Sugar and Spice

Today, it's been a long day for Distant Harbor.

The morning was filled with fear and silence.

The morning was shrouded in numbness and confusion.

The midday air was thick with fervor and blind enthusiasm.

The afternoon was filled with both ecstasy and sorrow.

The night was filled with longing and loss.

Even under the cover of night, the city seemed to still exude an intoxicating fragrance.

That taste was something that the common people had never experienced in their entire lives.

Perhaps it's just in a cheap, dimly lit tavern, or in a stinking street corner, that you hear the most worldly-wise but equally poor people boasting in a world of fantasy and intoxication.

It is said that there is a magical and wonderful thing in this world called spice, which comes from the Twilight Moon and is transported and sold by the elf fleets and merchants. Only noble lords and wealthy merchants are qualified to own and taste it. As for poor people, even if they save up money by not eating or drinking for several months and want to buy a little bit, no merchant will be willing to sell it to them, because it is the exclusive privilege of the great people.

As for these poor people, they could only eat pickled fish and black bread, drink watered-down ale, and even use lemon juice carefully and sparingly when cooking.

Because spices are very precious, very precious.

It is said that the spices can make dishes incredibly delicious, and taking a bite is like wandering in the kingdom of the gods. It is also said that the spices can cure diseases, prolong life, make people smarter, and make people stronger, which is why noble lords are always high above.

And today, they finally understand what spices are.

The soft noodles and tender meat burst with juice when you bite into them, exploding in your mouth with a sizzling sound. A thrilling sensation travels from your head all the way to your tailbone, and the intoxicating flavor spreads throughout your body, driving you wild. It's hard to describe the soul-stirring taste, a flavor that everyone will never forget.

This world actually tastes like this.

These noble gentlemen actually live such a life.

It's unbelievable that people can live like this.

The noodles, soup, and meat bitten into and swallowed felt like knives churning inside the body, leaving bloody marks on the sorrowful and numb soul.

After the trembling, the deliciousness, and the intoxication, comes an empty fear.

Will we still be able to eat something like this in the future?

After a brief period of indulgence and pleasure, this cruelest question arises in everyone's mind.

So some people cried, some shouted, and some were furious. Something called ambition and desire was growing; they wanted to eat such delicacies every day.

--No, once every three days is fine, once every five days is fine, or even once a month is fine.

The unforgettable taste lingers on the lips and teeth, and even with each breath, one can feel the intoxicating aftertaste. The sticky and heavy flavor remains on the tongue. Smack your lips, and you can squeeze out new soup with endless aftertaste. People are even reluctant to drink water, even if they are unbearably thirsty.

They were itching with desire, torn and impatient. They vowed to enjoy this delicacy again, but they didn't know how to obtain it. This supreme delicacy was bestowed by His Highness Kang De, who said there would be another chance. But when would that next time be? A day, a week, a month, a year?

They dared not ask, for no one could answer; they dared not steal, how could they even entertain such a bold thought? In this moment of agonizing torment, a myriad of emotions welling up within them, someone said...

Able.

"Attention all--"

The sound, amplified by the alchemical equipment, echoed from the center of each neighborhood.

"His Highness has given the order—"

At this moment, Kang De's command or will was divine law, a divine oracle, and everyone listened with bated breath; the city was silent like never before.

"The noodle soup must be consumed completely by tomorrow night, otherwise it will spoil."

"After cooling, store in a cool, dark place."

"Unopened cakes can be stored for a long time, but once opened, they must be sealed to prevent moisture absorption and should be consumed within four days..."

Then, what everyone wanted to hear... was the oracle.

"His Highness has given the order—"

"The first recruitment drive will be held soon in Distant Harbor-- "

"The wages earned can buy today's food, and the laborers will then be fed."

"Please bring your identification documents and go to the designated location to register."

In an instant, the entire city came to life.

Cheers, shouts, and cries were even louder than when the war was over. People ran into the streets, anxiously exchanging information and asking when jobs would be available and if the wages for a few days could buy the food they had eaten. They rejoiced and praised, as if the rumors and criticisms against Kang De had never existed, and Kang De's benevolence had finally become a reality.

Previously, when the war ended, even though they heard that the Forbidden Spell spellcaster Kang De from Cathay had ended the war, they had not witnessed it with their own eyes and did not know who that person was.

Now they know.

Now I know who Prince Kang De is.

Powerful and upright, wealthy and generous, ruthless yet kind.

He was incredibly powerful, able to defeat the elves and save Distant Harbor.

He was honest and kept his promise, giving all the spectators in the city silver coins and food, and he kept his word, so everyone received the free favor.

He was rich and generous, and the meals he promised were not hard black bread and rotten pickled fish, but rather the royal cuisine reserved for nobles. He even provided it to the entire city, and the wealth behind it was beyond anyone's imagination.

He was both ruthless and merciful. To betrayers and enemies, even the most nobles, he would strip them of their titles and honors, letting them die a painful death like wild dogs. But to those who obeyed him, he was kind and kept his promises. The warm, wonderful aftertaste still lingering in my stomach is the best proof of that.

In the low shack, in the dim light, a woman in a linen dress with a thin face turned around, looked at the children's bright, expectant eyes, hesitated for a moment, and shook her head helplessly.

She carefully picked up an earthenware pot, lifted the lid, and a wonderful aroma, still pleasantly cool, wafted out. His Highness Kang De had promised that everyone would receive one, so her family of five, including the youngest child who was five years old, all received silver coins, tokens, and an equal amount of food. Since the child ate little, this meant they could save some. She had planned to use this precious food, but...

His Highness Kang De has already said so.

Let's finish it within two days.

The housewife poured about a fifth of the soup from the jar into the cooking pot, then sealed the jar again and added more water. The children eagerly brought over charcoal, their dark faces beaming with ingratiating smiles. Their mother glared at them, took half a loaf of black bread from the bread basket, broke off pieces of the hard bread, and threw them into the cooking pot to cook into bread porridge. It should taste good, right?

She covered the pot; the delicious broth couldn't be allowed to escape even a trace of its odor, lest it be wasted. The firelight illuminated her weary face, worn from hard work, and also lit up the expectant faces of the children, each one so small. Suddenly, the woman felt a pang of sadness. They were so young, yet they were already experiencing flavors they would never otherwise taste in their lives. Their lives were so long; what would they do after that...?

But then she thought of the box she had carefully hidden under the third brick of her bed, wrapped in layers of precious canvas strips, which contained five silver coins and five pieces of cake wrapped in silver paper.

There are also five signs with the names of the whole family written on them.

He also thought of the order that His Highness Kang De had just issued.

He said that people who went to watch executions got paid and had food, and he did. So he said he would soon be recruiting workers in the city, and... that will definitely count, right?

Such an important person.

They wouldn't lie to us, would they?

The poor woman was caught in a state of anxiety, sometimes expectant, sometimes uneasy. Their children stood opposite, three pairs of big eyes staring unblinkingly at the cooking pot. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and the family turned around. The pillar of the family pushed open the door and entered. The honest and sullen man had worked hard all day, and the burden of life had made him lose his smile early on, but now, his voice was filled with a kind of excitement.

"Lord Kang De is hiring, I absolutely have to go!" he declared resolutely. "From now on, we'll eat this good meal once a week, every two weeks... no, every week!"

The children cheered with joy upon hearing this.

In their eyes, their father was second only to the king; whatever he said was law.

The woman sat by the fire, smiling, and waved to him.

Sound of the Tide Manor.

In fact, Kang De was being somewhat presumptuous.

Telling people to finish the broth from instant noodles as soon as possible is not really necessary. He simply cannot fully imagine the impact that meticulously selected, developed, and formulated foods made with modern technology would have on ordinary people in another world.

The citizens were summoned to watch the execution in the morning, which meant they wouldn't have to work all day. Not having to work meant not having to exert themselves, and not having to exert themselves meant not having to eat their fill. They probably only ate a little for breakfast, or even none at all. By the time they received their food, it was already afternoon, and they were starving. When they tasted such delicious food, who could resist? It should be known that appetite is the most irresistible desire for humankind.

Moreover, it's such an exquisite delicacy.

Most people finished their instant noodles and broth on the spot. Only a few people thought of the elderly and children at home and stopped eating after eating a small or large portion. There probably weren't many families with a lot of leftover broth.

However, he still sent his underlings to make the notification.

Since he wasn't the one doing the work, all he had to do was give an order.

As for instant noodles, theoretically they shouldn't be left overnight, but that's true for Earth. In this other world, ordinary people don't care about those little bit of nitrites and bacterial toxins. The food they usually eat contains a lot of harmful components due to more or less spoilage, so a little bit of overnight instant noodles is nothing. In addition, the temperature has been low recently, so the order is to finish eating them before tomorrow night.

Considering the discount for following orders, they'll probably finish eating it all the day after tomorrow. If they pay attention to the temperature, theoretically there shouldn't be any major problems... they should.

If this causes diarrhea, one might be even more convinced of Kang De's advice.

What needs attention now is no longer this kind of thing.

Tonight, Sound of the Tide Manor is hosting its first banquet since the change of ownership.

The banquet invited naval officers and generals from the three countries, traitors and dignitaries from Distant Harbor who had switched sides, fickle businessmen from the city, and representatives of the urban class.

There were even the leading mages and officers of the Survey Corps stationed on the outskirts of the Distant Harbor.

Today's event was a resounding victory. The will was carried out, the rule was implemented, and Kang De's power was demonstrated to the opponents—not just in terms of force, but also in terms of financial resources and persuasive power.

A silver coin, a meal of junk food that every mother on Earth would utterly despise.

That would be enough to undermine the very foundation of the government, dismantling all the hard work and labor of the powerful and wealthy.

After demonstrating power and intimidation, it's only natural to celebrate grandly and show it to the villains lurking in the shadows—given the customs and traditions of the mainland, a grand banquet is the best choice.

Organizing a banquet is a rather troublesome task; any mishap will be met with scorn and ridicule. There are countless rules and trivial matters to deal with, so Colonel Henry, the lackey, volunteered to take care of it.

After Kang De explained the concept of a buffet to him, the people of the Empire thought, "Isn't this how the northern pirates eat? Why are you acting so high and mighty?" But they still smiled and said it was no problem at all. This kind of free banquet saves on tedious ceremonies and will surely be loved by everyone. Your Highness is wise.

Whether a banquet can be successfully held depends primarily on money, or more precisely, on the ingredients. Usually, the ingredients for a grand banquet need to be prepared well in advance, but for Kang De, this was not a problem at all.

The White Mist World was directly airdropped, and the abundance of resources in modern society was beyond the precise imagination of ordinary people on Earth. When the guests of the Sound of the Tide Manor arrived, after witnessing this unprecedented buffet, they were immediately captivated before they could even have any complaints or subtle feelings.

The long dining table was covered with a long, flawless, snow-white silk.

On a dazzling, transparent crystal plate, all sorts of food are piled high.

Incredibly soft and elastic gummy candies, richly aromatic chocolates, nuts roasted with spices, crispy fried potato chips, fluffy and soft bread with a milky fragrance, crystal-clear jelly, superbly flavorful hard candies, and many more unnamed yet incredibly delicious and never-before-seen foods! Sweet, salty, spicy, fragrant—plates of food piled high like small mountains were casually stacked on the long, multi-course dining table, giving these refined people a feeling that could be summed up in two words!

Sugar!

Spices!

Yes! Sugar and spices! The nobles' favorite things, things they couldn't do without at every meal, symbols of wealth and status, and now they're being poured over the entire estate like water—it's practically a feast built of sugar and spices! A complete, pure, and violent display! More frightening than that warship outside the harbor!

It must be understood that the people attending tonight's banquet are not those ignorant commoners. Those peasants, after eating those noodles, thought they contained the spices used by nobles, but these respectable people would not! Some of them secretly tasted some, and it was definitely not the flavor of any known spice! And His Highness Kang De's banquet tonight has fully demonstrated this—he has much more and better!

Therefore, the banquet proceeded in a warm and successful manner.

Each guest devoured the table with a sense of awe and reverence.

They ate them one by one, unable to stop.

No matter how old the wine is, it's no longer effective! Everyone is elegantly clinking glasses with U.Loveit Milk Tea and Sprite.

--This is what real people drink! This is what the upper class drinks! Sugar, sugar, sugar, it's still sugar!

As these respectable people experience the same shock that the citizens of Distant Harbor feel today, the naval soldiers of the three countries are also not spared from this calamity.

Earthlings have resorted to despicable tricks here.

For example, while the citizens lined up for meals, the temporary staff of these Inquisition were still eating the ship's own dry rations. When the warship docked, there were fresh vegetables and meat to replenish the supplies, which was certainly much better than the pig feed they ate at sea. But everything is relative. While these naval soldiers were gnawing on roasted meat and bread, they saw these lowly people in Distant Harbor holding fragrant instant noodles and howling as they ate. The smell was really tempting.

Even seasoned officers were itching to try it, thinking, "These lowly commoners who have done nothing have such good food. Although we once opposed His Highness, aren't we now working for him? If these peasants can eat such good things, why can't we?"

However, this small protest and attempt was immediately met with disdain and suppression from his superiors—"Damn it, His Highness won't give it to you, do you dare to ask for it? I wouldn't dare."

As evening fell, the soldiers, who hadn't eaten dinner yet, were still going from street to street reminding the common people not to overeat, not to leave instant noodles overnight, and how to store the flatbread. Their resentment and frustration intensified—"Damn it, what does it even taste like? Is it really that delicious?"

Then, His Highness Kang De's favor arrived.

Craving instant noodles, sausages, and luncheon meat?

--What rubbish is that?!

The pork floss bread, generously coated with pork floss and oil, is incredibly soft and fragrant. It's also filled with lots of cream and syrup, making it absolutely delicious. They also offer a variety of self-heating hot pot, rice noodles, and instant noodles.

In addition, there are tons of candies, desserts, seaweed crisps, pork floss rolls, wafers, savory Biscuit, and all kinds of fragrant and spicy jerky, practically chicken legs marinated in a spice bath, incredibly crispy fat bits, and fiery red chili sauce! Eat as much as you want!

This sumptuous dinner made even the arrogant elven soldiers begin to doubt the existence of elves.

The worst thing about anything is comparison.

They used to envy the instant noodles, luncheon meat, and sausages that the peasants ate.

But the delicious food before them brought them double the gratitude and satisfaction—this was infinitely better than what the commoners ate! Prince Kang De certainly wouldn't treat us badly!

The despicable Earthlings' sugar-coated bullets also reached the Survey Corps. This Goth's court, was left behind in the Distant Harbor by Stella. Today, they heard some rumors from Danfeng Lucerne and were in a dilemma, leaderless. Then, His Highness Kang De's warmth arrived.

One can only imagine how those guys would feel after eating this food.

Tonight at Distant Harbor, it's a night of culinary delights.

On the third floor of the Sound of the Tide Manor, in the conference hall, after a brief speech and well wishes, Kang De left to convene a small meeting to report, summarize, and issue new instructions.

Those attending the meeting included the commanders of the three fleets, Han Zezheng, the chairman of the Execution Committee who had performed well these past two days, and two representatives of traitors.

As a small reward for Han Zezheng, his eldest son, Han Guangcheng, was allowed to attend the meeting as an observer and was responsible for some menial tasks such as serving tea and water—this was far more effective than any monetary reward, to the point that even a shrewd businessman like Han Zezheng lost his composure for a moment.

Kang De, seated at the head of the table, said, "Let's take stock of today's achievements."

Meanwhile, while every household in the Distant Harbor was reminiscing about the good old days, while Kang De's soldiers were feasting, and while the country bumpkins at the Sound of the Tide Manor banquet were still robbing everyone in sight, secret gatherings were taking place in the city.

Kang De's actions—breaking the rules, stripping nobles of their titles, and executing the nobles in the most cruel and inhumane ways—were enough to cause an upheaval throughout the continent's aristocratic class.

The nobles who stood against Kang De this time all heard about what happened today: the unexpected shock, the enormous financial resources, and the intention to undermine him.

They were hoping for support from across the continent, but Kang De has now delivered a blow.

The entire city's lower and middle classes were bought off by that meal and that silver coin, signifying a shake-up of the foundations and a loss of authority... This is far more terrifying than direct slaughter.

"Isn't he trying to win people's hearts and establish his authority? Isn't he trying to give the common people good food?"

A resolute shout rang out from the hidden underground chamber.

"Then let's see if he can supply food for an entire city all by himself!"

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PS1: I touched it after I slept well... Sigh, even though I went to bed early last night, it still took me a long time to fall asleep...