After waiting for a long time with a somber expression, Mercer brought Jack along with V and Rebecca, who were both in armor, and walked directly over.
Upon meeting, Mercer didn't utter a single unnecessary word, directly asking, "Where's the stuff?"
Hansen's expression was gloomy as he looked at the designers, who quickly said, "Just a moment, we need to reload the testing system..."
"Ha..." Mercer chuckled, then crossed his arms confidently, unafraid to meet Hansen's gaze.
His confident demeanor made Hansen, who was initially certain Mercer was up to something, start to doubt his own judgment.
After the designers fiddled for twenty minutes, Mercer decisively instructed Jack to wear the armor.
After the designers cautiously inspected several more times, Jack reluctantly put on the helmet: "Alright, what's the plan?"
"Go to the shooting range. I'll provide you with flying drone targets and various kinds of targets. We also have a special room for CBQ training. After a ten-minute test, take off the helmet, and I'll have someone evaluate your condition, that's all."
After Hansen finished speaking, Jack swaggered away, wearing the helmet, seemingly already connected to the Brain-Computer Interface.
Hansen didn't follow but stayed in the room, watching both the monitor and the readings on the testing devices closely.
Jack would take some time to reach the shooting range, and Hansen seized the moment to turn to Mercer, speaking meaningfully: "You seem quite confident."
"It seems you're not very confident in me." Mercer retorted in kind; he had brought the helmet but had now raised the visor, his expression not looking good.
Hansen sneered: "Since you're here, why not leave the armor of these two ladies with you for data inspection?"
"No way." Mercer turned to stare at him, his gaze icy cold: "These are my belongings."
"Funding..." Hansen didn't finish before Mercer calmly interrupted: "I have all the financial records related to the Netherworld Dog's funding, want to take a look? Where exactly did your money go, and do these two sets of armor have anything to do with it?"
Colonel Hansen, I believe I've shown you enough respect. You wanted me to stay in Dog Town, and I haven't left.
You wanted to take the armor from me for free; I shared the technology.
You wanted to pin medals on me, and I accepted them.
I honestly don't understand why you still doubt me, truthfully, if we really can't work together, I could consider seeing which company might recruit a new project director."
Mercer spoke unapologetically: "I believe they'd be more than happy to build a research base for me in a scenic location and split the profits by project — perhaps I may want a maid team to serve me without issue.
I believe I've done well enough, but evidently, Colonel Hansen is still dissatisfied; in that case, let's be business-like.
From now on, I won't participate in any future development of this armor; you can decide on my share, but as long as you expect technical work from me, you'll have to pay.
And don't expect to take design projects worth millions for mere millions of Euros."
He truly seemed furious, even disregarding whatever mutual face-saving they had maintained.
Yet Hansen squinted his eyes, still keeping his composure: "Listen to yourself — have I not treated you well enough? I'm even willing to give you an entire floor of Gem Cyan's top tier, but it was you who refused.
Which of your research projects have I not endorsed? I just asked you to work at the stadium, and you refused. Over all this time, have you achieved anything in the design workshops at the stadium?"
"Oh, the military technology weapon systems decryption, new standard equipment designs, including the previous improvements to the Minotaur intelligent systems..."
Mercer chuckled, directly putting a hand on the shoulder of a nearby trembling researcher: "I remember you used to work at Arasaka?"
"Hai!" The researcher was so startled that their local dialect slipped out.
"At Arasaka, for all those projects I personally oversaw, generally, how long would it take to achieve results? How much manpower and money?"
Mercer's words left the researcher speechless momentarily; carefully watching Hansen's expression, Hansen simply said: "In all honesty."
"Uh, your progress has been very fast, you could say that currently, at Arasaka, basically all the above-mentioned projects would require at least six months, with no fewer than forty people for each project team.
Funding varies by project, essentially from several million to tens of millions... at the very least, your improvements to the Minotaur Robot intelligent system could definitely apply for tens of millions of Euro in project approval..."
The researcher replied honestly, casting an admiring glance at Mercer; even though Mercer looked unnaturally young with the helmet and visor open, his skill was genuinely respected.
This time, Hansen had no choice but to soften his tone: "Which time was an outcome achieved, and I didn't grant you a separate bonus?"
"I guess if I were to splurge two million at Arasaka for fun, then use one million Euros to complete a project, my superior would have to dutifully flatter me, don't you think?" Mercer's comment left Hansen speechless.
Yet Mercer was relentless, glaring at Hansen, with an ear-splitting, questioning voice.
"So, Colonel Hansen, I want to ask, why did it come to this today..."
Mercer sighed, then spread his hands: "Who do you think is to blame?"