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"Alright, catch you later, David!"
Lin Mo quickly hung up the call, knowing full well David would likely be left feeling a bit annoyed. Who praises someone for their potential to become a legend one minute, only to rush them off the call the next?
But Lin Mo didn't have time to worry about that. After hanging up, he turned to Hiroshi, noticing his serious expression. "Gunfire?" he asked.
"Yeah, gunshots. Pretty faint but not far from here. I've got a hearing enhancer, so I can pick up a little more than most," Hiroshi nodded slightly, focusing again as he tried to pinpoint the sound.
Lin Mo raised an eyebrow. "You've got enhanced hearing that can pick up gunshots all the way outside this bar?"
It was impressive considering how soundproof Lizzie's Bar was. Even in the private rooms, where the music from the dance floor would typically be overwhelming, the walls muted the noise to a soft hum. Privacy was key here — no one was supposed to hear anything that could ruin someone's night.
Hiroshi smiled knowingly. "Guess I surprised you there. Want to guess what my most valuable implant is?"
Lin Mo thought for a moment. "Isn't it your subdermal armor?"
Hiroshi shook his head. "Nope. My most valuable implant is actually my hearing enhancer. It picks up sound waves, processes them, and delivers the data directly to my auditory cortex. It's specially tuned for gunfire."
"So, it's optimized for gunshots, but you can adjust it for other sounds too?" Lin Mo asked.
"Exactly. It's an older model, but still reliable. Got it off a lab tech long ago," Hiroshi said, tapping his ear.
"How much could you sell it for?" Lin Mo asked, curious.
Hiroshi chuckled, holding up one finger.
"A million eddies?"
"No, no. Not that much — it's about ten thousand, tops."
Lin Mo blinked, a little let down. "That's it?"
Hiroshi smirked but then grew serious. "Look, those gunshots aren't nothing. Every sound of gunfire is a sign of opportunity. You've heard the saying, 'The snipe and the clam fight, and the merc profits,' right? When two gangs or corpos are going at it, edge-runners like us can slip in, score some gear or creds, and leave before anyone notices. We don't need to be tied down by any gang politics."
Lin Mo narrowed his eyes. "This isn't just about money, though, right?"
Hiroshi's expression hardened. "I need money, Lin. It's not just about paying you back; it's for my sister, for her future. I'm broke, and I need every chance I can get to make some eddies."
Lin Mo considered his words. He remembered the simulation from yesterday. There had been a mention of potential trouble tonight, and the small fight earlier today had already aligned with what he'd seen.
Following Hiroshi might lead to some gains, but more importantly, it could help him understand how to read the simulations and predict future events. If this turned out to be a small scuffle, it would be a good way to test the waters without major risk.
"Alright," Lin Mo said with a smile, standing up and grabbing his Arasaka blade. "Let's go see what's going on."
The two left their booth and moved through the bar. As they walked, Lin Mo glanced at the spot where he'd earlier noticed the strange guy with the cybernetic arms — the one who had looked out of place. But now, the guy was gone.
When they stepped outside the bar, the gunshots became much clearer, though they still weren't close.
"It's coming from that parking lot," Hiroshi said, pointing toward an area a few blocks away.
They moved through the streets of Night City, where the neon lights of holograms and advertisements lit up the evening like a second sun. The city seemed to never sleep — always alive with its own chaotic energy.
Soon, they arrived at a large parking lot. Burned-out car husks dotted the area, alongside vehicles that were still operational. A few barrels burned in the corners, probably leftover from a recent street party.
The scene before them was chaotic. Two men were pinned down behind a heavily modified SUV, returning fire at a group of attackers who had taken cover around the parking lot. The group outnumbered the two by at least five-to-one, but the two held their ground.
"Looks like a firefight between small-time gangs," Hiroshi whispered, crouching behind a nearby wall with Lin Mo. "The two by the SUV... they're holding out pretty well."
Lin Mo narrowed his eyes, focusing on the two defenders. That's when he recognized one of them — the guy with the strange cyber-arms he'd noticed earlier in Lizzie's Bar. The other guy with him looked like some kind of old-school cowboy.
Just as they were observing the scene, Lin Mo noticed movement nearby. Three men, breathing heavily and holding guns, had approached their hiding spot. They were part of the gang attacking the two defenders.
Both Lin Mo and Hiroshi noticed them at the same time.
The three gang members froze for a moment, clearly not expecting to find anyone else here.
One of them, recovering from his shock, immediately raised his voice, shouting, "Hey! Over here! We've got company — more of them hiding!"