Mercer stretched lazily, leaving work early since everything that needed arranging was arranged, and only noticed the sky had turned dark once he stepped outside.
As soon as he stepped out, he saw, not far away, Pan'an chatting and laughing with Lucy and the others by the campfire.
Mitch was holding a guitar, singing a US country song that frankly wasn't very good, while Scorpion sat quietly beside him.
Meanwhile, Cassidy was casually chatting with a scruffy-looking middle-aged man. Seeing Mercer, Cassidy waved:
"Mercer, come over, this is Sol, the current leader of the Adcardo in Night City."
Mercer smiled and walked over. Sol didn't dismiss him, despite his youth, and stood up to warmly extend his hand for a handshake.
"Sol, I've heard so much about you, my name is Alex Mercer," Mercer said politely.
"Haha, I was just listening to Cassidy's tales of your journey, Mercer. Don't be formal, sit down; we Adcardo don't deal in empty gestures."
Sol appeared to be ambitious and full of vigor.
He laughed heartily, pulling Mercer to sit down, showing none of the despondency and frustration from the time he was seeking to collaborate with Biotechnology in the game.
"I heard about your friend too, don't worry, the Adcardo family won't make a group of kids do anything dangerous.
Those who want to stay can stay. You guys who know hacking are definitely valuable talents within the family right now.
I've heard you need to go into the city for something tomorrow? Need two bodyguards?"
Sol warned: "Night City is not a safe place, Mercer. It's more complex and dangerous than the wilderness."
"Thanks, but having Pan'an is enough. Tomorrow, I don't plan to go anywhere dangerous, just getting some cyberware installed and meeting a few people."
Mercer said, turning to Cassidy: "Might need your bank account and our savings tomorrow."
"No problem, use them as you please. We got quite a bit from those bandits along the road.
Also, the weapons and equipment we brought back were sold in the camp today, which adds up to roughly 40,000 Euros."
Cassidy agreed without hesitation.
"Hmm, I'll need quite a bit for the time being, need to change clothes and buy some equipment. As for the agreed bonus, just wait a little longer, until I get the cyberware installed."
Mercer paused and said: "You can each take 10,000 then."
"Mercer..."
Tetsuya Daichi wanted to refuse, but Mercer waved him off:
"You have no income in the camp for now. Although I took out most of the people, relying on me alone to haul so many things would have worn me out.
Consider it a hardship allowance; just take it. 10,000 Euros may seem like a lot now.
Once you're here, you can't expect to live off others for free. Let it be startup money, and then you'll have to figure out what work you can find here."
He said boldly, giving no room for refusal, then rubbed his head and said:
"Alright, let's not focus on these bothersome matters... a campfire party should have the atmosphere of a campfire party."
Sol chuckled, turned to Tetsuya Daichi and Leon, and said warmly:
"Don't refuse a friend's goodwill. When he needs support, give it your all. That's one of the Wanderer's creeds."
"Uh-huh, keep it in mind. You'll be tagging along with him from now on."
Mercer quipped, then laid back without a care.
The sky was full of bright stars, the campfire crackled nearby, and he squinted his eyes, enjoying the wild night breeze, which carried nothing but the scent of dust.
Mitch resumed playing, humming a tune, and everyone quickly returned to the relaxed atmosphere from before.
Some chatted, others drank, and no one deliberately sought Mercer out to chat, or rather, intentionally allowed him to enjoy the serene moment.
Mercer yawned, slowly closed his eyes, and soon enough, he was snoring softly.
Lucy paused her conversation with Kyoko, turning to look at his sleeping profile.
Due to her actions, the others noticed Mercer had fallen asleep, making the campfire area quiet down.
"Looks like he's worn himself out."
Pan'an remarked, but there was a hint of admiration in her eyes—she had overheard Kasid and Kyoko recounting the events of their journey.
To Pan'an, for a fourteen-year-old kid like Mercer to lead this big family all the way here is quite remarkable.
From a Wanderer's perspective, this kid has good material for being a chief: ambitious, with goals, able to take care of those around him, and greatly respects everyone's freedom of choice.
He doesn't look bad either, just too bad he's so young... What am I thinking?
Pan'an shivered, feeling somewhat creepy.
"Alright, you've traveled far; it's time for some rest."
Sol took the initiative to suggest disbanding, and everyone promptly complied.
"You can awaken him or give him a blanket. Although the winters here aren't cold, sleeping in the open air might catch a cold."
After Sol finished speaking, Lucy nodded and quietly agreed: "Let him nap for a bit longer; I'll get a blanket... It's rare to see him sleep so soundly."
"Sure~" Kyoko smiled at Lucy: "Then we'll go rest first."
Pan'an teasingly raised an eyebrow at Lucy: "Looks like his claim of charm isn't just boasting..."
"No... it's just..."
Lucy was at a loss for words. She couldn't quite say what her feelings for Mercer were, but she knew it wasn't love—or maybe it was a little—but more likely just gratitude and reliance.
Besides, Mercer seems to prefer older women...
Precocious boy, huh.
She finally decided not to look at the expressions of the people around and brought back a blanket and pillow for him, carefully tucking the pillow under his head.
Then she lay down beside him and started watching the stars and the moon.
The moon in the sky emitted a gentle and tranquil glow, as if it belonged to a completely different world from this dirty one.
Lucy suddenly had a whimsical thought—if one day she could go up there, what would she feel there?
As she thought about it, she couldn't help but glance at Mercer, and her fantasy of going to the Moon suddenly lost its appeal.
He would probably be too busy to have time for a trip to the Moon.
Going to the Moon alone?
Just thinking about it felt lonely.
She let her mind wander like this until she unknowingly fell asleep under the moonlight.
...
Until early the next morning, a hand pinched her face.
"Mm... let me sleep a bit more... Kyoko..."
"You can sleep a bit more, but I have to get up and work in the city."
Mercer's playful voice startled Lucy awake, and she suddenly opened her eyes, only to find herself somehow lying on top of Mercer—literally.
Her head was resting on his arm, her body had taken most of his blanket, and she was practically pressed against his side, holding onto him tightly.
Her face instantly turned red as a beet, almost jumping up in panic: "I... well... I just...."
"Alright, instead of being embarrassed, why not give me a massage—halfway through the night I thought I'd run into a ghost, strangling me and dragging me to hell."
Mercer laughed loudly, moving his arm and only felt it return to life after a while.
And Lucy was already dumbfounded because the extinguished campfire was right there at the edge of the camp.
Early in the morning, those diligent Adcardans had already started their busy day.
Upon hearing the commotion, several nearby Adcardans gave Lucy and Mercer friendly smiles.
Even Kyoko, who usually slept in, was sticking her head out near the tent, staring at her with a teasing expression.
Such a public embarrassment was too cruel for the fourteen-year-old Lucy, so she turned her head and covered her face, saying: "I'm going... to wash my face first."
Mercer couldn't hold back, stifling a laugh, and Kyoko in the distance laughed heartily with her hands on her hips, even when Lucy glared at her fiercely.
At that moment, Pan'an was holding Mercer's cyberware box, looked at the time, and said not too kindly:
"Enjoyed yourself? Then get up and help!
This is the cyberware your friend said you need to install, check if anything's missing and load it onto the car.
It's just past eight in the morning, have you confirmed your appointment with the city doctor?"
Mercer's face changed: "I have a nine o'clock appointment."
"Then hurry up!" Pan'an motioned with her chin: "Take my Mykino and remember to bring your gun."
Mercer quickly went to pack up.
After swiftly getting everything arranged, he jumped into Pan'an's passenger seat.
Mercer waved his hand: "Off to Little Chinatown."
"Damn, it's gonna be jam-packed in the morning...
Hold tight, girl, I don't want you to be late—those city doctors are pretty stuck-up.
If you miss the appointment time and they get mad, it'll be a problem."
Pan'an slammed on the gas and charged forward.
Mercer, feeling slightly apologetic, buckled his seatbelt: "I used to sleep very lightly, waking up after just four to six hours..."
"That's good, seems you were pretty tense before, but...
I saw you two cuddling so tightly this morning, you should've slept well."
Pan'an laughed loudly, giving Mercer an ambiguous look, while Mercer covered his face with one hand, sighing after a long pause:
"It was cold outside last night, and the blanket got pulled a lot..."
[Lucy: Mercer, uh, I mean, it was really cold last night, so I fell asleep instinctively...
You know how it is.
If Kyoko asks, just say that—it really was cold.]
[Kyoko: Was it really that cold last night? Really? Really?]
Under Pan'an's barely contained amused gaze, Mercer expressionlessly turned off the communication software and looked out the window, rolling his eyes.
Whatever.
You know, even though Lucy's still a bit young, she's all sweet and soft... Damn, I'm such a pervert.
The car raced all the way, pedal to the metal, straight towards Little Chinatown in the Watson District, but even with the rush...
Mercer was still late for his first meeting with Old Wei.