Fresh from his banquet at Qunyu Pavilion, Liam settled into the cafe's quiet night, his mind buzzing with plans to upgrade the cramped space that had strained under Liyue's eager crowds.
With only twenty computers, the daily queues stretched long, the three-hour limit barely denting the demand, leaving many to watch rather than play—a thin harvest of emotional points.
Those who merely spectated offered scraps compared to the flood of frustration, fear, and triumph pouring from players, a disparity that drove his next move with urgent clarity.
He tapped into his system, sinking 5,000 emotional points into the first upgrade, and in a blink, the cafe's interior swelled, its modest shell stretching to house fifty machines without swallowing the neighboring shops.
Thirty new stations blinked to life, a modest leap toward a proper Internet cafe's scale, easing the crush while keeping the storefront's humble facade intact.
With over 2,000 points left, Liam eyed the lottery for new content—games or films—its rules a gamble: 1,000 points started the draw, but more risked bigger rewards, from indie oddities to masterpieces.
His remaining stash might snag another quirky trifle like Dig to Ascend, a slim chance at glory, yet he weighed the odds—stinginess won no prizes, and he needed fresh bait.
He tossed in 1,000 points, the system whirring before chiming, "Congratulations, you've won a video: Boss Hu Tao Teases Employee Zhongli," a title that quirked his brow with mischief.
"A fan-made skit?" he mused, firing up the counter's new player to watch, the short clip unfolding with a cheeky flair that drew a smirk—he couldn't wait for Hu Tao and Zhongli's reactions.
He shut it off, chuckling at the thought of tomorrow's chaos, then wagered his last 1,000 points, the system pinging again: "Congratulations, you've won Super Mario," a name that hit like a nostalgic thunderbolt.
"Mario!" he gasped, clicking it open, the pixelated plumber and his chestnut foes flooding his screen, yanking him back to childhood days on a clunky Little Overlord console.
The original FC version stared back, its blocky charm unchanged, stirring memories of sneaking to friends' houses—his own family too strict to buy him the coveted machine—earning scoldings for his trouble.
This classic would launch tomorrow, its gentler difficulty a balm beside Dig to Ascend's grind and Silent Hill's dread, a perfect hook for newbies and veterans alike.
With the upgrades set, Liam called it a night, the cafe's hum fading as he rested, his Dante-enhanced stamina no match for a stubborn love of late mornings.
Eight o'clock rolled around, and he flung the doors wide, greeted by a restless throng who grumbled at his tardiness before spilling in—and freezing at the sight of the expanded lair.
The space had ballooned overnight, fifty machines now gleaming where twenty once stood, yet the fabric shop next door hummed on, untouched by the cafe's mysterious growth.
"Did I dream this? How'd it double?" one stammered, while another darted outside, "The shop's still there—what sorcery is this?" their confusion buzzing through the air.
"Immortal arts!" a third declared, "I've heard of spells crafting pocket realms—Boss Liam's no mortal, that's for sure!" their awe cementing his enigma in Liyue's gossip mill.
Shock gave way to action, the crowd surging to pay and claim seats, the new four-hour limit—still tight with fifty rigs—easing yesterday's squeeze as they fired up the machines.
Fresh icons glowed onscreen: Super Mario and a video player, the latter flaunting "Boss Hu Tao Teases Employee Zhongli," a lure that snagged every eye in the room.
Right on cue, Hu Tao burst in, her voice a bright trill, "Well, look at this place!" her wide eyes drinking in the change, Tartaglia trailing with a stunned nod.
Zhongli followed, unruffled as ever, his calm a granite anchor amid their shock—he'd expected such tricks from Liam, a guest of his own subtle endorsement.
Tartaglia, newly cozying up to Zhongli for forbidden lore on the Baiwu Taboo, flexed his Fatui wealth, splashing Mora to snag three prime spots for himself, Hu Tao, and the Geo sage.
He'd roped them in with coin and charm, a shortcut to bond over games, and as they logged in, the trio zeroed in on the video player's taunting title with eager clicks.
Hu Tao dove in first, her grin wicked as the skit rolled, Zhongli joining with a curious tilt of his head, both poised to see how this "Boss Hu Tao" toyed with her "employee."
Liam watched from the counter, his system purring as the crowd's gasps and Tartaglia's lingering grit from yesterday mingled with this new spark of anticipation.
The cafe pulsed with life, its expanded shell now a stage for Mario's leaps and Hu Tao's giggles, each click and cheer a thread in Liam's growing tapestry of emotion.
Fifty machines hummed, a modest empire born from 7,000 points, and with Zhongli, Hu Tao, and Tartaglia hooked, tomorrow's harvest promised to dwarf even that rich yield.
This wasn't just an upgrade—it was a foothold, and Liam leaned back, savoring the chaos of a Teyvat morning lit by pixel plumbers and playful jabs.
***
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