Gearbound: Cyberpunk 2077

Noticing that the girl didn't seem inclined to speak, Leo took the initiative.

"How did you end up in the box?"

"I had nowhere to go. It was these other homeless people who took me in."

"Aren't you local?"

The girl shook her head.

"Don't you know anyone in Night City?"

She shook her head again.

Leo quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind, then walked over and picked up the monomolecular wire that the girl had previously severed on her own. He handed it to her.

"Then come with me—I'll help you."

The girl looked up at him, her eyes filled with surprise and a little waryness.

…

Nightfall gradually descended, and the neon lights began to glow. Leo drove to Kabuki District in the southern part of Watson District.

The foot traffic in Kabuki District was noticeably heavier than that in the northern industrial district. Leo parked his car by the roadside and called the girl to get out. He led her into a roadside restaurant—a place introduced to him by Jack. From the outside, it might have looked no different from the other run-of-the-mill restaurants in Night City, but the owner made exceptionally delicious pizza.

The two of them found a table by the window and sat down. Leo ordered two servings of Wagyu Super Supreme pizza and two plates of chilled cucumber. When it came time to order drinks, Leo looked across at the girl.

"What would you like to drink?"

"Anything," she replied lightly.

Leo scratched his head in exasperation. "Anything is the hardest to choose," he muttered, then turned to the waiter standing by the table. "Another iced cola for me, and a large glass of ice-cold beer, please."

Leo then took out his tablet, logged into "Simple Realty," and began browsing. It wasn't a case of last-minute scrambling—ever since he had asked Jack to help him find an apartment, Leo had often browsed online and had saved a few listings. Now, one of them popped up, and he selected the most suitable option.

The girl sitting across from him had not taken her eyes off him since they sat down. Finally, she couldn't help but ask, "Why are you doing this for me?"

"What?"

Leo looked up. He had been so absorbed in the Simple Realty website that he hadn't caught her question clearly.

Biting her lip, she clarified, "I mean… why are you helping me?"

"It's nothing more than just paying forward a favor."

"A favor?"

The girl looked utterly baffled. Ever since she had gotten into the car, she had been pondering many possibilities—never once had she expected an answer like that.

Leo didn't offer any further explanation. He glanced at her dazed expression and pushed the tablet over to her. "Take a look at this. How does it sound?"

"Japan Street Apartment, located on Japan Street in Westbrook, with a monthly rent of 15,000 euros. It's a bit expensive, but the view is excellent—even the rocket base opposite the city hall is visible."

Apartments in Night City were truly expensive. Even the rundown, motel-like apartments in the northern industrial district cost around 5,000 euros per month. No wonder so many hard-working wage earners in Night City couldn't afford proper apartments—they had to make do with shanties or sleep under overpasses.

"Rocket base?" The words seemed to tug at the girl's heartstrings, stirring her emotions. But when she saw the price displayed on the tablet, her brows furrowed. "Too expensive," she murmured. Fifteen thousand euros a month meant 180,000 euros a year. Although she wasn't even sure if she could manage to stay in Night City for a year.

"I can cover the rent for you for the first three months," Leo offered. Without waiting for her reply, he clicked to purchase on "Simple Realty" and paid three month's rent along with the deposit. Rent might be expensive, but as the saying went, you get what you pay for. 

This Japan Street Apartment boasted a good location, a pleasant environment, and relatively decent security—certainly far better than what one would find in the northern industrial district or the slums.

It wasn't long before the food Leo had ordered was brought out by the waiter. As soon as it arrived, the rich aroma of grease and savory juices filled the air. 

The owner really knew how to make pizza. The Wagyu, baked until the edges curled slightly, was tender with abundant, flavorful juices that melted in your mouth, complemented by carefully selected fresh toppings like premium smoked bacon, chicken thigh, mozzarella cheese, cherry tomatoes, green peppers, and pineapple. 

And not only did the owner excel at making pizza, but he also knew how to do business. In addition to what Leo had ordered, the owner even provided a complimentary bowl of chicken and mushroom soup for both Leo and the girl—a soup so richly flavored and delicious that it was hard to believe.

Since arriving in Night City, the girl hadn't had many proper meals. In the homeless camp where she was taken in, she had eaten only sparingly, and had long since digested whatever little she had.

 She picked up a slice of pizza, took a bite, and then her eyes widened in delight. Yet, as if remembering something, she quickly pulled back her smile. She cautiously looked up and glanced over at Leo, only to see that he was engrossed in his meal while keeping his eyes fixed on his tablet, completely unaware of her presence. Relieved, she let out a small sigh.

They ate the meal in silence. After finishing, Leo wasted no time and took the girl directly to the Japan Street Apartment. While this apartment couldn't compare to his one in the Valley District, it was still quite nice. The space wasn't large, yet it had its own charm—a design in the typical Japanese style, where even a small space was organized meticulously. 

Through the mechanical shutters, one could see the bustling night view of Japan Street as well as the rocket base opposite the city hall. And just as Leo opened the window, a rocket launched, its blazing fire and thick trailing smoke vanishing into the horizon. The girl was utterly mesmerized by the sight.

"I almost forgot—you don't have any money on you, do you?"

Leo transferred 20,000 euros to the girl. "Here, take this money. If you have the means to repay me later, fine; if not, that's okay."

"If everything's alright, then I'll just leave for now."

"By the way, my name is Leo. If you ever run into any trouble, feel free to contact me."

After Leo left, Lucy immediately stood up and inspected every corner of the room, ensuring there were no cameras, bugs, electronic eyes, tracking devices, or anything of the sort.

 Only then did she sit down on the sofa, staring blankly at the sudden 20,000 euros that had appeared in her account. Tentatively, she pressed a button on the room's vending machine. Instantly, 10 euros were deducted from her account, and in return, the machine dispensed a small can of cola. Lucy's eyes lit up. 

The money was real—not fake—and it was usable. As she ran her fingers over the sleek aluminum can, Lucy still couldn't quite believe it. After all, she wasn't a native of Night City.