If you ask a salesperson how to sell something they want at a high price while creating demand for the customer.
Then a regular salesperson might strive to explain how good their product is, how cost-effective it is.
But Mercer doesn't like doing business this way.
If he wanted to sell a phone, but the other person declined saying they have a brain-computer interface and a laptop, he'd unhesitatingly hack both their computer and brain-computer interface, then tell them that buying a phone is safer and won't be hacked.
Yes, this is exactly the kind of idea Mercer has about the Voodoo Gang now.
Truth be told, over the past half year, thinking carefully, he hasn't really taken any commission tasks related to the Voodoo Gang.
This group of guys has become very honest since they suffered a big loss on the Taiping Prefecture network and even had their server burned once.
They mainly couldn't win—Mercer is in Dog Town, their combat power can't beat the Netherworld Dog, and online they can't outdo Mercer and Venus, so they've been forced to keep a low profile, and even in Night City, the number of cyber fraud cases has halved in recent months.
But...
If you're being honest, who will commission me to deal with you? Without commissions, where will I earn money?
After V and Rebecca excitedly took down a Night Wanderer Ghost's hideout effortlessly, Mercer rejected their excited proposal to 'do it again' and directly chose to lead the team home.
V and Rebecca weren't satisfied and planned to go back to the base to spar directly.
The others were also eager to join in the fun, to see the advantages and disadvantages of these two types of equipment — crucially, Mercer guaranteed that in the future he'd custom-make a similar set of Single Soldier Armor for them too.
They definitely have to see and think about what kind of armor would be suitable for them in the future.
But Mercer still has things to do—he has to go find Old Wei, first get his Octopus Arm's interface installed, and then test his Octopus Arm, while also catching up with Old Wei after a long time.
Although everyone was a bit worried about Mercer's safety going out alone, Mercer just waved them off, telling them to do whatever they were supposed to do, having Polaris remotely drive his Jun Mizutani to pick him up halfway as he went alone to Old Wei's clinic.
Meanwhile, on the road, Mercer instructed Venus to start his 'marketing plan.'
[Mercer: Disguise as the Voodoo Gang and stir up some trouble, especially in Dog Town and Taiping Prefecture, especially with Hans and Hansen, but don't ruin my reputation and make people think my tech is unreliable... you get what I mean?]
[Venus: Understood! The whole purpose is to stir public anger against the Voodoo Gang so you can earn some extra income while testing new equipment.]
[Mercer: Smart, that's it.]
Venus replied with a smile, and then Mercer comfortably sat in the driver's seat, listening to music on the radio, heading to Old Wei's clinic under Polaris's skilled and stable driving.
Arriving at the familiar building, parking the car and putting on a mask, Mercer walked somewhat nostalgically into Misty's Spirit House.
At this time, she was unusually busy doing fortune-telling for a guest, so Mercer just waved and greeted casually as he passed by, then directly crossed the alley, entering Old Wei's underground clinic.
Upon entering, Old Wei was also busy with surgery for someone, but without raising his head, he said: "It's really been a while since we've seen each other, take a seat, there's cola in the fridge, help yourself."
Mercer smiled and walked to the fridge, opened it and indeed found several cans of neatly arranged cola: "Prepared specially for me?"
"Uh-huh, I thought you'd come by at times when idle, if nothing else, with your frequency of installing cyberware, I figured I'd see you at least once a month, but then you didn't even come for cyberware maintenance..."
Victor teased: "If it wasn't for V occasionally coming by, I'd be worried whether something happened to you."
Mercer laughed and said: "I've got a bunch of stuff at home now, simple maintenance and checks, Lucy or Rebecca can casually help me with, as for why I haven't been here... busy, a big family depending on me to provide."
"Yeah, I've heard, V always talks about you when she comes by, saying you're busier than someone working at a company every day."
Victor said, while Mercer, feeling at home, put down the thermal box he was carrying to the side, then drank cola and watched TV.
The two chatted casually, soon Victor finished surgery for the guy who came to replace second-hand cyberware components.
As usual, Victor reminded the customer of post-operative precautions, then collected payment and bade farewell, switching the electronic screen at the clinic entrance to display 'Not Accepting Guests.'"
"Come on, let me see what cool stuff you've brought to open my eyes." Victor, still wearing gloves, eagerly walked over to Mercer's side.
Mercer unlocked the thermal box, revealing the neatly folded Octopus Arm and cyberware interface inside.
Victor raised an eyebrow, then frowned deeply: "Alien cyberware? Why are you starting to mess with this stuff now? Whose company produced this?"
"I made it myself." Mercer proudly showed Victor his masterpiece, explaining the technologies and materials used inside while letting Old Wei look over it himself.
Victor picked it up and simply listened to Mercer's explanation, then displayed the 'Elderly, Subway, Mobile Phone' emoji: