Come on, the two of us..."
Her stubborn strength left Mercer completely stunned. Her glowing eyes seemed to say she was ready to devour him. He struggled a bit, but couldn't break free.
Why did it feel like showing my face somehow landed me right in her strike zone?
Thankfully, in the nick of time, backup arrived. V Zhen Tian burst out from the shadows, grabbing the back of Rebecca's neck with one hand, prompting a puzzled 'Eh' from her.
Then, with her little legs kicking, she was lifted into the air by V: "Damn! Let me go! We were just getting somewhere!"
"Get somewhere my ass! That's assault! Damn, Rebecca, I didn't expect you to be that kind of person!" V said with a face full of displeasure, putting Rebecca aside.
Rebecca was annoyed: "Bullshit, he didn't resist at all! I've been single for so many years. What's wrong with having some fun with a guy I'm interested in! Mercer didn't even refuse!
If he really didn't want it, one quick hack from me and he'd be soft as a breadstick!"
"All I saw was a man in panic and a woman overrun by lust."
V, without mercy, grabbed her arm, not giving her a second chance to start a fight, snorted, and wrapped his arm around her neck: "Halfway through your drink and you bail? Is that how you handle your booze? If you can't drink, don't act like a kid."
"Damn it! You son of a..." Rebecca panted furiously: "Breaking up my good thing, huh? Fine, I'll drink you under the table!"
"Bring it! Who's afraid of who!" V, unrelenting, grabbed her to go for a drinking duel.
Before leaving, V glanced at Mercer with a look that was either meant to mock or show off.
Mercer, speechless, quickly tidied up his clothes and got up in a hurry.
This Christmas is ruined...
The girls in this Cyber World are all out for blood!
He rushed back to the tent, but before he could go inside, someone came at him from behind.
Lucy chuckled, not giving him a chance to speak as she bumped him into the tent. Just as Mercer turned around, the tent's flap was let down.
She almost pushed Mercer, tripping him onto the mattress: "Do you like girls like Rebecca?"
"Not... particularly fond of them." Mercer replied truthfully.
"So you don't refuse pretty girls who take the initiative?" Lucy's orange eye shadow and iridescent pupils shimmered in the dark.
"I did refuse, but I'm just a weak little hacker..." Mercer's excuse was cut short because Lucy took off his mask.
Their eyes met, and after a moment, Lucy saw Mercer sheepishly turn his gaze away.
Even though it was just his mask that was removed, Mercer felt as if he had been stripped of his clothes—his lost sense of shame came rushing back.
"You better really be out of strength."
She said with resentment, then sat down dejectedly to the side, remaining silent.
This little girl sure gets jealous easily...
Mercer thought for a moment, then chuckled, lying down on the mattress: "I'm tired."
Lucy watched him for a while, turned her head, picked up a blanket and tossed it over him, then grabbed one for herself and turned over to lay down.
From outside the tent, there were still songs and laughter. Lucy closed her eyes, and only after a long while, did she open them again, feeling a bit annoyed, turning over, she saw Mercer sleeping peacefully.
"Are you a pig..." she muttered softly, lying on her side, propped on one arm as she studied him.
After a long while, Lucy sighed softly, got up and zipped the tent closed, but she then only returned, lying back down beside him.
She wrapped herself into a cocoon with her blanket. Even in warm California, the Evil Land had a chill at night in winter.
Her body suddenly tensed because Mercer suddenly turned over and hugged her.
"Merry Christmas."
He said softly with his eyes closed.
Lucy was silent for a moment, then just snuggled into his embrace, responding quietly: "Merry Christmas."
Outside the narrow and crude tent, the lively sounds gradually reached their peak. After a burst of excited cheers, things outside steadily grew silent with time.
Cyberpunk 2071, thus, came to its end with the conclusion of Christmas, becoming history.
At the break of dawn, the rising sun illuminated the land.
For Mercer and the Spark Team, the first day of 2072 started with the roar of engines.