Chapter 38: Not Your Average Customer
Outside the shop entrance, the atmosphere was thick with intense, high-stakes... misunderstanding.
Baek Ji-Hong blinked in surprise, staring at his cousin. Back when he was still the talentless black sheep of the Direct Line, Si-Yeon had been among those from the Elder Branch who looked down on him.
He wasn’t the type to hold a grudge or waste energy being bitter, but that didn’t mean he had forgotten her icy arrogance either.
Behind him, Butler Lee and the guards were practically breaking into a cold sweat. They stood in rigid, defensive postures, their eyes darting nervously to every shadow, alleyway, and rooftop nearby.
’To think we’d run into Young Miss Baek Si-Yeon all the way out here...’ Butler Lee thought, suppressing a sigh. ’One wrong move and her bodyguards will come bursting out from hiding to clash with us.’
Despite the tense standoff, Butler Lee wasn’t actually afraid. He was confident that Ji-Hong’s personal bodyguards had significantly improved their martial arts thanks to their gaming sessions in the VR Capsules.
Whatever happened, they were ready for the aftermath.
In reality, however, Si-Yeon was completely alone.
She had snuck out of her estate without telling her grandfather—Elder Baek Si-Jin—or a single servant, donning oversized sunglasses and a hood to just quietly visit this mysterious VR cafe on her own.
There were no hidden bodyguards. Just a teenage girl trying not to get caught playing truant by her family.
"Well, look who it is," Ji-Hong said, giving her a casual wave. His tone was relaxed, completely devoid of hostility. "What brings the shining genius of the Elder branch all the way out here? Don’t tell me you followed me, Si-Yeon?"
Si-Yeon’s posture went stiff. Beneath her sunglasses, her eyes darted frantically.
’Why is this wastrel here?!’ she screamed internally, her calm facade barely holding together. ’Didn’t the intel say he had an assignment elsewhere this morning?! What do I do now? If word leaks that I came here or met this bastard, Grandpa will punish me heavily! He specifically warned our branch not to go near this shop until the plan is finalized. Ah, shit!’
"None of your business," Si-Yeon replied dryly, keeping her voice as cold and composed as possible.
Without waiting a second longer, she turned on her heel and practically speed-walked into the sparse morning crowd, eager to escape before Ji-Hong and his retainers realized why she had come.
In truth, she desperately missed the feeling of logging into the VR capsule and playing The Path of Heavenly Martial Arts—where combat felt even more vivid and exhilarating than real life. Swallowing her disappointment, she quickly vanished around the street corner.
Watching her figure disappear, Butler Lee let out a massive, dramatic sigh of relief, wiping his brow.
"Phew... Young Master, must you act so nonchalantly in front of the other branch descendants? If Young Miss Si-Yeon misinterprets your attitude, her bodyguards might clash with us on the spot."
Ji-Hong looked back at his butler, thoroughly confused. "Huh?! What are you talking about? Why would we fight out of nowhere? Besides, do you really think we’d lose if we fought them? Hehe."
Butler Lee replied with a completely straight face, "Weren’t you the one who wanted to shock everyone at the upcoming banquet? If Young Miss Si-Yeon realizes you and your guards have become this powerful, the element of surprise will be completely lost."
"Ah! You’re right, Butler Lee! That would ruin my brilliant plan!" Ji-Hong blurted out, his expression instantly shifting to sheer regret.
Butler Lee and the guards could only stare at their young master... looking utterly foolish.
Pushing past his overthinking retainers, Ji-Hong shoved open the door of Origins VR Cafe. The crisp ring of the entrance chime cut through the morning silence.
"Morning, Boss Don!" Ji-Hong called out cheerfully, stepping inside with his hands tucked into his sleeves. "Smells incredible in here today! Did you finally add actual food to the menu?"
Donape didn’t answer right away. He simply offered Ji-Hong a deep, meaningful look.
Just before Ji-Hong had walked through the door, a floating system interface had materialized directly before Donape’s eyes.
[Main Quest: The Trinity-Leveling]
---------------------------------
Objective: Upgrade Origins VR Cafe to Level 3
Unlock Requirement:
1. Attend the Baek Empire Family Birthday Banquet until its conclusion.
2. Accumulate Shop Revenue: 141 / 350 Gold Coins.
Failure Penalty: 500 Gold Coin Debt & Quest Freeze. Donape’s personal income cut will be reduced to 0% until a 500 Gold Coin penalty fine is paid off, freezing all shop progression for 1 month.
Reward: ???
---------------------------------
[Countdown Timer: 11 Days, 22 Hours, 47 Minutes]
It was an oddly specific quest.
Donape couldn’t help but connect it to the standoff he had just witnessed through the window. Attending a high-society banquet hosted by one of the top families in the city wasn’t something a simple shopkeeper could just waltz into.
"I saw through the window," Donape said casually. "Did you run into an acquaintance outside?"
Ji-Hong and his entourage flinched in unison, taken aback by how effortlessly Donape hit the nail on the head.
The question even caused Irene and Mira—who were happily savoring their light meal and tranquil coffee—to glance over from their counter seats in curiosity.
Ji-Hong opened his mouth to reply, but before he could speak, Butler Lee quickly cut him off.
"Ah, haha! It was nothing! Don’t mind it." Butler Lee interjected with a strained smile, terrified that Ji-Hong’s loose tongue would leak something unrelated or even family topic that supposedly not to be heard in public.
The internal matters of the Baek Family were strictly confidential.
"Anyway, what are those young ladies eating and drinking? It smells absolutely divine!" Butler Lee added, hastily changing the subject.
Meanwhile, Donape remained completely unfazed. Thanks to the Obsidian Roast Coffee he had just finished, his mind was in an absolute, unbreakable state of calm.
’Sigh. Another outdoor activity...’ Donape thought, inwardly groaning. ’The gold coin requirement should be easy enough—the shop generates around twenty-five to thirty gold coins daily now. But how the hell am I supposed to score an invite to a top-tier noble banquet? Even if I threw all my savings around, a commoner shopkeeper can’t just buy a ticket.’
As for the mystery rewards, he didn’t stress over the details.
’Question marks might mean a jackpot,’ he mused, looking on the bright side. ’It’s about time the System gave me a huge upgrade.’
Returning his attention to Butler Lee’s obvious distraction attempt, Donape didn’t bother pressing the issue. He simply pointed a thumb upward toward the digital display board.
"Just meat buns and warm coffee," he said flatly.
Ji-Hong and his retainers looked up. Having frequented the establishment, they already knew this unassuming shop tucked away in a quiet residential alley near campus was secretly an ultra-high-end luxury venue.
The prices listed were predictably exorbitant.
Fortunately for the retainers, they served such an extraordinarily prodigal young master—meaning they could enjoy the shop’s benefits without bleeding their own wallets dry.
"Ooh! Give me all of them then, hehe," Ji-Hong said, casually ordering Origins Fountain Water, Spirit-Clearing Dew, Obsidian Roast Coffee, and Spicy Meat Buns without a second thought.
Once his massive order was lined up on the counter, he pointed at the bottled beverages. "Is it okay if I drink these later?"
"It’s fine. So long as you don’t try taking them outside," Donape replied flatly.
"What happens if I take them outside?"
"They teleport back here."
"Oh, okay. In that case, give me nine more Origins Fountain Waters for my subordinates too."
The exchange was absurdly mundane.
Ji-Hong and his retainers had become so thoroughly desensitized to the shopkeeper’s absurdities that even the mention of instant item teleportation failed to raise a single eyebrow.
After finishing their Origins Fountain Water, the nine bodyguards headed into their VR capsules to begin their daily martial arts training. For martial artists of their caliber, there was truly no better training ground than a virtual world that mirrored reality with absolute precision.
Just as the nine capsules sealed shut, the entrance chime chimed once more.
It was Zerke and Jong-Kook arriving right at seven in the morning.
"Hehe. Morning, brat," Jong-Kook greeted, followed by Zerke, who offered a casual wave.
The two were still in high spirits after last night’s lucrative shooting range bet, where the group had walked away with a massive 100,000 BC pot.
Donape had claimed a clean 35,000 BC cut from his initial 10,000 BC wager, while Zerke took 45,000 BC for putting up 60,000 BC, and Jong-Kook took 20,000 BC from his 30,000 BC stake.
Even Donape hadn’t anticipated such a lucrative payout.
"Ooh, something smells incredible in here!" Jong-Kook exclaimed, his nose twitching as the rich, savory aroma caught his attention.
Without hesitation, he and Zerke ordered a cup of Obsidian Roast Coffee and a Spicy Meat Bun each.
Donape hadn’t expected such an enthusiastic reception for his two new menu items.
Previously, the two bottled beverages had proven surprisingly difficult to sell, despite technically offering far superior benefits. It seemed good food and rich coffee were universal motivators.
However, his brief moment of satisfaction was cut short as the entrance chime rang once more.
Two middle-aged men in casual clothing stepped through the door, though their demeanor gave them away immediately.
One appeared stiff and visibly bewildered by the shop’s interior, while the other moved with an eerie, practiced composure.
Yet, beneath that man’s smooth, natural act, Donape’s trained eyes and sharp perception caught it instantly—a faint, lingering trace of bloodlust.