Mercer thought for a moment, then simply said, "Alright."
Hansen took advantage, then smiled, raising his glass of whiskey as a gesture, "Pleasure working with you."
"Pleasure working with you." Mercer picked up his cola and clinked glasses with him, then downed the cola in one go.
"As for those people around your base, I've already taken care of them for you."
Hansen seemed to mention it casually, "In the future, I'll have Netherworld Dog soldiers provide security around your base. If anything happens, you can contact them directly."
Mercer, with a calm expression, picked up a mask, putting it on while saying, "Alright, by the way, there's always someone stopping my car at the checkpoints in Dog Town..."
"You are now my weapons and equipment design director, so you're one of us now. As long as you don't engage in any smuggling or betrayal, no one will bother you anymore."
Hansen said this and simultaneously warned him that having taken on his job and his money, he'd be considered half his man.
Mercer presented a satisfied look, "Good, I'll arrange work remotely. I guarantee that within this month, the factory will start producing the equipment you want."
Both parties seemed pleased; Mercer and Hansen exchanged a few polite words, looking as if their relationship had truly become like one family.
After saying goodbye, until walking out the stadium's door, reclaiming his weapons and equipment, and getting in the car, V couldn't hold back and looked at him, "What's going on? You're going to work for Hansen now?"
"Just cooperation." After Mercer finished, V expressed dissatisfaction, "Did he just buy all your designs? I bet he won't be willing to honestly share the dividends with you."
"At least before they decide to discard me, they'll pay what I'm owed."
Mercer said, leaning one hand against the car window, supporting his face, lost in thought.
V was still annoyed, muttering, "These bastards really deserve a beating, smiling like that. You should just blow their heads off. The big boss of Dog Town? Big boss, my ass!"
Her grumbling made Mercer chuckle a bit, "Why do you seem angrier than I do?"
However, he then smiled, reaching over to pat her shoulder, "But... thanks, it's nice to have someone on my side."
"As for other matters..." Mercer squinted his eyes, saying, "Let's delay things as much as possible. As long as we get the dividends, we'll pretend nothing happened, occasionally doing some work for him as a side job."
V sighed, remaining silent; she could understand the current situation, but compared to typical Edgerunners acting freely, working for someone you dislike felt truly uncomfortable.
When the car returned to base, Mercer noticed a significant increase in the number of Netherworld Dog soldiers on the road, even spotting a 'Minotaur' robot.
This kind of robot differs from regular humanoid security robots, akin to a small infantry fighting vehicle moving on two legs.
Equipped with two heavy machine guns and three mini-missiles on each side, its firepower is formidable, considered Military Science's main armored cannon fodder on battlefields.
In the Unification War, Military Science and New America swept the Free State battlefields using Demon Lizard infantry fighting vehicles, Chimera Main Battle Tanks, and Minotaur Robots, also known as Minotaur Drone Armor.
This level of firepower isn't on the same tier as typical security robots.
Mercer counted, not too many or too few, a squad of 12, not the usual street-patrolling Netherworld Dog 'police,' but true Netherworld Dog soldiers, professionally trained.
It could be said this was both protection and surveillance.
Entering the base, going downstairs, Kyoko, who had been holed up underground, nervously picked up her gun, only to break into a wide smile upon Venus informing her of Mercer's return, and she bounced happily to the elevator door.
"You're back? Where's Lucy and the others?" She asked, glancing around.
Mercer casually patted her head, affectionately ruffling her hair, "They'll be back shortly; Lucy had a minor injury, needs a check-up with Old Wei for her bones and ligaments, she'll return in two or three hours."
He'd already messaged everyone, indicating safety and even suggesting Mann and the others move directly to Dog Town.
If someone wants to stay at home, they can; if not at the base, solutions exist.
Dog Town has plenty of derelict buildings; stay in whichever one you like. Netherworld Dog doesn't care, only collecting rent on certain essential or intact facilities.
This is one reason why Dog Town remains chaotic and poorly conditioned, yet continually attracts people.
No matter your crimes, Netherworld Dog doesn't mind, as long as you register your name and pay a 'residency registration' fee, you can become a Dog Town resident.
Though Dog Town appears bleak, its security level even surpasses Night City.
Because Netherworld Dog genuinely enforces rules, if you kill or deal in contraband here, they'll grab you—unless, of course, it's a Netherworld Dog person doing the killing, that's another matter.
Previously, they weren't allowed here due to concerns about a failed negotiation with Hansen, possibly increasing danger. Now, at least before the collaboration honeymoon ends, Mercer considers Dog Town quite safe.
"And you guys? Anyone else injured besides Lucy?" Kyoko, looking at V's slightly sour face, didn't know why but swiftly handed her a Bloop Bloop Monkey can and a cola for Mercer.
V looked at her adorable face, unconsciously smiling broadly, "We're fine. Lucy just had the bad luck of dodging too slowly and got run over, but she can still walk, her injury can't be that serious."
She joked, "I say, why not use the Platinum Member insurance? We're paying so much each month, we might as well experience it."
"Come on, one use and the premiums go up. If you want to pay more every month in the future, I don't mind," Mercer said, arranging with Pan'an and the others to transport equipment to the base.
On the surface... Mercer thought, they could pretend to expand their base during Mann and the others' move-in?
They could dismantle equipment, mix it with construction materials to bring it in, as Netherworld Dog's Watchdogs wouldn't dare scrutinize him now.
It's feasible—the current base size feels cramped, so expanding a bit, whether Mann Sasha chooses to stay or not, it could serve as a new storage or workspace.
Deciding on it, considering the ample funds on hand now, Mercer planned to expand above and below ground, hiring Adcardo people's help, as their fees were reasonable. He'd also get the sewers thoroughly unclogged.
This way, he'd have an independent smuggling route.
Dog Town has many valuable goods; if you can transport them out, you'll make a fortune.
Mercer immediately opened an online meeting via messaging app, discussed it with everyone, received confirmation, then proceeded to contact Pan'an for building plans.
Upon receiving a positive response, Mercer headed for the machine room, settling into a chair as always.
But when he prepared to work, he encountered a challenge.
Work for Hansen? He wasn't inclined to be a dutiful Netherworld Dog—the work could wait, he could handle it leisurely, arranging production lines wasn't hard, and the technicians weren't just there wasting resources.
Continue manufacturing weaponry? For now, he only had a few ideas, seemed costly too, perhaps leverage Netherworld Dog's factory for personal use when the time comes.
Sitting idly on his hacker chair for a while, inspiration struck him about something long delayed—a treasure.
That treasure was the Relic Chip, lying in the incubator.