Ever since Lin Mo persuaded David to hang out and see the world with him, he had gotten Gloria's, David's mother's, phone number through a small ruse.
The first thing Lin Mo did after getting the number was shamelessly call Gloria to "tattle" on David, saying he wasn't fitting in and refused to go out and socialize. David, in utter defeat, watched helplessly as Lin Mo hung up the phone and dragged him out to Lizzie's Bar after school.
The moment David stepped into Lizzie's Bar, his previously gloomy mood disappeared, and he came alive, enjoying a night of freedom immersed in braindances.
Though Lin Mo had only met the red-haired lady once and exchanged a single conversation with her, he still remembered Gloria quite vividly—her well-proportioned figure and pleasant face left an impression.
Now, with Maine giving him her number, Lin Mo couldn't help but think, This world really is small.
He stared at Maine for a while, still processing the coincidence, before asking, "How can she help me get the right cyberware?"
"I'm not entirely sure. We've worked together plenty of times, but we don't know much about each other, and that's probably for the best in this line of business. Her name's Gloria, and she occasionally gets her hands on some decent cyberware. Just so you know, most of it's second-hand, though. Don't know if you'd be interested," Maine replied casually.
Afterward, Maine noticed Lin Mo still watching him intently, so he shot back, "What's the matter? Got something against using second-hand implants?"
"No, I'm just curious—how'd you two meet?" Lin Mo asked, his tone more serious.
"That's old news. No point in going into it. You just tell her what you're looking for, and she'll find a way to get it, though it might take a while," Maine said, yawning as fatigue began to set in.
Standing up, he grabbed the bag and looked at Lin Mo.
"It's a rare night, so we should celebrate. Let's leave it at that for tonight. We'll catch up more later and work together again sometime."
With that, Maine turned and walked over to the blonde woman, Dorio, leaving Lin Mo sitting there, amused by his lack of formality.
Maine really doesn't mince words—he just goes when he wants to go. Lin Mo chuckled and then fell into deep thought.
That David's mother was a supplier of cyberware wasn't entirely surprising but also not something he had anticipated.
If he remembered correctly, Gloria worked at Night City Medical Center as a technician, earning a slightly-above-average salary. There was no way she could afford to send David to Arasaka Academy on that alone.
It all made sense now—Gloria must've had a side gig supporting their household.
Thinking about it, Lin Mo became a bit conflicted.
If it was second-hand cyberware, he wasn't interested. With his financial resources, there was no need to settle for anything less than the best.
But... if it were rare, hard-to-find combat-grade cyberware, Gloria could potentially be a valuable connection. Maybe he could buy a few pieces for Hiro to use. Though he wasn't sure if Hiro would be open to the idea.
...
Meanwhile, inside the restaurant, Hiro sat at a table, eating and watching the central TV. For no apparent reason, he suddenly felt a tingle in his nose and sneezed.
"Strange, am I catching a cold?" Hiro muttered, frowning as he contemplated the sudden chill.
Feeling a bit chilly, he tightened his coat and called out to the restaurant owner.
"Hey, boss! Bring me your finest bottle of booze, and throw in some spicy dishes!"
...
After much contemplation, Lin Mo decided against calling Gloria.
How would I even face my classmate's mother?
Just imagining the awkward moment when they recognized each other over the phone made Lin Mo cringe inside.
But at least now he had pieced together a clearer picture of David's life trajectory.
Although the simulator's text records had been vague, the core of the story was now apparent.
Gloria would be involved in a car accident, leading David to drop out of school. After going through several trials and tribulations, he would eventually become a legend.
As for the specifics of what happened in between, Lin Mo wasn't entirely sure. But it seemed likely that Gloria left David something crucial before her death—something that enabled his rise.
Otherwise, how could a 17-year-old kid with no support become a legend in Night City within a year?
Unless... and this is purely a joke... maybe having his mom around was stunting his growth?
Suddenly, Lin Mo's gaze shifted back to Maine.
The bear-sized man was now with Dorio, their heads close together, chatting about something.
No one becomes great without the help of others.
Could David's future rise have something to do with getting involved with Maine and his crew?
The more Lin Mo thought about it, the more reasonable his theory seemed.
Well, there's no point in overthinking it. Time to enjoy the rest of the night, Lin Mo thought, shaking his head to clear his mind of all the speculation.
Even though it made sense, it was still just a theory.
In a chaotic place like Night City, where the unexpected was the norm, anything could happen.
For all he knew, David's rise to fame could've started with something as random as finding a chip on the street that unlocked a mentor-like AI guiding him to greatness.
Lin Mo chuckled at the thought.
After chatting with Maine, Lin Mo found himself sitting alone. He stood up, grabbed the discarded plastic container, and tossed it into the trash before heading over to the food stall.
He still had some things to discuss with Sasha tonight.
Sasha, who had been sitting alone, sipping her drink and seemingly lost in her own world, noticed Lin Mo approaching.
"What's up, Lin Mo? Need something?" Sasha asked, her smile bright and playful.
No matter when or where, the hacker woman always carried herself with a sly charm. Even without the smile, the natural shape of her lips curved in a way that resembled a playful "W."
But when she was serious—or a bit annoyed—her lips would shift into an "inverted U" shape.
Like a cat, she could be affectionate and mischievous to those she liked, yet cold and distant to those she didn't.
As Lin Mo approached, he noticed that all the plastic chairs around the stall had already been taken.
Even Sasha had just enough space for herself as she quietly sipped her drink.
Seeing this, Lin Mo looked around and spotted a nearby Edgerunner who didn't seem too menacing. Placing a hand on the man's shoulder, Lin Mo leaned in and whispered a few words.
Sasha noticed the Edgerunner shaking his head at first, but then Lin Mo's eyes briefly flickered with a faint blue light.
Suddenly, the man's attitude changed. His expression softened, and he stood up with a smile, dusting off his chair and bowing slightly as he offered the seat to Lin Mo.
His change in behavior was so sudden it was as if he had just seen his mother.
Lin Mo dragged the plastic chair over and sat across from Sasha.
"What could you need from me? Didn't you say you'd teach me some hacking basics when you had the time? Well, why not start tonight?" Lin Mo asked, his voice calm and low.
Sasha raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by the request, but quickly regained her composure. With a playful smile, she took a sip from her cup and glanced at Lin Mo from the corner of her eye.
"I'd be happy to teach you, but you kind of left me hanging in the basement tonight. I'm not really in the mood to teach you now... Lin Mo," she teased, her tone feigning annoyance.
"That was just an unfortunate situation. I was focused on getting outside to help Maine and the others. Plus, I told you to stay put and wait. You're the one who insisted on carrying someone out. You can't blame me for that," Lin Mo retorted, not wanting to take the fall for something he felt wasn't his fault.
Sasha narrowed her eyes at him for a moment before sighing and waving the issue away.
"Fine, fine. What do you want to learn? I'll teach you," she relented.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to know everything about hacking!" Lin Mo's voice was serious, his eyes locked onto Sasha with a determined gaze.
He clasped his hands in front of him, resting his elbows on his knees, looking thoughtful.
Sasha studied him quietly for a while before nodding solemnly, her playful demeanor momentarily replaced with focus.