Owen graciously opened the coffee shop's door and invited Laila inside.
Upon entering the coffee shop, the warmth that engulfed her instantly dispelled the cold that had surrounded her outside. What greeted Laila inside was exactly what she expected: posters, images, props of various comic book characters, and neatly arranged comic books. If it weren't for the fact that the moment she stepped inside, all conversations ceased, this place would be perfect for reading comics.
"Laila, come over here," Owen proudly beckoned her to a nearby seat, as if he were a victorious hero, and he flashed a smug smile at the onlookers.
"Thank you," Laila replied, then leisurely surveyed her surroundings.
The coffee shop wasn't very large, with about ten square tables. The back three tables were occupied by a dozen or so people, each of them holding comic books and seemingly engaged in a discussion. However, their conversation came to a halt when Laila entered, and they stared at her and Owen as if they had just seen extraterrestrial beings.
Perhaps it was a coincidence, but aside from Laila, the shop was filled with only men, including the owner. Maybe that's why she was attracting so much attention.
A different girl might have been intimidated by so many people staring at her, but Laila? Who was she? She had faced more aggressive reporters with composure, so how could these young people frighten her?
"Is there something wrong with me?" she playfully asked Owen. Due to the relatively quiet atmosphere in the café, even though she didn't intentionally raise her voice, everyone in the shop could hear her.
As expected, after she spoke, the people at the three tables behind them all hid their faces behind their comic books, pretending not to see her.
Owen glanced in their direction and quickly said, "No, no! It's just that those folks haven't seen a girl here in a long time, so they're curious. But please believe me, the coffee here is absolutely the best in the world." He said this and gestured toward the counter, receiving a similar gesture in response from the owner.
Laila guessed that it was probably a gesture associated with a character from comics, but she had only learned about superheroes from movies and cartoons. She didn't know the meaning behind their gestures.
"Do you have any recommendations?" She was genuinely interested in Owen's claim of having the world's best coffee. Even though she wasn't a coffee enthusiast, the prospect of savoring a delicious cup could make this wonderful afternoon even more memorable.
"I highly recommend the Batman Super Cup and the Fantastic Four Flame Cup. You can give them a try," Owen eagerly suggested.
Laila, not quite sure what he was talking about, chose the Batman Super Cup. The cup's handle was shaped like Batman, and the coffee inside was crafted with a silhouette of Batman made from milk.
As for Owen, he most likely had the Fantastic Four Flame Cup, which Laila thought should be called the Royal Coffee. It involved placing a sugar cube on a spoon, dripping a few drops of brandy on top, and igniting it to create a beautiful blue flame.
Perhaps because of the character the cup was named after, the coffee came with such a name.
Laila thought this was a very innovative concept and one worth considering for a theme park. At least she found this kind of coffee fun, and she wouldn't mind ordering a cup.
"Give it a try!" Owen eagerly watched her.
Laila took a sip, and after tasting it, she said, "It's really good."
This was an honest assessment. The coffee was indeed rich and aromatic, indicating that the owner had put effort into it, rather than relying solely on comic-themed gimmicks to attract customers.
Owen made a triumphant gesture toward the owner and smiled happily.
Laila looked at his coffee and asked, "Do you like the Fantastic Four?"
"Well, my favorite is actually Spider-Man," Owen lowered his voice and whispered, "but I wouldn't want to see a spider, even a sugar spider, in my coffee."
Laila shuddered at the mental image he described, and she certainly wouldn't want to see a spider shape in her coffee either.
After discussing coffee for a while, Laila naturally steered the conversation toward what she wanted to know, "If these were made into movies, which one do you think would be better suited for the big screen?"
"Oh, you've brought up an exciting possibility," Owen shrugged. "We've had Batman and Superman before, and they worked out okay because they were relatively easier to portray. But Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four? Do you think today's technology can capture their amazing abilities? How do you film Spider-Man swinging around, or the Human Torch engulfed in flames? Not to mention the others."
Superheroes all had their unique abilities, and while Batman's portrayal might be relatively straightforward, his gadgets and strength, bringing out the full potential of other heroes would require substantial special effects support.
Laila knew the trends of the future and understood how much box office potential superheroes held on the big screen. She had been reborn with memories of the future, and she was definitely not uninterested in this. She was not only interested but also wanted to take a big share of the profit from it.