The Caliburn sped like the wind through the dim night sky, cutting through the streets of North Oak, Night City, like a sharp sword.
Entering this district, greenery that was almost nonexistent in the city started appearing along the road. The streets were spotless, with no litter in sight. Large estates resembling medieval nobleman territories lined the path, their lights glittering under the starless sky.
Lin Mo calmly held the steering wheel with one hand, the speedometer's needle edging dangerously to the right. (Note: Do not attempt this with a Reflex stat under 10.)
With the Caliburn running at this speed, unless there was a traffic jam, Lin Mo could reach any part of Night City within two hours.
Before implanting his speed and reflex cyberware, he might have shown some respect for traffic laws. But now, with the assistance of these cybernetic enhancements, he could essentially manipulate time—at least his perception of it—so traffic laws had become little more than trivial formalities to him.
Of course, the main reason he was pushing the Caliburn to its limit tonight was that time was running short.
After discussing the details of the job with Maine and Sasha, Lin Mo had stayed a while longer to celebrate with them.
Though he had wanted to spend the entire night with the group, time constraints wouldn't allow it.
Xu Wanxue, his sister, gave him enough freedom to explore his edge-running activities, but he couldn't push it too far by staying out all night and worrying her.
After saying his goodbyes to Maine and the others, Lin Mo got into the Excalibur, and with the roar of the engine, began his journey home.
His gaze shifted to the in-car display, where the time was clearly shown in the top right corner:
22:32.
By this time, the roads in North Oak were virtually empty. Even those wealthy enough to live in this area rarely drove at night, opting instead for luxury AVs (air vehicles).
A few minutes later, Lin Mo finally saw the gates of his home, and he began slowing down.
The security system at the gate recognized him, and the electric doors opened smoothly, allowing the Caliburn to drive straight in without stopping.
After parking the car in the garage, Lin Mo tidied up his clothes and grabbed his personal belongings before heading toward the villa.
They say that after parting for a few days, people will see each other in a new light.
It had only been a week, but his return home was completely different.
A week ago, he had been turned away at the door, with Xu Wanxue one step short of packing his bags and kicking him out.
Now, he could come home whenever he wanted. His position in the house had clearly improved.
Of course, this change was largely due to Xu Wanxue's deep affection for him. Not wanting to disappoint her brother, she allowed his newfound freedom, albeit within certain limits.
Having already given her promises and answers that night, Xu Wanxue could no longer intervene in Lin Mo's activities too much.
...
Stepping into the villa, Lin Mo noticed that the lights were still on.
The house was quiet. The first thing he saw upon entering was the spacious living room, with its bright, polished marble floor reflecting the soft glow of star-like ceiling lights. A figure sat on the plush sofa, their back to him, long black hair cascading down like a waterfall. A holographic television played silently in front of her.
Lin Mo walked quietly, careful not to make a sound.
As he got closer, Xu Wanxue's tired face came into view. His older sister had fallen asleep on the sofa, her expression one of exhaustion.
Lin Mo picked up the remote from the table and turned off the TV. Then, with one arm around her legs and the other supporting her shoulders, he gently lifted her, effortlessly carrying her upstairs.
Xu Wanxue stirred slightly, but Lin Mo didn't notice as he focused on getting her to the bedroom.
On the second floor, Lin Mo stopped abruptly, stunned by what he saw.
The second floor of the villa was usually a place for relaxation and entertainment. It housed a music cabinet, a small bar, and a mini wine cellar. In the corner, there were a few gaming consoles, and the sliding doors led out to a balcony with a swimming pool.
But right now, the place was a mess. Empty bottles littered the floor, and some areas were splattered with vomit. One of the gaming consoles was still on, its screen showing a paused level.
The most surprising sight, however, was a red-haired woman sprawled across the hallway floor, completely unconscious and unbothered by any sense of dignity.
It was Liu Ruoying, the cyberware expert who had implanted his bioware.
Why is she sleeping here?
Lin Mo was baffled.
Their house had more than enough empty rooms. Despite only two people—he and his sister—living there, the number of vacant rooms was enough to turn the place into a small inn.
If not for the fact that this red-haired woman occasionally shifted in her sleep, scratching her backside as if it itched, Lin Mo might have suspected she had died.
Liu Ruoying lay there, her hips slightly raised, her posture unintentionally accentuating her well-proportioned figure.
Such an alluring sight might have been enticing to most, but to Lin Mo, it was more like a sleeping tiger blocking his path. For a moment, he was torn between two options:
Should he kick her out of the way or carefully step around her?
Just as Lin Mo found himself contemplating this dilemma, the woman in his arms stirred.
He looked down and saw Xu Wanxue's beautiful eyes gazing up at him, filled with playful amusement.
She reached up to gently touch his face, her eyes twinkling mischievously. Without breaking eye contact, she lightly patted his cheek, smiling as she playfully scolded him:
"You're finally back, huh?"
"There was something that came up today, so I got delayed a bit," Lin Mo dodged the truth, vaguely covering up his activities for the day.
Xu Wanxue didn't press the issue, assuming her brother had just been out having some fun.
No matter how wild her imagination might be, she would never guess that her brother had spent the evening cutting down dozens of people, leaving a river of blood in his wake.
Ever since Lin Mo's tracker had been disabled, Xu Wanxue simply thought he was wandering around the city, and as long as he wasn't in danger, she could tolerate his late-night returns.
"You want me to put you down?" Lin Mo asked, looking at his sister.
"No, keep holding me. I'm not ready to get back on the ground yet," Xu Wanxue teased, her arms tightening around his neck as she let out a soft laugh.
Lin Mo didn't refuse. He glanced at the red-haired woman sleeping on the hallway floor, hesitating for a moment before asking:
"Why is she sleeping on the carpet?"
"Oh, her? We were drinking together, and she got a bit too drunk. She got curious about your room and tried to sneak in, but your security system zapped her unconscious. After that, she just passed out on the spot," Xu Wanxue explained, her tone calm, showing little sympathy for her friend.