Rogue's deep, piercing eyes swept across the armed Tiger Claw members gathered outside The Afterlife. Her voice cut through the tension like a blade of ice.
"It's not that I'm against your Tiger Claw Gang," she said coolly. "But you brought trouble to my bar. Isn't that right?"
As Night City's top fixer, Rogue had witnessed countless intense standoffs. Yet, even as the Tiger Claws brandished their weapons, her composure remained unshaken.
Takeyama Masaguchi's eyes twitched. Despite their bravado, the Tiger Claws still held a measure of caution toward someone like Rogue.
They'd come to The Afterlife openly because, in their eyes, David was just a part-time barhand—someone insignificant. Surely, a figure of Rogue's stature wouldn't risk offending the Tiger Claws over a mere employee.
After all, Night City was a city ruled by power and profit. Protecting a low-level worker against a notorious gang? Anyone with sense would know it was a losing trade.
But now, Rogue herself stood in their way.
Masaguchi straightened his back slightly, offering a shallow bow as if to show respect. Yet his eyes burned with steely resolve.
"Miss Rogue, I'll admit our arrival here was… a bit abrupt. For that, I apologize. But I hope you understand our position. A high-ranking member of our organization was killed—on our turf. This isn't something we can overlook. It's a matter of pride. Honor."
His gaze hardened as it shifted to David.
"And the one responsible… is that kid standing beside you. All we ask is that you hand him over—so we can settle this."
Though Masaguchi's words started with a veneer of civility, their meaning was clear: The Tiger Claws wouldn't leave without David.
But Rogue didn't flinch. Her expression remained as cold and unmoving as steel.
"And what if I refuse to hand him over?" she asked, her tone sharp as glass.
A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd of mercenaries gathered to watch.
"Damn… Rogue's really sticking her neck out for the kid."
"Man, that David's one lucky bastard—having Rogue as a backer."
"Still… this could get messy. Crossing the Tiger Claws ain't something you do lightly."
Masaguchi's smile faded as his eyes narrowed.
"Miss Rogue… what are you implying?"
"Exactly what I said. David is under my protection," Rogue declared, her voice unwavering. "He didn't kill your man for fun. He was on a job—a contract. Your man, Jotaro Shobo… you Tiger Claws know better than anyone what kind of scum he was. You can't tell me he didn't make his fair share of enemies."
Masaguchi's expression darkened. His hands clenched at his sides as he glared at David.
"Who hired you?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
"Sorry. No comment," David replied flatly. His eyes were steady—unyielding. "A merc's job is to finish the gig. We don't talk about clients."
The watching mercenaries nodded slightly. Loyalty and discretion were the backbone of Night City's mercenary world. No matter how much pressure you faced, revealing a client was a betrayal that could ruin your reputation—and get you blacklisted from future work.
But the Tiger Claws wouldn't let him go just because he was "following orders."
Masaguchi stepped forward, voice sharpening.
"I'm giving you one last chance. Tell me who hired you—or you'll be the one paying the price."
"Not gonna happen," David replied without hesitation.
"You little bastard—!" Masaguchi snarled, his hand tightening around the hilt of his nano-katana. Its edge gleamed in the neon haze of Night City's streets. "You're testing the limits of our patience—!"
"Watch yourself," Rogue warned, her eyes flashing with dangerous intent. "This is The Afterlife. Not Kabuki. You start something here, you won't live to regret it."
Masaguchi's breath hissed between his teeth as he locked eyes with her.
"Are you really willing to risk war with the Tiger Claws over this kid?" he demanded.
"David's under my protection," Rogue replied firmly. "As long as he's inside The Afterlife, no one lays a hand on him. Outside of here… well, that's up to your skill and his. But you won't be spilling blood on my doorstep."
Masaguchi's eyes flicked between Rogue and David, his mind weighing the consequences. Yet before he could speak—
"Hold on."
David stepped forward, calmly placing himself between Rogue and the Tiger Claws.
"David, what the hell are you doing?!" Rogue hissed.
"It's fine, boss. I got this."
"Got this?! You're throwing your life away—!"
"One man's actions are his own," David said firmly. "This has nothing to do with The Afterlife. If the Tiger Claws want me, they can try and take me—right here, right now."
A collective gasp swept through the crowd.
"Holy shit… is this guy insane?!"
"Yeah, he's standing in front of a whole damn gang!"
"Oh man… this kid's either got balls of steel or a death wish."
Masaguchi's face twisted with fury. How dare this punk—this nobody—show such defiance?
Without a word, he signaled two of his men.
The gang members lunged forward, katanas flashing as they aimed to seize David.
"Bagayarou! Catch him!"
"Die, punk!"
The crowd tensed, expecting David to be cut down in an instant—
Shing!
A sharp metallic screech split the air.
Both gang members froze in place, eyes wide with shock. The tips of their blades hovered mere centimeters from David's chest—
But two gleaming steel blades now pressed against their throats.
Blood dripped from the thin cuts already opened on their necks. One wrong move, one step closer—and their heads would roll.
David's eyes burned cold as he held the blades effortlessly in his hands, the sharp edges glinting in the neon haze.
"You think you're fast enough? Go ahead—try me."
The air was thick with tension. Nobody dared to move.
Masaguchi's hands clenched into fists as his face twisted with rage.
"YOU LITTLE—!"
"Enough."
Rogue's voice cut through the standoff like a blade of ice.
"Masaguchi, you've made your point. But this is over. Right here. Right now. Unless you want me to call in every merc in Night City to wipe your gang off the map—walk away."
Masaguchi's breath hissed through his teeth. His pride demanded blood—but the weight of Rogue's words loomed heavy. He knew the consequences of crossing her on her own turf.
After a long, tense pause, he spat on the ground.
"Fine. But this isn't over, David." His glare was like a promise of death. "Next time you set foot outside this bar—you're a dead man."
With that, he gestured to his men. The Tiger Claws retreated, fading into the shadows of Night City's streets.
As their footsteps vanished into the night, the crowd of mercenaries slowly began to disperse, murmurs of disbelief and admiration lingering in the air.
"...Holy shit. That kid really stared down the Tiger Claws and lived."
"Yeah, but he's got a death sentence on his head now. No way they'll let him go after this."
"Damn... that kid's crazy. But gotta respect the guts."
Inside the bar, Rogue rounded on David, her eyes blazing with anger.
"David, what the hell were you thinking?! You could've gotten yourself—and everyone else here—killed!"
David simply sheathed his blades and shrugged.
"I told you—I can handle it. Besides, I couldn't let them use The Afterlife as an excuse to start trouble. I made my choice. And I'll live with it."
"...Or die with it," Rogue muttered. She exhaled slowly, shaking her head. "You're either the bravest kid I've ever seen… or the dumbest."
David smirked faintly.
"Guess we'll find out soon enough, huh?"
To Be Continued...
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