Chapter 75: Rewriting Real World Laws

Mislaine hadn’t reached the apex of the global underground as the Chairwoman of Babylon by relying on simple brute force.

She had survived at the very top because her instincts and decision-making were almost supernatural—guided by a razor-sharp, ingrained habit of instantly discerning what was right and what was dangerously out of place.

Her surrounding awareness wasn’t like that of a common martial artist. Hers was vastly superior because it wasn’t merely honed through grueling training—it was an innate, god-given gift.

In terms of raw sensory fidelity, her sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell were second only to the most advanced military detection technology produced in the Starfall Federation.

Because of that hyper-attunement, the moment she crossed the threshold, she could tell the shop’s interior was vast in a completely unnatural way.

A violent storm surged within her heart. Every logical thread of reality told her such spatial manipulation couldn’t possibly exist, yet her innate senses screamed back at her that the spatial expansion was entirely real.

Before the shock could subside or the logical turmoil in her mind could settle, Donape’s sudden appearance added another layer of quiet terror. Though the young man emitted zero murderous intent and no intimidating aura whatsoever, her instincts blared that he was a terrifyingly dangerous variable.

Right now, Mislaine was fighting with every ounce of her willpower just to control her body, as her innate sensory array spiraled into complete, chaotic error.

"Are you alright, Miss?" Ga-Eun asked gently, reaching out to cup Mislaine’s trembling hand.

The simple, warm touch was surprisingly effective, acting like a grounding rod for Mislaine’s frayed nerves.

Mislaine blinked, her vision refocusing as she swept her eyes across the serene interior once more. To her utter surprise, the overwhelming dread and sensory disorientation began to melt away, leaving her calm once again.

’Right. I need to calm down. This place clearly radiates a serene, tranquil vibe. I can tell it’s safe...’ She took a deep breath, settling onto a stool at the counter.

"How may I help you today, Miss?" Ga-Eun asked warmly from behind the register.

"What exactly is the nature of your shop?" Mislaine inquired, taking in the serene atmosphere.

"Origins VR Cafe operates similarly to a standard internet cafe," Ga-Eun explained cheerfully. "The main difference is... our technology is light-years beyond anything else in the world. Beyond simply making virtual reality feel 100% real, our shop specializes in making the impossible possible."

That specific pitch had actually been suggested by Irene.

Knowing that no country or megacorporation on earth could match Origins VR Cafe’s simulation tech, Irene had advised Ga-Eun to lead with their overwhelming technological superiority—before subtly introducing Donape’s favorite tagline about bringing magic to life.

In truth, Irene secretly felt that if this shop kept pushing the boundaries of reality, even bringing the dead back to life wouldn’t remain a pipe dream for long.

"Ah, I see," Mislaine chuckled softly.

On the surface, her reaction was lighthearted, but inwardly, she dismissed the claim as mere commercial propaganda designed to hook gullible customers.

Just then, Donape stepped out from the bathroom. Ever since the shop’s upgrade, the walk from the back corridor had grown considerably longer, though finding his way was simple enough. He walked up to the counter, still drying his face after brushing his teeth.

"Why not start with a glass of Spirit-Clearing Dew or an Obsidian Roast Coffee?" Donape offered casually, gesturing toward the digital menu board mounted above the counter. "It’s great for alleviating nervousness or anxiety after the surprise of seeing spatial expansion."

Amused, Mislaine rested her chin on her hand. "And who might you be? The owner of this establishment?"

"Nope! The real owner is the Godly System of the Universe!" Donape proclaimed, tossing out a fake compliment to the System while simultaneously telling his customer the absolute truth.

Whether she believed it or not? He couldn’t care less.

Mislaine let out a soft, lovely laugh, her eyes glinting with amusement.

’What an absurd place,’ she thought, taking in Donape’s completely unbothered posture. ’It is capable of radiating an underlying uneasiness—yet wears the peaceful mask of a cozy neighborhood cafe. Is this place truly overthrowing logic?’

Standing nearby, Si-Yeon’s party overheard the entire conversation and silently agreed with Mislaine’s assessment of the shop’s sheer absurdity.

In truth, only Zerke, Jong-Kook, and Ga-Eun fully believed Donape’s wild claims about the System, no matter how far beyond human logic they sounded.

Meanwhile, the five range members accompanying Zerke and Jong-Kook didn’t register the conversation at all. They were entirely too busy stealing discreet glances at Mislaine.

Even with Si-Yeon’s ethereal grace to their left and Ga-Eun’s bright presence at the counter—both possessing undeniably flawless, transformed beauty—neither possessed the dangerous, mature allure radiating from the blonde chairwoman.

Mortified by his friends’ shameless gawking, Jong-Kook cleared his throat loudly.

"Ahem! Ga-Eun, we’ll take seven Obsidian Roast Coffees, please."

"Right away!" Ga-Eun accepted the order and retrieved seven warm cups from the special refrigerator behind the counter.

It was a truly fascinating device. Every single time an order was placed, the exact number of freshly prepared cups appeared inside, as though the machine itself heard the customer’s voice and materialized the beverage on command.

Surrounded by such daily anomalies, Ga-Eun had become an absolute believer in the shop’s ability to turn magic into reality.

Moments later, Si-Yeon stepped forward as well. "Four Obsidian Roast Coffees, please."

Ordering that specific brew had become an unbreakable habit for almost all the customers who visited the cafe more than once.

It offered far more than a rich, deeply aromatic dark roast with a velvety smooth finish—it actively induced a profound state of mental stillness, soothing fatigued nerves and sharpening focus.

Watching the regulars take their cups, Mislaine decided to order an Obsidian Roast Coffee for herself.

She was already well aware of the shop’s pricing structure before her visit. While it was somewhat steep compared to standard refreshments in the Starfall Federation, money was the least of her concerns.

When the warm liquid touched her tongue, however, Mislaine paused.

The rich, velvety dark roast didn’t just match its high price tag—it was criminally undervalued. As the liquid descended, a soothing wave washed over her nervous system, dissolving her lingering sensory fatigue. She found herself admiring the brew sincerely from the bottom of her heart.

Meanwhile, the five range members brought by Zerke and Jong-Kook were equally floored by their first sips. Not only was it scrumptious, but they no longer bothered to gawk at Mislaine as their minds were rendered completely calm and centered.

"Wanna join us for a squad match in Counter-Injustice, kid?" Jong-Kook offered with a grin.

"Forgive my impudence, sir, but I’ll have to pass today," Donape replied politely. "I’m almost at the end of the main storyline for The Path of the Heavenly Martial Arts 2. I’m dedicating all my time to finishing it—probably another day or two at most. Once I clear it, I’ll join you for some casual matches before moving on to the new title."

"No worries, clear your main quest first," Zerke said with a wave of his hand. "We’ll catch up later."

"Thank you, sir. Good luck out there, and have fun," Donape cheered them off.

As the seven shooters from One Bullet finished their drinks and filed into the VR Capsules, Mislaine’s sharp eyes tracked their every movement.

Because the toggle feature to turn off the external monitors wasn’t available yet, the clear glass lids of the capsules projected live tactical feeds of the players inside Counter-Injustice.

"Are you truly certain this machine can mirror reality so seamlessly?" Mislaine murmured, watching the hyper-realistic military combat unfolding on the display screens.

"Yes, Miss," Ga-Eun answered brightly. "Watching it from the outside might make it look like a high-end PC or console title, but once you step inside the pod, you realize the virtual space is no longer an illusion—it’s completely real."

Meanwhile, as Donape turned to head toward the capsule behind his counter, Si-Yeon stepped into his path, intercepting him.

"What is so special about the second installment?" Si-Yeon asked, her brow slightly furrowed.

She had yet to clear the first part of The Path of the Heavenly Martial Arts, but she was deeply curious about Donape’s stubbornness. He had been so obsessed with grinding Part 2 that he had practically never appeared for the past several days.

"Ah, right. You’re Ji-Hong’s cousin, aren’t you?" Donape said, finally remembering her face from the birthday banquet last week. "Since you’re from a martial lineage, you’ll appreciate this. Here’s a little guide for you: in Season 2, there’s a rare consumable potion called the Qi Tempering Elixir."

"If you consume it inside the game, the benefits carry straight over to your real body. What does that mean? It means you can actually cultivate and gather internal energy inside your dantian—what the old legends call Qi."

Si-Yeon’s breath hitched, her forehead knotting in a sharp frown.

It wasn’t because Donape casually recognized her family ties, but the sheer absurdity of the claim. She had already accepted that the VR capsules could transfer accumulated combat muscle memory and tactical experience without real-world fatal consequences. She treated it as an ultimate, high-efficiency training ground.

However, the physical manifestation of Qi—internal energy created out of thin air through a game item—was something her logical, trained mind struggled to digest. Yet, she couldn’t dismiss it as a lie. That was the very reason she kept returning to this shop, even while executing her covert probe.

"Of course, it isn’t quite as simple as drinking it," Donape added nonchalantly, resting his hand on his capsule door. "It all depends on the in-game synchronization rate."