"Hi, I'm V."
"Lucy, a netrunner."
Compared to Alex and Jack's carefree communication, the exchange between Lucy and V seemed much more subdued. But was it really as simple as it appeared on the surface?
V studied Lucy as Alex glanced at Lucy. The short white hair framed Lucy's delicate face perfectly, and her outfit gave off an air of understated confidence. V couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something about Lucy made her feel a sense of unease, even though she couldn't identify why.
While V was focused on Lucy, she, in turn, was looking at her. Although V's skin tone wasn't as pale as Lucy's, it had a healthy, sun-kissed glow that contrasted sharply with the delicate porcelain of Lucy's complexion. Her silver hair and curvy figure, on the other hand, seemed to draw Lucy's attention as well.
"Hey! What are you two beauties talking about?" Jack's voice broke through the moment as he leaned in, grinning widely. "I'm Jack, Jackie Welles, but you can just call me Jack like Alex does."
Jack's attempt at starting a conversation was as brash as usual.
"Lucy," she answered shortly, offering no further elaboration.
Seeing that Lucy wasn't interested in chatting, Jack didn't take offense. Instead, he happily dug into the bowl of ramen the boss had just brought him.
"Oh! This ramen is really good! I didn't expect you to find such a place, Alex."
Alex had assumed Jack was simply looking for somewhere to eat, but the ramen was far better than expected.
"Ahaha, glad you like it," Alex replied.
Jack dug into his noodles with enthusiasm. "Whew! This is amazing! Anyway, where are you planning to live? I saw you transferred a large sum of money just now."
Jack's voice was muffled as he hadn't swallowed his noodles yet, making it sound slightly garbled.
"Can you swallow your food before speaking?" Alex asked, a little speechless. It wasn't like this was an urgent matter after all.
"Well, I'm not sure which place to rent yet. After all, V and I just arrived in Night City," Alex said, glancing at V, who was deep in conversation with Lucy. Alex couldn't help but feel a little confused.
Why were they talking about things like cosmetics and luxury goods in this cyberpunk world? He'd never imagined such topics would come up in this environment, and V and Lucy didn't seem like the type of women who would care much about these things.
"V, what kind of place do you want to live in?" Alex asked, trying to get an answer from her.
Without even looking up from her conversation with Lucy, V waved her hand dismissively. "You decide. Don't interrupt my chat with Lucy."
Alex sighed. He knew better than to argue with her when she was in one of these moods. "Jack, do you know of any good places for rent?"
Jack's eyes lit up, and he was quick to offer a solution. "Oh, of course! I know a few great buyout apartments. You pay upfront for one year, no additional utility bills or electricity charges."
As Jack spoke, a holographic menu appeared in front of Alex, displaying four different options.
---
Option 1: Japan Street Apartment
Rent: 15,000 Eurodollars
Details: Located next to the Cherry Blossom Market, this apartment features two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and an independent bathroom. The view from the window allows you to enjoy the style of the neighborhood.
---
Alex looked at the listing, considering it for a moment. The rent wasn't terrible, but he found the layout too small for his liking. It wasn't ideal for him, but the design felt strangely familiar.
"Damn it, Jack! You just sent me an ad!" Alex said, realizing that Jack hadn't sent him original listings but rather copies of ads he had found elsewhere.
"Hey, don't worry about the details, amigo," Jack grinned. "Just pick the one you like. After all, the money you and V made this time should be enough for a nice apartment."
Alex couldn't help but laugh. Jack wasn't wrong. He had the money now, and he couldn't afford to be too picky.
Alex turned back to the listings and scrolled through the options.
---
Option 2: Corporate Plaza Apartment
Rent: 55,000 Eurodollars
Details: Located next to the Company Square in the city center, this apartment includes one bedroom, a living room, a cloakroom, and an independent bathroom with dry and wet separation. There's also a home bar counter developed by Arasaka Group, with quality assurance.
The apartment is stylish and offers complete security features, making it an ideal home. The view from the bed allows you to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Night City.
---
Alex frowned as he read the description. The rent was absurd for a space that wasn't any bigger than the Japan Street apartment. The only reason for the steep price was its proximity to the Arasaka Tower.
"Forget it," Alex muttered. This place was far too expensive for what it offered.
---
Option 3: Northside Apartment (Buyout)
Cost: 5,000 Eurodollars
Details: Located in the North District, this small apartment includes one bedroom and a living room. While compact, it's practical and comfortable for one person.
---
Alex considered this option, but quickly dismissed it. While the price was appealing, the space was simply too small for both him and V to live in comfortably. It wasn't practical.
---
Option 4: The Glen Apartment (Buyout)
Cost: 40,000 Eurodollars
Details: Located in the Heywood district, this two-story apartment offers a lower floor for living and an upper floor for sleeping. The apartment features a unique industrial design with exposed metal textures. It has plenty of space and is equipped with all the necessary facilities.
---
This one seemed like a good fit. The space was large, the price was reasonable, and the location wasn't too far from other important areas in the city.
"That's the one—the Glen apartment, Jack," Alex said, making up his mind.
Without hesitation, he signed the electronic contract that appeared before him. The words "-40,000" flashed in the lower corner of his vision.
Alex winced slightly at the amount, but it was worth it. He had secured a good place to stay, and that felt like a small victory in itself.
---
"So, which one did you choose?" Jack asked, his mouth finally empty of noodles.
"The Glen apartment," Alex replied, giving him a nod.
Jack grinned. "Great choice! It's got character."
Alex looked at V and Lucy. "All set. Are you guys done with your conversation?"
V looked up from her chat with Lucy and raised an eyebrow. "About time. Let's check out your new place."
Lucy nodded, giving Alex an approving glance. "It should be fine."
---
When they arrived at the Glen apartment, Alex was immediately impressed. The industrial design was a pleasant surprise—exposed pipes and steel beams gave the place an edgy, rugged feel. The two-story layout made it seem even more spacious, and the view of the Heywood streets added to the charm of the place.
"This is nice," V commented, clearly satisfied with the choice.
Lucy seemed more focused on the practical side of things. "It's functional."
Jack slapped Alex on the back. "See? Told you it was a good pick!"
Alex smiled. For the first time since arriving in Night City, he felt like he had a place to call his own. It wasn't just a temporary shelter—it was a starting point.
Now, all he had to do was make sure he survived long enough to make the most of it.