"Something about this feels familiar."
That was the only thought that cut through the silence of the room.
The room was dark, only broken by the glow of multiple screens that lit it up like a quiet command center. A figure sat at the center of it all, operating the space like it was second nature.
And that person was revealed to be Janet.
She was typing without stopping, moving through files and security feeds like she had been doing it for hours. Her eyes stayed locked on the screen, switching between windows, pulling up data, closing others, all in one smooth rhythm.
The convenience store footage was already playing. The one where John was ambushed.
People were running helter-skelter in the scene. Why wouldn't they? They had just heard multiple gunshots inside the convenience store. Only the brave ones were standing at a corner, phones out, filming the chaos. (A/N: Some people just like courting death)
But Janet wasn't looking at all of that.
Her focus locked on one figure.
Limping.
He was in pain, but he wasn't rushing. Just moving through the space like everything around him didn't matter.
She paused the video.
Leaned in slightly and zoomed the frame.
Clearer now.
Her expression didn't change much, but her hand slowed on the keyboard.
She opened another file without thinking too long about it.
Old records.
A case from years ago.
An archived image appeared on the screen.
She didn't react immediately. Instead, she placed both images side by side and just looked at them for a moment.
Back and forth.
New footage.
Old image.
Something about it didn't feel like coincidence anymore.
Her typing slowed again as more files started opening.
Other cases. Other incidents. Similar patterns she had seen before but never really connected in one place.
Then she stopped.
"Janet, don't get involved… I'll handle it… you can't comprehend how dangerous these guys are."
John's voice came into her mind.
Not loud. Not strict. Just calm. Like he was trying to keep her away from something she wasn't supposed to touch.
That thought pulled something else with it.
A memory she hadn't thought about in a long time.
A woman.
Years ago.
Same kind of warning. Same feeling behind it. Not clear words anymore, just the weight of it.
Janet kept looking at the screen, but her focus wasn't steady anymore.
For the first time, she hesitated.
Not because she didn't understand.
Because she was starting to understand too much.
This wasn't just one case.
And that made it worse.
The weight of everything finally came crashing down on her.
"Maybe I should really not get involved in this…"
She said it absentmindedly, before the thought could settle. Then another memory flashed again.
It was the woman from years ago again.
She was smiling at her, a warm, comforting smile.
Remembering it, Janet's expression changed. A pained smile formed as a tear dropped.
The memory lingered for a while… then her resolve hardened.
No confusion anymore.
Just a decision settling in.
She couldn't ignore this.
Not again.
"Especially if John is involved in this…"
She muttered inaudibly.
"History won't repeat itself."
Her fingers returned to the keyboard.
And she pressed…
Enter
.
.
.
Meanwhile…
John was on his side of things now, completely detached from whatever tension had been left behind elsewhere. The atmosphere around him was calm.
He sat comfortably in front of a computer, in a relaxed posture, light music playing softly in the background. It looked like he had just taken a bath, this was because of the robe he was wearing.
A coffee mug in his hand, taking sips from time to time. Everything felt easy, like nothing was demanding urgency from him at the moment. (A/N: Or maybe that's what he needed you to think)
John didn't react to anything beyond his space.
He had just finished today's training.
His body still carried that light, refreshed feeling that came after pushing himself and then properly cleaning up afterward. He looked like someone who had reset everything for the day. He also felt the changes it brought to his body.
For a moment, his thoughts drifted back to yesterday.
The tree incident.
It replayed briefly in his mind. A faint, almost amused expression crossed his face.
Then he let it go.
No need to dwell on it.
Because he knows that's not even scratching the surface of what HIT can actually do.
He turned back to the screen.
His fingers moved casually as he worked, no pressure, no urgency. Currently, he's on the dark web, no big deal.
But as he continued, something about the computer itself caught his attention.
At first glance, it looked like a normal machine placed inside a cabin. Nothing special. Nothing unusual.
But the more he used it, the more he realized it wasn't ordinary.
It responded too well.
Too smoothly. It handled tasks with a level of capability that made him quietly acknowledge it.
He didn't question it. He simply noted it.
And continued.
For him, things were simple.
He was alone.
Stranded in a world where he still needed direction, resources, and a way to properly rebuild himself. Money, information, stability… all of it mattered.
Janet cannot just take care of him for the rest of his life. If he can do something about his present situation, he would do it.
He owed Janet and he doesn't want to put her in any problem she can't handle, because there is still a possibility of Hydra or anyone locating him in the woods.
So he returned to what he knew.
ASSASSINATION WORK
Especially now that the HIT template system existed.
That was the real reason he was on the dark web in the first place. Not curiosity. Not exploration. He was looking for organizations that handled contracts tied to his skill set.
Anything else didn't make sense.
He leaned back slightly.
What exactly was he supposed to use the system for? Making donuts?
A faint smirk crossed his face.
Still, joining any organization was not an option.
Too many unknowns. Too many risks. Groups always came with hidden strings, even when they looked clean on the surface.
And Hydra…
Even without certainty, he didn't trust the idea of them being involved anywhere near his operations. From everything he had seen and learned, their influence reached places most people didn't even realize. That alone was enough reason to stay away.
Safer to remain independent.
Always.
He turned back to the screen and kept working.
That was when something appeared.
A name.
THE LEAGUE!
No flashy design. No loud introduction. Just a quiet entry sitting there like it wasn't meant to be easily noticed.
That alone made him pause.
He studied it for a moment.
A secret assassin network. Anonymous contracts. Fully encrypted communication channels. Cryptocurrency payments. Operatives with unclear identities—some human, some enhanced, some impossible to clearly categorize.
It felt hidden in layers, like only certain people were meant to even understand it existed.
John hasn't heard anything about this organization before, even in his past life.
He didn't trust it, but he didn't ignore it either.
And he began the registration process.
Codename: HIT.
The system responded immediately.
He was surprised that the codename was not taken yet. He chose that name because of his template system.
After that, multiple security layers appeared.
Verification protocols, identity checks. Everything slowed down.
He didn't actually put his real identity. He had experience in bypassing it; he learned it from his former partner in his previous life. Too bad the guy was a rat and he needed to be taken care of by John, but that was a story for another day.
So by providing fake details and some difficult techniques (A/N: I don't even know how he did that, I've been stuck on the verification check for long now)…
The process took longer than expected.
John stayed calm.
He understood it instantly.
This wasn't difficulty for the sake of difficulty. It was filtration. A system designed to weed out anyone who didn't belong or didn't understand what they were stepping into.
He had seen this kind of structure before. So he worked through it patiently.
Step by step.
No rush.
At certain points, the system paused.
Silence holding for a moment too long.
Almost like it was deciding whether to reject him or let him pass.
John didn't react. He simply waited, but internally he started to sweatdrop.
"What if this technique doesn't work for this world?"
Then it continued.
More checks.
More layers.
Until finally—a brief pause appeared.
Long enough to feel intentional.
John started to wonder if this stuff was making fun of him.
Then it happened.
Access granted.
REGISTRATION CONFIRMED!
SUDDENLY A notification appeared blocking his vision
[System Notification]
Congratulations!
[Hidden Mission Completed]
Synchronization level increased.
New ability unlocked.(Click to check)
--------------------------------------------------
John's eyes stayed on the screen.
He had expected something like this.
Not fully, not with certainty—but he had tested ideas in his mind about how the system might react under certain conditions.
And this result confirmed he wasn't wrong.
A small smile appeared on his face.