"Anyway... maybe become a hacker, hide in some shady corner, and do some money-making schemes."
Qiwei aimlessly imagined: "Once I save up enough money, maybe I can find a place to retire? I don't know, but I definitely want to make a lot of money, never letting anyone control my life again!"
V was noncommittal about this. Of course, she also wanted to get rich, but more than just money, she longed to become a true 'big shot'.
This is the dream of becoming a 'big figure' that every Street Kid has dreamed of since childhood.
Being admired, with legends about her spreading throughout the entire city, famous all over the world!
V suddenly fell silent too because she couldn't help but think of Mercer's proposal—be an unknown nobody, or become famous worldwide?
She seemed to have already gotten the answer.
And then...
V glanced at Qiwei: "Did he just ask you for 50,000 Euros?"
"Yeah, but at first, he said he didn't actually need a reward, just wanted me to sincerely ask him... but if it were you, would you find that reliable? Would you believe it?"
Qiwei said.
V naturally shook her head: "I'd think he's an idiot... such a simple trick, probably only kids would fall for it."
"Yeah... so after he saw I didn't believe it, he said, according to my values, it's worth 50,000 Euros."
Qiwei couldn't help but laugh, everything that happened tonight felt like a beautifully unrealistic dream: "Then I got out with his help, that guy A... have you seen him? What's he like?"
"Uh, he's pretty good at fooling people, but also really impressive, his hacking skills are probably top-tier in Night City.
The prosthetic looks pretty advanced, doesn't seem like he lacks money, generous with his actions, but not very particular about his dress, just typical Street Kid attire, but quite clean.
I've only seen him wearing a hockey mask, to be honest, his voice sounds a bit like a kid, and he's not very tall..."
V thought for a moment, then came to her own conclusion: "But he speaks quite maturely, feels pretty reliable, quite a sincere person, maybe a short man using a voice changer.
I see most hackers are skinny, maybe all the nutrition went to his brain."
Qiwei nodded silently, picturing a short, unattractive, but kind-hearted towards beautiful women, generous, and skilled nerdy hacker.
Perhaps it's because he's always overlooked by women in the real world that he likes to recruit beautiful women, or be a hero saving beauties?
[Mercer: I didn't mean to overhear, but honestly, your defamation makes me quite hurt, V.]
"Oh come on! Don't pop up words in people's prosthetic eyes all of a sudden, scares people to death!" V shouted.
Mercer's voice chuckled into her ears: "Then if I speak up directly, wouldn't you be so scared that you drive the car straight into a ditch?"
"Damn it! I knew the program you left me definitely had a backdoor!" V looked a bit angry.
"It doesn't, I just pulled you and Qiwei into the same team chat... then I heard you badmouthing me."
Mercer's voice made V feel a bit guilty, but she still retorted confidently: "In Night City, not many people are shady with masks...
Honestly, I'm not the kind to judge by appearance, being a bit short and ugly doesn't affect your abilities."
"Screw you, V, this bro is an original handsome guy, currently surrounded by pretty girls worried about my safety in Cyberspace."
Mercer declared with dignity: "I'm short because I haven't fully grown, all the nutrition is in my brain, once it's fully developed, I guarantee I'll be over six feet tall."
"Ha~ I've heard something like that before, where was it from?
Let me think... oh, there's a famous 'Shorty Wood' in the Haywood District!
He's only about 5'6", before he turned twenty, he always said it was because he didn't eat well, but once he was full, he'd grow taller.
Ha, but when he hit 20, this kid went and got leg implants, insisted it was his natural growth, but during a shootout with the Sixth Street Gang, he stumbled and caught a hand grenade with his face.
Hahaha!"
V laughed heartily, realizing Mercer was actually quite easy-going, and wouldn't mind a joke.
"Oh..." Mercer replied meaningfully: "We'll have plenty of time in the future... V."
V made a noise: "Oh, right, didn't you say you were just being watched by Internet Supervision just now?"
"Uh-huh, still being chased... but it's intentional on my part."
Mercer's tone was extremely composed: "The programs developed by Internet Supervision are quite interesting, such as IP tracking, IP locked to prevent jumps, and programs that can lock your signal to stop you from logging off.
You have to admit, their skills are pretty good, I've browsed the networks of Night City, yet they're still tailing me."
"Damn, then aren't you focusing? I've heard of someone being kept online by Internet Supervision for a week until they found his house, and he starved to death in his chair, hurry and have your friend disconnect you!"
V was a bit nervous.
"Don't worry, disconnecting now would be bad. Those fools could find my home from the offline signal... I'm just messing with them, testing their programs to see how many tricks they've got, I plan to learn them all."
"You better not get carried away, A." V was still very concerned.
Qiwei spoke for the first time: "Do you need my help? I've previously hacked into some private computers, you can use them as IP relay points."