Thief ?
David's eyes followed the flash of white hair and pink roots. The owner was a short-haired woman, about twenty, wearing a short coat and tight leather pants. Her smoky makeup and striking appearance made her stand out.
"So beautiful," David thought, but soon noticed her peculiar movements. She seemed to be intentionally getting closer to the Arasaka employees on the subway.
"David?" Oliver's confused voice snapped him back. David turned to see Oliver's puzzled expression.
"We asked you about your food preferences, and you spaced out."
"Sorry," David apologized quickly. "I got distracted."
"Are you looking at something?" Oliver followed David's gaze but only saw the Arasaka employees. "You're looking at them too. After all, you'll probably join them after graduation."
"I wonder how much Arasaka employees earn per month," Jack chimed in, glancing at the company men.
"Probably not much. They seem like low-level employees," Karl remarked, holding his grumbling stomach. He hadn't eaten much all day, just bread and synthetic milk.
"I'm more concerned about what to eat later. David, do you have any dietary restrictions? I'm ordering takeout, and I want it to arrive when we get to my place."
"None," David replied.
"Good. What the hell? This is my first time ordering takeout, and there's a big price difference between manual and mechanical delivery. Why is mechanical delivery so expensive?"
"Different service agreements," Oliver explained. "Manual delivery isn't responsible for issues, but mechanical delivery ensures the food arrives on time, even if the robot gets damaged."
"So, if the delivery person is harmed, that's it. But with a robot, another will take over. Makes sense."
Karl decided to go with the mechanical option despite the cost. "Let's get fried rice with meat," he concluded.
David's attention shifted back to the woman, now closer to the Arasaka employees. He noticed her prosthetic eye flicker.
"Click."
Though the sound was inaudible, David saw chips eject from the neck ports of the Arasaka employees. The woman skillfully caught the chips mid-air.
"A thief," David realized but didn't react. In Night City, such thefts were common, especially against corporate employees. What surprised him was the beauty of the thief.
Turning away, David decided not to focus on the theft. Yet, the woman noticed David's Arasaka Academy uniform. She scanned him with her prosthetic eye, confirming his identity.
The woman moved closer, aiming to steal his chip, confident in her ability to disappear into the crowd unnoticed.
"Click."
As the chip ejected, the woman reached for it, but a hand intercepted it. The hand belonged to a calm blond man—Oliver.
Before the woman could react, she felt two guns pressed against her head from either side.
"Thief?" Oliver said coldly. "I really hate thieves today."
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