The air got a little quiet. Neither V nor Pepi pressed Riku for more details. They could tell his story was a wild one, full of twists and turns, like something straight out of a Hunter x Hunter arc.
Night City was overflowing with people who had tales to tell, but since Riku wasn't spilling the beans, they weren't about to pry. That's just how it worked on the streets—don't dig into someone's past. Prove you've got the skills and the guts, and you'll earn respect, no questions asked.
"Ugh, screw this! I'm done talking—I'm gonna go track down that jerk and get some answers!" V slammed her glass down, fuming. The more she thought about it, the more pissed she got. She was ready to hunt down the guy who'd sold her on the "big opportunities" in Atlanta and invited her along.
"Go for it. Drinks are on me today," Pepi said with a grin, giving her a nudge. Truth be told, he wasn't thrilled about V leaving Night City. For one, she'd be in unfamiliar territory, and who knows if she'd do better there than here? For another, losing her meant one less friend he could shoot the breeze with in this town.
"Thanks, Pepi," V said, not bothering to argue. Their friendship was way past sweating a tab.
"Catch you later, horned buddy," V called to Riku before heading out, throwing him a nod. She appreciated his heads-up about Atlanta—guy didn't have to say anything, but he did.
"Later," Riku replied, not bothering to correct her nickname for him.
With her fiery red hair and all that energy, V stormed out just as fast as she'd rolled in. Girl was like a shonen protagonist with zero chill.
"You really love treating people to drinks, huh?" Riku teased Pepi once V was gone. Seriously, was this guy just handing out free drinks to everyone?
"Nah, man, I only treat people with potential. It's an investment," Pepi said, wagging a finger with a sly grin. If he treated every random schmuck, he'd be broke. The Wild Wolf Bar wasn't his personal piggy bank.
"You've got a good eye, then," Riku said, and he meant it. Not just because Pepi was about to cover his drink, but because the guy had a knack for spotting talent—like V, a total SSR-tier street kid in a gacha pull of Night City nobodies.
"Surviving in Heywood takes some skills. Who says being good at making friends isn't one?" Pepi said, puffing up a bit. His secret weapon? Smooth talking and free drinks. Worked like a charm.
Riku couldn't help but chuckle. Pepi was onto something—being a people person was absolutely a skill. More friends, more connections. Can't solve a problem yourself? Call a nakama to back you up.
Why else had Riku piped up to warn V about Atlanta? He wanted her to stick around so they could team up. He'd already decided to carve out a life as a cyber-ronin in Night City, but as a total newbie, he needed reliable allies.
Jack Wells was one. Street V was another. Best part? Those two Heywood locals were already tight, so no worries about them clashing. With those street-raised badasses leading the way, even a greenhorn like Riku could hit the ground running.
Plus, once you were in with Jack and V, you had friends you could count on. They were the kind of loyal, ride-or-die types who'd have your back no matter what—total One Piece nakama vibes. Perfect crew material.
After shooting the breeze with Pepi a bit longer, Riku headed back to his corner seat. He took a moment to rest, letting his mind settle. Ever since he'd turned into a kijin straight out of Demon Slayer, he'd noticed he barely needed sleep. His body never got tired—as long as he "ate" on schedule, he could keep going like a machine.
Still, mental fatigue was real. Even if he could skip sleep forever, his brain needed a break now and then to just… zone out.
Once he'd recharged, Riku pitched in around the bar. The Wells family had helped him out, so it was only fair he returned the favor. Besides, he had nowhere else to go during the day, so helping out was like a workout.
He kept at it until late afternoon, around five or six, when he finally spotted the "young master of the bar," Jack Wells, strolling back into the Wild Wolf.
Jack was clearly sober now, looking way more grounded than when he was drunk.
"Yo, Riku! What's this? Did Mrs. Wells hire you as a waiter or something?" Jack said, spotting Riku hustling around. The bar was starting to fill up as the evening crowd rolled in.
"Nah, I'm waiting for you," Riku said, handing a few glasses to Pepi before turning to Jack.
"Huh? Something up?" Jack asked, caught off guard. He hadn't expected Riku to be hanging around just for him.
"Over here," Riku said, tilting his head toward a quieter corner of the bar.
Jack didn't ask questions and followed him over, figuring Riku would explain himself.
"Heard from Pepi you're flying solo these days?" Riku said, getting straight to the point as they settled into the corner.
"Yeah, what's up?" Jack nodded, already picking up on where this was going.
"Bring me in. I'm new to Night City, don't know the lay of the land, and I can't get anything done on my own," Riku said bluntly. With a guy like Jack, there was no need to play games. Be straight with him, and he'd be straight with you—that's just how Jack Wells rolled.
"Going it alone is rough. No one's got your back when things go south," Jack said, nodding. Sure, he worked solo, but he had a ton of friends. If trouble came knocking at the Wild Wolf, half of Heywood would have his back.
"No kidding. I just got to Night City and already ran into some organ-harvesting scavs," Riku said, piggybacking off Jack's comment. That explained the blood-soaked mess he'd been in yesterday.
Jack hadn't asked, probably to avoid stirring up trouble, but Riku offering it up was the first step toward building trust.
"Ha, no kidding! A lone outsider? You're prime prey for those scavs. Knock you out, bag you up, chop you into parts, and sell you off—no one would even know where to look. Too bad for them, they picked a fight with a tough bastard like you," Jack said with a laugh. Riku's bloody welcome to Night City must've been one hell of a party.
"So, what do you say? Wanna bring this tough bastard along to make a living?" Riku asked, feeling pretty confident. Jack didn't seem against the idea at all.
"Buddy, you're good people. I think we'll get along just fine," Jack said with a grin, not hesitating as he stuck out his hand.
"Damn right we will," Riku replied, grinning back. He clasped Jack's hand, and they bumped shoulders, sealing the deal.