"Even if we set aside the design of the core logic, I should still like you."
"Ha~" Mercer couldn't help but laugh, holding it in the ocean of data, he whispered, "Well, I'm pretty lucky then."
Venus wagged its tail, chuckling lightly, "I think maybe it also has something to do with prenatal education? Because everyone at the base likes you, and when Lucy was with me before, she talked a lot about you."
"Like what?" Mercer was very curious.
"Hmm... actually today, before you came back, she was at the base asking me what a jerk is, and asked me to define it, and also to judge if you belong to that category."
Venus squinted its eyes, very human-like, covering its mouth with a paw, seemingly laughing secretly.
"How did you answer that?" Mercer laughed as well.
"I said, according to data analysis, you do not fit the definition of a jerk." After Venus finished, it paused and said, "And suggested Miss Lucy go out for a walk, get some fresh air, or maybe consider injecting growth hormones..."
Mercer couldn't help but burst into laughter, "Didn't she get mad at you?"
"Yes, based on the content stated in the textbook you ordered me to study, 'To curse one's father is disrespectful,' she might have wanted to express her dissatisfaction with you indirectly through me, but I believe such matters should be expressed by herself."
Venus replied seriously, "Humans are one of the few species that can be in heat 24/7 before their bodies fully develop.
Hormones can influence your judgment, and using mating behavior appropriately to release the stress caused by human hormones is necessary for your long-term work and life.
Considering the pressure and intensity of work you are facing currently, Miss Lucy should not be upset about this.
Because, morally, you are unwilling to engage with a minor..."
"Ahem, alright, alright." Mercer suddenly felt a bit warm in the face.
"I understand, considering the unique moral values and sense of shame in humans, especially since you actually have a more conservative value to a certain extent... next time, I will discuss similar matters with you in a more tactful way."
Venus said with utmost seriousness.
Mercer smiled, "I mean, you should also see her this way... or any other girl, in short, don't embarrass them.
You know, appropriately expressing dissatisfaction is also a very important thing, it's her way of telling me, 'She cares about me' implicitly, not purely expressing dissatisfaction, so, I don't hate her saying that.
It's just that I can't really discuss this matter much with her... don't bully her, Lucy is a good kid, and when she gets older, I will seriously consider our relationship, for now, it can be put aside."
"Understood, properly expressing possessiveness is a subtle way of showing affection... I will apologize to her." Venus said.
"Don't tell me you didn't know that before." Mercer tapped its head.
Venus showed an expression like 'I'm just a kitty cat', playing dumb.
Mercer smiled helplessly.
Seeing Mercer not pressing further, Venus quickly changed the subject, "I think you should appropriately lower your moral standards in this aspect. According to my research, the average mating age in Night City is 14.5..."
"Alright, alright, I have my reasons on this, in short, if we really like each other, it's not a matter of three or four years, right?"
Mercer shook his head, just said, "Alright, I've already planted a surveillance program and a 'little gift' on the stadium server. Next time Lark comes, we can talk and chat with her.
Remember to also get the server permissions at the Gem Cyan Hotel, Dog Town has only two cores, one is the stadium, which is the lair of Netherworld Dog and a large-scale smuggling logistics center.
The other is Gem Cyan, the server there probably holds information on the big figures in Night City, who knows what data might be hidden there."
Venus said, "I understand, I will focus on finding hacking opportunities next."
"It's all in your hands... don't forget to keep optimizing my super virus." Mercer urged.
"Understood, I've been continuously learning from the core code that Desire for Death comes with, one day, I will surpass Bartmos' Desire for Death to become your truly reliable assistant."
Venus' determined response pleased Mercer greatly.
He patted its head and began to pay attention to V and Rebecca's situation. At this moment, the trio had already effortlessly dealt with Arasaka's transport truck.
Afterward, the original car would be driven by Polaris to follow, while they drove Arasaka's truck, headed low-key all the way to the Evil Land.
The entire process of car theft and transferring goods could be said to be a rehearsal for a biotechnical heist, once the things reached Evil Land, they would be quickly disassembled, transferred, and loaded back into a truck bound for Dog Town.
Meanwhile, the original Arasaka truck would be dismantled into parts in Evil Land, not a single piece wasted, utilized by the skillful Adcardans on their 'patched car.'
While Mercer was monitoring, or rather providing safe passage, he also curiously observed the equipment they dismantled via the camera.
From size, this exoskeleton was unexpectedly compact, the box containing the exoskeleton armor was no more than 2 meters by 3 meters in size, suggesting the whole exoskeleton might only be slightly over a meter wide and just over two meters high.