9:00 PM.
Jack had kicked back for a while, but now it was time to head home.
After they exchanged contacts, Leo casually asked,
"Hey, forgot to grab Misty's number earlier. Think you can send it my way?"
Jack didn't hesitate, tapping away on his holo-screen. Only when the number was sent did suspicion flicker across his face.
"Wait a second… You into Misty?"
Leo almost laughed at his dramatic shift in tone.
"Nah, she's a sweetheart, but not my type. Honestly? You two would make a good match."
Jack instantly averted his gaze, his bravado crumbling. Clearly, the man hadn't fully confronted his own feelings. Attempting to regain his composure, he quickly changed the subject.
"Ahem… So, what is your type? I'm at the bar every night, y'know. Could keep an eye out."
Leo's mind flashed to her.
V—the human hurricane, the rogue merc whose fire refused to be snuffed out.
"I like them strong," Leo replied. "Someone who'll fight alongside me, ride through the storm and never back down. Fierce, relentless… a partner through hell and back."
Jack's grin grew wider.
"Ahh, I get it. You want a Heywood Woman."
"A Heywood Woman?"
"Yep. Tough as nails. Loyal as hell. The type to storm a gunfight with the boys, no questions asked." He winked. "But careful, Leo. If you're not the stronger one, she'll ride you 'til you break."
Jack let out a booming laugh, the sound echoing through the room as he waved goodbye. The door sealed shut behind him.
Silence. Just Leo, alone in his new apartment.
He exhaled, shoulders slumping.
Thirty hours… Finally, a secure space. No looming threats. No shadowed figures.
[Shironeko—you there?]
[Always, Father. I've established a perimeter. No external threats detected. No breaches. You are completely secure.]
[Good. Any updates on the relay station?]
[Still decrypting the Singularity's data. But there's something else—a discovery I believe you'll find… intriguing.]
Leo's brow furrowed.
[Go on.]
[The relay station is capable of storing and transporting physical objects between worlds.]
Leo froze.
[Wait. You're telling me I can… bring stuff with me? From this world to another?]
[That is correct. Within limits.]
For a moment, he didn't react. Then the realization struck like a bolt of lightning.
Interdimensional trade.
Two worlds. Vast technological disparities. Opposite demands. Supply chains shattered by the rules of reality itself. And he stood at the nexus…
The sheer profits…
Sell Night City's bleeding-edge tech to Gotham. Sell Gotham's organic luxuries back to Night City. Rinse and repeat.
[There's a catch, isn't there?]
[Indeed. Storage space is currently limited to the size of the relay station's server room: approximately 60 square meters with a 4-meter ceiling. Factor in existing equipment, and you're left with around 100 cubic meters of usable space.]
[Enough for a good haul, but no Basilisk tanks or combat AVs, huh?]
[Correct. However, with proper investment, I can gradually expand the relay station's capacity.]
[You want more servers.]
[Precisely. Increased processing power will accelerate both storage expansion and data decryption.]
Leo grinned.
[We'll make it happen.]
After draining a glass of water, Leo collapsed onto the couch, mind churning.
Step One: Establish himself as a fixer. Control the cash flow. Gain influence.
Step Two: Form a squad. Not just any squad—a team of legends.
Step Three: Steal the Relic biochip.
Not the cursed one with Johnny Silverhand's ghost screaming in his head. Just the tech. The true prize was Arasaka's research—the key to immortality.
But that required specialists. Hackers. Runners. Muscle.
He needed names.
Opening his terminal, Leo began assembling a list:
- Gold Tier (Elite Operators)
V, The Reaper of NC
Jack Welles
David Martinez
- Silver Tier (Seasoned Operators)
Maine and his Crew
- Netrunners
Lucy
Kiwi
- Ripperdocs
Viktor Vektor
- Technical Support
Judy Alvarez
Panam Palmer
- AI Assets
Shironeko
The roster was airtight. Mercenaries, hackers, mechanics—everything he'd need to shake the city to its core. No wasted slots.
Leo's role? The bankroll. The puppeteer pulling strings.
He wouldn't be the one taking bullets. He'd be the one paying the people who did.
And in Night City, money talked.
"And I'll be the mysterious international student… and a wealthy fixer."
Leo smirked.
Perfect.
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