Instead, he said with high spirits, "If everything goes smoothly this time... we might truly become legends!"
"Ha... I'm not really interested in becoming a legend." Sasha curiously looked them over, feeling a bit itchy inside, "Did you guys have some past grievance with Arasaka?"
"Sort of." Mercer didn't mind himself but glanced at Lucy and Kyoko, unsure if they wanted to openly talk about the past with everyone.
The elevator reached the first floor, and Mercer went to the living room with a few hackers. At this moment, Jack, in a vest stained with oil, and Mann Dolio, who seemed to have just been working out in the gym and was sweating all over, had already arrived.
Seeing Mercer, everyone greeted him in unison.
Nowadays, Jack had been following the team for some jobs, raking in quite a bit of money, no longer the downtrodden guy he used to be.
With the Frenzy System, Gorilla Arm, Krenzikov, Heavy Subdermal Armor, and even a Wrist Grenade Launcher installed, his cybernetic configuration at this moment was in no way inferior to Rebecca and Mann.
Though he didn't look much different in terms of appearance, his combat prowess had long left his past self miles behind.
The pistols at his waist were gold-modified twin pistols handcrafted by Pira, bearing a distinct Haywood-style angel spray, looking both high-end and luxurious, already a picture of success.
Mann, although not looking much different on the outside, had all his modifications updated, replacing the old military science cybernetics with the latest ones similar to Jack's, making him far stronger than in the anime.
Mann once struggled with the urge to replace his Frenzy System with a Sianwistan— but Mercer managed to persuade him otherwise.
Not everyone can handle that thing, and he didn't want Mann to end up down the path of cyber-psychosis like in the anime.
Mann is no longer the big brother from the anime but just a gunner in the team, freed from the heavy burden of leadership, he no longer insists, instead walking the team's standard route honestly.
As for Dolio, she didn't install too many cybernetics.
She followed a path like that of the Animal Gang, focusing on biological enhancements. Being a former athlete with natural strength, she relied solely on Krenzikov and Heavy Subdermal Armor, along with some enhanced joints. Her combat ability wasn't particularly strong, but she wouldn't hold others back.
Other people's cybernetic installations hadn't changed much.
Most enhancements were in weaponry, even Rebecca's Iron Gall went through multiple upgrades, now truly wielding a shotgun.
That thing's bullet caliber was almost like a sniper rifle's, and she adored that kind of thing with absurd recoil.
Mercer waited by the dining table in the living room for a while, and soon everyone gathered together, formally starting the meeting.
"First, I must clarify something; this thing we are going to do isn't a commission but something I plan to do myself, just like when we robbed the biotech, and in the short term, might not even see any returns."
Mercer felt he needed to make certain things clear upfront. He looked at his teammates on either side of the long table, seriously saying, "But the danger could outweigh any commission you've done before.
Therefore, I can't say how much money we can make, we might even need to put all our accumulated team funds into it..."
"Alright, I get it." V interrupted him boldly and directly stated her stance, "Count me in."
Mercer turned his head to smile at her, then turned back with a serious expression, "I'm the leader of the team, but not a dictator. I'm clear that everyone is following me just for a better life.
But this time, if things go well, it might make our situation more perilous. I can't guarantee... that all of us will be safe.
So, I must clarify upfront—our target this time is Arasaka, and we might even directly confront Arasaka Saburo. You all know what Arasaka Saburo is and the risks of going against him..."
Mercer paused and seriously said, "I can understand anyone who doesn't want to participate."
Seeing V wanting to speak, Mercer signaled her to wait with his eyes and then said, "Once you cross a stream, there's no turning back; if you decide to join, you'll have to walk with me till the end of the road.
And considering the need for confidentiality, only after you decide to join, can I disclose the mission details...
But the reason I'm doing this can be said in advance."
Looking at everyone's expressions, Mercer smiled and said, "I want to change this world, at least, start by changing this city.
I hope one day, even ordinary people can walk safely on the streets of Night City at any time, without worrying about a stray bullet taking their lives.
I hope ordinary people can earn a family-supporting salary through their efforts, rather than struggling for days and still can't afford a gallon of pure water.
I hope for fresh vegetables and meat, not canned vegetables and bugs."
He sighed lightly, looking at the varied expressions of the crowd, seriously saying, "Companies aim to control our lives, drain our resources, and ultimately control our thoughts and souls..."