Owen was overjoyed when these strangers praised his culinary skills.
He looked at the most familiar face, Flora, and asked, "Are these your relatives or friends?"
"No, no!" Flora was startled. "This is His Majesty Caesar, King of the Azul Kingdom."
"Wow," Owen's eyes widened in surprise.
This was truly something he'd never expected.
Who would've thought that his little courtyard would welcome a bona fide king?
"Please, have a seat and enjoy some tea," Owen said. He hadn't learned the etiquette of this world, and in his moment of panic, he saluted the esteemed ruler of this foreign land.
Caesar froze in place.
What kind of gesture was this?
It seemed to be some form of greeting, but he had never seen it before.
To avoid appearing ignorant, His Majesty simply nodded.
"No need to be so formal; we're just guests. Mr. Owen, please go about as you normally would."
Owen nodded, already beginning to calculate in his mind. Should he waive the fee for such a distinguished guest?
A pub visited by the king!
Just the prestige of that name alone would be worth a fortune!
With proper promotion, wouldn't that guarantee a steady stream of customers in the future?
Thinking of this, Owen gave an appreciative glance at the two sisters—well done! These local beauties weren't just kind-hearted; they'd managed to bring in the king as a guest!
"Mr. Owen, and this gentleman here," Flora continued with the introductions, "this is Pablo, an Imperial Archmage and also the headmaster of Crossbridge Academy."
"Hello, hello." Owen greeted with the Young Pioneer Salute.
He then turned his attention to the trio of adventurers and suddenly realized something.
"Aren't you from Crossbridge Academy? So this gentleman is your headmaster."
This was perfect! The trio had accepted a bag of fruit from him and actually remembered to bring in more people—they even brought their headmaster along!
What a great potential customer!
A single academy must have at least a thousand students. If the headmaster enjoyed the food and decided to bulk-purchase food and drinks from Owen, he'd be set for life!
Wouldn't that make him a campus caterer, just like the university food contractors from his previous life?
That was a surefire way to rake in the cash.
"Hello, Mr. Owen," the headmaster greeted with a friendly smile. "Thank you for taking care of my students. I came here specifically to express my gratitude."
"No worries, no worries, it was just some ordinary food," Owen said generously. "If you don't mind, why don't we all sit down and have some pizza? The more, the merrier."
Everyone turned to look at Caesar.
The king nodded, "Alright. So, these delicious-smelling flatbreads are what you call pizza, Mr. Owen?"
Owen was taken aback.
No way.
A king of a nation, and he's never had pizza before? Isn't this something you foreigners invented?
No, no, it's a different world after all, so it's reasonable that pizza hasn't been invented yet.
But for some reason, Owen felt a twinge of sympathy for the king.
It seemed this world was a culinary desert.
Owen took all the pizzas out of the oven, sliced them into pieces, and arranged them on plates.
Considering that these locals had never tasted pizza before, he thoughtfully provided an introduction.
But the more he explained, the more bewildered everyone became.
"What's yeast? What's an olive? What's mozzarella cheese? What's zucchini? And what's a pineapple?"
Everyone was full of confusion.
So many unfamiliar ingredients popped up all at once.
Yet, no one wanted to appear ignorant.
"Sounds delicious," Caesar said, without any reaction from the gem pendant on his chest—a magical item capable of detecting poisons, curses, spells, and impurities.
This meant that Owen hadn't tampered with the food in any way.
"Your Majesty, what flavors do you prefer?"
"His Majesty likes rich flavors," Luigi answered. "If there's sauce or shrimp, that would be even better."
"Then please try the California-style pizza," Owen recommended. "The crust is very thin, and it's topped with the richest ingredients, plus my special barbecue sauce."
Caesar nodded. He looked at the plates, noting the absence of cutlery, and hesitated for a moment.
Owen assumed that the king feared poison, so he immediately picked up a piece of pizza and took a big bite.
The king didn't mind Owen using his hands. He simply followed suit, picking up a slice and taking a bite.
The next moment, his eyes widened slightly.
"Is this rich and delicious flavor real? How can this food be so tasty?!"
Caesar couldn't believe what he was tasting.
"Even the Emerald Kingdom, renowned for its cuisine, couldn't make something this delicious."
Owen watched the king eagerly, waiting for his comment.
Unexpectedly, the king said nothing and just devoured the entire slice in a few bites.
Luigi was stunned. Was this really His Majesty, who prided himself on moderation?
In his impression, no matter how delicious a dish was, the king would never overindulge.
"Very good." Caesar nodded.
At the same time, he sensed a change in his body. The mana core that had been stagnant for years began to spin ever so slowly.
He suddenly recalled Luigi mentioning that Owen possessed an entire garden of god-tier magical fruits.
Could it be that this so-called pizza was made from those god-tier magical fruits?
No wonder there were so many unfamiliar ingredients.
"Mr. Owen, not only is your pizza delicious, but it also seems to have some sort of miraculous effect," Caesar remarked, reaching for another slice.
"Hahaha, as long as you like it!" Owen was elated. "Don't hold back, everyone, please eat to your heart's content."
Everyone took note of the king's reaction and quickly picked up the pizzas to start tasting.
Only Jane sat quietly on the side.
She still found Owen a bit hard to trust.
This man hosting everyone on the mountaintop didn't have a hint of mana fluctuation, wore ordinary clothes, and even had mud stains on his boots.
This was nothing like a master's demeanor; he looked more like an ordinary farmer or cook.
But seeing the king and the headmaster praising Owen's food, Jane didn't dare say anything.
She hesitantly looked at the pizza.
This food smelled delicious, but she'd never had it before. Wouldn't eating it give her an upset stomach?
Just then, her body suddenly trembled.
"What's wrong?" Flora, who was closest to her, asked. "Is it your old ailment acting up again? Do you need medication?"
"No, no, I feel…" Jane said with a face full of astonishment, "I feel like I can breathe much more easily, and my chest doesn't feel tight anymore."
She was utterly confused.
Her condition had shown no improvement for years. Even with all the magical potions she'd taken, they could only temporarily alleviate the symptoms.
Any exertion or emotional outburst would immediately trigger her condition.
But now, the heavy, oppressive feeling in her chest had miraculously lessened! And she hadn't taken any medication—what was going on?
Could it really be from smelling too much of the food's aroma?
"Stop thinking about it and just eat some pizza," Alice said, her mouth stuffed full. "It's so delicious!"
"It really is." The red-haired Asha's cheeks were flushed. She liked spicy food, so Owen recommended the Devil's Pizza.
Besides the usual tomato sauce and cheese, the pizza was topped with various peppers that Owen had grown himself.
One bite sent a fiery sensation rushing to her head, yet it was tempered just enough by the sweetness of tomatoes and cheese.
After one bite, Asha couldn't stop eating.
Not just her; even her father, Pablo, was digging in with gusto.
He loved seafood, so Owen gave him several slices of seafood pizza!
The headmaster initially just wanted to have a taste, but after one bite, he was as thoroughly conquered by the delicious pizza as the king.
Pablo ate the seafood pizza with big bites, almost moved to tears.
"It's too delicious! Such fresh shrimp and squid, and even mussels! Each bite is full of flavor, with a juicy, sweet and tangy texture."
"What have I been eating all these years, dog food?"
"Now I'm sure of it, Mr. Owen must be a hidden master!"
"Because such exquisite flavors are beyond the reach of ordinary people."
Everyone ate with great joy.
It was a simple yet pure delight brought by food.
Whether it was the exalted king, the experienced Silver Knight, or the headmaster who had tasted food from every academy in nearby kingdoms, they were all immersed in the joy that the food brought.
Owen also felt an immense sense of satisfaction.
The usually quiet courtyard had become lively, and everyone was so enthusiastic.
Owen thought, this kind of life wasn't bad at all.
In contrast to the group happily enjoying the delicious food, Jane seemed somewhat hesitant.
At first, she hadn't joined in eating the pizza because she still doubted Owen's identity. Later, seeing everyone eating with such relish, combined with the enticing aroma, Jane couldn't help but want to try it herself.
But the others wouldn't wait for her.
Except for Flora, no one really paid attention to Jane, assuming she simply didn't want to eat.
So, by the time Jane finally decided to try some, the pizza on the table was nearly gone.
The last remaining half piece was in Pablo's hand.
Having finished the seafood pizza, he had snatched this remaining half-piece of Devil's Pizza from his daughter and was currently eating it, tongue lolling from the spiciness.
Jane pursed her lips slightly.
Forget it, forget it.
She tried to convince herself that it was probably just a normal baked flatbread with some extra toppings. Everyone was just putting on a show to flatter Owen.
At that moment, Caesar, who had been gracefully wiping the grease from the corners of his mouth, suddenly stood up.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" Luigi asked worriedly. "Do you need some digestive potion?"
"No!" Caesar's eyes shone brightly, and his entire demeanor shifted. "I've broken through!"
"What!" Luigi and Pablo exclaimed simultaneously. As two people who knew the king well, they understood the significance of this statement.
Caesar wasn't just a king; he was also unquestionably the strongest individual in the Azul Kingdom!
His power was beyond question.
But, just like climbing a mountain, the closer you get to the peak, the harder it becomes.
Although Caesar had never neglected his magical training, his mana core had remained dormant for years, as if it had entered a state of hibernation.
This was precisely why he had started cultivating magical fruits in the royal gardens.
The three headmasters of the great academies all shared a consensus: if His Majesty failed to break through in five years, they'd have to take action, scouring the world for treasures that could enhance his power.
But who could've imagined that, just by having a meal at Owen's place, Caesar would break through his bottleneck?
"Yes!" Caesar's face finally broke into a smile. He withdrew his imposing aura, feeling the revitalized mana fluctuations surging within him.
Luigi's eyes were misty at the sight.
How wonderful.
The breakthrough didn't just signify an increase in power; it also meant that Caesar's lifespan would be significantly extended.
"Your Majesty, you…" Luigi was about to say something when he suddenly froze in place, as if paralyzed.
Silver lights swirled around his armor, and his breathing quickened. In an instant, his entire body grew noticeably stronger.
"I… I've advanced too?" Luigi couldn't believe it and jumped a few times on the spot.
"Ah, be careful!" Alice, the closest to him, was startled. "Why are you jumping like a flying monkey? You're jumping so high!"
"Wait, it seems I'm also…" The headmaster of Ravenfeather Academy, Duheng, was equally shocked. "Just a moment ago, I was still at the base of my tier, but now I've already reached the mid-level."
Stars flickered around him.
His mana flowed more smoothly than it did right after leveling up.
"Excellent." Caesar was very pleased. He had broken through, his most trusted subordinate had broken through, and an important headmaster of the kingdom had also advanced.
And all of this was due to Mr. Owen's magical pizza!
It wasn't just the high-level individuals. The rest of the group was also amazed to find that they had started to break through.
Flora and Alice, who were initially at lower levels, miraculously jumped two tiers.
Even the three adventurers wore expressions of delight.
Each of them had advanced a stage.
Only Jane was left gaping.
"What's going on? Why is everyone breaking through? Even if the blessings of the God of Luck fell here, such a coincidence shouldn't be possible."
"Why am I the only one who didn't break through?"
"Wait! The only thing everyone else did that I didn't do was…"
She looked at the empty plates and almost burst into tears.
Oh, heavens!
Could it really be because they ate Owen's pizza?
If that were true, then wasn't she the fool who missed out on a golden opportunity just because of hesitation?
While Jane still had doubts, Caesar was absolutely convinced that everyone's breakthroughs were due to Owen's food.
"Mr. Owen," Caesar stepped forward and spoke solemnly, "on behalf of the Azul Kingdom, I thank you! You generously shared such a precious magical food, allowing me to successfully enhance my abilities."
"My breakthrough will deter the hidden traitors within the empire, and those scheming conspirators will halt their nefarious plots."
"The surrounding barbarians who seek to invade us will be forced into dormancy once more."
"You are the savior of the entire Azul Kingdom."
Owen's eyes widened.
No way.
Was this exaggerated gratitude and over-the-top courtesy from the locals happening again?
Compared to the two sisters, His Majesty the King's words were even more dramatic!
It was just some pizza, so how did it escalate to saving the kingdom?
Owen had expected Ken and the others to express thanks and heap praises on him after eating, but he hadn't anticipated such astonishing words of gratitude.
"No worries, no worries, Your Majesty. It's just some simple home-cooked food. You're welcome to come by anytime if you like," Owen quickly said, worried that if the king kept praising him, he'd break out in goosebumps.
"As long as you enjoy my food, I'm very happy."
As for everyone's collective breakthrough, Owen hadn't linked it to himself at all.
From his perspective, seeing the sisters and the adventurer trio break through, Owen instinctively felt that maybe this was just another unique trait of the locals here.
That is, they tended to break through randomly.
As for them saying that it was eating his food that led to their breakthroughs, Owen completely dismissed it as polite flattery.
"If eating my food could lead to breakthroughs, then I, who eat it every day, should have become a super-powerful master long ago!"
Caesar never expected Owen to brush it off so lightly.
That was the gratitude of a king!
Anyone else would seize the opportunity to ask for wealth and status.
But now, Mr. Owen seemed to have no intention of doing so at all.
I see!
Caesar understood.
This was the demeanor of a true master!
"Alright, I understand." Caesar finally comprehended why Flora had mentioned that Lord Owen preferred being treated as an ordinary person.
A person this powerful, whose casual gifts were priceless treasures to others, would inevitably be met with awe, reverence, and incessant gratitude.
Over time, such interactions would become lonely, devoid of genuine human connection.
So that's why Lord Owen hid his mana presence and presented himself as an ordinary man.
"Even so, please accept my thanks," Caesar insisted. "Even as friends, such a sumptuous meal is a rare treat."
The king's interaction with Owen didn't go unnoticed by the others.
The sisters, who were about to kneel in gratitude again, were left stunned.
The seasoned Duheng headmaster immediately chimed in, "Yes, yes, His Majesty is right. We are here as friends and guests, expressing our appreciation to our host."
He looked at the dazed young people.
"What are you standing around for?"
"Didn't your families teach you how to thank your host after a meal?"
The group finally reacted, offering Owen both mage and knight salutes, and said in unison, "Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Owen."
"Haha, you're all being too polite." Owen felt a bit embarrassed. Facing so many people thanking him at once, he couldn't help but feel a little pressured.
Suddenly, he noticed Jane in the corner.
It seemed like she hadn't eaten much earlier. Why were her eyes red now?
Was she not feeling well?
"Lord Owen, I—I want to break through too," Jane said, her face flushed.
"Then work hard and keep at it!" Owen said. "But to train well, you have to eat properly. Skipping meals to lose weight is bad for your health."
"No, I mean… I also want to eat your pizza," Jane finally clarified, realizing her mistake. "I'm sorry. I didn't get a chance to try it earlier."