With Coulson's departure, the Shiranui Agency returned to its usual state of quiet.
As for the surveillance teams lingering outside, Shiranui Hayate didn't lift a finger to sweep them away. They were just pawns; if they wanted to watch, let them watch. He had bigger things to attend to and no immediate desire to kick S.H.I.E.L.D.'s hornet nest—at least not yet.
However, if they overstepped their bounds, Hayate wouldn't hesitate to send them to report to Lady Death herself.
The Agency had been officially open for three days now, but no new commissions had come through. It had been six days since the renovations began, and during this time, Hayate had diligently performed his daily system check-ins. Finally, his persistence paid off with a second Ninja Recruitment Scroll.
As for the other five check-ins, he had netted 15,000 Copper Coins and 400 Reputation points.
His current stats stood at:
- Reputation: 7,896
- Copper Coins: 2.937 million
- Gold Coins: 1,058
- Recruitment Scrolls: 1
Once I hit ten thousand reputation, Hayate thought, I'll upgrade the Blue Snake. Come to think of it, I haven't even summoned it for a proper chat yet.
He closed the system interface. Just as he was preparing to leave his home for the Agency, his phone buzzed with an incoming message.
Sender: Unknown
Open Contract: John Wick
Bounty: $7 million
Hayate stared at the screen. It was done. John had killed Gianna D'Antonio, the head of the Camorra crime family and a member of the High Table.
Every registered assassin in the Continental network received the same alert. Throughout the city, hitmen stared at their phones in disbelief. Just three days ago, the legendary "Ninja" Shiranui Hayate had a bounty of only $2 million, and he had turned the street outside the Continental into a blood-soaked graveyard.
Now, a far more severe "Open Contract" had been issued for the previous legend—the "Boogeyman."
There was a massive difference between a standard open bounty and an Excommunicado style hunt. A normal bounty was just a listing on a board; an open contract was a direct siren call sent to every single killer in the database.
Amateurs who didn't understand John's history hesitated, looking at Hayate's recent carnage as a warning. But the veterans—the old-timers who knew the Baba Yaga—felt their interest piqued. John was formidable, yes, but he was human. He bled when shot and died when stabbed. More importantly, John Wick couldn't slice bullets out of the air like Shiranui Hayate.
For seven million dollars, many were willing to take that gamble.
As Hayate moved toward his car, his phone rang. It was Hotaru.
"Boss, the man you saved, John Wick, is back on the board. It's a full open contract now. Seven million dollars. His net worth is climbing fast!"
She paused, her voice turning skeptical. "I think your investment is about to go belly-up, Boss."
Hayate chuckled. "Don't worry, Hotaru. My investments never fail, and John Wick isn't so easy to kill."
"If you say so. I'm just giving you a heads-up. Also, Carlos just wired us four million dollars. He said to tell you he found Sloan's cash stash, but he couldn't touch the money in the bank accounts or the other Brotherhood members' cards."
Hayate smiled at the news of the fresh capital. "Tell him I appreciate the gesture. If he ever needs help with another 'task,' tell him to call the Shiranui Agency."
He didn't care about the frozen bank accounts. Money he couldn't touch didn't exist in his world anyway. He hung up, locked his door, and drove straight to the Continental.
"Mr. Shiranui Hayate, a pleasure to see you again," Charon greeted him with a respectful bow as he entered the lobby.
"Good to see you, Charon. Is the Manager in?"
"He is. Shall I announce you?"
"If you please."
Charon made a quick call. "Sir, Mr. Shiranui is here to see you. Yes, sir." He hung up and gestured toward the lower levels. "The Manager is in the dining area. You'll find him there."
Hayate headed down to the lounge on the B1 level. He spotted Winston sitting alone, focused on a folded newspaper. Hayate pulled out a chair and sat down without an invitation.
Winston set the paper aside and adjusted his glasses. "I assume you're here about John, Hayate?"
Hayate leaned back, looking at the man who held New York's underworld in his palm. "Santino D'Antonio lacks honor. John fulfills his Marker, and Santino immediately places a seven-million-dollar hit on his head?"
He paused, his gaze sharpening. "Most importantly, John Wick cannot die. I won't have my Marker become a worthless piece of scrap metal."
Winston watched him closely. The last sentence is the real reason you're here, he thought.
"Placing a bounty is a right granted to every member of the Continental," Winston said smoothly. "Furthermore, Santino D'Antonio has inherited his family seat. He is now a member of the High Table. He has privileges. The contract is legitimate."
"Lest we forget," Winston continued, "Gianna D'Antonio was High Table. John killed a member of the Table. There will be a reckoning. Anyone who helps him—regardless of who they are—will share in that punishment."
Hayate laughed. "Winston, don't forget that Gianna was a new member, and so is Santino. They are just seat-holders. They are not the management. They are not the Twelve."
"Besides," Hayate added, "I don't think Santino—the man who burned down John's house—has any idea what kind of storm he's summoned. That house was all John had left of his late wife."
Winston studied Hayate with curiosity. "You seem to know John very well."
Hayate grinned. "Winston, want to make a bet? Santino D'Antonio is going to come crawling to this hotel for sanctuary. By tomorrow night, at the latest."
Winston rose slowly, his expression unreadable. "I, too, have great faith in John's... persistence."
"Enjoy your stay at the Continental, Mr. Shiranui."
As Winston walked away, Hayate knew exactly where he was going: to collect the Marker Santino held over John, closing the loop.
Hayate's eyes glittered in the dim light of the lounge. Soon. The time is almost ripe.
The High Table has ruled for too long, he thought. It's time for a change of management.