And what are we busy with? To capture a hacker alive, we risk losing tens of millions in Euros and breaking the balance of Night City?
Now that conflicts are arising in Night City, what do we rely on to ensure victory? This newly rebuilt Arasaka Building?
Takemura, your biggest mistake was not taking that man out from the beginning. If you had assassinated Mercer directly, at least we wouldn't be empty-handed now."
Takemura Goro kept his head down, unable to speak.
Arasaka Yoshinobu merely said with an unpleasant expression, "I need to return to headquarters, conduct a high-level meeting, and apply for greater support. Night City concerns Arasaka's future, we absolutely can't let the Cubans, New America, Military Science, or even Kangtao get ahead.
If we have to give out the Relic Chip, so be it. Anyway, those spies have probably sold its design everywhere by now. As long as there's no risk of the core program being cracked, it's fine.
As for Mercer, we'll find another opportunity. Right now, we must consider how to expand the market in Night City and our business direction for next year—funny though it sounds, what were the key projects last few quarters? Artificial Vajra?
Ha, it instead gave Mercer the idea, letting him come up with a high-end Single Soldier Armor, which can even start being sold.
And our project, not to mention profit, hasn't even finished its experiments. And under such circumstances, you still suggest I go to Dog Town to capture a mere hacker... why?"
Takemura Goro felt a bit helpless inside.
That's no mere hacker... but someone who could potentially become a stumbling block to Arasaka's advancement in Night City.
If you're dissatisfied with the slow development of the Artificial Vajra, shouldn't you capture him? This guy is so talented, capture him to work 20 hours a day, maybe the Artificial Vajra could be completed in three months.
But Takemura knew very well, it's not just about capturing Mercer, but rather Yoshinobu is once again showing some tendencies different from Arasaka Saburo's decision-making.
Even Takemura, loyal to Saburo, had to admit, in recent years, Lord Saburo indeed showed an excessive obsession with the Soulkiller Program and Relic.
Not once affecting the company's business growth as a premise, reallocating resources for the development of the Relic Chip, resulting in slow business growth, and a gradual shrinking market share.
If it weren't for a solid foundation, highly centralized company, and lack of shareholder power struggles like other companies, Arasaka would have long been kicked out of the 'top company' list with such antics.
In a way, Takemura could understand Yoshinobu's discontent, he sighed inwardly and could only temporarily set aside his concerns about Mercer.
After all, ostensibly, Arasaka Yoshinobu is his current leader and also the regional president for Arasaka Company in Night City.
And Arasaka Yoshinobu merely impatiently told Takemura to get lost, and it was only after he left that he leisurely walked to his bedroom to find a satellite phone.
This satellite phone was a friendly support from the Internet Supervision agents. How did the Internet Supervision get in contact with him? It naturally related to the recent incident where Ye Corporation suddenly started picking on Mercer online.
After learning from Mercer that the Internet Supervision was also seeking cooperation with him, Arasaka Yoshinobu did not hesitate to hedge his bets.
How would he contact the Internet Supervision?
Arasaka Yoshinobu found a bridge, namely Ye Corporation, and through the process of contacting Ye Corporation, unsurprisingly, he easily got in touch with the Internet Supervision who had been closely monitoring him.
And received a secret phone monitored by the Internet Supervision—even though it's likely to be eavesdropped by them, all Arasaka Yoshinobu needed was to avoid Arasaka Saburo's surveillance.
Due to certain considerations, he had not sent out a warning before Mercer was attacked, but that didn't mean Arasaka Yoshinobu had given up on Mercer. He merely wanted to see Mercer's capabilities.
And the evaluations received from Takemura greatly pleased Yoshinobu.
Don't be fooled into thinking Mercer was badly hit—that was an ambush led by Takemura, a whole squad of elite operatives, even including Adam's Hammer's involvement!
To put it bluntly, this lineup used to ambush Arasaka Yoshinobu himself—he doubted he could survive.
This was enough to prove Mercer indeed had real skills, not just an overblown reputation.
And Takemura also mentioned that these people's strength might continue to grow rapidly over time—wouldn't that be even better?
Yoshinobu of course urgently halted the assassination actions, giving Mercer ample time.
[Dragon: Rain pause.]
After sending a message, Yoshinobu turned off the phone and put it away again.
Evidently, the Internet Supervision was aware of Mercer's actions, and in this benign competition, Yoshinobu didn't fear them discovering his connection with Mercer.
After putting away the phone, Arasaka Yoshinobu looked out the window, and after a while, sighed softly.
Heading out this time, who knows if he'll successfully obtain Silver Hand's Relic Chip... Heh, a crazy rocker, when alive everyone wished him dead, now dead, instead, he becomes in demand...
Internet Supervision, Ultraman, Mercer's squad, can these external forces truly help him successfully overthrow his father?
Arasaka Yoshinobu remained silent, and after a while, took out a bottle of whiskey and took a couple of hearty gulps.
Let's do our best and leave the rest to fate!