[Diana: I've already taken care of everything. If all goes well, N54 News will expose Joanne's poisoning in Yucca Town and the contamination of Red Ocher's water source tomorrow at 7 PM.]
[?: So what about the thing I want?]
[Diana: Don't worry. Once I drive Joanne out, I might even become the regional director thanks to the deal I struck with Militech. By then, I'll definitely be able to get approval for what you want.]
[?: I've waited a long time for you, Dr. Cuno.]
[Diana: I know. Please believe me... it's not that I don't want to do it, but what you're asking for is beyond what a deputy director can authorize. Once Joanne is dealt with, I'll apply for it immediately.]
[?: I won't wait forever.]
[Diana: I know! Rest assured, if everything goes smoothly tomorrow, she won't be causing trouble for much longer. I'll hurry.]
Mercer didn't reply to Diana again.
Because he was busy with his team inspecting the property.
The reason the project had been delayed for so long was mainly due to Mercer. He had not only revised the design plans multiple times but also repeatedly increased the budget.
What should have been a basic renovation costing just over a hundred thousand eurodollars ended up as a three-hundred-thousand-eurodollars project, and that was only for the basic construction and structural work, not including the equipment.
He had the Aldecaldos patiently and discreetly modify the basement section.
Even the surface-level warehouse was completely overhauled by Mercer into a relatively high-end workshop and storefront.
Now, the previously shabby-looking warehouse had been given a fresh coat of paint by Mercer, and a simple neon sign was added outside the door.
The sign didn't have a shop name or anything like that, just a few simple words and a bright little flame as the logo.
"Weapons, Gear/Equipment, Programs."
Straightforward and clear, outlining the services Mercer planned to offer in the shop.
First, custom modifications or even handmade private weapons. Pilar enjoyed this kind of work, and Mercer was also very interested in it.
Next was the sale of gear, mainly because Mercer might later take on projects like handcrafted drones or mechanical dogs. Aside from using what he made himself, he could also sell simpler, cheaper, and more durable items for profit.
The gear section also included some cyberware modifications. While Mercer might not yet have the ability to create cyberware from scratch, he could try his hand at retrofitting existing cyberware or adding some tech through custom work.
It wasn't that Mercer lacked the technical skill or ideas; it's just that manufacturing weapons and equipment is a different concept from modifying or assembling them.
The former requires raw materials and production facilities, while the latter only needs some ready-made parts and a high-end personal workbench.
Finally, the programs section: not only mods for weapons and cyberware, but also the various types of chips that Mercer and his netrunners excelled at, including ICE programs, quickhacks, and more.
After a quick glance around the outside, V couldn't wait to urge, "Hurry up, let's go inside! I have no idea what you've done with the interior of this warehouse!"
Mercer flashed a confident smile. "Then you're in for a treat!"
He walked up to the main entrance, where the original door had been replaced by a sturdy automatic metal door that slid open smoothly. What appeared before V and the others was a somewhat narrow space.
Immediately visible was a massive counter and a new concrete wall blocking the way forward, with only a small metal door left on the side.
The counter was entirely constructed from reinforced concrete and extended all the way to the ceiling, featuring a large bulletproof glass window in the middle.
The thick bulletproof glass, about six meters long and one meter high, had only a small rectangular opening that could be unlocked. It looked even more secure and solid than a bank teller's window.
In front of the counter, a few sturdy stainless steel tables and worn sofas were casually placed, serving as a waiting area for customers.
Behind the bulletproof glass, there were only a few display shelves and two fairly large screens placed against the glass, currently dark and unlit.
"This will be the storefront of our shop. Usually, no one needs to keep watch here. See behind the counter? Just on the other side of that wall is a workshop. There are cameras and microphones both outside the warehouse and around the counter. We can handle customers using a tablet, or we might not even need to interact with them directly. I plan to have an AI manage front desk sales and explanations. We'll only need to step in for certain emergencies."
As he spoke, Mercer pointed to the corner of the counter. "The warehouse ceiling was too high, about four and a half meters, so I had a false ceiling installed. We've integrated the electrical wiring, water pipes, ventilation system, and even reserved cooling ducts for the server room in the basement. Of course, we also made sure to include hidden automatic turrets."
Following his gesture, the group spotted two concealed automatic turrets tucked into the ceiling.
"These things cost over twenty thousand eurodollars each. Militech really knows how to make a profit. I didn't buy too many... left a few slots open so we can build our own later and save a lot of money."
Mercer then led them through the side door, which also required identity verification to open automatically.
What appeared before V and the others was a long corridor.
The warehouse was ten meters wide and over thirty meters long, and this corridor stretched almost the entire length of the building.
"The first door leads to the counter you saw earlier. There's nothing inside right now, so no need to check it out. Let's look at the workshop behind it."
As he spoke, Mercer walked to the second door and pushed it open.
Pilar, who had been marveling at everything around them, exclaimed with wide eyes, "Damn, this is the workshop? It's huge!"
It was clear that Mercer had dedicated most of the warehouse's ground floor to the workshop. The room measured eighteen meters in length and nine meters in width, occupying nearly half of the entire first floor.
The floor of the over hundred-square-meter workshop wasn't tiled, but it was already equipped with lighting, central air conditioning, several large workbenches, sinks, oversized trash bins for waste disposal, and other essentials.
Among the features was a large workbench where Mercer had already set up computers and other basic modification equipment, all arranged neatly.
"Right. This place will be for making heavy equipment and weapons, the kind that's a pain to move back and forth. I left a large door at the back of the warehouse and set aside over a hundred square meters for parking and storage. The backdoor is just through here."
Mercer led them over for a look. There wasn't much to say; it was just a simple space for parking and storage. The main door was a thick, automatic, roll-up metal shutter, also fitted for automatic turrets, and defensive measures like cameras had been installed.
"Where are the rooms?" Rebecca, who had never been here before, asked excitedly. "Don't we have a basement? How come I don't see any stairs?"
A smile touched Mercer's lips. He led them back to the hallway, walked to the end, and knocked on one of the walls. With a simple press, a small section of the wall flipped over, revealing what looked like an ancient numeric keypad.
"So cool! Isn't this just like those old spy movies?" Kyoko, who had come along, couldn't help but exclaim in excitement.
She had been cooped up at the camp recently, doing nothing but surfing the net and watching all sorts of BD movies. Seeing something like this in person was incredibly thrilling for her.
"Don't be fooled by its antique look. The beauty of this thing is that it's not connected to the net. You press the code, and only if it's correct will it activate its network mode and call the elevator up. Even if I scanned it with my cybereyes, I wouldn't be able to pick up a signal from this thing."
Mercer said with a smile, "You can also open the door directly from the basement. Even if this thing breaks, as long as the basement server is still running, you just have to call the AI, and it'll open the door for you."
As Mercer keyed in 20720101 on the numeric keypad, the wall at the end of the hallway suddenly slid open, revealing a metal elevator wall.
"This was originally designed for a staircase, but I didn't think that was cool enough, so I swapped it for an elevator. Anyway, even if there's an unexpected power outage, a superhuman like V can just pry the doors open and jump down. The elevator has a bit of maintenance space reserved, so you can climb down directly."
As Mercer spoke, the elevator doors opened.
"Damn, this is awesome. The money was well spent, A!" V marveled.
Mercer, however, rolled his eyes, wondering who it was that had been nagging him every day about spending money too fast.
After he stepped inside, Lucy, Pilar, Kiwi, Rebecca, V, and Kyoko followed, descending into the basement with him, full of anticipation.
When the elevator doors opened, even the usually quiet Kiwi and Lucy's eyes lit up, their excitement palpable.
The more energetic ones, like Kyoko and Rebecca, let out a whoop and dashed right out.
"Holy shit, this… this ain't half bad!" Pilar's eyes widened as he waved his arms in excitement. "Fuck! I can't believe I'd get the chance to live in a place with a living room!"
Mercer hadn't designed the entire basement to be brightly lit. Instead, he had used a darker color palette as much as possible to create a cozy, home-like atmosphere.
Coming down from the elevator, the first thing they saw was a large, square living room, eleven meters wide and ten meters deep, connected to an open-plan kitchen.
Mercer had chosen to paint the walls a shade of gray and enlisted a talented Aldecaldos member to spray a vibrant, graffiti-style "Kindling Squad" text mural on the wall behind the sofa.
The large black sofa was one of the few new additions, an eight-meter-long L-shaped couch, spacious enough for the entire squad to sit together. There was also a four-meter-long, over-one-meter-wide coffee table, and a massive 100-inch TV mounted farther away.
Even fake greenery flanked the TV, AR projections of bamboo standing tall against the walls, breathing a bit of life into the basement. If anyone grew tired of the view, they could switch it up... cherry blossoms, peach blossoms, whatever they liked, though unlocking new patterns required an extra fee.
To avoid making the basement feel oppressive, Mercer placed a large screen where a window would normally be, on the other side of the sofa. It looped a simulated forest landscape, doubling as ambient lighting.
The lighting itself was deliberately chosen to be warm and soft, a cozy yellowish hue rather than harsh brightness.
"Not bad at all! Feels kinda homey, just missing some decorations. Not many cabinets or stuff around... looks a bit empty," V remarked.
Mercer simply replied, "I figured this would be where everyone hangs out, so I left plenty of space. You can bring in game consoles, a pool table, or whatever random things you want."
V glanced around, curiously drawn to the kitchen first. She walked over, running her hands over surfaces here and there. "Fridge, oven, an induction cooktop, and a gas stove? Pretty well-equipped. What about cutlery and stuff?"
"In the cabinets," Mercer said.
V immediately opened the cupboard. "All ceramic plates? These aren't cheap, are they?"
"Not really. Little China sells sets for just over a hundred eddies," Mercer explained.
"Wow, fully stocked with dishes, pots, and tools... you're pretty detail-oriented. You ever cooked before?" V marveled.
She wasn't just making small talk. In the Cyberpunk universe, very few people actually cooked their own meals. It wasn't about laziness; most ordinary folks simply couldn't afford fresh ingredients.
Whether it was vegetables or meat, anything you could buy was far more expensive than the synthetic ready-made meals sold by corps.
"Absolutely. I'm a damn good cook. Come with me first... let me show you the facilities, then everyone can pick a room."
With that, Mercer pushed open the door behind the living room, revealing another corridor stretching farther inside.
Doors to various rooms lined both sides of the hallway.
He pushed open the nearest one, revealing a spacious area. "This is the gym. If you're bored with nowhere to burn energy, come here and go wild. My advice? Everyone should spar with V."
V grinned. "Oh, a boxing ring? Nice, I'm pretty into punching stuff."
Rebecca cracked her knuckles, grinning fiercely. "Bring it on! I'm not scared of you now!"
"Hey, boxing isn't just about who's stronger," V said confidently. "I'll even go easy on you... one hand behind my back!"
"Don't come crying when I break you!" Rebecca fired back, battle-ready.
The gym measured over five meters in length and eight meters in width, close to 40 square meters, filled with workout machines, exercise equipment, and a boxing ring. It looked like more than enough space to raise hell.
"And further inside is our most important netrunner workstation."
Mercer pushed open the second door as he spoke.
The moment it opened, a mix of whirring cooling fans, warm and cool air rushed toward them.
When they saw what was inside, even Kiwi couldn't help but exclaim: "You... spent quite a lot on this, didn't you?"
The space was five meters long but nearly thirty meters wide. Immediately visible upon entering was an entire wall covered with massive server racks.
Or rather, only one cabinet was currently filled with Zetatech's compact servers, while the other twenty-plus cabinets remained empty, though pre-wired with both data and cooling lines.
Additionally, there was a row of netrunner stations. These were personally funded by the crew, each with different models.
But considering they now had a server room, these stations were mainly for connecting to their netrunning suits' cooling systems, with computing power becoming secondary.
There were also numerous workbenches, primarily for chip manufacturing and processing, along with small mechanical creations like drones and robotic hounds that could be built right here without needing to go upstairs.
Mercer said with a pained expression: "Quite a lot indeed. Just the cooling channels, cabinets, and related accessories cost over two hundred thousand eurodollars. Behind this server wall are specialized cooling ducts directly connected to twelve heat vents above the warehouse, assisting with the water cooling for this server array. The intake vents have high-power refrigeration fans installed... running these cooling systems at full capacity would cost tens of thousands in electricity monthly."
Lucy looked puzzled: "Why not just start with one cabinet? All these empty racks must have cost quite a bit too."
"I put up my car as collateral," Mercer said succinctly. "I pawned that Caliburn with El Capitán to raise three million eurodollars upfront. Don't say it's too low... supercars never hold their value on the secondary market, and that's all El Capitán could scrape together. He usually deals in... less legitimate transactions, so today was rare for him to actually front capital. Not easy."
"I plan to use this money to make a quick profit from Biotechnica's situation in the stock market, then directly build out this server room to medium-scale specifications all at once. The Caliburn's damn cool, modded to hell and back... but our current crew really can't afford running that scale of vehicle for combat missions. Scratch the paint, and there goes a small server."
Mercer pointed excitedly at the server wall: "If we can fill all these, I estimate we'll get twenty, maybe thirty times the computing power of my netrunner station. And remember, my station's already more powerful than those trash-tier small server arrays! With that kind of processing power, even corporate elite netrunners won't be able to breach our servers remotely. Running AIs, large programs, testing new algorithms... all will be more than manageable."
"Um... how much are you planning to spend on this?" V asked cautiously, one hand unconsciously covering her chest.
"Every damn eurodollar we've got, like we agreed! The car money's just a loan to get these servers running... I've got big plans. I'll pay back your and Rebecca's shares after I turn profits."
After Mercer finished speaking, Rebecca crossed her arms and said with some displeasure, "I told you not to split it, but you insisted. Just giving me a hundred or two hundred thousand eurodollars would be enough."
"We agreed on one-third each," Mercer insisted, but even V, who was clutching her chest, shook her head and said, "Forget it. I feel... this money came too easily, and it doesn't sit right with me to take it. Just consider it clearing my debt. Honestly, if it were anyone else, they wouldn't have given us this much. The intel was yours, and honestly, with you here, the mission wasn't even that difficult. Rebecca and I can each take a few hundred thousand eurodollars... enough to deck out a room and tinker with some cyberware. That's plenty."
Mercer shook his head. "We'll talk about it later."
"I won't take it even if you give it to me," Rebecca frowned at him. "Even if we're splitting based on contributions, getting that Caliburn was mostly thanks to your intel, right? You also put in the work... planning the operation, executing it, handling the extraction. Taking fifty or sixty percent is only fair. V and I definitely won't accept money based on your so-called 'equal split' idea."
Seeing how firm both of them were, Mercer chuckled. "Hey... do you two even realize how much money that is?"
"No matter how much, it's not relevant to us," V said bluntly. "If we're going by the principle of 'to each according to their work,' then drop this act."
"Alright, alright. How about twenty percent each for you two, and I take the rest. Deal?" Mercer offered.
"That's more like it. Besides, isn't your server for everyone at the base to use anyway?" Rebecca finally broke into a smile.
She glanced around at the room full of screens, netrunner stations, and workbenches, shook her head, and quickly added, "Are there any other rooms? This place is full of netrunner stuff... it's making me dizzy."
"The rest are personal bedrooms for everyone. There are seven in total, each around twenty square meters with a private bathroom and walk-in closet. The innermost one is the base's backup generator room. In case of an emergency power outage, the large generator inside will automatically kick in. A full tank can last at least an hour."
After Mercer finished, Rebecca asked doubtfully, "How big is this generator that it only lasts an hour?"
"Do you have any idea how much electricity this server room would consume if everything's running at full capacity? I had to rely on Mr. Hands bribing those Barghest idiots to get a dedicated power line installed. Otherwise, we'd be dealing with blackouts and tripped circuits all the time... a total nightmare."
Mercer pointed to the adjacent rooms. "Since there are exactly seven of us, each can pick one. The layouts are all the same... decorate however you like later."
"Where are you planning to stay?" Rebecca asked, moving closer to him with a grin. "How about we be neighbors?"
"I don't mind. I'll probably be in the server room most of the time anyway. My room's just for sleeping."
Rebecca promptly pointed to the room opposite the server room. "Then you take that one... easy access to the server room. I'll take the one to your right."
"Deal." No sooner had Mercer spoken than Lucy quietly pushed open the door to the leftmost room, the first one, and went inside.
Kiwi didn't hesitate, choosing the innermost room. V thought for a moment before settling next to Rebecca, leaving Pilar with the second-to-last room.
However, Pilar didn't really care who his neighbor was. He just rubbed his hands together somewhat creepily and asked, "How's the soundproofing here?"
"Good enough. All solid walls," Mercer glanced at him. "But let's get one thing straight first... no bringing outsiders back to the base without my permission."
Mercer wasn't about to put this matter to a vote. He couldn't stand the thought of a bunch of annoying assholes suddenly invading his home.
Who knew what kind of weirdos these street kids usually hung out with?
"Heh, I was just saying, uh... never mind, it's nothing." Pilar trailed off under Rebecca's narrowed gaze, raising his hands in surrender.
Ever since Rebecca upgraded to Gorilla Arms, he'd lost all fight in him. A punch from her used to just make him grit his teeth, but now, one hit from those things would send him straight to the ripperdoc.
"Alright, sort out your own rooms. Set up your own access permissions for the doors. Bring all your luggage over. Tonight, we'll have a proper feast. From now on, this is our home!"
"And I've got a gift for everyone."
Mercer's mysterious tone sparked their curiosity, but since he showed no intention of revealing it early, they all excitedly went to check out their rooms.
Even from his own room, Mercer could hear Rebecca's delighted laughter next door.
"Hahaha! There's even a bathtub? Mercer! I love you! You hear me?"
Mercer shook his head, ignoring her, and took a moment to appreciate his own room.
Though windowless, making it feel a bit stifling visually, Mercer was still thoroughly satisfied. At least the room was spacious, and the mattress was soft enough that his stiff back didn't ache when he lay down.
Most importantly, he'd arranged for a bathtub. He could finally take hot baths!
Since crossing over, he hadn't had a single proper soak. For a northerner who loved baths, these days had been pure torture.
His cyberware wasn't afraid of water, after all.
Soon, sounds of people moving luggage echoed from outside. It was almost pitiful. Everyone's combined belongings could probably fit in just one car.
Even V, in her rented room, only had that beat-up laptop, stored firearms and ammunition, and clothes that belonged to her.
Mercer stepped out of his room with nothing urgent to do and headed back to the living room, opening the fridge.
He took out the treasures he'd had the Aldecaldos smuggle in earlier to thaw.
A large chunk of beef, nearly five kilograms, a case of chicken wings, and some fresh vegetables and seasonings they rarely got to enjoy.
When V finished moving her luggage and glanced into the kitchen, her eyes lit up as she rushed over. "Damn, A, where'd you get this? Synthetic meat?"
"Real meat! And chicken too! All smuggled in from Texas. The Aldecaldos drove around the Badlands for over a week to get this for me!"
Mercer boasted proudly, "Tonight, I'm having fried chicken wings, NiCola-glazed wings, braised beef, roasted beef..."
"Let me handle it! I'll make some Mexican dishes!" V rolled up her sleeves and nudged him aside. "Go wait outside. Don't waste good ingredients."
"Who do you think you're looking down on? I'll win you over with my NiCola chicken wings today."
As the two bantered and roughhoused, the others passing by couldn't help but stop. Rebecca, Pilar, and Kyoko even crowded around the kitchen, staring hungrily at the fresh meat with nothing better to do.
Even Lucy and Kiwi chose to stay in the living room, turning on the TV but stealing glances toward the kitchen every now and then.
It wasn't until V raised an eyebrow and waved the knife a few times that the drooling onlookers awkwardly chuckled and retreated to the living room couch to rest. Soon after, the aroma of food began wafting from the kitchen.
Even the high-powered range hood, bought specifically for this purpose, couldn't completely contain the enticing scents.
After two hours of efficient teamwork, Mercer and V had swiftly prepared a full table of dishes, arranging them on the dining table beside the kitchen.
The long table could easily seat ten people facing each other, yet everyone instinctively left the head of the table, the only seat of honor, for Mercer.
When Mercer's confidently prepared NiCola chicken wings were brought to the table, everyone fixed their eyes on him. Rebecca, in particular, looked like she was about to see green with hunger.
"Alright, let's keep it short... just a few words," Mercer said with an amused chuckle. "First, congratulations to all of us for finally having a place we can call home, a shelter from the storm... a real home of our own."
"Second, I swear that one day, we will all move out of filthy Dogtown, leave this stuffy basement behind, and settle into a penthouse in Night City. We'll enjoy the city lights through the windows and share even more delicious dinners together."
"I want to emphasize... all of us, together. No one will be left behind. In fact, there might even be more joining us."
After a brief pause, he continued with a smile, "Lastly, may our Kindling Squad sail smoothly toward becoming legends of this city. May everyone in Night City remember our names!"
"That's all... dig in!"
As soon as he finished, Rebecca immediately grabbed a fork and speared a NiCola chicken wing. The perfect balance of sweet and savory, combined with a tenderness she'd never experienced before, made her eyes widen in astonishment. "So good!"
V glanced at her skeptically. "Really? I saw him cooking it with NiCola... that dark reddish color can't be right, can it?"
"So good!" Rebecca repeated, too busy devouring the food to form a proper reply.
Still doubtful, V carefully picked up a piece with her chopsticks and took a tentative bite. Her expression brightened instantly. "Hey? Not bad... almost like it's braised in red wine."
"Right?" Mercer grinned, using his own chopsticks to serve several pieces onto a small plate, which he then passed to others at the table.
Only after seeing everyone's approval did he finally remove his mask with satisfaction and begin eating himself.
Spanish-style rolled tortillas with roasted beef, vegetable salad, NiCola chicken wings, spicy fried chicken wings, and a hearty beef stew. Though not an extravagant spread, it was a rare and exquisite feast by Night City's standards.
V had already taken several bites when something suddenly occurred to her. She whipped her head around.
Then, as if struck by lightning, she froze, her movements stiff as her jaw slowly dropped.
In her line of sight was Mercer's face, youthful, boyish, and thoroughly enjoying his meal, now clearer than ever before.
"Holy shit… This is what you look like!? You've got to be kidding me!"