Looking at the fully armed John Wick, Smith knew he was also here for revenge against Viggo. He glanced down at Viggo's lifeless body and calmly said:
"You're too late."
John Wick's eyes remained wide with shock. Aside from a few on the first and second floors who'd died from bullets, the rest had been taken out with melee weapons or even bare hands. That level of power was terrifying.
Because he had once walked this same path, John understood even better how powerful and dangerous Smith truly was—especially when he saw a bullet that had been cleaved cleanly in two. It only deepened his belief that Smith wielded the power of the Dragon Balls.
"What do you need me to do next?"
Smith thought for a moment and then replied:
"Just finish what you started. I'll contact you in a couple of days."
As Smith Dole walked away, John Wick remembered he still needed to retrieve his beloved car, so he didn't linger either.
Shortly after both men left, the cleanup crew from the Assassin League arrived and got to work.
······
Assassin League Headquarters.
As Smith Dole pushed open the doors to the conference room, Cross came forward and hugged him.
"GOD, you've really given us a huge surprise."
Smith returned the hug with a smile.
"I was just doing what needed to be done."
Cross guided him to the head seat and declared:
"This seat now belongs to you."
Smith didn't stand on ceremony. He simply sat down.
Seeing him seated, Cross returned to his spot. Across from him, Mr. X spoke up:
"After 18 years, the Assassin League finally welcomes a new leader—Smith Dole."
"Let's welcome our GOD!"
He led the applause.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
As the room erupted in applause, Smith raised his hands to quiet them and then said:
"Thank you all for your trust—for allowing me to take the position that has been vacant for 18 years."
Having lived in the League for 18 years, Smith Dole knew the organization well. Every high-ranking member had poured their resources into raising him. As for why he was chosen as leader, he didn't fully understand at first—and even now, he wasn't entirely sure.
But they had come to see him as their spiritual anchor, and his years of growth had met their expectations.
Of course, he had an idea why—Sloane's death and the disappearance of the Loom of Fate.
Still, if they chose him as leader, he wouldn't let them down.
"I'll carry the mission of the Assassin League in my heart."
"I will lead us, unwavering, in purging the cancer from this world."
"As for our next move—aside from continuing our intelligence gathering on threats to society—we will now focus our efforts on the High Table and its Continental Hotels."
Hearing Smith directly name the High Table as a target, the entire room nodded in agreement.
"No objections. That's one cancer we've long wanted to remove."
"GOD, what's our next move?"
Seeing everyone's support, Smith answered decisively:
"Launch a full-scale investigation into the High Table's headquarters and the regions where its twelve Elders operate."
"This time, we dismantle them from top to bottom."
"As for the Continental Hotels—their hitman networks must be dismantled as well."
"…"
······
As the meeting ended, news spread throughout the League: after 18 years, the leadership seat had finally been filled—Smith Dole was now the head of the Assassin League.
Under Smith's orders, the League's intelligence division kicked into full gear, launching investigations into both the High Table and the Continental.
The next day.
Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division — Triskelion Headquarters.
Agent Phil Coulson walked into the Director's office holding a file.
"Director, our undercover agent within the Assassin League has sent back critical intelligence. It involves a major internal transformation. I need to report it to you."
Nick Fury took the folder from Coulson and began reviewing it.
"Eighteen years… and they finally have a leader again."
"I thought after Sloane's death and the shift to an Elder Council, they'd never appoint another head."
"And now they're targeting the High Table. Interesting."
After finishing the report, Nick looked up and asked:
"You read the intel too, Coulson. What's your take on it?"
Coulson thought for a moment, then said:
"I'd say it's a good thing. The High Table has grown too powerful these past few years. They need someone from the outside to clip their wings."
"While they may not pose a direct threat to us yet, their continued expansion could destabilize society."
"Plus, their Elder seats are hereditary. None of our embedded agents can rise to those levels."
Nick nodded. SHIELD didn't usually concern itself with ordinary criminal syndicates—that wasn't their jurisdiction—but a global network like the High Table was worth keeping an eye on.
And they knew full well that criminal syndicates could never truly be wiped out. Destroy one and another will grow. Having a management structure at least kept chaos somewhat in check.
It was a "raise-and-slaughter" policy—let them flourish under observation, then wipe them out when necessary.
Seeing Nick nod, Coulson added:
"The Assassin League's methods of assassination are extremely refined. I don't foresee any collateral fallout."
"Whether one side wins, both sides fall, or it becomes a stalemate—it all benefits us."
Nick agreed with Coulson's assessment. Then he asked:
"What do we know about this new leader of the Assassin League?"
"Is he going to be a problem?"
SHIELD had always paid more attention to the Assassin League than even the High Table.
For one, the League's history was ancient. And secondly, SHIELD had long been fascinated with their unique tools—like the wax baths, curved bullet trajectories, and Cross's time-bending gunplay.
They'd even investigated the Loom of Fate and once classified it as an 084 object. But before they could recover it, they learned it had already been destroyed.
As for the wax baths—they were rare and impressive at first. But the agents who obtained samples couldn't analyze anything useful. With modern advancements, SHIELD now had better alternatives and no longer considered it a priority.
······
(End of Chapter)
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