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What a fast blade!
Maine's pupils shrank as he watched Lin Mo unsheathe his katana and effortlessly slice a fly out of midair. The moment froze, tension thickening in the air. None of them had expected Lin Mo to make such a bold, sudden move.
As the shock wore off, everyone processed it differently.
Rebecca wasn't particularly fazed. While Lin Mo's flashy swordplay was cool enough, she just chuckled, shaking her head with an amused smirk. This is 2077. Who even uses swords anymore?
As a gunner, Rebecca took pride in her pinpoint marksmanship. In her world, ancient techniques like swordplay had long been eclipsed by high-caliber firearms. To her, someone still relying on blades felt more like an artifact than a real threat.
Pilar, ever the slacker, leaned back with a cigarette hanging from his lips, arms crossed behind his head. His lazy grin suggested he was already thinking of ways to give the "kid" some unsolicited advice.
But not everyone dismissed Lin Mo's display so easily.
Hiro, who had seen Lin Mo in action more times than he cared to count, wasn't surprised in the least. At this point, Lin Mo could pull off something as absurd as slicing through a brick wall, and Hiro would probably nod and assume it had some deep purpose.
The real surprise came from Maine. He had been standing closest to Lin Mo, and the fluidity of that cut had hit him hard. It wasn't just a trick. The motion—unsheathing, slicing, resheathing—was so smooth, so effortless, it was like breathing for Lin Mo. No hesitation, no wasted movement.
Lin Mo hadn't even fully focused on the fly. He'd caught its path in his peripheral vision and, with flawless precision, cut it down in an instant.
Maine's expression darkened. He realized that if Lin Mo ever decided to turn that blade on them, there might be very few survivors. This kid was far more dangerous than he let on.
Maine's curiosity deepened when he noticed the ancient symbols etched into Lin Mo's katana. They shimmered faintly with a strange light—like tech, but with an aura that felt almost mystical. He couldn't read the symbols, but he knew this was no ordinary blade.
Finally, Maine broke the silence. "Lin Mo... mind if I ask what cyberware you've installed?"
Lin Mo paused, then replied calmly, "Just call me Lin Mo. As for cyberware, I've got a Dynalar Sandevistan, Kerenzikov, and a few bioware upgrades."
The rest of the team froze—except Hiro.
"What?! A Sandevistan? No way!" Pilar was the first to react, throwing his hands up. "That's insane! With a body like yours, how do you survive the side effects?"
Pilar, their resident tech expert, knew the Sandevistan was no joke. It pushed the user's reflexes into overdrive but came with brutal side effects, and for someone with Lin Mo's lean frame, it seemed reckless at best.
Maine's eyes narrowed. He didn't doubt Lin Mo, but he needed more details. "Which version?"
"Dynalar Sandevistan Mark III," Lin Mo replied confidently. "That's why I'm the best fit for this infiltration."
Lin Mo's voice was calm, but there was no mistaking the confidence behind it.
Maine locked eyes with Lin Mo, studying him carefully. The rest of the team went quiet, waiting for Maine's decision—except Pilar, who was still muttering to himself about how this was "utterly nuts."
After a long pause, Maine spoke again. "How many activations can you handle?"
"Ten, give or take," Lin Mo said, unfazed. "Maybe a few more if I pace myself."
"Ten..." Maine mumbled, thinking it over.
"No way," Pilar scoffed. "With a body like yours, you'd be lucky to activate that thing three times before you drop from burnout."
Lin Mo sighed, his patience wearing thin. "Why would I lie about something that could get us all killed?"
Pilar's smirk faded, realizing the truth of it. No one gambles with their own life just to impress others.
Maine rubbed his chin, weighing Lin Mo's words. This kid didn't seem the type to let ego get in the way of survival. If anything, there was a cold, calculated edge to his confidence.
Finally, Maine clapped his hands together, the decision made. "Alright, Lin Mo. You're on."
He turned to the crew, his voice commanding attention. "Here's the new plan: Lin Mo and Sasha will handle the infiltration. Pilar and Rebecca, you'll provide cover. If things go south, Dori and I will move in and draw their fire."
"Any questions?"
Rebecca raised her hand. "Yeah, I got one. Why do I have to team up with my idiot brother?"
"Tch, you'll slow me down anyway," Pilar sneered. "But if you need help, just shout 'Big Brother,' and I might save your ass."
Rebecca's eyes flashed dangerously. In a second, her pistol was aimed at Pilar's head. "Wanna say that again? I dare you."
Pilar laughed, raising his hands. "Alright, alright, relax. I get shot at plenty without adding you to the list."
"Rebecca, stick to the plan," Dori said with a firm but patient smile, placing a hand on Rebecca's shoulder.
Rebecca shot Pilar one last glare before glancing over at Lin Mo. He caught her eye and smirked. Huffing in resignation, she finally gave in. "Fine."
"Good. Let's move," Maine ordered.
The team sprang into action, gearing up for the job.
Falco popped open a duffel bag, handing out weapons and ammo. Rebecca was first in line, stuffing magazines into her jacket pockets, chewing her gum like this was routine. Pilar, on the other hand, eagerly grabbed grenades, holding up eight at once with his mechanical hands.
Maine equipped his Crusher, a semi-automatic shotgun with enough power to punch through steel. His cyberarms would absorb the recoil easily. Dori opted for a Malorian Arms Revolver and an Arasaka HJSH-18 Masamune, a kinetic rifle with lethal stopping power.
Lin Mo eyed their firepower. "Heavy gear. I like it."
Once everyone was strapped up, Maine set up an encrypted comm channel to keep the team connected throughout the mission.
As the rest of the group headed downstairs, Lin Mo lingered for a moment, turning to Hiro, who was adjusting his sniper rifle.
Hiro felt Lin Mo's gaze and looked up, meeting his eyes. He gave a solemn nod, bowing slightly.
"I won't let you down."