From Gotham to Night City, my infamy is known to all.

Jack tapped the touchscreen and continued, "Someone like you is suited to live in the Civic Center or the Company Square area. For a slightly less desirable option, you could go to the Haywood district, which is Valentino's territory, and my family's bar is there too."

Leo knew that Jack used to be in the Valentino gang, but he couldn't say it directly, so he asked knowingly, "Valentino gang, Jack, judging from your size and presence, you're not a gang leader, are you?"

“Of course!” Jack proudly raised his chin, then paused, “But that’s all in the past. I’ve left the gang and am a free man now.”

"However, my old buddies are still in the gang, and they're pretty well-known in the Heywood area. They'll be more than enough to protect you."

“Then I’ll have to rely on you.” Leo quickly finalized the route. “Let’s go to the Haywood district. I’ll use your navigation to see if there are any suitable apartments nearby.”

"Then let's walk!"

Jack started the car, drove onto the main road, and headed towards the Heywood area.

When the view was clear, Leo also took the opportunity to glance at the super building "Anthill" and felt a little regretful that he couldn't be neighbors with the famous V.

Heading south, after crossing the sea bridge, you enter the municipal center of Night City.

The skyscrapers here are more magnificent, and many cool sports cars are on the road. Even the pedestrians look much more glamorous than those in Watson District.

"Look to the left, and there lies the heart of Night City—Company Square. A place that countless people yearn for and countless people hate."

Jack acted as the tour guide, chatting as he drove.

Leo enjoyed this leisurely stroll with his good buddy, and what pleased him even more was that he managed to find something good from his hazy memories.

There is a luxury apartment in the Haywood Valley area that will be available for purchase by V in the future.

Now—it's his!

"Jack, I found a nice-looking apartment. Let's go check it out."

Jack glanced at the navigation and raised an eyebrow. "Luxury apartment, buyout in one go... 4 euros!?"

"...Wow, impressive, no wonder they're rich."

With money to pave the way, everything will naturally go smoothly.

Leo successfully rented the apartment and took Jack, who wanted to "broaden his horizons," into the elevator.

"Look at this, Leo."

Jack pointed to the graffiti in the elevator.

"This is the symbol of the Valentino gang, indicating that this place is under their protection."

Leo nodded. As soon as he entered the elevator, he saw it—a V-shaped graffiti surrounded by two skulls, with lifelike roses below the V, giving it a rather gothic aesthetic.

The apartment is on the twelfth floor and requires an electronic access card to enter.

Ding.

The elevator doors opened, and there was another security gate behind them.

Once fully opened, it reveals his luxurious apartment.

The large, single-story building with floor-to-ceiling windows gives it a spacious feel at first glance, followed by a strong industrial style.

"Office area, weapons storage, big sofa, big TV, wow... there's even a bar and a pool table, this is a great place. When I'm rich, I'll have to rent an apartment like this."

While Jack was wandering around on the first floor, Leo went to check out the second floor.

This is a duplex apartment with two floors. The lower floor is a leisure and entertainment area, while the upper floor has a rest area, a bathroom, and a small bookshelf with only a few books.

Very good, really very good.

Although the industrial style makes it seem a bit deserted, it is highly functional, with a large open space on the first floor available for other uses.

After getting familiar with his new home, he walked down the stairs and saw Jack walking towards him.

"Hey bro, this place's nice, not too far from my bar. Let's add each other as contacts, I'll give you the coordinates, remember to come over to Wild Wolf for a drink sometime."

But you shouldn't go out at night; you're easily robbed.

"Yeah, that's why I need a reliable bodyguard. Seriously, Jack, bro, are you in? The price's negotiable!"

Leo looked at him with expectant eyes.

Jack, a reliable, capable, and intimidating friend, is his best bodyguard choice besides V-Shock.

He always felt that Jack's potential was much greater than that, but he left the game too early, which is why he didn't become a legend like V.

Upon hearing the job offer, Jack seemed somewhat tempted, but after a moment's hesitation, he politely declined, saying, "Not now. It's not that I don't want to help you, but I'm still injured myself. I need to be fully recovered before I can take on the bodyguard job."

"What should we do?" Leo was at a loss, starting to think of a roundabout way to find out about V's situation, wondering if Jack and V knew each other anymore...

Jack scratched his head and thought for a moment, "How about this, you settle in first, and come to the Wild Wolf Bar to find me when you're free during the day. I'll help you find a suitable bodyguard."

Leo slowly nodded. He remembered that the legendary lives of Street Kid V and Company V both started at the Wild Wolf Bar, so staking out there seemed like a good option.

Nobody: Chapter Seventeen: The Mysterious Eastern Student, or a Rich Middleman!

Nine p.m.

Jack sat for a while before heading home.

After the two added each other as contacts, Leo casually said, "I forgot to add Misty's number. If you have it, give it to me."

Jack casually sent him the number, and only after sending it did he hesitate and ask, "What, you've taken a fancy to Misty?"

Leo almost burst out laughing at his conflicted look: "No, Misty is a good girl, but she's not right for me. I think she's a perfect match for you."

Jack evaded the question, seemingly undecided about starting a relationship.

To cover his embarrassment, he asked calmly, "So what kind do you like? I'm always looking at bars these days, I can keep an eye out for you."

Leo's heart stirred, and he began to recall the image of the female version of V-Shatter.

"I like women who are strong, who can fight alongside me, risk their lives, never abandon me, and who are always full of fighting spirit and motivation."

“Oh, I see.” Jack drawled, a strange smile on his face. “Where we come from, those kinds of women are called—Heywood women!”

"They are all the kind of strong, tough women who dare to take up arms and charge alongside men, and they are also very loyal and value their families."

But be careful, Leo, their strength doesn't discriminate between insiders and outsiders. If you're not as strong as her, then she'll have the upper hand, hahaha!

Jack laughed and waved goodbye, leaving quite dashingly.

Once the security door closed, only Leo remained in the empty room.

He let out a long breath, as if it were a lifetime.

Thirty hours have passed...

Finally, I found a private and safe space.

Pure White, are you there?

[I've been here all along, Father. I've taken control of all your electronic devices to ensure that no hacker can threaten your cybersecurity.]

【Great, how's the transfer station going?】

[We are still analyzing the information about the singularity. Father, I suggest you get some rest. We can discuss this tomorrow.]

Okay, let's talk again tomorrow.

Leo is someone who listens to advice, and more importantly, a wave of intense fatigue washed over him. He leaned back on the sofa, already feeling a bit drowsy.

Sleep, sleep, sleep...

His brain kept urging him on, which made him struggle to his feet and walk up to the second floor.

He lay down on the soft double bed, and before he could even pull the covers up, he was fast asleep.

*

2076 2 Month 18 Day.

Leo's second day in the cyberpunk world.

No, maybe it's the first day, because the countdown in the upper right corner of my eye still shows—[6 days, 06:12:54]

I've only been in this world for 18 hours, and I still have 6 days to use.

Then he has to go back and face Batman, whose identity has been exposed.

No matter how he thought about it, he felt that he probably couldn't win by force...

[Pure White, do I have to go back to Gotham? Can I change the return point to another city?]

Unfortunately, we do not have the necessary permissions at the moment. However, I have some good news to share with you, Father.

Upon receiving the network communication, Pure White, being an AI, replied to the message instantly.

[While you were resting, I've been using all my computing power to analyze the singularity's information, and it's now confirmed—your transit station has the ability to store items.]

[Storing items...wait! You mean I can bring items from this world into the next world!?]

Theoretically speaking—yes.

Upon receiving a positive reply, Leo was overjoyed, feeling as if he had won a super jackpot that emptied the prize pool without even buying a lottery ticket!

Cross-border trade!

This is still happening in two worlds with vastly different technologies and completely different social needs!

He could easily sell the high technology from 2077 to DC, and then sell the organic food from DC back to 2077, making a huge profit!

[Father, I must remind you that the size of the items you can bring is limited, and they are only allowed within the server room area. Areas outside the light wall cannot be used.]

【Ah this...】

Leo quickly recalled the size of the server room. The usable area seemed to be 60 square meters, and the height was 4 meters. After deducting the equipment itself, there was at most 100 cubic meters of space available.

It's not small, it's equivalent to four standard shipping containers or the cargo box of a large truck.

But stealing a military-grade Gadgetzan or a Manticore is probably unlikely.

[Father, based on my calculations, if I have sufficient computing power, I should be able to gradually expand the area of ​​the transfer station.]

[Computing power... Do you need more servers?]

Yes, I hope you can allocate some funds to upgrade my equipment so I can help you expand the relay station area and speed up the resolution of singularities.

【Fine. 】

Having a solution is better than having none.

Leo took a bottle of purified water and sat on the sofa, thinking about his next steps.

First, the goal has been set: to earn a large amount of money through inter-realm trade—to strengthen their own power, build a transit station, and create their own influence, thus gaining the right to intervene in the "plot".

What he wants most right now is the Relic biochip, or more precisely, the biochip technology, not the sample containing Johnny Silver Hand's consciousness.

Obtaining the chip is only the first step; he also needs researchers and laboratories to study Arasaka's biochip technology.

To do this, he needs an elite squad that can carry out missions for him.

To form your own team of outlaws...?

No, that's too low-level. Personally becoming a mercenary is definitely not a good choice.

Even V, who later became a legendary mercenary, was constantly manipulated by middlemen and various forces. He did the work that shaped the world order, but received meager pay that was considered "only an idiot would do."

He needs to be a leader, the head of a powerful force, like a company boss...

But this path is somewhat difficult; he doesn't yet have the capital to start a company.

Why not act as a middleman first?

With enough money, he could hire outlaws to do his work and also use the opportunity to cultivate a group of loyal confidants.

Create a new folder on your personal terminal and create a new note.

Leo used encrypted text to list his preferred candidates:

Top enforcers: V. Thunder, Jack Wells, David Martinez.

Silver Medal Henchmen: Mann's Edgewalker Squad.

A super AI that has come to possess sentience: Pure White.

Hackers: Lucy and Qiwei.

Prosthetic doctor: Old Wei.

A variety of technicians: Judy and Parnan.