The more troublesome question than this is how Mercer plans to hide from the Military Science people, and how to deal with the Little Beidou Facility later.
If the Military Science discovers that Netherworld Dog is excavating the Little Beidou Facility, they will surely not easily reveal their secrets to the public. By then, Arasaka's troubles might not be over, and Military Science along with New America will start to panic.
The initial purpose of developing this thing was supposedly to contend with Arasaka's Soulkiller Program for dominance over the network. Although it is unclear why Military Science did not dare to take the item when sealing the facility, it is obvious they do not wish for it to fall into others' hands.
Therefore, Mercer can only use robots equipped with Octopus Arms to excavate, and even then, it must be done secretly.
Considering efficiency, it might take about two weeks to completely clear the obstacles to enter the facility. Upon entering the Little Beidou Facility, Mercer faces a choice.
How should he handle the items inside?
Initiate experiments targeting the Black Wall AI and AI capture programs within the Little Beidou Facility?
Mercer felt tempted but soon restrained his greed—although the Little Beidou Facility could be considered a standard investment of billions into a super research base, it is a minefield in there.
If Mercer starts getting busy within the Little Beidou Facility, Military Science might send people to forcibly reclaim it soon after. Even if Military Science doesn't find out, Mercer has another concern.
That is the wandering AI imprisoned within the Little Beidou Facility, or some wandering AIs that have kept an eye on the Little Beidou Facility.
This group of wandering AIs is extremely complex, and based on the information in the game, the wandering AIs that the Little Beidou Facility interacts with are undoubtedly those opposing humans.
Textual data from the game clearly shows that many horrific incidents have occurred within the Little Beidou Facility.
This includes some automated equipment going out of control, robots running amok.
Also, some human researchers inexplicably developed obsessions with the network world beyond the Black Wall, with various strange mental issues, almost as if they had been bewitched by the AI, under a spell.
Furthermore, Mercer speculated—whether Lark was influenced and manipulated by the Black Wall AI to enter the Little Beidou Facility, was it the Black Wall AI being instinctively attracted by the wandering AI at Little Beidou Facility.
Why was the Black Wall AI in the game so terrifying, displaying signs of madness, could it be due to the wandering AIs there, or the Little Beidou project itself has rabies-like corruption similar to Bartmos's virus?
Was the true project goal of Military Science to utilize some kind of terrifying program, hence corrupting human and AI consciousness via the network, transforming them into killing tools?
Or their research had no issues, but wandering AIs attracted by their research held a deadly corrupting program, which might even affect human will?
Mercer has numerous questions and concerns in his mind, but right now, he can only face it all head-on.
After all, sooner or later, as long as he wants to live freely in this world, rather than being extinguished globally due to some wandering AI suddenly pressing the nuclear button.
Or doesn't want his will altered inexplicably, he must rush ahead, confront these threats, and resolve them.
However, before Mercer formally enters the Little Beidou Facility, a call out of the blue adds more pressure to his excavation efforts.
The call is from Lark in Washington.
...
[Lark: Hey, how've you been lately? I see Dog Town has been quite lively lately.]
[Mercer: Just managing.]
[Lark: Didn't we agree to chat more when you had time? I've invited you to deep dive several times, and you've claimed to be busy.]
[Mercer: I really don't have time, I'm busier than Miles right now.]
[Lark: Okay, okay~ I can see you're busy solving Hansen, dealing with Arasaka, preparing to take over Dog Town, quite a workload.]
[Mercer: Your information is quite sharp; how do you know all this? Can you talk about it?]
[Lark: Ha, you want me imprisoned for exposing state secrets? I can only say Dog Town's success relies on its supporters, and its risk arises from them as well.
Unless you have the confidence to ensure all buyers and sellers abide by your rules, otherwise... Besides, aren't you underestimating FIA's strength a bit?]
Mercer is skeptical about her first statement, but the latter makes him ponder.
In the original game, although Night City seems to have only two abandoned agents operating incognito.
But in reality, New America and Military Science can't solely rely on two once-abandoned agents with doubtful credibility to gather intelligence on Night City and Dog Town.
Perhaps some ordinary-looking Dog Town resident is likely a scout for New America, Military Science.
[Mercer: Since you know I'm so busy, what do you want to ask?]
[Lark: Just concerned about you.]
[Mercer: I believe you.]
[Lark: President Miles is quite interested in you. Since you are entangled with Arasaka... have you considered finding a backing?]