"Miller! Miller!"
"Sir Wayne! Get out of bed! Let me see if your face is disfigured or not!"
"Hahaha!"
A burst of long-lost rowdiness woke Wayne. He opened his sleepy eyes, the memories of the intense battle from early that morning still fresh in his mind.
Shadow Cloak, Shadowstep... He had clearly traveled to the World of Warcraft in Year 24 of the Dark Portal, which corresponded to Version 1.12 (Level 60). How could a Rogue use skills that players only learned in Version 2.0 (Level 70), after Year 26?
Of course, the actual world of Azeroth wasn't a restricted game version. There were no hard level caps for NPCs to maintain "game balance." Even before the Dark Portal opened, humans like Medivh and Aegwynn possessed power nearing that of demigods. While the general ceiling for most professions was Expert level, it was perfectly logical for a few extraordinary individuals to break through that ceiling and reach Master level.
The green-eyed Rogue from last night was clearly at the Expert level, while the blue-eyed, brown-haired one was a Master-level combatant a tier above.
"Miller! Where the hell are you?"
"Exactly! Who are you sleeping with that you can't get up? Are your legs weak?!"
"Are you too embarrassed to see us because you're disfigured? It's fine! Even if you're ugly, Daddy still loves you!"
"Yeah! Daddy loves you, sonny! Hurry up and get out of bed!"
The shouting outside started up again.
Damn it...
Wayne sprang from his bed, opened the window, and roared:
"All of you! Piss! Off!"
After washing up and changing, he headed toward the net cafe. Despite the insults and teasing, the group shared excited hugs when they met.
De Vries, Verdan, Hicks, Hudson, and their superior, Rainier, the Deputy Commander of the Westbrook Garrison. After the big battle, Wayne had truly been worried about them.
They told Wayne that they had received news of his return yesterday and decided to head over first thing this morning. Rainier, in particular, looked at Wayne with eyes full of approval and admiration. He had been stationed at the Westbrook Garrison during the night of the Gnoll raid and missed the fight, but after hearing his subordinates describe the battle, he felt immense respect for this young man.
Hicks: "Your face is fine, kid. Not even a scar."
De Vries: "Don't you know Miller's skin is as thick as a city wall? Hogger's slap is just an itch to him."
"Hahaha!"
Wayne laughed and gave De Vries a light punch in the stomach.
Hudson: "I just heard—it seems our Miller has a girlfriend now."
The others pretended not to know, making exaggerated "Ooh~?" sounds.
Verdan: "Something like Ginny Tess!"
Wayne thought to himself that it was a good thing the name order was flipped, otherwise he might receive a legal notice. He said, "Stop talking nonsense. The girl has had a hard life. Her name is Tess Greymane."
As the commanding officer, Rainier didn't join in the jokes. Besides, Wayne now held the title of Knight and deserved respect.
Wayne pointed at them: "Are you playing or not? If not, leave."
De Vries: "Miller, give us a discount! We're comrades who faced death together."
Wayne pointed at the wooden sign at the entrance: "Facing death is exactly why I almost lost my life. You want a discount? Follow the rules."
"However," Wayne added, "I have some new good stuff here!"
His words immediately piqued the interest of the five men. They followed him into the net cafe.
Wayne pointed to the fridge and the warming cabinet: "These. You won't find a better drink in the whole world. In another world, this has been the best-selling drink for decades! And this is the essential snack for gaming and movies!"
"One of each for just 1 Gold!"
Verdan: "'Just'? You have the nerve to say 'just'? I think Hogger slapped your brain into a Goblin's!"
Wayne: "Cut the crap. If you buy it, I guarantee my words aren't exaggerated by a single syllable."
Rainier pulled out a gold coin and handed it to Wayne. "I'll try it."
The other four shut up immediately upon seeing their superior speak.
Wayne took the money, opened the fridge, and handed a cold Coke to Rainier. He showed him how to twist the red cap. While Rainier took a sip, Wayne pulled a bag of hot popcorn from the warming cabinet.
Gulp... gulp... Rainier didn't dare take a big gulp at first. He tasted it with the tip of his tongue. It was sweet, but the complex sensation of the bubbles and the chill was strange—completely different from any drink, alcoholic or otherwise, he had ever tasted.
Wayne quickly told him that Coke had to be drunk in large gulps to experience the true thrill.
Rainier followed his advice, taking three large gulps in a row. He couldn't help but open his mouth with a long "Ah!" followed by two burps. After a brief pause, Rainier's eyes lit up. He shouted, "Refreshing! Truly refreshing!"
Wayne then opened the popcorn and handed it to him. The moment the bag opened, a rich aroma filled the room.
"What is this? It smells amazing!"
"I've seen this before—isn't it just corn popped by heat?"
"Does popped corn smell this good? Miller must have a secret recipe!"
The group chattered. Rainier took a small handful and put it in his mouth. Instantly, the outer layer of the popcorn melted. The aroma blended with sweetness, followed by a crisp crunch as he bit down. The heavy, yet not greasy, taste of caramel covered the initial sweetness with a more sophisticated sensation. Finally, as he swallowed, the caramel faded, leaving the warmth and fragrance of grain.
A simple bag of popcorn provided a three-tier progression of flavor!
Rainier said in disbelief, "You can't buy a high-end snack this good in all of Stormwind—no, in the entire Alliance!"
Moreover, the icy chill of the Coke and the warmth of the popcorn stimulated his senses in a complementary way, creating a multi-dimensional experience. Rainier couldn't help but take more sips and another handful of popcorn.
"Good! Truly good!"
Wayne smiled inwardly. Of course. This is a globally recognized combination. Why do you think cinemas all over the world sell Coke and popcorn instead of buns, soy milk, or pizza?
However, Wayne knew this combination made people gain weight easily... but he wasn't going to say that.
De Vries asked Rainier, "Boss, can I have a taste?"
Rainier was generous, but Wayne immediately stopped him: "No! Snacks and drinks cannot be shared. If you want some, pay for your own!"
He picked up a pen and carved Rule Number Five onto the wooden sign:
"Snacks and drinks cannot be shared or taken outside. Prices are listed on the menu inside."
De Vries pointed at Wayne and shook his head. "You really are a damn profiteer."
Hudson: "Alright, Wayne's prices aren't news anymore. Let him introduce that Harry Potter thing to us."