To Hayden’s surprise, it was Yvette’s voice calling from the hallway.
“Mr.
Brooks, do you have a moment?” Hayden cracked the door open.
Yvette stood in the hallway with an apologetic smile.
“I am so sorry to disturb you.
A very distinguished guest has requested a brief audience with you.
It will not take long.” “A distinguished guest?” Hayden eyed her warily.
“I do not know anyone here.” Yvette covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
The crystal earrings dangling from her lobes chimed with a crisp, melodious sound.
“Do not worry, Hayden.
Nobody would dare harm you inside The Continental.” Seeing the sincerity in her eyes, Hayden reluctantly nodded.
He followed Yvette to the penthouse suite.
It was the most luxurious room in the entire hotel, costing six times the rate of a standard executive suite.
The massive floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking, panoramic view of the Rookwood City skyline.
A young man with impeccably styled blond hair stood by the glass.
He wore a custom-tailored white suit with razor-sharp lines.
The warm glow of the crystal chandelier cast a faint halo around his head.
Two heavily armed, masked bodyguards flanked him.
Both men wore black-and-gold High Table lapel pins on their armored vests.
Hearing them enter, the young man slowly turned around.
“Thank you for your assistance, Yvette.” He offered a slight, deeply respectful bow.
Yvette returned the gesture seamlessly.
She shot Hayden a subtle wink and slipped out of the room, clicking the heavy oak doors shut behind her.
“Allow me to introduce myself,” the blond man smiled warmly.
“I am Julian.
Manager of the Avalon City Continental.” Julian snapped his fingers.
One of his bodyguards immediately stepped forward, slipping a heavy, gold-embossed business card into Hayden’s jacket pocket.
“I happened to be passing through Rookwood.
My intelligence brokers informed me that an entire Tier-5 assassin cell was just annihilated by a single, mysterious young man.” Julian studied Hayden with sharp, calculating eyes.
“I wanted to see exactly which powerful syndicate this rising star belonged to.” A flash of genuine surprise crossed Hayden’s eyes.
Avalon City was located thousands of miles away.
It was considered the glittering crown jewel of the global underworld.
This young man was actually the manager of the Avalon Continental?
“I originally assumed you were an old acquaintance,” Julian mused.
“But to my surprise, you are not affiliated with any of the major players.” Hayden frowned.
“Can we get straight to the point, Julian?” Julian chuckled and reached into his pocket.
“I like your style.
How about we make a little wager?” He tossed a heavy, circular object through the air.
Hayden caught it effortlessly.
It was a solid gold Continental coin.
The intricate, exquisite engravings made it look like a priceless artifact.
“When you reach the K4 rank, come find me at the Avalon Continental,” Julian said, his tone turning dead serious.
“Use that gold coin as your token.
I guarantee you will receive a very generous reward.” Hayden examined the gleaming coin in his palm.
He looked back up, his gaze sharp as a knife.
“Why should I trust you?
What if I have no interest in your offer?” Julian waved his hand dismissively.
“You do not need to trust me.
You just need to understand that the world is full of prodigies.
Very few of them actually know how to seize an opportunity.” “The difference between a dead prodigy and a legend usually comes down to a single decision,” Julian smiled, turning back toward the neon-lit skyline.
“Trust me.
You will never regret taking this deal.” Julian raised a single finger, tapping it lightly against his temple.
“Remember, you only have one month.
Hit K4 and come see me.” At his signal, the masked bodyguard opened the suite door.
Hayden remained completely silent.
His mind was racing.
Julian did not seem overtly hostile, and the verbal contract carried no immediate penalties.
He could simply evaluate his options when the time came.
Hayden gave the young manager one last, piercing look, nodded, and walked out.
…
Half an hour later.
Hayden sat in The Continental’s subterranean speakeasy.
He swirled a glass of neat whiskey, continuously refreshing the bounty board on his encrypted phone.
The liquor burned his throat.
He frowned silently, still entirely unaccustomed to the taste of expensive Western spirits.
The highest open contract on the Rookwood bounty board was only a Tier-7.
If he wanted to trigger his System’s Phase Three objective, he desperately needed a Tier-5 target.
He mentally replayed Julian’s words, trying to decipher the manager’s true angle.
Just then, a striking figure descended the speakeasy stairs.
The low hum of conversation in the bar died instantly.
Every male assassin in the room turned to stare, utterly bewitched.
The female patrons shot her glares of pure venom.
She wore her striking silver hair in a high ponytail that cascaded down to her waist.
Her tactical crop top highlighted her athletic curves, and her dangerously short denim cutoffs contrasted sharply with the heavy tactical belt strapped to her waist.
Two custom pistols rested in her drop-leg holsters, radiating a lethal, chilling aura.
Hayden glanced up and was genuinely stunned.
She was every bit as beautiful as Yvette.
While Yvette carried the untouchable elegance of high-society royalty, this silver-haired woman radiated a haughty, dangerous coldness.
The subtle flirtation in her icy eyes was designed to completely disarm a target.
Ignoring the stares, the woman walked straight through the crowd and slid onto the barstool right next to Hayden.
Her bare thigh brushed deliberately against his leg.
The surrounding assassins stared in absolute bewilderment.
Their eyes burned with raw jealousy.
“Who the hell is that kid?
I have never seen him before.” “He looks like a total stranger.
Probably just a trainee.” An older hitman with a leather eyepatch scoffed bitterly.
“I have never seen the Ice Queen throw herself at anyone like that.” Hayden eyed the silver-haired woman suspiciously.
Before he could speak, she leaned in.
“Valerie Quinn.
K7-Tier Assassin.” She offered a coy smile.
“Would you be a gentleman and buy me a drink?” Hayden discreetly activated his Wallhacks.
Surprisingly, no glowing red box materialized over Valerie’s body.
She carried zero hostile intent.
“Hayden Brooks,” he replied, giving a casual wave of his hand.
“Rookie.” Valerie raised an eyebrow.
Most men would be groveling or terrified upon hearing she was a K7 professional.
Hayden’s expression had not flickered in the slightest.
She poured herself a shot of bourbon and downed it in one fluid gulp, the elegant curve of her throat entirely exposed.
Hayden triggered his scanner.
Her status window flared to life.
[Assassin Rank]: K7 [Marksmanship]: A+ Tier [CQC]: C-Tier [Physique]: B- Tier [Tactics]: C-Tier [Specialization]: Sequence 44 – Iron Lungs (A-Tier).
Drastically increases breath-holding duration and stability for sniper rifles.
Feeling his intense scrutiny, Valerie set down her glass and shot him a faintly annoyed look.
Hayden cleared his throat and quickly pivoted the conversation.
“Miss Quinn.
I do not believe we have ever met.” “You forgot about me already?” Valerie’s lips curled into a dangerous, knowing smirk.
“I fired those sniper shots for you outside the Neon Lotus.”