Chapter 70: Global Bounty (Seeking Reads)

On the other side.

At this moment, back at his villa, Tony sat staring at the reassembled Mark I, his thoughts drifting back to his rescuer, Smith.

Pepper had mentioned there was a file about him on the computer. Tony ordered:

"J.A.R.V.I.S., display Smith's file."

"Yes, sir."

As J.A.R.V.I.S. responded, all of Smith's data appeared before him, and Tony began scrolling through it.

"'Assassin'?"

"That's a bit of an unpleasant moniker."

"A long-established organization called the Assassin Brotherhood with a rich history… that's surprising. An 18-year-old leader, sounds a bit like me."

"Their philosophy isn't bad. A rather idealistic organization, a modern Robin Hood."

When he saw the names High Table and Continental, Tony frowned and said:

"There was such a cancer hiding in the shadows? Good thing Smith already eliminated them. Otherwise, I wouldn't have let them continue either."

But as he reviewed the file, Tony felt it lacked depth. From what he had personally observed, Smith was anything but simple—the raw power, the flight ability, and that creature named Pool.

"J.A.R.V.I.S., search comprehensively for all data on Smith."

J.A.R.V.I.S. immediately responded:

"All data, sir? That may require breaching some systems."

Tony dismissed the concern and said:

"All of it. But don't leave a trace."

Before long, J.A.R.V.I.S. spoke again:

"Done, sir. All files collected."

Reviewing the new data and videos, Tony nodded.

"Now that's more like it."

"Small-caliber weapons can't even scratch his body. That power, that speed—that's more like the Smith I met."

"Super Soldier Serum? Nah, that can't explain it. Just what did he do to become so strong?"

Even then, Tony still felt the files didn't fully capture Smith's might. What he'd seen with his own eyes was even more impressive.

In Tony's mind, Smith was now his savior—and not just once, but twice. His style and principles resonated with Tony. This was a man he could call a brother.

With his curiosity satisfied for now, Tony shifted his focus. Once he rebuilt his armor, he'd invite Smith over.

But his current chest reactor wasn't enough to power the new suit. Given the constraints of the environment he'd been in, he needed to create a brand new Arc Reactor.

Tony immediately got to work on the latest Arc Reactor design.

The next day.

With one order from Smith, passed through the intelligence department, assassins around the world received a message.

The global Continental was officially renamed the Assassin Brotherhood. All functions except contract bounties were retained—safe zones, armory, intelligence trade. Old coins were voided except for admission purposes, and new Assassin Brotherhood coins would be issued.

A special wax bath service was introduced: knife cuts, fractures, non-lethal gunshot wounds—all could heal in one day after using the bath.

Price: 1 new coin + $100,000.

When assassins received the message, they froze. They thought their safe havens were lost forever, yet here they were again. Still, seeing the old coins voided annoyed many.

But after what Smith had done to the High Table, they could only grit their teeth.

When they read about the wax bath, they were stunned.

But if the Brotherhood dared announce it, it had to be real.

For an assassin, this was invaluable. What used to take weeks or months to heal could now be done in a day—greatly increasing survival chances. Many colleagues had been killed because they hadn't recovered in time before a vendetta caught up to them.

Some even saw business opportunities: protecting wealthy clients who did extreme sports and were often injured. Being able to recover in a day could easily fetch millions.

Then came the second message.

Target: Hand members.

Bounty per kill: Regular member – 1 coin; squad leader – 3 coins; Hand ninja – 5 coins.

Scope: Global.

Status: Effective immediately.

Known locations: Midland Circle Financial, Hell's Kitchen New York, Gōdō Tower Tokyo…

Update time: 12:00 PM.

With the second message, assassins worldwide who'd been waiting for a way to earn coins now had their chance.

In Morocco, Sophia looked at the message and told her bald subordinate:

"Send our people to New York. We have to show where we stand."

In Osaka, Shima Koji also frowned slightly at the message. The underground world had barely calmed down, and now a new war was coming.

"John saved me and my daughter once. I won't let him down this time."

"Akira, tell all Japanese assassins that everyone must do their best to complete this bounty. That's my order."

"And mobilize all our forces to head to Tokyo and eliminate the Hand there."

The phone buzzed again. This time it was a link from the Assassin Brotherhood, listing all known Hand operatives—a long list that seemed endless. At the end, it was noted that most of the Hand were currently gathered in New York.

That final message instantly set the American assassin community ablaze.

On every street corner, in every dark alley, the most repeated phrase was:

"Brothers, let's go make some money."

Countless assassins in New York surged towards Hell's Kitchen. Even local gangs and hitmen who received the message couldn't help but stir.

As for the Hand's five leaders, Smith deliberately didn't put out a bounty on them. Those five wielded Kunlun's kikō (qi techniques), and ordinary assassins would just throw their lives away.

(End of Chapter)

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