"Yeah, Adcardo. I ran all the way here from New America. Nothing special—just couldn't stay in my old little family anymore and wanted a change of scenery.
But I haven't figured out where to go yet, so I've just been wandering from place to place. When I run out of money, I take a delivery job or two, make enough to keep drifting, hoping to find somewhere to belong."
When Cassidy finished, he noticed Mercer had been studying him the whole time, and after a moment, Mercer revealed a look of sudden realization.
"I got it... anything else you want to add?"
Mercer had already decided, he was going to let Cassidy go.
Because he knew this guy.
In the game, there's a side quest called 'Pouring Oil on the Fire,' and one of the characters who appears is this Cassidy.
An old cowboy who looks like he's been through a lot. To put it simply—he's a good guy.
In the game, he's a member of Pan'an's Adcardo tribe outside Night City, one of the main female characters.
And Mercer always had a good impression of those Adcardans—a bunch of loyal, righteous brothers.
During the game, if you trigger the Star Ending, these guys will even follow you to storm Arasaka Tower.
A lot of people die along the way, but none of them complain, not even once—all for just a few favors you did them before.
But out of caution, Mercer decided he'd give the guy a bit of a scare first, then find a way to talk the old cowboy into leaving.
He'd read a lot online, but reading isn't the same as experience.
If they were really going to cross several thousand kilometers to Night City, having a seasoned wanderer as a guide would make things a lot easier.
"...I don't have much money on me, all my savings add up to just 4,000 Euros. If you want, I can transfer it to you!
My car... if you let me keep it, I can try to get some of my old friends to put together a small ransom.
But it won't be much, you know how it is. I'm just a wanderer."
Cassidy finished, paused, and then said:
"I imagine you don't care much about an old American's past. I grew up wandering the wilds. If you want stories, I can talk all night.
If you're after something else...
Kid, I promise you, my being here is pure chance, and if you let me leave, I'll have selective amnesia the moment I step out this door.
Then I'll drive away from here and keep wandering far from this place."
Mercer stared at him for a moment, then said, "What if I don't plan to let you go?"
"That's even better. Means you need me for something.
I can tell, you're not a bad person—those kids with you trust you a lot.
And you look... pretty young yourself. Maybe some of my old man wisdom could help."
Cassidy said calmly:
"You guys look like you come from somewhere important. Those Black Customer Service units you're wearing are worth more than everything I own.
So... kid, trust me, I'm nothing like the scum you just put down.
Adcardo wanderers always repay their debts!"
"...Alright, that's settled then."
Mercer stood up decisively, grabbed a steak knife from the table, and handed it to Cassidy. "Need a hand?"
"No need. Actually, I had it undone a while ago..."
Cassidy grinned, pressed his wrists together, gave them a hard yank—and the rope fell to the floor:
"I was just afraid if you guys got nervous you'd shoot me on the spot... That girl's aim got a little shaky when her gun was on me."
Lucy glanced away awkwardly. "I was hesitating over where to aim."
"Yeah, just—remember the 'Golden Finger' rule next time. Don't put your finger on the trigger unless you're ready to fire..."
Cassidy chuckled softly, then pointed at one of the dead Chaotic Blade Association members lying next to the table:
"Mind if I get my gun back? That old revolver—he's my oldest partner."
"Go ahead, loot what you want—we should get moving anyway.
This little town has more people than that, I'm sure. We better hurry before some other Chaotic Blade guys decide to come home."
Mercer gave the order and then flicked the safety off his gun and slipped it into his coat.
"You're not taking their money?"
The old cowboy noticed the group only searched their bodies but didn't try to transfer credits from their heads and figured they didn't know how:
"Normally, people like us don't leave our money in banks. Banks charge fees just to use it.
So, most of us keep our money directly in our data wallets, in the brain-computer interface..."
Mercer shook his head, speaking honestly:
"Our account numbers will be frozen soon, and these interface virtual wallets will get deactivated too.
To open a new data wallet, you need to first open a new bank account and activate it.
But with our current identities, that's not possible. We'll have to wait until we switch to new ones."
"Ah, got it."
The old cowboy immediately caught his drift, cautiously probing, "I hear Arasaka loves pulling this kind of thing..."
"Far as I know, all the big corps do it...
The Arasaka logo on our Black Customer Service units is pretty obvious, so don't worry about guessing wrong.
Thing is, we're no longer with Arasaka. To be accurate, it's not a good relationship at all. You get me?"
After Mercer finished, the old cowboy just sighed and shook his head:
"Look at what Arasaka's done... Forcing a bunch of kids to wander out in the wilds.
I get it. I'll hang onto your money for now, and when we get to a big city and open a European Community bank account, I'll get it back to you."
He opened up his brain-computer interface. "You can watch me if you want."
"No need. Don't use people you distrust, and don't distrust people you use. I think I'm a pretty good judge of character."
Mercer smiled, then stripped off a shoulder holster from one of the bodies—the tactical kind that holds guns and sometimes hand grenades, too.
"Alright, I'll hold onto it for now... And I suggest you guys take the chance to strip their clothes, at least grab a jacket."
Cassidy continued offering advice.
Mercer nodded. "Yeah, just—kind of gross... But you're right, we can't just waltz around buying new clothes dressed like this. Kyoko, which one do you want?"
[Kyoko: They're all ugly... Just grab me whatever.]
Mercer picked up a plain black jacket for himself, then took the wind chime he'd stuffed into his old coat and slipped it into a new pocket.
Then he took a somewhat dirty brown jacket from a Female Chaotic Blade Association member for Kyoko.
"What about these guns?"
Cassidy pointed to the scattered weapons on the ground. "Too late to strip out the implants, but the guns are still worth something. Find the right buyer and you can get three or four thousand Euros easy."
"Not sure there's enough room in the truck, and I don't plan on stopping to reorganize the haul much."
Cassidy, you'll have to lend a hand later—we've got plenty of stuff of our own already."
Finished, Mercer turned to look at Tetsuya Daichi:
"Daichi, ride with Cassidy, take his truck and pack up my stuff. Anything not important, toss it in the Pika. We're taking three cars."
Tetsuya Daichi nodded, then turned to look at Cassidy.
Cassidy found his silver revolver, tucked it into his holster, and adjusted his hat. "Looks like you want me to come along?"
"Uh-huh, we definitely need an old cowboy for a guide."
Mercer smirked:
"Good timing too—you're wandering anyway... Help us get to Night City. Payment is whatever we scavenge along the way, plus 10,000 Euros, but I'll only have it for you after I get to Night City and sell the stuff."
Cassidy shrugged easily:
"Doesn't sound like I have a choice either way...
Heard there's a bunch of Adcardans over by Night City. Maybe that's the new tribe I've been looking for.
As for payment—don't even mention it. Consider this whole trip as us teaming up to wander. After all, you guys did just save my life."
"Perfect. I've heard Adcardans always have each other's backs—decent, loyal folks. I'd like to think I'm also someone who repays a debt. Let's not talk money—if you run into trouble, I'll help out.
Maybe you can even help us find a place to stay over there...
Pleasure working with you. I'm Mercer. I'll be going by the name Alex Mercer from now on."
Mercer extended his hand.
"Just call me Cassidy. So, should I call you Alex or Mercer?"
Cassidy stretched out his rough hand and gave him a firm shake.
"Hmm... Mercer. I'm used to it," Mercer said, squeezing back just as hard.
"Pleasure working with you?" Cassidy smiled.
"Pleasure working with you," Mercer looked him straight in the eye and nodded.
And just like that, the hacker who'd escaped from Arasaka was now partnered up with the Adcardo he'd always intended to work with.