Although he hadn't checked in... ever since they parted ways last time, Bruce hadn't contacted him even once. Mercer tried sending him a message but didn't get a reply.
So he could only use it first and talk later.
After Mercer led the crew through the winding roads of Evil Land into a hidden mountain tunnel and ditched the car deep inside, they all returned to activate Bruce's safe house hidden within the cave through a shipping container.
Inside, a layer of dust had settled, as if he hadn't been back since they parted.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief in the cramped safe house, finally able to sit down and take a break, maybe watch some TV.
But Mercer still didn't let his guard down. Instead, he immediately connected with Venus to start checking the situation in Night City.
Because the mission wasn't entirely over.
There was still one person left to deal with—Diana Kuno.
...
At this moment, on the top floor of the biotech hotel building, Diana nervously watched the TV.
On the TV program, a news helicopter from Channel 54 was broadcasting a rare scene in Night City.
The throttles of two cars were pushed to their limits, recklessly overtaking, accelerating, drifting through the streets, racing from Santo Domingo to Watson District, and into Kabuki District...
In short, it was a wild chase.
Gunshots continually echoed along the way, not just from the NCPD but also corporate agents, and even risk-taking gang members and mercenaries with nothing to lose.
Surprisingly, the car managed to endure solely on its engine power and armor, even fighting back with only a single vehicle-mounted machine gun, racing through downtown for over half an hour.
However, it all came to an end here.
After Arasaka and Military Science received the message 'Permission granted to use heavy machine guns and bombs, no concern for impact,' the grand chase scene drew to a close.
Yet, the first credit surprisingly went to a member of the Vortex Gang on a motorcycle—he laughed wildly as he hurled a bomb at the car's tire, completely disregarding the fact that he was right there in the news camera shot!
The car was blown onto the roadside.
Soon after, an Arasaka gunner from the sky blew the tire of another car, causing it to wobble away, only to be demolished by other weapons after a brief struggle.
But just as the member of the Vortex Gang was eagerly opening the car door to see if his 3 million payday was inside, bullets from Arasaka in the sky took his life on the spot.
As soon as Arasaka's agents touched down, the Military Science personnel defiantly raised their guns: "What are you doing here! These people robbed and attacked the Military Science transport team, what are you here for?"
"These terrorists stole Arasaka's important equipment, we must recover our items!"
Arasaka stood their ground; the situation had escalated to the point where they had to ensure the recovery of the items.
The agents from both sides were deadlocked by the cars, neither willing to back down.
But Diana Kuno finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She smirked, sitting on the sofa, raising a glass of red wine: "Ha... greedy fools."
Of course, Diana thought those mercenaries were done for.
Even if a few slipped through the net, they wouldn't cause much trouble anymore.
Being simultaneously targeted by Arasaka and Military Science, these guys really got themselves in hot water... Ha, such audacity, did they really think the biotech director was so easy to manipulate?
Plus, with the equipment destroyed, there would be more reasons to delay the development progress... to hell with the super-soldier project, she was just toying with it, she'd announce the project's failure in a few years anyway.
After all, she already secured the investment, didn't she?
Diana Kuno watched the images on the TV with a smile, until an Arasaka agent forcefully opened the car door—only to find it empty.
Then, Diana's expression gradually became stiff.
She tentatively sent a message to the mysterious Mr. ?.
[Diana: I saw the news, are you all okay?]
[?:(smiley.jpg)]
His instant reply of a smiley face made Diana feel like she was plunged into an icy abyss, collapsing in her room.
Meanwhile, the agents from Military Science and Arasaka looked at each other in absurdity.
Where were the people!?
...
[Polaris: Woohoo~ what a thrilling chase!]