Cyberpunk 2074: Shadows of the Past

Chapter 73 VA-11 HALL-A
Valhalla, the Hall of Valor in Norse mythology, is the spiritual sustenance of countless Nordic warriors.

They fought for it and were proud of dying in battle, only for Valhalla, whose soul returned to the supreme after death, to meet the supreme god——Odin.

In Night City, Valhalla is just the name of a small bar.

No, it's just another name, not even an official title.

V wore the spare flat shoes in the car, and carefully looked at this small bar at the end of a desolate street.

A red LED sign with the words "VA-11 HALL-A" hangs crookedly on the wall.

The combination of scribbled patterns, scarlet lamps and cracked walls gives it an avant-garde artistic feel.

V looked down at his clothes, feeling a little out of place.

Arasaka's standard uniform for female employees - short red and black suits and matching black trousers.

But it doesn't matter, I just came here for a drink, so I don't have to think too much like I'm working.

V thought for a second, then took a step, gently stepped over the small puddle of pool at the entrance of the store, and pushed open the gate of Valhalla.

"Mix drinks, change lives, good evening."

Pushing the door open, a short-haired woman dressed as a company employee walked in, with a mature and glamorous appearance, and an indescribable aura.

Jill looks at the first customer of the night, ready to cheer up a little.

(Employees of the company, although I can't recognize which company's employee uniform it is because I just came to Night City not long ago, but in short... don't be too negligent.

This small bar can't withstand any big storms, although people with real status probably won't patronize this dilapidated bar. )
Jill turned her head, thinking about some messy things.

"Hello, please bring me a cup..." The glamorous woman with short hair looked at the menu at the bar for a while, and nodded her chin with her index finger, as if she was thinking.

"Do you have any recommendations? To be honest, I don't have a clue just by looking at the name of the wine."

While speaking, the short-haired woman slowly sat on the round chair in front of Jill, leaning her elbows on the edge of the bar.

(Different from his cold appearance, his tone was unexpectedly polite, and he didn't have the superior feeling of company employees. Maybe it's just a stereotype.)
"Hello, just call me Jill, this..."

"V, just call me V, that's what everyone I know calls me." V politely sized up the purple-black long-haired bartender, and tapped lightly on the seemingly wooden bar.

"Hello, Ms. V. May I ask about your taste? For example, whether you like sweetness or sourness, more or less alcohol, etc., can be used as the basis for recommendation."

"Very professional." V nodded, and then tapped his chin with his index finger, "Sweet, with ice, and a little more alcohol, I can still drink it."

"Are you waiting for someone?" Jill asked softly while selecting a drink that suits the customer's taste on the bartending machine.

Even if it wasn't obvious, she still noticed V's occasional glances out the window.

"Oh, I invited a few friends to come here for a drink together."

"Moonblast! Please use it slowly." Jill muttered in a cadenced tone, and gently placed the drinks prepared by the machine on the bar.

Every time she chanted like this, she felt like she was in a special film, or some other drama series, in which she would chant those nirvana skills that sounded awesome.

V didn't care about the strange tone of the bartender lady, and his eyes fell on the glass of mixed alcoholic drink that gradually faded to pink.

Under the dim light of the bar, this glass of wine reveals a brilliant luster, like stars, swimming in the pink ocean, like the universe was born.

"Miss V, you just said you made an appointment with a friend, have you been here before?"

The bartender's words mixed with a slight French accent fell in V's ears, pulling her back from her fantasy.

"Why do you ask that?" V didn't rush to answer, but asked back with a little interest.

"Actually, I've only been in Night City for about half a month, so I guess you might be a former customer of this bar." Gilpin spread his hands, showing a trace of sincerity on his cold face.

"Actually, it's my first time here..." V shook his head and laughed, and waved his hand to signal the bartender to stop being so reserved, "The friend I invited should have been here before, I'll ask later."

"Hmm..." Jill nodded, and cleaned up the traces of the bar that were not cleaned up last night as usual, and did not bother the first customer today to taste the first alcoholic drink she ordered in Valhalla.

"what about the taste?"

I always felt that the expression on the face of this glamorous short-haired beauty in front of me was a bit subtle, and Jill's heart beat a little faster.

"The combination of sweetness and alcohol is just right..." V lightly stuck out his tongue, and slowly licked his lips, "It feels... very pleasant."

"Satisfied?" Jill sighed and asked in a low voice.

"Very satisfied, or...beyond my expectations."

V smiled lightly, and gently put the empty glass back on the bar.

"Why do you say that?"

Jill felt that she was already familiar with the working process, and every time after the customers finished drinking, it was her favorite listening part.

"Hmm... To be honest..." V brushed the strands of hair that fell down his face, hesitating for a few seconds, "From the outside, this bar looks run-down, but the quality of the drinks is unexpectedly high."

"It's fine if you like it." Jill nodded. Although she wasn't complimenting her, she felt a little bit of a shared honor and disgrace.

"You just said that you've only been in Night City for half a month?" V propped his chin with his hand, the cold feeling disappeared suddenly, and he became friendly.

"Yeah, what's wrong?" Jill was cleaning the cup.

"I just want to ask, are you still used to living in Night City?" V slightly raised her head, sitting on a chair at her height, and could just see Jill's skillful movements under the bar.

"Actually, I don't really like working the night shift."

"but?"

V continued to speak in a timely manner, his left leg rested lightly on his right leg, and his toes tapped the ground little by little, rhythmically.

This bar unexpectedly suits her appetite, and she subconsciously relaxes.

"But..." Jill bit her lip, "I still have to pay the rent, live, take care of my kitten... In short, I need money."

"and?"

The corners of V's mouth are raised, and a smile is on the lips.

"Also, I quite like hearing other people tell their stories...just for this part."

"Isn't this good?" V nodded, then turned to look at the menu, intending to pick a drink with an interesting name.

Just like this life, it is full of uncertainty, so it is interesting.

(End of this chapter)