Let me say it again because some people clearly don't get it:I keep seeing complaints about the lack of updates on We b no vel and W at tp ad. And honestly? I don't care.Yes, some novels haven't been updated in over a week. But I'm going through a breakup that's torn me apart. I lost my cat. I've lost friends. And there's a lot more going on that you don't see.
Don't come at me with nonsense about updates.Everything is up to date on Patreon, and if you want more, that's where it is.I'm posting this message there too — and over there, people are kind. They get it. They never complain, even when I make mistakes. Thank you for that.
I'll post on We bn ovel and Wa tt pa d when I have the strength to. Not before.
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"Alright, that's it for now, David. I'm hanging up."
Lin Mo ended the call casually and without hesitation.
He couldn't see David's face, but he could already imagine the slightly wounded look on it.
Seriously, who praises someone like "you'll be a legend someday" and then hangs up immediately like it's no big deal?
But Lin Mo had no time to dwell on that. After hanging up, he turned to Kitagawa Hiro with a serious look. "Gunshots?"
"Yeah. Not far from the bar. Faint, but I picked them up—got an auditory booster installed," Hiro explained, nodding.
He then fell silent and narrowed his eyes, concentrating fully on filtering the faint gunfire through his cyber-enhanced hearing.
"You serious? You can hear gunshots through all this?" Lin Mo was genuinely surprised.
After all, the soundproofing in Lizzie's Bar was top-notch. Even the blasting music from the dance floor sounded like kitten purrs inside the private rooms.
This ensured full privacy for... whatever activities people might get up to in here.
And Hiro was still picking up gunshots? That was definitely "elf ears" tier.
Seeing Lin Mo's surprised expression, Hiro felt a small swell of pride.
Finally impressed the kid!
"Didn't expect that, did you?" Hiro smirked and straightened his back slightly. "Take a guess, Lin-kun. What do you think is my most valuable implant?"
"Your Skinweave?" Lin Mo guessed at first. Then quickly realized: "Wait—don't tell me it's that basic-looking hearing enhancer?"
"Bingo." Hiro nodded.
"It gathers sound waves, processes them, then sends them to my auditory nerves. But the kicker is, it's fine-tuned to be hypersensitive to gunshots. Other sound types have to be manually adjusted."
"So it's specialized—super sensitive to gunfire, but everything else has to be customized?" Lin Mo summed it up.
"Exactly. Got it by chance years ago. Supposedly a prototype from some lab. Not the latest version anymore, but still solid," Hiro said, tapping his ear.
"How much is it worth if you sell it?" Lin Mo asked, curious.
Hiro proudly raised one finger.
"Whoa. A hundred thousand?" Lin Mo nearly jumped.
Hiro gave him a deadpan look. "No, Lin-kun. It's not military-grade. Just ten thousand eddies."
...That's it?
Lin Mo blinked and sighed in disappointment.
He didn't mention that his undershirt alone cost more than that.
"So, those gunshots you heard... Tyger Claws?" Lin Mo asked again.
"No," Hiro said, pausing to listen again. "Sounds like a minor turf skirmish. Wait—now I'm hearing explosions too..."
"You think they'll come this way? Could it really be the Tyger Claws?"
Lin Mo instinctively reached for his Black Unicorn, imagining a vivid scene—Mox gunners in full shootout against incoming Tyger Claws on motorcycles and souped-up rides, bullets flying everywhere.
"Nah. The Mox are too well established these days. Tyger Claws wouldn't dare pick a fight here unless they wanted war. It's probably just two random gangs going at it."
"So why tell me all this?" Lin Mo frowned.
"I just heard the noise and thought I'd share," Hiro said seriously. "The Mox are guarding the bar. Nobody's getting in."
"Then why the dramatic delivery?!" Lin Mo groaned.
The tone, the serious look, interrupting his call like it was DEFCON 1—
Lin Mo had half expected Hiro to say the frontlines were collapsing and that they needed their commander back in action.
Turned out it was just two drunkards brawling at the corner.
"This is Night City. A couple of gunshots don't even qualify as news," Lin Mo muttered.
Hiro didn't look embarrassed. He simply said, "You know why I pay attention to stuff like this, Lin-kun?"
"Because you've got nothing better to do?" Lin Mo said, not even trying to hide his annoyance. This whole back-and-forth was costing him precious braindance time.
"No, everything's still functioning down there, thanks," Hiro said with a straight face, missing the sarcasm completely. "I meant—every gunshot is a potential opportunity. Like the Huaguo saying: 'When the clam and the crane fight, the fisherman profits.'"
"Whoever's fighting, we can sneak in, assess the situation, and if there's loot to be had—grab it. If it's too risky? We bounce."
There was a gleam of ambition in his eyes.
"The Mox can't get involved directly. They've got turf and politics to worry about. But us? We're edge-runners. Nobodies. We don't have to pick sides—we just look for openings."
"I don't meddle unless I have to," Lin Mo replied flatly. "And don't pretend this is all about profit."
"You're right. I won't lie. I need eddies. Not just to repay you—but to pay off debts, and make sure my sister can live better. I wouldn't normally risk anything... but now? I'm broke," Hiro said solemnly.
In other words: desperate.
Lin Mo eyed him in silence, brows furrowed. Then he recalled something—
Didn't the simulator mention tonight would get messy?
He thought back to yesterday's sim run—the reward had been one attribute point and one perk point.
That was probably tied to the midday skirmish—and what was about to happen now.
If he didn't tag along, Hiro might die. But if he did... maybe he'd gain more insight into how the simulator's logic worked.
It was a small-scale mess—for now.
But what about when the simulator predicted something big? He'd need a frame of reference.
"If you're not coming, I'll go alone. If it looks bad, I'll bail," Hiro said with a bow, preparing to leave.
But Lin Mo stood up, grabbing his katana.
"Let's go. Might as well enjoy the show."
He downed the last of his expensive juice like a warrior taking a swig of pre-battle liquor. The blade in his hand gleamed under the neon lights.
—
They left the booth and crossed the dance floor.
Lin Mo glanced at the corner where the cyberarm freak had been.
Gone.
Outside, the gunfire was much louder now. Even without enhancements, Lin Mo could hear it coming from down the street.
"Parking lot," Hiro guessed. "I know the place."
"Let's go."
Night City was waking up, like a beast stirring from slumber.
Neon and holograms painted the skyline in artificial starlight. A breathtaking illusion—one not meant for everyone.
The streets were mostly empty. The few people out were vagrants seeking warmth in the neon glow.
Eventually, they reached a wide open parking lot filled with abandoned vehicles, a few functional ones, and several rusted-out husks.
Metal barrels burned with open flames, wire grates laid over them. Someone had hosted a small gathering here recently.
The sound of gunfire crackled ahead.
About a dozen thugs had taken over one half of the lot. On the other side, only two people held the line, sheltering behind a modified SUV.
Despite being outnumbered, they held their ground like it was nothing.
Lin Mo recognized the vehicle: a Kaiser 720. Reinforced armor, bulletproof windows. On the road, it was a rolling fortress.
Then he looked closer—and his pupils shrank.
It was them.
The cyberarm guy and the cowboy.
Same two from Lizzie's Bar.
Since the lot was exposed and near a commercial strip, Lin Mo and Hiro ducked into the landscaping shrubs nearby—well-hidden.
"Let's observe for now. Don't make a move," Hiro said, glancing back.
Then he froze.
Because Lin Mo had already sighed, spread his hands in exasperation, and pointed.
Hiro followed his finger—
Three panting thugs, armed, had just arrived. Probably reinforcements.
Tattoos on their arms matched the gang from the parking lot.
And now... the three of them were staring right back at Hiro and Lin Mo.
Dead silence.
Then one of the newcomers shouted:
"Hey! Backup! They've got reinforcements! Kill 'em!!"
.
.
.
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