Path To Godhood Begins With Marrying Wife And Gaining SSS Rank Skill

Chapter 35: 35:The Spread Of Popcorn

“I choose five of you to do this?” Ethan’s voice was calm but heavy.

“I hope you don’t betray me?” He looked at each of them in turn.

The five middle-aged men nodded quickly.

“My Lord, believe us,” one of them said.

“Words aren’t enough.I don’t know you enough to trust your words.”

Ethan motioned for them to sit.

“Take this and sign it. This is a Mana contract.Once you sign, you cannot betray me. You can leave the organization if you wish, but you cannot disclose anything.”

Oliver stepped forward and handed them the contracts. These weren’t ordinary papers. They were contracts bound by a mana oath under the God of Light. Each one cost fifty silver, though they had managed to buy them cheaper because of bulk purchase.

The men looked at the glowing inscriptions with awe before pressing their signatures.

“Yes, my Lord,” they said together.

Ethan gave a small nod, satisfied.

…

Life in Blank City soon returned to normal. Mining had already begun, though it remained a secret until the mana crystals were ready to be revealed.

But something unexpected began to stir excitement in the city. It was not weapons or magic. It was popcorn.

Of course, it didn’t just appear out of nowhere. Ethan had brought a troupe to perform plays for the people, and entry was free.

On the first day, he himself stood in the center with a bag of popcorn, enjoying it openly. Those near him followed suit, eating before the curious crowd.

The children in the audience could no longer hold back. Many started crying for the strange, crunchy treat.

By the very next day, vendors appeared in the streets selling it cheaply.

From there, popcorn spread like wildfire. People were curious, eager, and soon even neighboring cities heard whispers about it.

….

One afternoon, a group of well-known food critics gathered around a vendor. They each bought a bag and stared at the fluffy, golden-white pieces with doubtful faces.

“What is this supposed to be? Bread crumbs?” one muttered.

Another sniffed it and laughed. “It smells roasted… almost like nuts. Strange.”

They each took a bite. The moment the popcorn crunched in their mouths, their eyes widened.

“It’s… airy,” one said slowly. “Like eating clouds, but it has a roasted taste.”

“Sweet and salty at the same time. I’ve never had anything like this,” another added.

A third nodded with approval. “It melts away so lightly. But it leaves behind this warm, nutty flavor. This will spread everywhere.”

The others agreed, crunching loudly, their skepticism now gone.

Not long after, a wealthy man approached a vendor, unable to hide his curiosity.

“How did you make it?” he asked directly.

The shopkeeper smiled. “That’s a big secret.”

The man’s eyes narrowed. He reached into his pouch and pulled out a heavy bag. “I will give you ten gold coins if you tell me.”

Gasps rose from the crowd around them. Ten gold coins was a fortune.

The vendor’s hand trembled. Greed flickered in his eyes. He leaned forward and whispered, “It’s made by—”

Before he could finish, a sudden shock of electricity coursed through his body. His mouth twisted, his body convulsed, and he fell screaming.

“Aaahhh!” His cries split the air.

The crowd suddenly froze.

People rushed forward and saw the man lying on the ground, twitching violently, his body surrounded by a faint ominous glow.

“Murder!” someone shouted.

All eyes turned toward a cloaked man who had been standing close.

“What?” the man cried in panic, pointing at himself. “It wasn’t me!”

But before anyone could ask more, he bolted into the crowd.

“Catch him! Go after him!” voices roared as people pushed forward, chasing the fleeing figure.

…..

“I expected this…” Ethan gave a bitter smile as he read the report of the incident.

Then he turned to Sophia, his eyes sharp. “I told you we shouldn’t be hasty.”

“How can you blame me for this? It’s the children’s fault,” Sophia muttered. Her hand moved to her swollen belly and she looked down at it with frustration.

Ethan sighed.

The truth was, ever since she became pregnant, Sophia wanted to enjoy life more.

She had heard about a drama troupe and insisted on watching them. Ethan spent money to invite the performers.

Earlier, he had explained how nice it felt to eat popcorn while enjoying entertainment. Sophia wanted to experience it herself. Ethan allowed it, but to his shock, she arranged a full popcorn party and even let the people of Blank Town join.

Left with no choice, Ethan had to step forward with the idea of popcorn. He planned to introduce ketchup and french fries next, then cheese, burgers and after that, slowly move into the market.

But things had gone differently.

“We need to increase security,” Ethan said with a grim look. Just then, a knock came at the door.

“Come in,” Ethan said.

“What happened, Oliver?” Sophia asked.

Oliver entered with a smile and laid a piece of cloth on the table. “The first batch of mana crystals is ready.”

Sophia had seen mana crystals before, but for Ethan, it was something new. He lifted the cloth and saw a colorless crystal, square and emerald-shaped, glowing faintly like a diamond.

Impressed by its fine finish, Ethan asked curiously, “Is there a need to refine them so much? Can’t we just sell them at standard weight?”

Sophia answered before Oliver could. “It’s mainly for appearance. After absorbing the mana, the leftover stone is still beautiful, even though it’s useless. I thought it unnecessary too, but it’s the Imperial order. This way, the crystals keep a standard shape when sold.”

Ethan picked up the crystal. Mana slowly flowed into his fingers, bringing a strange, cool, and refreshing feeling.

“Can warriors like us use it?” Ethan asked.

“We can, My Lord,” Sophia said. “But the efficiency for warriors is very low. Most of the mana is wasted. Mages, with their control over mana, waste very little.”

Ethan nodded in thought. Warriors had full control over their bodies, while mages mastered the flow of mana. But that didn’t mean one couldn’t learn both. The road to higher power was all about refining control over mana.

“Then start selling this batch,” Ethan said firmly with an evil grin twisting on his lips.

“I want to see which bastard dares to strike back first.”

Sophia looked at him closely and gave his arm a small pinch. “Why do I feel like you’re itching to cause trouble?”

Ethan smiled faintly. “Wife, I’m innocent.”