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Chapter 19 - Chapter 19 > Does a Gambler End Up with Nothing?

A blue-haired woman in a purple, fur-collared coat descended the stairs, a sexy fitted dress hugging her figure beneath it. She walked with a slow sway, hips rolling like she owned the air.

Vash turned his head and saw Evelyn approaching with a catlike gait, a slim ladies' cigarette glowing between her fingers.

By now, he'd stopped treating the 2077 plot like gospel. So seeing her here didn't shock him.

"And who might this be?" Vash asked, still playing it like this was their first meeting.

"Evelyn Parker." Evelyn stopped in front of him, her gaze sharp — aggressively interested.

She parted crimson lips, took a slow drag, then exhaled the smoke right into his face.

"I've heard Judy mention you." She said, voice smooth as expensive liquor, "Jack's friend. What was it again? Oh — right. V." Her smile tilted, "No wonder Judy turned down all those people I introduced. With you around… yeah, I get it."

"Evelyn." Judy's voice cut in — flat warning, telling her she'd pushed far enough.

"Ooookay. My Judy's getting mad." Evelyn dropped the predator act instantly, stubbed out the cigarette, and moved to the equipment like she'd been there to work the whole time.

"That's just Evelyn." Judy said quietly, "Don't mind her."

"I won't." Vash replied.

He couldn't deny it — Evelyn's mature, dangerous aura had a pull.

A moment later, the values on the rig were dialed in and the system hummed into readiness.

Vash lay down on the operating table.

From the side, Evelyn spoke half-jokingly, like she was making a toast, "Cooperate with Judy, okay? Don't make her life harder than it needs to be."

"You don't need to worry about that." Vash said.

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A flash of white.

Vash and Judy dropped into the braindance — Island of Doom.

They spawned on the transport plane headed for the island, seated close enough that their hands nearly touched.

"Judy." Vash said, keeping his voice low, "Follow my lead in the BD. Understand?"

"Okay." Judy answered.

Same route as last time: military base.

The cabin door opened and they were the first to snatch parachute gear and jump. Then came the island massacre.

Outside the BD, Evelyn watched the feed on the monitors. She lit another cigarette. At some point it burned down to ash — she didn't even notice.

"V…" Evelyn murmured, like she'd just found something rare.

Forty minutes later, Vash had dragged Judy through the entire island, carving a path from drop to finish.

Their consciousness snapped back.

Judy sat up, breath quick, eyes bright, "V — that was amazing!"

In the BD, surrounded by gunfire, she'd almost wanted to scream from the rush. The adrenaline, the high — anyone would've felt it.

"Glad I could help." Vash said with a smile.

For him, it had just been another massacre scenario.

"V." Evelyn's voice came from the side. She flicked a ladies' cigarette toward him.

Vash caught it and was about to say he didn't smoke — when his optics pinged. Her contact had been added automatically.

Vash: "…"

After carrying the girl through a BD "chicken dinner", Vash turned to leave.

But Judy called after him from her workstation, "V… I might need to trouble you again. Could you come every few days?"

"I'm afraid that's not possible." Vash said, looking genuinely conflicted.

"Why?"

This time the question came from Evelyn.

Vash didn't feel embarrassed at all. He answered plainly, "Ladies, before I came to Night City, I was just a nomad. You know Jack — he's the type to watch porn on credit. I gotta make money to live."

Helping girls was important. So was eating.

Judy chuckled, rubbing her forehead, "Sorry, V."

"Money?" Evelyn's lips curved, "Money's not a problem."

She reached into her chest and pulled out a shard, then tossed it to him.

Vash caught it — warm from her body heat.

"Twenty thousand eddies." Evelyn said, "Call it payment."

She really was loaded, throwing €$20,000 like it was pocket change.

Vash didn't hesitate. He pocketed the shard, thanked her, and left Lizzie's.

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Vash wasn't tired. After sleeping all day, Night City felt wide open — like the streets belonged to whoever was hungry enough.

He rode his Kusanagi CT-3X through neon and exhaust, letting the city's noise wash over him. And, keeping with fine nomad tradition, wherever there was a brawl or a shootout, his shadow could be "found"…

Joking. Not even a soul caught a glimpse of him.

Still, the warring gangs racked their brains trying to figure it out. Where did the cyberware from their fallen brothers keep disappearing to?

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The next few days settled into a steady rhythm.

Vash slept through the daylight. At night, he went "trash picking". And sometimes, he swung by Lizzie's to carry girls through the fun little death game.

A week passed in a blink.

One night, Vash sat on his bed and clicked his tongue.

"Seems like I haven't checked in for a few days."

The daily check-in had been refreshing lately, but he'd missed it — eight times stacked up.

『 Host can choose between Daily Check-in or Cumulative Check-in. 』

A new prompt appeared.

Vash read it and understood immediately.

Daily Check-in: claim eight rewards, one by one.

Cumulative Check-in: combine the eight into one roll — then receive a single reward.

In simple terms? Drawing cards. The first option was taking the guaranteed minimum. The second was gambling. Lose the gamble, and you'd waste seven chances. Win it… and you might pull a legendary golden prize.

Vash didn't hesitate.

"System, do the Cumulative Check-in!"

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T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!

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That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)

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