"To be honest, I've looked through your files, and from what I see there, you don't seem like someone so capable."
Arasaka Yoshinobu curiously asked, "Just when you arrived here, you committed so many major crimes. Military science, biotechnology, Arasaka—they all took big losses with you...
Including the single soldier armor you demonstrated not long ago, personnel skills, hacking techniques..."
Mercer straightforwardly replied, "No need to probe further. I can clearly tell you, these technologies and skills have no relation to any corporation.
The equipment was designed and developed by myself. Of course, I also borrowed some equipment snatched from your hands.
As for personnel quality, it's just me recognizing true talents, picking out individuals from the streets.
Regarding the source of the technology, I owe it to your Arasaka and Biotechnology network tutorials. I've learned almost all your advanced courses. I must say, even though I could only learn up to the advanced courses, they still are quite valuable."
Mercer's words made Yoshinobu raise his eyebrow slightly, "All?"
"Yes, all of it, except for those silly corporate education and spirit education classes, which I directly deleted. I've already completed all the technical courses."
Mercer said casually, "Don't ask about the business of geniuses. You might feel inferior."
Yoshinobu hadn't heard anyone speak to him like this for decades but was not annoyed. Instead, he chuckled, enjoying the rare feeling of having a proper conversation with someone:
"Perhaps Arasaka's biggest mistake in recent years was missing out on talent like you?"
After his playful remark, Mercer seriously nodded, "Indeed, if you had initially bombarded me with sugar-coated bullets, maybe I would have worked for you seriously for a few years.
But instead, you treated me like an obstacle card and wanted to use me as a guinea pig. That's just your own fault."
Yoshinobu pushed his sunglasses on his face with speechlessness, feeling this guy was a bit self-confident to the point of narcissism, and returned to the main topic, "So, how do you plan to face Arasaka's upcoming pursuit of you?"
Mercer straightforwardly said, "As everyone knows, I am in Dog Town. Unless you decide to drop a nuke on my head, I'll handle soldiers when they come, earth when water flows."
"This time, I have not only brought Adam's Hammer with me but also my father's most loyal bodyguard, Takemura, and a high-level Arasaka Agent team, all of whom are Ra's al Ghul."
Yoshinobu chuckled lightly, "If you underestimate them, you'll die a horrible death."
"What can I prepare in advance?" Mercer asked.
At this moment, Yoshinobu seemed somewhat indifferent, "If you don't want your father to detect anything unusual in advance, I can't let you off the hook."
"Then bring it on." Mercer fearlessly continued, "I are hiding in Dog Town to guard against you. If you are truly capable of coming after me, then let's have a direct fight and then talk."
Yoshinobu calmly said, "Don't think Dog Town is safe. If we want to take action, even Hansen won't live past a week."
"I just fear you won't abide by martial arts integrity, using airplane missiles to bomb me into the sky. Face-to-face combat, our Spark Team is not afraid of your so-called elite agents.
So, what I need to do now is eliminate all the agents Arasaka sends over, right?" Mercer said.
Yoshinobu nodded, "Exactly, I never directly command how my subordinates should act, and this time is no exception. Therefore, I can't leak any intelligence about agent operations to you in advance.
I can only tell you that the one planning the operation is likely my father's confidant, Takemura Goro, an old hand who likes to plan first, but when it comes to action, he has no taboos.
Though he possesses samurai spirit, his essence is that of a ninja, so assassination, kidnapping, blackmail—any act he feels could safely recover the Relic Chip from you, he will execute.
The matter concerning Silver Hand, I will find an opportunity, but how you will survive this ordeal, how you will keep your Spark Team alive from Arasaka's top-level bounty hunt—that will depend on your skill.
If you die before our actions, that's unfortunate; I'll have to seek new allies."
Mercer nodded, but then said, "If Arasaka plans to use heavy firepower, you must inform me in advance. If you let the fighter jets on your aircraft carrier come over with tons of bombs, not even immortals can survive."
"No problem, if Arasaka wants to use force beyond the scale of Night City, it must be approved by the decision-makers. Currently, the only ones qualified in Arasaka are my father and me.
The good news is, my father is currently too distracted to pay attention to a petty thief like you, so if such a situation arises, I'll find someone to notify you in advance."
After Yoshinobu finished speaking, Mercer nodded with satisfaction.
Mercer then suddenly remembered something, saying, "Arasaka's counterintelligence department has a female agent named Valerie worth noting. Either fire her and recruit her into our team,
or take action ahead of time, create an incentive for her to become one of us. In any case, don't let her ruin our affairs."
Yoshinobu became interested, "Valerie? Let me think... ah, that's right, the first person who discovered your identity matched closely with the fugitive from the Canada base was this agent. Since even you say so, she seems to have some abilities."