Then, to answer Mercer's second question, she merely responded vaguely:
"As for why I'm here... you're a hacker too, you should know that no hacker just logs in every day and honestly goes to work, right? I have to find some fun for myself."
Mercer squinted his eyes at her, suddenly speaking: "You came here to find some data, didn't you? To be honest, I've gone through every piece of data here. If you need help... I wouldn't mind making friends with you."
Lark simply gave a slight smile: "Alright, I'm actually here to look into some VIP information, like checking who Hansen usually interacts with..."
This woman really doesn't say a single honest word.
An emoji of a sweating pixelated yellow bean face appeared on Mercer's mask: "Hmm, I believed it, you're here for a routine check of the VIP list."
After finishing, Mercer laughed and said: "Besides that data, you can't access anything else. I don't mind you wasting your precious slacking time searching for something that doesn't exist."
Lark's gaze turned sharp: "What did you discover?"
"Who knows~" Mercer spread his hands, reclining lazily on the sofa with legs crossed: "You guess?"
"...Alright, it seems you might know more than I thought."
Lark assumed a serious expression and said: "Listen, A, what I'll tell you next isn't a joke, but concerns your life safety and those around you.
I don't know what you've discovered from Dog Town, but believe me, once someone finds out you've learned some forbidden secrets... you're finished!"
An emoji of a nervously sweating face appeared on Mercer's mask: "What do you mean?"
Lark said solemnly: "Listen to me, A, long ago I was just like you, believing my hacking skills were invincible and doing whatever I pleased online.
I proactively dug into many secrets, some for profit, others just out of pure curiosity.
But it was just because of one time...forgive me for not sharing the details...sigh, just because I knew something I shouldn't have, my life completely fell apart."
She showed a somewhat wistful and sad expression: "Intelligence Bureau agents outran Internet Supervision to find me, recruiting me under the guise of protection into the Intelligence Bureau, ever since, I haven't had any freedom to speak of.
Friends, family—they'll keep you away from everything around you.
No matter how strong a hacker you are, we are ultimately mere flesh and blood. Do you know how those companies' people and advanced agents assassinate deeply hidden hackers?
They won't foolishly rush into the Network Access Vault's hackable range. They'll use sniper rifles, even explosives, shells, aircraft dropping bombs, or land-based missiles to physically destroy you directly!
Elite agents will employ specialized Brain-Computer Interfaces and, completely unhackable, use Sianwistan to snap your neck instantly...
You're in Dog Town with a standout team, meaning your safety actually hinges on whether someone wants to utterly obliterate you…"
Lark said a lot of frightening things, then sincerely looked at Mercer: "So, if you've learned a secret, never tell anyone.
Swallow it up, and preferably never, ever let anyone know what you discovered."
"Alright, I understand." Mercer seemed genuinely scared.
Lark gently, with a concerned look, gazed at him: "Honestly, the first time I met you, I thought you were very much like me when I was young...talented, proud, confident, skilled...
But you must believe me, when those agents knock on your door, you'll realize that no matter how strong we are online, our bodies are still just mortal flesh, even someone as strong as Bartmos dies young, let alone you and me?"
"...Okay, you make a good point." Mercer seemed convinced by her words.
Lark reassured him: "Don't worry, I won't ask what you know, my visit is purely personal.
You know, for hackers, losing freedom in reality, we have to vent online somehow.
I won't report your matter to the Intelligence Bureau, as for any data intelligence you mentioned... I'll pretend I didn't hear, but I have to tell you, New America keeps a close watch on Night City.
Especially related to Military Science and New America's own secrets left in Night City, they keep a tight eye on it, so don't act rashly."
Mercer nodded obediently, his posture becoming a bit more compliant.
Lark then actively switched topics, chatting with him about other mundane things as if she had been lonely for a long time, sharing her life and complaining about working with the president, starving twice a day...
The two discussed hacker techniques for quite a while, and it must be said, Lark really knows her stuff, Mercer learned quite a few hacking tricks from her.
And Lark was equally amazed at Mercer's young expertise in hacking and programming skills, learning some of his own techniques and knowledge.