Time gradually passes without being stopped by anyone. Even the sword master who walks in the cracks of time cannot disobey the power of time.
Just after Lin Mo planned the arrangements for the coming days, time slipped away quietly for more than ten days.
After receiving Xu Wanxue's approval, Lin Mo also started learning the knowledge courses he requested under Xu Wanxue's introduction.
During this process, he would occasionally play that novel and playable battle game, and rely on his own reaction attributes to kill everyone in the game, brutally tormenting newbies, and gradually became famous in Shenyang's gaming circle.
Compared with the past deeds and achievements, what Lin Mo is doing now seems a bit trivial.
But he also enjoys it, like a general who has finally taken off his armor and returned to the fields after having fought all his battles. After retreating to the fields, he began to enjoy a quiet and peaceful life.
However, someone is happy and free, and is still enjoying his "retirement" life.
But the rest of the people who stayed on the grand stage of Night City were also doing their own things in the past ten days.
...
The Wild Wolf Pub, Heywood.
This is a bar located in Heywood City. The gang entrenched in this area is one of the most powerful and powerful gangs in Night City.
——The Valentino Gang.
As an international metropolis, Night City is compatible with a variety of cultural environments and cultural customs in the world. No matter what race or ethnicity, everyone can settle in this city.
So naturally, the gangs that are entrenched here are divided into some gangs with unique cultures and customs.
As one of the largest gangs in Night City, most of the members of the Valentino Gang are of Mexican descent and adhere to Mexican culture. It is precisely because of this sense of cultural identity that they connect the group with the locals and form the A big family.
In this urban area, the residents of the community will loyally protect the gang members, which makes it difficult for any police or companies trying to infiltrate the Valentino Gang.
In return, the gang protects the entire community.
The Wild Wolf Bar is one of the representatives.
The hostess of the bar, Mrs. Wells, has insisted on the concept that "no matter who enters her home, she will listen patiently to any complaints and confessions" from the beginning of running the bar, and will also provide services for the bar. Each complainer is provided with a special spicy soup, and treats Heywood's people like a mother.
Because of this, even though Mrs. Wells has not joined a gang, even the toughest Valentino gang members will treat her with courtesy.
Her prestige was enough to influence the entire neighborhood.
And this lady’s only son is named Jack Wells.
At this time, in her bar, in a booth on the second floor, an unknown conversation was taking place.
Two burly men sat together on a small cushioned bench. Several empty wine bottles had been poured on the table, and the only two wine glasses were also filled with wine.
In the bar where the light is slightly crimson, the liquid in the wine glass takes on a wine-like color.
A strong and thick prosthetic arm stretched out, picked up one of the wine glasses, and roughly poured the wine glass into his mouth. After the man raised his head and drank the wine, he slammed the wine glass on the table.
"Tmd, after being hospitalized for so long, I finally got the chance to have a drink. During that time in the hospital, those guys in white coats gave me medicine that I couldn't understand every day, which made me mistakenly think that my tongue was fast. It has degenerated into a piece of rotten flesh!" the man cursed.
The strong man sitting opposite shook his head helplessly, smiled, and replied casually:
"I just ask you to take your medicine on time. Besides, Dolio brings you food every day and doesn't treat you badly when it comes to eating. How can you say that your tongue is about to deteriorate? Mann."
Mann's expression was slightly angry, and he looked at Jack across from him fiercely. He almost gritted his teeth and choked out the words:
"You still have the nerve to say that I trusted you so much before, but you used a prosthetic implant as a cover to trick me into going to the hospital for treatment. Now that all the old guys in my body have been removed, can you tell me what I deserve for this debt?" How to calculate it?"
"Look at what you said, those who don't know might think of me as an inhumane scavenger." Jack said with a sly smile.
"Isn't this just for you? Besides, this idea wasn't mine, and your blonde girl was also involved, so why don't you scold them?"
Mann curled his lips and showed his teeth with a rather disdainful expression, and did not answer immediately.
He poured himself a glass of wine and drank it all, as if he wanted to collect the stuffy gas in his stomach with the wine in his bladder, and pee out of his body when the time was right.
After a glass of wine, his anger became much smoother, and Mann's ugly face also softened a lot, but the look he looked at Jack was still unkind.
In any case, doing something unpleasant to others against their will is destined to be disgusted by the person concerned.
Jack deceived him in the first place and allowed him to stay in the hospital for treatment for so long. Although he had good intentions, he didn't even have to pay for the medical expenses himself. In Night City, this kind of behavior can only be done by a father who saves his son. Will do it.
But the moment he learned the truth, Mann still felt depressed and resentful.
Reason told him that "people are doing this for his own good", but after all, he is not an AI who always acts rationally, so it is normal to be a little resentful.
"You don't know what it's like to lose personal freedom. Those bastards in white coats, in order to prevent me from violent resistance, gave me a certain dose of sedatives every day. At that time, I was really angry and couldn't let it out. Now I can't hold it in. After such a long time, you don’t think that a drink can make me calm down, right?” Mann asked sullenly.
Jack waved his hand and said with a relaxed and comfortable expression:
"One meal is not enough, how about I treat you to several drinks every day?"
"Huh? You have such a arrogant tone. After working for that kid for so long, have you become rich now?" Mann narrowed his small eyes slightly, looked at Jack suspiciously, and finally turned his gaze away. Staying on his slicked back hair.
"But, let's not talk about anything else. You also changed your hair. Are you thinking of changing your outfit to do something big again?" He didn't leave Jack any time to speak, and still asked with a trace of confusion. .
He thought about how he finally got out of the hospital, but when he got outside, he found that the whole Night City had changed. He learned that the kid had gotten into big trouble, and was offered a reward of 100 million by Moore Technology Company. Later, he died in that grand nuclear explosion together with a certain big shot...
Mann still remembers how he felt that day.
He was as confused as a prisoner who had been in prison for decades before being released. He could no longer keep up with the times. If he hadn't learned the cause and effect from his teammates, he might still have been kept in the dark.
As for whether Lin Mo was dead or not, Mann thought at first that this kid must have burped.
But recently, he learned about Lin Mo's traces from Rebecca, and it was said that the scabbard he carried appeared.
Now that I think about it with my butt, I know that that kid is definitely still alive.
Now that the boy can't be found, Mann has no choice but to come over and trouble Jack.
After all, it was Jack who deceived him in the first place, saying that he wanted to introduce him to the latest prosthetic body, but in the end, he was thrown into the hospital to receive rehabilitation treatment, and many prosthetic parts were removed from his body.
Although those dismantled prosthetic parts are indeed regrettable, Mann also had to admit that his body has become a lot more "relaxed and comfortable" now.
The itching, muscle cramps and other sensations that used to occur from time to time have now disappeared.
However, Mann will not talk about these good aspects. After all, he is here to cause trouble. How can there be any reason to praise the other party?
After that, the two agreed to meet at the Wild Wolf Bar, and Mann finally met Jack, who had been thinking about him all day and night. He was just about to have a show of criticism, but he was shocked by the other's new look.
This guy's bun is gone, replaced by a sleek and handsome back. The mercenary temperament on his body has also restrained a lot, becoming more calm and confident. Even the combat jacket he often wears has been replaced by a sophisticated one. Suit...
These changes all made Mann feel confused and uneasy.
So many things happened during his absence, and the situation was obviously beyond his control.
Now it seems that even his own team has a vague tendency to turn away...
Therefore, in today's meeting, Mann also wanted to clarify all the confusion in his heart and to express his thoughts frankly.
"Affluent?" Jack repeated the word with a smile, and said in a rather nonchalant tone:
"It's not unreasonable for you to ask. After all, everyone can know the actions that night. 100 million in cash was dropped at the door of the Moore Technology Building. We participants can make some profit."
"So that's why you changed your outfit?" Mann asked.
Jack glanced at him deeply, nodded slowly, and said without denying:
"Although Lin Mo is the one who takes the limelight after this operation, as facilitators, there is still a certain probability that we will be retaliated by people from Moore Technology. However, this probability is not high. After all, we are trying our best to do our best. It’s a disguise, but to be on the safe side, it’s better to have less contact with marginalized people.”
"That's right. Your actions that night were just a big trick. Moore Technology is one of the top prosthetic research and development companies in Europe. You killed the chief CTO of their company. It's a good thing that you won't be retaliated against. We can't let you earn your reputation and still think that nothing has happened and continue to hang out on the road," Mann said.
Just like the team led by Johnny Silverhand, the rock boy of the past, they once bombed Arasaka Tower with a nuclear bomb and became legendary. No matter what the cause and effect of the incident were, no matter who the members of the team were, and what work each of them did , everyone has made a name for themselves.
Enough to brag to your future grandson when you get home!
"What you said makes me look like a coward. Aren't I still doing well on the road now?" Jack said with a smile, "It's just a different way."
"In a different way?" Mann frowned.
Jack didn't explain too much, he just lowered his head and smiled, took out a chip from his pocket, and placed it firmly in front of Mann.
"Take it and take a look. Maybe you can find something you like in it." He said in a gentle tone.
Mann frowned slightly as he picked up the chip and inserted it into his nerve groove. The information stored on the separate chip quickly appeared before his eyes.
[Kangtao classic smart submachine gun x193]
[Kangtao L-69 Zhuo smart shotgun x206]
[Kangtao e-86 Eagle smart sniper rifle x112]
...
[List of implants: Phoenix Vulcan-II (81), Moore Technology Gorilla Fist (41), Dinara TX-43 High Power Prosthetic Eye (88), Military Technology Ice Shield 9-F (75)... ...Dinaras Anwestein Type 3 (5), Kangtao Intelligent Nano Skin Soft Layer Armor (3)】
Rows of dense frames flashed in front of Mann's eyes. His eyes couldn't help but widen, and he couldn't hide his shock as he looked at the contents on the chip.
All are 100% new firearms and equipment, all are high-end, first-hand prosthetics, all are sophisticated and practical medical first-aid supplies...
After a long time, when all the information on the chip was listed, Mann suddenly raised his head, looked at Jack's face with a smile, and asked hesitantly:
"You want to be an arms dealer?"
"Arms dealer? Haha, how can I be qualified with my small capital..." Jack shook his head with a smile. His aura was no longer what it used to be, and he vaguely exuded the demeanor of a superior:
"I just want to continue to make a name for myself in Night City. Since I can't hang out on the streets like before, I can only help other young people more. And now I have just started, and I happen to lack some people. People...someone with strength, qualifications and confidence.”
As soon as these words came out, the conversation suddenly became clear.
"Do you want to join our team?" Mann glanced deeply at Jack. Even though the bar music in his ears was still pleasant, the atmosphere between the two was extremely solemn now. He was not a fool, so he could naturally listen. Get the meaning of Jack's words.
"We are all friends. There is no need to mention it. I just want to discuss cooperation with you. Just like Lin Mo did before, I will pay you for help when I have something." Jack said with a smile.
"If you just ask someone for help, you won't show all your belongings to the other party." Mann did not believe Jack's lies.
He was not a fool. Ever since he was deceived by the other party and sent to the hospital for treatment, he understood that the seemingly honest and honest man in front of him was definitely full of evil behind his back.
】
However, looking at these latest weapons, Mann was still a little confused and asked: "Did he also give these to you?"
"It can be considered a gift. When he gave me these goods, I knew what he wanted me to do..." Jack smiled bitterly and shook his head:
"As for the recruitment, let alone me, even that kid can see that with your character, you are absolutely unwilling to succumb to any organization."
During the days when Mann was hospitalized, Jack also learned more or less about Mann's past from Dolio.
As a mercenary who worked his way up from the bottom and was finally qualified to enter the bar of the afterlife, Mann's experience is definitely rich and colorful. People like him can only talk about cooperation at most, so how can he submit to a certain organization? Woolen cloth.
"So you just want to talk business with me?" Mann asked in an indifferent tone.
If Jack just wanted to "pay money to do things" with him like before, that wouldn't be impossible for him.
But if it's a further "cooperative" relationship, to be honest, he's a bit repelled by taking sides.
"Not entirely. We are all acquaintances. The main reason is that I want to have a partnership relationship with you, similar to the relationship between Regina and that kid. Anyway, I will never treat you badly." Jack said with a smile.
Mann snorted coldly and said in a somewhat stiff tone: "Are you so sure that I will agree to your request and choose to become your partner?"
"I'm pretty sure that, although the kid didn't say it explicitly, he should have figured out who you are." Jack said firmly:
"In addition to the batch of goods listed on the chip, he also introduced many connections to me. Now I have replaced him as Regina's partner. The most important thing is that this batch of goods is not a one-time use. What was handed over to me before leaving was the long-term sales contract of Kangtao Company. In the future, we can smoothly purchase weapons and equipment from Kangtao Company..."
"Now as long as you nod, I can arrange for you whatever type of prosthetic body you want in the future. If you feel unwell, you can go to the previous hospital for a check-up at any time. While becoming stronger, you can also You live a comfortable life, where can you find such excellent conditions?"
Speaking of this, Jack changed the subject and said meaningfully:
"And you have also experienced the feeling that your body is out of control and you are about to become a madman. Mann, think more about the people around you, especially Dolio. If this treatment had not been effective, you would have been killed long ago. I don’t know where he died.”
The pursuit of prosthetics, the desire to become stronger, and the constant implantation of prosthetics into the body just to end up in the marginalized industry are the portrayal of Mann's life.
Now, with the cooperation conditions of providing prosthetic implantation services, carefully arranging medical maintenance, and preventing him from becoming a cybermaniac... Mann could clearly feel that his heart was shamefully moved.
He lowered his head and looked at the finished wine glass on the table without saying a word.
Jack patiently gave him time to think, picked up a bottle of wine, and poured it into his and Mann's glasses.
Finally, when Mann's wine glass was full, he suddenly came to his senses, picked up the glass as if he had made up his mind, and drank it happily.
"Fuck, that guy is really good at reading people!"
"I agree to your terms!"
