Seeing the eager faces of the ministers and guards around him, Luis smiled.
"This is a divine food gifted to us by God," Luis said slowly, his voice carrying the weight of the moment.
"This is the greatest treasure of my kingdom, greater than any world treasure," he continued, pausing to let the words sink in.
"So, I don't want this to be leaked to any other kingdom." His tone became more serious as he issued the warning.
"I hope you all remember this."
Listening to Luis, everyone nodded solemnly, understanding the importance of what they had just witnessed and tasted.
Luis, satisfied with their reactions, nodded in return.
"Okay, you can eat the divine potato now," he said, giving them permission.
But then, he added a word of caution, "But don't eat too much, otherwise your body won't be able to handle it."
Luis himself could still feel the intense energy from just a single bite. It had filled him completely, almost overwhelming his senses. He knew the power of this food and wanted to ensure his people approached it with care.
Hearing his words, the ministers and guards moved toward the pots, eagerly waiting their turn to eat. One by one, they took their share of the divine potato, each person savoring the moment. As they tasted the potato, a collective sigh of satisfaction filled the air.
Almost immediately, the effects of the divine food became apparent. Those who ate it began to experience breakthroughs in their cultivation.
Some raised their rank to silver warrior, while others directly ascended to the golden rank. Even Khazak, who was already a strong warrior, became a glorified golden warrior. The chefs, who were just ordinary humans before, were also promoted to bronze warriors.
The atmosphere was filled with joy and excitement. The people couldn't believe their luck—they had been blessed by the gods themselves. They began to look at Prince Luis with newfound respect and admiration, recognizing that he had the support of a divine being.
Luis, seeing the happiness on their faces, decided it was time to give more instructions.
"Okay, now that everyone has tasted it," he began, drawing their attention back to him.
"Keep thirty divine potatoes for planting, and the rest will be prepared for the Avos army."
He paused for a moment, letting his words settle in before continuing.
"God has commanded me that when He returns next time, He wants to see Avos stronger."
Luis's voice was firm and resolute. "So, I want all your support in making our kingdom strong."
The people around him straightened their backs, their expressions turning serious. They promised themselves that they would work hard to fulfill both the prince's and God's request. They were determined to see their kingdom rise to greatness.
"Now, I want warriors to stay here and guard this place," Luis ordered. "The rest of you will return with me to the city, where I will claim the throne and become the king of Avos."
With that, Luis began his journey back to the capital, his heart filled with a new sense of purpose and determination.
----
In the Expanding Realm, Oliver returned after watching Luis's breakthrough. He was satisfied with how things had turned out. The effects of the Expanding Realm on the miniature world were greater than he had anticipated, which meant he didn't need to intervene as much as he initially thought.
'Let Luis take care of the kingdom-building,' Oliver mused.
'The rise of kingdoms is measured in years, and being impatient will only cause problems.'
But as he thought about the success in the miniature world, his curiosity about other matters began to stir. There was still so much he wanted to understand, especially regarding the world treasure and its value in the Expanding Realm.
'Now, I have to satisfy my curiosity,' Oliver thought, a cold determination settling in his eyes.
For days, he had been suppressing the murderous intent he felt toward the beasts that emerged from the rifts. The desire to take action was growing stronger within him.
Oliver moved in front of a mirror and looked at himself. He was a handsome young man, about 5'8", with a lean athletic build and messy hair. But this appearance wouldn't do for what he had planned next.
'I need to hide my identity first,' he thought, his mind already formulating a plan.
'I want my hidden identity to be famous.' He still harbored dreams of creating a powerful organization that would span the entire human federation, and for that, he needed to be careful.
With his plan in mind, Oliver glanced out the window. The sky had darkened—it was the perfect time to act as a thief.
----
At a clothing store, everything seemed normal. But in an unnoticed corner, a small gap in the wall allowed a stream of grains of sand to seep inside.
The sand moved silently, creeping along the walls until it covered all the CCTV cameras, rendering them useless.
'This is a really useful ability,' Oliver thought, pleased with how easily he had infiltrated the store.
He quickly began to search for the clothes he needed. Moving swiftly and with purpose, he picked up items that would be useful to him and then retreated just as quietly as he had entered.
Oliver didn't just take a change of clothes—he took half a dozen of the same type.
And as for money that should be left on the counter, he didn't bother leaving any.
'I'm not so pure-minded that I'd pay for stolen goods,' he thought with a smirk. 'Stealing is an art.'
Avoiding all the CCTV cameras, Oliver returned to his home, ready to prepare for the next step.
----
Back at his house, Oliver began to put on the stolen clothes. The outfit wasn't perfectly matching, but it would do for now. He wore blue gloves, a fully covered shirt, cargo pants, boxing shoes, and finally, a motorcycle face mask.
With this clothing, his entire body was covered, leaving only his eyes visible. But there was one more item he needed to wear—a Grim Reaper robe. The final touch provided an extra layer of assurance that his identity would remain hidden.
"It's perfect," Oliver said, admiring his reflection in the mirror. He adjusted the robe slightly, making sure everything was in place.
"Now, it's perfect," he repeated, this time making his voice deeper. Even if his robe was blown away, the full-body clothing underneath would still protect his identity.
Satisfied with his preparations, Oliver was ready to put his plan into action.