The Crown Prince Got Hooked on Gaming Too?

"Beep—your balance is insufficient. Please top up!"

The Cyberpunk world before Qian Renxue's eyes receded like a tide.

Inside Origin Internet Cafe, Qian Renxue lay in a soft leather chair, staring at the ceiling, her chest still rising and falling.

Even though the neural connection had been severed, she could still feel a strange phantom ache beneath the skin of her hand where the Kiroshi optics and Smart Link had been.

That exhilarating sense of control, of tearing enemies apart with technological violence, was like a drug. It had etched itself deep into a heart that had once believed only in gods.

It was incredible... To gain such a leap in power just by getting an implant, without years of grueling cultivation!

Qian Renxue was screaming inwardly.

The purity of a Seraphim? Respecting the body my parents gave me?

Compared to Mechanical Ascension, what a joke!

If I could get my hands on a legendary Sandevistan and Mantis Blades in the real world, I'd storm Spirit Hall alone right now and pin my mother—the Pope, Bibi Dong—to her throne and beat her senseless!

At that thought, she forced herself to stop.

No!

That's too dangerous! Even thinking it is dangerous.

"Your Highness! You're finally awake!"

The Guard Captain, who had been standing watch beside her, nearly cried with relief when Qian Renxue opened her eyes. He hurried over. "Your Highness, are you all right? Did this Demonfire Black Shop's illusion damage your mind? I'll summon the City Defense Army and have this place shut down at once!"

"Shut up!"

Qian Renxue sat up, wiping the lingering excitement from her face.

She took a deep breath, forced her racing heart to settle, and slipped back into her gentle, refined disguise as the crown prince.

"Ahem... I'm fine. This illusion... does have its merits."

Putting on her princely air, Qian Renxue smoothed her slightly wrinkled Brocade Robe and stepped away from the chair.

But her legs, still weak from the overstimulation of the game, inevitably wobbled when her feet touched the floor.

"Well, well! If it isn't the esteemed crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire?"

Just then, a clear female voice rang out from across the room, full of teasing amusement.

Ning Rongrong had just finished a gig and logged off. She removed her helmet, leaving her shoulder-length hair a little messy.

The little devil of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect folded her arms and looked Qian Renxue's disheveled figure up and down.

"What's wrong, Your Highness? Legs gone weak? Did a Scavenger crack your skull with a rifle butt in Night City, or did Maelstrom scare you so badly you wet yourself?"

Ning Rongrong had gone straight on the attack.

In ordinary society on the Douluo Continent, even a direct disciple of one of the upper three sects had to greet the crown prince with courtesy.

But inside Origin Internet Cafe?

Sorry. Here, the divide wasn't between nobles and commoners. It was between pros and noobs!

Ning Rongrong already had Mantis Blades installed and had made a name for herself in Watson District. To her, a newcomer like Qian Renxue, who hadn't even finished installing her cyberware, looked like a noob ready to get herself killed.

"Miss Ning... Rongrong?"

The corner of Qian Renxue's eye twitched.

A little girl had just exposed her humiliating defeat in the game in front of everyone. Qian Renxue had no idea how Ning Rongrong had guessed—everyone's beginner tutorial was equally brutal—but her pride nearly shattered on the spot.

"You jest, Miss Rongrong."

Qian Renxue forced a flawless smile onto her face. "I merely found this novel Soul Tool a little disorienting. But Miss Rongrong, as Sect Master Ning's beloved daughter, shouldn't you be cultivating diligently at your sect instead of spending every day in this little shop, lost in fantasy? If Sect Master Ning knew, I fear he'd be heartbroken."

Qian Renxue tried to put the presumptuous girl in her place by speaking like an elder.

Unfortunately, she had underestimated how thick-skinned a gaming addict could be.

"Oh, please. Don't use my dad to scare me! The times have changed, Your Highness!"

Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes, then proudly waved her fair little hand. "I'm Watson District's number one female assassin now! Once the boss makes the Sandevistan from the game real, I'll be able to take down the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect myself. Why would I be afraid of my dad?"

Qian Renxue: "..."

Faced with Ning Rongrong's brazen pride in her gaming addiction, Qian Renxue was momentarily speechless. Deep inside, she felt a faint stir of jealousy.

Damn it! That little girl's already reached Watson District?

No. I have to grind for a few more hours today and buy those Mantis Blades! I refuse to fall behind a support-type in the game!

Her competitive streak flaring, Qian Renxue cleared her throat and turned toward the counter.

"Boss Lin, this game really is excellent! Add... another ten hours to my account." Qian Renxue pulled out a handful of Gold Soul Coins, ready for a marathon session.

Instead, a cool, delicate hand rose to stop her.

Zhu Zhuqing, wearing a pink apron, stood impassively behind the counter and pushed the Gold Soul Coins back.

"Sorry, customer. Under Article Three, Clause Two of the Origin Internet Cafe Management Regulations, this establishment strictly enforces the Anti-Addiction System. Each person is limited to six hours of play per day."

Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful catlike eyes met those of the renowned crown prince without a hint of concession. "Your time is up. If you want to play, come early tomorrow."

"You—!"

The Guard Captain reached for his sword, then remembered the terror of having his Soul Power stripped away. He shoved the blade back into its sheath, his face turning red with frustration.

Qian Renxue's hand froze in midair.

In this shop, my status as crown prince matters less than that scrap of paper on the wall?!

"Fine... Very well!"

Qian Renxue gritted her teeth and swallowed her anger.

She knew this shop's power was unfathomable. She could not force the issue.

Besides... that damned game was just too much fun!

"In that case, I'll return tomorrow."

Qian Renxue gracefully put away her Gold Soul Coins and glanced at the temperature-controlled cabinet. "But first, bring me a bowl of Braised Beef Noodles and a bottle of that black drink called cola."

"That'll be seven Gold Soul Coins. No running a tab, and no credit."

Zhu Zhuqing swiftly prepared the noodles and pushed them across to Qian Renxue.

A few minutes later.

Under the stunned gazes of her guards, the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire sat in the Internet Cafe's lounge, slurping down instant noodles. She even lifted the paper bowl and drained the last drop of broth.

"Ahh!"

After a gulp of chilled cola, Qian Renxue felt her Soul Power and Spiritual Power surge back to full and let out a contented sigh.

So good... Both these noodles and that damned Night City.

Qian Renxue stood and took one long look at the cafe called Origin Internet Cafe, determination burning in her eyes.

"Boss Lin, I'll see you tomorrow."

With that, the crown prince led her thoroughly bewildered guards out of the Internet Cafe without looking back.

Watching Qian Renxue leave, Lin Ye finally set down his cola behind the counter and smiled in triumph.

"Even Qian Renxue's hooked... At this rate, it won't be long before the Internet Cafe reaches level three and unlocks a new game."