Jack started complaining, but Mercer knew well that between grown men, there's no 'complaint' talk without some drinks.
So, Mercer replied very considerately.
[Mercer: I've always said, there's no future in gang life. It's all about living dangerously and making money. Being a mercenary is way more stylish than being in a gang.
I mean, Jack, you've always said you'd think about it. By now, you should have it figured out. We're people born for grand things, you belong with us.
Coincidentally, we're renovating our base. If you're sure about joining, I'll keep a room for you.]
Jack didn't reply immediately.
About ten seconds later, he finally made up his mind.
[Jack: I have to discuss it with the gang first, and talk with my mom. As for living arrangements, I can always stay at home.]
[Mercer: Got a room for you, then it's a deal, Jack. Once you sort it out, I'll introduce you to the other brothers in the team.]
[Jack: Thank you, Mercer. Although I don't know why you value a nobody like me... I swear I won't let you down.]
[Mercer: I know, Mano, I trust you. Some people you just meet once, and you know they're reliable. In Night City, a trustworthy brother is worth more than gold.]
[Jack: Mano...]
After replying, Mercer finally looked up and took a long breath.
Is this a double blessing?
Not only did Company V avoid a dead-end, preserving the chance to collect the full roster in the future, but it also prompted Jack to finally decide to join his team.
Hansen in Dog Town was temporarily sorted out, and Military Science's pursuit should soon cease. As for the Arasaka bounty...
Come on, living in Night City as a mercenary, if you don't have at least one bounty, you're not mixing it right.
It's like the bounties in anime One Piece, the higher the bounty, the higher your status in the underworld. Walk down the street, even the small-time thugs of the Vortex Gang have NCPD bounties of a few thousand Euros.
As long as you have some backing, just make sure not to piss off all these companies, and pick your sides wisely.
Mercer's role now is similar to a mercenary squad like Adam's Hammer or Morgan Black Hand, skimming money off companies while also seeking protection and equipment from the other side.
But essentially, it's a pure money-based hire relationship, ready to jump ship when necessary.
A joyful Mercer finished his taco, got up, and went to the kitchen. Sure enough, a few gluttons were still gorging.
At this moment, Mann and Dolio arrived too—they were worried about being ambushed returning to their place, so they decided to stay in Dog Town for a couple of days to lay low, waiting for the Adcardans to finish expanding the base so they could just move in directly.
After all, the base's living room was empty, and the first floor was large enough. Sleeping in the workspace or car for a few days wasn't a problem. If worst came to worst, everyone could squeeze beds together. Anyway, Mercer felt he had plenty of choices right now.
Apparently, Sasha also decided to move over, making Mercer's base lively. What had once felt vast and never fully utilized now seemed a bit crowded.
At this moment, Mann and Dolio became merciless eaters, devouring all of V's tacos, while V herself also had an appetite mismatching her appearance, with her hands full of grease from eating.
Seeing Mercer come out, she raised an eyebrow with some surprise: "Not full yet?"
"I'm full, just got a bit bored all of a sudden, took a round." Mercer said, but he really came to see V.
He sat on the sofa staring at V, and before long, that sensitive woman, as if sitting on hot coals, glared at him with an itch all over: "What are you looking at?"
"Nothing, just feels nice that my own V looks pleasing." Mercer's words filled her face with question marks.
"My own V? What do you mean? Besides... hey! I mean, what do you mean by 'my own V'? Family is family, why does it sound wrong to me?"
V put on a scary face: "Got nothing to do, huh? Then let's work on some Mantis Blade and close combat training."
"Who's crazy enough to spar with you? Go fool around with Rebecca, she can fight you all day."
Mercer grumbled, then casually mentioned Company V's issue.
"An Arasaka agent went looking for Jack today. They probably found out you like to hang around there and wanted to use Jack as bait to fish us out.
I gave the Arasaka a little lesson and warning—guess what? That Arasaka female agent is also called Valerie, born the same year as you. Looks, hmm..."
Mercer deliberately dragged the tone, watching V's widened eyes staring at him, then laughed: "Though she's pretty too, she doesn't look as nice as my own V... She looks a bit proud."
"Shit, your Sister V is also very proud out there!" V said, pointing at him: "Remember, Night City has only one V! What about that female agent? Let her go?"
"Yeah, seeing as her name is also Valerie, I couldn't bring myself to do it." Mercer joked.
He was just bluffing; if you had to put it into words, it was for the same reason he recruited V in the first place—purely for the love of V's character.
How could a player, after crossing into a game world, personally kill their favorite, always-controlled game character?
That would be too cruel.
But unexpectedly, V frowned at him, then suddenly averted her eyes with a flicker: "You're just full of it, I think you're just simply a lecher."
Despite saying that, she suddenly seemed to lose her appetite, unwilling to continue eating. She felt somewhat embarrassed looking at her hands smudged with meat grease, and holding the plate, walked to the sink to wash dishes and hands.
"Bullshit, brother values the soul the most!" Mercer said, laughing along with Mann and Dolio.
V's shy look was really rare.
And V fiercely glared at him: "You're done for! A!"
"I have something to do, gotta go first." Mercer quickly got up, returning to the server room to tinker with the Soulkiller Program, while V, having washed her hands, immediately chased after him without saying a word.
Try to run?
Today, you're definitely not getting away, kid.
Let's see if you can handle a few rounds with Sister V!