"It's quite important to occasionally let my people move around and keep in shape,"
Mercer said with a slight smile, then added, "If Mr. Hans has any good friends in the Netherworld Dog group, you can introduce them to us."
"No problem. If there's a chance, I'll arrange for you to meet some of them."
Hans didn't try to detain Mercer but got up, seeing that Mercer was about to leave. He thought for a moment and then suddenly said, "Although I can't persuade the investors to invest in your research plan until you show some results,
if you need any equipment or raw materials... let's put it this way: as long as you can find them, the Cubans can get them for you.
If there's something you're hesitant to ask Hansen for, you can call me. I guarantee the price won't be higher than what Hansen would charge."
He added meaningfully, "If you develop some end product, you might want to talk to me about the price. I assure you that I can offer more than what you would get from selling to Hansen."
Mercer smiled knowingly, "Sure, I guess Hansen over there doesn't expect much from me either... so, no problem."
"Then I'll look forward to hearing from you. As for any commissions, if I have any, I'll send them to you first. If you're interested, you can take them; if not, I'll find someone else. How about that?"
After Hans finished speaking, Mercer immediately agreed, shook hands with him, exchanged a few courteous words, and then left gracefully.
Of course, he didn't forget to grab the cigar he had only puffed twice.
After going downstairs, when he returned to the booth, the Voodoo Gang folks had already left, only V and the others were still noisily drinking.
As Mercer passed by, he handed the cigar to Qiwei.
She froze for a moment, then naturally bit into it and took a puff, "Hmm... quite fragrant."
"I can't tell whether it's good or bad, but this thing costs nearly 200,000 Euros per box now. I see there are less than eight in a box, so one of these is over 20,000 Euros..."
Mercer watched Qiwei's eyes widen a little and said with a smile, "This doesn't feel like smoking anymore, but like burning money. One puff of smoke costs an ordinary person a month's salary."
V immediately reached out, "Let me try it!"
"Try what, can you even smoke? Stop fooling around," Mercer didn't let Qiwei give it to him.
V pouted and lay back, "It's just because I didn't have the money before! Just didn't have the life to enjoy this!"
But she actually stopped insisting on taking a puff.
Qiwei continued savoring it slowly on her own, but when Mercer watched her, it seemed like she subtly licked the cigar, and Mercer immediately looked away.
This woman...
Even though she didn't even look directly at Mercer, he could be 100% sure — she was definitely hinting at him.
"What did Hans talk to you about?" V asked curiously, without any awareness.
Mercer shifted his gaze, speaking as usual, "Nothing much, just confirming my current relationship with Hansen. Besides, I used the chance to feel out Hansen's situation."
"Oh." V immediately lost interest.
The group continued drinking and playing around. Around eleven or twelve, Qiwei said she wanted to go back and rest, and Lucy and Kyoko also responded that they wanted to go back together.
But V apparently hadn't had enough and insisted on partying until dawn, so Mercer left her with Rebecca Mann and the others to continue — Mann and Dolio ended up cuddling and kissing each other, almost an eyesore.
Rebecca considered for a moment, wanting to leave with Mercer, but V dragged her back, insisting they drink to their hearts' content, and they bantered a bit before deciding to party till dawn.
Pira had long gone off to flirt with some girls, so everyone went their separate ways.
Mercer, Qiwei, Lucy, and Kyoko returned to the base. Kyoko had seen a lot today and had fun, so she wasn't sleepy at all and dragged Lucy off to watch Mewtwo.
Lucy gave Mercer and Qiwei a sharp look for a long while but said nothing before heading off with Kyoko to see Mewtwo.
Left alone, Mercer and Qiwei exchanged a glance, saying nothing unnecessary. She simply stood at the room door, giving him a warm, charming smile.
And Mercer got the hint and turned into her room.
...
"Why are you so happy today?" Mercer asked her curiously in the bathroom.
"Because you got a cigar for me," Qiwei languidly turned her head, slipped into the warm bathwater, and lay lazily on the edge of the tub.
"Just because of one cigar?" He chuckled, placing his clothes outside.
"Because there were so many people there, yet you only gave me a cigar... or maybe two?" She smiled, tilted her neck back, and beckoned him with her finger, her smile turning somewhat seductive.
"Ha..." Mercer chuckled silently and then, without any hesitation, walked over.
This evening, he had no intention of going to bed early like last time.
With V and Rebecca drinking, and Lucy being dragged off by Kyoko to watch Mewtwo, the time and place were perfect, why waste the opportunity?
Qiwei's thoughts, on the other hand, were very simple.
Well... after all, what bad intentions could a woman who just wants to smoke a cigar have?
...
A peaceful week quickly passed.
Lucy, biting on an energy bar, had a steaming cup of coffee beside her. This was already the seventh day she had silently protested against Mercer.