As a hacker, brainpower and technical skills are essential. You have the talent to become a hacker, but doing technology requires more than just a flash of inspiration; it requires a lot of professional accumulation.
For now, settle down and improve your skills. Afterward, I'll give you relatively easier tasks, allowing you to earn money to make a living while quickly enhancing your skills."
"Hmm... Thank you, A." Qiwei nodded lightly. Hesitating for a moment, she still decided to share with Mercer what had been buried in her heart today.
"A, you should know that I was sold to a sex doll shop..." Qiwei said, cautiously observing Mercer's expression, ready to change her tone if he showed any disapproval.
But after hearing her words, Mercer merely chuckled: "I know, you want revenge... But I think, compared to me doing it for you, perhaps you want to carry out the revenge yourself?
Just go ahead and enjoy this pleasurable revenge. Let me know if you need help.
Also, tell me before you take action, I'll help keep an eye out to prevent any accident."
"I... really don't know how to thank you, A." Qiwei genuinely expressed her gratitude in her expression.
Even for someone like her, who has long abandoned expectations for interpersonal relationships and has almost lost trust in people, she still felt somewhat moved by someone like Mercer.
"Just a sincere thank you is enough." Mercer said, cheerfully waving his hand: "Then I'll go back to prepare work, I still need to do technical support for V tonight."
"Okay." Qiwei nodded.
Mercer put his hands in his pockets and walked out of the inn, not disturbing Rebecca and Pira, who finally got a room to rest. He got in his car and drove towards the Evil Land.
Incidentally — he also bought a new dual-user super dream headband for Kyoko in the city.
He had to admit, those films in the super dream shop were somewhat alluring to Mercer. After much deliberation, he went ahead and bought a few high-rated classics from the Bushido movie series.
He also bought Lucy an interactive Moon super dream... He bought it at first sight, with no other reason than considering Lucy from the original anime liked the Moon; he thought the current Lucy would like it too.
The shop assistant saw Mercer bought quite a few things and quietly recommended some 'exciting ones.' Mercer hesitated for a long while, but ultimately resisted buying them... Mainly because he didn't have a secret spot to watch the super dreams.
He certainly couldn't watch them in front of Lucy, could he? That would be too...
By the time he returned to the Adcardo camp, it was already afternoon. Mercer simply greeted the people in the camp and then went back to the tent.
Lucy was using her laptop to browse some information online. Mercer glanced at her and saw she was seemingly casually searching for things related to Night City.
"What are you looking at?"
Mercer asked curiously.
Lucy didn't hide anything, softly saying: "Thinking about exploring around when we get to the city."
"You don't have to stay home all day these next few days. If you want to go out, just call Pan'an and go play in the city. She doesn't have any serious work to do anyway; she is bored to death."
After Mercer spoke, Lucy chuckled twice, propping her chin with one hand, and turned to look at him: "Pan'an would surely argue if she hears you."
"Let her argue; no one I've met these days has a good temper."
Thinking of this, Mercer sighed: "You're still the obedient and cute one."
"... Ha." Lucy didn't know whether to laugh but showed a faux smile: "That's wonderful."
"I'm praising you." Mercer said without much cheer, and sat next to his laptop to check on the status of his custom AI 'Venus'.
"I don't like you comparing me to others... Did you encounter anything today?"
Lucy detected a scent that made her nerves tense; it was the smell of gunfire and smoke.
Lowering his head, Mercer casually said: "Met an interesting girl, and together we played hero and saved beauty, killed a few gorillas from the Animal Gang."
"Oh, right, she has decided to officially follow me."
Lucy surprisingly felt a bit used to it; he seemed to need to stir up things every time he went out.
Still, the whole 'interesting girl, play hero and save beauty' notion left her somewhat inexplicably unhappy: "Again? Didn't you just save a sex doll?"
"Night City has too many pitiful girls awaiting my rescue; it's a pity I'm not saving thoroughly enough yet."
Mercer said boastfully, and Lucy simply laughed ironically when glancing at the stack of super dreams he brought back: "How thorough?"
"Kids shouldn't ask such questions." Now Mercer didn't treat Lucy as a kid anymore, although she looked a bit tender-faced. Lucy indeed felt more like a sixteen or seventeen-year-old young girl to him.
Still, there were things not suitable to speak openly.
Lucy pouted: "Not going out today?"
"Nope, running some programs. Later I'll hack the City Hall's monitoring network from a repository I got from Rogue... Do you know who she is?"
Mercer glanced at Lucy and, seeing her nod, continued: "According to the material, the City Hall's monitoring network isn't directly connected to the data server, it's managed by a separate small server group.
I need to hack that small server to clear the way for V, so she can help me insert the Virus Chip and then get us a new legitimate identity.
By then, we can have our own bank accounts and even apply for Trauma Team's platinum membership...