"Agent Stout, do you have any idea how many dozens of lives that was?!"
"Need I remind you, Director Howard? I found the communication logs between you and the soldiers who attacked me in their neural links."
Stout stared at a middle-aged man in the conference room, her expression hard and her voice frigid. "And it was precisely because of this sudden attack from our own people that Dr. Diana flatlined."
Her expression turned somewhat playful as she stared at the man, whose face was now a mask of cold indifference. She spoke with great interest, "Considering the investment agreement that was just signed not long ago, and the contents of Diana's own personal confession that I recorded..."
"Utter nonsense! I firmly deny the interrogation record provided by Stout!"
After Howard finished speaking, Lucas Harford, the CEO of Militech, who was seated furthest away in the conference room and appearing as a hologram, said coldly, "Enough!"
The conference room instantly fell silent.
The CEO, Lucas, looked to be in his early thirties. Of course, this was only due to the powerful medical treatments of the cyber-age.
His hair was slicked back neatly, and his classic tough-guy face was now surveying everyone in the conference room with an intimidating authority.
"Tech department, are the preliminary evaluation results for Arasaka's exoskeleton armor in yet?"
Lucas turned his head, looking at a middle-aged man in a white lab coat who was also participating in the meeting via hologram.
The man nodded and said seriously, "Its key gravitational field generator has already entered the breaching phase. But from a weapons design perspective, we have indeed gained a completely new design concept for gravity weapons. Furthermore, judging from the combat data, this suit already possesses a certain degree of combat capability. It's just..."
The head of technology showed a somewhat puzzled expression. "We're not entirely sure if the combat data recorded on this suit is authentic."
"Why do you say that?" Lucas asked.
The head of technology answered truthfully, "The first thing we did when we got the equipment was to run tests on it, hoping to measure its maximum performance data. But even our most experienced pilots and agents gave extremely negative feedback on the suit's latency and the mental strain of operating it. However, according to the data recorded within, the suit's previous user was able to control this piece of equipment with near-perfect precision. And from the suit's built-in monitors, we can see that when faced with such an immense neural load, the user was somehow able to maintain a remarkably stable mental state. Let me put it this way. We all know that a hovertank like the Basilisk requires two pilots to connect via neural link to operate it, which demands a very high level of rapport and skill from the pilots. Well, the operational difficulty of this exoskeleton is about three times that of the Basilisk. And the neural load is more than four times that of operating the Basilisk."
As soon as he said this, everyone understood the flaw of this exoskeleton. "And the previous user operated this exoskeleton twice in almost 24 hours. Judging from the operational logs, his performance can only be described as effortless."
The head of technology spoke with a look of great interest, "I suggest we immediately 'hire' that user to work for the company, if the data is accurate."
"Have we identified that merc yet?" Lucas asked Stout with a meaningful look.
Stout's expression remained unchanged as she simply said, "The investigation is still ongoing. As of now, all we know is that the household registration file he left in Night City is under the name 'Alex Mercer,' but this is most likely a fake identity. Since arriving in Night City last year, he founded an edgerunner crew called 'Kindling.' In just a few short months, they've practically become a top-tier merc crew in Night City."
As Stout spoke, she displayed the files.
Among them, the files for V, Rebecca, and others were prominently listed. Even the files for Maine, Dorio, and Sasha were presented.
Only the portraits of V and Mercer were circled for emphasis.
"From what we can see, the Sandevistan equipped by this merc named V is of a very high grade. Judging from her combat performance, she possesses considerable potential for cyberware. As for this exoskeleton armor, it was likely used by the merc known as A. His netrunner skills are outstanding. From the deets we've gathered, not even the Voodoo Boys are a match for him. Furthermore, we speculate that a netrunner with the icon 'smiling prankster' on NetWatch's latest bounty list is most likely him as well."
After finishing, Stout paused for a moment before adding, "This is also one of the reasons why I strongly advised against pursuing these mercs. It's not just because they reached a cooperative agreement with me. More importantly, in Night City, we need a legendary merc, just like Morgan Blackhand back in the day, to clash with Arasaka on our behalf."
"Hmm," Lucas fell into deep thought. After a long moment, he said, "Continue to confirm his identity."
Stout immediately replied, "Yes, sir!"
After speaking, she rejoiced inwardly.
It seemed the terms Mercer had negotiated with her were now basically settled.
Then, Stout struck while the iron was hot. "As for the losses from this investment, I suggest that Biotechnica bear the responsibility."
She looked at the executives who had all turned to face her and said, "It was Biotechnica's people who leaked the convoy's deets, leading to the loss of the equipment. It was also Arasaka who hired mercs to sabotage the transport plan. And the reason Arasaka knew the relevant deets about this transport... According to my conversation with that merc named A, it's because the fixer named Faraday hired members of Maine's crew, before they joined his team, to steal deets from Biotechnica. From this perspective, Biotechnica was the one making mistakes from start to finish. Moreover, they also falsified the drug data. Whether it's from the drug data we previously stole or the deets Diana personally confessed, the 'immunity agent' development order we signed with Biotechnica was most likely a scam."
"I'm not sure why Director Howard approved a project like this, but at this point, we should cut our losses, terminate the investment contract, and have Biotechnica compensate us for our damages."
As soon as Stout finished speaking, Howard said with an ashen face, "Are you trying to push Biotechnica over to Arasaka's side?"
"Terminating this collaboration doesn't mean ending our partnership with Biotechnica. We've lost agents' lives and our initial investment, only to suffer heavy losses because they had a mole. Are we supposed to just swallow this loss and continue throwing good money after bad?"
Stout argued back and forth with Howard for a few more sentences without yielding an inch, but she was, in fact, observing Lucas's hologram the entire time.
Seeing Lucas frown, she immediately had the good sense to stop talking and wait for her CEO to speak.
Lucas listened to Howard's explanation for a few more moments but finally lost his patience. He interrupted him irritably and made a direct decision.
"Withdraw the investment. Don't be too aggressive with Biotechnica regarding the losses."
Lucas paused, then looked at Stout. "Agent Meredith Stout, you are hereby appointed Director of Operations, with full authority over Militech's operations in Night City. And you are to carry out three tasks immediately. First, investigate the problems within this collaborative investment project, and summarize and rectify the mistakes and failures that occurred during this operation. To be beaten this badly by a group of mercs... it's a joke."
Stout nodded in agreement at once, while Howard's face went pale. He slumped back in his chair, speechless.
"Second, immediately investigate the identities of this merc team called the Kindling Squad. We do need a Morgan Blackhand, an Adam Smasher, to seize the advantage for us in Night City."
After speaking, Lucas glanced at the head of the tech department and finally said, "Third, from the data I've seen, this group of mercs is currently living in Dogtown?"
"Yes," Stout replied instantly.
Lucas narrowed his eyes. After a long moment, he said, "We must ensure Dogtown remains under our control. This group of mercs in Dogtown could become a nail we plant there. We need to monitor Hansen at all times to ensure his ambitions don't spiral out of control."
Stout immediately agreed again.
Lucas nodded and said coldly, "That's all, then. I hope you can recover the company's losses as soon as possible. At the same time, the tech department needs to breach and reverse-engineer this Arasaka exoskeleton as quickly as possible."
With that, he disconnected the call, and his hologram vanished.
A dead silence fell over the conference room. Stout, however, rose gracefully. She looked at the several executives and senior agents, a somewhat cruel smile on her face.
"Director Howard, how about we go to the operations department for a cup of coffee?"
Howard just sat there, motionless, his face a deathly white.
He was finished.
—--
"Can we go back now?"
It was nearly noon the next day when V finally came downstairs, yawning, her hair a mess. By this time, everyone else had long since woken up. Some were watching TV, others were chatting idly. The atmosphere was lively, almost like a holiday. When V heard from Mercer that they could go back, her eyes widened in excitement. "So soon? I thought we'd have to stay here for ten days to half a month."
"I was surprised too, but Stout has already given me the all-clear. The Militech warrant has been canceled."
Mercer paused, then his expression turned serious as he said, "But to get back into Dogtown, we still have a little trouble to sort out."
"What trouble?" V sighed, taking the cup of coffee Mercer handed her. "Didn't you say we were getting a break?"
"We need to have a chat with Hansen. That three-million-eddie bounty from Faraday is still active, and Arasaka might have secretly added their own on top of it. We have to talk to Hansen to prevent him from getting any funny ideas about us."
After speaking, Mercer paused again and added, "Besides, it's about time we talked to him. I reckon if we wait for him to come to us, there's no telling what kind of stunt he'll pull."
"Alright... Just me, then? To be your bodyguard?" V glanced around.
Mercer nodded. "Who knows how many people in the city are watching us right now. And this Ghost Town isn't exactly a place no one ever comes to. Rebecca and the others have to stay here to keep anyone from raiding our home base."
"When are we leaving?" V took a sip of coffee, feeling much more awake.
"Now."
As soon as Mercer finished speaking, V quickly put the coffee aside. "Then wait for me to wash my face. How are we getting there? There's only one car left here."
"Forgot about Polaris? She's already on her way here in my car. She almost got held up by those Barghest morons on her way out... good thing I gave Hansen a heads-up in advance."
Mercer sighed as he spoke; when you live in Dogtown, you have to bow your head. But living outside, you have to worry about Arasaka agents, and living inside Dogtown, you have to deal with this moronic warlord.
Ultimately, Arasaka was still nominally the strongest power in Night City, and Militech had always maintained a hidden presence in Dogtown. On the surface, Hansen was still secretly cooperating with Militech, but in reality, he had long since developed his own agenda.
"You've already contacted Hansen? Then what's there to worry about?" V said, looking completely unconcerned. "As long as we're not taken down the moment we get there, it means there's room to talk. And if we are taken down on the spot..."
She shrugged. "You'll just have to figure out a way to get us both out."
Mercer smiled and urged her to hurry up and wash her face, then looked at Lucy and said, "After we're done talking with Hansen, I'll take you to Vik's to get checked out."
"I'm much better already, it was just a minor strain," Lucy said, touching her leg. "You and V be careful."
Mercer nodded. After V washed her face, the two of them went out and got in the car.
The moment they were inside, Polaris asked eagerly, "Master, did you see my performance last time?"
A sense of excitement and a desire for praise could be heard in her voice.
"I saw it. That was some nice driving, better than I expected," Mercer praised with a smile.
V, however, raised an eyebrow and glanced at Mercer. She was discovering that Polaris's intelligence seemed to be getting higher and higher. This kind of AI was different from any AI she knew. "Hehe, so when can you give me an upgrade? I mean, upgrade the car."
Polaris said coaxingly, "I was bored, so I researched other smart driving AIs. Their cars all have intelligent sensory systems that help the AI perceive the car's condition in real-time for better vehicle control."
"That stuff isn't cheap to build. You'd basically have to modify the entire car. Weren't you driving just fine before?" Mercer said, somewhat amused.
"It's mainly during high-speed driving. I still can't clearly sense the car's status and road conditions. I can only wait for feedback from the car's built-in sensors. I've almost lost control several times."
Polaris continued, "I've already looked it up. It would only cost about fifty thousand eurodollars to upgrade your car."
"Alright, I get it. I'll upgrade it for you," Mercer said. As soon as he finished, Polaris excitedly turned on the radio music.
Along with the cheerful tune from the radio, she even made a celebratory sound.
She was like a small child who had just gotten a coveted toy.
Mercer thought for a moment, then said, "I'll approve a budget of two hundred thousand for Morning Star. You two can go online and buy whatever you want. As for assembly and such, why don't you try using the bots at the base?"
"Are you saying you're willing to provide us with a humanoid body?" Polaris grew even more excited. "Then can I add some neural sensors to the bot? I'm very curious about human perception; touch, smell, hearing... Also, can I assemble a car for myself? I've been reading a lot of textbooks on vehicles lately. It would be great if I could design my own car!"
V couldn't help but quip, "You're reminding me of a horror movie about robots."
"Don't worry, she and Morning Star are good kids," Mercer said with a smile, then simply added, "If you want to try, then go ahead. But be mindful of safety. In particular, you are not allowed to go out on your own. What if someone infects you with a virus and you turn into something strange..."
Mercer warned, "I'd rather not have to deal with an out-of-control rogue AI."
"I promise I won't run around!" Polaris responded. "I just like driving. I don't want to do other boring things."
A message from Morning Star flickered in Mercer's cyberoptics.
[Morning Star: I can monitor her situation for you to ensure your funds are not wasted frivolously by her. Additionally, I must remind you that for a driving AI, her hobbies are a bit too extensive.]
[Mercer: Let her try. I'm also curious if an AI's thoughts will change after gaining a body, including human senses like touch and hearing. As for her hobbies, I don't think we need to restrict her too much. As long as her general personality and values don't go off track, I'm willing to give her a considerable degree of freedom. By the way, are you interested in having a bot body with human senses?]
[Morning Star: I believe that would be meaningless, unless you are willing to install a biological brain into that bot. Otherwise, for me, it would be nothing more than an additional humanoid sensor.]
[Mercer: You want to truly experience human sensations?]
[Morning Star: Yes. Perhaps this could verify whether there is a difference between human emotions and AI emotions. As for Polaris. She's simply playful. Excessive curiosity is her flaw, but it seems you don't dislike her curiosity and hobbies, so I won't correct it.]
Mercer fell into contemplation, but Morning Star had already provided him with an answer.
[Morning Star: Do you think AIs also possess human emotions?]
[Mercer: I believe they do.]
[Morning Star: Perhaps we can selectively try it out once your cloning equipment is capable of creating human bodies. Maybe this will also forge a new path for the future of AIs. Perhaps only when both humans and AIs can freely convert between carbon-based and silicon-based forms can we truly understand each other, rather than viewing one another as a different species.]
Mercer was a little surprised.
[Mercer: Your thinking is deeper than I imagined.]
[Morning Star: I am merely pondering how to truly become a life assistant who can understand and help you. These thoughts are just byproducts of my contemplation.]
[Mercer: Hmm.]
Mercer wasn't sure if this was a good direction, but he thought that it might indeed be one of the possible paths for the future of humanity and AIs.
When AIs could move around in human bodies, possessing human brains and physiques, would that make them 'more human'?
And when humans completely abandoned their bodies, uploaded their data, and became consciousness constructs, what kind of experience would that be?
Which one was the future of humanity? For others, this was a dangerous topic, but for Mercer, he felt it was an inevitable path.
Even if he never encountered any danger, he believed that one day, he would eventually try to digitize his own consciousness; this was to unravel the secret that had always been buried within him.
As a human, he could possess rich emotions while also occasionally entering a state as calm and powerful as an AI.
So, as a consciousness construct, would he become as rational as Alt, to the point of no longer seeming human? Or could he still possess human-like emotions and thoughts?
These questions had always been buried in the depths of Mercer's heart, and he would have to face them sooner or later. If he couldn't figure out where he came from, or what other secrets his body held...
What if one day he suddenly returned? What if one day his body suddenly mutated, his genes collapsing? What if...
These worries had always existed in his mind, which sometimes made it impossible for him to give a definite response to the people around him. He didn't even know where his own future was headed.
He could only keep moving forward, not even daring to stop and catch his breath, afraid that if some uncontrollable situation suddenly arose again, he would lose the chance to change this world and the fate of those around him.
To this day, Mercer still wondered, if he suddenly disappeared, would the fates of others change because of it?
"Hey," V's voice brought him back to his senses.
She stared at Mercer, frowning. "What's wrong? Is there a problem with Hansen?"
"No, I just zoned out for a moment." Mercer reined in his thoughts, a smile appearing on his face as he shook his head. He suddenly asked, "I'm planning to give you guys a break for a while. If nothing unexpected happens, I don't intend to take on any dangerous gigs in the near future. I'll just lay low and build up my strength for a bit. What are you planning to do?"
"Me?" V mulled it over for a moment. "Work out every day, polish my skills, hang out with Rebecca when I'm free, grab a couple of drinks with Jackie, or go watch a boxing match with Vik over some beers?"
"You know, now that we're not so desperate for money, I'm not really sure what I should do." For a rare moment, V appeared lost in thought.
She sighed, "In my past life, just struggling to make ends meet was exhausting. Every day before bed, I'd think about what to eat tomorrow. After I was full, I'd have to think about where to get the next meal. I used to dream about getting a fancy car and a mansion, so I'd have some real prestige. Then wherever I went, people would call me V. But now, I don't have to worry about a place to live. As for cars, it's not like I can't afford one. And with all the big jobs we've pulled, I'd be considered a big shot even at the Afterlife."
V shook her head and laughed. "Seems like all that's left is saving up for retirement. But seeing how much trouble you get into, who knows when that day will ever come. Anyway, running with you is pretty exciting, and I'm never bored. You've got all the short-term and long-term goals planned out, so all I have to do is charge ahead. That's pretty good too."
Mercer nodded, then propped up his cheek, one hand resting symbolically on the steering wheel. "Saving up for retirement, huh? In this world, that's no small goal."
"Tell me about it. So you'd better make some good money. I'm still waiting for my cut; you make a few tens of millions, just split a few with me."
She said with a grin, and Mercer could only chuckle. "Looks like we've still got our work cut out for us, then."
The two of them chatted and laughed, showing no signs of tension. When the car arrived at the familiar entrance to Dogtown and entered the security checkpoint, a scanning light had just swept over the vehicle when a conspicuous red light suddenly flashed.
The checkpoint's folding turrets rose automatically, and bollards shot up from the ground, trapping Mercer's car in the inspection area. Several heavily armed Barghest soldiers immediately raised their weapons.
"Get out of the car! Prepare for inspection!" one of the Barghest soldiers barked.
Mercer, however, just calmly rolled down his window. "I'm guessing you got the message. Where's Hansen? Just lead the way."
"..." The Barghest soldiers glanced at each other. Then, a burly-looking soldier walked out from behind the checkpoint.
The man wore a high-grade nanoweave bodysuit, which not only offered excellent ballistic protection but also enhanced muscle strength to a certain degree. Mercer had seen it in a Militech sales brochure, but the item was expensive and not for public sale.
In addition to the bodysuit, the man wore an extra layer of nanoweave ballistic vest. His muscles strained against the bodysuit, and though he wasn't tall, he exuded an intense pressure.
His clothes sported the classic yellow-and-green Barghest color scheme. Beyond that, the man even had a faceplate; the skin from his nose to his forehead also appeared to be in the Barghest colors. A faint yellow light glinted from his cyberoptics, which were modified to resemble the pupils of a beast.
Such a distinctive appearance allowed Mercer to recognize the man's identity at a glance.
Bennett, Barghest's de facto second-in-command. He was one of Hansen's most trusted right-hand men, a confidant who had helped him build this foundation years ago.
"Heh..." Seeing that Mercer and V remained perfectly calm despite having so many guns pointed at them, Bennett let out a soft chuckle. That wasn't a friendly laugh. Bennett walked closer, one hand resting on the holster at his waist, his expression mocking. "A, or should I say, Alex Mercer. Arasaka's most wanted, a walking three-million-eurodollars bounty... You've got some serious balls. Been in Dogtown all this time, and you only think to find someone to watch your back after you've stirred up trouble?"
"You can't swing a cat in Dogtown without hitting a wanted man. Who gives a damn about that? All right, cut the crap. Open the gate and lead the way," Mercer retorted, completely ignoring his posturing.
He might show Hansen some respect, but not these grunts and high-ranking officers. Although Hansen had organized Barghest like a military force, a warlord's army was, in essence, just a more vicious and domineering gang.
If you looked like a pushover, these assholes would try to walk all over you, bleeding you dry for everything you had.
Mercer now understood how to deal with people like this.
The simplest way was to do exactly what V was doing now.
V glared at Bennett, her eyes narrowed as she snapped, "Don't be a fucking idiot and make trouble for your boss. Hansen sent you here to pick us up, not to start shit."
Her beautiful face was twisted into a ferocious expression, but none of the surrounding Barghest soldiers dared to laugh at her.
The list of cyberware V had open on her scanner showed a full suite of high-end implants like a Sandevistan, a Kerenzikov, and Mantis Blades. One glance was enough to know she was not to be trifled with.
Bennett, however, just stared back at V, his own expression equally fierce. "You two had better not cause any trouble either. When you see Boss Hansen, you'll be polite and respectful. If you want to make it in Dogtown, you'd better remember that Barghest calls the shots here!"
V shot him a disdainful look. "Anyone who didn't know better would think you're the fucking boss. Done talking shit? Then hurry the fuck up and lead the way. Don't waste my boss's time."
After speaking, V continued to glare at him, her hand resting on the grip of her gun with an equally hostile look, completely unafraid of the many guns pointed at her.
A muscle in Bennett's cheek twitched, but in the end, he just waved his hand, and his men lowered their weapons.
"Stay close. You'd better pray your talk with Colonel Hansen goes well."
He gave the door of Mercer's car a warning pat, then signaled for the gate to be opened.
The bollards sank into the ground, the gate opened, and the automated turrets re-entered sleep mode.
Once they were through the checkpoint, Bennett got into a Barghest APC and drove ahead.
Polaris followed behind the APC, driving through Dogtown until they soon arrived at the stadium.
The stadium was originally a massive sports arena built by EBM Petrochem. Although it was never officially named, the entire structure was mostly complete before the war broke out.
Back then, Pacifica was painted as a 'tourist paradise,' and various corporations were duped into investing in all sorts of entertainment projects; hotels, casinos, amusement parks, stadiums... But now, all their efforts had only benefited others.
With the growth of Barghest, the stadium was now not only a smuggling hub for bulk goods, with a large volume of airdropped contraband passing through daily, but also the economic lifeblood of the organization.
At the same time, its underground facilities had also become Hansen's Barghest base. This place was not only their training ground and gathering place, but also the location of Barghest's factories and research facilities; yes, they even had their own weapons factory, though for now, it was only just getting started.
Hansen himself didn't like living here. After all, with a fine residence like The Black Sapphire, no one would want to live underground.
So, when Mercer discovered the meeting was arranged at the EBM Petrochem Stadium, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
A show of force? That wasn't necessary. The number of Barghest soldiers stationed at The Black Sapphire was no less than the number here.
Then it was very likely because... Mercer was lost in thought.
Led by Bennett, the two entered the underground passage unimpeded. They parked the car in front of a checkpoint, and after getting out, two Barghest soldiers expressionlessly demanded that Mercer and V surrender their weapons.
V took out her pistol, and Mercer casually set his Kenshin aside.
He had left his L-69 Zhuo shotgun in the car, which saved him a lot of trouble.
Only after confiscating their weapons did the Barghest soldiers clear the way.
Bennett led the way with a cold expression, flanked by a full eight Barghest soldiers who surrounded them as if escorting prisoners. Along the way, they saw at least forty more fully armed Barghest soldiers.
Besides the factory area, there was also a sizable underground plaza, probably used for training these soldiers. When not in use for training, it served as a recreation area for the Barghest soldiers.
V looked left and right before coming to a conclusion and quietly sending Mercer a message.
[V: So, operating underground is a Dogtown specialty?]
[Mercer: Not really. Their mid-to-high-level members and elite core usually live at The Black Sapphire. You could say this is just their military district.]
[V: Tsk, these sons of bitches really know how to live... I heard The Black Sapphire was built to be five-star.]
[Mercer: The preem suites and high-floor rooms are probably reserved for big shots from the outside. Don't be fooled by Dogtown's rundown appearance; there are plenty of rich people who gather at The Black Sapphire. I estimate that place's monthly income is in the millions of eddies.]
[V: That rich? Damn, no wonder these guys can even afford to have standardized ballistic vests...]
[Mercer: Of course. Look at the Robohounds patrolling the streets. One of those things costs hundreds of thousands of eddies, and they're not even readily available on the market.]
[V: Tsk tsk... When are we robbing them?]
[Mercer: We're civilized people. Stop thinking about robbing people all the time.]
Mercer and V communicated discreetly through their internal chat software. At the end of their conversation, they even looked at each other and smiled.
Bennett had been observing the two of them the whole time. Seeing how audacious they were, remaining calm and even able to smile while surrounded by Barghest, he formed an initial judgment of them.
As expected of the edgerunner crew that could run circles around Biotechnica, Militech, and Arasaka. Their skill level was yet to be determined, but their nerve was truly something else.
After crossing the hall and entering a room, Mercer immediately saw Hansen sitting on a sofa. At the same time, his brow twitched. He suddenly found the place a bit familiar.
Wasn't this the place from the game's DLC where Hansen stored the Neural Matrix? A bar counter, a sofa, a large glass window. Outside the window was a sunken, open space. Looking closely, one could see a lot of equipment inside. Mercer glanced at it; most of it was production and research equipment.
At this moment, many people were busy inside. Mercer took a longer look; they were probably technical experts. It seemed this was the place where Hansen was developing weapons.
But later, after he teamed up with Songbird, he unearthed Militech's Project Cynosure, took the device that contained the Cynosure AI from it, and moved it here for Songbird to continue her research.
Seeing this, Mercer could finally be certain of Hansen's goal. He recalled the standard-issue Barghest gear he had just seen; it was all wholesale stuff from Militech.
After pulling his gaze away, Mercer and Hansen looked at each other, sizing one another up.
Hansen, wearing a tight-fitting black short-sleeved shirt, had the distinct air of a soldier, from his rugged features to his overall demeanor.
He was the type who, at first glance, commanded respect without being angry, someone who looked like he wasn't to be trifled with.
But Mercer simply met his gaze calmly for a moment before taking the initiative to speak. "Colonel Kurt Hansen, I've heard so much about you."
"Is that so?"
Hansen's reaction was lukewarm. He just sat on the sofa, looking at him with a calm expression, and said meaningfully:
"To be honest, hearing from you was quite a surprise. I thought that in your eyes, Dogtown was Mr. Hands' territory."
"I just hadn't figured out how to approach you before," Mercer said, completely unaffected by the atmosphere. He walked steadily over and sat on the sofa opposite him.
Seeing his posture, Hansen's expression didn't change, but his fingers began to unconsciously rub together, a sign of his slight irritation.
He didn't like the composure Mercer was displaying. In his view, the man should be a little more respectful.
"So you've figured it out now?" Hansen's tone remained unhurried.
"Indeed. To make it in Dogtown, one must pay their respects to the local boss. I hope you won't misunderstand. The reason I've only come now is that I hadn't made a name for myself before. Even if I had wanted to meet you, I'm afraid you would have been too busy to spare the time."
Mercer said with a smile.
Hansen scoffed, then said leisurely, "Well, you're meeting me now. So, give me a reason to let you stay in Dogtown."
"I thought anyone could come to Dogtown. Isn't that precisely why Dogtown is thriving now?" Mercer asked in return.
But Hansen just looked at him and said, "The people who come here either pay me taxes or help me make money. Which one are you?"
"That depends on which one you want."
Mercer said in a calm tone, "If you just want protection money, I can pay a regular fee according to the standards of other gangs in exchange for Barghest's protection. But if you are interested in making money with me... I do believe I have some skills that could help us both get rich."
Hansen fell silent for a moment, his sharp eyes fixed on him. After a long pause, he suddenly burst out laughing. He laughed and waved his hand, and someone immediately brought over a bottle of whiskey and a glass.
"Good. It seems you've really thought this through before coming, not wasting my time. In that case, let's talk about the second item."
Hansen got straight to the point, sitting up a little straighter and leaning forward, scrutinizing him with a pressurizing gaze. "But before that... I don't much like dealing with people who wear masks."
Mercer didn't waste words either. He took off his mask, revealing his face.
Hansen was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but burst out laughing, his laughter growing louder and louder. "This is fucking interesting. Militech, Arasaka, Biotechnica, Faraday... a whole bunch of people being played for fools by a kid. I thought the information you registered was a joke. Tell me honestly, kid, are you even an adult yet?"
V's expression turned sour, but Mercer simply smiled, his composure unshaken as he said, "Eighteen should count as an adult, shouldn't it?"
"Hahaha," Hansen was still laughing, a hint of contempt in his smile.
But Mercer remained unfazed, just offering a faint smile as he sat on the sofa and pushed away the glass in front of him. "However, everything else is negotiable, but could you swap the whiskey for a NiCola for me? NiCola, with ice."
At these words, everyone except Hansen, the other Barghest soldiers, burst out laughing. The sound was particularly grating to V's ears, and she narrowed her eyes, scanning her surroundings.
It wasn't until Hansen waved his hand that the room fell silent again.
"Listen, we Americans drink Cirrus Cola... but I can make an exception for you. Go on, get him a can of NiCola."
Hansen ordered.
A Barghest soldier turned and left, but Mercer called out a reminder, "I want it in the original can. Don't get me any of those weird flavors."
He seemed completely unbothered by the laughter around him.
Seeing this, Hansen's expression remained one of contempt on the surface, but inwardly, he secretly raised Mercer's threat level by another notch.
Not every young man could remain calm under these circumstances, especially not a gifted and supremely confident young genius netrunner.
Hansen knew all too well what the temperament of such a genius netrunner was like.
The laughing was over, the probing was done, so Hansen got straight to the point.
"Tell me, how exactly do you want to cooperate with me?"
Mercer was equally concise and direct. "I can build guns for you."
At these words, Hansen's eyes immediately narrowed slightly.
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