While the mercenaries only focused on the tantalizing aroma and the price tag, the students of Brilliant Academy noticed something far more significant.

  The most important detail was the special effect listed on the Instant Cup Noodles:

  [Minor Boost to Comprehension.]

  What is Comprehension? It is the very definition of a person's natural aptitude.

  The higher one's Comprehension, the simpler it becomes to learn martial arts and magic. It dictates the speed at which one masters various combat techniques and determines the ceiling of one's talent.

  In short: higher Comprehension means faster learning and sharper thinking.

  Whether it was studying a new spell or analyzing a complex problem, Comprehension was key. However, this attribute was typically fixed at birth; it wasn't something that could simply be improved at will.

  That was likely why even the items in Kael's shop could only provide a temporary boost, not a permanent upgrade.

  But that was enough.

  To boost Comprehension, even temporarily, was something unseen and unheard of in this world.

  "To think it has such miraculous effects... this old man truly wishes to try it," Gu Pingchuan said with a chuckle, standing at the back of the noodle queue.

  "Old Gu, be honest—you just want to taste it, don't you?" Meng Xiangyu immediately exposed him.

  "You old scoundrel, why must you always focus on the cravings of the stomach?" Gu Pingchuan replied with righteous indignation.

  "Heh." Meng Xiangyu decided it wasn't worth continuing the conversation.

  "Manager, can I eat it now?" Han Ming asked yet again, his patience wearing thin.

  Kael calculated the time and nodded. "It's ready."

  "Finally!" Han Ming immediately removed the plastic fork holding down the lid and peeled it back.

  A rich, thick aroma surged out instantly.

  In a split second, the scent filled the entire shop. The people waiting in line gulped down saliva they couldn't control, urging those in front of them to move faster.

  Han Ming took a deep breath, instantly intoxicated by the intense fragrance.

  He dipped his fork into the bucket, lifting a tangle of curly noodles and guiding them into his mouth.

  The noodles were springy and smooth, thoroughly soaked in the savory, umami-rich broth. They released an explosion of flavor upon impact—neither too soft nor too tough, leaving a lingering fragrance between his teeth.

  He then took a sip of the broth. A slightly spicy, savory taste spread through his mouth like a delicious bomb, detonating a storm of flavor on his palate.

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  "Good!"

  One bite of noodles, one sip of broth. Han Ming was completely conquered.

  This "Good!" was a compliment from the bottom of his heart, a mark of respect for the cuisine.

  "Manager, I apologize. I misjudged you. Anyone capable of creating such a delicacy would naturally disdain using underhanded tricks," Han Ming said. Though he was arrogant and sometimes overbearing, as a son of Drunk Cloud Restaurant, his respect for food was genuine.

  "No matter. If it was a misunderstanding, it’s good that it's cleared up," Kael shook his head, unbothered.

  Han Ming hadn't been looking for trouble without cause; he was simply defending the reputation of the food he loved. Seeing his willingness to admit his mistake after being won over by the noodles, Kael’s opinion of him improved significantly.

  At least Han Ming wasn't a bad person, right?

  "Your magnanimity puts me to shame," Han Ming sighed, shaking his head at his own pettiness.

  "Don't worry about it. That’ll be 30 Spirit Crystals," Kael shrugged, pointing at the noodles in Han Ming's hand.

  "..."

  Han Ming’s face went dark as he fished out thirty Spirit Crystals.

  He had literally just praised Kael for being magnanimous, and this guy immediately chased him down for the money without hesitation. He wasn't sure if his praise had been premature.

  In truth, Kael was a bit depressed too. He opened this shop to sell weapons, armor, and pills. Why was the first person to come looking for trouble the Young Master of a restaurant?

  "Delicacies are always more delicious when they leave you wanting more."

  "Manager, I shall take my leave for today. I will disturb you again tomorrow."

  Han Ming drank the very last drop of soup from the bucket, let out a long, satisfied breath, and cupped his hands in farewell to Kael.

  "Take care," Kael nodded, acknowledging him.

  Seeing the matter settled, Kael returned to his booth. The incident with Han Ming was just a small interlude. Adding a new snack just meant adding a new breakfast option.

  The System was quite thoughtful, ensuring the flavor of the noodles was random each time to prevent customers from getting bored of the same taste.

  But more importantly, Kael needed these people who kept failing in the Arena to finally produce three winners. He was looking forward to the upgrade of the Combat Strength Enhancement Training Room.

  Jing Qingyun carried his steaming bucket of noodles back to his booth.

  He had to admit, every item in this shop was amazing and unforgettable—whether it was the pleasant memories of food or the miserable memories of being beaten up...

  Thinking of this, Jing Qingyun glanced at his crystal ball and sighed. "I can't do it. The Swordsman is impossible to beat. Maybe I should just try challenging the Archer."

  "But the Manager's tutorial is too hard. I'm a Swordsman class, a top-tier Agility user, yet I can't even keep up with the Manager's speed."

  Sitting in the booth, he looked up at the screen hanging on the wall.

  Jing Qingyun checked his noodles. They seemed ready, so he began to eat while studying the tutorial video.

  "These noodles smell incredible. I won't be able to eat this once I go back to the academy," he lamented while watching.

  Kael's battle was textbook perfection. The difficulties involved weren't limited to the two points Kael had mentioned verbally. In fact, for an elite third-year student like Jing Qingyun, the entire video was a masterclass in difficulty from start to finish.

  Kael's fighting style wasted zero energy. There were no superfluous movements. Every time Jing Qingyun watched it, he found something new to marvel at.

  As he ate the noodles and watched the video, he unknowingly entered a state of clarity. It was as if a sudden enlightenment had struck him.

  Things he previously couldn't understand no matter how hard he looked were suddenly crystal clear.

  "Am I... a legendary genius? To think I could comprehend such high-level combat techniques in such a short time!" Jing Qingyun rejoiced instantly.

  He gulped down the rest of the soup and slammed the empty bucket onto the table with a loud thwack.

  Then, his hands froze.

  The crisp sound of the bucket hitting the table woke him from his reverie, reminding him of the Instant Cup Noodles' special effect.

  [Minor Boost to Comprehension. Duration: 12 hours.]

  "Even with the boost... it’s mostly because my foundation is good," Jing Qingyun gritted his teeth, attempting a stubborn resistance.

  He absolutely refused to admit that the gap between him and the shop owner was truly that wide.