Chương 106: B2 Chapter 14 - Just a Nissan

"So, this is your lease price, eighteen hundred a month with a ten thousand dollar down payment." The car salesman at Nissan's dealership sat me down on a table in a private booth, pointing at dollars on a paper with a pen. He looked up at me, as if expecting me to back off at the sight.

"As mentioned, this is far from our cheapest model."

"The price is fine," I said.

"As long as it's reliable. I just need something that won't break down." He laughed.

"For a car with this much power, it's one of the most reliable models there is. It's by all means an amazing car. Although..."

"Then I'll take it," I said.

"As long as I can leave with it today. I need to take my sister somewhere right now." He studied my expression. Perhaps I didn't have the best outfit for a purchase like this. My hoodie may or may not have been washed since the last time I used it. Still, this guy sure could be doubtful.

"Alright," he said.

"As mentioned, the downpayment for the lease—""Oh, I'm just buying it," I said.

"How much was it?" He blinked at me.

"You're buying it? All upfront? Cash?"

"Uh, card?" He kept staring at me.

"The car is over a hundred thousand dollars, sir."

"Yeah, I'll take it."

"And this will be your first car?" he asked.

"You've test driven it in VR? You're paying all upfront?"

"Yeah, I drove the same model a few years ago. I'll buy it right now. Is that a problem?" He tapped his pen, then moved the lease papers aside. He shifted his posture and suddenly grinned.

"Alright, so, a little over a hundred and thirty thousand dollars, and the car will be yours. Please fill out these papers for me."

The goddamned forms and paperwork took over half an hour. The salesman kept congratulating me as if I was suddenly his best friend.

"Ah, so you play videogames for a living!" he was saying.

"My colleague says you're famous."

"I just won one big tournament, that's all," I said. He laughed and finally handed me the keys, finally letting me start the car. I grinned a little when the engine rumbled to life, if only out of anticipation on how Anna would react to such a dumb purchase. I had went in to buy something cheap and reliable… But whatever man, this was a nice car. I wanted it, and my bank account wouldn't die. Judge me. I let Anna know I'd be coming home to pick her up, while only playing around with the car a tiny bit.

Driving a nice car was a lot more satisfying in real life, even with all the laws in place. Sure, I couldn't just floor it and crash a car without consequences. But even if people could argue that I was an idiot for buying this model, I wasn't reckless. I drove home and pulled into the driveway perfectly safely. Anna stood from her seat on the terrace. She'd dressed up nicely in jeans and a blouse with her hair made, despite us only going to a gaming cafe.

I exited the car with the engine still running, and I wish I could have taken a picture of her face.

"Aiden… What is this?" she asked.

"A car," I said.

"I asked the dealership for something nice and reliable."

"You bought a sports car!?"

"Eh, it's just a Nissan," I said. I had to speak a little louder than normal due to the engine.

"Sounds pretty good for a daily driver, doesn't it?" She pouted at me, wearing the same face as when I bought clothes she didn't like. Someone spoke behind us.

"A Nissan R35? Jesus. Is this yours, Aiden?" I turned and saw our neighbor—a forty-something man from next door. What was his name again… Mike? He was the outdoorsy type, who talked with dad through the fence every now and then. I grinned at him.

"Yep." Speaking of my dad, he came outside.

"Wow," was all he said, a subtle smile on his face.

"Is this your son, John?" Mike was saying.

"What the hell has he just bought? Rev it a little, will you?" I pressed the gas for him, and my dad could only respond with an oblivious grin. Mike laughed like a little kid, while Anna kept pouting. I wouldn't blame her for scolding me. This was by all means a stupid purchase. I could have just grabbed a cheaper model, or even a used car, to buy multiple legendary items with the extra money. It wasn't like I'd be using a car every day, or even every week. I was leaving for Thailand anyway.

But, hell, the country I lived in was a stale hellscape of cars and asphalt. Might as well make real life as enjoyable as I could. I wonder if Veyra likes nice cars, I thought. Probably not. She wasn't really materialistic. Not that I bought anything to impress anyone else.

"So, you ready to go gaming?" I asked Anna and opened the door for her. I still received the side-eye from her, but she sat on the passenger's seat. I hopped in and waved for dad and Mike before driving off. Anna sat nervously with her hands on her thighs, as if expecting me to send the car into oblivion any second.

"I won't drive recklessly," I said.

"You can call me an idiot, but I'm not stupid." This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

"Yes, I know you drive well," she said.

"I'm just… surprised." She watched houses pass from her window. She didn't look mad. More so, she seemed nervous, just like she had after I'd won Worlds. She'd acted weird around me for a few weeks after I got "famous." That gradually stopped, thankfully, but I saw the same nervousness now. She shifted her position uncomfortably.

"Sorry if I'm annoying. It's a nice car." I chuckled.

"I'll give you a pass to be annoying. You're free to scold me any time. I'm still your brother. I'd feel weird if my little sister wasn't teasing me every now and then."

"Mhm." The mood remained awkward. I calmly drove the speed limit.

"So you mentioned Patrick plays Wonderwind full time, right?" I asked.

"Kind of…" she said.

"He says he's not a pro. He just coaches people. And…"

"And?"

"He bets on matches," Anna said.

"Like, he predicts who will win an official match and bets on the winner. He said he made over ten grand from Worlds." She paused, then hastily added, "But it's not gambling! He knows who will win most of the time." I grinned, amused.

"I guess that can be a valid way to make money. I wouldn't make a career out of it, though."

"That's why he's coaching as well," she said defensively.

"He's a big fan of you and Veyra."

"Seems like a decent guy," I said.

"Good luck with him."

"What? Good luck on what?"

"Nothing," I said sheepishly. She rolled her eyes. I got off the main road, towards Ender's Cafe. The area felt a lot shadier now that I was in a more expensive car. The streets could have used a cleaning, and the buildings were old. Not a total hood, thankfully, but I drew glances. Thirteen out of the twenty-four parking spots at Ender's Cafe were occupied. Two people in black employee T-shirts were smoking cigarettes. I recognized both of them and a smile appeared on my face. They stared at me suspiciously.

When I stepped out of the car, Eve's expression froze. She then quickly squished her cigarette and tossed it into the trash, taking a few steps toward us. I didn't know the second guy by name, but he'd defended me from an angry Sullivan when I was here a few months ago. A decent guy, no doubt.

"Aiden?" Eve asked, baffled.

"You, uh…?" I tilted my head a bit. Eve awkwardly turned to Anna.

"Hey... Are you…?"

"My sister," I said. She gave a nervous nod.

"Hello." Eve stood awkwardly before saying, "Ah, um, did you need to contact me? My phone has been silent."

"I'd like three hours in two pods, please." She went red, laughing awkwardly.

"Oh, right, I work here. Sorry. Come in." If she'd been on a break, that was now over as she led us downstairs, into what I believed was the best internet cafe in town. The old banners advertising seats for New York's PvP tournament had been replaced with newer adverts for Wonderwind related events, but otherwise, the place was exactly the same. Anna remained nervous as she examined the cafe and the row of game pods making up over half of the basement that once belonged to a night club.

We paid for our three hours and got assigned to adjacent game pods. Anna and I couldn't actually play together thanks to our level difference in-game, but playing next to each other still offered a sense of connection, since I knew we'd exit at the same time and talk about progress. I had a lot of work on my side regardless. I teleported out of the castle and spent my three hours just exploring the surroundings in my usual style. Veyra wasn't online, and I wasn't about to attempt anything in the city without her.

In the meantime, opening the map was never a waste of time. The job was time-consuming as hell, though. I'd barely made any progress when the three hours were already approaching. The pod warned me that I'd get logged out in five minutes just when I was trying to escape the monsters chasing me. With three minutes on the clock, I emerged from my game pod. For once, I felt refreshed, like I'd woken up from a good nap.

Doctors definitely didn't recommend spending three hours straight in game pods, but three felt so much better than thirteen. Notwithstanding the eight or so hours I played with Veyra earlier. I took one of the best stretches of my life and turned to Anna's game-pod a little further in the room. Eve leaned against the wall, smiling as she talked to Anna, who looked shy but comfortable. I walked up and asked Anna, "Had a good session?" A slight smile appeared.

"Yeah. The pods are a lot better." I nodded, and with a teasing smile, said, "Eve isn't being annoying, is she?"

"No, no," Anna said, waving her hand.

"She gave me some good advice. And, um, she said she was hoping to talk to you." Eve flinched at that. I turned to her.

"Uh," Eve said nervously, clearly not prepared to actually speak.

"It's nothing serious. I just wanted to ask… Are you and Veyra dating now?"

"Yep," I said.

"I'm flying to Thailand next week."

"I see…" She met my smile, and tried her best to form one as well, though it looked fake.

"What about you?" I asked.

"Still with Sullivan?"

"Nah. He got kicked out of the guild and lost his mind. I should have left him a while ago." She sighed, leaning back against the wall.

"I wouldn't have stayed if he wasn't the same level as me. Most New Yorkers are noobs. They're too low level to play with me. Or they're way too old."

"Yeah, we're a bit overleveled for our age range, huh?" She laughed at the joke, but the topic also put a question in my head. Would Veyra and I be dating if our level differences meant we couldn't play anymore? Probably not. We spent hours upon hours every day in Wonderwind. If that time together was somehow interrupted... Well, I'd just have to make sure she wouldn't suddenly gain a million more levels than me. Our teamwork was good. We shouldn't fall off.

I thanked Eve for the time at the cafe and wished her good luck at leveling up. She wished us goodbye, and we made it into the car. Anna got in much more eagerly. She looked satisfied. Still, I asked, "So, good progress today? Any level-ups?"

"Mm, yeah," she said.

"We almost cleared a dungeon with Patrick. He said we could try the boss tomorrow. Nevermind that, have you always been so popular? Wasn't that your classmate?"

"Well, she is, but no I wasn't popular in school," I said.

"We talked a few times. She was never interested in me, though." She watched me as I took a left turn.

"Hm. We thought you lost your whole social life in VR."

"Well, I did mostly kill people alone, yeah," I said with a laugh.

"What about you? Has VR turned you into a junkie yet?"

"Well, um… I admit… I have studied a bit less." I laughed.

"Classic."

"I'll still get A's, don't get me wrong!" she said.

"Don't mention that to dad!"

"Just careful or you'll have to pay him rent soon," I said with a laugh.

"Hmph," Anna said. Then her head perked up, remembering something.

"Oh, I got quick-casting to work! I was almost faster than the system casting."

"Oh, nice," I said.

"That's actually not bad for your first attempt." She gave me a smug smile.

"Patrick says I'm doing decent. I feel like I'm useful in the raids."

"You're not scared by monsters?" I asked.

"They're not really monsters. They're programmed to be killed. Patrick showed me how to properly aggro the monsters we're fighting. He also showed me how to trap the imps in a hole to kill monsters double our level. We rose five levels in an hour."

"No way you're already cheesing monsters," I said, amused.

"What are you doing anyway?" Anna asked.

"You haven't shown up on the news at all. Or the forums, or whatever." I must have grinned a little too hard while I thought of my response, as she asked, "What?"

"We've been grinding," I said.

"Making a few purchases here and there. Stuff like that. Just frontrunners' stuff. Killing the final bosses and such."

"What does that mean?"

"Frontrunning? That we're the first to open up the map and clear bosses." She blinked at me.

"Isn't that reserved for only the best players? That's what Patrick said. He said we shouldn't even go to the expansion, because everyone is fighting each other there. The dungeons on the surface are empty for us."

"He's right," I said.

"But not if you're so far ahead that the other guilds don't even know you're ahead." She didn't know what to make of that.

"I'll just say," I added, "Patrick should bet on us the next time we enter Worlds for some easy cash." We continued chatting on the way home, where I quickly collapsed to sleep. Tomorrow, Veyra and I would have to figure out just how impossible the boss in Shaltar's Castle would be.