The Giant Corporations that Started in Night City

Chapter 35: The Token of Allegiance

Faced with Royce's tearful pleas for mercy, the members of Team Mann showed no sympathy. Instead, they responded with even harsher ridicule.

"So you're saying you're not even the leader of the Maelstrom gang anymore? And you think you're worthy of being LA Corporation's dog?"

Pilar laughed wildly, his mouth twisted in mockery.

"Oh, my God! Look at what Mann has dragged in. This little minnow isn't even worth my time. Shooting him a few times would at least have been fun!"

Amidst the scornful laughter, Li Ang remained expressionless, silently staring at Royce as if conducting a wordless trial of death.

"I... I'll be the leader of the Maelstrom gang soon! I'll kill Brick, and then I'll pledge the entire gang's loyalty to LA Corporation!"

At this point, Royce no longer cared about keeping any secrets. All he wanted was to save his own life.

"Interesting."

Li Ang chuckled lightly. It was the calm, amused laugh of a hunter watching prey walk into a trap, exactly as he had expected.

"Enough. Chen Tao, Mr. Brick, Ms. Susan Q. You can come out now."

As soon as Li Ang spoke, Brick, with a complicated expression, walked out from a room on the other side, leaving Royce and Dum-Dum visibly stunned.

The other two were Chen Tao, the head of the Triad, and Susan Q, the owner of Lizzie's Bar. The key players of Watson's underworld were all present, including Brick, the leader of the Maelstrom gang, whom Li Ang had personally invited.

Chen Tao, Susan Q, Brick—the Triad, the Mox, and the Maelstrom gang.

"L-L-Leader, what are you doing here?"

Dum-Dum immediately realized the gravity of the situation. With what Royce had just said, Brick wouldn't hesitate to execute him a hundred times over!

Before Brick could speak, Chen Tao burst into laughter.

" Li Ang , you really went out of your way to put on this 'dog-eat-dog' show for us."

He didn't forget to twist the knife further, mocking Brick.

"Your Maelstrom gang is quite something—ready to kill your own brothers without a second thought."

"You must know all about brotherly love."

Susan Q, on the other hand, remained indifferent. She stood silently, an uninvolved spectator. Having seen countless betrayals and bloodshed in the infernal Night City, she wasn't surprised by any of this.

Brick, however, was furious and heartbroken. He had trusted Royce and Dum-Dum, only to be repaid with distance and betrayal.

"Damn it!"

"Mr. Brick, these two have put your Maelstrom gang in the crosshairs. From now on, NCPD will be chasing you relentlessly," Li Ang said.

Originally, Li Ang had considered working with the Maelstrom gang—or even directly partnering with Royce, who seemed more ambitious and capable.

But Royce couldn't even handle a kidnapping properly. He slaughtered countless innocent bystanders, leaving chaos in his wake and drawing too much attention. That was enough for Li Ang to abandon him.

Li Ang had no use for reckless schemers. He could accept ambition in a partner but never incompetence or duplicity. Someone like Royce—a cybernetic brute with a "Lü Bu complex"—would undoubtedly stab him in the back someday.

Brick, despite being a Maelstrom cyborg, at least had a functioning brain and could assess situations realistically. Losing a fight and surrendering wasn't a big deal for him.

Unlike Royce, who would spitefully lash out even in defeat.

"Brick, I have a blade and a gun here. This steel katana can cut ropes to free hostages, while the gun can help you clean house."

"The choice is yours."

As Li Ang finished speaking, Lucy placed a gleaming new katana before Brick, while another side featured a powerful Overture kinetic revolver.

Brick's shoulders trembled slightly. He knew Li Ang was forcing him to offer a "token of allegiance." Either cooperate with LA Corporation and live peacefully, or accompany Royce and Dum-Dum to the afterlife.

As for the Maelstrom's territory? At worst, the Triad would take over and sweep it clean.

Brick understood that Li Ang wasn't really giving him a choice. His only path forward was to collaborate with LA Corporation—everything else was a dead end.

"Alright. I understand."

With a determined look, Brick grasped the katana and slowly approached Royce and Dum-Dum.

Seeing him take the katana, Team Mann instantly became alert. Lucy stood with her hands behind her back, her monowire ready to unleash a fatal strike. Rebecca clenched her Gorilla Arms, prepared for combat.

Li Ang remained calm, watching Brick's slow approach. Whether or not the Maelstrom gang became LA Corporation's watchdog, the wild dogs of Watson needed to be dealt with.

When Dum-Dum saw the blade, he was moved to tears.

"Boss! I knew you wouldn't be that heartless. Waaaah!"

"Quick, cut these ropes. They're so uncomfortable. From now on, you're my only leader!"

"..."

While Dum-Dum babbled on, Royce sensed the killing intent emanating from Brick. It surged like an electric current through the cables of his cybernetic body.

"Boss, I..."

Before Royce could finish, Brick raised the blade and struck. In one swift motion, he decapitated Royce, severing his red cybernetic eye along with half of his hybrid flesh-and-metal head.

Sparks crackled from severed wires, and a mixture of brain matter, blood, and green fluid leaked from synthetic plastic veins.

Even Chen Tao, a hardened Triad leader, couldn't help but wince and click his tongue.

"Disgusting. Is this guy even human anymore?"

Red blood, yellowish-white brain matter, and green industrial fluid splattered onto Dum-Dum's remaining cybernetic eye.

Thud!

Royce's half-head rolled in front of Dum-Dum. Before Brick could strike again, Dum-Dum convulsed and fainted, seemingly terrified into a cybernetic malfunction.

"Boss, it seems his brain fried from the emotional overload, causing a heat spike in his circuitry. Even if he survives, he'll likely be a vegetable," Pilar reported after scanning Dum-Dum with his cybernetic eye.