V wasn't lying, the waitress was indeed very good-looking, with an Asian face that appeared gentle and soft, fitting perfectly with Asian standards of beauty for a pretty girl.
Seeing Mercer and the others arrive, the waitress, who had been harassed by a few hulking members of the Animals, seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and hurried over.
"Hello, what would you like to order?"
The waitress felt she was having the worst luck. Usually, the worst she had to deal with were members of the Tyger Claws, who might tease her a bit but rarely went beyond just words.
But these rough, oversized Animals, probably with their cerebellums swollen from all the drugs they'd taken, had almost gotten physical with her just moments ago!
"I heard your grilled chicken skewers are pretty good?" V licked her lips. With Mercer footing the bill, she wasn't going to hold back.
"Of course! Our chicken skewers are 99% real meat!"
The waitress smiled: "How about a chicken skewer set meal? One for each of you, plus a side of our signature miso soup with fried rice."
"Bring it! And some tempura too," V said boldly.
Mercer didn't mind the cost. Claiming it was 99% real meat, yet priced at thirty-eight eurodollars for a skewer set, what kind of meat could it really be?
As long as it wasn't human flesh.
Since an animal-borne plague hit Night City in 2051, the city had eradicated all poultry and birds starting in 2061. Unless it was smuggled, there was no way to get real chicken.
"Alright, one tempura set as well."
This was one of the rare places where you paid after eating. After taking the order, the waitress quickly tried to find a place to hide.
"V, take this chip. Keep it safe."
Mercer leaned back in his chair and slid a chip across the table. "You'll need it for your mission tonight."
"Tell me more." V's expression turned serious. Kiwi, sitting beside her, looked slightly awkward. "Should I give you some space?"
"No need. If it were truly confidential, I wouldn't be discussing it here."
Mercer spoke casually: "It's a simple job. At 11 tonight, infiltrate the underground server room at City Hall, insert this chip into the server, and once the program uploads, you're done.
I'll provide you with the specific route, the building's layout, and real-time net support.
After 10 p.m., City Hall only has a fixed security system in place. In the entire first floor area you'll be in, there are at most three guards on patrol.
There might occasionally be people working overtime, but they're all concentrated on the second floor and above in the office areas, not the first-floor service area.
The server room is on sublevel three. Normally, only one network security specialist is responsible for checking and managing sublevel three. This specialist clocks out precisely at 8 p.m. every day and never works overtime unless there's a special emergency.
The rest of the security is handled remotely by the building's professional netrunner. I'll make sure they see nothing.
I'll take care of the security cameras and elevator access. All you need to do is arrive at City Hall's back door by 11, wait for me to unlock it, then take the maintenance elevator straight down to the server room." The chip upload will take at most ten seconds. Once it's done, you just exit the way you came. As long as you aren't spotted, the job is done."
After Mercer finished speaking, V blinked. "That's it?"
"That's it."
Mercer said meaningfully, "The intel and details came from Rogue, so there shouldn't be any issues. But if something unexpected happens, like if you're discovered, just get out. No need to force your way through. Safety first. I can figure out another plan later."
"The pay is five thousand eddies total, what do you think?"
"No problem!" V replied without hesitation, though she still felt a bit nervous inside.
Five thousand eddies!
That was five thousand eddies!
Being a merc really paid way better than scraping by on the streets! Hanging around with those Valentinos punks, it was hard to even fill your belly for a month. But as a merc, one job could net you thousands of eddies.
That's enough for months of rent! This is awesome!
Mercer looked at V's excited face and didn't know what to say. V, you really come cheap.
Just as Mercer finished speaking, a loud thump came from nearby. Instinctively, his right hand went to his holster, and Kenshin was in his grip.
The source of the noise was none other than the Animals that Mercer and V had noticed before they even entered.
A burly man slammed the table as he stood up. At the same time, three other Animals also rose to their feet and, without a word, surrounded the waitress who had been about to bring food to Mercer's table.
"What, no food for us? Our order isn't complete yet. Who are you taking that to?"
A thick-faced brute grinned and reached for her waist. The waitress forced a smile and quickly dodged. "Sorry, really sorry... I'll hurry the kitchen along."
"Whatever, we don't really like your Jap food anyway. But..."
The big guy flashed a lewd smile, and the other Animals closed in cheerfully, trapping her tightly in the middle with no way out.
"Japanese girls, though, they're not bad."
After saying that, the big guy laughed heartily and pointed to a seat. "Come on, have a drink with us. We'll tip you extra." W-we don't offer drinking companion services... Y-you could go to the izakayas in Kabuki sub-district, on Jig-Jig Street..."
The waitress struggled to keep smiling, but the Animals were growing impatient.
"Damn, is it that hard to have a couple drinks? I want you to drink with me today. Can you do me that favor?"
A bald guy scowled menacingly, reached out, and yanked her into his arms.
V just clicked her tongue but only glanced over before looking away. If Mercer and Kiwi weren't here, she might have stepped in.
But right now, she didn't want to cause trouble for Mercer. He was a squishy netrunner, if a stray bullet so much as grazed him, he could be done for.
Kiwi, on the other hand, remained completely expressionless and indifferent.
Before meeting Mercer, no one had ever helped her, not even once. So why would she suddenly grow a conscience now?
"Boss..."
The waitress helplessly glanced toward the bar, but the owner pretended not to see, ducking into the kitchen behind the counter. Then, the light in the waitress's eyes nearly vanished, replaced only by tears welling in their sockets. Forcing a smile, she paled as she allowed the Animals to pull her toward their booth.
"Whoosh."
A throwing knife suddenly sliced through the air, embedding itself directly into an Animal's skull.
The Animal dumbly touched the back of his head, his hand coming away covered in blood, before his eyes rolled back and he collapsed to the floor.
Everyone stared, realizing it wasn't a throwing knife at all, just an ordinary dinner knife.
"Ha! I've been wanting to ask you dumbasses, why the hell are you called the Animals?
Real little animals are so damn cute, I could hug them all day long.
But you lot? Seeing you just makes me want to kill every last one of you!
Bunch of beasts... Die!"
A green-haired girl with twin tails, youthful features, but revealing clothing, cursed as she leaped onto a table.
Rebecca stood on the table, fiercely raising a butter knife, hurling it with all her might while continuing her tirade.
The moment the knife was thrown, V sensed trouble and immediately pulled the less experienced Kiwi under the table.
At the same time, she scowled at Mercer. "Did I really jinx it?"
"Based on experience and the current situation, yes." Mercer swiftly raised his Kenshin.
V sighed. "You're getting involved?"
"Of course." Mercer began charging the trigger.
"Why, because the girl's pretty, or the waitress is?" V quipped, but her hands moved quickly, drawing her own pistol and taking aim.
"Because I'm kind."
Mercer released the charged trigger without expression.
Two tungsten-tipped rounds tore through the air as V's pistol roared with a deafening blast.
Mercer and V's exchange overlapped perfectly with Rebecca's actions after she jumped on the table.
Just as Mercer and V opened fire, the butter knife Rebecca hurled, timed with her final word, shot forth and slammed into the eye socket of an Animal who had turned to look at her.
The electromagnetically propelled tungsten rounds pierced straight through one Animal's skull, while V's large-caliber pistol blew another's head apart like a balloon.
The Animal struck by Rebecca's butter knife had his entire eye socket collapse, the butter knife wedged deep into his orbit, shattered bone fragments piercing his exposed brain.
V whistled. "Not bad strength, choom." Though she felt she could've smashed the guy's head open with the butter knife herself, for someone of Rebecca's build, it was impressive, almost superhuman strength.
Rebecca stood on the table, hands on her hips, laughing. "Haha! You're not too shabby either, choom."
Pilar, across from her, painfully covered his face with his hand, checked the time, and urged, "Alright, Rebecca, we gotta go. Any more delay and we'll really be late."
He could tell at a glance that V and Mercer were serious players. V didn't need to say much, the modified pistol in her hand was visibly brutal, yet when she fired, her wrist barely recoiled, a testament to her strength.
As for Mercer, he was a pure tech warrior. His cyberware was so advanced that even scanning couldn't decipher it; just by the craftsmanship and style, you could tell it was top-tier corporate gear.
"What's the rush?"
Rebecca snorted but excitedly dashed over to a dead Animal, picking up the shotgun from the ground.
"Whoa, this thing looks awesome... I'm gonna dye it green when we get back! And this time, Pilar, don't you dare sell it!"
At this, she glared angrily at Pilar. "Speaking of which, where's your gun? Why were you just standing there watching earlier?"
Pilar looked embarrassed, but with everyone around, he actually admitted it: "Uh, couldn't resist a couple days ago, sold it for a BD trip at Lizzie's. Totally worth it."
What a fucking genius.
V shot him a look of disdain, while Mercer could only marvel at the audacity.
Rebecca frantically scratched her head in frustration.
"Do you even get what's going on here?! How are we supposed to take jobs from Wakako with you like this? What kind of cursed luck did I have in a past life to be stuck with a liability like you!"
After venting her exasperation, she turned to the trembling, pretty server still crouched in the pool of blood. "Get up, it's over now."
"H-how can it be over?!"
The server suddenly broke down.
She pushed Rebecca's hand away, sobbing as she spoke. "It's really over now! So many people are dead... I'm going to lose my job! You—"
She started to say something but then noticed Mercer's hockey mask with the letter "A" leaning close to her face.
"Say thank you. A, V, Rebecca."
"Wh-what?" The server was stunned.
"I said, please say thank you," Mercer repeated, word by word. "Say, thank you, A, V, Rebecca."
"...Th-thank you, A, V... Rebecca."
Her lips quivering, the server managed to get the words out.
"Good." Only then did Mercer wipe the blood from her face, his tone calm. "You can always find another job, but once you lose your principles, they're gone for good.
If you drink with the Animals today, the Tyger Claws will come for you tomorrow.
If you entertain the Animals, can you really refuse the local Tyger Claws?
Your reputation has even reached V's ears, who's to say the 6th Street or Valentinos won't be next?
Are you going to serve all of them?
And then what? Become a doll in the end?"
Mercer's words made the server tremble helplessly and lower her head. "Wh-what else can I do?! I have to live, pay rent... Without this job, sooner or later, I'll end up just like those joytoys!"
"Then there's nothing to be done."
Mercer finished wiping the blood from her face, casually pulled a tissue from a nearby table to clean his hands, then tossed it onto the Animal's corpse.
"That's just how this world is. You have to try to save yourself first. If you're lucky, someone might lend a hand. If not, how much worse can it get?
This time, I helped you. You should say thank you. If you feel you can't go on, then do whatever you want, become a doll or whatever. I'd recommend Lizzie's. The sisters over there are pretty reliable with their own kind.
Saves you from taking detours in this diner. If you like being a doll, why not go straight for it? You'd even earn more.
Should good people always have guns pointed at them? You've got the nerve to snap at a little girl, but why didn't you pick a fight with those Animals earlier?"
After speaking, Mercer glanced around the restaurant, which had emptied out in an instant as the other customers skillfully slipped away when the shooting started. He tapped the table: "Boss, check please."
"Y-You didn't get to eat, so... it's on the house," the owner stammered from the kitchen, too afraid to show his face.
Mercer shrugged: "Oh? Well, aren't you a nice guy~"
"N-No problem."
The owner just hoped Mercer would stop talking to him, the guy's sarcastic tone made it seem like he might just shoot him at any moment.
Mercer smirked, then turned and saw Rebecca staring straight at him, dumbfounded.
"You know me? How do you know my name?"
Her tone was curious.
Mercer didn't hide it, just gave an excuse: "I did get to know you all by coincidence, Rebecca, Pilar, children of the once-legendary mercenary Papa Sunrise."
Mercer's words caused subtle shifts in everyone's expressions.
"Whoa! Papa Sunrise?!" V's face instantly changed, exclaiming in surprise, "He was a legend in Night City a few years back! I even saw him on the streets of Heywood when I was a kid!
Drove this super sick convertible, killing people while driving, with three Maelstrom cars chasing him. And he just cruised in that open-top, took 'em all out without a scratch!
Damn, I still remember that scene! I totally idolized him as a kid."
After saying this, V paused, looking puzzled: "But... didn't that guy die ages ago? I heard he vanished like ten years back."
"He's dead. His bank account got hacked, his family's assets were seized by debt collectors, most of his so-called friends turned on him... all that's left are these two unlucky kids.
Don't let the girl's small size fool you, she must be fifteen or sixteen by now? No idea how she and her brother survived these past ten years.
Pretty pitiful, really."
As Mercer spoke.
"You knew my dad?!" Rebecca froze on the spot, then her breathing suddenly grew heavy. Her expression turned complex, a mix of tension, hope, hatred, sorrow...
"You know what happened back then? How did you know him? How... how did he die? Who stole his money?"
Rebecca fired off questions one after another. Even Pilar, who'd been eager to leave, suddenly stopped rushing and stared intently at Mercer.
"Don't know. Some say he died on an Arasaka job gone wrong, others say he was backstabbed... I just looked into it casually."
Mercer's tone was light, but Rebecca's expression suddenly turned fierce. She strode straight toward him, gripping her shotgun tightly:
"No way!
If it was just casual, how'd you know we're his kids? And recognize me at a glance?
Where did you meet us? You must know something! Talk! Who are you really?"
"Rebecca!" Pilar thought, shit, Rebecca's a good girl, capable too, but she's way too emotional. He knew it, sooner or later, her impulsiveness would land her in serious trouble!
But before Pilar could grab Rebecca,
V moved faster and more decisively, pressing a gun to her head: "A said he doesn't know, and that's final. What's wrong with you? You're young, but you sure flip moods quick, huh?
He knows plenty of people. If you've got a problem with that, cool off now and think it through again."
With a gun aimed at her head, Rebecca instinctively jerked back, releasing her shotgun. In the same motion, both hands shot out to grab V's arm, attempting to disarm her.
Though Rebecca was young and slight, the burst of strength and speed she displayed in that moment even took V by surprise.
But...
Surprised or not, V just sneered, retracting her hand abruptly before swinging it back hard, slamming the gun's grip into Rebecca's temple.
When it came to reflexes and raw power, V had never met her match, not even growing up.
Pilar saw only a blur before Rebecca stumbled sideways. He reached for his lower back instinctively but grasped nothing.
Damn…
Forgot again. Should've known better than to sell my piece for a trip to Lizzie's to catch a BD.
"Don't move, pal. Your sister's being an idiot, but I'm guessing you've got more sense."
Without hesitation, V aimed the gun at Pilar's head, one foot pinning the dazed Rebecca down, effortlessly controlling both of them.
Pilar's slender fingers twitched, inching toward a fork on the table behind him, but V just gave a cold laugh: "Pick it up, and I'll drive it through your skull!"
Pilar quickly raised his hands. "Sis, my bad! Rebecca, she, boss, she's just panicking. Don't take it personally, alright? She's only fifteen, no need to get tough with a kid, right?"
Mercer watched Rebecca, pinned under V's foot, dizzy but still baring her teeth fiercely, and shook his head, saying:
"Kindness taken for weakness. A kid? That excuse doesn't fly with me."
Playing the youth card? Mercer wasn't about to indulge either of them.
He did like Rebecca, but...
That didn't mean she could take advantage of his goodwill to act out, like trying to point a gun at him.
V glared fiercely at Rebecca, who was still struggling and glaring back with a defiant snarl, and smirked dismissively:
"Got guts, but no skill. Next time, know who you're dealing with.
If you hadn't gone for disarming instead of aiming that shotgun at me, I'd have put two holes in you right then.
All fight, no foresight, you won't make it to eighteen."
Rebecca shoved with all her might against the foot holding her down, rolled over, shook her head, and sprang up gritting her teeth, eyes blazing. "Again!"
Without a word, Pilar punched her, hard enough to nearly knock her over, clearly, he'd really had enough.
Rebecca shot a look at Pilar and finally cooled down. She lowered her head, fists clenched tight, and fell silent.
She knew she'd let her emotions take over again, not only messing things up but also picking a fight with the wrong crowd. Lucky for her, they hadn't gone for the kill.
But she soon turned back, locking eyes with Mercer. "Tell me. Tell me what really happened back then." After speaking, Rebecca suddenly remembered she was the one asking for a favor and hastily added, "As long as you can tell me! I'll do anything you ask! Please! I really... really want to know!"
"I can help you ask around, but I truly don't know the details. The only reason I know both of you is because of a coincidence."
Mercer remained expressionless, not having moved an inch the entire time. When Rebecca's expression shifted earlier, he even had a moment to gesture for Kiwi, who was hiding behind her seat, to stay calm.
He knew mentioning Papa Sunrise's name would catch Rebecca's attention, but he hadn't expected the girl to be this reckless, truly, a newborn calf fears no tiger.
"Rebecca, I suggest you calm down and think carefully about how you speak to me."
Mercer's tone was gentle, showing no trace of emotion. Though his mask was somewhat intimidating, the calm in his blue eyes finally made Rebecca settle down.
Once she had cooled off a bit, Mercer spoke unhurriedly:
"This isn't the attitude of someone asking for a favor. I helped you deal with the Animals and showed you goodwill, yet you pull a gun on me.
I don't owe you anything. You can't act high and mighty or push me around just because I'm being kind.
If you want my help, you have to say, "Please, A, help me.""
V could hardly keep a straight face. Is it really because you're kind?
She glanced at Rebecca's innocent, cute, yet rebellious pretty face and couldn't be bothered to call him out.
Rebecca lowered her head like a child who'd done something wrong and gave a deep bow. "I'm sorry! I just got too worked up. If you can find out anything about Papa, I meant what I said!
I'll do whatever you want, work for you, sleep with you, anything! I've never had a boyfriend; in Night City, that's probably a rarity, right?
Or... or if you want money, just name a price. My brother and I can save up.
Please, A!"
Was that so hard?
V snorted and holstered her pistol, but she didn't find it the least bit strange that Mercer knew Rebecca.
After all, Mercer knew her too. Before meeting him, V hadn't been much better off than Rebecca, yet Mercer had actively sought her out for jobs.
What she couldn't figure out was how he managed it. Hadn't he just arrived in Night City? How did he already have such a clear read on even the street punks? It was downright unsettling.
The waiter and the shop owner, meanwhile, didn't dare make a sound.
Seeing her sincere attitude and desperate tone, Mercer finally spoke slowly:
"Alright, since you're being polite, helping you ask around is no trouble. I'll dig up whatever I can, but to be honest, for an Edgerunner hailed as a legend...
death isn't exactly unusual.
There might not be as much to the story as you think."
After Mercer finished, Rebecca shook her head firmly. "No way! Papa said it was just a small job back then! How could someone as skilled as him get taken down on something so simple?"
"Who gave him the job?" Mercer asked.
"Wakako. Papa was her best merc at the time," Rebecca said, glancing at Pilar.
"Wakako's fairly reliable. She doesn't usually sell out her mercs or cause problems with jobs. Are you two working for her now?"
Mercer pressed further.
Rebecca shot her brother a disdainful look and said, "No. It's my brother, he somehow got it into his head that if we went to Wakako, she'd definitely help us and give us work." Well, I heard Wakako values old connections. My dad had a good relationship with her back in the day, and it was because of a job for her that things went wrong.
"He usually called her Auntie Wakako."
"So I thought... asking her to give us a chance shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"We had it all set, she was supposed to have a batch of gigs ready by ten, and if we showed up on time, we could grab one."
Pilar finished speaking, his expression growing more bitter as he glanced at the clock in the shop. "But it's already five past ten. No way we're making it now."
"Small thing. If you've got real skill, fixers beg you to work. If you're a no-name merc, you're just scraping for scraps wherever you go."
Mercer's assessment was spot on, just look at V in the game. Since when does he need to go looking for work? Clients beg him to take jobs. And it's definitely not because V comes cheap.
"Did you ever ask Wakako about your dad?" Mercer asked curiously.
"We did... and all she said was, 'A merc screwed up a job and died. Not holding him accountable was the client being generous.' "
"I even emailed Wakako, and she just said our dad messed up his own deal. Botched it."
Pilar's expression darkened, but unlike his naive sister, he thought Mercer made a good point, in Night City, how many legends actually live long?
If you're in the Edgerunner life, you ought to be ready to lose everything from the start.
Mercer nodded. "Alright, next time I talk to Wakako, I'll ask for details. It's no trouble. No need to pay me, I'm just being nice."
"Tch." V had heard enough. He turned to Kiwi and said in a exasperated tone, "See? What did I tell you? He probably saved you because you're pretty."
Kiwi looked uneasy. She didn't think... Mercer was that kind of person, was he?
"Bullshit!" Mercer shot back, flipping her off without hesitation. "I'm just a damn good guy! Hell, I don't know anyone in Night City nicer than me!"
V nodded, grinning without arguing. "Yeah, yeah, I'm sure Kiwi agrees with you."
"Idiot." Mercer rolled his eyes and shot her a glare, thinking this damn V was gonna ruin his reputation sooner or later.
He's just a kid! Where did this "pervert" idea even come from?
"Anyway, it's too late for you two to run to Wakako's for a gig now."
"Since we're in Japantown anyway, and I already told her I'd stop by, might as well go say hi together since we ran into each other."
Mercer paused, then added, "But honestly, I don't think she'll give you two any work."
"Even I can tell how unreliable you are right now."
"One's a little girl, decent skills, but no brains, goes crazy when emotions take over."
"The other seems calm and slick enough, but skills aren't up to par, and lets the little brain run the big brain, even sold his tools to buy BD."
"At Wakako's, you'd probably just get odd jobs and errands at most."
Pilar said helplessly, "I know... but we've gotta find some work. Otherwise, we won't even know where to dig up food for tomorrow."
"How have you two survived this long?" V asked, genuinely curious. She shrugged at Rebecca's indignant look and said, "You're like me, lost both parents young, but at least you're a Heywood girl.
Had neighbors looking out for us, the Valentinos never bullied local kids. Went to church, scrounged meals at neighbors' places.
You were what, five or six when your dad died?"
"At first, some of Dad's friends helped out, but soon enough, those kind uncles were all gone. Then we sold whatever we could.
Sometimes ran errands selling stuff, dealt some XBD on the side. People bought more 'cause we were kids back then.
Uh... just scraped by, I guess."
Pilar was the one speaking, sighing. "Got tougher as we got older, especially after the uncles died. Human traffickers, Scavengers, Maelstrom psychos...
Luckily, Rebecca and I both inherited Dad's tough build. Especially Rebecca, don't let her size fool you, most people ain't a match for her.
After we stole a couple guns and took out a few Scavengers, nobody on the street dared mess with us kids.
Stole, scammed, did any job that paid... I picked up some skills too, like tinkering with guns."
V couldn't help but show a hint of sympathy, glancing at Rebecca and letting slide her earlier recklessness, poor kid. Guess you're looking at a saint, V.
Mercer just nodded and said, "So now you're switching to being Edgerunners? Couldn't keep up the old work?"
"Mainly 'cause it barely paid anything."
Rebecca glared furiously at Pilar. "This idiot either blew his cash on junk or getting his fix with BD.
I finally saved up a bit, barely enough for rent, and last month this dumbass modded his own hand into uselessness, nearly lost his arm.
Had to get him a doc, wiped out my savings again.
Hustling on the streets is pointless. Being an Edgerunner at least pays big, might not have to sleep rough. Damn it, Pilar, did you really sell all your guns just to get a BD fix at Lizzie's?"
Rebecca grew angrier the more she talked.
The thought that Pilar had insisted on eating before going to Wakako, causing all this mess and making them miss Wakako's job, made her want to shoot him right there.
V and Mercer both turned to look at Pilar, who scratched his head awkwardly. "Ha! Life's so shit, BD's the only high I got left."
"Sleeping on the street?" V crossed her arms.
Pilar nodded. "Dad left us a car. Sold all the parts long ago, just the frame's left. We dumped it in an alley, sleep in it at night. Sure, the convertible doesn't keep rain out...
But at least there's a mattress."
"Tsk tsk." Mercer shook his head but didn't say more. In this city, worse things happened to people than what these two had endured.
Like Kiwi, who remained expressionless, Rebecca might have had it rough, but at least she hadn't been sold twice.
Still, seeing this kind of thing always left a bitter taste in Mercer's mouth.
Kids of fourteen or fifteen starting to kill for cash, and everyone just acts like it's normal. What a fucked-up world. "Let's go, we should move somewhere else to talk. I bet the boss has already called the cops. If we delay any longer, NCPD will probably show up."
Mercer spoke, and the others had no objections. Rebecca, preoccupied with her thoughts, kept her head down as she picked up her shotgun and instinctively followed Mercer out.
"You stared at me for a while when you first came in, was it just because you recognized me as Papa Sunrise's kid? I... I feel like you know me pretty well."
Rebecca couldn't hold back any longer and voiced the doubt in her heart.
"I do know you. I know a lot of people in this city. As for why, you can think of it as an accident."
After Mercer finished speaking, Rebecca knew she wouldn't get any more details. Though she was a bit reckless and emotional, she wasn't a fool.
From their conversation, she could vaguely sense his goodwill. She didn't know where it came from, but which street kid didn't know how to seize an opportunity?
"Hey... A, are you a fixer? Or an Edgerunner? Are those two with you?"
Rebecca asked cautiously.
"Right now, V and I have a working relationship. I give her jobs, she gets paid to get them done. But I think she's pretty capable and want to bring her into my team.
It shouldn't be hard to tell, I'm a netrunner, new in town, and I need some good hands for fieldwork.
The work is mostly odd jobs like killing, stealing, that sort of thing."
After Mercer finished, Rebecca's mind immediately started racing.
What he meant was...
"Me! I mean, what about me? I'm not bad either! The reason V pinned me down earlier was because I haven't eaten properly in days...
Wait till I've had a full meal, then fight her again, who knows who'd win!
Do you have any other jobs? My brother and I can do anything!"
Rebecca immediately started excitedly promoting herself, even temporarily forgetting about Papa.
She had no choice, after missing the meeting with Wakako, she was truly broke. If she didn't earn any money today, she'd have to figure out where to get her next meal.
Mercer glanced at Rebecca, then at V.
V just felt puzzled: "Why are you looking at me?"
"What do you think of her skills?" Mercer asked.
"...Tch, not bad. She's got some fight in her. Though not as good as me, she's decent. But her saying she could take me on after a full meal is pure bullshit. I could pin her down with one hand."
V loved telling it like it was.
Shattering someone's skull with a butter knife from six or seven meters away was impressive, and looking at Rebecca's slender arms and legs, it was almost unbelievable.
But compared to her? Heh.
Rebecca opened her mouth, feeling indignant but held back. Now was job-hunting time.
Mercer pondered. Rebecca proactively seeking employment was, of course, a good thing. Wasn't that exactly why he had started talking to her in the first place?
Right now, both Rebecca and Pilar were at a low point in their lives, just like V.
To get them to work with him sincerely, all he needed to offer was a little cash and some genuine kindness. Both Rebecca and V are among the rare good-hearted people in Night City. Though they might have their flaws, and "good" is a relative term here, they are the kind who reciprocate sincerity with sincerity.
So, Mercer gave a genuinely earnest reply.
"How do you want to roll with me? Like V, start by taking on paid gigs, or join the crew straight up?"
As soon as Mercer said this, not only Rebecca and Pilar, but even V and Kiwi instinctively perked up their ears.
Rebecca was taken aback at first, then looked puzzled. "What's the difference?"
"If you're just taking paid gigs, we're just friends. If a friend's in trouble, helping out is a matter of loyalty, if I don't, you can't really complain. When I hand out jobs, I pay based on your status and role. To be blunt, whether it's you or V, paying three to five thousand eddies per job is already above market rate."
Mercer's words made Rebecca's eyes light up. "You pay V three to five thousand eddies per job?"
"I know on the streets, you pick up odd jobs that pay at most a thousand eddies a pop. But working for me comes with higher risks, so the pay is higher to match. However, unlike just scrabbling around on the streets, I'll scope out the risks beforehand, provide tech support from behind the scenes, and plan out the ops as much as possible. Basically, I act as your fixer."
After a pause, Mercer continued, "But if you want to roll with me properly, it's not like that. It means officially joining my team."
"When big jobs come up, we discuss them together. Besides splitting the earnings based on contribution, I'll also front you loans to upgrade your weapons and cyberware, and help you find a place to stay. We'll stick together from then on, share the glory and the losses. But once you're in, you're in for the long haul with the crew."
"I'll treat you like family, like my own brothers and sisters, sincerity for sincerity. On that front, I don't think any other boss in Night City can do better than me. But because I go this far, I consider it going above and beyond."
"So, if any of you betray me after joining, I will pay it back in kind. If anyone chickens out and jumps ship midway, we can't even be friends anymore."
Mercer looked earnestly at the group and said, "I'm not rushing you for an answer. You can take on some gigs for me first, get to know me better, then decide whether to join. But let me be clear upfront, once you make your choice, no regrets."
At this, Rebecca and Pilar fell silent for a moment, while V scratched her head, looking troubled. She was genuinely tempted but felt she needed that final push to decide.
Kiwi, however...
She suddenly looked up. "Can... can I work with you too? I mean, the official kind, joining the crew."
Mercer tilted his head, looked at her, and chuckled. "Then... will you betray me?"
"...Mercer, you're the first person I've ever met who's willing to help me." Kiwi gave a self-mocking smile. "I don't know... But if I had to bet on someone one last time... I can't think of anyone else but you." "If you stab me in the back, I'll drag you to hell with me. But if you treat me as a true brother," Mercer extended his hand with a laugh. Kiwi froze for a moment before hesitantly reaching out to clasp it.
"I won't let you vanish without a trace before I die," he vowed, grinning broadly. "Kiwi, welcome to the Kindling Squad."
The Kindling Squad?
Kiwi mulled over the unfamiliar emotion stirring within her and finally made up her mind. "I once swore never to trust anyone again. But Mercer, you're the only one who's ever reached out to pull me up. So... I trust you!"
As the words left her lips, a weight seemed to lift from Kiwi's chest. She released Mercer's hand, slid into V's car, lit a slender cigarette, and smiled, a mix of relief and liberation. "Aren't we leaving? I hear sirens."
"Let's go." Mercer waved a hand. "Since we're here, might as well drop by Wakako's. Pilar, ride with V and guide the way."
Rebecca found herself bewildered, settling into the passenger seat of Mercer's car. It wasn't until the engine roared to life that she realized, she hadn't given him a definite answer yet.
Noticing her fidgeting, as if her seat were on fire, Mercer chuckled. "What's up with you?"
"I..." Rebecca paused, then unexpectedly asked a seemingly unrelated question. "Why did you help me take on the Animals earlier?"
"Because I'm a good guy." Mercer laughed heartily. "What, you think you're the only one allowed to do good deeds? Or do you believe that idiot V, that I'm just after you because you're cute?"
Rebecca fell silent for a moment before murmuring, "What if I still can't help causing trouble later, like today, seeing those Animals and just losing it? What would you think?"
Mercer turned, his eyes smiling behind his mask. "I'd probably think, 'What a good kid, Rebecca.' "
Rebecca clenched her fists, then slowly relaxed them. "I'll do some odd jobs for you first, see if you're really reliable. If you haven't lied, if you truly want to help me up, then I'll officially join. From then on, you'll be my big brother!"
"Deal. As a show of goodwill, I'll ask around at Wakako's about your old man. But you have to promise me, stay calm." After Mercer spoke, Rebecca nodded vigorously. "I promise!"
The sirens arrived late. Meanwhile, Mercer's car was already heading toward Jig-Jig Street, where Wakako's office was located.
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6500 words.
Bonus chapter @600 and next one @900 power stones.