Still in a daze from signing the lease, he walked back onto the street. The keys jingling in his pocket were the only proof that the transaction had been real.

  As he turned a corner, an earthy smell with a hint of burnt caramel hit him.

  Coffee? That brought him back to his senses.

  Now that he thought about it, they had real food here.

  Well, as real as it could get in a VR game, that is. It should be better than the gritty nutrient paste that was the staple of his era. That paste was focused on hitting the daily calorie intakes and every required vitamin, while giving up on the taste. They were basically oily sand.

  His friend had done an amazing job modding taste into the game. During the fight with the Giant Gloom Viper, he’d even felt the metallic taste of his own blood.

  Thankfully, the address the agent had given him was only a few blocks away.

  After passing by brick-and-stone buildings with fire escapes zigzagging down their faces, Shane stopped in front of a five-story building.

  It actually looked sturdy, with large windows and a heavy wooden door set into a stone archway. Even the brass handle on the door looked polished.

  He had been half-expecting the place not to have a roof.

  So, at least the building wasn’t a scam. But Shane wasn’t going to let his guard down. He guessed the landlord must be using the clean exterior to lure in more tenants.

  He put the first key into the lock, and the heavy door opened into a small vestibule. Another set of glass-paned doors separated him from the main lobby. Pushing through them, he caught the lingering scent of someone’s cooking from hours ago. Something slightly acidic and sweet. The smell made him realize he was getting hungrier by the minute.

  Not trusting the pictures of his apartment, Shane decided he’d check what a real mess it actually was, then grab something to eat.

  Shane headed for the wooden staircase that curved its way upward. After a long climb, he reached the fifth floor.

  Damn. He should’ve eaten first.

  Dark-painted doors lined the hallway, each with a brass number plate. He passed a muffled argument from one apartment, and the rhythm of music in the next. Definitely not sound-proof.

  Finally, he reached 5D.

  Shane carefully knocked on the door. It seemed solid. Bracing himself for the worst, he slid the second key into the lock and twisted.

  He pushed the door inward, then froze at the sight.

  Only his eyes moved while the rest of his body stayed still. The bed was a single mattress on a simple metal frame, but it was large enough for him to sleep in. With a window that flooded the room with warm sunlight, the compact space had a welcoming feel to it. And did they actually let tenants use the refrigerator for free?

  He ran his hand under the sink, and clean water flowed over his fingers. The fridge was empty, but the inside was chilly and the lights turned on fine.

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  Not letting his brain shut down, he forced himself to continue to look for a catch.

  A few minutes later, he could see there was none. Not even a single hidden camera.

  Still a little stunned, he opened the window. The breeze carried the distant smell of the river in, and the street noise, at least for now, was music to his ears.

  A home. He had a home here.

  Though he wasn’t sure if that was the right word, since none of this was real. But he didn’t dwell on it too much. He had more pressing matters to attend to.

  Leaving his new apartment, he ran back down the four flights of stairs and out onto the city streets. What was he supposed to pick to eat? There were too many choices. He caught the scent of grilled meat.

  Actual meat? Was this the Chairman’s birthday?

  Following the scent, he arrived at a diner on the corner. He pushed inside. The smell of grease, coffee, sugar, and savory smoke filled his body.

  As he took a seat at the counter, the sound of sizzling on the flattop grill and low conversations surrounded him. The waitress, a plump woman with a no-nonsense air, slid a menu in front of him.

  With hungry eyes, he scanned the pictures.

  They were beautiful.

  “I’ll have the Ultimate Lumberjack.” His finger pointed to a platter of a large waffle, a French toast, and a pancake, all served with bacon and two eggs. “And the Romanian Steak. And Disco Fries and an egg cream.”

  The waitress paused her writing, looking up from her pad. “All at once?”

  “Yes.”

  She tore the slip from her pad. Pinning it to a rotating wheel, she shouted the order to a large man at the grill in a language Shane didn’t understand.

  When the food arrived, the waitress had to pull some stunts to put all the plates onto the counter without knocking anything over.

  Shane immediately dug in.

  He bit into the bacon eagerly, and his heart stopped. Then started pounding again.

  Damn.

  Adrenaline tingled in his brain. The crunch and the salt that oozed from the fat every time he chewed...

  He chased the salt with the waffles that were gloriously slathered in butter and syrup. The sweetness exploded as a sharp contrast to the bacon. Although he wanted to savor the moment, he ended up with empty plates in minutes.

  Okay, he needed more bacon and waffles, now.

  The waitress returned with her coffee pot. She glanced at the empty dishes, then back at him.

  “You want that check, hon?”

  “I’ll have the triple-stack of blueberry waffles,” he said, not looking up from the menu. “And a cheeseburger.”

  She put her hands on her hips, her lips twitching.

  “Alright then. Coming right up.”

  Moments later, she returned with the waffles. The cheeseburger was stacked high with cheese already dripping from the patty, while the waffles were golden brown, studded with shiny blueberries. Perfect.

  But instead of leaving, the waitress watched him methodically work his way through his food. She wasn’t obvious about it. Keeping him in her peripheral vision, she refilled his water glass, then polished the coffee machine.

  But Shane’s sharp senses noticed the subtle stare.

  What did she want from him?

  He risked a glance at her when she went to take care of other customers. Was she spying on him? To make sure he wouldn’t run off before paying? He couldn’t blame her, he was probably eating their whole fridge out.

  But then why didn’t she just have someone stand by the door?

  Shane pretended to be focused on the waffles when the waitress came back. Then, suddenly, a thick slice of apple pie—crowned with what Shane assumed was vanilla ice cream—slid onto the counter.

  Raising an eyebrow, he stared at the waitress. He didn’t order a pie. Was she trying to scam him, thinking he wouldn’t notice if she added another plate to his pile?

  Well, not that he would mind right now. He was richer than he had ever been in real life.

  “This one’s on me,” she said, leaning against the counter. “I gotta respect the hustle. Haven’t seen anyone put away food like that since my ex-husband. Are you a hunter, too?”

  Shane stuffed the cheeseburger in his mouth before giving her a curt nod.

  “Figured,” she said with a satisfied grin. “Well, enjoy the pie. God knows you earned it.”

  Did he hear that right? Free food?

  He slowly picked up his fork and took a bite of the cinnamon-laced pie. The apples were surprisingly soft and warm, melting away Shane’s suspicion. Then came the shock of cold ice cream against the hot crust, which almost made him groan in pleasure.

  Any pie he’d ever had in his life was fake compared to this slice of heaven. Not that the bar was high to begin with, though.

  For the first time, Shane felt a flicker of peace. Something he hadn’t felt in a very long time. As he swallowed the last bite, warmth spread through his entire body.

  [New Buff Acquired!]