David answered the phone with a hint of doubt.
"How's it going, kid?"
Rogue's calm yet commanding voice came through the receiver, tinged with amusement. "Heard you caused quite the stir in Kabuki District last night!"
David's heart skipped a beat. He chuckled awkwardly. "Heh... What do you mean, boss?"
"Come on, don't play dumb with me." Rogue's tone remained light but firm. "Word travels fast in Night City. How about you come down to Afterlife? We should talk."
Hearing this, David knew Rogue had already learned the truth. There was no point pretending.
"Alright. Since you asked, I'll head over now."
"Good. I'll be waiting."
With that, Rogue hung up.
David let out a long breath, rubbing his chin. How the hell did the news spread so fast?
He'd been focused solely on Jotaro and his crew last night, never noticing the scavengers and mercs watching from the shadows. But what was done was done. Dwelling on it wouldn't change anything.
After a quick shower, David threw on his jacket, stepped outside, and headed toward Little China. Living near Sakura Street now, he was much closer to Afterlife compared to the old slums.
Night City — Afterlife Bar
The neon-lit entrance of Afterlife buzzed with its usual crowd of mercs, fixers, and corporate suits. As David stepped inside, the hum of conversations and the clink of glasses surrounded him.
"Hey, kid—Boss Rogue's waiting for you in the V21 private room," Claire called from behind the bar, smirking knowingly. "Gotta say, you've got guts!"
Her teasing tone made it clear she'd heard the rumors too.
"Thanks, Claire." David flashed a faint smile and made his way toward the private rooms.
As he walked past the crowded booths, whispers followed him:
"Hey, that's the guy—David!"
"No way... That skinny kid took out Jotaro Shobo? In Tiger Claw territory?"
"Don't judge by looks! I saw him fight the Beast Gang leader—knocked the guy flying like it was nothing!"
David ignored the murmurs, reaching the heavy metal door marked V21. He knocked twice and stepped inside.
Inside the V21 Private Room
Rogue sat alone on the leather sofa, cigarette smoke curling around her as she exhaled slowly. The room's dim lighting highlighted the sharp contours of her face, her gaze steady and unreadable.
"Boss." David bowed slightly in greeting.
Rogue nodded and patted the seat beside her. "Sit down, kid."
David complied, leaning back against the cool leather.
"You know why I called you here, right?" Rogue asked, studying him closely.
"Yeah... Last night in Kabuki." David replied without hesitation.
"Straight to the point. I like that." Rogue took another drag from her cigarette. "So, it was you who killed Jotaro Shobo?"
"Yeah, it was me." David's tone was firm and unapologetic.
"Oh?" Rogue raised an eyebrow at his blunt admission. "Why'd you do it? The Tiger Claws aren't exactly the type to let something slide."
"I took a job," David explained calmly. "Though the gig didn't specifically require killing Jotaro, the bastard deserved it."
"Fair enough. But aren't you worried about the Tiger Claws coming after you?"
David met Rogue's gaze without a hint of fear. "I did what I had to do. No regrets."
Rogue studied him in silence, her sharp eyes searching for any sign of hesitation—but she found none. His unwavering confidence reminded her of someone from her past...
"Hah! Kid, you've got the same stubborn streak as an old friend of mine," she muttered, shaking her head with a faint smile. "Alright, listen up. Since you've got the guts to take responsibility for what you did, I'll do you a favor—while you're in Afterlife, no one will touch you. Not even the Tiger Claws."
David's eyes flickered with surprise, though he quickly masked it.
"Of course," Rogue added, her tone turning serious, "once you step outside these walls, you're on your own. The Tiger Claws are relentless—they won't stop until they get their revenge. So if you've got a death wish, go wandering around Kabuki. Otherwise, play it smart and lay low for a while. Got it?"
David's heart warmed slightly at Rogue's gesture, even if her protection only extended to the bar.
"Thanks, boss. I appreciate it."
"Good. And one more thing—I heard you've started your own merc crew."
David nodded. "Yeah. Gotta build a name for myself somehow."
"Ambition's good. But don't bite off more than you can chew," Rogue advised, her gaze stern. "This city's chewed up tougher folks than you. Focus on surviving first."
"I get it, boss. But trust me—those Tiger Claw punks aren't enough to stop me."
"Oh?" Rogue chuckled, the corner of her mouth curling into a smirk. "Big talk, kid. What's next—gonna take down Arasaka Tower?"
"Someday... I will." David's voice was calm, but the conviction in his eyes was undeniable.
Rogue's smile faded as she gazed into his eyes, seeing the same fiery determination she'd once seen in another young man long ago. There was no arrogance, no bluff—only the belief that his words would one day become reality.
"Well, I'll hold you to that," she said after a moment. "In the meantime, if you're serious about becoming a top merc, I'll send a few jobs your way—real gigs with real payouts. Do them right, and your reputation'll skyrocket."
David's eyes lit up. "Thank you, boss! I won't let you down."
"Alright, that's enough talk. Go do your thing." Rogue waved him off with a dismissive hand. "I've got some thinking to do."
David stood, bowing slightly once more. "See you around, boss."
With that, he exited the private room, closing the door quietly behind him.
Afterlife Bar — Main Hall
As David walked back through the bar, the murmurs around him grew louder. Some whispered in awe, others in disbelief. But David paid them no mind, stepping outside into the neon-soaked streets of Night City.
Meanwhile, in Kabuki District—Tiger Claw Headquarters
The air was thick with the scent of incense and cigarette smoke as dozens of Tiger Claw gangsters gathered in the dimly lit hall. Neon kanji symbols glowed red against the walls, casting eerie shadows across their tattooed faces.
At the front stood Takeyama Masaguchi—the half-cybered lieutenant now tasked with avenging Jotaro Shobo's death. His cybernetic left arm gleamed beneath the lights as he addressed the assembled crew.
"You've all seen the image," he growled, holding up a holo-photo of David. "This punk murdered Jotaro-sama in our own territory—an insult we cannot allow to stand!"
The gangsters roared in agreement, the clink of katanas and cyber-enhanced fists echoing through the room.
"Yoko Taro-sama has given the order—this boy must be captured alive and brought to headquarters for execution. His death will be slow... a lesson to anyone foolish enough to cross the Tiger Claws!"
Masaguchi's eyes gleamed with cold fury as he pointed toward the door.
"Spread out across Kabuki! Search every alley, every bar, every backstreet until you find him. And if anyone tries to protect him... kill them too."
"Yes, Masaguchi-sama!" the gangsters shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the hall.
As they stormed out into the neon-lit streets of Kabuki, the hunt for David had officially begun.
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