Chapter 15 Coffee Shop

Feng Bujue was quite quick at finding his way around. The Universal Superhero Alliance wasn't a maze, so he soon arrived at the café on 15th Street in the residential district.

To be honest, if the sign didn't say "Coffee Shop" (written in Universal language, with system-provided translation), Brother Jue would never have guessed what kind of place it was.

Clearly, the coffee shops here in the Universal Superhero Alliance were vastly different from the "quiet and comfortable" establishments Earthlings were familiar with…

When Brother Jue pushed open the door, the first thing that caught his eye was a bar several dozen meters long, shaped like a ring. The bar itself was a fixed tabletop, and right next to the table was a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt carried various snacks and drinks, and customers sitting at the bar could help themselves to whatever they wanted.

"What's going on? Rotating sushi?" Feng Bujue had never seen coffee sold this way before.

In fact, not only was the sales format unlike a coffee shop, but the atmosphere inside was as noisy as a vegetable market… Everyone was chatting loudly and smoking freely (there were thousands of legal tobacco products circulating in this universe, and smokers from different planets got high on different things due to their different physiological structures). Some aliens made astonishingly loud noises while eating (not intentionally).

"Hey! Poker Face~" Just as Brother Jue was in a daze, Foil-Paper Man, sitting eight or nine meters away, waved at him and shouted, "Over here~ I saved you a seat."

"Ah… coming." Feng Bujue followed the voice, saw the other man, and walked over.

Foil-Paper Man was still the same as ever, wearing his incredibly shabby foil-paper armor. As for his appearance… the main difference between them, the "Mud People," and humans was that their eye sockets were particularly large. Other features were very similar.

"Uh… the coffee shops here are so different from the ones I know…" Feng Bujue couldn't help but say as soon as he sat down.

"Haha… a lot of Earth heroes say that when they first arrive," Foil-Paper Man chuckled. "But most of them quickly come to like this 'universal' way of doing business."

As he said this, a charred corpse passed by on the conveyor belt in front of them…

Although Feng Bujue knew it was impolite to look around when talking to someone, he couldn't help but follow the corpse with his eyes…

"Uh…" Brother Jue's mouth twitched. "Did something strange just pass by?"

"Oh, that's a snack for the Eco-People," Foil-Paper Man explained. "Don't worry, it's all pollution-free."

"Eco-People…" Feng Bujue's balls already ached when he heard those words. "Are those the ones with the super-long names who look like zombies?"

"Yeah, that's them," Foil-Paper Man replied. "Have you met any Eco-People before?"

"Wouldn't call it meeting… just saw one during the hero level test…" Feng Bujue replied. "I think his name was… [Front Wheels Don't Turn Back Wheels Do Eat Brains Really Fast Forgot to Bring a Spoon Awkward Spicy Chicken Shreds Hanlin You Weren't Saying That Last Night in Bed and Added a Lot of Special Effects Life is So Short Why Suffer So Much Love Love Love Emotion感动Animal Physics Science Student ABBA Can Revive Hiss Hiss Hiss Hiss Hiss Hiss Hiss Hiss Brain-Eating Man]…"

Brother Jue himself didn't know why he remembered the name so clearly and completely…

"Oh, for an Eco-Person, that's a really short and punchy name," Foil-Paper Man commented after listening.

"Heh… heh heh…" Brother Jue laughed drily, deciding it was better to change the subject. "So… about that hero level test…"

"You don't need to say it," Foil-Paper Man interrupted him. "I know what you're going to say." He smiled. "Hehe… don't worry, the people on the Supreme Council know your real strength." He paused. "Putting you at 'City Level'… was Froggy's idea, kind of an extra test for you."

"Oh~" When Feng Bujue heard the three words "Froggy," he deliberately put on an expression of "sudden realization."

In fact, Brother Jue had already guessed that he was assigned to "City Level" because someone was interfering. And the one with the biggest suspicion in this matter… was naturally Froggy.

However, when Foil-Paper Man brought it up, Feng Bujue chose to play dumb… he wanted to hear what the other man would say next.

"This matter… isn't entirely his idea," Foil-Paper Man continued after two seconds. "Actually… I'm also part of it."

"Oh." Feng Bujue responded with the same word and a completely different tone.

"I hope you don't have any resentment towards Froggy because of this. I understand him very well…" Foil-Paper Man continued. "He's always been like this, taking a pessimistic attitude towards everything. He doesn't intentionally target anyone."

"Yeah, I understand," Feng Bujue said. "I'm that kind of person too." He shrugged. "If I were in his position… I wouldn't easily let a person from another universe, with an unknown origin, immediately occupy a high position in the Universal Superhero Alliance either."

"Haha, that's good," Foil-Paper Man laughed. "Anyway, now that you've proven yourself through a Class B Crisis, our council unanimously believes that you should at least be promoted to the level of 'Galaxy-Level Hero.' Otherwise… it would be too much of a waste of talent." As he said this, he conveniently picked up a plate of food from the conveyor belt in front of him and placed it in front of Brother Jue. "Oh, look! This is what I told you about in the email, a new product."

Feng Bujue stared at the spiral-shaped pile of dung in front of him for a few seconds, then took a sniff…

He smelled a very subtle scent…

"This…" Brother Jue's gaze remained on the "snack" as he said without looking up, "… what is it made of?"

"It's made of fruit from your Earth," Foil-Paper Man had a long lifespan and a great memory, so he knew a lot. "It's the one known as the 'King of Fruits'…"

"Durian?" Feng Bujue interjected.

"Yes, yes, durian," Foil-Paper Man said. "Recently, durian-flavored foods have become very popular in various galaxies. Many planets' governments have begun to try planting it locally, and many interstellar chefs have begun to develop dishes using this ingredient." As he said this, he leaned forward and took a deep breath of the thing. "This unprecedented contrast in smell and taste… is simply irresistible."

"I understand the reasoning…" Brother Jue replied with narrowed eyes. "But what's with the shape?"

"Hmm? What's wrong with the shape?" Foil-Paper Man asked, puzzled. "Isn't this the classic 'ice cream shape'?"

"I see…" Feng Bujue muttered, and then he actually picked up the thing and took a bite.

"How is it? Didn't I lie to you?" Foil-Paper Man immediately asked. "Super awesome, right?"

Feng Bujue didn't answer immediately. His expression… became very complicated.

Because at this moment, he felt some of his perceptions being subverted…

"A foul smell, a shit-like shape, and yet…" Brother Jue thought to himself, "The taste is actually so good…"

After a moment, Feng Bujue swallowed the food in his mouth and looked at Foil-Paper Man with a very serious expression. "The snacks here… are they very expensive?"

"It's okay, even with the income of a City-Level Hero, it's not considered expensive," Foil-Paper Man replied.

"Income?" Feng Bujue seemed to have heard something amazing. "What? So the heroes in our Universal Superhero Alliance get paid?"

"Yeah," Foil-Paper Man replied in a matter-of-fact tone. After saying that, his expression changed slightly, and he continued, "Oh… right, you've been in the Universal Superhero Alliance for less than three universal years, so you don't know yet." As he spoke, he picked up another plate of strange snacks and a drink that looked like lava from the conveyor belt and placed them in front of himself. "Our Universal Superhero Alliance regularly settles 'Hero Points,' with a settlement cycle of every one hundred and sixty-eight universal weeks (approximately equal to one Earth week). In addition to the 'base points' for your hero level, you can get corresponding 'mission points' for each task issued by the alliance that you complete."

"So what are these points used for?" Feng Bujue interjected between mouthfuls of durian-flavored snacks.

"Hero Points can be used as currency in the Universal Superhero Alliance headquarters and all its branches," Foil-Paper Man explained patiently. "After all, our heroes need to eat too… Although our medical care and accommodation are free, and communication and transportation are only charged a very low fee, it's impossible to completely abolish currency. There are still some places where you have to pay, otherwise it would cause a lot of problems."

"Then… the points are useless outside the Universal Superhero Alliance and its affiliated institutions?" Brother Jue asked again.

"Not entirely…" Foil-Paper Man replied. "Many City-Level or Planet-Level Heroes who are permanently stationed on their own planets have real financial difficulties. For these heroes, the alliance usually arranges a 'job to cover their identity' and converts their points into currency that can be circulated on their planets according to their needs." He took a sip of the unknown drink and continued, "As for heroes like you who are permanently stationed at the Universal Superhero Alliance headquarters or branches… you can definitely live a carefree life with points. If one day you want to retire and leave the Universal Superhero Alliance for some reason… mostly because you want to get married and start a family or because you're old and frail… we'll convert all your remaining points into the currency you need and give it to you."

"Oh… I see," Feng Bujue replied, already finishing his plate of snacks.

He didn't take anything else from the conveyor belt because he wasn't sure which things he "could eat," or rather… which things his "Earthling" body could digest.

"Of course, in the end… being a hero isn't a lucrative profession. The point system is just a basic living guarantee provided by the alliance," Foil-Paper Man continued. "In fact, when the Universal Superhero Alliance was first established, we didn't have the concept of 'rewards' at all, nor did we divide 'hero levels' and 'crisis levels.' These systems… were gradually improved in the process of the alliance's development."

"I can imagine… you and Froggy must have faced and solved countless problems and contradictions over the years," Feng Bujue interjected.

"Yeah…" Foil-Paper Man replied wistfully, chewing on a snack. "Many people envy us on the Supreme Council for not having to go out and run around, but they don't understand…"

"It's much easier to be out in the field than to deal with internal affairs," Brother Jue interrupted him, directly saying what Foil-Paper Man wanted to say.

"Hehe… you're indeed a smart person and a reasonable person," Foil-Paper Man laughed. "Poker Face, I have high hopes for you. Maybe one day you'll occupy a place on the Supreme Council."

Most heroes would be a little excited to hear such words.

But Feng Bujue seemed unfazed, simply replying politely in a weak tone, "Ah… I appreciate your kind words."

…………

Feng Bujue and Foil-Paper Man talked in that "coffee shop" for an hour.

During that hour, Brother Jue inquired about a lot of information about the Universal Superhero Alliance and tentatively sampled a few more plates of strange snacks.

Before they parted, Kertas (Foil-Paper Man's name) said that he would immediately go and upgrade Brother Jue's level from "City Level" to "Galaxy Level."

And Feng Bujue said – "I don't care about levels and points. I just want to deal with a few Class A or Class B crises as soon as possible."

Afterward, they parted ways…

Foil-Paper Man went back to work on his official duties, while Feng Bujue returned to the hero dormitory.

"Phew…" After returning to room z250 and closing the door, Brother Jue sighed and muttered, "When I first heard the word 'points,' I thought I'd discovered some kind of cumulative material reward, but… isn't this just a high-level 'ration coupon'?" He sighed and thought to himself, "Ugh… I'd rather just have money…"

Indeed, if Feng Bujue had enough funds (enough here means a lot… or rather, a huge amount), then he would definitely be able to create a career in this universe (such as building his own evil research institution).

Unfortunately, this assumption is not valid for the time being. And Brother Jue doesn't plan to join the villain camp to earn rewards… because, so far, the villainous characters he's encountered in this universe are either idiots or weaklings… it feels like courting death to join them.

"There's no other way. I still have to try to deal with more high-level 'crisis events' as much as possible, so that I can get access to higher-level things…" Feng Bujue thought as he returned to the computer and inserted his ID card. "Let me see… what exactly can a Galaxy-Level Hero do…"