The job you find might make you work for twenty years just to pay off a loan, and in your own home, you even have to pay monthly fees just to use the washing machine...
In a few years, the company might use brainwave technology to control your brain, turning you into someone completely unrecognizable without realizing it, a living puppet robot in the company's hands...
"Is this what they call living?"
Mercer flipped off the city with frustration, "These damn companies make my life miserable, so I have to make sure they don't enjoy themselves either. I don't know if it's possible, but I sure as hell won't stand for this misery, or I'll go mad sooner or later."
V was silent for a moment, looking down at Night City. After a while, she sighed with some frustration, "I think you're right, but with just us, does any of what we're doing... make a difference?
Aren't we just a bunch of mercenaries licking blood off the blade, doing jobs that don't mean a thing to this city..."
"Do you think being like Johnny Silverhand, yelling every day to burn this city down, gathering hundreds or thousands of fanatical followers can get the job done?
Or like Bartmos, exposing corporate dirt to the public every day, will that awaken people?"
Mercer said seriously, "We need money, the only thing that can fight a system is another system, and the only thing that can fight a company is another company.
We have to have the skills and the ability to give ordinary people a choice, to make them brave enough to follow us and choose a different life."
Mercer looked down with V at the drone flying over the city center, heading towards Santo Domingo, where the cityscape looked increasingly dilapidated.
"So we need to save money first, then research technology, improve our skills, and... wait for an opportunity."
Mercer's words made V glance sideways, "What opportunity?"
"Right now, these companies are just big fish eating little fish, if you want to start over and create a company to play their game, that's pure fantasy. As soon as you show a little momentum, they'll team up to gobble you up."
Mercer spoke with a resolute look in his eyes, turning to V, promising, "In any case, you don't have to think too much now, but I already have a plan in mind. If everything goes well, we'll definitely seize an opportunity to change the world."
Arasaka Yoshinobu.
Although Mercer felt his fear of Arasaka Saburo somewhat lowered his evaluation of Yoshinobu, objectively speaking, leaving that aside, he was definitely Mercer's best partner.
As long as he could help eliminate Saburo, Arasaka, under Yoshinobu's leadership, would become Mercer's best ally. With Arasaka as a front, Mercer could boldly and openly change this city.
By then, he would no longer need to hide in fear but could openly ally with Arasaka to attack the likes of New America, Military Science, and those crappy biotech companies.
Whether it turns into business warfare or finally evolves into corporate warfare... it's better than now, where under the city's facade, there's only a pool of dirty water.
And Mercer's approach to Arasaka Yoshinobu was through Johnny Silverhand.
He needed to use this matter to establish contact with Arasaka Yoshinobu and also needed Johnny Silverhand to determine whether Yoshinobu was determined to have a showdown with Saburo.
Once Arasaka Yoshinobu chose to cooperate by handing Johnny Silverhand over to Mercer, Yoshinobu would have effectively made his choice, taking a clear stand against Saburo.
If Arasaka Yoshinobu refused, it meant the time wasn't right. If he agreed but didn't hand over Silverhand, it meant he wasn't fully committed.
Moreover, through Johnny Silverhand, Mercer could gain a large number of allies, including Rogue. If not for Silverhand, she certainly wouldn't be willing to take such a big risk for Mercer.
That's why Mercer is so determined to rescue Silverhand from Arasaka Yoshinobu.
He's... just too useful.
"You don't have to say anything if you don't want to." V watched Mercer not make things clear, then started spacing out again, and couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"It's not that I don't want to tell you... it's just that if I said it now, you might think I'm going crazy."
Mercer sighed, "If you spill the beans, it can sabotage things. Some stuff, I'll tell you when the time is right, mentioning it now only adds unnecessary worry, it's pointless."
"Alright, alright, you're the smart one, thinking so far ahead, do as you please." V mumbled, lying lazily on the drone, looking at the stars.
Mercer looked at her and smiled, "We can definitely change this city, V."
"I don't care." V said lazily, "If one day I feel like following you around leads nowhere but death... I can always just run away."
"...Really?" Mercer smiled at her, "Leaving me here to die alone?"
"...Damn, if you really don't want to die, you'd definitely run faster than me. If you want to die that much, why should I? Join you?"
V said stubbornly, "Rebecca and Lucy might be willing, you could ask them, I bet Rebecca would just grit her teeth and go with you."
"Come on, when it really comes to that, you wouldn't be able to part with me." Mercer smirked.
"Get out of here, dream on." V rolled her eyes, "Go back and get a good night's sleep, the me in your dreams should be very obedient."
In reality, you're quite obedient too.
Mercer chuckled silently, hesitated for a moment, then lay down as well.
The two of them lay on the drone, gazing at the stars, and neither spoke again.
Until the drone left the metropolis and began to slowly descend in altitude.
V suddenly piped up, "In any case, if you die, I'm definitely not going to risk it all for this shitty city or this shitty future... if you don't want me spending your money, living it up on your inheritance, you'd better be careful."
"You're overthinking it, you'll be at the end of the line for inheritance."
Mercer grinned, raising an eyebrow, "Or... let you cut in line and give you a chance at angel investing?"
V said nothing, just looked over with an eerie gaze.
Why should I be last in line for inheritance?
She pondered, eventually narrowing her eyes.
"I'm last? Seems you and Qiwei... have been getting along pretty well lately?"
Oh.
Mercer tilted his head and admired the view.
The moon is really something tonight!