelming sensation that had gripped her junior sister. The fragrance wrapped around her senses, filling her mind with vivid illusions of a boundless, fiery realm.
Unlike Kafla, who had rushed into her meal looking for trouble, Tiana took her time examining it. Golden oil moved across the surface of the cup, mingling with streaks of a deep red sauce.
The strands of noodles floated lazily, glistening under the steam and clinging to the sauce, which coated them evenly. Slices of tender meat wobbled atop the broth, releasing tiny bubbles as they absorbed the heat.
Scattered across it were flakes of dried herbs and crushed spices that spun in the currents, blending enticingly with the noodles.
Tiana slowly stirred the noodles before bringing them to her lips for a taste. "Mmm..." Her expression shifted to satisfaction as she parted her lips slightly, releasing a wave of steam.
Deliciouis! Those were the only thoughts that Tiana could produce at the moment.
Across the table, Kafla swallowed hard, her eyes gleaming as the familiar scent reached her. Just one cup of those noodles had increased her mana circulation by three years, pushing her cultivation far beyond what she could've achieved through months of arduous training.