The steady stream of water dripped from Lin Mo's body, like a gentle rain washing away the blood and grime caked on his skin. The warm shower soothed him, making him feel as though even the weight of his sins was being rinsed off. Standing quietly under the showerhead, water cascaded over his lean, muscular frame, each contour of his body defined with strength and precision.
Although Lin Mo hadn't yet used the simulator to check his stats, he estimated that after implanting synthetic muscle enhancements, his physical attributes had improved significantly.
After finishing his shower, he wrapped a towel around himself and stepped out of the bathroom. The small, temporary suite felt cramped, but Hiro had already neatly prepared his freshly washed clothes on a nearby rack.
"Did my clothes dry this fast?" Lin Mo asked, a bit surprised.
Hiro nodded, explaining, "The public laundromat's machines work well, but Pilar tinkered with one of them, increasing the power output. That's why your clothes were washed and dried in just a few minutes."
"Not bad for a tech expert. Even laundry machines aren't beyond his reach," Lin Mo chuckled as he grabbed his clothes, walking back into the bathroom to change.
Hiro stayed seated on the sofa, deciding not to mention the part where Pilar's adjustments had overloaded the machine, causing it to break down after handling just a few loads of clothes.
After Lin Mo finished dressing in his familiar bulletproof Wolf School jacket, he stepped out. "Where is everyone? Have they already headed to the diner?"
Hiro nodded and opened the curtains, revealing the bright lights of a nearby diner glowing along the roadside.
TURBO Diner—a spot that Maine and his crew frequented, known for being a hangout for Edgerunners.
Lin Mo peered out the window as well, glancing at the parking lot filled with vehicles. Among them, he spotted Falco's Emperor 720 and Maine's Quadra Turbo-R. The lot buzzed with activity as more Edgerunners gathered.
"I'll meet you there in a bit," Lin Mo said, grabbing a snack from the vending machine in the small kitchen. "I'm going to grab something quick before heading down."
"Got it," Hiro replied, gathering his belongings and heading to the door. As he reached the exit, he paused and asked, "Do you want me to bring the Shion Coyote around?"
Lin Mo thought for a moment, then shook his head with a smile. "Nah, the bike's too flashy. We're only going a short distance, no need to draw extra attention."
"Understood," Hiro said before heading out.
Lin Mo stayed behind a few moments longer, eyeing the vending machine thoughtfully. His gaze softened with nostalgia as he selected an item.
A small blue-wrapped snack dropped into the tray.
XXL Burrito – Sky Blue Flavor.
Lin Mo tore open the packaging and took a bite, the familiar taste bringing back memories. The texture was as gelatinous as ever, and the sweet blueberry flavor lingered on his tongue. He polished it off quickly before making his way downstairs, meeting Hiro at the front desk as he finished checking out.
The two walked together toward the diner, the neon lights flickering brightly in the distance. Despite its name, TURBO Diner looked more like a roadside gas station with an attached convenience store.
The brightly lit diner stood right by the main road, with a small path leading cars into the adjacent parking lot. Several makeshift food stands were set up near the lot, illuminated by the glow of small lanterns and neon signs, offering food to the passing customers.
Various vehicles were haphazardly parked across the lot, while most of the customers sitting at the plastic tables near the food stalls sported visible cyberware—obviously fellow Edgerunners.
Lin Mo and Hiro made their way toward the diner quietly, earning a few glances from the patrons, though no one paid them much mind beyond that.
And there, standing in the middle of the crowd, putting on quite the show, was Pyro.
The usually brash and loud techie was entertaining the crowd by balancing two plates on his lanky, almost ape-like cyberarms. On the plates, several bottles spun precariously as he manipulated them with surprising finesse, performing tricks like a street performer juggling balls.
The surrounding crowd of Edgerunners was in stitches, hurling playful insults and laughter in his direction, while Pyro hammed it up, soaking in the attention.
Among the onlookers were Rebecca, Sasha, and the rest of Maine's crew, clearly enjoying themselves.
At the far edge of the parking lot, Maine sat on a stone planter, his massive frame leaning back, a sly grin on his face as he watched the spectacle. A bottle of alcohol rested in his hand.
Maine was the first to notice Lin Mo's arrival and waved him over enthusiastically. "Hey, Lin Mo! Over here!"
Lin Mo smiled and turned to Hiro. "Go on, grab yourself something to eat. I'll catch up with you later."
Hiro nodded, heading off toward the diner.
"Anything you want me to get for you?" Hiro asked, pausing.
"Nah, I'll get something myself later," Lin Mo replied.
After Hiro headed inside the diner, Lin Mo strolled over to Maine and took a seat next to him, both watching Pyro's antics in silence.
"It's nice, isn't it?" Lin Mo remarked.
Maine chuckled, taking a swig from his bottle. His gaze wandered over the bustling crowd of Edgerunners and his own team, his expression contemplative.
"When you've lived as long as we have in this line of work, every day you're still here, still drinking with your friends, feels like a blessing. Never know when it'll be your last, so you enjoy it while you can."
Lin Mo smiled but chose not to linger on the grim reality of Maine's words. Instead, he changed the subject with a grin, "You made a lot tonight. Shouldn't you be buying me something to eat?"
Maine snorted, amused. "You, of all people, asking me to buy you food? You spend more eddies than I make without even batting an eye. But sure, why not? What do you want?"
"Looks like I'll have to order something expensive then," Lin Mo teased, his eyes scanning the food stalls around the parking lot.
Just as he was deciding between grilled skewers or some traditional diner fare, he noticed someone approaching from the corner of his eye.
Rebecca, the pint-sized, two-tailed, double-barrel gun-toting Edgerunner, was making her way toward them.
Maine gave Lin Mo a knowing look and smirked. "Looks like I won't need to foot the bill after all." His massive hand clapped Lin Mo's shoulder, chuckling softly.