The Adjudicator stepped out of the Shiranui Agency, her face like ice.
Zero, the assassin who had been unceremoniously tossed into the street, approached her with his head bowed. "Forgive me," he said, his voice low. "I am no match for them."
Remembering the suffocating terror of Hayate's aura, the Adjudicator did not vent her anger. Her expression remained unnervingly calm. "It is not your fault. Shiranui Hayate is far stronger than anticipated. We will leave this for now; it seems the High Table will need to deploy more significant resources."
She knew perfectly well that eyes were watching the agency from the shadows. People wanted to see if the messenger of the High Table would suffer at the hands of the legendary assassin.
The verdict was clear: Zero and his disciples had been thrown out like trash. While Zero wasn't an official face of the Table, her authority had taken a public hit. In the first round of this engagement, she had lost.
She had seven days to resolve the adjudications for the Bowery and the Continental. As for Hayate—with strength like his, she suspected he was planning to bypass her entirely and deal directly with the higher-ups.
Strength of that magnitude was a currency the Table couldn't ignore.
Across town, the Bowery King stood in his pigeon sanctuary, listening to Earl's report. He let out a booming laugh. "So, she has a taste of failure too!"
Earl didn't share the laughter. His face was grave. "King, Hayate can defy her because he has the power to back it up. He proved that outside the Continental, and his subordinates are equally dangerous. Even his secretary is a veteran of the Fraternity."
Earl paused, his voice dropping. "But we don't have that power. The Adjudicator lost face at the agency; she'll likely look to reclaim her dignity by crushing us. She'll use us as an example."
The Bowery King's smile faded. He knew Earl was right. He couldn't stop a High Table strike team. If the Adjudicator moved against him now, it wouldn't just be about an abdication—it would be about his life. Unless she followed the rules to the letter, he was a dead man. And even if he survived, a king without a throne is just a target for old enemies.
"Earl," the King said hesitantly. "Can we ask Shiranui Hayate for help?"
"We can try," Earl replied. "But what can we offer?"
"Offer?" The King fell silent. He couldn't think of a single thing that would tempt a man like Hayate. He didn't even truly understand why Hayate had protected John Wick in the first place.
"Try anyway. Ask what the price for his protection is. If he can make the Table back off John Wick, he can do the same for us. Even if it means war, our odds are better with him than without him."
Earl nodded, though his eyes remained doubtful. The King stared out at his pigeon coops as the cold wind howled around him. He hadn't realized that giving John Wick a single pistol would lead to a storm this massive.
The Continental.
Winston set down his newspaper, absorbing the latest reports. "Hayate sent John away and shamed the Adjudicator. He's setting the tempo for a war."
He considered the strength Hayate had displayed and the caliber of his men. The High Table was not a monolith; there were always factions. The chance of Hayate forcing a parley was high.
Looking at his own situation, Winston realized he needed to make a move of his own.
The Next Morning.
Ding! Check-in successful. You have received 5,000 Copper Coins.
Hayate stepped into the lobby, where his entire team was already assembled. Hotaru approached him, carrying a tray with bread and milk.
"Boss, your breakfast."
Hayate took the tray and had a sip of milk. "Is everything ready?"
"Sorted," Hotaru smiled. "Our flight to Casablanca departs at ten. Also, I've spoken with Cross. He's willing to work for you as an Adjudicator, but he'll formally swear his fealty once we return. He's still training his son, Wesley, and apologized for missing this trip."
Hayate chuckled. "It's fine. Our ranks are growing. Whether they come to Morocco or not won't change the outcome. Let him focus on his son."
"When we get back, the landlord next door should be home. Hotaru, I want you to finalize the expansion of the agency immediately."
Hotaru's eyes brightened. "I'll handle it. I've already contacted buyers for the gold and jewelry; we'll liquidate those assets the moment we land back in New York. Finish your breakfast, Boss. It's time to head to the airport."
Hayate nodded and looked at Iruka. "Iruka, are you three ready? This won't be a walk in the park."
"Please rest easy, Lord Hayate," Iruka replied with a respectful bow. "We are prepared."
"Leave it to me!" Rock Lee exclaimed, his eyes burning with youthful energy. "The Lotus of the Leaf will bloom once more!"
Hayate finished his bread in a few bites and stood up. "Let's go."
Uchiha Sasuke remained silent, his cool exterior as impenetrable as ever.
Shortly after the five left, the Adjudicator received the alert in her suite at the Continental. She looked at the flight itinerary for Casablanca.
"Going to see the Elder?" she murmured, checking her watch. "Six days left..."
At the same time, Earl stood before the Shiranui Agency. He stared at the locked doors and the "Closed" sign hanging in the window.
His heart sank. Hayate was gone. The entire team had vanished, and the agency was dark.
Their last hope, their only fallback, was gone. Earl didn't waste another second; he turned and raced back to the Bowery to tell his King the bad news.