Chapter 29: A Nameless Nobody, Rising to Fame?

"What are you thinking about?"

Lucy asked softly, nudging him to make him sit further back in the van. With several children and a heap of crates crammed inside, the space was packed so tightly that they were pressed shoulder-to-shoulder.

"I'm thinking about... what to do next," Mercer replied truthfully. "Mapping out a detailed plan of action."

"Haven't you been thinking about that the whole way here?" Lucy pressed against him, resting her head naturally on his shoulder, while making room for Anzu on the other side.

"I only had a rough idea before... but now that we're at the execution stage, I need to consider the details."

As Mercer spoke, he heard the van's engine roar to life. Norman, who had taken the driver's seat, warned them, "Since you don't want to be discovered, just stay quiet when I slow down. I'm raising the partition now, so no one from my side will be able to see you. Once it's safe, I'll lower it again before I stop and open the doors for you. Don't be afraid. No one is going to try to open your doors; if they do, then something has gone wrong."

"Understood."

Mercer acknowledged the instruction, watching as a retractable divider rose, completely sealing off the cargo area from the driver's cabin. The entire compartment plunged into darkness, devoid of any light, leaving only the sound of the moving vehicle.

The cramped, stifling darkness made Lucy instinctively lean closer to Mercer. She tucked herself against him, and only after confirming his position did she whisper, "Once we pass the checkpoint, does that mean we've reached Night City?"

"Yes. If I remember correctly, there are Biotechnica farms right by the checkpoint. Follow the road, and you'll enter the city proper," Mercer said in a low voice. "But we won't be wandering around the city just yet. Once I've secured fake identities, I'll take you all to explore."

"Night City... I can't wait to see what it’s really like," Anzu said, brimming with impatience.

Because Mercer had talked about Night City the entire journey, they had built up great expectations. A city of dreams, a city of freedom—that was the Night City Mercer had described.

Tetsuya Daichi, however, was less optimistic. He sighed and said, "I looked it up online earlier. Even though those people talk it up... let me put it this way: Night City broadcasts a program every day called the 'Death Lottery.' As the name suggests, they take bets on the number of people who die in the city each day. It’s a dangerous place, Anzu. Don't be careless."

"I know..." Anzu’s excitement was dampened, but she added with unwavering trust, "Other places aren't any better, are they? Besides, didn't Mercer say that only here can we truly say goodbye to Arasaka?"

"...Actually, being a nomad is fine, too," Leon suddenly interjected.

Silence fell over the van. Lucy’s voice turned cold as she asked, "You’re planning on staying behind? Once Mercer gets you a new identity?"

"...No, I was just saying." Sensing the chill in Lucy’s tone, Leon shrank back, his voice trailing off.

"Don't be like that, Lucy," Mercer said gently, cutting through the heavy atmosphere. He chuckled and added, "There’s nothing wrong with being a nomad. You’ve seen it on the road; Cassidy is quite reliable. Staying in the Aldecaldos with him would actually be safe. In this world, staying in the Badlands to enjoy freedom might truly be a good path."

"...And what about you? After working so hard to bring us this far, we’re just supposed to enjoy our freedom in a safe place? While you go into Night City alone to face those gangs and corporations, acting as an underage solo?" Lucy sounded angry. Even in the pitch-black compartment, Mercer could feel her eyes fixed on him. "Or do you think you’re enough on your own? That our help doesn't matter?"

Before Lucy could finish, Anzu grabbed her hand in the dark. "Lucy! Mercer, she—she didn't mean it like that!"

The van fell silent. Suddenly, it began to slow down. Norman’s voice came through the partition with a cough. "Excuse me, we're almost there. You can talk after we clear the checkpoint."

"Understood. Staying quiet," Mercer replied. He then whispered, "Let's talk later. Once we get to the camp, we'll discuss the separation."

"Yeah..." Leon replied uneasily.

Mercer closed his eyes, waiting quietly for the inspection. After a while, he felt Lucy trembling slightly beside him. He said nothing. Hesitating for a moment, he reached out and wiped her cheek with the back of his hand. Sure enough, he felt tears.

Lucy turned away to avoid his touch, saying nothing. But after a while, she leaned back in, burying her face against his shoulder and weeping silently. Mercer could only remain still, waiting in silence until Norman stepped out, returned to the driver’s seat, and restarted the engine.

About five or six minutes later, the van creaked as the partition lowered, and light flooded back into the cargo area.

"Crossing secured. Go a bit further, take the turn-off, and you can move your things back into your own vehicle and head to the family camp."

The sudden sunlight made them squint, but their cybernetic eyes quickly adjusted the exposure. No one spoke. Once they climbed out, the group silently began moving their belongings back to their own car.

"Let Panam lead the way from here. From Santo Domingo, take the highway east, and you'll reach our territory," Norman instructed. "I have to take Scorpion and the others back to retrieve our vehicle. It’s been sitting there too long; I’m worried someone might steal it."

"No problem. We'll let Panam lead," Mercer agreed. Cassidy, sensing the strange tension among the children, said nothing, only warning them to stay focused and follow his lead. Driving in the city wasn't like the wasteland; they had to be careful as unlicensed, underage drivers. If the NCPD spotted them, it would turn into a high-speed chase.

Mercer started the car, and Lucy took her usual spot in the passenger seat. The car pulled onto the highway. Mercer turned on the radio and, for the first time, received a clear signal. Relying on his memory, he quickly found a station he recognized from the game: 98.7, Body Heat Radio.

The songs playing didn't match the ones in his memory, but the current track was melodic enough that he stopped searching for another station and settled for listening.

"...I'm sorry." Lucy spoke suddenly.

"Hm? Don't be. I know you didn't mean any harm." Mercer truly didn't mind; he understood her intent—she just felt it was unfair to him.

"...I was just angry. You brought us all this way, through so much, and now that we're finally here, they just want to run away. We discussed so much on the road, but when it came time for them to step up... I felt like I was being betrayed by someone close again." Lucy sounded genuinely disgruntled, but then she lowered her head. "You always say we should do whatever we want... don't you feel wronged? You were so good to them, yet they don't appreciate it at all!"

"Don't you appreciate it?" Mercer asked with an open-hearted laugh, turning to look at her with a gentle expression. "Aren't you right here, looking out for me? That proves everything I've done wasn't meaningless. Leon wanting to stay there isn't something worth criticizing. Lucy, I didn't save you and bring you here so you could pay me back by dying for me. Fighting corporations and making a living in Night City isn't as beautiful as I made it sound. People die here every day, just like Daichi said—they even turn the death toll into a gambling show. I’m not afraid, but that doesn't mean I have to demand that others aren't afraid either. Lucy, aren't you afraid?"

"Maybe we’ll be driving, and a bullet will come through the window, straight through my temple and into yours... That kind of thing isn't impossible in Night City."

As the car sped along the highway, the towering neon metropolis loomed ahead. Yet, Panam didn't lead them into the city center; that wasn't the way to the Badlands. They entered through the dilapidated, decaying district of Santo Domingo.

Most houses here flew the New United States flag; this was 6th Street gang territory. Everywhere, groups of men looking distinctly "American" held weapons, standing in clusters by their homes, watching passing vehicles with suspicion.

"You need to think about this, too, Lucy. I know you’re a kind person who cares deeply, but don't let that blind you into following me into hell," Mercer said, his view of his own future crystal clear. "A nobody, or a legend? That’s the question everyone coming to Night City should ask themselves. I’ve chosen the latter. And in Night City, among those so-called legends... nine out of ten are dead, and the last one is just counting down the clock."

Lucy remained silent, but not for long. She turned to Mercer with a firm gaze. "Just tell me one thing... in what you're about to do, can I actually help you?"

"If it's you, then I think you can," Mercer said earnestly. "Sometimes I charge in too recklessly, without a second thought. Even having just one person to pull me back could mean I live a few more years."

"Then... I'm with you," Lucy said after a deep breath. "But you have to promise me: don't fight a battle with no hope. Don't take me to die a meaningless death. That's all."

"Deal," Mercer agreed cleanly.

Seeing this, Lucy frowned, staring at him with a sharp look. "And you aren't allowed to race toward your own death either... No matter what you do, the dead can't change anything. A hacker as legendary as Bartmoss ended up leaving nothing but a mess, didn't he? People can't control what happens after they die, so..."

"I know. I'll live well, too... or at least as long as I can. Don't worry, I haven't lived enough yet. Strictly speaking, I’m dying to make a fortune and live for hundreds of years, just enjoying the ride..." Mercer laughed. "What kind of image do you have of me, anyway?"

"...Someone who brings hope," Lucy said, turning her face away. "So... don't die. Otherwise, the hope will be gone."

Mercer fell silent. He looked out the window at the 6th Street gang members visible on street corners and rooftops. After a long moment, he nodded and asked one final question: "If you had to choose for yourself? A nobody, or a legend?"

Lucy looked out the window as well. After a while, she chuckled. "If it were the old me, I'd say it's better to live a wretched life than to die. But now that you've corrupted me, I occasionally think: everyone dies eventually, so doing something big before the end wouldn't be so bad."

"Though... a legend? More than seeing myself become one, I’d rather see you do it," she said, turning to look at him with a smile. "Let me see the day you become a legend—the kind where both you and I are still alive."

"A living legend? That’s not easy... but luckily, I happen to love doing difficult things. But you’ll need to prepare yourself and get used to it, because..."

He laughed loudly, then rolled down the window without a care in the world. He pointed his middle finger at a drunken 6th Street gang member who was urinating against a wall like he was painting the street. "Nice display, you idiot!"

The gang member paused, then erupted in rage, reaching for his pistol. But before he could raise it, he was startled by a "HACKED" notification flashing in his cybernetic eyes. "Damn it, a netrunner!"

He stared in terror as his vision flooded with frantically bouncing emoji faces. Finally, he angrily shut down his optics. "Dammit! Which bastard's little brat... Quick, someone help me kill this virus! I can't see a thing!"

Seeing this, Lucy couldn't help but burst into laughter alongside Mercer. Before the thug could find help, he twitched and collapsed into his own puddle of urine.

"Your cracking speed has really improved," Mercer praised, letting the slightly foul-smelling Night City wind blow across his face.

"You’re a good teacher," Lucy said, her smile radiant. She leaned out of the window and waved at the other 6th Street members who were rushing over with confused faces. "Bye-bye! Don't be so mouthy next time!"

"Damn it, get back inside! I didn't teach you that!" Mercer pulled her back in, rolled up the bulletproof glass, and slammed on the gas.

As expected, the gang members opened fire in their rage, not caring if they could hit the target. The bulletproof body of the car rang with the sound of impacts, but Lucy kept laughing, completely unbothered. Mercer didn't care either—he was the one who started it.

"Woo-hoo!" She couldn't help but shout at the thrill of the chase. Mercer laughed, pulling her back. "Seatbelt, seatbelt!"

Panam’s voice came over the radio. "Seriously? What are you two kids doing?"

Mercer pressed the button, laughing. "Panam, let me see your driving skills... care to race?"

"Damn it... you brat, you're on! Don't go crying if you lose!"

Panam was never one to back down. Poor Cassidy, the old cowboy, sighed over the radio. "I beg you both, I'm getting too old for this. Can you give me a heads-up next time you pull this stuff?"

"Aha! The race is on! Let's see who gets out of this street first!"

Mercer had the pedal floored. He didn't care about anything else.

A nobody?

Ha!

He came to this world to become a legend!