Cairo fully understood the value of the technology in his hands, and completely grasped the corporations' level of desire for it.
Though his mastered technologies far exceeded this era—if intentionally applied, he could completely manufacture weapons sufficient for destroying entire cities—the problem was he currently most lacked time and resources, not destructive capabilities.
In fact, as long as he could stabilize and maintain dimensional channels to the Warhammer world, he could completely deploy that loyal Skitarii detachment from the other end.
That army equipped with genuine energy weapons, covered in ceramite armor, would suffice to crush any private armed forces these planetary corporations took pride in.
However, opening and maintaining such channels required consuming massive energy and specific rare materials—precisely what he currently lacked.
Rather than wasting precious resources on endless wars of attrition, better to concentrate efforts solving this fundamental problem.
Once channels were stably established, these corporate threats would become insignificant in his eyes.
All-out war with both corporations—especially with Militech deeply bound to the NUSA—was a situation he strenuously wanted avoiding at this stage.
With his current capabilities, even if Militech mobilized those conventional forces restricted by ceasefire agreements deployed around Night City—like Minotaur mechs and Basilisk armored vehicles—to him they'd merely be delivering more experimental samples and resources.
But he detested troubles, especially those persistent, continuous types requiring long-term energy investments responding to them, seriously occupying his precious research time.
Biotechnica was still manageable—primarily a biotech research giant, its armed forces mainly manifested in security departments and mercs, threats relatively limited.
But Militech was completely different.
Its predecessor was Old America's military-industrial giant, once nearly monopolizing all weaponry supplies from individual soldier equipment to carrier fleets for the US military, even possessing strategic-level nuclear arsenals.
After being nationalized in some form by the NUSA, current Militech and NUSA government were almost two sides of one coin, difficult distinguishing.
Current NUSA President Rosalind Myers was former Militech CEO.
This meant once conflicts thoroughly escalated, Cairo would face possibly not just Night City corp security and spec-ops squads, but the entire NUSA's national war machine.
Cairo didn't fear war itself.
If he could stabilize dimensional rifts, successfully transmitting his well-equipped, battle-hardened Skitarii detachment from the Warhammer world—even more powerful war machines—he had sufficient confidence crushing any organized armed forces on this planet.
Warhammer universe war technologies—whether in energy weapon applications, armor protection, or macro-strategic levels—far exceeded what this world's tech could reach.
But Cairo was essentially a researcher, an explorer.
His primary objectives were parsing dimensional transport mysteries, recovering Warhammer world resources, improving personal technical levels, even exploring broader universes.
Consuming massive time, energy, and resources on all-out wars with native factions—in his view—constituted extremely inefficient and unwise behavior.
Unless such wars could bring massive benefits far exceeding investments and unobtainable through other means, otherwise he absolutely wouldn't walk that path.
Therefore at the current stage, adopting "peace through strength" strategies—through displaying capabilities and precise deterrence, forcing opponents to negotiation tables, or at least making them temporarily not dare rash actions—was the optimal choice aligning with his interests.
Cairo's mechanical tentacles lightly tapped the control console. Holographic projections immediately displayed three detailed personnel files, each marked with conspicuous red warning indicators.
"Your proposal has merit." Cairo's synthesized voice rang steadily through the workshop. "We need transmitting a clear message to Militech and Biotechnica: Leave me alone."
"Pure evasion and defense will only make them push further." Cairo continued. "We must proactively display power, making them understand continued entanglement's price. These three targets require special attention."
Mechanical tentacles successively pointed toward each name, emitting faint humming sounds.
"Biotechnica Security Director Elliott Kwan—he's the direct officer responsible for this capture operation. Militech Special Projects Division's Karl Strange, coordinating joint operations between both corps. Plus Biotechnica board member Julia Winters—she's one of the senior executives pushing this matter."
Cairo's mechanical fingers drew red light across Strange and Winters' files.
"Strange and Winters—eliminate. Strange is a man of action. Removing him equals severing their extended claws. Winters represents high-level corporate will. Her death will make them reassess risks."
His fingers finally stopped at Elliott Kwan's file.
"Kwan stays alive but must receive sufficient fright. Let him personally witness his companions' fates, ensuring he can accurately carry our 'regards' back. This survivor will become our most effective messenger."
Morell's gaze swept across the three targets' faces, firmly imprinting their features into memory. "Understood, Master. Strange and Winters executed, Kwan kept as messenger. I'll ensure message delivery is crystal clear."
"Remember," Cairo supplemented, "Kwan must live but must feel death's touch. Make him understand his survival isn't luck but because we still need him delivering messages."
"Additionally," Cairo continued, "during operations make them understand continued hostility isn't the only choice. If they're willing paying sufficient reparations for previous offenses and promising to stop harassment, we can consider limited technical exchanges—or at least ceasefires."
He deliberately emphasized the word "reparations."
"Reparations I need are mainly special minerals and materials. Giants like Militech definitely control extraterrestrial resources. Obtaining from them is far more efficient than us searching ourselves."
He listed detailed material inventories, projecting them beside target files.
"Go." Cairo finally commanded. "Display your capabilities. Make the corps understand what they're facing. Stay safe—your primary mission is delivering messages, not pointless sacrifice. I need you bringing back results, whether their fear or prices they're willing paying."
Morell bowed deeply: "As you command, Master. Your will shall be done."
She stood, newly modified body light yet full of power, like a coiled cheetah ready to pounce. Turning to leave the workshop, she quickly melted into outside darkness, beginning her first mission as a Ruststalker—bringing the Tech-Priest's regards and choices to corporate titans.
Cairo redirected attention back to the dimensional transport device's control interface. Morell's actions were merely one method handling current troubles. His core objectives never changed. He needed quickly resolving these external interferences to more concentratedly invest into truly important research.