Clouds' decor was all seductive pink-purple. Neon strips and holo-posters on the walls screamed desire in every flavor.
Vash and Jackie walked straight to the front desk. The receptionist — Cheri Nowlin — was a pretty girl with a practiced smile, and Jackie stood out so hard she clocked him instantly.
"Hey — you're special." She said, eyes lingering on him.
Jackie grinned, "I'd say I'm handsome too. These?" He tapped his scars, "Marks from me and my brother fighting through blood and fire."
"Interesting." Cheri said, amused, "Welcome to Clouds — a place that understands what you truly want."
She leaned forward slightly, voice slipping into that soft, service-script tone.
"Please jack into the terminal. We provide real-time service, so you may encounter… unexpected situations. If you feel uncomfortable, don't quit too quickly — otherwise you might miss the real highlight."
Vash pulled the cable from his wrist-port and plugged it into the reception slot.
Once the handshake completed, Cheri continued, "To avoid anything unacceptable during service, you can use a safe word to terminate. Please state your safe word now."
"Samurai." Vash said, calm as stone.
"Please wait a moment. We'll scan your profile and match you with a suitable doll."
The interface flipped to Clouds' menu. After loading, the list of available dolls appeared:
Gale, Divine, Celeste, Azure, Sun, Skye, Angel, Zephyr, Rainn, Storm.
All ten on-duty dolls lit up at once.
Even Cheri froze, "Oh my god… every doll on duty wants you. That's never happened. You're the most popular guest I've ever seen."
Vash didn't react. Anyone with working optics could tell he was attractive.
"Heh. My turn, choom." Jackie couldn't wait to jack in too.
A moment later, his results popped as well.
"Alright, guests." Cheri said, recovering, "Please tell me which dolls you'd like."
Jackie went first, "Divine and Azure. Both."
Honestly, it annoyed him. A perfect tough guy like him and only two options? No taste.
Then it was Vash's turn.
"Skye." Vash said.
Cheri's smile sharpened — like she'd just won a little lottery. He's into that type… Maybe when he left, she could slip him her number. Just a number. Nothing crazy… maybe…
"Well?" Vash asked, watching the blue-haired girl drift off in her own thoughts.
"S-sorry." Cheri stammered, cheeks warming as she pushed the script forward, "Please place your items in the locker. After payment, you may proceed."
Vash and Jackie handed over their pistols — mostly for show. They weren't here to burn Clouds down, and even if things went sideways, not having guns wouldn't stop them.
After paying, the two headed toward their assigned rooms.
Jackie chuckled, "V — didn't think you were into dollhouses. You should've said so. I'd have taken you to Gomorrah in Little China before. Place is preem too."
Vash shot him a look, "Not into it. But you — two at once? Misty know you're doing this?"
Jackie raised both hands, "Chill, hermano. I'm here to help you get things done. I'm not doing anything with them — at most, we drink tea and talk. I'm loyal to Misty."
Then Vash's tone dropped, businesslike.
"Alright. We're here. Stick to the plan."
They weren't assigned the same room. Since Jackie picked two dolls, his room was larger.
Vash went to his own room — Booth 9.
Inside was a soft bed and a tuned atmosphere: scent, light, and audio dialed to peak seduction. A doll sat waiting — good-looking, poised, perfectly still until she turned her head to meet Vash's eyes.
"V, right?" Her voice was soft and measured, almost therapeutic, "I'm Skye. I'm here to understand."
Vash paused. He'd expected cheap lines and an act he'd have to endure with clenched teeth.
"Whatever." He said, sitting on the edge of the bed, "Let's skip the performance. I'm here for information."
"Don't worry." Skye said, rising with practiced ease.
Music breathed in through hidden speakers. She began to dance — slow, intimate, close enough to feel real without touching.
For a few seconds, Vash let it happen.
The lighting was perfect. The scent was perfect. Her movements hit the body before the brain could interfere — and he hated that his pulse answered.
Then the thought slid in, cold as steel: Perfect means programmed.
This wasn't desire meeting desire. It was an algorithm mirroring him — no matter what he wanted, no matter what he didn't.
Vash exhaled, "Samurai."
The music died instantly. The seductive lights and fragrance shut off like a switch.
Skye froze mid-motion, like a doll whose strings had been cut. The softness drained from her eyes, replaced by blank confusion.
She sat when he gestured, but her posture was rigid — guarded.
"I was naïve." Vash said flatly, "Forget it. I'll be direct. I'm looking for Evelyn Parker. What do you know?"
Skye's lips parted, then pressed into a thin line, "I can't. You can't ask me about other dolls. I'll be in huge trouble."
Vash didn't answer. He reached into his personal storage and pulled out Skippy.
Skye's face went white.
Vash's voice stayed calm — cold, measured, "Room locks are sealed. Surveillance optics and biometrics are disabled."
He let Skippy rest in his hand like it belonged there.
"And this is Skippy. Two modes: headshots or legs. Pick."
He wasn't here to play along. If he wanted pleasure, he wouldn't need to pay — Cheri at the desk had been practically leaning over the counter.
Skye swallowed. At this point, she couldn't pretend.
"I… I really don't know." She said quickly, "Evelyn hasn't been here for days. I'm not close with her. The person closest to her is named Tom. When there's no work, they're always together."
"Where do I find him?" Vash asked, lifting Skippy slightly.
"VIP second floor." Skye whispered, "One of the rooms up there."
Vash snapped his fingers.
The room returned to normal — lights, scent, music, the whole fake paradise.
"And about me…" He started.
Skye nodded instantly, "I've never seen you. Never."
Vash left. He glanced at the room next door — the display still read "in use".
He didn't interrupt Jackie's "tea and chat". Instead, he headed alone for the stairwell toward VIP access — where the guards and the real locks were.
As he approached, someone was already arguing at the checkpoint.
"I'm very sorry, sir." A staffer said, "You're not a VIP at the moment, so you can't enter the VIP area."
"Are you kidding me?" The man snapped, "I've been here plenty of times — how could I not be?"
"I'm truly sorry. You're not listed in our system."
"When I came to Clouds to have fun, you didn't even know where you were." The man shoved forward, "Move aside. Now."
At that moment, a man came down from upstairs.
"What's going on here?"
❖❖❖❖❖
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!
If you want 20 chapters ahead, smut chapters or spicy images of this novel for just $5, or enjoy a large catalog of good novels with excellent translations (free or starting at $1.5): MrBlackWing (you know where to search)
Take a look at the new book I'm translating on my profile, Umamusume Pretty Derb: I'm Just a Trainer! Its also on my website for $5 too!
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)