If I move fast enough, I can intercept their alarm signal in the process. Once we grab the stuff, I'll have Behemoth on autopilot head to the farm. By the time they realize something's wrong, we'll be long gone."
"Can you manage that? No offense... but Behemoth's military tech comes equipped with professional military-grade ICE; it's not your everyday vehicle."
On his way back, V checked some online resources about this. Behemoth's exaggerated stats and marketing claims gave her quite a headache, and she couldn't think of a solution for a while.
"Don't worry, I know that ICE isn't easy to handle. The ICE in a vehicle is much easier to deal with than those implanted in a brain, but that's only because I'm relying solely on my brain, which makes it tricky.
If I had some hardware device to provide computing power, this task would be much easier. As long as the hardware isn't lagging, I can crack it within five seconds of hacking in."
Mercer chuckled, "Isn't it a coincidence? I just wrote a hardware design blueprint for Old Captain, specifically to support the hijacking software I wrote for him.
As long as we can borrow the hardware he assembled, retrofit a hacker vehicle, I'll be sitting in the car and hack Behemoth directly.
Then you deal with everything else, grab the stuff, and walk out with that manager. It's that simple."
Mercer paused, then said, "On the day we get the stuff, we'll hit the biotech building.
To hack the server of a big company, I think, V, we'll have to rely on you for infiltration again, although this time, we might move together."
Hearing this, Rebecca hurriedly raised her hand, "I want to go too!"
"You and Pira will be on standby outside; the fewer people inside, the better." Mercer rejected Rebecca's proposal.
V, however, expressed concern, "Can't you just wait outside and provide remote support like last time?"
"We're going to the biotech company's office in Night City, not some hotel like Ganbi Building. The cameras there, I reckon, will be tough to hack remotely, plus there are multiple security doors, elevators, and such.
I could hardly find any info online, and even trying to hack in doesn't get me into their LAN easily.
Big companies' management is so strict, hardly anyone makes mistakes. The security server and the main server are all disconnected from the public network.
If I don't find a way in the next few days, I'll have to go with you. Within a 32-meter range, these eyes of mine can pick up signals from networked devices, I need to get close to hack in and take control of the security equipment.
Even so, I expect the company's equipment to be controlled by 2-3 security servers interlocked. Companies nowadays are extremely defensive against hackers, terrified of someone sneaking in."
Mercer sighed.
He had already tried — silently hacking into the biotech's server from the public network and connecting to the opponent's main network.
But after getting in, he was dismayed to discover that the public server connection and the hacked devices were just trivial personal computers and networked devices.
Even that ICE, Mercer felt, was just so-so. It took him less than half an hour to quietly break through ICE's defenses and gain control of the main server; it was no challenge.
The truly valuable treasures were completely hidden by the biotech in their local area network. Mercer could only try to gather information through those devices connected to the public network, trying to find a way into the LAN.
For example, trying to hack into company devices he already infiltrated to compromise computers with LAN access.
But the results were a bit disappointing, as companies protected computers with LAN permissions very carefully. To avoid alerting them, he didn't dare to boldly send out phishing emails like to the Black City Hall.
Given the experiences of big companies, phishing might lead to unexpected traps, and if they realize, they could trap you instead and you're doomed.
Others were equally concerned, and Lucy simply said, "How about I go? Simple tasks like hacking cameras and cracking security programs, I'll handle them. You just watch me using your chip and direct me."
"You're worried something might happen to me, but I'm worried about you. I'll go; I've upgraded my capabilities."
Mercer smiled, tapping his chest, "Even if I'm inadvertently exposed and draw attention, with V around, give me a second or two to distract them, I can hack them all."
Hearing this, V smiled, "Haha, don't worry, sis isn't afraid of anyone now! Even if that Adam's Hammer shows up, I'd dare to take him on!"
Just as she finished speaking, Mercer tossed a chip at her.
"What's this?"
V, still naive, couldn't tell if it was good or bad, just thought the chip's colorful appearance looked nice.
"Something great enough that Arasaka would send agents overnight to silence you if they found out...
Plug it into your head. I've written a complete ICE program inside it, ensuring even a top hacker can't breach your head in a short time."
Mercer said, and V's eyes lit up, without a second thought she plugged the thing into her head.
Once plugged in, Mercer let out a few light laughs.
"What's so funny?" V was perplexed.
"I made a bet with Lucy that after I give you the chip, you wouldn't think twice before plugging it into your head."
Mercer laughed heartily.
V rolled her eyes, "Damn! Are you saying I should be wary of you?"