In the past, Lin Mo had shared some of the recent events in his life with Misty and Viktor.
But the most significant news was what he had told them just yesterday via chat: he now had access to the Afterlife, the legendary bar where Night City's most elite mercs gathered, and where he could drink face-to-face with the infamous top dogs.
As expected, that news had quickly reached Jackie through Misty.
The Haywood bruiser even broke character and messaged him directly, asking if it was true.
In response, Lin Mo sent over a few photos he had taken inside the Afterlife.
The moment those pictures landed in Jackie's chat, the big man went dead silent.
Jackie already knew Lin Mo had joined the merc life—he was aware the kid had become an edgerunner like himself. With Misty and Viktor acting as intermediaries, there was no way Jackie didn't hear about Lin Mo's exploits.
After all, just a week or two ago, Lin Mo had told Viktor he'd officially become an edgerunner. He hadn't asked him to keep it secret, so naturally the info had spread.
Which brought them to tonight's meeting.
"I just happened to get lucky and pull off something small," Lin Mo said humbly. "I wouldn't call myself a big shot. If anyone fits that title, it's you, Jackie."
And he meant it. As someone who'd played the game, he knew full well the charm and strength of the man in front of him.
You're the real legend, Jackie.
That line, from one of the game's most unforgettable scenes, still echoed in Lin Mo's head. The details were blurry now, but those words had stuck with him.
Lin Mo had always liked the guy. In Night City, finding a teammate you could trust was even harder than finding one with pure combat strength.
Someone who had both? Practically unheard of. Jackie was one of those rare few—absolutely trustworthy.
Jackie, for his part, didn't seem to mind the flattery. He just waved a hand with a half-annoyed grin.
"You little punk, always buttering me up like that. You're gonna make me blush."
He let out a dry laugh, shaking his head.
"Now that I think about it, back when we met, I was still showing off my street smarts like they meant something. Sure, I said I wanted to be a big shot... but looking at you now, feels like that goal's slipping further away."
As he kept talking, the optimism in his voice faded slightly.
Even someone as upbeat as Jackie couldn't help feeling a little down, seeing someone who used to trail behind him now riding a wave of momentum.
"No, I still remember how you took me on a tour of Valentino turf. That's what planted the idea in my head—to become an edgerunner. If I've made it this far, it's because of you."
Lin Mo didn't put on airs. He didn't even show pride. Just a modest smile tugged at his lips.
"Damn, kid, you really know how to talk. But I gotta say, that hit me right in the heart." Jackie chuckled, then added with a grin, "Guess I can still brag that I helped raise a merc who made it into Afterlife."
After a short pause, he reached out and clapped Lin Mo on the shoulder, like a proud older brother.
Still, deep down, he couldn't quite believe this skinny kid had pulled it off.
How long had he been a merc?
What, a few weeks?
And in just a few weeks, he'd done what Jackie hadn't managed in years. That stung.
Jackie tapped his thigh with his fingers as he fell into thought.
"Was it last year? Yeah, you asked me to take you around Heywood, and I did. You were, what, fifteen? I figured you were just some rich kid looking to see how the other half lived."
"But then you said you wanted to be an edgerunner. I didn't take it seriously—just thought it was a kid messing around... but you actually did it."
He lifted his glass again. The booze was clearly starting to hit him.
"I've always wanted to make it big in Night City. Get into the Afterlife, rub shoulders with the legends, land big gigs, earn big eddies... Make my mom proud. So she doesn't have to run the bar anymore. So I could finally live easy."
Jackie was never one to hide his feelings. A bit of liquor loosened his tongue, and everything spilled out.
"After I split with the Valentinos, I've been grinding in the merc scene for years. And I still haven't gotten into Afterlife. Compared to you, I might as well have wasted those years."
"No," Lin Mo interrupted, his voice filled with sincerity. "In my eyes, you'll always be the best edgerunner, the best merc I know. No one I've met in the Afterlife even comes close."
Maybe Jackie didn't have a body full of chrome like Maine. Maybe he didn't have Rebecca's sharpshooting skills or Pilar's technical genius.
But he was solid. Trustworthy. The kind of guy you could turn your back on without fear. That bulky frame could sneak through the shadows like a rat and silently choke a man out from behind.
He'd even worked with the cyberpsycho boogeyman himself—Johnny Silverhand. A mentor figure at the start of the game. Jackie had the chops. What he lacked was opportunity.
That one moment of glory.
Unfortunately…
In the game, Jackie had died chasing that very moment. Killed right at the threshold of becoming a legend.
But here, in this world—Lin Mo wasn't going to let that happen.
Which was why he invited Jackie to Lizzie's tonight in the first place.
To recruit him into his crew.
"Alright, alright, enough with the praise. You're starting to make me blush, Lin Mo," Jackie said, shifting in his seat, the liquor clearly warming him up.
"Heh, didn't you just say I'm the kind of guy who does what he says?" Lin Mo smirked, his eyes calm and focused. "Well, you can add one more trait to that—honesty. I wasn't joking, Jackie."
"You little punk... alright, alright, I believe you." Jackie chuckled and gave his shoulder another slap.
Lin Mo cleared his throat, his tone turning serious.
"No more beating around the bush. Jackie, the reason I asked you here tonight—there's something important I want to discuss. Can't do it out here. I booked a private room. Let's talk there."
The teen stood and extended his hand to help Jackie up.
Jackie looked puzzled but took the hand and stood up, grumbling under his breath:
"What's with the cloak and dagger? You planning to offer me some secret gig or something?"
"You'll find out soon enough," Lin Mo replied with a smile.
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