Starting from Night City Chapter 34

Su Xiao could already afford an apartment that cost forty thousand a month.

Yet he was still crammed into his mom's garage, unchanged as ever.

Chapter 34: Thank You, Taro

Su Xiao's rapid rise to wealth made Jack silently steel his resolve even further.

He had to take on big jobs and make big money.

Then change his fate.

So that Misty, his mom, and he himself could move into a place like this as soon as possible.

Just then, the apartment speakers suddenly broadcast the front desk's cold, formulaic voice.

"Dear guests viewing apartments on the twelfth floor, your visiting time has nearly reached thirty minutes. If you do not intend to pay, please take the elevators downstairs and leave in an orderly manner. Continued stay will require an additional payment. Thank you for your cooperation."

"I'll take this place. I'll transfer the money now."

The front desk voice from the speaker immediately turned warm and welcoming.

"Thank you for your payment, Mr. Su. Your temporary visitor access has been changed to resident-only access. During your stay in this apartment, you may report any issues to the front desk at any time, and we will do everything possible to assist you."

"A friendly reminder: monthly rent must be paid no later than the eighth of each month. To avoid any unnecessary unpleasantness, please be sure to take time out of your busy schedule to make payment before the eighth."

"All employees of Simple Realty wish you a pleasant life. Goodbye."

Su Xiao stopped her.

"Wait. Add access for these two friends too. They can come over anytime."

"Certainly, Mr. Su. Please wait a moment while I process that for you."

Jack beamed and lightly punched Su Xiao on the shoulder. "Now that's what friends are for."

"Of course. I wasn't just being polite, Jack. Don't you love drinking? Everything in that wine cabinet is for you and V."

"What about you?"

"You know me. I don't like drinking."

"Then I really won't hold back, hahaha—"

Jack's eyes lit up, and he actually intended to go grab some alcohol right away.

Seeing how determined he looked to drink until he dropped, Su Xiao was genuinely startled.

"Hey, hey, hey, but don't drink too much at once."

"Don't worry. If I dirty your floor, I'll clean it."

"No, the floor's no big deal. I'm just worried Mrs. Wells will get mad at me if she finds out I let you drink too much."

Without turning around, Jack waved a hand.

Su Xiao was speechless.

Did Jack's wave mean he understood?

Or was he telling Su Xiao not to worry?

Jack took a bottle down from the wine cabinet.

Then poured himself a brimming glass.

The intoxicated look on his face made Su Xiao, someone who never drank, completely unable to understand why Jack was so obsessed with alcohol.

"Um, Su."

V parted her cherry-red lips.

She seemed to have some reservations.

It looked like she had some trouble and wanted to ask Su Xiao for help.

But she was too embarrassed to say it.

Acting completely unlike herself, she fidgeted awkwardly.

She was nothing like her usual self.

"That doesn't sound like you, V. Don't you know me by now? If you're in trouble, just tell me."

"Yeah."

V nodded.

After thinking for a moment, she said, "I was wondering... could I borrow some money from you?"

V found it hard to say.

"It's not that I look down on Jack, but you know, in the garage, after all..."

She didn't know how to put it.

Because she felt that no matter how she said it, it would sound a little wrong.

V had only just started, but Su Xiao understood instantly.

Back when the three of them had been crammed into the garage, Su Xiao had been able to understand how V felt.

That was why he had asked Jack to help him find an apartment.

So when V saw the apartment Jack had found for him and wanted to move out too, Su Xiao completely understood.

Not to mention that V was a woman.

She had to be a little particular about these things.

Without another word, a golden glow rose from his Tactical Goggles.

Then, an additional three hundred thousand eurodollars appeared in V's account.

"Wait, that much? No... I don't need that much... I can't take it..."

V frantically tried to transfer the money back to Su Xiao.

Su Xiao refused.

He was working with the Padre now, making Tech Weapons for him every day.

He brought in tens of thousands a day.

A mere three hundred thousand eurodollars...

He did not care about it at all.

"Find yourself a better apartment. If you live comfortably, you'll feel more at ease too. It's already hard enough surviving in this fucked-up Night City. Don't make yourself suffer."

When Su Xiao had been making the AR Glasses, he had seen all of V and Jack's concern and care.

With friends like them, forget three hundred thousand eurodollars...

He would not trade them for billions!

Meanwhile, Jack had already downed several glasses.

He shook the bottle. "This is really good stuff. Su, V, aren't you going to try some?"

Su Xiao stepped forward and patted V's arm while she was still standing there in a daze.

"Come on, don't overthink it. Besides, we need to keep an eye on Jack. We can't let him drink all the liquor by himself, or Mrs. Wells won't let us off."

The next day.

Inside an apartment building somewhere in Watson District.

Max Jones hummed the Tom and Jerry theme.

He picked his favorite tie from the wardrobe and put it on.

After washing up and eating breakfast, he left home.

He got into his car and was just about to head out.

Then he suddenly received a call from an unknown number.

Max hesitated for a moment.

But he still chose to answer.

A rough, unfamiliar voice came from the other end. "Max Jones?"

"This is he. Who am I speaking with?"

"My name is Esteban Ramirez. I heard you work in the media—a real reporter. You write with a conscience. You aren't afraid of danger, and you have principles. You're exactly the kind of person I'm looking for."

As a reporter, Max had an exceptionally sharp nose for news.

He seemed to catch the scent of a major story.

He shuddered instinctively.

"Don't rush. This line isn't encrypted. We'd better talk in person. I'm still worried about the information getting leaked."

After a pause, he added, "Is anyone watching you?"

"Probably not."

Probably?

Max frowned.

"Probably" was not a good word.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Then let's meet at Tom's Restaurant this afternoon."

But the other party refused.

"A crowded place isn't suitable. I have a better idea. I'll send you the coordinates now."

At the same time.

Corporate Plaza, Arasaka Tower.

Counterintelligence Department.

"Director, we intercepted communications from the rogue agent Esteban Ramirez."

"Who was he communicating with?"

"A journalist who specializes in exposing corporate secrets and dirty laundry. They made contact, but Esteban didn't reveal anything. They only arranged to meet this afternoon beneath an overpass in the Northside Industrial District."

"They say a cunning rabbit has three burrows. But even the craftiest rabbit eventually has a moment when it can't hold back."

"Yes. I've already drawn up a list of field agents suitable for the mission."

"Don't send field agents this time. Deploy the Special Assault Unit and eliminate Esteban and all witnesses."

Riddlers, Get Out of Night City

When dawn broke, Su Xiao woke up in the large bed of his apartment in The Glen.

There was no cramped garage, nor any stifling air that made it hard to breathe.

Last night had been the most comfortable sleep Su Xiao had had since arriving in Night City.

But for some reason...

When he woke up and found himself alone in the empty apartment, an inexplicable sense of loneliness rose in his heart.

After washing up, Su Xiao went downstairs, got in his car, and drove to Wolf Bar.

He had originally come to find V and Jack.

But when he arrived, he was told that V and Jack had left early that morning.

"Do you know what they went to do?"

Peppy, standing behind the counter, shook his head.