chapter 122

... Six Street Gang Takes Over...

At 8:44 PM, Karl sat in a restaurant in Vista del Rey, waiting for his teammates.

Jack, Oliver (on comms):

"We still need a while to finish this job. You order food first and wait for us. We'll be there around nine. Nothing happened today. No one from the Sixth Street Gang showed up. It's been smooth so far."

Karl leaned back, wondering about Jack's ex-girlfriend.

Since morning, Jack and Oliver had been keeping watch at a bar bordering Sixth Street and Valentino Gang territories. Twelve hours had passed without incident. The Sixth Street Gang must have noticed the new bar was opened by the Valentinos but hadn't caused any trouble.

"Are they planning something later?" Karl mused.

Jack had been hired to keep an eye on the bar for just one day. Beyond that, whatever happened wasn't their problem. They had done their part.

Karl sat in the corner of the restaurant, looking across the street at the bar. Through the open doors, he spotted Oliver's unmistakable blonde hair.

"Did he put something weird in his hair again?" Karl wondered, shaking his head.

He ordered macaroni with tomato sauce and some real water. As he skimmed the menu to pick something for Oliver and Jack, the restaurant door opened with a soft creak.

Karl's gaze shifted. A familiar face walked in.

"David?"

Karl almost raised a hand to wave but stopped midway when he noticed someone behind David.

It was a middle-aged woman—tired eyes, years of hard work etched into her features. Karl recognized her immediately: Gloria Martinez, David's mother, an EMT at Night City Medical Center.

Karl lowered his hand and remained silent. This was a personal moment—a mother and son out for dinner. He didn't want to intrude.

Gloria must have just finished her shift. Looking at them together, it was clear David had been waiting for her to get off work so they could grab a meal.

Karl slouched further into his seat, grateful for the corner table. The last thing he wanted was to make Gloria uncomfortable. A street mercenary like him wasn't the kind of company a concerned mother would want for her son.

David and Gloria found a seat near the window, one table behind Karl.

From their conversation, Karl learned they had both ordered macaroni with tomato sauce—the cheapest option on the menu. Karl glanced at the menu again and sighed. Even here in Vista del Rey, three eurobucks was all they could afford.

As they waited for their food, Gloria spoke up.

Gloria:

"David, where did you get that money you transferred to me today? Five thousand eurobucks… you didn't do anything illegal, did you?"

David:

"No, Mom. I'm just selling BD wreaths at the academy. It's all legit! Remember the prosthetics doc I used to sell to? I've been doing that again, just on a bigger scale. Don't worry—it's totally above board."

Gloria still looked concerned.

Gloria:

"Can you really make that much selling BD wreaths?"

David:

"Of course! Nobody else at the academy has the same connections I do. Trust me, I've got this under control."

Gloria:

"But… will it affect your studies?"

David:

"Not at all! I only deal during breaks. In class, I'm focused. Don't worry, Mom—there's a big test this week, and I promise I'll score in the top ten!"

Gloria finally gave a small nod, though her worry lingered.

David:

"You don't need to work so hard anymore, Mom. I can handle my tuition now. You shouldn't have to keep pulling long shifts."

Gloria:

"That's sweet, David, but there will always be expenses—college, life… We can't just rely on what you're making now. It's better if I keep working."

As David was about to respond, the restaurant door opened again.

Several figures stepped inside, their clothing unmistakable: the utilitarian style of entropy wear favored by the Sixth Street Gang.

The leader, holding a rifle, spoke casually:

"Prepare some meals. This restaurant now belongs to the Sixth Street Gang."

Karl stiffened. Through the glass, he saw more than twenty gang members outside, armed and scattered across the street.

David followed Karl's gaze, his cheerful expression vanishing. He clenched his fists under the table as Gloria instinctively pulled him closer.

Karl remained silent, his mind already working on an exit plan.