Evening arrived quickly.
At first, some assassins with delayed information and great confidence in their own abilities stepped into the Blockade Zone, intending to claim the bounty.
But later on, whether because the news had spread or because of the corpses piled up along the edge of the Blockade Zone, not a single assassin dared enter again.
Quite a few assassins instead visited the battlefield outside the Blockade Zone before leaving, as if to verify whether the news was true.
By 18:00 that evening, the deadline had arrived, and no more assassins appeared!
With the matter concluded, Charlotte Doyle's name once again shook the assassin world. He did not merely become famous among New York's assassins—his name spread throughout the entire assassin world.
This matter was labeled the Charlotte Incident. Following the incident, New York Continental Hotel revoked the memberships of nearly a hundred assassins.
These people had not had their memberships revoked because The Continental Hotel expelled them. Their memberships had been canceled because they were all dead.
In addition to his title of Shinobi, the Legendary Assassin Charlotte Doyle was named New York's number one assassin!
At The Continental Hotel, Winston looked over the bounty information on Charlotte Doyle and his five companions. After writing something on a sheet of paper, he handed it to one of his men.
Soon, the bounties on Charlotte and the others no longer appeared among the scrolling missions on the task board, though the bounties themselves had not been canceled.
Burying the bounties was something Winston could do, but canceling them required the issuer to act. No one else could do it. Even Winston, the owner of the New York Continental Hotel, could not break the Rules.
At The Continental Hotel, Charlotte Doyle was speaking with Ginny in his room. "Golden Secretary, arrange the Agency's renovations as soon as possible. We can't remain closed for too long. Also, ask our neighbor next door whether they intend to sell."
"I plan to expand our indoor Training Ground. As for the original Training Ground, it can be converted into a recovery room."
After hearing Charlotte's plan, Ginny thought for a moment before saying, "Boss, have you considered building the Training Ground in the suburbs? The cost would be much lower that way."
Charlotte found the question strange. "Ginny, don't we have enough money?"
"Boss, the company account still has twenty million dollars, including the six million that came in two days ago."
"If we acquire the property next door, the cost will be much higher. If you go to the suburbs instead, the same money could buy you an estate and a large tract of land."
As a competent secretary, Ginny naturally offered reasonable advice.
Charlotte considered it and felt there was no need to place the Agency and Training Ground so far apart. "For now, buy the property next door. Don't consider the suburbs yet."
"Ginny, I also have a batch of gold and jewelry that I obtained from Viggo last time. I'll hand it over to you later. Dispose of it as you see fit."
Hearing Charlotte's instructions, Ginny said helplessly, "You're the Boss. Your word is final. As for selling the gold and jewelry, I'll handle it as soon as possible."
As Ginny turned to leave the room, Charlotte reminded her, "Don't forget about John Wick."
"Got it, Boss!" Ginny did not look back. Her hips swayed as she clicked out of Charlotte's room in her high heels.
The next day.
At the Triskelion, headquarters of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, agent Phil Coulson—whose hairline had not yet begun to retreat—held a tablet as he hurried toward the director's office.
"Director, this is the latest reported anomalous information. Please take a look."
Nick Fury accepted the tablet Phil Coulson handed him. A video was displayed on the screen, and he tapped play.
In the footage, a boy charged at incredible speed toward an armed woman and threw a punch.
The blow sent her flying, slamming her into a streetlamp...
After watching the video, Nick Fury asked in a low voice, "When did this happen?"
"Three days ago!"
Nick Fury played the video again, focusing on the man's speed and the moment he sent someone flying with a single punch.
This was not throwing someone away—it was punching them away. The difference between the two was enormous.
And the asian boy in the video clearly looked like a child.
"Coulson, have you found any information on the boy in the video?"
At Director Fury's question, Coulson immediately replied, "Director, the boy in the video is named Rock Lee. He is thirteen years old and lives at Charlotte Agency on 71st Avenue, Forest Hills, Queens."
"His identity documents were processed through The Continental Hotel. In fact, we have found absolutely no information about him from his birth until the age of thirteen."
After listening to Coulson's report, Nick Fury rose from his chair. He rubbed his chin, considered it for a moment, and asked, "He's an assassin?"
Coulson nodded and continued, "According to the information we found, Rock Lee's identity documents were arranged by Charlotte Doyle through The Continental Hotel. Charlotte Doyle is a registered member of The Continental Hotel and is considered a Legendary Assassin in the assassin world."
"This Agency is one of his businesses. It also serves as a front for accepting outside jobs."
Upon hearing that Charlotte was a Legendary Assassin, Nick Fury looked faintly disdainful. An assassin was nothing more than a rat in the gutter.
Seeing the apparent contempt in the director's eyes, Coulson emphasized, "We just received new information. Charlotte Doyle wiped out the Brotherhood of Assassins two days ago."
Hearing that the Brotherhood of Assassins had been destroyed by Charlotte Doyle, Nick Fury was somewhat surprised, though he still did not take it too seriously. It was the thirteen-year-old boy whom he considered a promising prospect. If they could indoctrinate and train him, he would make a useful asset.
"Coulson, have the Information Department analyze the boy's speed and strength in the video. Once that's confirmed, gather more information and conduct a threat assessment."
"Finally, I have another assignment for you. If there are no issues with his age, try to make contact with the target. He's still a child. What is he doing following an assassin?"
"If possible, send him to one of our schools. A thirteen-year-old child should return to school and do what he is supposed to do—study!"
Nick Fury made it sound righteous enough. As for whether it would be an ordinary school or an agent academy, that was open to interpretation.
After receiving his assignment, Coulson greeted Nick Fury and left the director's office.
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