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After grabbing his personal gear, Lin Mo headed toward his old private base—a small warehouse he had converted years ago.
Originally, it had been just one of the many vacant garages scattered across the large estate. The sprawling property, which housed only Lin Mo and his sister Xu Wanxue, had several unused buildings, including warehouses and carports that hadn't seen a car in years.
When they first moved into this luxurious mansion, the estate's designers had planned for it to accommodate a large family, complete with garages for personal cars, flying vehicle landing pads, and guest parking areas. But with no servants or additional family members, many parts of the estate went untouched.
This particular garage, however, had been Lin Mo's secret hideaway until Xu Wanxue discovered it during one of her random inspections. To her horror, she found her brother training his muscles and playing with equipment he'd scavenged—an effort she quickly shut down by sealing off the garage.
Lin Mo smiled faintly as he approached the entrance, memories flooding back. Pulling out the key his sister had given him, he unlocked the garage door.
A sleek, sky-blue Rayfield Caliburn roared to life as it shot out from the garage like a bullet. The thunderous growl of its engine echoed across the estate as the car weaved along the winding paths.
The Rayfield Caliburn—one of the finest and fastest hypercars in Night City—was a marvel of engineering. Its aerodynamic design made it look like a blade slicing through the air. Every contour screamed speed, power, and elegance, with a low-profile body that hugged the ground as if it was part of the landscape itself.
The car shot past the mansion's carefully manicured lawns, leaving scorched tire marks in its wake as it bolted toward the estate's gates. In mere seconds, the landscape around Lin Mo blurred, becoming a fluid motion of color and light. The Caliburn was known for its power, capable of reaching insane speeds, but Lin Mo controlled it effortlessly, his focus razor-sharp.
Inside the car, there was no traditional windshield. Instead, Rayfield's advanced "CrystalDome" technology projected a 360-degree view of the world around him onto the car's internal surfaces, allowing for a seamless driving experience. No barriers, no limits.
With the speedometer needle pushing further right, the car's engine roared from a deep hum to a ferocious snarl, a dragon unleashed on the open road. Lin Mo's hand barely touched the steering wheel, his other hand free to adjust the car's settings as he cruised at breakneck speeds.
Cranking up the volume on the car's radio, the cockpit filled with the sound of energetic rock music that perfectly matched the Caliburn's intensity. The sensation was pure adrenaline—heart pounding, mind racing, speed rushing through his veins.
However, as he approached the outskirts of North Oak, Lin Mo gradually eased off the accelerator. It wasn't because he wanted to slow down, but because the traffic density was increasing. Other cars started populating the road ahead.
"Drive smart, live longer," Lin Mo muttered, quoting one of Night City's many cautionary ads about reckless driving.
He tapped the car's console to activate the autopilot, allowing the vehicle's sophisticated systems to take control. The speed slowly dropped to a more reasonable level, and the Caliburn began cruising smoothly toward Night City's bustling districts.
With a moment to breathe, Lin Mo opened his comms and dialed up Kawahara Hiro, a trusted companion.
"Long time no see, Lin-kun. Got something planned today?" Kawahara Hiro's voice came through, direct and professional as always.
Lin Mo chuckled. "How'd you guess? Maybe I just wanted to grab a drink with you at the Afterlife."
Kawahara laughed lightly. "You mentioned before that our ops tend to happen once a week. It's been exactly a week since our last gig. I figured you'd call."
Well, he wasn't wrong. Lin Mo smirked. "Alright, you caught me. But really, got some time? Your sister okay?"
A shadow passed over Hiro's face on the holo-screen. "She's still recovering... but I believe she'll pull through. In fact, she'd love to meet you, her savior, again. You're welcome anytime."
Lin Mo nodded. "I'll swing by your place first. After that, we'll grab the gig from Wakako."
"Understood. I'll be ready." Kawahara Hiro's face disappeared as the call ended.
As Lin Mo relaxed in the driver's seat, the Caliburn smoothly navigating through the city, he decided to make another call. This time, to David.
"Yo, Lin Mo, what's up?" David's voice came through, laced with impatience.
Same old David, Lin Mo thought, amused. "Not much. Just thought I'd rub something in your face."
"Huh?" David grunted, suspicious.
Lin Mo sent him a picture. A few moments later, David's exasperated voice filled the airwaves. "Dude, seriously? A Caliburn? What the hell are you sending me that for?"
Lin Mo chuckled. "Just wanted to show you the new ride. My sister gifted it to me."
David rolled his eyes. "Great. Lucky you. What's it got to do with me?"
"How about I let you take it for a spin?"
There was a long pause. "Nah, not interested," David muttered, trying to sound indifferent.
"Come on," Lin Mo coaxed. "It's the Caliburn. You know you want to. It'd be the perfect first car for someone like you."
"Pass. And stop wasting my time. What do you actually want?" David said, but Lin Mo could hear the curiosity creeping into his tone.
"Alright, alright," Lin Mo grinned. "I'm setting up a little side gig. You down to help me out during your free time? It'd be good money."
"A side gig? What kind of side gig?" David's interest was piqued.
"Think of it as... a waste recovery project. Nothing too complicated. Plus, it pays well. You wouldn't have to quit school."
David hesitated. "I don't know, man... My mom's got me locked into this corpo career track. Not sure how she'll feel about me doing side jobs."
"I get it. But if you're interested, the offer's open. And you know I pay well."
David paused again before finally responding. "Alright. I'll think about it. If it doesn't mess with my classes, I'm in."
"Good. Let me know," Lin Mo said, satisfied.
After wrapping up the conversation with David, Lin Mo checked his messages. As expected, Wakako had already sent the details of the new job, along with confirmation that the Sandevistan Mk. III was ready for pickup.
Everything was falling into place just as the simulation had predicted. Lin Mo replied to Wakako's message with a simple:
[Got it.]