When the Savage King caught sight of the golden dragon-shaped fluorescent tattoo glowing faintly across Dolio's back, his expression darkened visibly. That insignia wasn't just for show—it represented something dangerous, something powerful. A force to be reckoned with.
"Savage King," Dolio called out casually, already seated comfortably on the sofa. She noticed that her opponent hadn't followed her down from the ring.
"What, still standing there? Are you planning a rematch?" she teased lightly, glancing back over her shoulder.
The Savage King grunted in response. Without saying a word, he jumped down from the ring, his boots landing with a dull metallic thud. He approached with slow, deliberate steps before finally dropping into the armchair across from Dolio. His expression was unreadable—stone-faced and sharp, eyes watching her like a wolf evaluating a potential threat.
Crossing one leg over the other, the Savage King rested an elbow on the armrest and gestured lazily.
"Alright," he said, his voice low and gravelly. "You've got my attention. Talk."
Dolio took a breath and got straight to the point.
"I want the Beast Gang to enter a cooperation pact with our team—David's unit."
She adjusted her seating slightly and continued with a calm and diplomatic tone, her previous arrogance replaced with cool professionalism.
"You'll retain jurisdiction over the entire Taipingzhou district, as you currently do. We're not here to strip you of territory. Instead, we'll act as your protector, your shield. No gang in Night City will dare encroach on your turf—not as long as you're allied with us."
The Savage King raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
"In the event your gang is attacked—whether by the NCPD, Arasaka's security divisions, Militech, or one of the Terrorist Mobile Units—David's team will intervene directly. You'll have military-level backup when it matters most."
She paused to let the weight of those words settle before continuing.
"In return, there are only two requirements. First, the Beast Gang will follow the directives issued by our 'Team 01 - David.' Second, the income from your operations will be split 70-30. You keep seventy percent; we take thirty."
Then, after a brief pause, she added:
"And... a few other auxiliary terms. But that's the core of the agreement."
Dolio leaned back, confident in her offer. She had laid out a deal that any rational gang leader would jump at. But as she finished her proposal and looked up, she noticed the Savage King's expression had shifted—from stone-faced to something else entirely.
Playful. Almost mocking.
He tapped his chin thoughtfully with a finger, lips curled in a slight grin.
"Hmm... tempting," he muttered, as if tasting wine and not weighing a gang-wide alliance.
He chuckled, low and deep, then finally spoke clearly:
"You're offering to protect our territory from other Night City gangs—that alone would save us blood and bullets every month."
He leaned forward slightly, his eyes twinkling now.
"And backing us up against the likes of the NCPD or the megacorps? That's a golden ticket right there."
Dolio's face lit up with satisfaction. It seemed the Beast Gang leader was biting the bait.
From her point of view, this deal was a win-win.
The Beast Gang was infamous for its brute strength, dominating smaller outfits and extorting credits from underworld businesses. But when faced with real power—when Night City's real predators like Arasaka or Militech showed up—the Beast Gang scattered like roaches. They didn't have the firepower or the resources to hold their ground against corporate might.
Dolio knew this. That's why she'd carefully tailored the offer.
A simple 30% cut from gang income was a small price to pay for protection, influence, and stability. Even a fourth-tier gang would leap at such an arrangement.
And David's team had been building a reputation—mercenary elites that moved like ghosts, hit like tanks, and left no digital trace behind. Aligning with them meant legitimacy and survival in the brutal hierarchy of Night City.
Moreover, Dolio was offering something else—exclusivity.
She had promised to ensure that rival gangs wouldn't contest Beast Gang's turf. That alone would save the Savage King hundreds of thousands of eddies in defense and repair costs. It also meant fewer funerals for his boys.
This was more than protection. It was gang-level insurance.
From her angle, there was no logical reason for the Savage King to refuse.
But just as she was ready to reach out and shake hands on it—
The Savage King laughed.
Not a chuckle. A full-throated, guttural laugh that rang out like a war cry.
He sat back and spread his arms as if saying, "Seriously?"
"You think just because you won a few rounds in the ring that I'd throw my leash to someone else?"
Dolio blinked, confused.
"Didn't you say the offer was tempting?"
"Oh, it's tempting all right," he said. "But let me ask you a question."
He leaned forward again, his grin gone, voice razor-sharp.
"Do you know what kind of gang we are?"
Dolio remained silent, choosing not to interrupt.
"We're the ones who don't eat the soft ones." The Savage King's eyes burned now. "We eat the hard ones—the ones that fight back. That's what makes it fun. That's what gives us power."
He rose from his seat, towering over Dolio now.
"Your offer is clever. Your team, David's team, might even be strong. But there's something you don't understand."
"I didn't form the Beast Gang to hide behind anyone. I didn't fight my way through the underbelly of this city just to become someone else's lapdog."
The room felt colder now, heavier.
"You're offering protection like we're weak. Like we're children who need a guardian."
For a moment, Dolio didn't speak. Her fingers twitched, then slowly curled into fists.
She exhaled through her nose, fighting to keep her temper.
"You misunderstood," she said carefully. "It's not about taking away your power. It's about expanding it."
The Savage King turned back around.
"I don't need someone to expand my power," he said. "I am the power. Anyone who wants to ally with me must first beat me—and keep beating me until I admit defeat. And you, girl..." He pointed a thick finger at her. "...you ain't done that yet."
Dolio stood now too, facing him.
The intensity between them flared like a heatwave.
But neither side backed down.
"So that's it?" she asked coldly. "You'd rather bleed to death on principle than win with allies?"
The Savage King shrugged.
"Principles are all we've got left in this city. The rest is for sale. But not me."
He turned and began walking back toward the ring.
"You want an alliance?" he called out over his shoulder. "Come back when you've got more than pretty promises. Or come back with David himself."
"Let's see if he has the spine to back these words with blood."
Dolio clenched her jaw. The offer hadn't been rejected because it was bad—but because the Savage King was a man who answered to no one.
The Beast remained untamed.
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