"Then let's operate multiple plans simultaneously... If the opportunity arises, we'll take action in the border area.
But if there's no opportunity in the border area, we'll wait until they move closer to Night City and reduce their heavy firepower before taking action.
If neither of these options presents itself... we'll abandon the attempt to acquire the device and directly assassinate Diana, then seize the opportunity amidst the chaos to steal the device. If no opportunity arises, we'll simply give up."
Mercer finally finalized the action plan, instructing: "Regardless of where we act, we must unleash our maximum firepower. Even at the risk of damaging the equipment, we must ensure the safety of our personnel as much as possible."
"As for how to conceal our identities and try to distance ourselves from this operation..." Mercer squinted, starting to clear his thoughts.
First, how many people can trace their identities back to this event?
V boasted at the bar to the Mann squad about a biological technology job they did, but which street mercenary hasn't done company-related gigs?
Thus, from a street-level perspective, it's challenging to pinpoint their identities.
On the middleman's level, Rogue is undoubtedly trustworthy. If she wanted to sell Mercer out, she could earn ten million Euros by selling him to Arasaka now.
Moreover, if she sells him to Arasaka Michiko, she might even gain additional benefits from New America.
Therefore, Rogue won't betray him.
Wagako is completely unaware of their plans for a major move, so even if someone asks her, they can only learn about Mercer's previous commission.
The only risk lies in — if Diana Kuno lets slip about this event to others, those people might find a breakthrough with Wagako while tracing the entire event's origins.
Did she tell others about this?
Mercer isn't sure, but what he can be certain of is, currently, Diana Kuno definitely doesn't know who he is, and she wouldn't dare secretly investigate Mercer and his group's identities at this critical juncture.
Because if any link leaks information, and Mercer finds out that someone is checking on him, it would clearly mean that she is doomed.
Thus, at most someone knows it's the group who did Wagako's commission and is targeting Diana, threatening her to apply for some equipment.
As long as Wagako doesn't leak to Military Science, his identity shouldn't draw attention before or after the robbery occurs, and by the time others start investigating, Mercer would've already vanished from sight along with his group.
"We need to confirm if Wagako would betray us..."
As soon as Mercer finished speaking, Pira scratched her head and said, "I don't think she would..."
"Huh? Are you close to her?" Rebecca pouted, "Don't act like you've got a deep connection with her."
"Please, my father used to call her aunt back then, would she really sell us out to Military Science?"
Pira argued confidently, "She's backed by Arasaka, not Military Science. If Military Science wants our identity, I trust Wagako wouldn't betray us over such pressure!
Even if she did... she'd surely notify us, giving us a head start to escape."
Mercer contemplated and nodded in agreement, "That makes sense, but to be safe, after this gig, and after killing Diana, we'll temporarily disband to lay low."
"Disband!?" Rebecca was the first to disagree, "No way, if we disband, where will Pira and I go?"
"I could chill on Haywood Street for a while." V frowned, "But disband... where do you plan to go?"
"I'm not going anywhere, I'm staying here. When the time comes, Qiwei will go with you, and I'll have Kyoko and Lucy head back to Adcardo to lay low for a while."
As soon as Mercer finished speaking, Lucy resolutely shook her head, "If you're not leaving, I'm not leaving either."
"Why? This isn't some cheesy movie scene where 'you go first, I'll cover the retreat.'
Mercer said, half-amused, half-annoyed, "Don't forget we have a secret passage at our base. If things go south, I'll dive into the sewer and escape underwater.
Once I reach Taiping Prefecture, with my hacking skills, disappearing without a trace is possible, even if New America agents come, they won't catch me."
"I'll stay too. If we really need to run away, I'm faster than you."
V said, finally fixing his gaze on him, speaking decisively, "Even if you're staying, we'll escape together.
At that time, combining your hacking skills with my combat proficiency, even if those agents come in helicopters, we'll undoubtedly escape."
Mercer pondered for a moment, and finally, something came to his mind.
Behavioral characteristic synchronization face mod — from the Cyberpunk game's DLC, a cutting-edge tech that can perfectly alter body details, facial features, biological traits, etc., to disguise someone as another person once their information has been recorded.
In essence, if you activate this face mod, even standing on the street while the NCPD scans your face, they wouldn't be able to determine your real identity.
If we can acquire this thing, when the situation doesn't look good, activating the face mod means a direct escape.
However, if we try to seize this item... wouldn't we eventually crash into New America's radar to dodge Military Science's view?
Moreover, Mercer isn't even sure whether this thing is stocked in Dog Town; in the game, V managed to get this through Li De and Alex, the high-ranking agents' channels.
If he goes himself, even finding the cyborg doctor they partnered with might not mean he'll find the stock of face mods.