Watson District, Little China.
If you rewound time ten or twenty years, this district had once been the beating heart of Night City—second only to City Center in prosperity.
But that all changed in 2069, when Arasaka descended upon Night City and triggered a financial crisis in the area.
Back then, in a gesture of gratitude for Arasaka's "support" in helping the city become a truly independent global metropolis, then-mayor Lucius Rhyne—the same man who had once begged Arasaka for aid against the NUSA military—handed over one of the district's four major zones for Arasaka to "manage."
That area is now known as the Arasaka Waterfront, a prime piece of coastline entirely under corporate control.
With their overwhelming power, Arasaka steamrolled every local company and factory in Watson. Countless businesses collapsed. Thousands lost their jobs and homes.
Almost overnight, Watson went from a thriving hub to one of Night City's poorest districts.
Lin Mo knew this area well. After all, in the game, it was where the protagonist's journey began—it was practically the tutorial zone.
Their destination, Little China, was one of Watson's four main subdistricts.
Like Japantown, the name "Little China" didn't refer to a single street but to a broader area.
The other two zones were Northside Industrial—dominated by the Maelstrom gang—and Kabuki, a bustling commercial area.
As the name implied, Little China was home to a large community of Chinese and other Asian immigrants. But unlike Japantown, it hadn't enjoyed the same fortune. This was one of Night City's most impoverished neighborhoods.
Then again, most of Night City could be called poor—just in varying degrees.
Still, one thing made this place unique: Night City's primary medical center was located here.
Every time Lin Mo came to Little China, he felt a strange sense of familiarity. The streets and alleys were lined with shops bearing Chinese names and steeped in East Asian flair.
Eventually, their Delamain taxi brought them to Bradbury Street.
There weren't many people on the street. Most of the shops were exactly what you'd expect: dollhouses and braindance parlors. These two businesses were Night City's most common forms of "entertainment," followed closely by bars and casinos.
But nestled between them was a storefront that stood out like a glitch in the code.
Its façade was adorned with mystical symbols, and the sign above the door read:
Misty's Esoterica.
"A fortune-telling shop?" Hiro Kitagawa asked, hoisting his unconscious sister on his back. "Lin-kun, don't tell me this ripperdoc is also a spiritualist?"
Even for a Night City veteran like Hiro, the situation was a bit surreal.
Did this doc patch you up by day, then chant esoteric verses over your body if you died?
"No," Lin Mo said, stepping forward. "The guy we're here to see is in the basement out back."
He pushed open the door.
Inside, the atmosphere shifted. Gone was the harsh neon of Night City; here, soft purples bathed the room. Compared to the golden evening light outside, this place felt like another world—quiet, warm, and strange.
The scent of incense hung in the air. Orange candles flickered gently across shelves and tables.
A woman was seated beside a client, offering quiet, compassionate words. The man reclined on a plush chair, his tense expression softening until he eventually fell asleep.
Hiro glanced at her. She seemed to be the only employee—meaning this young woman was the owner of the shop.
He had expected some white-haired crone covered in amulets. Instead, he saw someone totally different.
She had a distinct presence: tousled dark-blonde hair, pale Caucasian features, a light blue off-shoulder blouse, a gear choker, and deep purple lipstick. She radiated a kind of mysterious melancholy.
As her client finally drifted off, Misty turned to the two newcomers. Her eyes swept over them before landing on Lin Mo.
"Lin Mo? What brings you here?" she asked, surprised.
"It's a long story—I'll fill you in later. Misty, I need to see Uncle Viktor. This girl needs urgent care."
He motioned toward Hiro and the girl on his back.
Misty's expression softened when she noticed the unconscious girl. She covered her mouth and murmured, "That poor thing… Viktor should be able to help. He doesn't have anyone in right now—just watching TV. Go ahead."
"Thank you, miss," Hiro said sincerely, hurrying through the back door with his sister.
He spotted a staircase leading underground and descended without hesitation.
Lin Mo thought about following, but realized there was no need—he'd already messaged Viktor.
Going down would just make him an extra pair of eyes.
"What happened?" Misty walked over and gently patted his shoulder. "Tell me."
Lin Mo didn't hide anything. He explained the whole situation.
To him, Misty wasn't just some random shopkeeper. In the game, she and Viktor were major side characters—family to V in everything but blood.
Ever since being adopted by Xu Wanxue in this world, and gaining the freedom to move around on his own, Lin Mo had made it a priority to build ties with the key figures from the game.
The reasoning was simple. If your implants were malfunctioning, or you needed a smartlink installed, or maybe a learning chip upgrade—why not turn to the best?
And in a city where most people had long since lost their humanity, Misty and Viktor shone like saints.
He'd lost count of how many times he'd visited. By now, they were more than acquaintances.
"I see…" Misty sighed, visibly saddened. "That poor man—having his sister taken like that… thank god you were there, Lin Mo. I'm proud of you."
Then she perked up. "Want a tarot reading? My treat."
She pulled out a deck with a playful grin.
Lin Mo froze and waved his hands quickly. "No thanks, Misty. Not today. Maybe next time."
"You always say that," she pouted. "Do you not like my readings?"
"No! Never!" Lin Mo replied instantly. "Your tarot readings are the most accurate I've ever seen. It's just… I'm not really ready to hear what they might say."
He forced a smile.
In truth, Misty's tarot readings in the game could predict the player's future—including their eventual ending.
She wasn't just playing pretend—she was the real deal.
Lin Mo didn't avoid them because he didn't believe. Quite the opposite.
He had a simulator now—far more reliable than mysticism. But if Misty ever drew a card that reflected the "original fate" programmed for him in the simulation… like the one where he got abducted and chopped up by Scavs...
He honestly had no idea how he'd ever look her in the eye again.
.
.
.
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