The Shop Levels Up!

Morning sunlight streamed through the newly renovated glass doors of Origin Internet Cafe and spilled across the gleaming marble floor.

"Welcome. Please register here before using a computer. Two Gold Soul Coins per hour. No bargaining."

Behind the counter, a cool, pleasant voice spoke right on cue, without a trace of emotion.

A closer look revealed a black-clad girl of breathtaking beauty, with a figure that could set pulses racing, sitting primly behind the register.

To everyone's astonishment, she wore a little pink apron printed with "Origin Internet Cafe" over her sleek black outfit.

She was Zhu Zhuqing, the noble heiress who had fled the Star Luo Empire, wielder of the Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul.

Having signed the contract, the stubborn girl took her work seriously down to the last detail.

Even as a cashier, she stayed as alert as she had been while evading assassins, her cold eyes sweeping over the passersby outside.

"Oh, Zhu Qing, don't look so gloomy! Smile! A smile brings in customers!"

Ning Rongrong emerged from the cafe's lounge with a yawn. To play games all night, she had shamelessly rented a small bedroom in the cafe long-term.

She patted Zhu Zhuqing on the shoulder with the air of a seasoned veteran.

"Good morning, Senior Ning." Zhu Zhuqing gave a slight nod, but her gaze drifted toward computer number two.

That was where she had played yesterday.

Whenever she closed her eyes, all she could think of was activating the Sandevistan in Night City and the thrill of landing one fatal strike after another.

If Ning Rongrong loved the mindless gunfire and the destruction she could wreak with Mantis Blades, Zhu Zhuqing had fallen for sheer speed.

"Boss, can we team up today and take jobs from that woman Regina? I want to earn money for a better Sandevistan!" Zhu Zhuqing looked at Lin Ye, who was resting with his eyes closed in a rocking chair, her eagerness plain to see.

"Don't rush. First, take a look at what's changed in the shop today." Lin Ye slowly opened his eyes.

In fact, the system notifications in Lin Ye's head had erupted the moment Zhu Zhuqing signed the contract last night.

[Congratulations, Host! You have successfully recruited your first cashier.]

[Target identity: Zhu Zhuqing.]

[Two highly attractive employees detected. Upgrade requirements met!]

[Origin Internet Cafe has officially upgraded to Lv2!]

[Life Support Area unlocked: Congratulations, Host! You have received high-tech foods—Master Kong Braised Beef Noodles (Soul Power Boost Edition) and Iced Happy Fat-Guy Water (Spiritual Power Special)!]

[Note: The new game unlock mission has been updated. The cafe must reach Lv3 and complete specific achievements. For now, please lead your employees in exploring Cyberpunk 2077.]

At Lin Ye's words, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing finally noticed that the cramped cafe, once home to only a few computers, had somehow doubled in size!

Beside the counter stood a temperature-controlled glass cabinet giving off enticing wisps of steam, as well as a transparent vending machine.

Grrr...

Someone's stomach betrayed them with a loud growl.

Ning Rongrong blushed and clutched her stomach. "I took five gang-clearing jobs in Night City last night to earn Euros for cyberware. I'm exhausted... Boss, what's in that cabinet? It smells amazing..."

Zhu Zhuqing said nothing, but her lovely catlike eyes were fixed on the glass cabinet. She swallowed, too.

"Cafe specials. Braised Beef Noodles and iced Cola."

Lin Ye stood, opened the cabinet, and took out two steaming paper bowls. "These are on me as a reward for cleaning up last night. From now on, instant noodles are five Gold Soul Coins a bowl, and Cola is three Gold Soul Coins a bottle."

"Five Gold Soul Coins for one bowl of noodles?!" Ning Rongrong's eyes widened.

In Heaven Dou City, five Gold Soul Coins could buy an entire top-grade soul beast's worth of meat to roast!

"Eat it or don't." Lin Ye deftly peeled back the paper lids.

An aroma too rich for words burst through the cafe!

It was the crowning achievement of industrial-age seasoning: Monosodium Glutamate blended with an assortment of spices!

On Earth, these instant noodles would be called "junk food." On the Douluo Continent, where even stir-frying was still in its infancy, they were something else entirely!

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing stared, transfixed.

The two heiresses, raised in luxury, forgot all decorum. They snatched up the bowls and forks and slurped down huge mouthfuls without a shred of ladylike restraint.

"Mmm! It's so good! How are these noodles so springy? This broth is richer than the ten-thousand-year soul beast bone soup my father's highly paid imperial chef simmered for three days!" Ning Rongrong exclaimed through a mouthful, panting from the heat.

Zhu Zhuqing made full use of her catlike Martial Soul's talents, eating quickly and quietly.

She cradled the bowl and drank every last drop of broth. A satisfied flush spread across her beautiful cheeks.

Burp~

Ning Rongrong had barely let out a satisfied burp when Lin Ye handed them two bottles of dark liquid, chilled enough to give off a mist.

"Try this. Cola."

Zhu Zhuqing cautiously took a small sip.

"Hiss—"

Countless fizzy bubbles burst across her tongue, and the icy sensation shot straight up her throat to the top of her head!

The sweetness, the hint of bitterness, the fierce rush followed by pure refreshment—it felt so good that every hair on her body stood on end.

"Wh-what kind of divine nectar is this?!"

Before they could finish marveling at the taste, something even more astonishing happened.

Zhu Zhuqing's expression changed. She closed her eyes.

She could clearly feel an exceptionally gentle energy spreading from her stomach!

Her Spiritual Power, left faintly aching in the real world after she had repeatedly used the Sandevistan in the game last night, was fully restored in an instant!

More than that, she could feel the Soul Power that had been stuck at a bottleneck beginning to stir!

"These... these noodles and this black water called Cola can restore Spiritual Power and Soul Power?!"

Zhu Zhuqing opened her eyes, her face full of shock. "Recovery on this level is faster than even the finest healing pills!"

Ning Rongrong felt the change within herself as well. She was dumbstruck.

Five Gold Soul Coins... for a bowl of miraculous medicine that instantly restored her to full strength without any side effects?

That was absurdly cheap!

"Boss!" Ning Rongrong threw herself at Lin Ye and wrapped her arms around his leg, tears shining in her eyes. "I want ten bowls! No, a hundred! I'll take them back to the sect for my father to try!"

"Food purchased here must be eaten on the premises. No takeout." Lin Ye pulled his leg free without mercy.

"Argh! These awful rules!"

Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth, but her restored energy soon rekindled her urge to game.

She turned to Zhu Zhuqing, who looked just as refreshed.

"Zhu Qing! We're back to full strength, so let's play!"

Ning Rongrong mimed slashing with Mantis Blades. "Today, I'm forming the strongest mercenary squad in Night City! I'll charge from the front with my Mantis Blades while you activate your Sandevistan and strike from behind! Let's go rob that Arasaka outfit!"

"Okay!"

Fervor lit up Zhu Zhuqing's usually icy face. She yanked off her apron and strode toward computer number two. "I'm saving up... I'm buying the highest-grade Falcon Sandevistan! I'll make time stand still beneath my blade!"

Watching the two newly minted "Cyberpsychos" charge into Night City, shouting with excitement, Lin Ye shook his head helplessly.

He settled back into his chair and took a blissful sip of iced Cola.

Just then, a group of young nobles in Heaven Dou Royal Academy uniforms happened to pass outside the cafe.

At their head was a handsome young man with a faintly sinister look in his eyes.

"Your Highness Xue Qinghe, do you smell that?" A fawning companion sniffed furiously. "It smells incredible! I think it's coming from that shop called Origin."

The young man known as Xue Qinghe—Qian Renxue in disguise—stopped and looked toward the cafe's brand-new glass doors.

"Let's go in and have a look."