"I've already dispatched Barghest."
Hansen said indifferently, then bluntly instructed, "First take your team to check the server security system, then deploy all your personnel to the main hall. The first batch of guests will arrive soon, in about half an hour."
Mercer nodded calmly. "Understood."
Watching Mercer obediently lead his team to inspect the security system, Hansen stared at his retreating back, grinding his teeth in frustration. If not for wanting to save face, he would have canceled the medal ceremony right then and demanded to know what tricks Mercer was playing!
But unfortunately, he couldn't. Not only could he not show hostility toward Mercer now, he had to do everything possible to ensure his safety. If word got out that the newly appointed Director had been taken out by Arasaka right after receiving his medal, he would become a complete laughingstock.
Though it was called checking the security system for Hansen, it was really just going through the motions. Every camera and server in Black Sapphire was currently controlled by Mercer's servers. He only needed to confirm that no one had physically inserted a USB drive into the equipment.
As for other security arrangements, Hansen wouldn't let Mercer participate; those would be handled by his own elite forces.
Half an hour later, Mercer returned to the main hall, where Hansen was sitting in a booth chatting cheerfully with several guests.
Seeing Mercer return, Hansen called him over with a cheerful laugh.
"This is my Equipment Design Director. Don't let his youth fool you, his skills..."
Hansen began praising Mercer's abilities, then abruptly changed the subject by pointing at V, who stood behind Mercer wearing her helmet, looking both impressive and intimidating. "See this combat armor? This is one of his masterpieces."
The obviously wealthy guests immediately responded with appropriately impressed "wows."
"Mercer, these are my friends from Europe. As you know, they've always been very interested in such high-tech products and have extensive connections." Hansen subtly indicated to Mercer that these were potential buyers.
Mercer smiled, took Lucy's hand, and sat down next to Hansen with her. He began boasting about the advantages of his armor to the European billionaires.
They listened with great attention. One middle-aged billionaire even asked with genuine interest whether someone like him, who hadn't installed much cyberware, could custom order a cool armor suit.
Mercer immediately assured him it was possible, and the man happily placed an order with Hansen on the spot, with only two requirements, first, the appearance had to meet his aesthetic standards and be sufficiently stylish.
The second was that it should enable him to achieve his dream of free individual flight maneuvers, even without an OS.
It seemed the gentleman was purely buying it as an expensive toy. When Hansen quoted a price of two million eurodollars, the man didn't even bargain, merely remarking that this was much cheaper than an AV.
It had to be said, when rich people shopped, they were truly extravagant. He hadn't even asked about weapon parameters, only requiring sufficient safety, the ability to fly to his heart's content, and a sufficiently cool appearance.
Mercer had just finished chatting with a few wealthy Europeans when more and more men and women in suits and evening gowns began streaming into the Black Sapphire's main hall.
Without needing Hansen's reminder, soft music began to play. Well-dressed servers moved through the crowd offering drinks, while deeper in the hall, the entertainment area was already filling with people playing blackjack, Texas hold'em, and other poker games. The atmosphere gradually grew lively.
Hansen pulled Mercer along, while Mercer kept his arm around Lucy, accompanying him to greet various guests and get familiar with faces. It wasn't until 7 PM that things finally quieted down.
"The formal ceremony starts at eight. After a ten-minute performance comes the medal presentation. Once the ceremony ends, many guests will come asking for deets; don't mess this up."
After Hansen finished speaking, someone seemed to have sent him a message. His brow immediately furrowed, his cybereye flashing. After a long moment, he actually couldn't help but curse, then sharply turned to face Mercer.
"What did you do in Night City this time? Why is NCPD here?"
"What?" Mercer frowned slightly.
Hansen raised his voice. "I said! NCPD has blockaded the entrance to Dogtown right now and is demanding we immediately stop the attacks on Night City's network! What the hell are you playing at?"
Only then did Mercer understand, but he responded calmly, "I haven't done anything. This afternoon, I detected traces of Rogue AI activity in Night City's network. It might be some Rogue AIs causing trouble."
"Then why would they come to Dogtown!" Hansen glared angrily at Mercer.
But Mercer remained calm. "Colonel Hansen, if they're determined to cause trouble for you, what excuse wouldn't they use? The network fluctuations started several hours ago. Strictly speaking, Night City's network issues have been ongoing all day. They deliberately chose to blockade Dogtown one hour before the banquet starts; can't you figure out their reasons and purpose? This is deliberate pressure on us."
Hansen stared coldly at Mercer. He was certain that Mercer was definitely involved in NCPD's sudden appearance this time.
Meanwhile, Mercer understood even more clearly that NCPD's sudden blockade of Dogtown was specifically targeting him. Even if he hadn't ordered Morning Star to launch counterattacks, tonight's events would still have occurred.
Mercer was hiding in Dogtown under Barghest's protection to avoid Arasaka, but similarly, Arasaka could use Night City's forces to pressure Dogtown.
This was a contest of strength. If Hansen couldn't withstand the pressure and decided to sell out Mercer, it would be perfect for Arasaka.
Whether Hansen wanted money or something else, Arasaka would gladly agree. They'd willingly spend tens of millions of eurodollars to take Mercer and the Relic biochip package, while also establishing some cooperation with Hansen to expand their influence into Dogtown.
And even if Hansen refused to bow to Arasaka and protected Mercer to the death, Hansen would inevitably resent Mercer. The secret of Mercer possessing the Relic biochip would be exposed; would Hansen keep fighting Arasaka to the bitter end just for those chips Mercer was hiding?
If Mercer concealed the existence of the Relic biochip, Hansen would inevitably realize he was hiding something from Arasaka or had uncovered some major secret of the corporation. Otherwise, Arasaka wouldn't go to such extremes to target Mercer and Dogtown.
Life would undoubtedly become difficult for Mercer.
This was precisely Arasaka's intention; no matter how Hansen felt about Mercer, when pressure mounted, it would inevitably breed resentment toward him.
Mercer was fully aware of this, which was why he didn't hesitate to confess to Hansen that he had taken the Relic biochip. The hardware design of the Relic biochip was unparalleled in the world.
However, its true core lay in the consciousness-transfer process paired with the Soulkiller program. Without Soulkiller, the Relic biochip was nothing more than a piece of hardware.
This was also why Arasaka wasn't worried about the Relic biochip being exposed. As for the Soulkiller program, they had no fear that anyone could breach its code.
Even Mercer could only resort to crude methods, using his 'visual hacking' ability to reverse-engineer and reconstruct the program through observation. If he struggled this much, others stood no chance of breaching the chip's programming.
Arasaka wasn't afraid of Mercer taking action. Whether the Relic biochip was sold or exposed, it would mean the items had surfaced openly. What they feared was Mercer hiding the chips and quietly relocating them, making the chips impossible to trace.
"What exactly did you steal from Arasaka?" Hansen demanded bluntly. "Where is it now?"
"Have you heard of Arasaka's 'Secure Your Soul' project?" Mercer replied.
Hansen's frown deepened. "The one that stores the consciousness of the dead, claiming it allows people to communicate with deceased loved ones?"
"Yes. I stole several Relic biochips from Arasaka; the core hardware for the follow-up development of the Secure Your Soul project. With these chips, human consciousness data can be stored inside."
After Mercer finished speaking, Hansen said with a grim expression, "Don't think I'm ignorant. There's already a commercial version of that project on the market. Would they really go to such lengths over a few missing chips?"
"The commercial version is a lie," Mercer stated bluntly, exposing Arasaka's deception. "That thing doesn't actually store consciousness; it just copies memories and uses an AI to fake the rest. But this chip can genuinely store a complete human consciousness. Unfortunately, I only have the hardware, not the software.
Even so, its value is immense. Just the hardware alone is worth millions of eurodollars per chip."
After mixing truth with lies, Mercer added coldly, "Most importantly, they don't just want the chips; they want me."
"You?" Hansen narrowed his eyes at Mercer.
Mercer replied in a calm tone, "Yes, me. A one-of-a-kind super genius. You have no idea what someone like me means to corporations like them. In Arasaka's eyes, my value far exceeds the combined worth of these chips. And most importantly, I stand against them. Why did Arasaka go to such lengths to kill Bartmoss back then? And why did they kidnap Alt Cunningham, ultimately leading to the nuclear blast at Arasaka Tower?"
Mercer looked at Hansen and spoke bluntly, "Let me put it this way: if you think Arasaka is putting too much pressure on you, I can contact Militech or Kang Tao. I'm sure if I agree to work for them, they'd arrange a private jet to get me out of Night City overnight."
Hansen sneered but didn't refute the statement. He simply said, "I'll go deal with the trouble you brought. Meanwhile, you stay put in the hall. After tonight, we need to have a serious talk."
He emphasized the last part before walking away from the hall, visibly irritated.
Lucy hooked her arm through Mercer's, watching Hansen leave before turning to Mercer. Her bright face showed a trace of worry, but she ultimately smiled and said, "Let's rest for a while. I'm a bit tired from smiling all afternoon."
Mercer nodded, glanced back at V who was dutifully acting as both bodyguard and human GPS, and waved. "Let's go have a couple drinks and sit down for a bit."
V shook her head. "Not for me."
She remained vigilant, scanning the surroundings for any potential Arasaka agents. With no formal bodyguard training, she relied entirely on her intense focus to ensure Mercer's safety.
Mercer didn't press her. This time, both he and Lucy ordered low-alcohol cocktails, while V asked for an ice-cold NiCola. She finished it in two gulps, put her helmet and face shield back on, and resumed her guard stance.
Even during the break, Mercer kept busy. He activated his cybereye to check the situation outside Dogtown.
What he saw was startling.
Outside Dogtown, there were over twenty NCPD armored vehicles parked!
Even a MaxTac AV was hovering not far from Dogtown's entrance.
A group of NCPD officers had completely surrounded the checkpoint, led by none other than the current NCPD commissioner.
The Barghest forces had also gathered at Dogtown's entrance; Minotaurs, armored vehicles, heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, and Militech Centaur-equipped heavy soldiers.
Even the blimp that usually drifted above Dogtown had moved toward the entrance, its machine gun turrets aimed outward.
The tension was palpable. At this point, not only were there no guests coming for the banquet, but even regular residents who usually came and went were keeping their distance. The streets of Pacifica were nearly empty.
Only a few bold news crews remained nearby, documenting the scene.
While marveling at the situation, Mercer also checked in with Morning Star.
[Mercer: How's the situation?]
[Morning Star: It escaped. I tried to track it, but the tracking failed. The target jumped to a network zone outside Night City.]
[Mercer: What about Night Corp's response?]
[Morning Star: They've completely withdrawn. Critical servers have been switched to local networks, and they haven't put up much resistance. I've already regained control of the City Hall servers, disabled them, and left a new backdoor.]
[Mercer: So they were purely here to cause trouble? Just wreaked havoc and left?]
[Morning Star: Correct. I'm currently tracing their origins while conducting indiscriminate attacks on Night Corp and Arasaka-related networks as you instructed.]
[Mercer: Wind it down now. No sign of NetWatch?]
[Morning Star: There were traces of monitoring programs, but no netrunner activity detected.]
Mercer furrowed his brow. This could only mean one thing, NetWatch had likely received advance intelligence. Otherwise, they wouldn't have ignored such events.
Morning Star had swept through Night City's networks multiple times, barely concealing her AI behavioral patterns. If NetWatch hadn't been prepared, they should have at least called to inquire about the situation.
Their silence indicated they clearly understood what was happening in Night City, that this was Mercer's retaliatory strike...
It appeared NetWatch not only understood Mercer's methods, but also possessed knowledge about Night Corp and the Rogue AI Morning Star had previously reported encountering.
[Mercer: Any trace of the Arasaka agents?]
[Morning Star: Relevant footage has been preemptively deleted. Key surveillance cameras were physically destroyed. I'm attempting data recovery, but... apologies, the probability of successful restoration appears low based on my calculations.]
[Mercer: Understood. Stand down. Starting today, we'll hit Night Corp daily until they either retaliate or come to the negotiation table.]
[Morning Star: I suspect if they plan to move, they've already infiltrated Dogtown during the blind spots while NCPD distracted attention. Dogtown has numerous secret passages but limited surveillance. Please exercise extreme caution.]
[Mercer: Noted.]
After ending the communication, Lucy asked quietly, "What's the situation? Why is NCPD here?"
"City Hall and NCPD are practically Arasaka's lapdogs now. I suspect they're creating distractions while putting pressure on Hansen..."
Mercer could only speculate, while Lucy simply took a sip of her cocktail without further questions.
About half an hour later, Hansen returned to the hall with a dark expression, cutting straight to the point about the NCPD blockade aftermath. "Many important guests won't be attending tonight's banquet." He checked his watch, face stern, and continued, "The banquet proceeds. Have your people detected anything unusual?"
"Nothing," Mercer replied. Hansen nodded and turned to leave. "Stay prepared and don't wander off. You'll take the stage right after the performance ends."
Mercer acknowledged, and Hansen hurried away again.
Ten minutes later, the hall lights suddenly dimmed.
On the central stage, neon colors began glowing as a blue radiance flashed briefly, revealing a fully chromed woman stepping into the spotlight.
"Holy shit! It's Lizzy Wizzy! She's a huge star!" V, who had been standing behind Mercer, couldn't help exclaiming in surprise.
Mercer adjusted his posture with interest, sounding somewhat surprised. "She's this popular already?"
"Damn, she just completed her first tour last year! In NUSA, she's practically top-tier, right?"
V muttered, but after just a few glances, she reluctantly tore her eyes away and began scanning the surroundings. Now that the lights had dimmed, with only the center stage illuminated, if any agents were lurking, this was undoubtedly the perfect moment to strike.
On the stage stood Lizzy Wizzy, not yet sporting her signature pink hair but instead a green mohawk, her entire body gleaming with a chrome-like silver finish, giving her the appearance of a robot. She raised her hand, signaling for the background music to start.
Mercer had never heard her songs before, but he'd seen her performances in games. He had to admit, this woman truly had a knack for artistry. Blue lights rippled like ocean waves as she danced gracefully within the sea of light.
There was an indescribable beauty to it all.
Lizzy Wizzy's ethereal voice carried a subtle electronic quality; not from effects processors, but because her vocal cords were chromed. This sound, paired with electronic instrumentals and the hazy lighting, instantly created a dreamlike atmosphere.
Mercer quietly appreciated the performance as Lizzy Wizzy delivered three songs in a row, likely her most famous hits. Even Mercer found some melodies vaguely familiar, probably because someone at the base had played her music before.
After the three songs, Lizzy Wizzy stepped onto the blue light waves, using stage equipment to rise into the air before free-falling into the ocean of blue light below. The lights went dark.
When they brightened again, she had vanished, like a mermaid dissolving into sea foam; the entire stage performance was dazzling, beautiful, and theatrical. Even Mercer joined the crowd in applause.
"Though I really can't get behind the full-body chrome aesthetic, her stage presence is undeniably impressive."
After Mercer spoke, V sighed regretfully. "Damn, I didn't even get to watch it properly... Did you record a BD? Save it for me to watch later!"
"Recorded it," Mercer said with a smile. He turned, picked up the cocktail on the table, downed it in one go, and stood up. "I'm heading to the stage now."
V nodded and contacted the rest of the Kindling Squad. "Check your positions. Mercer's going on stage."
As soon as she spoke, the other members scattered throughout the hall responded promptly. The Black Sapphire's banquet hall had a second-floor balcony overlooking the main floor; a natural vantage point for snipers. They had to spread out to ensure no blind spots.
Colonel Hansen took the stage first, delivering an impassioned speech. His confident smile made it seem as if issues like the NCPD blocking the gates or Arasaka causing trouble had never happened. He boasted about Dogtown's rapid development over the past two years, shared his vision for the future, and thanked all the guests for attending. Then, with a beaming smile, Hansen commenced the medal ceremony.
"Next, I will present this Dogtown Special Contribution Medal to the Equipment and Development Design Director of Barghest. This young and promising genius is not only responsible for Dogtown's network security but also an outstanding technical expert.
I believe you have all seen it; yes, the combat armor equipped by the armored warrior behind him is one of his greatest research achievements this year!"
While Hansen was singing Mercer's praises, Mercer himself smiled and waved to the crowd under their watchful eyes.
The guests politely applauded and expressed admiration, while Hansen went a step further by directly projecting an AR hologram of the armor using a projector.
This was a video recording from the shooting range featuring V and Rebecca, clearly showcasing its terrifying speed and firepower.
In the simulation test, over twenty elite Barghest soldiers lasted only three seconds before being effortlessly subdued by the two.
Afterward, Hansen even had a standard version of the Tank One armor carried onto the stage by Barghest soldiers. Once the silk cover was removed, he began introducing the equipment's specifications in detail.
When the introduction was nearly complete, Hansen raised his voice. "Next, Mercer, please come up on stage. I will personally present you with this medal, symbolizing your contributions to Dogtown."
Mercer stepped onto the stage amidst applause, smiling and nodding to the crowd while discreetly scanning for his target. Soon, he spotted Jefferson, a middle-aged man standing in a corner who appeared to be merely clapping and smiling at that moment.
Seeing that Jefferson had attended as promised, Mercer gave him a subtle smile and nod. Jefferson was momentarily taken aback before noticing Mercer's companion, the strikingly beautiful Asian girl, approaching him.
"Councilman Jefferson, Mercer would like to speak with you privately. Here is his contact information. If you're interested, perhaps we could chat in the booth over there later?" Lucy inquired politely.
Jefferson smiled and replied courteously, "Of course. May I ask your name?"
"Lucyna Kushinada. You can call me Lucy," she said, appearing composed and elegant. Dressed in a beautiful gown, she carried herself with an air of nobility.
"Jefferson Peralez, and this is my wife, Elizabeth Peralez," Jefferson introduced, gesturing to the middle-aged Asian woman beside him, who also extended her hand with a smile.
Lucy shook her hand gently and offered a sweet smile. "Pleased to meet you, Ms. Elizabeth."
"Likewise. You are truly beautiful," Elizabeth replied, exchanging a few pleasantries with her.
Then, Elizabeth pointed toward the stage and winked playfully at Lucy. "But perhaps we should continue this conversation later. Look, your boyfriend is about to speak."
Lucy didn't correct the "boyfriend" remark, simply smiling in agreement. "Alright."
They turned their attention to the center of the stage, where Mercer now wore a medal bearing the Barghest logo, pinned to his chest by Hansen.
"I am deeply grateful to Colonel Hansen for awarding me this medal, which symbolizes honor and contribution..." Mercer spoke calmly on stage, delivering polite words of thanks while exchanging a knowing smile with Hansen, making their relationship appear exceptionally close.
Hansen praised his genius, while Mercer commended Hansen's management skills. They lavished praise on each other, and after the medal ceremony concluded, the banquet hall, which seemed to have returned to calm, instantly transformed into a bustling marketplace for business negotiations.
Hansen went to discuss business, while Mercer seized this opportunity to have his first meeting with Councilman Jefferson, accompanied by Lucy.
"A researcher like you showing interest in a politician like me is quite rare," Councilman Jefferson remarked with a smile as soon as he sat down, expressing his surprise.
Mercer, in a tone of admiration, responded, "If it were an ordinary politician, I wouldn't have much interest; just a pack of vicious dogs driven by profit and running after it."
At these words, Jefferson couldn't help but chuckle, while Elizabeth's expression grew slightly more reserved. She had initially thought Hansen had arranged this conversation, but now she knew it had nothing to do with him.
Since Hansen wasn't the one speaking, what was there to discuss between a researcher and a street mercenary leader?
But Jefferson felt differently. He looked at Mercer with keen interest and asked, "So, by saying that... you mean you don't think I'm that kind of person?"
"Of course not," Mercer replied without hesitation, blending flattery with honesty in his smile. "Not everyone has the courage to oppose corporations, and even fewer are genuinely committed to changing Night City. In this city, most people can't even be bothered to chant slogans, let alone take practical action like you do. Especially since you've actually achieved some results and built a reputation; in my opinion, you even have a real chance of becoming the next mayor. That's truly remarkable."
After he finished, Jefferson burst into laughter. "You're the first person to think I have a shot at becoming mayor. To be honest, most people believe a stubborn idealist like me would struggle just to keep my council seat."
Mercer said lightly, "At the very least, I agree with your principles. If it were election season, I'd vote for you."
"Then I'll thank you in advance for that vote," Jefferson smiled. "Finding a like-minded supporter makes tonight's event worthwhile."
"Mr. Jefferson, are you here to seek supporters?" Mercer shifted the topic abruptly to practical matters.
Jefferson didn't hide the truth. "Yes, elections aren't won by slogans alone."
"If I'm not mistaken, Councilman Jefferson's biggest supporter right now is... Night Corp?"
After Mercer spoke, Jefferson shrugged. "That's right."
Mercer then wore an expression of hesitation, as if holding back. Jefferson noticed something was off and glanced around. "It seems you have something to say?"
"Well... I'm not sure if saying this will make you think I'm spreading alarmist rumors or trying to sow discord," Mercer paused, then adopted a cautious tone, speaking carefully. "If one day you suddenly realize your memories seem off, or your personality has shifted slightly..."
Jefferson's brow gradually furrowed. "Just speak plainly. As long as your intentions are good, I'm not one to blame the messenger."
Mercer sighed, as if deciding to lay all his cards on the table. "You know I'm a netrunner, right?"
"Hmm." Jefferson nodded. "I heard even the notorious Voodoo Boys were no match for you. You took them down with just a small squad."
"I know some secrets about Night Corp, particularly classified information regarding their project called 'Operation Carpe Noctem.' In that project's documents, I saw the names of Mr. Jefferson and Ms. Elizabeth."
After Mercer spoke, the Jeffersons' expressions shifted slightly, and they exchanged a glance.
Elizabeth calmly asked, "The 'Operation Carpe Noctem' project? What is that?"
"Night Corp is researching a special project capable of hypnotic brainwashing; replacing someone's memories and altering their personality without them realizing it." Mercer's words made Jefferson frown thoughtfully for a moment before he chuckled.
Jefferson responded dismissively, "More of that conspiracy theory nonsense about remote brainwashing through various signal waves?"
"I've witnessed actual cases and have even encountered Night Corp personnel myself."
Mercer adopted a cryptic expression and warned, "I'm here out of appreciation and support for the councilman, offering this warning with good intentions. You don't have to believe me, but from now on, stay vigilant."
He lowered his voice mysteriously, adding, "Based on current findings, their brainwashing devices require prolonged, close-range operation to take effect. You should pay extra attention in daily life; especially by keeping diaries, regularly taking psychological tests, and maintaining records for real-time comparison. Think of it as a conspiracy theory if you want, but I assume you wouldn't want to wake up one day as a stranger with fabricated memories, right?"
After Mercer finished, Elizabeth frowned deeply. "You do know that Jefferson's primary funding source is Night Corp, correct?"
"Then Mr. Jefferson should be even more aware that while I personally admire your political ideals, and even hope to assist you, they fundamentally conflict with the interests of those major corporations."
Mercer cautioned, "I've already drawn Night Corp's attention because of this. In fact, just today, I clashed with them online. They're even using AI to monitor the entire city's network, maintaining an all-pervasive secret intelligence web that surveils everyone in Night City in real time."
Jefferson tightened his brow and, after a pause, said, "Alright, friend. I'll remember your advice. Starting today, Elizabeth and I will keep regular diaries and conduct psychological tests; just in case."
"Also, watch your security team. My advice is to never fully trust anyone around you, because Night Corp is everywhere in Night City."
Mercer stated calmly, "They're even secretly collaborating with Arasaka on something... Unfortunately, I haven't uncovered critical details yet. If you want to verify my claims, there might be another way; a guy named Bruce, formerly a Night Corp executive. He's a victim of this plan, and it's fair to say Night Corp's brainwashing technology has been successfully tested on him."
"I once saved his life and exposed the brainwashing scheme he was trapped in. After that, he went into a semi-missing state."
"I genuinely hope he's still alive, but the truth is, he hasn't shown up in Night City for nearly three months. He hasn't responded to my messages either... You could try to find his whereabouts, or investigate his past."
Seeing how serious Mercer sounded, both Jefferson and Elizabeth couldn't help but take it seriously. Though reluctant to believe it, they thought it was better to err on the side of caution.
"Thank you... If what you're saying is true, then you might have really helped us a great deal," Jefferson said gravely, while simultaneously furrowing his brow to recall if he'd seen anything similar.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth fell into deep thought. After a long silence, she looked at Mercer and asked, "Did you come here just to kindly warn us?"
"Not solely out of kindness, but because I have certain expectations of you."
After Mercer spoke, both Jefferson and Elizabeth prepared themselves for negotiations.
But then, Mercer simply said earnestly, "I hope that if you ever become mayor one day, you'll become someone who truly benefits the masses of Night City."
"I'm tired of those endless exploitations, treating human lives as worthless; just like Biotechnica, who are now dabbling in biological poisoning."
"What?" Jefferson exclaimed, "Biotechnica is poisoning again?"
He didn't take this as a joke; if the brainwashing techniques of Night Corp were unverified conspiracy theories spanning decades, then Biotechnica's poisoning incidents weren't mere conspiracy theories at all. They were real and had happened multiple times.
Mercer briefly described the plight of the Red Ocher family and the Aldecaldos, then sighed, "All I can do now is provide them with cheap, near-cost medication to suppress the virus."
"But if we can't develop a vaccine soon, once the virus reaches an uncontrollable outbreak phase, all nomad tribes will become mobile virus sources."
"This virus is no joke. Once it enters the active phase, its transmission speed becomes terrifyingly fast. Through airborne transmission, it could destroy all of Night City in an instant."
"Who knows how many people would have to die before Biotechnica releases the vaccine? And how much would Night City spend on distributing vaccines to the public?"
"If Night City doesn't handle this, how many ordinary people could afford to pay for vaccination themselves? Not to mention, as usual, Biotechnica always prefers to sell medication for a few months first. Only after making enough profit would they announce the vaccine development."
Jefferson's face darkened completely. Biotechnica's behavior had crossed his bottom line. "Do you have any evidence?"
"The entire Red Ocher tribe and the Aldecaldos are living proof. Evidence is everywhere, if you're willing to look."
After speaking, Mercer shook his head and sighed, "But what difference would it ultimately make? As long as Biotechnica remains in Night City, these things will never stop."
Jefferson remained stern-faced, silent for a long while before finally saying, "I'll investigate this. If it's all true, I guarantee Biotechnica will pay the price."
"I'll find time to diligently complete the vaccine development as a precaution. If any issues arise, you can contact me then. Perhaps we can work together to do something for the hardworking people of Night City."
After Mercer finished speaking, the matter was dropped entirely. Jefferson would undoubtedly follow up on these matters; at the very least, he certainly wouldn't stand by idly regarding Biotechnica's poisoning incident.
Even if just for personal reputation, this presented a good opportunity for Jefferson. He would definitely leverage his connections and resources to help Red Ocher and the Aldecaldos cause trouble for Biotechnica.
Jefferson expressed solemn gratitude for Mercer's warning before finding an excuse to hurriedly depart. Of course, before leaving, he didn't forget to exchange contact information with Mercer, promising to call after completing his investigation.
After parting ways with Jefferson, Mercer had little interest in contacting others for the time being.
Some senior executives from Kang Tao and Militech did approach Mercer for conversation, but they only discussed trivial matters, either inquiring about the specific parameters of the equipment Hansen had boasted about, or tentatively probing whether Mercer might consider changing employers.
By the time Mercer, with Lucy on his arm, had politely dealt with these annoying individuals, it was already 10 PM.
He found Hansen to take his leave.
"I need to head back and rest, Colonel Hansen." After Mercer spoke, Hansen maintained a dignified smile while saying, "Let's meet tomorrow at 8 AM for a proper discussion at the stadium."
"Agreed." Mercer accepted the arrangement, but looking at Hansen's smiling face, he suddenly felt a sense of impending danger.
Returning Hansen's smile while observing his expression, Mercer slightly furrowed his brows before leaving the Black Sapphire with the group and boarding his armored vehicle.
"Finally off duty... So annoying. Being a bodyguard is much more troublesome than going out on missions!" Rebecca complained, squeezing into the same vehicle as Mercer.
She had been responsible for security near the main hall on the first floor, missed the entire evening's performances, had nothing to drink, and could only watch helplessly as Lucy walked around in beautiful clothes, holding Mercer's arm as his companion.
The frustration in her heart was indescribable.
Mercer could only helplessly shift aside; fortunately, the armored vehicle's rear compartment was spacious enough. Though cramped, she could still squeeze in wearing her combat armor.
Lucy simply took the passenger seat, while V naturally occupied the driver's position.
Maine and others drove two Barghest armored vehicles, positioning themselves before and after Mercer's vehicle for protection. Surrounding their three vehicles were additional Barghest escort cars.
The convoy of five armored vehicles departed from the Black Sapphire parking lot and headed toward the base.
"What's really going on with Arasaka?" V asked discontentedly while looking out the window. "We can't keep being this defensive forever, right? It's making everyone anxious."
Mercer closed his eyes wearily. "Of course we can't just wait passively... I'm considering how we might need to proactively relieve some of this pressure."
"How so?" V asked curiously. "We can't just storm Arasaka Tower, can we?"
"That would indeed be difficult, but... dealing with the Barghest situation might be more feasible."
Mercer had already realized he could delay no longer.
Arasaka's pressure was intensifying, and Hansen had either sold him out or severed ties with alarming speed. He suspected Hansen was already entertaining some devious ideas, perhaps similar to how Songbird had been treated.
Rather than paying Mercer for his work and cleaning up after him...
Why not find a way to control him and make him work for free?
Hansen's patience was likely wearing thin, and Mercer felt that for the safety of everyone, it was better to strike first; that way, the risks were more manageable.
"Take action against Hansen? Didn't you say the timing wasn't right before?" V said, though she already seemed eager and ready to jump into action.
"I still think the timing isn't ideal. Right now, we can't fully take over Hansen's smuggling routes, and we haven't found a peaceful way to transition Barghest's power.
But unfortunately, even if it means paying a higher price later, we must ensure Dogtown remains under our control now."
Mercer sighed helplessly, "Even if this might make things worse in Dogtown, for us, we have to pick a side and act first.
No matter what, as long as we can take over Dogtown and part of Barghest, we can move our base to Black Sapphire or the stadium, and fully develop the Cynosure facility. Even if it means bringing in Militech and Kang Tao, it's better than the current situation."
V grinned fiercely, "Then let's do it! I've been fed up with that damn boss for a long time, always ordering us around like he's someone special. I want to see how much tougher these Barghest guys are compared to the Voodoo Boys or anyone else!"
"Alright, I'll go back today and pick a plan to put into action." Mercer closed his eyes and yawned, "Then I'll have to talk to Mr. Hands and see if he can offer us some help..."
"!" Suddenly, Maine's loud shout came through the walkie-talkie.
Everyone immediately turned to look and saw a burst of flames suddenly light up from a tall building along the street.
"RPG!!!"
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5800words