Just then, Morris, who had been as silent as a shadow, suddenly spoke in her metallic, synthetic voice.
Her voice was not loud, but in the tense silence, it was exceptionally clear: "I can infiltrate the factory and find out about the workers' situation."
This statement came so suddenly that Maine and the other team members involuntarily turned their gazes to her.
Morris had always only acted upon receiving clear instructions; such a proactive suggestion was highly unusual.
Her modified cybernetic eyes calmly met Maine's gaze, as if she had just said the most ordinary thing.
Maine's thoughts raced.
He looked at the fully armed Inquisition team, then at the solemn Count Gresham and the Legal Department officials.
If they proceeded with the Legal Department's plan, though relatively gentle, it was essentially still suppressing these workers who were fighting for survival.
This reminded him of his days in Night City, when they too stood on the side of the workers.
As for the "purification" plan proposed by the Inquisition, just thinking about the numbers sent shivers down his spine.
Over three thousand workers, over ten thousand family members, all to be executed? This had completely crossed his bottom line.
Morris' suggestion offered a new possibility.
Maine's mind quickly weighed the options.
Understanding the workers' true demands might be the key to breaking the deadlock, but this meant simultaneously dealing with the Legal Department's expectations, the Count's considerations, and the Inquisition's watchful eyes.
The risks were obvious—a slight misstep would not only doom the entire squad but also bring unpredictable trouble to Magos Osiris.
He could feel his teammates' gazes.
Rebecca impatiently tapped her fingers on her weapon casing, Pilar nervously fiddled with his mechanical arm, and Dorio stood silently to the side, her clenched fists betraying her inner turmoil.
"Perhaps we should contact the Boss," Dorio suddenly spoke, "and let him decide."
"No," Valerie's voice immediately came through the iron guard's communication channel, calm and decisive, "If we have to ask Lord Magos for every on-site decision like this, what will he think? He'll think we're worthless, just a bunch of rookies who need to be spoon-fed."
She paused, then specifically added: "In Night City, what we despised most were those corporate dogs who had to ask their superiors about everything. Now, we have to prove ourselves worthy of the gear and modifications we wear."
Maine was silent; he knew Valerie was right.
They had been given enough authority and equipment, and now was the time to prove their worth.
Each choice meant a different path: a safe but conscience-violating suppression, a thorough but cruel purification, or a risky investigation.
Time was ticking away, and Inquisitor Kairas' gaze remained fixed on them; his patience was clearly not infinite.
Maine took a deep breath, knowing he had to make a decision immediately.
He could feel Inquisitor Kairas' scrutinizing gaze and Count Gresham's implicit look of expectation.
The Legal Department officials waited nervously; their future likely hinged on the developments of the next few minutes.
Maine's fingers unconsciously rubbed the metal casing of his cybernetic limb; this subtle movement betrayed his inner deliberation.
Finally, he issued instructions through the encrypted internal channel: "Morris, execute the reconnaissance mission. Infiltrate the factory, find the worker representatives, and ascertain their true demands and specific situation.
Maintain stealth, do not expose your whereabouts, and avoid conflict with any party. We need accurate intelligence."
This order caught several team members slightly off guard.
Rebecca raised an eyebrow, and Pilar nervously pushed his goggles.
Morris, however, simply nodded slightly, without any superfluous expression.
Her figure silently melted into the shadows the next moment, as if she had never existed.
Maine then turned to the Inquisitor and the Count, saying in a deliberately steady tone: "Your Excellency Inquisitor, Lord Count. Before taking any further action, we must first assess the extent of the damage to the equipment inside the factory.
This not only concerns the integrity of the iron guard prototype's test data but also directly affects Boss' accurate judgment of the production recovery time."
He deliberately used Adeptus Mechanicus-specific terminology and logic: "Decisions made without sufficient data support do not conform to the teachings of the Omnissiah and may lead to unnecessary waste of resources. Please grant us the necessary time to complete the assessment."
These words made Count Gresham's brow relax slightly; he clearly understood Maine's underlying meaning.
Inquisitor Kaelas, however, narrowed his eyes slightly, his right hand unconsciously stroking the bolt pistol at his waist.
The Imperial Fists warrior behind him remained as still as a statue, but Maine could feel the sharp gaze piercing through the helmet.
"I have heard of the Adeptus Mechanicus' obsession with data," the Inquisitor finally spoke, his voice devoid of emotion, "But remember, the work of purging heretics is urgent. You have... one standard hour."
This time limit was clearly far from enough, but Maine knew this was the greatest concession the other party could make.
He nodded slightly, not bargaining.
During this brief exchange, he could feel Valerie's iron guard prototype had subtly adjusted its position, perfectly blocking the path between the Inquisition's Stormtroopers and the factory entrance.
The other iron guard piloted by Jackie also moved in coordination, its heavy footsteps exceptionally clear in the silence.
The presence of these two war machines invisibly added weight to Maine's decision.
Maine understood in his heart that this seemingly technical excuse was actually a dangerous gamble.
He not only needed Morris to bring back critical intelligence within the time limit but also had to ensure the situation did not spiral out of control during this period.
But these were not the main points; the real focus of today's matter was what choice should be made.
Maine stood before the factory gate, feeling the struggle within him.
Three vastly different paths unfolded before him, each leading to a completely different outcome.
He instinctively wanted to help those workers.
During their years in Night City, they too had been on the other side of the fence, fighting for survival.
The familiar despair in the workers' eyes reminded him of his own past powerlessness against corporations.
But Valerie was right; they now represented the Adeptus Mechanicus.
Magos Osiris had given them this powerful equipment and modifications not for them to act on personal feelings.
Every mission was a test of their worth, proving they deserved these powers.
However, the "purification" plan proposed by the Inquisition, just thinking about the numbers, sent shivers down his spine.
Over ten thousand lives, all to be executed simply for participating in a protest? This had completely crossed his bottom line.
Maine realized that this decision not only concerned the lives of the workers in the factory but would also determine the future path of their team.
Choice One: Assist the Legal Department in suppression.
Choice Two: Assist the Inquisition in purification.
Choice Three: Understand the situation and help the workers.