[Lucy: Okay, I believe you.]
[Kyoko: Me too!]
[Tetsuya Daichi: So what's our specific action plan?]
[Mercer: First, I'll send you the program I use to take over the devices. We'll take turns tonight on duty to ensure that no matter when the hovercar arrives, I will know immediately.
Second, based on the information we've gathered before, think about if there's anything else we can cover up.
Are there any valuable things we can take when we leave?
Also, pack your personal items that you need to take with you, but not too much,
because we need to transport the prosthetic body as well. With the box attached, that thing isn't small, so make sure to leave enough storage space.
Third, mark all targets that need attention and hacking using the cameras. I will personally connect to the server and fry all dangerous targets' heads—pay special attention to that squad leader!
After I fry him, remember to bring his corpse too. I recall there's a professional prosthetic storage freezer in the infirmary. Later, on the hovercar, I will perform a little surgery on him and take the good stuff.
He dared to glare at me today... I really don't understand, daring to glare at a hacker, tonight I'll glare him to death.]
[Kyoko: Mercer's scary... but yeah... I guess I won't be able to sleep tonight, so I'll focus on watching him!]
[Leon: You're quite petty too, didn't he glare at you today and also tried to scare you in the interrogation room?]
[Mercer: Eh?]
[Leon: I'll keep a close eye on all hovercar movements, ensuring you get the message the moment the hovercar arrives!]
[Tetsuya Daichi: I'll stay in the room using a laptop to manipulate surveillance equipment, trying to mark all armed and dangerous targets as much as possible. Lucy, cutting off the alarms is up to you, Leon, and Kyoko.]
[Lucy: Got it.]
[Mercer: Alright, then that's settled. After the hovercar appears, I'll immediately head out to connect to the server, hack the Guardian AI, and use the server's compute power to strike against hackers in the base.
You must leave simultaneously, cut off the alarm signal, and prevent drawing attention while I'm forcefully breaking into the server.]
[Mercer: Don't be afraid, even Agent Arasaka can't withstand my hacking program.
Just mindlessly throw out the quick hack I gave you, as long as you can hack in and send Mewtwo, they won't hold up.
The only thing you need to be cautious of is that squad leader, you might not be able to hack into his ICE, and even with my program, the brainpower required is quite high.]
"Hmm, the tea is ready, let's all have a taste together."
Mercer picked up a cup and poured tea for everyone.
[Lucy: ... So, does that mean we can leave here soon?]
Mercer turned his head and looked at her slightly pale face, smiling.
[Mercer: Yes, we will all go to Night City together.]
She took a deep breath, raised her teacup, and the hot tea made her only able to savor the aroma for the moment.
But even so, whether it was the fragrance of the tea or Mercer's smile, her slightly trembling hand finally steadied again.
[Lucy: I understand.]
[Kyoko: Lucy-chan is nervous, huh?]
[Leon: Kyoko, why do your legs keep shaking?]
[Tetsuya Daichi: Leon, can you settle down?]
[Kyoko: Baka! Leon, you're such a big baka!]
[Mercer: Oh~ the classic 2D voice has appeared!]
[Lucy: ... So you really like 2D stuff, huh? No wonder you like Sailor Moon so much.]
[Mercer: ... I can't live this down, can I?]
[Leon: Hahahaha, when we get to Night City, I'll find you something more exciting than Mewtwo!]
[Tetsuya Daichi: Actually, the immersive games these days are more interesting than Mewtwo.]
Chattering away, the initial feeling of tension that made us feel numb and cold all over slowly faded away, replaced by the lingering tea aroma and warm vapors.
When the nighttime curfew arrived, everyone returned to their dorms to take action according to the plan.
Only Mercer, alone in his room, began to breathe deeply, clutching his head, squinting his eyes, constantly thinking, simulating, and speculating on all possible occurrences.
Contemplating potential risks, once he confirmed that there were no flaws in his initial plan, he immediately started to consider contingency plans.
For instance, if they failed to disable the alarm system as planned, triggering the alarm when the server was hacked; if the hovercar was not successfully taken; if the hovercar couldn't escape pursuit due to insufficient speed and was intercepted at the border station...
The contingency plans rapidly came to life in his mind, making him faintly feel a bit of heat throughout his body.
I can do this.
Get everyone out... without missing anyone.
These kids are all counting on me... No way we're going to fail this time...
He repeatedly hypnotized himself in his mind, until Mercer could no longer think of any new plans.
Ultimately, he exhaled a long breath, resolutely lay down and slept—recharging his energy.
Until four in the morning, when suddenly the ringtone of encrypted communication echoed in his ear, causing Mercer to immediately open his eyes.
[Leon: The hovercar is about to arrive! I heard the people in the security room received the message, they will open the base gate in twenty minutes and take over the equipment inside the hovercar!]
[Mercer: Report status!]
[Daichi: Security personnel positions are marked on everyone's prosthetic eye, no need to worry about surveillance. Surveillance and security equipment on basement levels 1 and 2 are still under my control! Elevators are unoccupied and available for use.]
[Lucy: Dr. Ota's assistant is still working overtime in the infirmary, be cautious of anyone in the infirmary during the operation.]
[Kyoko: The squad leader we need to focus on is currently on the first floor commanding security, no abnormalities.]
[Mercer: The three of you go cut off the building's security alarms, once the alarms are cut, head straight to the infirmary's freezer to grab the Relic and insert it into your own heads.
Take any remaining Relic Chips with you, then meet up with Daichi in the room in charge of surveillance.
Don't forget to bring two prosthetic storage freezers, I'll wait downstairs for your signal to hack the server.
Action!]
With orders given, Mercer took a deep breath, immediately got up, grabbed the laptop next to him, and stepped forward.
As he opened the door, the doors in the neighboring rooms opened almost simultaneously, Lucy, Leon, and Kyoko all looked at Mercer, who simply gave a thumbs up.
[Mercer: Shutting off the alarms is up to you guys!]
[Lucy: We're heading to the control room now, Mercer, be careful.]
[Mercer: Got it.]
The group took one last look at each other, then turned to walk down the opposite ends of the hallway.
Mercer walked into the elevator, pressed the button, and as the elevator doors opened, he stepped in.
Pressing the button for the basement floor, he slowly closed his eyes.
When the elevator doors opened, the familiar larger-than-life server room appeared in front of him.
The hacker chairs they used to dive deep in together lay silently around the perimeter of that sea of neural connection cables, and Mercer, with a calm expression, approached, lay down, and inserted the neural cables into the connection socket at the back of his head.
Bring it on...
Guardian AI.
Let's see how long you can last before Bartmos' Desire for Death!