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A few weeks later, Kael and Lucy officially moved into a luxury apartment in Corpo Plaza.
In the heart of Night City's corporate sector, property is never truly "owned"—it is leased permanently. As long as you maintain your standing (and your bank account), the space is yours. For Kael, the rent was a drop in the bucket compared to the staggering cost of the custom renovations he'd ordered. He'd cleared out every stick of corporate-standard furniture, replacing it with high-end, bespoke pieces. He wasn't short on Eddies, and he had no interest in living in a dead man's shadows.
Lucy had taken charge of the interior design. Her touch was everywhere—minimalist but warm, a sanctuary of soft lighting and high-tech elegance that contrasted sharply with the jagged neon skyline outside.
The two stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out over the plaza. From this height, the city was a masterpiece of sci-fi beauty—holographic koi swam through the air between Arasaka and Militech towers, and the lights of AVs traced glowing lines through the smog. You could almost forget the exploitation and blood that fueled the view.
"Want to test out the new bed?" Kael asked, winking.
"Finally," Lucy replied. She didn't wait; she straddled him, pushing him back onto the mattress.
An hour later, Kael gave the bed a mental five-star review. It had cost tens of thousands of Eurodollars, and it was worth every cent. As he began unpacking the crates in the living room, Lucy retreated to the bathroom.
Kael's technical gear went into a reinforced "Workroom," while Lucy's Netrunning station was integrated into the corner. Since she still refused a formal Netrunning chair, her "throne" was the oversized, custom-built bathtub. Kael had designed it specifically for her—extra-large, deep, and equipped with a high-efficiency heat-exchange system to prevent water from overflowing during her long cooling cycles.
In the tub, Lucy let out a long sigh, her face still flushed from the "testing" session. She stared at the ceiling, wondering how a "ganic" like Kael had more stamina than her physiological textbooks said was humanly possible. She almost felt guilty—as if she weren't keeping up with him.
Her thoughts were interrupted by an encrypted call. She blinked as the ID registered. Kiwi.
"Lucy. You're looking... well-nourished," Kiwi's voice crackled through the link.
The veteran Netrunner appeared in Lucy's vision, soaking in her own ice-bath. Kiwi had been Lucy's mentor and guide when she first arrived in Night City.
"Just moved," Lucy said, trying to keep her tone neutral despite the lingering blush on her cheeks.
"Moved? To the Plaza? You're actually spending money now," Kiwi said, her voice dripping with skepticism. "Are you on stims? Or did you find a corporate sugar-daddy?"
"Neither. I found a partner."
"Whatever. I'm calling because I need a favor. Some gonk owes me a debt and thinks he can ghost a Netrunner. You mentioned you knew a heavy-hitter? Ask him if he wants to play debt collector. Fifty-fifty split on the recovery."
"Send the specs," Lucy said. "I'll ask."
Kael was watching the news on the sofa when Lucy emerged, snuggling into his arms like a kitten.
"I have a lead on a job. It's from an old acquaintance—Kiwi."
Kael scanned the data. The payout was small—twenty thousand Eddies. After the high-stakes missions for Wakako, it felt like petty theft. But the Tyger Claws and Maelstrom were currently in a "cooling-off" period after Kael's recent rampages, and work was drying up.
More importantly, Kael was curious about Kiwi. If he was going to take on Arasaka, he needed a network. If Kiwi was as good as Lucy said, she could be a valuable asset—or a dangerous liability.
"I'll take it," Kael said. "But tomorrow. Tonight, I have other plans."
The next night, Kael stood outside Lizzie's Bar.
The air was a kaleidoscope of neon and heavy bass. Lizzie's was the stronghold of the Moxes, a gang of sex workers and outcasts who protected their own. It was famous for the best Braindance services in Watson—and the most dangerous security.
Kael looked at the suggestive posters, thinking he'd have to thank Kiwi later. Without this job, Lucy would never have let him set foot in a place like this.
"Hey! You gonna stare or you gonna pay the cover?"
Rita, the Mox security guard, glared at Kael. She was a vision of aggressive pink chrome—spiked arms, plastic-textured skin, and a face that looked like a lethal doll.
"I'm coming in," Kael smiled, brushing past her.
Rita watched him go, muttering to herself. She'd scanned him—minimal chrome, barely two taels of metal in his whole body. Yet he walked like he owned the building.
Inside, the music was deafening. Kael navigated the dance floor, filled with corporate types letting off steam and street-glams looking for a score. He sat at the bar.
"I'll have a Coke. On ice," Kael told the bewildered bartender.
"A Coke? In Lizzie's?"
"And add an ice ball. I'm feeling fancy."
Kael sipped his drink, his Kiroshis scanning the crowd. He finally spotted his target: Aiden. The man was a mid-tier Edgerunner who had "forgotten" to pay Kiwi for a data-hack. He was currently surrounded by three girls, acting like he owned the VIP section.
Kael waited. He couldn't move yet; starting a fight in Lizzie's meant fighting the entire Mox gang. He sat there for three hours, drinking four Cokes and ignoring the suggestive looks from the dancers.
Finally, Aiden stood up and headed for the restroom.
Kael followed him. He picked up a "Cleaning in Progress" sign from the hall and placed it in front of the door.
Aiden was just reaching for his zipper when a hand landed on his shoulder.
"Hey."
Aiden turned, his eyes widening. Kael didn't give him a chance to speak. He delivered a front-kick that launched Aiden across the room, slamming him against the tiled wall.
Kael had been sitting in a bar for three hours drinking soda. He had a lot of pent-up energy to burn.
"Ora ora ora...!"
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