Lucy said worriedly: "If you want to use the Sex Doll Chip to control someone, you have to dive deep first, then use the Sex Doll Chip to take over her body. By then, you could be locked by a virus program, and you'll lose the protection of ICE and the server..."
Mercer replied coldly: "Knowing it's a trap, I definitely won't jump in myself. Venus, mimic my consciousness data and send an AI decoy over to check if the situation is safe."
Venus's voice came from the computer: "Understood."
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became somewhat oppressive, until half an hour later when the Sex Doll Chip sent a signal.
This was a 'safe' signal actively sent by Evelyn, indicating that she was currently alone with Yoshinobu.
"Venus."
As soon as Mercer's voice fell, Venus immediately started remotely sending an AI over, and ten seconds later, she gave a definite response:
"No virus program detected, only a hidden camouflage program in the Brain-Computer Interface, which I've already dealt with."
"Alright, I'm transmitting." Without hesitation, Mercer opened the compartment at the back of his head.
Before anyone could voice their concerns, he directly used an Octopus Arm to connect a data cable into the back of his head.
Even if there was a trap, he wasn't afraid.
"Data transmitting..."
Venus's voice gradually faded away, replaced by a sense akin to jumping from one body to another.
Mercer knew — his consciousness was about to connect to Evelyn's.
...
Arasaka Yoshinobu knocked cautiously on the bathroom door — the person inside had said they'd freshen up quickly and then come out, but then there was the sound of someone falling, which inevitably aroused his suspicion.
"Evelyn? What's going on?"
He knocked on the door, but no sound came from inside. After frowning and waiting for a moment, Arasaka Yoshinobu cautiously stepped back a few steps. Just as he was about to call for the bodyguards, he thought of something and held back his impulse.
Instead, he returned to his room and picked up his pistol.
When he came back outside the bathroom, Yoshinobu's call finally received a response.
"I'm here, please wait a moment." The voice from inside didn't relieve Yoshinobu's tension; on the contrary, he immediately sensed something was off.
Standing by the door, Yoshinobu raised his gun with a cold expression: "Did you fall in the shower?"
"Don't worry, I didn't break my face." Evelyn's teasing voice came from inside, and Arasaka Yoshinobu merely chuckled lightly: "What about your head?"
"Now that's a bit hard to say... Mr. Yoshinobu, please let me get dressed a little... Tsk, this woman's dress is really hard to put on."
Hearing 'Evelyn's words, Arasaka Yoshinobu's face showed a mix of anger and unexpected calmness; he even put down his pistol: "So, who are you?"
"No more guessing, it's me who's been trying to contact you in Night City... As for identity, you'll know soon enough. Alright, I'm coming out, remember to put the gun away."
Evelyn's voice was calm.
Yet Arasaka Yoshinobu laughed coldly, his eyes icy: "Which gun are you referring to?"
"Uh, let's be clear, I know you rich folks can be quite perverse, but I'm not interested in men, buddy."
Mercer's words made Arasaka Yoshinobu chuckle twice, then he put away his weapon, sat on the couch, poured a glass of red wine, and sighed inwardly.
It still came...
In his heart, he was both excited and expectant, but more than anything else, he felt apprehensive, uneasy, and an indescribable fear.
The shadow of Arasaka Saburo always lingered in his mind, and at this moment, he wasn't fully sure how to face the mysterious person who was about to emerge, wearing a woman's skin.
Evelyn pushed open the bathroom door, wearing a bathrobe, walking barefoot.
She no longer had the charming allure from before; instead, her gait was somewhat lazy and casual, with wide steps, typical of a man who usually carries himself in a carefree manner.
Evelyn sat on the other side of the chair, casually picked up a cigar from the table: "Buddy, got a light?"
"...Sure." Arasaka Yoshinobu was amused, tilting his head, he tossed over a lighter: "Meeting me through a Sex Doll? Really clever of you, lucky it's not in the bedroom."
"If you're not disgusted, I definitely am..." Evelyn rolled her eyes, then, with a cigar in her mouth, lit it and took a puff.
"Damn, this Sex Doll Chip's sensory output isn't very effective, can't even taste the flavor... I was hoping to see what kind of good stuff you rich people usually smoke."
Evelyn regretfully put down the cigar, while Arasaka Yoshinobu said meaningfully: "When we officially meet next time, I'll bring one over... Now, let's talk about your identity and intention."
"I'm A of the Spark Team, I guess you've heard of me." Mercer's self-introduction took Arasaka Yoshinobu by surprise.
He instinctively asked: "What's your connection with Internet Supervision?"
"You think Internet Supervision wants to meet you? Hmm... though they do wish to meet you, I beat them to it."
Mercer sat cross-legged, shifted his body slightly, feeling uncomfortable — transforming into a woman was not a pleasant experience.
"What does a mercenary want from me? Selling something?" Arasaka Yoshinobu's enthusiasm seemed to fade, his expression becoming much calmer, betraying no sign of his true thoughts.
He raised his wine glass, appearing suddenly impatient.
But Mercer just stated bluntly: "To discuss a deal, you help me get Johnny Silverhand's Relic Chip, and if you can get the technical data of the Relic Chip, even better. In exchange, we'll help you assassinate Arasaka Saburo."
"Pfft!!!"
Arasaka Yoshinobu sprayed wine all over the floor from his mouth.
"Cough, haha, cough! Hahaha!" He coughed, wiped his mouth, and laughed to the point of gasping, even making one worry if he'd run out of breath from laughing.
"Wait a second, ha, you're saying... I help you steal something from our own assets so that you can assassinate my father? How about this: I'll give you thirty more seconds. If you can't tell me your real purpose, you can get lost.
I'll personally find you and ask where you got this moronic idea from."
Arasaka Yoshinobu said with a face full of mockery.
But Mercer just slowly wiped down the wine splashed on him — hey, you know, this feels pretty good, this prosthetic doctor's skills aren't bad!
"I told you, get Johnny Silverhand's Relic for me, this is the deal I negotiated with Ultraman. Thereafter, we'll take over the Divine Chariot, Ultraman takes what she wants.
And we'll jointly clear out all remaining consciousness data in the server, ensuring all backups of Arasaka Saburo's consciousness in the Divine Chariot are utterly destroyed.
Furthermore, on behalf of the Spark Team, I'm willing to help you eliminate Arasaka Saburo."
Mercer reiterated what he had just said, this time adding some additional details.
Arasaka Yoshinobu's face darkened, he hit the Brain-Computer Interface, dialing a number: "Adam, come over, there's a lunatic here who needs your attention."
Mercer grinned, sitting still in his place.
And Arasaka Yoshinobu just sat there with a sullen face, unmoving.
Ten seconds passed, thirty seconds passed, the door suddenly swung open.
Adam's Hammer, with his massive stature, slowly walked in.
"I'm here."