Chapter 156: Shock of the king Noah simply smiled and accepted the compliments with gracious humility, understanding that excessive modesty might actually offend someone offering genuine praise. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I appreciate your kind words," Noah replied before moving to the shelves to offer the king some hospitality. "Please, have some iced tea. It’s been pretty hot outside recently. This should help you cool off." As a salesman, Noah naturally knew that he had to be hospitable to the king. Besides, he was no longer the cheapskate who worried about every iced tea. Things have changed now, and not only was he rich, he was also producing nearly a hundred of those. He retrieved two crystal bottles from his display, their contents shimmering with the magical properties that made them far more than simple refreshments. Elara accepted her drink with obvious happiness, her face lighting up with the genuine pleasure of someone receiving her favourite treat. "Thank you! This is exactly what I was hoping for." The king accepted his bottle without false politeness, his expression showing someone who had already experienced the iced tea’s remarkable properties. "I appreciate this more than you might realise. I’ve tried this beverage before, and to say it’s anything short of miraculous would be a lie." He’s had it before. Must have sampled Elara’s previous purchases. King Aldric took a thoughtful sip, his taste palate allowing him to appreciate the drink’s complexity on multiple levels. "Whether taste, appearance, refreshing qualities, or magical effects—everything is absolutely amazing." As they enjoyed their drinks, both royals began surveying the shop’s full inventory with their eyes, as if discovering new possibilities. The king’s eyes fell upon displays he had just noticed. King Aldric’s expression changed dramatically as he spotted the protein bars, energy drinks, and beef jerky arranged in their elegant cases. His eyes widened with genuine shock as he read the descriptive placards that accompanied each display. "These items..." he breathed, his voice carrying the awe of someone confronting the impossible. "The effects they promise are nothing short of miraculous." Elara followed her father’s gaze, her own eyes widening as she spotted the premium products for the first time. During her previous visits, the shop had been out of stock for these particular items. "Permanent attribute enhancement?" she whispered, her voice carrying disbelief at the things in front of her. These things were theoretically impossible. "Regardless of existing rank or capability?" The king stepped closer to examine the displays more carefully, but his senses didn’t allow him to detect whether the properties were elaborate fakes or not. This shocked him even more! As an archmage, he should be able to check, but the inability to check made it even more amazing! "The energy drink promises permanent agility improvement plus temporary amplification," he murmured, reading each description with growing amazement. "The protein bar offers permanent strength enhancement. The beef jerky provides permanent vitality increase." "Each effect states it works regardless of the consumer’s current rank or magical development," King Aldric continued, his voice rising as if grasping revolutionary items. "That’s... that’s completely unprecedented in magical theory." Elara moved to stand beside her father, both royals staring at the premium products with expressions that mixed desire, disbelief, and growing understanding of their strategic value. "If these items truly work as advertised, they would represent the most significant advancement in magical enhancement since the discovery of mana crystals." The king said slowly, with growing shock. Noah watched their reactions with satisfaction, noting how quickly both royals had grasped the true significance of his premium inventory. They understand quality when they see it. This could lead to very profitable long-term arrangements. ... The king studied the premium displays with careful attention, clearly recognising unprecedented value. His expression carried both admiration and growing concern as he processed the implications of such powerful items existing in a relatively unprotected shop. "Noah," he said slowly, his voice taking on a concerned tone. As the king, he was accustomed to managing kingdom-level security concerns, "these items... they aren’t simple merchandise. Based on what my daughter told me about you, and seeing you in person, I know you aren’t a person to lie; therefore, I totally believe in your authenticity." The king’s expression grew more serious as he continued. "But what if somebody tries to steal these items from your store? Do you need me to send royal bodyguards for protection?" The king was worried that if those items were stolen by the extremists or people who have ill intentions, they might gain immense power. Noah smiled with confidence, his demeanour suggesting that he had already thought of and resolved such practical concerns. "You don’t have to worry, Your Majesty. I have a few measures set in place for such contingencies." The king raised an eyebrow at Noah’s casual dismissal of what should have been overwhelming security challenges, but he nodded with acceptance. If Noah claimed to have adequate protection, then he probably possessed capabilities that weren’t immediately visible. King Aldric turned his full attention back to the displays, his composure barely containing obvious desire for items that could enhance his already considerable magical abilities. "How much are these?" he asked. "It depends, Your Majesty," Noah replied diplomatically. "Those at adept rank or above need to pay in equivalent. If you can provide an item of equal value, we can arrange an exchange rather than a monetary payment." "For example," Noah continued, reaching into his storage ring, "somebody once gave me this in exchange for a protein bar." The wind orb emerged from dimensional storage, its concentrated essence immediately visible to the king. King Aldric’s eyes widened dramatically as he recognised the legendary artefact that had drawn him to Noah’s shop in the first place. The Tier 5 wind orb represented exactly the kind of treasure he had hoped to get, yet now it served merely as an example of standard pricing. He had come for the orb, but after seeing the other things, he was simply shocked beyond belief. Elara watched her father’s face change with a smile on her face. That’s called the...Noah effect.