"I have a deal to discuss with you."
The moment these words left David's lips, the expressions of Mann's team shifted subtly.
A thick tension filled the air.
"Look, look, look!"
Pila, the loudmouth of the group, immediately spoke up, pointing a finger at David. "Boss Mann, didn't I say this kid doesn't have anything good up his sleeve?"
"I bet he just wants to negotiate a deal and rip us off!"
He crossed his arms and frowned. "Or maybe he wants to steal our work?"
Pausing for a moment, he scratched his chin in mock contemplation.
"Either way, boss, I don't trust this guy at all—"
"Idiot brother, shut up!"
Before Pila could finish, Rebecca clamped a hand over his mouth. She leaned in and hissed, "David is talking to Boss Mann. Why are you butting in?"
Then, flashing a sweet yet mischievous smile at David and Mann, she added, "Boss Mann, David—please, continue your conversation."
David arched an eyebrow.
This girl's contrast was something else. One moment she was threatening to shove a gun in someone's mouth, the next she was all smiles.
Mann, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes. "A deal, huh?"
He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. "What kind of deal? You want a cut of the bounty for this mission?"
David chuckled and shook his head. "Not at all."
He set his cup of tea down on the table and met Mann's gaze head-on. "The bounty is yours to keep. On top of that, I'm giving you information—free of charge—about the killer behind the Tiger Claw massacre."
The room fell silent.
Mann's team stared at him, their expressions shifting from skepticism to shock.
"Wait, hold up—free information?"
"And we keep the bounty?"
For a moment, it seemed as if they'd walked into some kind of elaborate scam.
Mann chuckled, shaking his head. "Come on, David. Nobody in Night City does things out of the kindness of their heart. What's your angle?"
Dorio, his right-hand woman, folded her arms and smirked. "Yeah, we're not exactly in the business of accepting handouts. Spill it."
David let out a low laugh.
"Dorio, I like the way you think—straight to the point."
He shifted in his seat and locked eyes with Mann.
"Your crew is strong. Fast. You've got good instincts and experience."
He gestured toward them with an open palm. "That's why I'm offering something better. A partnership."
Mann's eyes narrowed. "A partnership?"
David nodded. "Instead of taking work from a fixer like Faraday, how about you work with me?"
He leaned in slightly, his voice lowering. "I guarantee you more money. More influence. And eventually, the kind of power that makes you a legend in Night City."
The weight of his words hung in the air.
Mann's team exchanged uncertain glances.
Pila scoffed. "Come on, boss. More money than military contracts? You believe that?"
He folded his arms and muttered, "Sounds like bullshit to me."
Mann remained silent, deep in thought.
Then, he suddenly let out a sharp laugh and turned his gaze back to David.
"Alright, I'll bite."
His lips curled into a smirk. "You said you have information on the Tiger Claw massacre. Let's start there."
David didn't respond right away.
He simply gave Mann a calm, knowing look.
For a few seconds, Mann stared at him.
Then, as if testing his patience, Mann's cybernetic fist clenched. In the blink of an eye, he launched a punch straight at David's face!
BOOM!
The sound of impact echoed through the room.
But David didn't move.
His body remained completely still.
Mann's fist had stopped just inches away from his face—suspended in midair, as if it had hit an invisible wall.
The entire room froze.
"What the hell?!"
Mann's pupils shrank in shock.
He tried pushing forward, but it was like punching against an immovable force.
David still didn't move. He simply smiled.
Jack, who had been watching the entire exchange, let out a low whistle. "Damn, boss. That was cold."
Lucy smirked beside him. "Told you he was different."
Rebecca, on the other hand, was giggling as she munched on a snack. "Ohh, this is getting fun!"
Pila, however, wasn't about to back down.
"Boss, let me help you!"
He flexed his cybernetic arms, the metallic joints clicking as he charged forward.
WHAM!
Before he could even get close, a powerful force sent him flying backward.
CRASH!
He tumbled across the floor like a ragdoll before slamming into the wall.
"OW! What the hell, man?!"
Pila groaned, rubbing his head.
Dorio and Kiwi immediately drew their weapons.
But before they could aim—
Click.
Their guns were wrenched from their hands, floating into the air before suddenly pointing back at their own heads.
A deathly silence filled the room.
Mann's team was frozen in shock.
David let out a low chuckle.
"I called you here to talk about business," he said casually, stretching his arms. "It's a little rude to pull weapons on a potential partner, don't you think?"
Jack and Lucy, in sync, holstered their own weapons.
The tension in the room hung thick, but the message was clear:
David wasn't just another merc in Night City.
He was on an entirely different level.
Mann, finally regaining his composure, exhaled deeply and sat back down.
Pila groaned from the corner, still rubbing his head.
Dorio and Kiwi, realizing the situation, slowly picked their guns off the floor.
Rebecca and Sasha? Still happily snacking, as if this was just another Tuesday.
Mann looked at David again—this time with a newfound seriousness.
"Alright, David."
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
"I'll admit it—you've got my attention."
David smirked. "Good."
He folded his hands together. "Then let's talk business."
For the first time, Mann's team realized something.
David wasn't just another player in the game.
He was changing the rules.
And if they wanted to survive in Night City…
They might just have to follow his lead.
--
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