V felt inexplicably agitated, as if something was slipping away from her, or perhaps there was something she had forgotten, but she just couldn't recall.
With that feeling in her heart, V drove aimlessly around the city for a long time, eventually stopping at a bar in Haywood District.
Wild Wolf Bar.
She just wanted to have a couple of drinks.
Inside the bar, there weren't many people at this time. It wasn't one of those places that got lively at night. It only played some soothing music, while people drank, chatted, and had some delicious snacks.
V went to the bar counter, raised her hand to signal the bartender: "Rabbit God, one drink, on the rocks, anything to eat?"
"The fries here are great, topped with fried synthetic bacon bits and sautéed onions with black pepper sauce. The guests here love ordering them, hungry or not."
The bartender smiled slightly after saying this: "We don't serve food after midnight, so if you want to eat, order now. By the way, we close at two."
"Then one order of fries," V said, and the bartender nodded, his prosthetic eye flashing as he sent the order to the kitchen.
V held her cheek with one hand, troubled.
With nothing else to do, the bartender poured her a drink and asked, "Feeling down, Chica?"
"Yeah... I don't know how to put it, just kind of irritated."
V took a big gulp, then exhaled slowly, feeling the burning alcohol slide down her throat: "It's nothing."
The bartender saw she didn't want to talk more, so he nodded and didn't press further.
V continued drinking one glass after another, eating fries, and drinking, yet she only felt more restless inside.
Until a burly figure sat down beside her.
"Hey, Chica, take it easy on the drinks."
V turned her head to see a big guy with a bun: "Who the hell are you to tell me how much I should drink?"
"Jack, Jack Wells. This bar is my mom's place."
Jack wasn't angry, merely spoke in a gentle tone: "I think I've seen you on the street before? You from Haywood?"
"V." V replied succinctly.
"It's rare to see a girl from Haywood drinking alone... What's the matter, got hurt by some guy?"
Jack probed.
"Let me tell you in advance, you're not my type, so don't waste your time trying to make a move, and don't expect to pick me up when I'm drunk. I've got a gun on my back."
V glanced at him.
Jack burst out laughing: "I tell you, V, you might be good-looking, but I've got a girlfriend, you know.
Don't worry, I'm here most nights helping my mom keep an eye on the place, to prevent any idiots from causing trouble.
Whenever I come across friends with worries, I chat with them."
V finally let her guard down a little, and after a moment of silence, she sized him up and said, "Valentino Gang?"
"Yeah, working with them now."
Jack didn't hide it, saying, "As a guy from Haywood, trying to make it, what else can I do?
And you? You don't look like someone who lives a quiet life."
"...Edgerunner."
V used to simply say she was a mercenary, but for some reason, she suddenly thought of the way Rebecca's eyes sparkled when she said 'Edgerunner', so she unconsciously used that term.
"A mercenary, huh...
Not bad, I used to think about either joining the Valentino Gang or becoming a mercenary, like Morgan Black Hand, Adam's Hammer...
I even bought that Mercenary Manual written by Morgan Black Hand! I read it all the time when I was a kid, and let me tell you, it's been pretty useful—knowledge from there saved my neck in the gang more than once."
Jack said with a cheerful grin, naturally exuding a kind of warm energy, always so optimistic and positive.
"...Do you know Johnny Silverhand?" V suddenly asked.
Jack nodded: "Of course! He's one of the greatest legends of Night City. His band, Martial Servant Band, still has a cult following even today."
"Do you think if you live like him, as a mercenary, that it means you've lived a good life or a bad life?"
V didn't know much about Johnny Silverhand, but she knew he was the guy who nuked Arasaka Tower, going down with the corporate building...
Which really doesn't count as going down together.
Buildings can be rebuilt when they fall; dead people stay dead.
"Hmm... I'd say that counts as living enough for a lifetime."
Jack gave his answer without hesitation: "Come on, Chica, for people like us living on the streets, what else can we aspire to in this life?
Money, sure, we all love money.
But beyond that?"
Jack looked hopeful: "Of course, becoming a big figure like Johnny Silverhand—look, he's been dead for almost fifty years now.
Yet people like me still know about him, and there are tons of die-hard fans who'd love nothing more than to get plastic surgery to look like him.
There are still legendary stories about him on the streets.
There's even a drink named after him at Rebirth Bar.
Let me think..."
"Old Tequila, beer, plus chili." V inadvertently murmured.
"Hmm? You know it too?" Jack was a bit surprised.
V suddenly smiled, nodding: "Some idiot told me about it while drinking at Rebirth... even tried to trick me into having a drink of it. Just from hearing the recipe, I knew it'd taste bad, so I didn't fall for it.
I always feel like sometimes he really takes me for an idiot, but let me tell you... he's the real idiot!"
Jack caught on: "Is he why you're drinking alone?"
"Hmm?" V was a bit surprised.
"You were sulking, but as soon as you talk about him, you light up... What kind of relationship do you two have?" Jack's gossiping instinct kicked in.
V touched her face: "No relationship... boss and employee relationship? Leader and underling relationship?"