Norman sighed, then cheerfully called out, "Pan'an, you chat with them. I need to fix the tire here first."
"Scorpion, keep an eye on the side, just in case some members of the Chaotic Blade Association get backup.
I'm going to search and see if these guys from the Chaotic Blade Association have anything valuable—it could be a nice unexpected windfall."
Mitch said with a smile. He was a middle-aged white man with a bit of baldness, a receding M-shaped hairline in front, and a circular bald spot at the back of his head...
Mercer guessed he might have some British ancestry.
Scorpion seemed a bit aloof, wearing a hood, his exposed half-face cold and hard as he cautiously watched Mercer, scrutinizing for quite a while before suddenly asking:
"Did you hack their car just now?"
"Yeah, their onboard systems are all ten-year-old models; hacking them isn't hard."
Mercer's nonchalant tone made Scorpion lightly nod, then he turned to Pan'an and said:
"Don't underestimate him; even the hackers in my unit couldn't hack into those cars as quickly as he did. He's genuinely skilled."
Scorpion didn't mention one more thing—the cars seemed to have malfunctioned almost simultaneously, and just by estimation, it's highly possible that multiple quick-crack programs were uploaded at once.
Only hackers with top-tier 'intelligence' could hack multiple systems concurrently so effortlessly.
If any less competent hackers attempted this, their brains would be overheating by now.
"Is that so?"
Pan'an truly regarded Mercer highly now; Scorpion seldom praised people. But she just waved her hand:
"Alright, kiddos, lend a hand, help check the vehicles, and scour the battleground. Then we'll get you across the border."
Lucy and company skillfully started clearing the battleground, looking no different from the seasoned Wanderers.
Even the Adcardos observing them couldn't help but nod to themselves.
Mercer then walked over to Pan'an's side and observed her up close for a while.
The current Pan'an appeared only eighteen or nineteen, with a more youthful and vigorous appearance compared to the wild mature woman in the game. Her skin was fairer and more delicate.
As for her figure, it was similar to the one in the game—around 1.7 meters tall, with a curvy physique... even better than in the game, exuding a youthful vitality.
"How do you plan to get us in? Cassidy should have told you that we don't intend to leave any border-crossing records; plus, we have some tricky contraband that can't be discovered."
Mercer asked, while Pan'an, who was checking the engine of a Chaotic Blade Association member's car, confidently chuckled a few times: "This is our specialty as Wanderers...
It's simple. Our car will be at the front in a bit. When we reach the border checkpoint, you'll queue with our car.
When it's our turn, I'll go in and pay the inspecting officer, five hundred Euros per vehicle, including the people and goods. Then, based on the money I give, they'll let you cross the border one by one."
After Pan'an finished speaking, she smirked: "How's that for surprisingly simple?"
"Indeed... won't they check the goods or the people?"
Mercer verified again; this was not something to be careless about, or he wouldn't have had Cassidy contact these people to come and get them from overseas.
"Don't worry, unless there's an accident that demands a lockdown from above, it's that straightforward.
This is Night City; they don't care where you come from or what you bring.
Do you know Dog Town? That's Dog Town in Taiping District of Night City.
It's said that even military technology's Centaur Armors can be airdropped directly there. Compared to that, smuggling small goods like ours is nothing, right?
Moreover, we Adcardos aren't pushovers. Once given money, they'd best let us pass. If they tried to give us trouble, we wouldn't just stand by and watch them steal our goods."
When Pan'an mentioned Dog Town, her expression turned displeased:
"Thanks to that idiot... uh, I mean, that New American traitor Colonel Hansen, high-end goods all go airdropped through Dog Town.
Our income as Wanderers has dwindled a lot, hardly getting any big jobs.
Thus, those at the checkpoint definitely won't waste words, they'll just take the money and let us pass without a fuss."
Mercer nodded, getting the picture but still cautiously asked: "What if someone releases our personal data and asks these border stations to monitor us closely?"
"Come on, what kind of trouble have you stirred up to be this scared..."
Pan'an was a bit impatient but still thought seriously and said:
"Then here's the plan: you kiddos will sit in Norman's large van.
His cargo hold has been modified with a special metal, and the checkpoint's inspection lights can't penetrate it; it'll just appear as a black mass on the instruments.
Put your car and your stuff inside, and just stay quiet inside. Leave the rest to us.
After you're in, wait by the roadside. We'll make another run to bring your car in too. Done."
Pan'an's words made Mercer nod:
"Let's do that. We'll move the stuff inside in a bit.
Better safe than sorry before I sort out a new identity—honestly, the trouble we've caused is no small matter.
If any people or goods are discovered, it could all lead to big problems."
"Got it, I won't ask more."
Pan'an said, then loudly called out to Norman, who was almost done fixing the tire: "Norman, you'll drive them later. Use your van to get them in; they'll need your car to cross over."
Norman understood: "Got it."
He glanced at the Chaotic Blade Association's cars, saying:
"Alright, Mitch and Scorpion, I've called the family to come and drive these cars away later.
Other than the one with a broken engine, the rest can be fixed and sold.
You two help get their cars across the border, then I'll drive you back to get your cars."
Mercer and company had three cars in total, with Cassidy driving one, Scorpion and Mitch each driving one, just enough to take them through. After crossing the border, Mercer and the others could drive to the camp on the east side of the city.
Entering from the south side of the city, they could even take a detour through Night City to see this dream city Mercer had been longing for.
"Alright."
Scorpion was a man of few words, starting to help Mercer and the others move things.
Once they opened the van, they were startled by the fullness inside.
All high-grade Arasaka refrigeration boxes... or password-protected boxes? That's rare...
But they remained professional and asked no questions, simply loading everything into Norman's Columbus van.
Mercer touched the metal body of the van, the reinforced body seemed coated with a special black material, likely allowing it to avoid the security scanning lasers at the checkpoint.
Soon, the main supplies had been transferred to the van.
Mercer's black market cyberware, collected along the way, including valuable cyberware from an Agent Arasaka they encountered, was bundled and refrigerated.
He planned to repair and sell it; additionally, there were a few Arasaka LOGO-ed professional laptops he carried.
Other seized items like firearms, valuable gold jewelry, and electronic components were left in the original car.
Mercer intended to dispose of these at the Adcardo's camp.
Afterward, he could focus on earning some money, finding a reliable cyberware doctor to complete his transformation.
He needed to install the top-tier hacker cyberware he guarded all the way, and perhaps see what else he could add.
Once everything was packed, Mercer confirmed the plan details with others before slipping into the fully loaded van.
Sitting in the cramped space, Mercer's heart inexplicably began to beat faster, not due to claustrophobia, but rather...
He was finally about to reach it!
This city that had haunted his dreams—Night City!