"Hand over the guy named David, or none of you will leave here unscathed!"
"Baka yarou! You dare mess with the Tiger Claws and think you'll walk away unpunished?!"
"Get that punk out here—now! Don't think that just because this bar belongs to Rogue, we'll back down!"
Takeyama Masaguchi, the Tiger Claws boss of Kabuki District, stood at the forefront of the gang members. A nano-samurai sword gleamed in his hand, clutched tightly as his fierce gaze swept over the bar's entrance. The rest of the gang, armed with kinetic pistols, cybernetic implants, and samurai swords, crowded the doorway, their aggressive presence suffocating the air outside.
Inside, the commotion had drawn the attention of everyone in The Afterlife.
"Holy shit, it's the Tiger Claws!"
"They're here for revenge. Word is that kid named David took out Jotaro Shobo."
"No wonder they're this pissed—Jotaro was one of their big shots!"
"Look, that's Takeyama Masaguchi himself! Guy's infamous in Kabuki for running black clinics and slicing up anyone who crosses him!"
A low murmur of nervous anticipation spread through the bar as mercs and patrons alike turned their eyes toward the scene unfolding outside.
At the bar, David's crew exchanged glances as tension settled over them.
"David, looks like trouble's come knockin'," V remarked coolly, her eyes flicking toward the entrance. Smoke curled from the cigarette between her fingers as she studied him with faint curiosity, wondering how he'd handle the situation.
"Damn those Tiger Claw punks!" Jack hissed, slamming his fist against the counter. "Gotta have some serious chrome loose if they think they can just waltz into The Afterlife like this! Don't they know whose turf they're on?!"
Claire, the bartender and one of Rogue's trusted associates, approached with a stern look.
"David, listen to me—stay put. No matter how bold those Tiger Claw bastards are, they wouldn't dare break into The Afterlife. Rogue's reputation alone is enough to keep them at bay," she advised, her tone firm.
But David shook his head.
"This is my problem, Claire. I'm not about to let these guys disrupt the bar's business—or cause trouble for Rogue."
Claire's eyes widened in surprise. "David, you—what the hell are you planning to do, kid?"
"¡Hermano!" Jack cut in urgently. "Think this through! There's a whole gang out there! Charging in solo's gonna get you sliced into ribbons!"
"Brother, just stay inside. Even those Tiger Claw punks wouldn't dare cross Rogue," Claire added, her voice pleading.
V said nothing, merely observing David in silence. Though her expression remained neutral, her eyes held a flicker of interest as she waited to see what choice he'd make.
But David's expression didn't waver. Ignoring their protests, he adjusted his jacket and stepped out from behind the bar.
"Relax—I've got this."
"Oh, you stubborn brat!" Claire cursed under her breath and moved to follow him.
"Damn it," Jack muttered, rising from his seat. As part of David's crew, there was no way he'd sit back while his leader faced the gang alone.
Rebecca, still sipping her drink, set the glass down with a clink and hopped off her stool without a word, her eyes alight with excitement.
V exhaled a slow breath, tapping ash from her cigarette before putting it out. Rising from her seat, she trailed after the group at a leisurely pace, curiosity still lingering in her gaze.
Outside the bar, the standoff between the Tiger Claws and The Afterlife's security had grown more heated.
"Get out of the way and hand him over!" Masaguchi barked.
"Yeah! You think you can mess with the Tiger Claws and get away with it?!"
"Baka yarou! Move aside, or we'll tear this place apart!"
Security guards stood their ground, arms crossed, their chrome-enhanced eyes glaring at the gang members. But the situation was escalating fast—the Tiger Claws' hands hovered near their weapons, tension crackling in the air.
Suddenly, a calm yet commanding voice cut through the noise:
"Stop—!"
Silence fell as heads turned toward the source of the voice.
David stepped forward, hands in his pockets, eyes cold and unwavering as he surveyed the scene. Despite the armed gang standing before him, there was no trace of fear in his gaze.
"I'm David. What do you want?"
Takeyama Masaguchi stepped forward, eyes narrowing as he studied the young man. Though David stood half a head taller than him, Masaguchi's gaze burned with unfiltered malice.
"So you're the punk who took down Jotaro?" Masaguchi sneered.
"Yeah," David replied flatly.
His calm, indifferent tone seemed to enrage Masaguchi further.
"Yoshi… At least you've got the guts to admit it," he spat. "In that case, why don't you come with us quietly? Unless you'd prefer I slice off your hands and feet first?"
At his signal, the gang members behind him unsheathed their samurai swords in unison.
Shing—!
The air sang with the metallic hiss of blades, each one gleaming under the neon lights.
"Oh, shit… This isn't gonna end well."
"Yeah, even if these punks get cut down, that kid'll be carved to pieces first."
"See that nano-tachi Masaguchi's holding? Rare-grade chrome—can cut through steel like butter. Even mantis blades won't stand a chance against it!"
"No way a flesh-and-blood body like his is gonna survive a hit from that thing…"
The onlookers exchanged grim whispers as they watched, certain that David's fate was sealed.
Suddenly, a low yet commanding voice echoed from the bar's entrance:
"Anyone who wants to take someone from The Afterlife... better be ready to answer to me first."
The air grew thick as everyone turned toward the speaker.
A path opened through the crowd as Rogue emerged from the doorway, her expression cold and unyielding. Her very presence seemed to weigh down the air itself, silencing both mercs and gang members alike.
Masaguchi's eyes narrowed as he adjusted his grip on his sword.
"Miss Rogue," he growled. "Are you really gonna go against the Tiger Claws over a barhand?"
Rogue's gaze met his without a hint of fear.
"David isn't just some barhand," she replied, her voice like steel. "And this isn't just any bar. This is The Afterlife. You think you can walk in here, threaten my people, and walk out in one piece? Either you're dumber than you look… or you've got a death wish."
Masaguchi's jaw clenched. Behind him, some of the gang members exchanged uncertain glances. Even the most hardened Tiger Claws knew better than to cross Rogue—legendary fixer of Night City, queen of the underworld.
"You don't understand—" Masaguchi began.
"No, you don't understand," Rogue interrupted, taking a step forward. The mere sound of her heels against the pavement seemed to echo with authority. "This bar is neutral ground. Nobody starts shit here—no corpo, no gang, no merc. Anyone who breaks that rule… doesn't live to regret it."
Her icy gaze swept over the gang, and even the boldest among them flinched beneath her stare.
"So here's the deal, Masaguchi—you've got exactly ten seconds to get the hell off my property… or none of you leave here alive."
A tense silence gripped the street as the mercenaries and onlookers waited to see how Masaguchi would respond.
Behind Rogue, David stepped forward.
"Hold on, Rogue," he said calmly.
Rogue shot him a sharp look. "David, stand down. This isn't your fight anymore."
But David shook his head.
"These guys came for me, not the bar," he said simply. "If I hide behind you, they'll just come back again. So let me settle this—right here, right now."
Rogue's gaze hardened, but after a moment, she gave a slight nod.
"Fine. But make it quick."
David stepped past her, hands still casually tucked into his pockets, and faced Masaguchi directly.
"You've got a problem with me? Let's settle it one-on-one. You and me—right here, right now."
Masaguchi's eyes glinted with malice. "Heh… You're either brave or stupid, kid. Either way, you're dead."
Without another word, he lunged forward, blade flashing toward David's chest—
To Be Continued…
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