"So, how long do we have to stay here?"
Once the excitement had passed, Rebecca, squeezed into the small room, started feeling uncomfortable with all the people around.
The small room was about the size of a regular bedroom, but at that moment, there were eight people crammed inside. Even though the built-in ventilation system was on, Rebecca still felt it was a bit crowded.
While dismantling and disassembling the exoskeleton with his tools, Mercer casually replied, "Until things quiet down outside and we hear back from Pan'an. In any case, we're going to stay in the Evil Land for a while."
Out of caution, Mercer didn't plan on returning to Dog Town until he was certain that things were settled with Stout from Military Science and cleared the 'crime star' from their side.
For now, biotechnologies and Arasaka couldn't reach Dog Town. Those agents and Faraday couldn't hold out for long—companies generally lack patience, Mercer figured, after two or three days, the guys initially responsible would be pulled out due to internal strife.
When they get replaced, who's willing to clean up the mess for their predecessors?
Even if he got marked, so what, he was already neck-deep in debt. Even in the worst-case scenario where he gets exposed as the mastermind behind the Arasaka Canada Base, could he really be at anyone's mercy with his skills?
Once Stout is in charge, Mercer just needs to deal with Hansen, and then he can continue living the high life in Dog Town.
As for Arasaka Biotechnologies, without deploying heavy artillery, even if Adam's Hammer were to show up, Mercer was confident he, along with V, could take him down.
"Stay in the Evil Land?" Dolio sounded a bit worried, "Can those people be trusted? I just saw that Faraday offered us a price of three million euros."
"I think they're trustworthy." Mercer paused and said, "Everyone knows Rogue from Rebirth, right? Back then, she and Silver Hand blew up Arasaka Tower, and after that, she wandered with the Adcardans for a few years. Arasaka offered her quite a price at that time, too."
"Of course, I won't blindly trust that bunch. For now, the only ones who know our whereabouts are Pan'an and her two old friends, Mitch and Scorpion. They're reliable people."
As Mercer spoke, Rebecca pursed her lips and said, "You think everyone is a good person."
"Just tell me, am I accurate or not?" Mercer turned his head with a sly smile at her, making Rebecca turn her head away, speechless.
"In any case, you all stay at the safe house Pan'an found for us in the Evil Land for a few days, and once I finalize things with the Military Science people, we can move back to Dog Town."
Mercer paused, then turned to Mann and said, "You two also bear with it for a while, don't go home yet. Once I settle the Military Science matter and return to Dog Town, you can move to Taiping Prefecture. We'll look out for each other and it'll also be easier to work together."
Mann thought for a moment, then said, "Or we might as well move to Dog Town... If we get on the wrong side of Agent Arasaka, I'm worried Dolio will be in danger."
Dolio just smiled at that. The burly woman spoke in a calm tone, "It's okay, I'm sure Mercer has his reasons for suggesting this."
"Quite simply, I'll sell the stuff to Military Science, then it won't matter if Arasaka catches us. They'll just be venting... I doubt they have time for that, especially considering any investigation will show that this is your first collaboration with me.
No one apart from us knows you've already teamed up. You can easily pretend you only joined us for one operation."
But then, Mercer continued, "But if you feel it's too risky, you can also move to Dog Town. The base isn't big, but we can manage to find a place for you two to stay."
Lucy quietly said, "I can let Kyoko come live with me and free up a room."
"Yeah, or maybe I think..." Mercer pondered.
Mann shook his head and said, "Forget it, I'm just saying. Let's move to Taiping Prefecture, you're right, even if they want to cause trouble, they won't trace it back to me, just a newcomer working with you."
Mercer shrugged and was about to say something when his prosthetic eye indicated an incoming call.
It was none other than his 'good friend' at Military Science, Meredith Stout.
In the video call, Meredith's face was full of smiles as she exclaimed in amazement.
[Meredith: I must say, I really underestimated you. A group of mercenaries turned Arasaka, Military Science, and Biotechnologies on their heads, and now you've successfully escaped... Truly unbelievable.]
[A: How about it? I bet your colleagues are jumping up and down with frustration right now.]
[Meredith: You're not wrong, they're in big trouble now. Two elite combat teams got wiped out, lost the items, didn't capture anyone, and made fools of themselves alongside Arasaka on television.]
[A: Sounds like you're just a tiny bit of merit away from a promotion?]
[Meredith: That Arasaka gear, is it in your hands?]
[A: Name your price.]
[Meredith: I can help call off the Military Science pursuit, even let you mercenaries enjoy the same treatment as Adam's Hammer from Arasaka.]
[A: I'm not interested in working for Military Science. Cooperation is fine, but don't keep trying to buy me out completely.]
[Meredith: You probably don't know how much we can offer you.]
[A: Then why don't you consider what's a fair price for that Arasaka gear? A brand new super exoskeleton battle armor with combat data from field testing.]