The two of them walked through the lively bar, neon lights casting chaotic beams from above. The flickering rays swirled like snakes through the air, tinting everyone's vision with a hazy, seductive filter—like a fantasy realm trapped in a dream, wrapped in mist and desire.
As they walked, Jackie kept chatting, muttering beside Lin Mo:
"Place hasn't changed a bit. Still packed as always. No wonder they call it the best braindance lounge in the city. Honestly, while waiting for you, I almost gave in and tried one."
As a seasoned edgerunner who'd lived the street life for years, Jackie knew Lizzie's well. He didn't come often for pleasure, mostly only for business.
Thinking about it now, Jackie turned his head and teased:
"Kid, don't tell me you come here every day. I don't mind a little indulgence now and then, but at your age, wear yourself out too early and you'll need to start swapping in goddamn chrome cannons. Wouldn't that be a damn shame?"
Lin Mo chuckled and shrugged.
"Honestly, it's you I should be worried about, Jackie. Coming to places like this... aren't you afraid Misty might give you hell?"
"That girl, huh..." Jackie scratched his head with a sheepish grin. "As long as you don't say anything, no one's gonna know we were here tonight."
But just when Lin Mo thought Jackie was looking to indulge himself a little, the older man's expression suddenly turned serious. He looked at him meaningfully.
"Still, there are things you can lie to others about, but not to yourself. Waste your body chasing pleasure, and next time you're on a gig, it could cost you your life. You've got too much potential to die before I do."
Lin Mo laughed, trying to lighten the mood.
"Geez, that's dark. But you're not wrong—the gigs from Afterlife are the real deal, and risky as hell. Can't blame you for not knowing, though."
"Go to hell, punk. Even if you do become one of Afterlife's big shots, to me, you'll always be that little brat clinging to my ass like a scared puppy."
"Can we not bring that up again...?" Lin Mo sighed, exasperated.
Back then, he'd asked Jackie to take him into Valentino turf. It was his first time in a place crawling with lowlifes. Even with Jackie by his side, he'd taken every precaution, sticking close and scanning every corner of the Night City streets with cautious eyes.
To Jackie, though, it was just another day—and Lin Mo's over-preparedness was just a spoiled rich kid's paranoia.
Still, Lin Mo appreciated that even now, after all his progress and growing reputation, Jackie hadn't changed a bit. There was no distance between them.
It made sense.
Even in the game, if you chose the Corpo path, Jackie didn't care that V was already a corporate agent with status. He never saw background as a barrier to friendship. That made him miles better than David.
"Honestly," Jackie continued with a grin, "instead of wasting time on braindances, you should come pump iron with me. You've been to my mom's bar, right? Nearby I've got a little warehouse I turned into a gym. I work out there whenever I've got time."
"You should do the same, man. Every guy needs his own space. If you ever want to rent a warehouse, I can help you out."
I've already got one at home, Lin Mo thought absently. Bigger than that, too...
But just as he was about to say so, he paused—an idea flashing through his mind—and changed course:
"I'll keep that in mind, if the chance comes up."
Before Jackie could reply, Lin Mo stopped in front of a door, swiping a card to unlock it.
"We're here."
He stepped aside, letting Jackie enter first, then shut the electronic door behind them.
The room was small—just a pink-toned round couch and a table with some magazines on it, covers showing seductive women posing in glossy fashion. A rack in the corner held even more.
Despite the limited space, everything felt secure, like a place built for privacy.
"Didn't expect a little room like this to be so legit."
Jackie flopped down on the couch and gave it a few experimental smacks.
"I'm the one treating, after all. Couldn't just let you hang out in the noisy main hall, right?" Lin Mo grinned.
"Alright, enough fluff. Let's get to it—what's the real reason you asked me here?"
Jackie sat up straight, his tone turning serious.
Lin Mo didn't stall. He pulled a card from his pocket and placed it on the table.
Jackie picked it up, flipping it over. When he saw the tiny text printed on it, he couldn't help but smile.
"Garbage Disposal Workshop? Cute name. Meant to throw off curious eyes, huh? So you want me to join your crew?"
Lin Mo smiled openly.
"Knew I couldn't fool you. Yes—I'm inviting you to work with me."
"You sure about this, kid? I'm flattered, but you know I've been solo since leaving the Valentinos. Haven't made much of a name since then. Compared to you, I'm still dragging my heels."
He held the card between his fingers, flipping it back and forth without really reading it. The listed perks didn't even interest him.
"I'm sure, Jackie. The crew I'm building—there's no way I'm leaving you out. This is something I want more than anything."
Jackie stroked his chin, softening.
"Doesn't look like I've got a reason to say no. I've always worked alone, but I'm not against team play. And coming from you... how could I turn it down?"
Truth be told, seeing Lin Mo rise so fast—and still calling him "big bro"—made Jackie feel a little bitter inside.
But he wasn't the type to get mopey. A man should act decisively.
"So, what's the plan for this team? You've got a name and everything—I'm guessing I'm not the only member?"
Lin Mo nodded, still smiling.
"Right. Besides you, I've already invited a few others."
"Like who?"
"A retired Tyger Claw... a talented greenhorn... and a netrunner who already has access to Afterlife. That's the core three for now."
"There's also another netrunner, off the books—still under probation."
Jackie stroked his chin again, thoughtful.
"Sounds like a mixed bag. But more important than raw power is trust. Can you vouch for them?"
"You doubt my judgment?" Lin Mo smirked.
Jackie let out a bark of laughter and thumped Lin Mo's leg.
"Smartass. If I say no, that means I'm doubting your judgment and myself, since you picked me too."
Lin Mo chuckled.
"There's one more target on my list... but it's a tough nut to crack. A full squad, already recognized by Afterlife. Gonna take time to pry them apart."
"Another team, huh?" Jackie caught on immediately.
"Yeah. A squad with Afterlife clearance."
Jackie nodded knowingly.
"That won't be easy. Crews like that aren't random street thugs—you don't just pick them off one by one. If they catch on, you might find a bullet in your skull."
"Relax. One of their netrunners is already in my crew."
"Damn, kid, that's bold. Was she a chick?" Jackie raised a brow.
"How'd you know?" Lin Mo blinked.
Jackie looked smug.
"With that baby face of yours? I'm surprised you didn't steal their team leader too—unless he's a guy, of course."
"He is," Lin Mo sighed. "And I don't think my face works that well here. You know how diverse Night City's beauty standards are."
"Pfft, rookie. I've been around. Sure, everyone's into chrome and self-expression, but in a city like this? You're definitely a rare type."
He handed Lin Mo one of the magazines from the table.
"Take a look."
Lizzie's made sure the private rooms had printed "menus," unlike the digital kind in the main lounge. Glossy, seductive, and tastefully decadent—each photo was a still from a real braindance, no "for promotional use only" bullshit here.
Lin Mo flipped through it absently.
"Nothing special—just BD ads."
He wasn't some newbie anymore. The visuals didn't shake him.
Actually, now that he thought about it, maybe coming to Lizzie's so often was what boosted his Cool stat…
Jackie chuckled and pointed to one of the models.
"See these little vixens? Different vibes, sure, but they're all hot as hell. No one's denying that."
Lin Mo looked more closely and had to agree. Even if some weren't his type, they all had charm.
"Your brain might lie to you, but hormones don't," Jackie said, voice low and sly. "You've got appeal, whether you realize it or not. Sure, you're not as big or jacked as me, but there's always someone into your type."
"Duly noted," Lin Mo replied, actually impressed.
In all three of his lives, he'd never learned this kind of stuff.
Back on Blue Earth, he'd been a burned-out med student. After that, a wage slave in the main world. And now? A sixteen-year-old kid.
He scratched his chin in thought.
If he got the chance, maybe once he hit adulthood, he could try to make up for lost time...
With his current standing, finding a girlfriend wouldn't be hard—assuming Xu Wanxue approved.
But then he frowned.
He was only sixteen. His birthday was December 29. Two more years until adulthood. By then, the game's main storyline would be long over.
With the simulator and V on his side, he'd likely accomplish most of his goals in that time.
But what would it all amount to?
The simulator only predicted one day ahead. V burned like wildfire, only to die within six months.
Even the most glorious end—"burning bright before going out"—might not change a damn thing.
And there were still those AI, lurking beyond the digital veil, watching…
The road ahead was long.
A girlfriend could wait.
"Hey! Don't tell me you zoned out looking at a magazine! How long's it been, kid?"
Jackie waved a hand in front of his face.
"I was just thinking." Lin Mo casually placed the magazine back on the table. "Besides, weren't we supposed to be discussing serious business?"
"Man, always serious with you. A little banter now and then keeps the mood light." Jackie grinned and glanced at the empty table, frowning.
"Wait—you invited me out and didn't order drinks?"
Lin Mo rubbed his forehead.
"Crap. I forgot. I was too focused on how to get you to join my crew."
"I got it, I got it. You look like you've got a lot on your mind—let me handle the drinks." Jackie got up and left the room cheerfully.
As Lin Mo watched him go, he sighed.
Jackie had definitely gotten him overthinking things.
The future could wait. Right now, he had to build the team. Recruit the people who mattered most.
When he'd first seen Maine, he'd thought Maine and Jackie might hit it off.
Both were massive muscle-heads. But after seeing Maine's chrome-heavy build, Lin Mo dropped the idea.
They were opposites.
Maine treated his body like replaceable parts, chasing power through chrome. Even immunosuppressants felt like a drug high to him.
Jackie valued strength too—but not through implants. He trained his raw muscles, keeping his body sharp.
And despite his size, he could still move like a damn ninja.
That was Lin Mo's read after getting to know both of them.
They did have one thing in common: loyalty. But where Maine was wild and brash, Jackie was mature and upbeat.
Just then, the door slid open. Jackie stepped in, bottles and cans in hand, grinning ear to ear.
"Vamos, chico—let's knock back a few and talk about life!"
He raised a shot glass in toast.
"I remember you've got that alcohol sensitivity. Back at my mom's bar, you were all shy about it. So I grabbed you some soda."
Lin Mo accepted the drink with a nod.
"Thanks for remembering, Jackie."
Jackie downed his shot and wiped his mouth.
"Honestly? I never thought I'd end up partnering with you. Given your age, I should be calling you 'kiddo'—but weirdly enough, it never feels like I'm talking to a kid. Feels more like I'm chatting with an equal. Freakin' weird."
Lin Mo smiled, rolling the glass between his fingers like a toy.
"Maybe it's fate."
"Shit, I forgot the real reason we're drinking." Jackie slapped his forehead with a laugh. "We gotta toast first! You can't just drink dry. Doesn't matter if it's booze or soda—c'mon, kid, let's toast."
He raised his glass high.
Lin Mo lifted his own, and after a moment of thought, said calmly:
"To the road behind us."
"What kind of chicken-shit toast is that?!" Jackie roared.
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