"What do you mean?" Miles' gaze became sharp.
Lark just hung her head, her voice weak and tinged with fear: "That guy claims to be called Lilith... she wants the technology I have mastered..."
She glanced carefully at Mercer, while Miles remained expressionless, coldly saying, "How do you know?"
"When they attacked our plane—I met her online."
Lark appeared to confess honestly: "She said that if I am willing to cooperate, she's even willing to wait for me to go to the Moon and use technology to repair my body..."
"Oh? It seems it has been watching you for a long time." Miles' tone was flat, with a hint of indifference: "Did it come to Washington before?"
It seemed like a question, but Lark just helplessly hung her head in silence.
Miles didn't speak, just turned to look at Mercer, a smile reappearing on her face: "Mr. Mercer, I believe we need to cooperate."
"How do we cooperate?" Mercer retorted.
"I need you to safely get us out of Dog Town—I will immediately deploy New America's agents and Military Science to assist in our evacuation, you just need to help us contact with the outside, and assist in our evacuation.
This event is considered a transaction with you as President of New America, and there will be substantial rewards afterwards.
And if Dog Town is hit by reprisals from the rogue AI after we evacuate, causing damage, we will compensate in full, no, in excess."
Miles appeared very sincere, she looked at Mercer and sincerely said: "I have always been true to my word, aside from economic compensation, if Dog Town suffers devastating damage, we will also take full responsibility for helping you rebuild Dog Town.
Moreover, I will personally oversee the economic cooperation with Dog Town..."
Mercer opened his mouth slowly, expressionless: "I refuse."
Miles' expression didn't change, her tone gentle: "Is there something wrong?"
"First, if Dog Town suffers devastating damage, losing our home is a minor issue, the crucial point is the breach of orders and loss of production equipment."
Mercer gave a figure that even Miles found hard to believe: "Just the losses of equipment and breach of orders alone amount to 580 million euros.
If you consider the time cost during reconstruction and the continuous loss of orders and development time during this period, the comprehensive loss assessment exceeds 2 billion euros."
Mercer then continued: "Dog Town emerged by chance during a special period.
If it is destroyed, rebuilding it will face obstruction from Night City and many other companies, will they allow Night City to rebuild an outlaws' haven?
Clients and partners want a stable money pit, a stable trade post, and if Dog Town is destroyed, the implicit losses are immeasurable.
Because which wealthy person would be willing to entertain in a place that could be destroyed at any moment? Who would put their goods here again?"
Mercer also bluntly said: "I cannot trust New America's promises, and a more direct reason includes New America's current lack of influence in Night City.
This is a free city, if it has an owner, that owner is called Arasaka right now."
Without waiting for Miles to reply, Mercer continued to add: "The second reason is simpler—because your agents infiltrated the Little Beidou Facility causing damage, leading to the emergence of the rogue AI.
And now you want Dog Town to bear the losses for you? How convenient!"
Mercer looked at Lark coldly: "I have no reason to bear the losses for Military Science, to bear the risks, especially when you've already caused substantial losses to me."
"Mr. Mercer, you must know, if we have an accident here..." Miles didn't finish her sentence.
Mercer replied simply and straightforwardly: "The opponent's purpose clearly is only Lark and the Black Wall technology she possesses—I have already taken over the Little Beidou Facility and checked the data, don't think you can fool me."
Mercer's words made Miles silent for a moment, she squinted: "Mr. Mercer, have you ever considered what the Black Wall technology means?"
She spoke passionately, righteously: "This is the last wall protecting today's human network! If it falls into the hands of the rogue AI, the next to suffer will definitely not just be Dog Town!
It will be a global crisis like the collapse of the Old Net!
Can there be intact eggs under a toppled nest? Mr. Mercer, I understand the anger in your heart at the moment, but I guarantee, New America will be responsible for all losses in Dog Town!"
Miles even sincerely said: "If Dog Town has problems, causing you to be unable to continue your activities in Night City, we will establish a separate town for you in the bordering Southern California state, right on the border of Night City.
And with legislative support from lawmakers, continue to maintain the current system of Dog Town, and we will increase cooperation with you..."
"In Dog Town of Night City, it can still be considered an unowned buffer zone, but if placed on the border, it would become a bridgehead for Military Science and New America."
Mercer impatiently punctured Miles' words, straightforwardly saying: "Now the opponent could use the Moon Propulsion Device at any time to crush us all into meat patties, President Miles, even if you don't care about our lives, you should at least consider your own."