Mercer is in Dog Town, relying on the Netherworld Dog for protection to evade Arasaka, but similarly, Arasaka can use Night City's forces to pressure Dog Town.
This is a game of strength. If Hansen can't withstand the pressure and decides to sell Mercer out, it's the best outcome for Arasaka.
Whether Hansen wants money or something else, Arasaka will happily agree. They are willing to spend tens of millions of Euros to package and take Mercer and the Relic Chip, incidentally establishing a certain cooperation with Hansen, expanding their influence into Dog Town.
And even if Hansen resolutely refuses to bow to Arasaka and protects Mercer, Hansen will inevitably feel discontent towards Mercer, and the secret Mercer holds about the Relic Chip will be exposed. Will Hansen really continue to conflict with Arasaka for those chips Mercer hides?
And if Mercer conceals the existence of the Relic Chip, Hansen will surely know he's hiding something from Arasaka, or has discovered some big secret of Arasaka, otherwise why would they spare no expense to target Mercer and Dog Town?
Mercer's days surely won't be easy.
This is precisely Arasaka's intent. Regardless of Hansen's attitude towards Mercer, when the pressure arrives, it will turn into Hansen's resentment towards Mercer.
Mercer is well aware of this, which is why he had no hesitation in confessing to Hansen that he took the Relic Chip—the design of the Relic Chip's hardware can be said to be unparalleled worldwide.
But its real core is in the accompanying Soulkiller Program's consciousness transfer process. Without Soulkiller, the Relic Chip is just a chip.
This is also why Arasaka isn't worried about the Relic Chip being exposed. As for the Soulkiller Program, Arasaka isn't worried that anyone can crack the program within.
Even Mercer can only use the clumsy method of 'visual estimation,' reverse-engineering to restore the program. Others can forget about cracking the chip's program.
Arasaka isn't afraid of Mercer moving—the exposure or sale of the Relic Chip indicates the items are out in the open. They're just afraid Mercer will hide them away for a quiet transfer, making it impossible to trace the whereabouts of the chips.
"...What exactly did you steal from Arasaka!?" Hansen asked bluntly: "Where are the items now?"
"Ever heard of Arasaka's 'Protect Your Soul' project?" Mercer responded.
Hansen frowned even more: "That project that claims it can store the consciousness of the deceased, and allows dialogue with passed relatives?"
"Yes, I stole a few Relic Chips from Arasaka, the core hardware of the project's further development. With these chips, a person's consciousness data can be stored."
After Mercer finished speaking, Hansen's face remained stern and said, "Don't think I don't know. There are already commercial versions of the project available—losing a few chips, would they really spare no cost to cause you trouble?"
"The commercial version is just a deception." Mercer unceremoniously exposed Arasaka's sham: "It's not true consciousness storage—it merely copies memories, using AI to trick others.
But this chip can truly store a complete human consciousness—sadly, I only have the hardware, not the software.
Nonetheless, its value is still high. Even just the hardware part, each chip is worth millions of Euros."
Mercer half-truthfully finished, then sneered: "The most crucial thing is, they want not just the chip, but me."
"You?" Hansen squinted at Mercer.
Mercer calmly replied: "Yes, me, a unique super genius—you don't understand what talents like me mean to such companies.
In Arasaka's eyes, my value far exceeds the combined worth of these chips. The most important thing is, I stand on the opposite side of them.
Why did Arasaka spare no expense to kill Bartmos back then? And why did they abduct Ultraman, eventually leading to Arasaka Tower being nuked?"
Mercer looked at Hansen, speaking bluntly: "Let's put it this way—if you think Arasaka is putting a lot of pressure on you, I can contact Military Science or Kangtao. I believe, if I agree to work there, they would arrange a private jet for me overnight to leave Night City."
Hansen sneered but didn't refute, merely said: "I'll now go resolve the trouble you brought, and as for you, just stay in the hall obediently. After tonight, we need to talk."
As Hansen spoke the last words, he emphasized his tone, then seemed a bit irritable as he quickly left the hall.
Lucy hooked onto Mercer's arm, watched him walk away, then turned to look at Mercer. Her bright face showed a hint of worry but ultimately she just smiled: "Rest a bit, been putting on a happy face all afternoon, feeling a bit tired."
Mercer nodded, glanced at V, who was dutifully acting as both a bodyguard and a 'human advertisement,' and waved: "Let's go, have a couple of drinks, then sit and rest for a while."
V shook her head, saying: "I'll pass."
She constantly and vigilantly observed the surroundings, not missing a single possible Arasaka Agent. Lacking any bodyguard experience, she could only rely on such total concentration, intense vigilance, to ensure Mercer's safety.