Dimensional Storekeeper

Chapter 201: New Room Dropped, It’s Got Balls!

Yan Shu’er shuffled over to the counter, hugging the noodle cup to her chest.

Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a small crystal and set it on the counter.

Hao didn’t need to ask.

That crystal could only have come from Yan Zhi’s pay.

Without waiting for a word from Hao, Yan Shu’er darted over to the water dispenser. Carefully peeling back the lid while the steam hissed up from the spout.

Her older brother had already taught her how to make it properly. She was finally getting to try it herself, and from the way her hands were shaking slightly, she might’ve been more excited than she’d ever admit.

Meanwhile, Hao turned his gaze toward the new section of the store. He walked toward the archway and stepped through.

The room was more spacious than it looked from the outside.

The lighting was mellow, not too bright. Cleanly built wooden flooring stretched across the space, and on each side of the walls were sleek black chairs – the kind with hidden armrests and a silver lever that let you raise or lower the height.

Some were already slightly tilted back, giving them a laid-back, lounge feel.

In the center of the room stood the main attraction.

A full-sized billiards table, rectangular and smooth, with deep walnut wood panels and silver trim around the edges.

The surface was covered in soft green felt, clean and untouched, stretching smooth and flat across the top.

The corners were fitted with dark leather pockets, and a rack – the triangle-shaped frame – was already set in place, holding a neat formation of eight solid balls arranged together tightly.

The white cue ball sat off to the side, as if waiting for someone to pick it up.

Hao approached closer.

His fingers brushed along the edge of the table, then slid across the green felt in the center.

Soft. Slightly fuzzy. Satisfyingly smooth beneath his hand.

He let out a quiet breath.

“…Not bad.”

He gave the table one last swipe with his palm, then turned his gaze around the room.

‘System, where’s the cue at?’

[It’s on the side corner, host. It’s a cue dispenser. Just place your hands on the hollow section, and a cue will pop out from the top.]

Does the system have some kind of dispenser obsession or something? At this point, the system might as well marry one.

Hao’s eyes landed on something tucked into the corner.

It didn’t stand out at all.

A tall, narrow black structure – almost decorative in how plain it looked.

There was an open vertical slot at the front, long and just wide enough to fit both hands side by side. The inside was hollow but not deep, smooth to the touch and dark in color.

Up top, a small circular opening sat near the center, barely noticeable unless one was really looking.

Hao stepped over and glanced up into the hole, curiosity faint in his eyes.

‘Alright. Let’s try it.’

He placed both hands onto the hollow section.

There was a soft mechanical sound.

In the next instant, a cue stick rose smoothly from the hole at the top, presented with just the right speed – neither slow nor flashy.

Hao caught it with one hand, testing the balance.

No carvings. No patterns.

Just a clean, perfectly crafted standard cue stick, polished with a subtle sheen and an excellent grip.

He turned it over, ran his fingers along the wood.

Then, just to test, he held it in both hands and gave it a sharp bend with his full strength.

Not even a creak.

‘…Of course.’

It didn’t feel heavy. It didn’t feel special.

But Hao knew – if the system made it, then it probably wouldn’t break even if someone smashed it against a legendary beast skull.

Unbreakable quality, disguised in the form of a regular stick.

‘That’s so extra.’ Hao thought, flicking the cue lightly into the air before catching it again.

He smirked. ‘I like it.’

Hao leaned over and grabbed the triangle rack that neatly held the balls in place.

He lifted it smoothly.

But the moment it rose above the edge of the table –

Poof.

It vanished cleanly from his hands like it never existed.

Hao stared at his now-empty fingers.

He opened his mouth.

Closed it.

Nodded to himself.

“…Alright then.”

Hao reached for the white cue ball and placed it behind the headstring, that imaginary line near the front of the table used for the break. Standard starting spot – more or less.

He wasn’t about to pretend he was a pro at this.

Left hand flat on the table, he made a bridge with his fingers. His thumb and index formed a small tunnel, just enough space to guide the cue.

The stick rested smoothly between them.

He adjusted it slightly.

Inch forward.

Inch back.

Feeling the weight. The balance.

How the smooth tip aligned with the white surface.

It had been a long, long time since he last played.

His body still remembered the motion, but he could feel the stiffness in his angle.

Alright, nothing fancy. Just test it first.

He pulled back and let the cue slide forward with a soft thunk, just enough force to send the white ball rolling into the racked formation.

Clack!

Two balls shot out.

One rolled smoothly into the left corner pocket.

Another bounced off the side and hovered near the edge.

One solid. One striped.

Hao raised his eyebrows.

“Well, well…”

He stood up straight, casually spinning the cue stick in one hand.

Then glanced at the ceiling.

‘Hey system. You saw that, right?’

‘I still got it. Might start a championship in here or something.’

No response.

Hao scoffed. ‘Jealousy is ugly, y’know.’

Slllhrrp!

A loud slurp sounded from the entryway.

“Mmmf-sllrp~”

Hao turned his head.

Standing at the entrance, holding her cup of instant noodles in both hands, was Yan Shu’er.

Her mouth was still half-attached to the noodles, lips slightly reddened from the heat, eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

She didn’t even try to hide the fact that she was eating mid-walk. She pulled the noodles away with a loud suck of breath and wiped her mouth with her sleeve.

“…I wasn’t spying.” Yan Shu’er said immediately, which absolutely meant she was.

Hao raised an eyebrow.

“I didn’t say anything.”

The truth was, Yan Shu’er just couldn’t help herself.

She was hungry.

She was curious.

And trying to fight both at the same time was basically asking her not to breathe.

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