"So, how did it go with that netrunner girl?" Wakako gently blew on her tea and took a delicate sip.
"If it's someone you recommended, Grandma, of course I trust her. And she's got solid skills too," Lin Mo replied, sipping from his own cup across the table.
"And how do you find the tea?" Wakako set her cup down, giving Lin Mo a subtle, inquisitive look.
Lin Mo smacked his lips, savoring the lingering taste. "It's really good. I've never had this kind of tea at home."
"It's just lab-grown tea, nothing special. With the environment as it is now, anything grown outdoors is full of pollution. Back when I was a child, we drank real, organic tea—now that was something worth tasting," Wakako sighed.
Lin Mo just smiled politely and said nothing.
"By the way, your sister really let you come here alone? She didn't accompany you?" Wakako asked, as if casually.
"She's always swamped at work. We barely see each other as it is, and lately it's been worse," Lin Mo answered with a hint of regret as he set his cup down.
A strange flicker passed through Wakako's cloudy eyes. "Oh? I wonder what kind of work could keep a sister who loves her brother so busy."
"Just the usual—overtime and meetings," Lin Mo replied carefully.
Nice try, you nosy old fox. We've barely started talking and you're already trying to fish for info? Are all people born in the 2000s this sharp?
Yes—according to the game's lore, this sweet old lady sitting in front of him was born in the early 2000s.
"I see. Well, if you ever get bored being home alone, you're always welcome to come and chat with this old woman. There'll always be a cup of hot tea waiting for you," Wakako said warmly.
If Lin Mo didn't know better, he might've believed she was just a kind grandmother.
He subtly furrowed his brow. Even now, he couldn't tell if her words were genuine or just polite fluff.
That sentence could've been simple hospitality… or a silent pass granting him unrestricted entry in the future.
"Thank you, Grandma. I'll definitely drop by when I get the chance," Lin Mo said with a soft smile.
The rest of their conversation drifted into small talk. Wakako continued trying to coax bits of intel out of him, but Lin Mo remained cautious and gave nothing away.
Before long, it was already noon.
At one point, Wakako got a call from someone unknown and asked Lin Mo to wait outside while she handled "business."
When he returned, she looked him over and smiled faintly.
"Child, are you thinking about becoming an edgerunner?"
Her tone was calm and steady—but this time, it carried certainty.
"Yeah. That's what I've been thinking," Lin Mo replied calmly, unsurprised by the question. It was just like the simulation had shown.
Edgerunners—those who walk the razor's edge. They live dangerously, chasing the impossible on the margins of society.
Mercenaries, solo netrunners, rebellious rockers, drifters with no ties—all of them were edgerunners.
"And why?" Wakako asked.
If any random street kid had said that to her, she wouldn't have cared. But Lin Mo was different.
He had a sister in corporate upper management. As long as nothing went wrong, he'd live a life of wealth and luxury.
People like him were meant to be clients, buyers. They didn't get their hands dirty.
All they had to do was pay the deposit, sit in their penthouse sipping champagne, maybe flirting with a new hookup, or strolling through a park. The fixer would handle the rest.
Whether the mission succeeded or failed—that was the merc's problem. Their blood would never stain the client's shoes.
Just like this hacker gig. Lin Mo only had to pay. Wakako took care of everything else.
But when he answered, his tone was light, his smile cocky—yet his words were like a blade slicing steel:
"Either become a legend, or stay a nobody. I choose the former."
Wakako looked at him in silence for a moment and sighed.
"Do you even understand what that life entails? You're still young. Not everything's as glamorous as it seems. Just remember—every legendary edgerunner ends up in a grave."
Lin Mo met her gaze without flinching, his thoughts swirling.
He understood Wakako's angle—she'd rather he remain a client. A regular source of jobs. She knew how deep his pockets went. Many minor gigs probably didn't even cost as much as his monthly allowance.
Rich kids were easy money.
If it weren't for the simulator, maybe Lin Mo would've stayed on that safe path.
But attribute points, perk points—those only came from real combat.
If he wanted to become stronger, to rise to legendary status, becoming an edgerunner was his best option.
Going the corpo route? Not even on the table.
Seeing the look in his eyes, Wakako knew she couldn't change his mind.
Just like when they first met—he'd been a scrappy little brat, stubborn to the bone, refusing to call her "Grandma."
She pulled out an outdated smartphone—rare these days—and tapped a few times.
Soon, Lin Mo received a message on his commlink.
"Someone just called. Said the Tyger Claws kidnapped his sister. He needs help getting her back. Low-risk job. If you're interested, I can hand it to you," Wakako said evenly.
Lin Mo stared at the info on his retinal display for a moment, then nodded. "I'll take it."
"Don't treat it like a test run. Go in half-assed, and you'll end up dead," Wakako warned.
Lin Mo nodded seriously, then changed the subject.
"By the way, Grandma—do you happen to have any leads on Sandevistan cyberware?"
Fixers like Wakako had broad networks—and often kept rare inventory on hand.
A good fixer wouldn't hesitate to equip their mercs with top gear if the job required it.
Wakako thought for a moment. "You mean that speed-enhancing implant? Yeah, I've got leads. What model are you looking for? Just a heads-up—I don't have Tier-3s. Those are military-grade. The corps and the army hoard them, and the black market barely has any."
Lin Mo frowned slightly. He'd only asked on a whim, but still—it was disappointing that even Wakako didn't have access to better versions.
Even in the game, NCPD MaxTac officers—those who responded to 4-star crimes—only ran Tier-2 Sandevistans.
Tier-3 and above? Definitely rare.
As for Tier-2... not worth it. Getting cut open just to install mediocre hardware? No thanks.
"If you're serious, you could post a job for it. As long as the pay's right, there are always maniacs willing to hit a corpo convoy. Or you could try your luck with the scavs—pick up a used Tier-3 from some unknown source," Wakako suggested.
Lin Mo fell into thought.
Ideally, he'd wait for his sister to help him get QianTi's Tier-4 once the company finishes development.
But that could take a while.
"How much?" he asked.
Wakako gave him a surprised look but didn't ask why. After a moment, she replied:
"I don't usually handle these jobs. Honestly, you'd be better off waiting. Things change fast in Night City—might be a hit on a transport truck any day now. I'll keep an eye out. Just relax, kid. I've seen pricier implants than this."
She paused, then added, "Give it about a week. The fee will be €$35,000. I need a 30% deposit—€$10,500."
That's steep... Lin Mo grimaced.
Average monthly salary in Night City was only €$2,500. Even factoring in black market markup, this was no small expense.
Military-grade tech didn't come cheap.
Still, he sighed and handed over the deposit.
That much was almost equal to his monthly allowance.
Good thing he'd had the foresight to call Xu Wanxue "Sister" instead of "Mom" when they first met—lowering the generational gap meant more pocket money.
People might sneer at "sister-simp" types, but as the one benefitting, Lin Mo had zero complaints.
"Wait for my good news, child," Wakako said cheerfully as she accepted the deposit.
"Then I won't keep you, Grandma. I'll go meet the client and work out the mission details."
With that, Lin Mo stood up, said his goodbyes, and left the private room.
.
.
.
📢 System Booting… Welcome, Chooms! 📢
My Cyberpunk 2077 Simulator is now live with 20+ chapters ahead on Patreon! 💻🔥Dive deeper into Night City, level up faster, and stay ahead of the game with exclusive early access! 🧠⚙️
🔗 Join here: www.patreon.com/c/MrMagnus👤 Patreon name: SrMagnus
Thank you for your support, and remember—chrome up, never back down. 🌆💥