"Long time no see, Lin."
Descending the stairs, Lin Mo was greeted by Maine, the towering leader of the Edgerunner crew. His dark skin gleamed under the flickering streetlights, and his smile widened—a mix of warmth and opportunism, like he was greeting a walking ATM.
After all, Lin Mo's payout was nothing to sneeze at. Despite Maine's usual reservations about rich kids, it was hard to ignore cold, hard eddies, and Lin Mo didn't fit the typical mold—no arrogance, no corporate airs.
"Lin Mo, it's been a few days," said Falco, the crew's driver, offering a polite nod. To Lin Mo's surprise, Falco had even learned a few words of Chinese, referring to him as "young friend." It was a small touch, but Lin Mo appreciated it.
The rest of the crew followed suit, exchanging their own greetings. Pilar, with his usual sleazy grin, shot a look that spoke volumes, but before he could say something crude, his sister Rebecca delivered a swift kick to the back of his knee, sending him to the ground.
Satisfied with her brother's reprimand, Rebecca turned, hands shoved into her jacket pockets. "Yo, Lin Mo. Been a week," she said, her voice casual but playful.
The rest of the crew acknowledged him: Dorio, the crew's second-in-command, gave a brief nod, while Sasha, their netrunner, offered a polite smile.
Lin Mo returned each greeting with a nod, his tone serious. "Good to see everyone. But let's skip the small talk. Wakako should've briefed you. You know why we're here, right?"
At Lin Mo's words, Maine's usual friendly demeanor faded, replaced with focus. Edgerunners like Maine knew when to flip the switch to professionalism—they knew what they were getting into.
"Straight to business, huh?" Rebecca muttered from where she leaned against a car, absently playing with the twin pistols strapped to her sides. She looked bored, but ready.
"So, where are the Scavs holed up?" Maine asked, turning his attention back to Lin Mo.
Lin Mo glanced at Hiro, who had been quiet since the crew's arrival. Clearly, Hiro wasn't too comfortable with the Edgerunners yet. Still, he stepped forward, clearing his throat before speaking.
"They're camped out in that abandoned factory. See the water tower over there?" Hiro pointed to the distant structure, half-hidden in the shadows. From where they stood on the street, the factory wasn't entirely visible.
Hiro suggested, "It's hard to get a good look from here. Let's head to the rooftop, get a clearer view of the layout."
Maine nodded, and the group made their way to the rooftop together.
Once they reached the top, the crew scanned the factory grounds below. The water tower Hiro mentioned stood out, looming over the site like a sentinel. Scavs moved around the yard, their numbers unsettling.
"There's at least fifty of them out in the open," Dorio said, her sharp eyes assessing the scene. "That's not counting anyone holed up inside."
"Infiltration?" Maine asked, looking at Lin Mo. As the crew leader, Maine knew the importance of consulting the one paying the bill, even if it meant stepping aside.
Maine wasn't afraid of Scavs, but charging in without a plan was a quick way to get iced.
Rebecca, predictably, had a different take. "Infiltration? Screw that. We should just blast in there, guns blazing. These Scav bastards don't stand a chance." Her fingers twitched on her pistols, making a pew pew sound with her mouth.
Pilar, still rubbing his sore knee, sneered. "With your height, you'd be the first one to catch a bullet, Becca."
Rebecca's eyes narrowed, and in a flash, her pistols were aimed squarely at her brother's head. "You wanna die today, dear brother?" she growled, her voice dangerously low.
Ignoring the sibling quarrel, Maine looked back at Lin Mo, waiting for his decision. "What's your call?"
Lin Mo considered the situation, nodding. "I agree. A full-frontal assault would be reckless. Infiltration's the safer option."
Maine smiled, satisfied. "Alright. Dorio and Sasha will sneak in. Pilar and Rebecca will provide cover. I'll create a distraction to keep them busy."
He turned to Hiro, eyeing the sniper rifle slung across his back. "And you? What's your specialty?"
Hiro wordlessly raised his Nekomata sniper rifle, the sleek, lethal weapon gleaming under the moonlight. "I'll stay up here and provide overwatch. If things get tight, I can join the fray on the ground."
The crew exchanged glances, surprised by the rifle. Maine's grin widened. "Good. Having a sniper in play just made our lives a lot easier."
"You sure you can handle the front by yourself?" Dorio asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
Maine chuckled, tapping his metal arm, the sound of heavy cyberware clanging beneath synthetic skin. "These Scavs? They're no match for me."
As Lin Mo watched Maine, he realized just how much chrome the Edgerunner was packing. Maine might look human, but beneath the skin, he was more machine than man—military-grade cyberware, the kind that made Scavs look like amateurs.
"Looks like we're good to go," Maine said, cracking his knuckles as the team prepared to move out.
Just as the group was ready to descend the stairs, Lin Mo raised a hand. "Hold on. You forgot someone."
The crew turned, confused. They had assumed Lin Mo would hang back and let them handle the dirty work.
"Wakako said you were the client," Dorio said, her voice tinged with surprise. "Are you really planning to jump in?"
Rebecca snorted, unimpressed. "Don't overextend yourself, kid."
Sasha gave Lin Mo a worried glance. "There's no need to risk it."
Lin Mo sighed, feeling a sense of déjà vu. How many times had he faced this kind of skepticism?
Rather than argue, he acted.
In one smooth motion, Lin Mo drew his katana, slicing through the air with a flash of silver. A split second later, a fly—unlucky enough to be buzzing by—was neatly sliced in two. Lin Mo caught the remains in his hand, holding them up for the crew to see.
"And this?" he asked, his voice calm.
The rooftop fell into stunned silence as the crew stared at the fly's bisected body. Lin Mo had made his point clear without saying another word.
Rebecca blinked, then broke into a grin. "Well, damn. Didn't see that coming."
Maine's eyes gleamed with newfound respect as he nodded. "Alright, Lin Mo. Looks like you're in."