"Bro, I think you've got the wrong guy. Don't believe we've met," Hiro Kitagawa said with surprising calm, even with several guns pointed his way. His voice was clear and steady.
Lin Mo, equally composed, didn't show a hint of panic. With a Cool stat of 5, he was well above average when it came to staying calm under pressure.
That said, he still acted scared on purpose—minimizing his presence. The Tiger Claws clearly didn't see him as a threat. Perfect.
He was betting they wouldn't open fire. Judging by their sloppy stances and amateurish grip on their weapons, these goons were far from professionals.
To them, this was just a petty grudge match. They didn't think Hiro or Lin Mo posed any threat.
But Lin Mo, with Reflexes at 10, knew he could dodge the moment they pulled the trigger—and decapitate them all with a blade before the first shot even rang out.
"Nah, nah, nah... Of course you don't remember me, Hiro. You were a big-shot squad leader in Tiger Claw. I was just some bottom-feeding grunt. It's no surprise you forgot," the man said with a twisted grin, eyes flashing with mockery.
"I left the gang a long time ago. The past is behind me," Hiro replied evenly.
"But I haven't forgotten. You slapped me so hard I saw stars. And that kick to my nuts? Agony I'll never forget!" the man growled.
Hiro's face darkened. His voice was low, eyes sharp. "So it was you who took my sister?"
"Bingo," the man sneered. "Back then, I tried being nice to her, tried to win her over. But you—oh, you just had to come along and beat the crap out of me. So tell me, how should I repay the favor?"
Hiro's rage flared. "She was fourteen, you sick bastard! I should've put a bullet in your head instead of just kicking you!"
The man chuckled, brushing imaginary dust from his crisp white Tiger Claw suit, looking every bit the arrogant scumbag he was. His voice oozed contempt.
"That's where you messed up, Hiro. Quitting the gang? Big mistake. If you'd stayed, maybe you'd be calling the shots today. Instead, you ran away like a coward."
"You think you can just walk out and wash your hands of it? You still got those glow tattoos, don't you? Those aren't ink—they're chains. Once you join Tiger Claw, there's no leaving. Everything happening today? You earned it."
His words grew more unhinged, and the glint in his eyes sharpened with murderous intent.
Hiro didn't bite. He took a breath, steadied himself, and asked coldly, "Where is she? Did you take her?"
"You wanna know? Then follow me." The man smirked like everything was going exactly as planned. He turned and walked outside.
The armed thugs behind him motioned for Lin Mo and Hiro to follow, guns still raised.
They passed through the alley into a vacant lot filled with rusting car frames, rotting mattresses, and torn tents. This was vagrant turf, but today, it was empty. The stench of garbage and roaches crawling through trash bags filled the air.
"Nice spot, huh? Quiet. Even if someone screams, the traffic will cover the noise."
Through the commlink, Lin Mo sent a message without moving his lips.
"He's not going to talk. He brought us here to kill us."
Hiro replied, deadpan. "Yeah. He's tying up loose ends."
The man stopped and motioned them toward the wall.
His goons kept their guns trained on them as he walked forward and slowly pulled a pistol from his jacket.
He stroked the gun like it was a lover.
Standing right in front of Hiro, he raised the weapon to his head and licked his lips.
"I'll level with you, Hiro. I've wanted your sister for years. Not days—years. You never noticed, but I've been watching her. Every. Single. Day."
He pointed toward the diner with one hand, then brought that finger to his mouth, licking it as if lost in some revolting fantasy.
Disgusting piece of shit. Even with his Cool stat, Lin Mo had to fight the urge to gag.
"You know how much self-control it took not to act? Her legs, that soft body, that slim waist... every time I saw her, it drove me crazy. I wanted her so bad..."
Hiro's cybernetic hand tightened. Metal groaned. His jaw clenched, teeth grinding.
The cold barrel on his forehead kept him frozen, his fury simmering just below the surface.
"Step back," Lin Mo's voice came through the comm.
Hiro blinked, then took two slow steps back.
The man laughed mockingly. "What's the matter? Chickening out? That's what I thought."
He took another step forward, taunting Hiro—completely oblivious to the kid behind him.
Lin Mo also stepped back, shifting behind a nearby wrecked car. His small size and youthful look kept him off everyone's radar.
The man continued his monologue.
"You're wondering how your sister is doing? Don't worry—soon, everyone in Night City will know. That BD we're starring in? It'll be a best-seller. And guess what? You're in it too! We'll stick a recorder in you—get that POV pain from big brother while I—"
He paused.
Lin Mo's voice cut through like a razor.
"I don't think that'll be necessary. Take your braindance to hell."
The man flinched.
Too late.
He didn't even get the chance to turn. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a flash of blue-green light.
That glimpse became eternity.
A gust of wind followed the blade. A streak of shimmering steel glinted in the midday sun—silent and swift as death itself.
Lin Mo's expression was cold, detached. His blade howled for blood.
Before the man could even process what was happening, the katana tore through the air in a perfect arc.
His eyes widened.
Then—nothing.
A clean, upward slash.
His head separated from his body and soared into the air, blood trailing like a crimson comet.
[Savage Instinct] activated.
.
.
.
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