Alex — this female agent with the same alias as Mercer, seems weak on the outside, but in reality, is the owner of an Advanced Sianwistan.
On ordinary days, she uses behavior-featured masks to disguise herself as a regular bar owner, doing business in the black market of Dog Town.
But in truth, she is a pawn like Li De, 'abandoned' in New America when it withdrew from Night City.
Despite constant complaints, when New America promised her retirement to enjoy life in Europe after one more job, Alex unhesitatingly responded to the call, returning to her old profession.
Li De's expression was calm as he spoke steadily: "I've checked all possible locations for surveillance cameras, and there are signal interference devices here, so there's no need to worry."
Alex simply sneered: "No need to worry? I think you have no idea how advanced the Netherworld Dog's equipment is now!"
"Since we're here, stop arguing. Even if we're exposed, it's pointless to argue now."
Agent Edward from Military Science tried to mediate, sitting rather relaxed in a chair in the underground base, looking at the two of them: "Have you both received the specific mission intelligence?"
"Are you sure the information you've gathered is correct? I've never even heard of... related news." Alex cautiously avoided mentioning some explicit terms, choosing to omit them instead.
Edward shrugged and said: "Buddy, even if you don't trust intel from above, you should trust my sight — the traces of large-scale excavation can't escape my eyes."
"What exactly happened there?" Alex turned to Li De: "You'd better explain clearly, otherwise, I'd rather abandon the mission."
Li De replied expressionlessly: "It's precisely because we don't know what happened, that's why we need to go over there, isn't it?"
"Collecting intelligence under the surveillance of today's Netherworld Dogs?" Alex laughed helplessly: "Great, if the other side hasn't discovered that place, we might just bring them over.
And if the other side has discovered it, then we'll certainly be exposed!"
Edward looked dissatisfied: "Aren't you giving these guys a little too much credit?"
Alex sneered and then looked at Li De: "Is that what you think too?"
"No, if I underestimated them, I wouldn't have requested higher-ups for your participation — Edward, Alex is right, today's Dog Town is indeed more dangerous than in Hansen's era."
Li De sighed with caution and added:
"I've noticed at least fifteen new hidden cameras along the way, and even more terrifying, these cameras sometimes change positions suddenly... I suspect that the moment we entered Dog Town, we were already under surveillance,
even here..."
Li De once again observed the layout of the underground base but for a moment, was completely unable to find Mercer's latest spy spider robot equipped with optical camouflage and heat-resistant coating.
"I can't guarantee we're 100% safe and not being eavesdropped."
Li De calmly stated, then looked at Alex: "But that's part of the plan — even if they detect us, even if our conversation is eavesdropped, it doesn't matter."
"Classic you, Li De, turning oneself into bait by all means to be a good dog..." Alex's mocking words did not change Li De's expression at all.
Li De just said calmly: "That's just the most basic professional discipline, isn't it?"
Alex couldn't help but laugh sarcastically: "Absolutely right, being stabbed in the back by our own people, shot multiple times, then for years not getting a single penny, you do security while I serve drinks, like rats forgotten in the sewer.
And now they want to talk about professional discipline again? This profession is truly amazing, Li De, what have they promised you? An honorary medal? Ha!"
Edward clicked his tongue in wonder: "Seems like your FIA is even more ruthless than the company, at least we get pretty decent pay..."
"Enough." Li De couldn't stand others mocking New America behind his back and rarely showed a bit of anger — though it was hardly noticeable even when he was angry.
He stared at the two of them sternly: "You're both very well aware of how important that place is for Military Science, for New America, and most crucially, once the stuff inside falls into the hands of ambitious people, how terrible the consequences could be.
Our goal is simple: go over, check the situation, then further verify the necessary intelligence, once everything is clear, we can leave here.
According to the intelligence, Mercer is not a completely violent individual, even if things are exposed, it's not impossible for us to negotiate.
Even if necessary, directly talking to him is an option."
Alex still wasn't any friendlier, merely sneering: "Great, but I'm not planning on meeting him and asking 'Oh, my dear Dog Town overlord, did you steal our stuff?'...
Damn, do you have any idea how many people he killed to ensure a smooth transition? Over a hundred were executed within the Netherworld Dog, and throughout Dog Town, agents from various companies were eliminated, over a dozen of them! Some were even hung from trees!"
"That was because Arasaka Company previously launched an attack on them, it was a means of warning and establishing authority."
Li De continued speaking in a steady tone: "Considering Military Science's past cooperative record with him, and some internal personnel's analytical testimonies, Mercer does not have a personality that enjoys seeking trouble for himself."
....
Upon hearing this, Mercer, watching the surveillance footage, couldn't help but smirk — if that guy knew he's been finding trouble all the way to the Moon, what expression would he have?
Mercer shook his head, started to fast-forward the recording, while asking Venus: "Are they trying to find out whether we have discovered the Little Beidou Facility?"
"To be precise, they suspect Dog Town's now-exploding technological progress is because we have been using the runaway AI that Ultraman has already taken from the Little Beidou Facility..."
As soon as this was said, Mercer's expression slightly changed, immediately realizing the trouble: "So... they're here to search for the runaway AI that was once thrown into the Neural Matrix?"
But that thing...
was already taken away by Ultraman!