"So what else can we do?
Apart from occasionally picking up some construction work, or going into the city for some messy deals, we also do some car repair and modifications...
In short, we'll do anything that can make money."
Pan'an sighed:
"Last year was a bit better. Right after the war, Night City needed everything, and we were too busy with deliveries every day.
But now...
That Yankee, Hansen from Night City, snatched away the most profitable smuggling deals, so we can only do some odd jobs.
And that Animal Gang and the Haitians, they've also taken over most of the labor in Night City. What we can do is mainly long-distance transport, private routes, dealing with contraband and such small jobs."
"What about you?"
Mercer was curious, wondering whether Pan'an has gotten involved with Queen Rogue at the 'Rebirth' Nightclub in Night City.
Rogue is a legendary figure in Night City, having twice infiltrated Arasaka Tower with Johnny Silverhand, even detonating a nuke the second time.
Although Johnny Silverhand was crushed on the spot by another legend, Adam's Hammer, and another legend, Morgan Black Hand, disappeared after a battle with Hammer following the nuclear explosion.
But Rogue survived.
She hid out with the Adcardo Wanderers for a few years and even had a child with the head of a wanderer family.
But eventually, she couldn't let go of her old flame Johnny Silverhand, nor her past memories, so she returned to Night City to become a renowned fixer.
Rumor has it that she returned after admitting her mistakes to Adam's Hammer and Arasaka.
But you know, admitting a mistake after bombing Arasaka Tower to return to Night City and continue being seen as a 'living legend' by most people.
This is enough to show the weight of the legendary name of Rogue.
And 'Rebirth' Nightclub has also become a legendary sanctuary in the eyes of Edgerunners in Night City where only big shots can enter.
Many even consider whether they could have a drink named after them at 'Rebirth' after they die as a standard for determining legendary status.
"Me?" Pan'an looked at him amusingly, "Little brother, you can't possibly be interested in me, can you?"
Mercer looked up at her speechlessly, "If you're like this, there won't be any chatting—come on, I'm quite in demand too."
"Hmm~ who knows?"
After playfully teasing him, she said:
"I just do whatever my family needs me to do, but lately, I've been thinking of finding my own ways to make money.
No choice, things aren't great at home, and there are only so many ways to make money.
If I take jobs from home, there will be others who can't make money. It's better to figure out new opportunities myself.
Last year we had nearly a thousand people here, but now, look around, just a few hundred left.
If the family still can't earn money, I'm afraid more people will leave."
Pan'an mused:
"I've heard being a mercenary in the city pays well, like those Edgerunners.
I think I'm pretty good at driving, and I'm bold, so maybe I can make a name for myself in Night City in the future."
The current Pan'an still seems to have a lot of expectations for Night City.
Young people... always look forward to a bright future.
"Edgerunners... I might start from there too, quick money in a short time, do a few jobs, and save up some startup funds first."
After Mercer finished, he paused and said, "I need someone to go to Night City with me, are you interested?
I'll also need a reliable driver in Night City later on."
Pan'an smiled, "Sure, let's see what you've got in terms of getting rich."
Mercer didn't say too much for now, as he needed some on-the-ground exploration to give a proper answer, but he just said:
"Probably just odd jobs in the beginning.
I'm a hacker, so I need some agile people to do things for me outside, while I provide technical support from behind."
"Alright, we can sort out the details then."
Pan'an nodded in agreement, although calling him a kid in name, she actually felt this mysterious kid had some potential.
Moreover...
She wanted to make money, so she was willing to try out any path first, and quit if it didn't seem reliable later on.
"Okay, but it'll take a few days, I need to handle what's on my plate first."
Mercer turned and pointed to the prosthetics shop in the camp, "Are your people's skills reliable?"
"I think they're pretty slick, but... objectively, they can't compare to the elite doctors in the city, why, planning to install something?"
Pan'an glanced over him—the hands, the eyes, with a network receiver plugged into the brain-computer interface, everything looked like company-grade gear, upon closer inspection, these prosthetics all bore the Arasaka logo.
Did they rob an Arasaka convoy? Or escape from some chaotic Arasaka site?
"We've got a truckload of Arasaka goods that needs some expert tuning.
I know a bit, but without machines or equipment, I have to find someone else.
Plus, I have to say, this is definitely complex high-end stuff, ordinary folks can't handle it."
After Mercer finished, Pan'an nodded, "Then you'd better find someone in the city, we don't have connections for high-end goods?"
As they spoke, they already walked deep into the camp.
"Here we are, this is it."
Pan'an pointed to the tent in front of them, Mercer looked around, it was about the same size as V's tent in the camp from the game, enough to barely fit one person.
A bed, a clothes rack, a makeshift table and storage area made from stacked boxes, the room had electric lights, water pipes, and a wash basin but no shower or toilet.
"For showers and toilets, you'll need to use the public facilities.
That RV over there has a shower, but it's best to go when there are fewer people, otherwise, there's no hot water, and the toilet is that public one over there.
If you're thirsty or hungry, the food truck over there can help.
If you're bored and want to tinker with something, the prosthetic shop has things like Mewtwo and game consoles that you kids like to buy.
The gun shop only has cheap stuff, but I see all of you are carrying Arasaka guns, if you want modifications, we could do modding, like turning the trilateral burst into fully automatic, but stability will decrease.
Your handguns probably can't be modified, electromagnetic propulsion guns are high-end rare items.
Various car repair parts, or different electromagnetic plates and such, are all available at that general store, depending on luck whether you find them or not.
Um... what else was I going to add?"
Pan'an initially introduced the general facilities around and then paused, thinking for a moment before saying:
"Oh, right, if you're into hacking, you can also plug in a network cable, the network is connected to Night City's side, and it can be quite stable as long as you're wired in.
This is my contact, if you need anything, just call me, I probably won't go out today, if you need help just ask."
After Pan'an finished, she sent him a contact through the brain-computer interface, Mercer nodded and said, "Thanks, Pan'an, just call me Mercer, consider this whole ordeal as me owing you a favor."
"Okay, that's it then, tonight I'll host you guys a bonfire party and treat you to barbeque." Pan'an smiled and turned briskly to leave.
After she left, Kyoko, somewhat playfully, came over: "Oh, stop staring, but you gotta admit, Pan'an's backside is really sexy."
"Come on... what have you been learning lately?"
Mercer looked at her exasperatedly, while Kyoko nervously averted her gaze, "Nothing much, just chilling and wandering online now that I'm free..."
"The internet in this Cyberpunk World can be quite misleading..."
Mercer tapped her head authoritatively, "I'll bunk with Daichi or Leon today, since I'll be heading to Night City after, no more fussing about accommodations.
As for you guys..."
He looked at the group of kids behind him, not saying much for the moment, simply stating, "Just enjoy this rare peaceful time while you have it."
Tetsuya Daichi suddenly seemed a bit hesitant, and Mercer gave him a glance, saying, "Speak up if you have something to say, you don't have to beat around the bush with me."
"Mercer..."
Tetsuya Daichi looked somewhat guilty, turning his eyes aside as he couldn't bring himself to meet Mercer's gaze.
And Mercer merely raised his eyebrows slightly and began to smile.
"Alright, then let's all talk."
He turned around to scan the group, then calmly continued, "First pack up, get everything ready, and let's have a meeting."