[Jake's POV]
I turned back to the Empress. The broken door behind me was still letting in cold air from the hallway. Two guards were dragging their unconscious partners out. No one was looking at me directly anymore. That was good.
I rested my hands on the edge of the oak desk. Close enough to talk. Far enough that she couldn't claim I was threatening her.
"The terms are simple," I said. "The Golden Koi is no longer a subordinate syndicate. We do not pay tribute to the Imperial Mountain. We do not ask for permission to operate in the lower districts. We are an independent, sovereign entity."
Song Mei's eyes narrowed. The word _sovereign_ hit her like a slap. "You demand equality."
