'6th Street… What are they doing here?'
David scanned the outside, focusing on where the gang members had gathered. Most of them were standing in front of the bar across the street.
"So the bar is their target… and this place just got caught up in it?"
David turned back, glancing at his mother across the table.
Her face was tense with fear.
"Mom is scared… Why?"
Right. She should be scared.
It was only now, in a moment of clarity, that David realized how much his own mindset had changed.
The old him would've reacted the same way as his mother—terrified at the sight of gun-wielding gang members, desperately hoping NCPD would show up.
But now…
David was shocked to find that he wasn't afraid.
Not of their guns.
Not of the way they moved around the store.
No.
Instead, his mind was calculating how long it would take for them to raise their weapons.
If he drew his gun first, could they react in time?
"Why am I even thinking like this? What's happening to me…?"
Was it because of Karl, Jackie, and Oliver?
Was it their training, their lessons on how to handle yourself in Night City?
David realized something.
He wasn't just losing his fear.
He was gaining the courage to stand on equal footing with real gang members.
"Mom, it's okay."
David tried to reassure her.
"This has nothing to do with us."
Gloria stared at him.
She couldn't believe how calm and composed her son looked.
"David…"
"Trust me, Mom."
David's hand slowly reached under his jacket.
Resting on his Kenshin.
"I'll protect you."
David now had the courage to defend his family.
And at least some of the power to do it.
There were six 6th Street members inside the diner.
Two of them talked to the owner while checking the kitchen.
The other four spread out to the four corners, standing guard.
Their movements were tactical.
Disciplined.
They weren't just here to eat.
If a fight broke out at the bar, they wanted to seize this place fast.
Turn it into a firing position.
David understood now why 6th Street, with only about 2,300 members, managed to hold down Santo Domingo and even extend their reach into Heywood.
They weren't just gangsters.
They were ex-military.
Well-trained. Efficient.
Other gangs couldn't match them in sheer combat skill.
One of the 6th Street guys, standing in the corner, glanced at the customers.
His eyes lingered on one person sitting alone in the back.
Head lowered.
Hunched over, like he was trying to make himself smaller.
Dark hair.
Seemed scared shitless.
Didn't look important.
The 6th Street guy lost interest and turned away.
'Looks like just an ordinary diner customer. As long as he doesn't interfere, he can keep hiding.'
Holding an Ajax assault rifle, the 6th Street member positioned himself in the corner of the restaurant.
[Militech M-251S Ajax]: A durable and reliable assault rifle, the top choice for soldiers worldwide.
As he stood there, his eyes remained fixed on the bar across the street.
Those Valentino punks had boldly opened a bar right on the "agreed" border between both territories.
That was a clear provocation.
"No way this ends peacefully."
If a shootout broke out…
The 6th Street soldier tightened his grip on his gun.
Would he survive it?
Valentinos were the biggest gang in Night City.
If this turned into an all-out war, it would be a brutal fight.
No guarantees he'd make it out alive.
Inside the diner, the only sound was the muffled conversation between the owner and the 6th Street guys.
The customers stayed completely silent.
Nobody wanted to get involved in a gang dispute.
But the tense silence didn't last long.
Not after a new group arrived.
A small crew of Valentinos had pulled up outside.
"Shit. This is about to blow up."
David watched as both gangs lined up against each other.
He felt a terrible sense of foreboding.
His table was right by the window.
If they started shooting, stray bullets would tear right through the glass.
Then, before the stand-off could explode, a third group rolled in.
Riding all sorts of modded-out bikes.
"Even the Tyger Claws are here?"
The Glen was already a powder keg where Valentinos, Tyger Claws, and 6th Street all had territory.
With 6th Street and Valentinos on the brink of war, it made sense for the Tyger Claws to show up.
If things went south, this might be their chance to push deeper into the Glen.
The new arrivals immediately drew attention from both sides.
Neither 6th Street nor Valentinos wanted them here.
This wasn't their fight.
This wasn't their turf.
But then—
Something changed.
A Tyger Claw representative had a quick conversation with one of the Valentinos.
Then, without hesitation, the Tyger Claws joined their side.
They turned their weapons toward 6th Street.
In an instant, the balance shifted.
David couldn't hear what was said, but it was obvious.
Tyger Claws and Valentinos had cut a deal.
6th Street was about to get screwed.
It was just like their parent corporations.
Arasaka would do anything to undermine Militech.
Just like Militech would do anything to undermine Arasaka.
Initially, 6th Street had the advantage.
They outnumbered the Valentinos—twenty versus ten.
That's why things had stayed at a standoff.
But now, with Tyger Claws backing them up, the numbers were even.
David watched as the Valentinos and Tyger Claws stepped forward.
The 6th Street guys in the diner gripped their weapons tighter.
All it took was one spark.
"Bang."
A gunshot rang out.
Nobody knew who fired first.
But the powder keg had just exploded.
.
.
.
📢 Important Announcement! 📢
From now on, there will be 20 chapters ahead available on Patreon for early access! 🎉🔥
Also, we're excited to announce our new translation of the Harry Potter fanfiction: The Rebirth of Harry Potter! ⚡📖
🔗 Join here: www.patreon.com/c/MrMagnus
Thank you for your support! 🙌