Little China, Misty's Esoterica.
The thick incense hanging in the air made the shop feel heavy and drowsy.
Even though it was midday—the brightest time of the day—inside, the atmosphere was dim, as though twilight had already fallen, draping everything in a dusky glow.
Flickering candles, painted human skulls, porcelain etched with intricate patterns, ornate trinkets, and gleaming idols—all of it spoke to the occult, every object declaring that this was no ordinary shop, but a place of mysticism and fortune-telling.
Stepping inside, you might feel like you'd wandered into some South American voodoo den. Against the backdrop of Night City's chrome-and-neon modernity, the old-world mystic aesthetic was jarringly out of place.
Outside, the street buzzed with noise—a red-light strip, full of neon and temptation. Streetwalkers, flaunting their bodies, hustled for work even under the bright sun, while streams of passersby filled the sidewalks.
Directly across the street loomed Gomorrah, a nightclub as notorious as its biblical namesake.
In the Book of Genesis, Gomorrah was a city annihilated by God for its wickedness, its sins too great to forgive. Here, the name carried the same weight. The glowing pink sign blazed with lurid light, a massive bouncer loomed by the door, and in the front windows, instead of mannequins in clothes, real women gyrated in lingerie, their curves on full display. Their dances made even broad daylight feel like the descent into a decadent midnight.
The scene pulled every eye.
A young man—clearly not from this district—stood dumbstruck before the window, heart pounding. Until now, he'd only ever seen such sights inside a braindance.
"Lin Mo… what are we doing here? My mom would never let me set foot in a place like this."
David swallowed hard but managed to wrench his eyes away. His gaze cleared, his face stiffened, and he declared with righteous fervor:
"I'm not the kind of man to fall into lust. I won't wallow in sin."
Lin Mo chuckled, eyebrows raised. He grabbed David's shoulder, spun him around, and pointed across the street.
"That's our destination."
David blinked at the sign above the shop. Misty's Esoterica.
"Wait—why the hell is there a fortune-teller in a place like this?"
It was the obvious question. Anyone would ask it.
Lin Mo smirked. "Think about it. One side, a parlor for confession, meditation, and peace of mind. The other, a den of indulgence. Different methods, same goal: stress relief. Picture it—someone leaves the club, body satisfied but spirit still hollow. They see this place and think, 'I've sinned, I need cleansing.'"
"Or vice versa: someone leaves after divination, sees the club, and thinks, 'I've been absolved. Now I can sin a little more—the gods will forgive me.'"
David stared at him, stunned. At first it sounded like nonsense—but the more he thought about it, the more sense it made.
"Lin Mo… you really know how the world works," he muttered in awe. Since running with him, his eyes had been opened again and again.
"Quit yapping. Let's go in."
David stumbled forward, almost tripping over himself in his rush. His awkward entrance drew the attention of the woman behind the counter.
Wearing a blue leather jacket, her hair a dark blonde, Misty looked up with a gentle smile.
"What brings you here, boy?"
David opened his mouth to answer, but Lin Mo stepped in smoothly, tugging him aside.
"Been a while, Misty."
"Lin Mo! You're here." Her smile brightened as she stood to greet him. She wasn't expecting him, but her perceptive eyes quickly noted David standing behind.
"You're here to see Viktor, aren't you? He's in the back—no patients right now. Go on in. And… this must be your new friend?"
Lin Mo nodded, stepping aside to introduce him.
"Yeah. His name's David. He's part of our crew—Jackie's little brother."
David's eyes lit up. Quick to grab the chance, he chimed in:
"Nice to meet you, Miss Misty. I'm David. Jackie's taught me a few things—guess you could say I'm his student."
He scratched his head sheepishly. "Though we only met recently, so maybe he hasn't mentioned me yet."
Misty laughed softly and waved. "That doesn't matter. We've met now. Hello, David."
Lin Mo let them exchange a few words before sliding back into the conversation.
"I'd like to talk with Viktor for a bit. Misty, could David stay here with you while I go see him?"
Misty blinked, then smiled warmly.
"Of course. I'll keep him company. Besides, Jackie already told me—David's joined your crew. If he's Jackie's student, that makes him my junior, too."
Lin Mo nodded, thanked her, then turned to David, giving a few parting instructions.
"Wait here. I'll bring you in to meet Vik afterward."
David bobbed his head quickly, agreeing without hesitation.
As Lin Mo slipped into the back, Misty studied David thoughtfully. After a pause, she asked, intrigued:
"David… while you're here, would you like me to give you a reading?"
"A… reading?" David blinked. His mind jumped back to what he'd learned at school.
"You mean, like monks' stuff?"
Misty laughed gently and shook her head.
"No. This is a different branch of mysticism. Think of it like a game. Watch me, and you'll understand."
David hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. I'll try."
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MY CYBERPUNK 2077 SIMULATOR
🧠💻 MY CYBERPUNK 2077 SIMULATOR 💻🧠
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📢 SYSTEM ONLINE! 📢
My Cyberpunk 2077 Simulator has 100+ chapters ahead available on Patreon! 💾🔥
Enter Night City with a simulator, a system, and the kind of advantage most mercs would kill for.
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⚙️ Level up.🔫 Fight harder.🌃 Stay alive.💀 Or get swallowed by the city.
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🌃 Cyberpunk: Dogtown Legend🔥 Cyberpunk: The Relentless👩👦 Cyberpunk: Lucy Adopted Me and I Got a System🤖 My Girlfriend's a Cyberpsycho—Who Knew?🛡️ Star Wars: The Rise of Mandalore🌌 Star Wars: Relics of the Past🏰 Game of Thrones: Secrets Beneath the Dreadfort⚡ The Rebirth of Harry Potter🌹 R18: Reincarnated in Her World
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