With a 3D printer, the entire body can be crafted for only 100 euros, with the remaining 600 euros almost entirely spent on chips, batteries, and cameras.
If later micro-lithography machines from Zeta Technology could be used to achieve autonomous mass production of chips, it would be feasible to acquire stable and low-cost raw materials to make integrated circuit boards and chips.
Finding a stable supplier for low-cost batteries and cameras could potentially cut the overall cost in half.
If this simple-style drone can be compressed to a cost of under five hundred euros, Mercer thinks that his 'Death Warrior' drone might redefine today's Night City's arms market.
Don't be fooled by its limited flight altitude and low load capacity, or the fact that its endurance is only ten minutes in full load speed mode; on paper, this drone's specs might look unimpressive.
But considering that each of them can carry up to 8KG of explosives and can swarm towards your face at a speed of 80KM/H...
Mercer has entrusted this task to Kyoko, who usually doesn't have much to do, giving her full responsibility for 3D printing and assembly. The only requirement is to produce as many and as quickly as possible.
He has already decided who will be the first 'real opponent' for this batch of equipment.
Undoubtedly, it's the biological technology transport convoy.
The day after speaking with Diana, Mercer remotely used a drone to collect the storage chip prepared by her, which recorded the convoy's transport information.
Biotechnology will use aircraft from the European Community headquarters to airlift some of the equipment placed at the headquarters to Southern California, where all the equipment will be gathered and packed.
Finally, they will use heavy transport trucks to cross from the southern part of Night City, delivering the items to Night City.
From the timeframe, the plan for the biotechnology convoy is to depart from the southern border city of Southern California on the night of January 30th and successfully arrive at Night City by the evening of the 31st.
They will make only one stop for refueling.
The route was clearly and distinctly marked by Diana, including the types of transport vehicles and personnel configurations.
The convoy consists of six vehicles responsible for transport: four are armored vehicles filled with biotechnology soldiers, and two are heavy transport trucks loaded with equipment.
Each armored vehicle carries six personnel, including a driver, a vehicle-mounted machine gunner, and four biotechnology soldiers.
In addition, there are two high-level biotechnology agents with uncertain vehicle assignments.
These two high-level agents, one equipped with a series of advanced prosthetic bodies including Sianwistan, and another equipped with the Frenzy System and full series prosthetics, possibly even a single-soldier exoskeleton armor.
Judging from the security level, not to mention ordinary robbers, even getting a regular company involved would require a well-equipped special team to pose a threat to this transport convoy.
Twenty-four professional soldiers combined with two high-level agents, plus four armored vehicles likely modified from Chevrolet 720s; the level of security is incredibly high.
Not to mention...
Mercer believes Diana must have prepared some additional surprises for him.
What exactly it is will depend on whether she has secretly cooperated with military tech people or not.
To figure this out, Mercer must meet with someone.
Stout.
.....
At night, at Rebirth Bar.
V and Mercer sat in the private room of Rebirth, listlessly watching TV to pass the time.
This room, far from the main hall, is the innermost private room in Rebirth, so quiet that even the rock music from the bar is almost inaudible.
"What time did you arrange to meet that woman?"
V lay idly on the sofa, legs crossed, looking disinterested.
Mercer glanced at the time displayed by his prosthetic eye: "Almost here."
Just as Mercer finished speaking, footsteps could be heard outside. V immediately sat up straight, eyes sharp, expression serious, looking quite like a professional bodyguard.
A middle-aged woman with slicked-back hair, exuding a hard, or rather cold and alluring demeanor, walked to the front of the private room, followed by a well-built man wearing a military-green vest, thickened with a bulletproof vest, and sunglasses.
"Are you A?" Stout, with an unfriendly expression, glanced around before striding into the private room and sat down opposite Mercer, speaking in a cold tone.
Mercer did not reply but nodded while also sizing her up. After a moment of the prosthetic eye slightly glowing, he nodded to V.
V stood up and walked to the brawny bodyguard by the door, tilting his head slightly.
Stout squinted her eyes, then nodded to the bodyguard.
The bodyguard finally turned his head, glanced at V, and walked out with an equally indifferent expression.
Once V and the bodyguard had gone far, Mercer slowly spoke: "Recently Military Science has reached a collaboration with Diana Kuno of biotechnology, more precisely, an investment targeting a virus immunity agent, correct?"
Stout simply crossed her legs, looking at his face: "A, a newly emerged hacker master suddenly appearing in Night City, who at the start of his career hijacked a vehicle, and also defeated the Voodoo Gang on Taiping Prefecture's network...
I'm really curious about what kind of face is underneath that mask of yours."
She didn't seem to be in a rush to get straight to the point, and her words made it clear—just as you've investigated me, I've investigated you too.
But what Stout didn't know was that from her current actions, Mercer had already confirmed his suspicion.