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His mother said she was still young and didn't want to quit her job and stay home to be cared for by him. What could he do?

Given the current situation in Night City, putting aside the deaths, the intense close-quarters clashes between protest supporters will inevitably lead to a large number of injuries. Gloria works at the Night City Medical Center, so she's bound to be busy, probably even more so than him.

Thinking this, David sat down on the sofa, quietly took off the tactical pouch from his waist, shook out the collected banknotes, and was about to count them when Gloria sat up, her eyes flashing with orange light.

"The medicine, do you need it now... so urgently? For a new commission... hmm, I understand, for something like this, you can never have too much... Are you sending someone to pick it up? Okay. The new medicine, I had David buy an extra batch, it's right here... ah?!"

Getting out of bed, Gloria turned to the side and saw her son, dressed in a black Arasaka combat suit and fully armed, sitting on the sofa. Due to his combat cybernetic modifications, he was much taller than her and was counting money while waving at her.

"Yo."

Gloria was taken aback.

"Hey, you!" she said. "When did you get back?"

"Just got off work. I was on duty at the Lijiang Scenic Area today, so I got back quickly." David asked, "By the way, Mom, who exactly is the new drug you asked me to buy for the Arasaka combat-enhancing prosthetic body?"

David might lack experience, but he wasn't stupid. Where did Gloria get the money to pay for his schooling and the rent for such a nice new house after they left Santo Domingo? At that time, his salary hadn't been paid yet.

He hadn't asked before because he didn't have the opportunity or feel comfortable asking, but now that he had the chance, he might as well take the opportunity to find out. As a security department employee, he had been exposed to various things and realized that he had to find out whether his mother had been scammed or was being targeted by a rival company.

Gloria paused for a moment.

Seeing David's military-grade combat cybernetic body, which would later be further modified with implants to create a killing machine, she knew that David was already an Arasaka security soldier, and she had to confess.

“His name is Mann, a fringewalker, a cyber mercenary. I met him during a medical mission…” she said.

...

After listening to his mother's explanation, David roughly understood the cause and effect. "So, I was able to go to school thanks to Mann's help."

He believed his mother would never lie to him.

After a long while, he took off the tactical medical kit from his body, which bore the Arasaka Clover logo and a red cross.

"A new type of mild stimulant and inhibitor, a week's supply according to the high-intensity combat standards of Arasaka's overseas missions." David patted the medical kit and said, "Let him come and get it."

...

"So, why me?"

Walking along the streets of the Lijiang scenic area, Lucy felt a little irritated.

drip.

[Mann: It's part of the plan, better safe than sorry. The Lijing area is also Arasaka's territory, and Faraday is keeping a close eye on me. Besides you, my team has worked with him many times before, and you're the most suitable. Also, there are a lot of NCPDs there, and with our gear, I don't want to be questioned. Don't worry, Gloria is trustworthy, and the journey will be safe.]

[Qiwei: Good luck with your night run!]

It's infuriating.

"This is the place." Building 17, 18th floor, apartment H913...

Wearing a hooded jogging suit, Lucy followed the directions upstairs. She kept the external jammer activated along the way to blur the images of herself captured by the security cameras, until she arrived at the door of Martinez's house.

Martinez?

It looks somewhat familiar...

She knocked on the door, sent the coded message, and Lucy waited for the door to open.

Click——

The door opened quickly, but it wasn't the red-haired woman shown in the photo Mann had given her, but a fully armed Arasaka soldier!

Lucy's eyes widened in an instant.

A look of terror on his face.

Before he could even think, the enemy's compound eye tactical goggles, flashing red light, met his gaze. From above, the enemy's raised arm, with its specially designed protective armor, deformed simulated leather, and mechanical structure, revealed a dark cannon barrel—the [ejector launch system].

It's over! It's too late, there's simply not enough time.

When was Arakasaka discovered?

Mann misled me.

I've already saved up most of the money...

Staring at the cannon barrel pointing directly at her face, Lucy thought of many things. She especially thought of her companions who had been hunted down and killed by Arasaka soldiers after escaping the 'Deep Dive' organization…

Is it finally my turn?

Thump. She leaned back and landed hard on her bottom.

"???" David was also a little stunned.

Wasn't Mom talking about a blond, brown-skinned, muscular man? How did he become a beautiful, white-haired young woman?

Kaka.

The ejection launch system retracted its muzzle. David took a closer look at the white-haired girl, who looked pitiful, with a look of confusion, astonishment, and realization on her face, as if she had just survived a disaster. Hmm, she was pretty, but not as pretty as Commander Vera.

He doesn't seem like a desperado.

After assessing himself, David asked, "Did Mann send you?"

Lucy quickly replied, "Gloria's medicine."

“Tch. They actually sent a middleman to pick it up?” David asked into the house, and after receiving confirmation, he reached out his hand. “They’re quite cautious.”

“Here you go.” He pulled the white-haired girl up and handed her the medical kit, saying, “Tell Mann that my mom and I were taken care of by him in the past. It’s true. I remember the favor. In the future, if you need to buy medicine, just contact me directly. All discounts will remain the same. Oh, and tell him I’m David Martinez.”

David pulled her up and shoved the medical kit into her arms, and only then did Lucy realize what was happening.

They weren't exposed. They weren't pursued.

It was David, Gloria's son.

It's the one who graduated from Aragaka Academy.

“I will tell Mann.” With her eyebrows relaxed slightly, Lucy turned and left without hesitation.

She didn't want to stay a moment longer.

The girl with the eyeshadow, side-parted bob, and stylish look walked away in a flash.

She looked frightened by him.

David didn't think much of it and said to Gloria, who was listening inside, "It's all done, Mom. Time for bed. We have to work overtime tomorrow."

“David, her name is Lucy,” Gloria said, seemingly having ended her call with Mann.

“Lucy? Kawaii’s name,” David said, closing the door.

Just then, a video call came in.

It's Kawakami Kosuke.

"Suneo, why aren't you asleep so late?" David asked, his expression puzzled. "I don't have your energy to go to Twilight Street right now..."

"Pah! Do you think I'm that kind of person?! I have good news, do you want to hear it?"

"What?"

"New equipment has been issued. As outstanding graduates of this year, we have also been allocated positions!"

"What is it?" David was instantly wide awake.

"I don't know. It's said to be a collection of biological components or biological weapons called a quinque."

------

PS: David's new home is from the posting time of Edgewalker: September 13, 2022.

Chapter 115 is all about making progress (5.5K)

Choosing to escape, yet somehow one is drawn closer to the source of that escape.

"Huh...huh..."

A strange-smelling wind carried a drizzle that dripped onto Lucy's hood.

She kicked off her stained sneakers, stepped over the rusty threshold, and entered a dilapidated, abandoned Watson factory. The pale rainbow ends of her hair shimmered faintly in the dim space.

"Oh, Lucy, you're back. Uh... what's this?"

Rebecca, on night watch, carrying the brightly painted 'Kill' shotgun that was extremely disproportionate to her petite frame, jumped off the ammunition box that served as a cushion. As soon as she opened her mouth, contrary to her outwardly carefree demeanor, she was actually quite sensitive and keenly noticed Lucy's pale and still-shaken face under the hood.

Rebecca couldn't help but look puzzled.

What's wrong with me grabbing something?

Where is Mann?

Lucy didn't answer, but took off her hood and asked.

"It's inside." Rebecca took out a bottle of Lucy's favorite chilled beer from the mini-fridge next to her and handed it to her, pointing inside the factory.

"Ah."

Lucy took the beer, gave a nod, and hurried inside.

"Whoosh... hiss..."

Beside a metal folding table piled with ammunition boxes, weapon boxes, and discarded cans, fast food, and beer bottles, Pila, wearing the Mewtwo headband, lay on a sleeping mat, while Mann and Dorio squeezed together on an old sofa, cuddling and kissing each other while injecting themselves with pneumatic syringes.

It has the Arasaka Clover logo.

tick.

Mann immediately looked up.

Lucy walked over, took the Arasaka Genuine Tactical Medical Kit from the back of her sports jacket, placed it on the table, and said to him, "Your medicine."