Although it’s labeled as a doctor’s role, sometimes the work is no different than that of a scavenger.
Working for a company like that, she also has to bear the cost of her son attending Huang Ban Academy, one of Night City’s elite schools, with an annual fee of at least 200,000. It’s quite obvious where Gloria’s money comes from.
Most fools assume it’s from being a sex doll or earning through shady dealings, but Lin Miao knows that if being a sex doll could send a son to Huang Ban, then the street’s flesh trade would be priced beyond imagination, with gold coins encrusted with diamonds and still not fetching such a price.
Gloria’s hand clenched tightly on her leg, biting her lip as a flicker of panic crossed her gaze. While some things are unwritten rules, those mercenary thugs who subscribe to REO membership aren’t necessarily unaware, they just have no choice but to take a gamble, yet illegal is illegal, unspeakable things might weigh nothing off the scales, but get heavy when weighed a thousand pounds.
They can’t trouble the company, but can they trouble Gloria?
But after a brief panic, this resilient woman collected herself. As an REO employee, Gloria had reasons for being able to send her son to Huang Ban Academy. She glanced at Lin Miao.
"Mr. Lin...what do you mean..."
A smart woman, Lin Miao actually understands her well. As an outsider, Lin Miao doesn’t harbor much resentment towards the company yet and grasps Gloria’s thoughts. Who wouldn’t want their children to excel in the future? If it were him, he might choose the same path.
In Night City, where life expectancy barely reaches 40, companies rule everything. Even if Huang Ban is riddled with power struggles, living cautiously within is far better than being a thousand times stronger than those mercenaries and poor folks who might die in alleyways any day.
"It doesn’t mean anything." Lin Miao smiled, taking out a business card from his chest and handing it to Gloria, "I just hope we can establish a good relationship moving forward. Everything is on the table, regardless of quality, regardless of good or bad, I want it all. In return, you’ll get 5% more than your usual earnings, fair and equitable. How’s that?"
Accuse others of crime?
Isn’t that too laughable in Night City?
Gloria looked at the business card printed with ’Future Horizon Office’, her hands trembling as she took it, while Lin Miao transferred a thousand euros to Gloria explaining,
"I’ll keep the gift box for now, and this is the deposit. You can call me with any news, anytime."
At this moment, David came back with a bottle of cheap whiskey, and Lin Miao cleared the glasses in front of him and Gloria, then poured the drink, handing one to Gloria and taking one himself.
Facing David’s gaze, he casually brushed him off by saying, "You’re underage, you can’t drink."
"Then, to our fledgling enterprise, cheers, hoping next time this bottle and our value both rise together." Lin Miao clinked his glass against Gloria’s, the amber liquid swirling, much like Gloria’s tumultuous emotions. After taking a deep breath, she chose to lift her glass and down it. Selling implants to anyone is selling, having a stable sales pipeline is surely safer than privately seeking mercenaries, though she still showed some unease on her face.
And David, uncertain about what transpired between his mother and Lin Miao while out of the room, could only look on in a daze as the two suddenly began clinking glasses and drinking.