Investing in Lizzie's Bar had always been part of Lin Mo's broader plan.
In Night City—a city of chaos—if you wanted real clout, to become someone whose name echoed across the entire metropolis, raw strength alone wasn't enough. It was a factor, sure, but not even the biggest one.
Unless you'd already hit max level like in the game, with enough power to solo Arasaka Tower, individual strength had its limits—especially in the eyes of megacorps.
That's why, beyond building his own team, Lin Mo knew he needed to start seeking the right allies and external support.
And if you're going to find allies, the most important trait is reliability. You don't need them to die for you, but at the very least, they shouldn't kick you while you're down.
Look at all the factions scattered across Night City—even a quick glance reveals that trustworthy allies are rare.
In a place like this, there's no such thing as a law-abiding or morally righteous gang. So Lin Mo had to pick the least bad of a rotten bunch.
—The Mox were his top choice. Valentinos made it into the candidate list, but just barely.
The Mox were a coalition of sex workers banded together for mutual protection. They held some influence in Little China. Their foundation wasn't deep, but that made them easier to manage—and any problem that could be solved with money wasn't really a problem.
As for the Valentinos, they only made the list because of Jackie and his mother.
One of Night City's biggest gangs, the Valentinos had enough blood on their hands to sink a cargo freighter, but again—he didn't have many better options. Compared to the other scum, they were the cleaner shirt in a pile of laundry.
Besides, there was Father, a respected fixer within the Valentinos. His gigs in the game weren't overly shady and his reputation was solid. At the very least, he seemed trustworthy—for now.
Still, none of that had come to fruition yet. Lin Mo decided not to dwell on it.
"I thought that at your age, just forming a crew was already impressive. But now it turns out you're playing a whole different game. Are you planning to carve out a piece of Night City and crown yourself emperor?" Jackie asked, half-joking.
"You'll know in time, Jackie. Nothing's concrete yet, and I can't give you answers for things I haven't even pulled off." Lin Mo chuckled, shaking his head.
"Fair enough. You've got enough tricks up your sleeve—who knows what you'll accomplish?" Jackie replied with a laugh.
As they chatted, they reached the bar's entrance. Outside were a few Mox members and some joytoys trying to pick up clients.
"Need a ride?" Lin Mo offered.
Jackie grinned. "I'm not that down bad, kid. I'll manage. Catch you next time, Lin Mo."
Lin Mo nodded and walked Jackie to the corner. Watching the sparse stream of cars passing by, he couldn't help but ask:
"How about I call you a Delamain cab? It's late. You planning to walk to the metro?"
"Let's just call it a workout. No biggie." Jackie chuckled.
Lin Mo hesitated a moment before saying, "I've got a used Yaiba Kusanagi CT-3X. If you don't mind, think of it as a welcome gift for joining the crew. You want it?"
"The CT-3X? The one they say will kill you if you ride it without reflex boosters?" Jackie looked tempted, but eventually scratched his head and declined.
"Tempting, but I'm more of an ARCH Nazare guy. Gonna save up and mod it myself—that's the dream."
Lin Mo nodded, about to say something else—but the words caught in his throat.
His expression turned ice cold. Brow furrowed, muscles tensing like a predator mid-hunt, he suddenly snapped his head upward.
A massive silhouette dropped straight down from the rooftop of a nearby apartment building—upright, with glowing red eyes like a wolf stalking prey in the dark.
A killing intent screamed down from above. His sixth sense roared with warnings.
No hesitation—Lin Mo immediately triggered his Sandevistan.
Time slowed. The murderous force in the air grew sluggish under the effect. The primal fear in his chest eased slightly.
No time to think. He grabbed the still-unaware Jackie and dove to the side.
In the next instant, a shadowy figure landed hard, metal slamming into concrete, cracking the pavement with a thunderous impact. Dust and debris exploded outward. Vision blurred.
All that remained visible—those twin crimson eyes cutting through the haze.
Since installing the Sandevistan, and with his Reflex stat now at 14, Lin Mo had never once looked his enemies in the eye.
Living in this split-second world of slowed time, he'd gotten used to strolling around like a phantom. To everyone else, he was a blur. Most couldn't even see him.
Why bother looking back at people who couldn't see you?
But this time—this time was different.
Even within this slowed world, where everything moved like molasses, those red eyes had locked onto him. Piercing the dust. Following his every move.
He'd been seen in the gap between seconds.
This thing—whatever it was—shouldn't have had a full Sandevistan. Maybe some minor reflex cyberware at best.
And yet, like a beast sensing the wind shift, it had noticed him.
A fly's compound eyes give it a slowed perception of the world—but even the fastest fly wouldn't buzz near a frog. The frog might not track it clearly—but the tongue can.
Lin Mo's instincts blared. A sensation like never before rose in him—part fear, part exhilaration. The thrill of finally meeting a worthy opponent.
In this still world, where everything was black-and-white, he had always been the lone splash of color.
Now, in that void—he saw red.
How could he not feel excited?
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