[Valerie: I can drop this mission, but you need to tell me why you chose to let me go—do we know each other?]
[?: I know you, but you don't know me.]
[Valerie: Ha? You're not some creepy guy with a secret crush on me, are you?]
She jokingly tested Mercer's character, probing whether he might be someone she knew, and casually changed his name in her contacts to "A."
[A: ?]
[A: Alright, stop overthinking. Just stay away from me; it's better for both of us. When the time comes, I think we'll meet.
For the sake of your career in the company, you'd better not stand on the opposite side of me.
The biotech director wanted to get rid of me; she's dead.
An Arasaka agent tried to use me as a guinea pig; I guess he's now under suspension and investigation.
That fool Faraday tried to screw me over and dared to issue a warrant for me; he's already fled Night City. I assure you, if I find him back, he won't end well either.
Keep your mouth shut, don't say what shouldn't be said, don't investigate what shouldn't be investigated. Be my friend, don't be my enemy, Valerie.]
Valerie frowned, finding this guy quite arrogant, but the information revealed in his words still made her scalp tingle. After a moment of thought, she decided to play it safe for now.
[Valerie: Alright, I'll listen to you, friend. But I think we could find a chance to meet up and have a proper talk? Like you said, maybe we can try being friends.]
[A: Then be patient and wait. We'll meet; true gold always shines, Valerie. Don't rush into working for fools.]
After saying this, no matter how many messages Valerie sent, it was like dropping a stone in the sea—no reply.
Valerie exhaled deeply, looked at the street cameras and the NCPD currently cleaning up the mess, and called the insurance company to take care of her car with a stern face.
After glancing at the NCPD, she didn't say much more, merely called for a Delaman cab to head back to the company first.
A...
I'll find out who you are sooner or later.
Valerie made a decision—she didn't like the feeling of being strangled, the enemy in the dark while she was in the light. Although she promised A she wouldn't continue to hunt him, it didn't prevent her from trying to find out his background.
She had a hunch, or rather a judgment, that someone like A was no ordinary person, and this robbery would definitely not be his last big act in Night City.
Even if this opportunity was missed, another one would surely come.
No individual or group can defy a corporation, especially a giant one like Arasaka—Valerie was convinced of this; otherwise, she wouldn't have gone through so much trouble climbing up the corporate ladder.
What she needed to do now was to turn the investigation from open to covert, gradually uncover the identities of those people, and then...
Consider how to deal with this group.
Having figured out the key point, Valerie didn't foolishly tell her bosses she was quitting; anyway, there were plenty of agents investigating A. All she needed to do was to coast along quietly.
...
[Jack: Hey, Mano, how's it going recently? Don't worry, I'm not here to scoop stories for bounty. Just a heads-up, Arasaka agents showed up at my bar; I guess they've already dug up everything about you guys.
They even tried to pay me to sell you out, using me to lure you guys out. Be careful, and don't trust anyone recently or wander around the city.
Once things settle here, let's go out for drinks—uh... I'll treat you to a cola, and my mom's fried fries.]
[Mercer: I know, Jack. Don't bother with that agent named Valerie; I've already warned her, and she probably won't dare give me trouble now.
Our situation is a lot better than you think. Though it's not a good time to wander around casually, if you run into trouble, contact me anytime. If you want to enter Dog Town, just give me a call. No matter the troubles outside, I'll cover you here.]
[Jack: Isn't her name like V's? Valerie, I remember V was called that.]
[Mercer: Yeah, same name, same birth year, what a coincidence.]
[Jack: Tsk tsk, same name, different fate. I think that Arasaka woman is quite arrogant; you better watch out.]
[Mercer: You too, take care, Mano. I don't want to hear someday that you got taken out by some punks.]
[Jack: No problem... though I've been thinking about whether to keep going on like this.]
[Mercer: What do you mean?]
[Jack: It's just feeling hopeless. This time, because of the clash with the Sixth Street Gang, there were lots of openings in the gang. I thought it was my turn, but... damn it...]
[Jack: My mom also nags, complaining I can't make money, acting like a boss but not making it big after all this time.
My girlfriend also keeps nagging me to work harder... I don't know what to say, just feel a bit annoyed.
The gang's talking about taking back our territory now that we've hit the Sixth Street Gang hard.
That means I have to risk my neck again. But the problem is there's not much money to earn. What they mean is they might make me a small-time leader at most. When will this madness end?]