The Stone Sword finally returned to the base of the megatower, pulling into the underground parking lot.
Its sleek door slowly lifted, bands of striped lights flashing across its frame like colorful sashes on a queen's gown.
No matter the time or place, the Stone Sword exuded elegance. Even among countless parked vehicles, it remained the brightest jewel of the lot.
David stepped out of the car, still dazed. Absentmindedly, he patted his pocket to check for the card. Once he confirmed it wasn't left behind in the car, he let out a breath of relief and headed toward the basement elevator.
"Hold up. Mind if I come over to your place for a bit?" Lin Mo suddenly called out, stepping out of the car to follow him.
David turned to glance at him, thought about it for a second, then nodded. "Sure."
At this point, he no longer held any reservations about Lin Mo's identity. After the candid conversation they'd shared, he wasn't about to reject such a minor request as letting him visit.
Seeing David agree, Lin Mo smiled slightly.
In last night's simulation, it had been clearly stated that he would run into trouble in the parking garage. Someone would likely start a fight, which would earn him a free attribute point.
Though the massive parking lot still looked empty aside from him and David, it probably meant the trouble hadn't yet arrived.
Lin Mo didn't fear trouble, but he also wasn't the kind of guy to step into a pile of crap just for fun.
If a little nuisance could be avoided, now was the perfect chance to tag along to David's place.
After locking up the Stone Sword, Lin Mo happily followed David to the elevator. David pressed the button for his floor, and the lift slowly ascended.
"Is your mom home?"
Lin Mo had his hands in his uniform pockets, eyes wandering to the TV screen inside the elevator as he casually asked the question.
"If there's no emergency response work, she's usually back by eight or nine," David replied, not thinking much of it.
Lin Mo sighed, a little disappointed, slouching in place with his hands still in his pockets.
That red-haired beauty he'd met once had left quite the impression. For someone to sacrifice so much to put her son through Arasaka Academy... she couldn't be a bad person.
That night at the TURBO restaurant in Japantown, Maine had mentioned that a supplier of second-hand cyberware was actually that seemingly gentle woman.
Even Maine probably hadn't figured it out.
Given David's connection, Lin Mo didn't think she was the kind of scavenger who'd hurt people without blinking. More likely, she was getting second-hand cyberware from deceased patients through her work at a medcenter, then reselling it to fund David's education.
Not exactly glamorous or honorable, but in Night City, who could really judge?
The elevator doors slid open, and the two stepped out.
They were immediately met with a filthy corridor, where vagrants and jobless squatters were sprawled across the floor. Lin Mo was visibly taken aback.
Compared to the megatower where Kagawa Hiro lived, David's home environment could only be described as a refugee camp.
Lin Mo had never seen such a rundown, chaotic apartment complex. There were at least a dozen megatowers in the city, but this level of filth seemed unique even among them.
"Stick close. Don't get lost," David said casually, unfazed by his surroundings as he led Lin Mo onward.
The sleek Arasaka Academy uniforms they wore drew more than a few stares from the vagrants, but most of them seemed to recognize David. After one glance at the weirdo who lived here yet studied at Arasaka, they went back to minding their own business.
"Feeling uncomfortable with the environment?" David asked, not turning around.
"Unfamiliar, not uncomfortable," Lin Mo replied with a small smile.
Whether from the pre-simulation world or the eight years he'd lived here since, his experiences had long been etched into his memory. His years as a rich kid hadn't erased that.
He wasn't someone who needed luxury to function.
They stopped at an apartment door. David pressed a switch and the electronic lock opened with a click.
"Make yourself at home," David said, yawning as he flopped onto the living room sofa.
The interior design was the same as Kagawa Hiro's place.
These kinds of modular units made up most megatower apartments, aside from the luxury suites up top.
"Want some coffee? I can make you a cup," David offered, pointing at the coffee machine on the table.
"No need. I won't stay long," Lin Mo replied casually.
He was here to check out David's living conditions—and to get the address.
If he could also meet David's mother, that would be ideal.
But in Night City, average workers don't usually appreciate unannounced guests. If they weren't still at work, chances were they were stuck working overtime.
As Lin Mo continued surveying the room, David let out a self-deprecating chuckle, glancing at him.
"Told you, nothing worth looking at. You just come to see what you can pawn off as junk?"
Lin Mo looked at him in surprise, not expecting the joke.
"Sometimes it's good to visit. Maybe I'll bring a housewarming gift next time," he replied. "Besides, I had another reason for coming here."
He pulled a card from his pocket and placed it on the table, smiling.
"Give this to your mom—Ms. Gloria."
"You're hitting on my mom now?" David's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Come on, don't be like that. Think about it—if you're the only one working in the workshop, do you really think your mom will approve? Better to drag her in too. I'll handle the pay. There's nothing but upside here…"
Lin Mo shrugged it off and continued, "What, you want her working overtime every night forever?"
"Well, no..." David mumbled.
"All right then, I'm heading out. Something's going on in the parking lot." Lin Mo stood up abruptly, his expression serious, and walked to the door before David could respond.
"Leaving already? Not even gonna stay a little?" David called after him, confused by Lin Mo's sudden exit.
...
The Sixth Street Gang—a group of New United States patriots—operated mainly in Santo Domingo.
Fifty years ago, a band of veterans from the Fourth Corporate War formed the gang. At first, their ideals were noble: protect the streets, avoid the criminal life, uphold community order.
But ideals crumble against reality. These days, the Sixth Street Gang was no different from any other gang—extortion, robbery, smuggling, car theft and chop shops. They did it all.
As Lin Mo exited the stairwell, he spotted several camo-clad men gathered around his Stone Sword.
Once upon a time, he might've been wary.
Most Sixth Street members were ex-military or former security contractors—at the very least, trained fighters.
Their combat capabilities were above average, especially in firearms.
But that was then.
Unless they were elite veterans, Lin Mo didn't see common car thieves as a threat.
Among the parked cars, the Stone Sword stood out like a gem in a pile of sand. Several Sixth Street members circled it, clearly up to no good.
"Hey there. Mind telling me what you're doing around my car?" Lin Mo asked, hands in his pockets, strolling over with a calm expression.
The gang members immediately turned their attention to him.
Seeing his youthful face, one of them let out a chuckle. The others smirked as they eyed Lin Mo curiously.
"Well, well. Looks like today's my lucky day. What do we have here? A spoiled little rich brat..." said the apparent leader, a man with noticeably better gear.
He eyed Lin Mo like a hungry jackal eyeing fresh prey—a little lamb walking into his own slaughter.
Scratch that. A car like the Stone Sword? That was no lamb. That was a rare African antelope.
Lin Mo didn't feel like wasting breath. He cracked his knuckles, eyes turning cold as he locked onto the gang.
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