Brotherhood

"That is the High Table's only demand."

Aisha said seriously, "As for the target item, I can only tell you after you accept this assignment."

"There are many people in this world the High Table can kill. There are indeed only a few it cannot, but those few possess the ability to mobilize most of the world's resources."

Anton narrowed his eyes and said blandly, "Since this is a partnership, what do I get?"

"The High Table's friendship, as well as the status of a High Table consultant."

Aisha said, "A High Table consultant has the authority to mobilize the High Table's assassins and can share all intelligence with the High Table. Of course, in return, you must assume the corresponding responsibilities and enter into a blood pact with the High Table. Once a blood pact is formed, it cannot be broken. Otherwise, you will face the High Table's endless pursuit."

Anton understood completely. They were trying to recruit him.

It seemed Batman's formidable abilities, as he had displayed them, had made the High Table see his value.

"A blood pact is impossible! Killing is even more impossible!"

Anton refused flatly. "Anyone who has watched Batman movies knows Batman has one rule—he doesn't kill."

Aisha's expression turned complicated at those words.

She had expected Anton to reject her, but she had never expected him to reject her for such a reason.

He didn't kill?

What bullshit!

But on second thought, during the battle that night, not a single person had died from beginning to end. Looking back afterward, only two unlucky men had been hit by stray bullets and died of excessive blood loss... At most, they could be considered indirect deaths at Anton's hands. It really could not be said that Anton had killed them.

Of the assassins who had faced Anton that day, the one in the worst condition was merely vegetative.

"However, it isn't impossible for Batman to help."

Seeing Aisha's changing expression, Anton suddenly spoke again. "It just has to be done Batman's way."

After a pause, he added, "Second, Batman can establish a cooperative relationship with the High Table, but it will be limited to intelligence-sharing. If there are other requests in the future, those will be separate matters of cooperation... We can discuss that slowly."

He happened to need a stage on which to perform, one that would clear away the "suspicion" that he was Batman. Cooperating with the High Table was not a bad option.

"I can't make that decision."

After pondering for a long while, Aisha said to Anton, "Please give me some time."

She got out of the car, took out her phone, and spoke with someone on the other end for quite some time. Finally, she returned to the car and nodded at Anton. "Pleasure doing business with you."

"Then can you tell me who you want dead now?"

Anton asked with interest.

He really was curious who could be beyond even the High Table's reach.

"His name is Sloan. He is the leader of another assassin organization, the Brotherhood," Aisha said. "He is also the High Table's biggest rival in the assassin world."

Sloan?

The Brotherhood, a rival?

This felt like a crossover!

Anton froze. "The Brotherhood? Sloan? That idiotic organization that manipulates fate in the name of weaving?"

"That's right."

Aisha was not surprised that Anton knew of the Brotherhood. She said, "Sloan is the Brotherhood's leader. He is extremely capable and commands many top-tier assassins. They have never failed internationally and are the High Table's main competitor. Over the past decade or so, the High Table and the Brotherhood have competed directly many times. Their relationship is irreconcilable. It is not only us who want to kill him—he wants to wipe us out too."

In other words, everyone wanted to be the top dog in the assassin world.

When two tigers fought, whoever took out the other would naturally become the best in the business.

"So the person an assassin organization can't kill is naturally the leader of another assassin organization. That does make sense."

Anton suddenly understood.

He nodded at Aisha. "Get the intelligence to me as soon as possible. I'll arrange a time to make my move."

"No problem. We organized the intelligence long ago!"

Aisha nodded. "If you need anything in the future, you can contact the High Table through me or Winston. You will be our honored guest from now on."

With that, she handed Anton a tablet-like handheld computer, got out of the car, and left.

Watching Aisha disappear down the street, Anton instructed the driver to go, then turned on the handheld computer and opened the files inside.

After reading the information, he finally understood why the High Table had approached him at this time.

The High Table and the Brotherhood had a long-standing grudge.

At first, the Brotherhood had been an assassin organization with principles. They only killed targets determined internally and did not compete with the High Table. But around twenty years ago, the Brotherhood underwent internal changes. After Sloan took power, the Brotherhood developed rapidly and began to seriously threaten the High Table's position in the assassin world.

Therefore, the High Table wanted Sloan dead, so everyone in the assassin world would know that the High Table was the enduring imperial organization of the assassin world.

They had approached Anton now not only because they were not absolutely certain they could kill Sloan, but also because Carlos, the Brotherhood's strongest assassin, had appeared in New York.

Carlos was the Brotherhood's ace assassin and had mastered an unimaginable form of gun fu.

But several years ago, Carlos had suddenly left the Brotherhood. The Brotherhood, led by Sloan, seemed to have fallen out with Carlos and had designated him as an assassination target.

The two sides had engaged in a prolonged tug-of-war, neither able to do anything to the other.

The Brotherhood suffered devastating losses, while Carlos remained completely unharmed.

Until the High Table received intelligence.

Carlos would appear in New York soon, and this time, the Brotherhood would mobilize all its members to continue assassinating Carlos.

This would be the final battle. Sloan would definitely show himself.

It was the High Table's best opportunity to act.

Since they were not certain of success, they might as well hand it to someone who was—Batman.

Even if Batman could not do it, the status quo would simply remain unchanged, and they would lose nothing.

The elders seated at the High Table were no fools.

They had calculated everything.

"A final battle?"

Anton rubbed his chin. According to his memories from his previous life, there had been no such plot point in Wanted.

The most logical assumption was that, in this "final battle," both sides would once again fall into a stalemate where neither could do anything to the other.

That was likely why Sloan had, in desperation, gone to great lengths to find Carlos's son, Wesley, intending to use that loser to deal with his father, Carlos.

"Tomorrow, Fox, the Repairman, and the Brotherhood's other top assassins will arrive in New York..."

Anton shut off the handheld computer and closed his eyes in thought.

Time was a little tight.

Then he took out his phone and called Jim.

"Anton?"

Jim answered instantly, his voice excited. "I'm planning to hold a celebration party the day after tomorrow. You promised me you'd come, right?"

"Of course I'll come, but not the day after tomorrow."

Anton instructed, "Move the party to tomorrow night. I'm flying to Los Angeles tonight."

"What?"

This shattered Jim's plans, and he snapped angrily, "Tomorrow? What are you doing? I've already sent out the invitations. Do you think people in Hollywood are free every day?"

Whether they came or not was up to them. In any case, I want this party held tomorrow."

Anton could not be bothered with who might attend the party. All he wanted was a justified, highly anticipated appearance.

With that, he ended the call.

"Shit!!"

Hearing the dial tone from his phone, Jim could not help cursing out a classic line, yet there was nothing he could do about Anton.

He knew exactly what would happen when Anton became willful.

He had already gained a clear understanding of that when Anton had been directing and leading the film crew.

Anton was just as willful as Tony Stark, and both were stubborn as mules.

The only thing better than Tony Stark was that Anton was not nearly as difficult in his dealings with people, and he basically never stood anyone up.

Starting today, I'll change the update schedule. This will be the schedule until the story goes premium: 2 PM and 8 PM! If I don't update on time, it means I've run out of saved chapters!

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Oh, and if you spot any typos, leave a comment on the chapter. I'll fix them whenever I see them! I revise the wording and check everything before uploading, but omissions are still unavoidable. Please forgive me!