With a sharp clang, the elevator doors creaked open. A woman and a young boy stepped inside as the gears groaned and the elevator ascended slowly. After a few moments, they reached the second level.
They were now on White Birch Street, just above the chaotic neon-lit sprawl of Jig-Jig Street. The fact that they had made it this far meant one thing—they had successfully evaded the immediate danger of the Tiger Claws.
"Where's your car?" Lin Mo asked, casually brushing off small flecks of blood from his jacket as though they were just dirt.
Strapped across his back was the ancient, otherworldly Black Unicorn Katana. It was an oversized blade, almost comical against his small frame. The sword's length and design made Lin Mo look out of place, like a character from some fantasy holo-vid, rather than a kid navigating the grim reality of Night City.
But there was no way around it. Once an item was pulled from the UltraDream Simulator, it couldn't be returned. He was stuck carrying it, regardless of how absurd it looked.
Xu Wanxue, the woman Lin Mo had saved, found it all a bit amusing. Seeing a kid with a sword nearly his height strapped to his back was more charming than intimidating—though she had seen firsthand just how deadly that sword could be.
"Just a few steps ahead, in the open-air parking lot," she replied, smiling softly. She took Lin Mo's hand as they continued walking.
Lin Mo didn't resist. He let her lead, following her through the dimly lit street. It was late, and most of Night City had retreated indoors, leaving the neon signs blinking in the dark and the ever-present hum of drones overhead. Towering buildings cast cold, artificial light on everything below, keeping the city's cyberpunk glow alive.
Now that they were out of immediate danger, Xu Wanxue's mood lightened. She even stole a few glances at Lin Mo, still trying to process the events of the night.
She could hardly believe what had happened. It started with a winning streak at a pachinko machine, and suddenly, she found herself on the hit list of the Tiger Claws. Her life had been on the line, and it was this boy—this strange, quiet boy—who had saved her.
His speed, his calmness under pressure, the way he'd drawn that katana from seemingly nowhere... Everything about him was a mystery.
"Thank you for saving me tonight," Xu Wanxue said softly, turning her gaze toward him. "If it weren't for you, I don't think I'd be alive right now."
Lin Mo met her eyes briefly, his expression unreadable. "You don't need to thank me. If you hadn't pushed that Tiger Claw, I'd probably be dead too."
The way he spoke, so casual about life and death, made Xu Wanxue pause. It was unsettling hearing such words from someone so young. For a moment, she forgot he was just a boy.
"Still, you helped me," she insisted, her voice gentle. "If you want anything as a reward, just let me know. And by the way, where do you live? It's late. Do you need me to drive you home?"
Lin Mo lowered his head, his messy hair swaying gently in the night breeze. His voice, calm and steady, carried a weight that was all too familiar to him.
"I don't have a home anymore," he said flatly, as though discussing the weather.
Xu Wanxue's heart sank.
"I've lived on Jig-Jig Street all my life. But now... after killing a Tiger Claw, there's no going back."
For the first time, Xu Wanxue saw the vulnerable side of the boy who had saved her. Beneath the hardened exterior, beneath the maturity he carried so effortlessly, was a kid—lost and alone in the chaos of Night City. His calmness now seemed like a defense, shielding him from the pain he clearly carried.
She wanted to hug him, to tell him it would be okay. But out here, on the streets, it wasn't the time or place.
Silence stretched between them as they continued walking, broken only when they reached the parking lot.
Xu Wanxue led him to a sleek, blue Quadra Type-66 Avenger, a sporty car that screamed corporate wealth. Its angular design and streamlined shape made it a favorite among Night City's mid-tier corpos. It wasn't the most luxurious vehicle in town, but it was fast, reliable, and expensive enough to make a statement.
With a flick of her wrist, she unlocked the car using her Biometric Chip, the vehicle beeping in response.
Opening the passenger side door, she gestured for Lin Mo to get in. Without hesitation, he climbed into the seat, resting his oversized katana beside him.
Xu Wanxue got behind the wheel, and the engine roared to life. The car purred as it pulled smoothly out of the lot.
Lin Mo leaned his head against the window, watching the neon-lit streets of Night City whizz by. It was his first time leaving Jig-Jig Street since arriving in this world. He knew this was more than just a drive—this was the turning point of his life.
"So, what's your name?" Xu Wanxue asked, breaking the silence. "I'm Xu Wanxue. I work for Kang Tao."
"Lin Mo," he replied simply.
"Really? You're Chinese?" she asked, surprised.
Japan Town—and by extension, Jig-Jig Street—was home to a mix of Japanese and East Asian residents. Finding someone from China, especially a kid like Lin Mo, was rare.
"I think so," Lin Mo replied. "I'm an orphan. But that's the name on my ID."
Xu Wanxue glanced at him, a thought forming in her mind. It was bold, maybe even reckless, but...
"If you don't mind me asking... how would you feel about being adopted?"
Lin Mo turned to her, genuinely surprised. He blinked, unsure if she was serious or just trying to be nice. "You sure about that... Auntie?"
Smack!
Xu Wanxue gave him a playful slap on the forehead, pretending to be offended. "Auntie? I'm only 21! Call me 'sister.'"
Lin Mo rubbed his forehead, barely holding back a smile. "So... should I call you 'Mom' instead?"
The question caught her off guard, her heart skipping a beat. For a moment, she hesitated, feeling something stir within her.
"Call me 'sister,'" she said firmly, though a soft smile tugged at her lips.
"Well, in ancient times, an older sister was basically like a second mother," Lin Mo teased, keeping a straight face.
Xu Wanxue laughed, shaking her head. "Where on earth did you learn that?"
"Picked it up from the locals," Lin Mo said with a shrug.
Xu Wanxue chuckled. "Alright, enough with that. What I really want to know is—where did you get that katana?"
Her curiosity had been eating at her ever since he pulled the sword out during the fight.
Lin Mo's expression grew serious. "You really want to know?"
"Is it a secret?" she asked, eyebrow raised.
Lin Mo leaned closer, his voice dropping to a dramatic whisper. "When I was six, I met a beggar on Jig-Jig Street."
"A beggar?" she repeated, incredulous.
"Yeah," Lin Mo said, keeping a straight face. "He looked like he hadn't eaten in days, so I bought him some food. In return, he said I had 'potential' and offered to sell me a katana for 10 eddies."
Xu Wanxue blinked. "And you believed him?"
"Of course not," Lin Mo deadpanned. "But I gave him the 10 eddies anyway. He told me that one day, when I was in danger, the katana would appear in my hands."
Xu Wanxue stared at him, half expecting the punchline. "And did it?"
Lin Mo let out an exaggerated sigh. "Auntie, I made that story up to mess with you."
Xu Wanxue burst out laughing, shaking her head. "You little brat…"
She glanced over at him with a grin. "Alright, I won't press you for the truth. How's the air? You comfortable?"
"Yeah, it's fine."
She thought for a moment. "How about this—we make a deal. I'll give you 500 eddies a month for pocket money, but only if you stop calling me 'Auntie' and stick with 'Sister.' Deal?"
Lin Mo's eyes brightened. "Deal, Sister."
Xu Wanxue chuckled. "You little money-grubber."
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