"This is News 54, the violence continues to spread in the Evil Land. The day before yesterday, a vicious shooting incident occurred on Highway 118 and 133, suspected to be a gang conflict between Wanderers and Night Wanderers due to a benefit dispute, with over a hundred participants. The battle scene was brutal..."
Returning to Night City after a day’s absence, Lin Miao felt pretty good as he listened to the car radio broadcast.
Although players may not really be able to find a suitable product, Lin Miao can postpone the main quest; there’s no rush right now.
Lin Miao already thought it through; if the factory can’t be repaired, just shut it down and send players to loot Night Wanderers. After consuming enough resources, expand the military, repair the water plant for armament, and enter the city for distribution.
Just as he was thinking about how to loot Night Wanderers’ coins, he saw a familiar figure on the street of Santo Domingo.
Aha...look who I found?
Checking the time, it indeed was school dismissal time.
Lin Miao pulled his car over to the roadside and honked twice toward the person.
The black and red uniform of Huang Ban Academy was very recognizable on the street, so much so that as David walked down the street, people occasionally cast strange glances at him.
Jealousy, disgust, envy, hostility, mockery...
Whether on the street or in school, David always felt like an outsider, out of place everywhere.
If not for his mother, he probably wouldn’t have wanted to study in that seemingly glamorous school.
He walked home with his head down, ignoring everyone as usual, until the sound of a piercing car horn woke him, it was someone he knew.
"Get in, I’ll take you home."
David hesitated, though the person had saved him once from some punks, and his mother had money for rent, and got him a new Braindance headband, but David instinctively felt the person was very dangerous.
This level of danger far exceeded any mercenary or school leader he had seen.
Even though the danger wasn’t directed at him or his mother, David still instinctively wanted to avoid Lin Miao, so he refused.
Almost an irresistible voice, David’s instincts yielded at this moment, and he obediently got into the person’s car.
"What’s going on, am I going to eat you?"
Lin Miao laughed and started the engine, the car hit the road again.
"Why do you always look so glum every day, like being sent to Huang Ban Academy is like heading to the execution ground?"
Like you went to Huang Ban Academy—David thought cynically.
"Is someone bullying you at school? But I remember your mother said you’re doing well academically."
Lin Miao could only think of this.
But it didn’t make sense.
If David was doing well, he wouldn’t be the target of bullying.
This is the commonality of most schools, no matter how bad the home environment of excellent students, those troublemakers and second-generation rich kids won’t choose them as first targets, even in a place like Huang Ban Academy.
Lin Miao believed there were plenty of people like David who were in debt to attend Huang Ban Academy; otherwise, where would Huang Ban get so many ordinary employees?
David didn’t seem like one to seek trouble, unless he was lying to Gloria about his grades, but report cards can’t lie.
"...nobody bullies me."
David looked at the rusty scenery of Santo Domingo outside the window, which was worlds apart from the corporate plaza, but he preferred it here.
Tsk...arrogant little brat...
Lin Miao casually turned the steering wheel, the car’s front turned onto another road.
David was a bit nervous; this wasn’t the way home, and he wondered if he should jump out and run.
"Taking you to a fun place."
Japan Street, H8 Plaza.
According to Mann and the old captain’s news, the Tiger Claw gang wasn’t continuing to search for him and Lucy, so he dared to show his face here.
Westbrook’s Japanese-style charm differed from Santo Domingo, leaving the usually inactive David amazed. More interesting to him were the mercenaries drinking and partying in the plaza.
In the past, David only dared to watch such large mercenary gatherings from afar, but never got this close.
However, before getting out of the car, Lin Miao tossed him a set of his employee uniforms to change into, otherwise wearing Huang Ban’s uniform to a mercenary gathering would definitely get him killed, and Lin Miao wouldn’t be able to explain to Gloria.
"Aha~~I can smell the scent of money from a distance, let me see who’s here!"
Even without looking at the person, Lin Miao knew who it was from the sleazy voice.
Pira squeezed through the crowd, nudged his way in front of Lin Miao, with a sleazy smile, lustful eyes, and despicable moves, perfect for applying to join the head four to inflict ultimate disgrace on the emperor.
"Isn’t this Boss Lin? Is there something up? Don’t worry and leave it to me, I’m just short a little money to buy the new goods. Once I get it, I’ll guarantee it’ll send you to the heavens~~"
Pira rolled one hand into a hole, while the index finger of the other repeatedly poked in and out with an extremely sleazy expression, saying
"Haha, our captain is with Dorio on official business, you know, that stuff."
He then saw David beside Lin Miao, an unfamiliar face, new here, and the outfit. Pira paused, got a bit nervous, and withdrew his indecent expression.