Some of your old friends are quite dirty-handed; handle them yourself and don't make me rack my brains.
After quickly solving the financial problems and internal conflicts, submit a financial report to me. We have many places to spend money, so every cent must be carefully calculated.
[Hansen: Yes, sir!]
After the chat records with Skyfall automatically deleted, Hansen resumed his usual cold and hard demeanor and immediately began organizing the Netherworld Dog to take action.
Meanwhile, Mercer chose to retreat from the current swiftly, opting to rest, even recalling the members of the Spark Team back to the base for recuperation.
It seemed like Hansen's return prompted Mercer to voluntarily step down and yield substantial control of Dog Town.
This scene inevitably leads one to wonder—is Mercer really a loyal subject? Was he truly entrusted with a critical mission before?
Loyalty and betrayal are hard to distinguish, but they don't really matter. What matters is Hansen's appearance broke the gunpowder atmosphere pervasive in Dog Town, allowing the wavering Netherworld Dogs to settle and resume their usual work processes.
The reorganized network under Hansen also began to exert force collectively, pressuring Arasaka.
Now, it's Takemura who finds himself utterly perplexed.
He cannot understand how Mercer hasn't killed Hansen, but has actually let him off the hook.
Even more astonishing is that Hansen has indeed sided with Mercer.
As the Cubans applied pressure to Arasaka through various channels, Takemura Goro received direct orders from Arasaka Yoshinobu.
...
"Based on my discussions with my father, we're temporarily suspending the action."
Arasaka Yoshinobu sat on the top floor sofa of the Ganbi Building, gazing at the distant scenery with a smile on his lips, engaged in his thoughts.
"Suspension? Lord Yoshinobu, I must point out although our last attempt failed by a narrow margin.
Given the demonstrated strength and growth of the opponent, if left unchecked, they will definitely become a major headache for us in Night City!"
Takemura Goro frowned deeply, bowing at ninety degrees while exclaiming loudly, "Please give me another chance! Also, I request to deploy some advanced weapons..."
"Enough!" Arasaka Yoshinobu's face turned stern as he turned to Takemura, rebuking, "Did you not hear what I said? This decision was made by me and my father together!
It's just a bunch of street mercenaries. Even if they're mixed up with Hansen, what can they accomplish?
If my father didn't feel that talents like Mercer were too valuable to be killed directly, just a mere hacker, no matter how troublesome, can be dealt with using a single tactical missile."
Arasaka Yoshinobu showed his usual firm attitude, saying, "We must focus all our energy on confronting Military Science.
A hacker can be dealt with at any time, but now is not the time to dispute with the Cubans. Your assassination attempt in Dog Town last time has already cost the company considerably!
Do you know the price we paid to Ye Corporation for your so-called 'intelligence blockade'? And what did we gain? A pile of dead high-grade agents? Two sets of precious electronic warfare equipment left behind in Dog Town that had to be destroyed during an emergency retreat?"
Takemura, perhaps you've been a bodyguard for too long and have forgotten how to lead actions as a leader."
Takemura Goro displayed a somewhat humiliated expression; for someone like him, nothing is more shameful than being questioned by the superior he serves.
"I'm very sorry! Lord Yoshinobu, but I'm not exaggerating; the opponent, despite financial difficulties and Hansen's intentional suppression, was able to withstand our ambush with just the strength of a small team. We can't afford to underestimate such enemies.
If we give up on the current chaotic and fragile period in Dog Town, who knows what impressive things someone like Mercer could create given some development time?
Night City limits our firepower deployment; it's feared that by then not only live capturing but even assassination could..."
Before Takemura could finish his words, Arasaka Yoshinobu impatiently gestured, "Enough, pack your bags, inform Hammer, we're returning to Japan headquarters in three days."
"Why?" Takemura Goro uncharacteristically lost composure, urgently said, "Lord Yoshinobu, I can stay alone in Night City..."
"Takemura, in your eyes, does the father's orders count as orders?" Arasaka Yoshinobu's gaze turned ice-cold.
And Takemura Goro opened his mouth, ultimately could only step back, bow once again at ninety degrees, "I'm very sorry! I've overstepped, please punish me."
Arasaka Yoshinobu just stared at Takemura for a while, then said, "I don't have the authority to punish someone who isn't serving me."
He spoke sarcastically, "Perhaps I should envy my father for having someone like you, so persistent, only considering his needs, even though the consequences might harm the company's development."
Takemura Goro immediately tensed, "Please be careful with your words, Lord Yoshinobu!"
Backhandedly mocking Saburo Arasaka? Are you out of your mind!
Yet Arasaka Yoshinobu just had a stern expression, coldly said, "Careful with words? Hah, I won't take back this sentence, you might as well truthfully report to father.
This year's financial report, especially Night City's market share, Arasaka's proportion is pathetically small. Kangtao, Military Science, even trash companies like Midnight Military have more advantages in some markets than us.