They made it back to the shop just before dawn.
No sun in The Underbelly. Just pale light filtering through the massive ventilation ducts. The fog had thinned some but still hung thick.
Jax laid Xiao Qi—he knew her name now—on his busted bed.
She curled up with her doll. Asleep in seconds.
The woman—M5-0047—stood at the door. Didn't know if she should come in.
Jax glanced at her.
"Come in. Close it."
She stepped inside. Closed the door. Sat against the wall.
Her mechanical leg was still leaking. Blue fluid dripping on the floor. One drop at a time.
Jax grabbed a healing agent from the shelf. Tossed it to her.
"Do it yourself."
She caught it. Paused.
"...Thanks."
Jax didn't answer. Walked out. Went back to the main room.
Old Joe was already there. Bottle of cheap liquor in his hand. Taking pulls.
He saw Jax and grinned.
"Girl asleep?"
Jax nodded.
Old Joe took a swig.
"Demon Heavy ain't letting this go."
Jax sat across from him.
"I know."
Old Joe glanced at him.
"You don't know shit. You know what Demon Heavy even is?"
Jax stayed quiet.
Old Joe slammed the bottle on the table.
"Biggest mechanical prosthesis maker in the Middle Layer. They got garbage collection rights for seventeen districts. The Waste People down here—the ones who can't pay, got debt on their heads, got sold out—they all get scooped up. Turned into experimental subjects. Sold as bodyguards to Middle Layer elites."
He pointed at his own mechanical left arm.
"This arm? They took it twenty years ago. I was in deep. Couldn't pay. They dragged me in for modification. I escaped later. Killed a few Hunters they sent after me. Ended up in this shithole."
Jax listened. Said nothing.
Old Joe took another swig.
"That woman—M5-0047—she escaped three years ago. Big stir back then. Demon Heavy sent waves of Hunters. I turned them all away."
He grinned.
"You think I found her by accident with that sack? Nah. I was after her."
Jax was quiet for a few seconds.
"You knew she'd come?"
Old Joe chuckled.
"You sneak off to that warehouse every night. Think I'm blind?"
Jax: "..."
Old Joe stood up. Slapped his shoulder.
"Alright. Get some sleep. Tomorrow—tomorrow's problems we deal with tomorrow."
He grabbed his bottle. Staggered toward the back.
Stopped. Turned.
"Oh. That Little Treasure in the backyard. Seemed friendlier to you today. What'd you feed it?"
Jax thought.
"Expired oil."
Old Joe paused. Then laughed loud.
"Good! That's the way!"
Laughing, he disappeared into the back room.
Jax sat there. Long time.
Then stood up. Walked to the window.
Fog outside. Thick.
But he could still see the warehouse across the street. Getting swallowed by the last dark before dawn.
---
**[Ding! New day. Daily quests refreshed.]**
**[Ding! New quest triggered: The Gaze of Demon Heavy Industries. Objective: Evade Demon Heavy Industries pursuit for next 72 hours. Rewards: New Coins +1000, Mechanical Repair EXP +500, Special Reward ×1.]**
Jax swiped it away.
Went back to the bench. Kept working on the part.
---
Morning came.
Xiao Qi crawled out of bed. Rubbing her eyes.
The woman was already awake. Still sitting against the wall. Leg wasn't leaking anymore. Still looked stiff.
Xiao Qi ran to her. Hugged her.
"Mom."
The woman looked down. Mechanical hand stroked Xiao Qi's hair.
Slow.
Gentle.
Jax stood up from the bench.
"Hungry?"
Xiao Qi turned. Nodded hard.
"Hungry!"
Jax dug in the cabinet. Found two packs of compressed biscuits. Tossed them over.
Xiao Qi caught them. Tore one open. Took a big bite.
"Uncle. You not eating?"
Jax shook his head.
Xiao Qi looked at her biscuit. Looked at him.
Broke it in half. Held one half out.
"Here."
Jax blinked.
She looked up at him. Eyes wide.
He took it. Bit into it.
Hard. Tasteless.
He swallowed anyway.
---
Noon.
Old Joe came out of the back.
Looked at the mother and daughter in the corner. Then at Jax working.
"Hey. Kid."
Jax looked up.
Old Joe crooked a finger.
Jax walked over.
Old Joe lowered his voice.
"Big shot from Demon Heavy just arrived."
Jax's eyebrow twitched.
Old Joe pointed at the door.
"Messenger dropped a letter. For you."
He pulled a black envelope from his coat. Handed it over.
Silver emblem on the seal. Demon Heavy logo—a gear biting into a heart.
Jax opened it.
One sheet inside.
One line:
**"Tonight. Ten p.m. Seventh District Junkyard. Bring M5-0047 and the child. Or we tear down your shop."**
Signed:
**Mechanic Demon.**
Jax handed it to Old Joe.
Old Joe read it. Face changed.
"Mechanic Demon... Shit. He came himself?"
Jax looked at him.
"You know him?"
Old Joe nodded.
"Vice President of Demon Heavy Industries. Runs retrieval and modification. Mean son of a bitch."
He paused.
"The kind of mean where his whole body's been turned to machinery."
Jax said nothing.
Xiao Qi ran over. Hugged his leg.
"Uncle. What's wrong?"
Jax looked down.
"Nothing."
He put the letter in his pocket.
---
**[Chapter Seven · End]**
**[Ding! Quest triggered: Mechanic Demon's Invitation. Objective: Go to Seventh District Junkyard. Face the Vice President of Demon Heavy Industries. Rewards: New Coins +500, Mechanical Repair EXP +300.]**
**[Ding! Warning: Quest danger level: Extreme. Thorough preparation recommended.]**