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Falco, the team's driver and backup, stayed behind with the vehicles, ready to spring into action if things went sideways or an extraction was needed.
The rest of the crew moved into position.
Maine and Dorio staked out a spot near the factory's main gate, hidden in the shadows, waiting for the infiltration team to make progress.
Pilar and Rebecca trailed the infiltrators from a short distance, not tasked with stealth but staying close enough to assist if things got hairy, without giving away their position.
Lin Mo and Sasha scouted the perimeter, finally finding an entry point.
The factory was ringed by thick concrete walls topped with razor wire, relics of old-school security. Razor wire, despite being a century-old deterrent, still did the job—cheap, tough, and efficient. Even in 2077, the classics had their uses.
At one corner, time had worn down the defenses, creating a small gap in the wire.
The four of them gathered, staring at the two-meter wall. Some were calm, others more annoyed.
"I'll go first. See you on the other side," Sasha said with a wink. She leaped up with fluid grace, grabbed the top of the wall, and vaulted over it like a gymnast.
Pilar, glancing at the wall and then at Rebecca's annoyed face, let out a chuckle.
His expression, though hidden behind custom-made goggles, carried enough smugness to be obvious. His body language did the rest.
The mechanical whirring of his elongated cyberarms broke the silence as he stretched them out. With a hop, he easily reached the top of the wall, perching there like a metallic monkey.
Instead of jumping down, Pilar spun around and gave Rebecca the middle finger.
Rebecca's grip on her handgun tightened. If it weren't for the mission's stealth requirement, she'd have probably shot her brother then and there.
Satisfied with his teasing, Pilar finally dropped down to the other side.
That left Lin Mo and Rebecca.
Lin Mo sized up the wall. It was well within his physical limits, even without cyberware. Scaling it wasn't a problem.
But...
He glanced at Rebecca, whose frustration was growing by the second.
After a moment, she turned to walk away.
"Where are you going?" Lin Mo called out.
"Not wasting my time here. I'll find another way around," Rebecca shot back, barely turning her head. "Tell my brother to wait. I'll show him some real sisterly love when I catch up."
Lin Mo coughed, interrupting her. "I don't want to get between you and your brother's feud, but time's short. How about I just carry you over?"
Rebecca stopped, fully turning to look at Lin Mo, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "You serious?"
"If you're cool with it, I don't mind," Lin Mo shrugged.
After a brief pause, Rebecca gave him a once-over and sighed. "Fine. I don't want that asshole getting any more smug than he already is. But let's get this over with."
She motioned for him to hurry, crossing her arms impatiently.
Lin Mo smirked and knelt down, offering his back. The snarling white wolf on his jacket glinted in the dim light.
With some reluctance, Rebecca slung her arms around his neck.
Lin Mo lifted her easily by the thighs, noting the soft but unnaturally pale feel of her synthetic skin—impressive work, smoother than the real thing.
Rebecca grunted in surprise as Lin Mo started toward the wall.
"You good?" Lin Mo asked.
"Just hurry up," she muttered, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.
As he moved, Lin Mo casually added, "Chilly out tonight. You're only in a light jacket—cold?"
"If you keep talking, I'll shoot you," Rebecca snapped, cold steel suddenly pressed to the back of his neck.
Lin Mo instinctively tensed, every muscle in his body locking up as though sensing danger.
Though he wasn't used to having a gun aimed at him—unlike Pilar, who probably dealt with Rebecca's threats daily—it was enough to make him freeze for a second.
Sensing his shift, Rebecca sighed and tapped the back of his head with her pistol. "Relax. Just keep moving, or I might actually pull the trigger."
Lin Mo sighed inwardly. You're the one pointing the gun, Rebecca.
Without further comment, Lin Mo crouched, then launched himself upward. His enhanced reflexes and bioware upgrades made scaling the wall almost effortless.
He gripped the top, vaulted over, and landed on the other side with ease.
Sasha and Pilar were already waiting. Both blinked in surprise when they saw Rebecca still on Lin Mo's back.
Rebecca hopped off quickly, dusting herself off without a word.
Pilar recovered first, flashing a mischievous grin. He gave Lin Mo a thumbs-up, then pointed it down at Rebecca with a smug smirk.
Rebecca glared at him, flipping him off in return, too irritated to engage further.
"We'll split up from here," Sasha said, her voice soft but firm. "Rebecca, you stay with Pilar. Lin Mo and I will search for the target. If anything goes wrong, you'll be our backup."
Lin Mo scanned the area. They were in the southeast corner of the factory grounds, surrounded by abandoned shipping containers—perfect cover.
"I'll be waiting for the good news, kid," Pilar snickered. "Let's wrap this up quick. I've got a drink with my name on it at Lizzie's Bar."
Lin Mo nodded, resting a hand on the hilt of his Black Unicorn katana as he followed Sasha deeper into the factory.
They rounded a warehouse, stepping into an open area near the main gate. The Scavs were still partying, their voices loud as music blared from rusted speakers. The flickering fire barrels painted the scene in an eerie glow.
Crouched behind the warehouse, Lin Mo and Sasha kept watch, scanning for any cameras or hidden security.
"Let's avoid any alarms for now," Sasha whispered. "Our priority is finding the target first."
Lin Mo gave a small sigh. "Drop the formalities. You don't need to call me 'Mr. Lin Mo.' It makes me feel like a stranger."
Sasha's lips curled into a teasing smile. "Alright, Lin Mo~" she replied, dragging his name out in a playful purr.