Hearing Kingpin's offer, Shiranui Hayate kept a poker face, but internally, he was reeling. Two billion dollars. Currently, his total assets combined were only around 500 million. This kind of capital would allow him to do so much more.
Originally, he had intended to open with a "high price" of 100 million. It seemed his vision had been far too narrow.
"Fisk," Hayate began calmly, "you know that for a commission of this scale, the rule is a 50% deposit upfront, with the remaining 50% paid upon completion."
Fisk smiled. To be honest, 2 billion dollars was no small sum—it represented roughly 5% of his total net worth. Handing it over for a contract was a bit painful, but he knew that once those 2 billion were spent to wipe out Madam Gao and every Hand member in America, he wouldn't be losing.
After all, Madam Gao had already begun to threaten his very existence.
"Hayate, we're old friends, aren't we?" Fisk said. "I'm very familiar with your rules. The money is already prepared."
Hearing that the funds were ready, Hayate smiled. "OK. Then let's sign the mission scroll."
Hayate pressed a button on the table. Shortly after, Iruka knocked and entered, handing over a blank mission scroll before silently retreating and closing the door.
Hayate began to write fluently, detailing the terms:
Client: Wilson Grant Fisk
Contractor: Shiranui Agency
Objective: Eliminate Madam Gao and wipe out all Hand members currently within U.S. borders.
Commission Amount: $2,000,000,000
He pushed the scroll toward Fisk. The Kingpin glanced at the wording—specifically "wipe out all Hand members within U.S. borders." He didn't seem surprised; he simply looked up at Hayate and signed his name with a flourish.
Hayate retracted the scroll and smiled. "How will you be paying? Card, wire, or cash?"
For a ten-figure expenditure, even a "Spice Mogul" like Fisk wouldn't dare use a traceable wire transfer. "Cash, bearer bonds, and a shipment of gold," Fisk replied.
Hayate shrugged. He didn't care about the form, as long as the value was accounted for.
Fisk pulled out his phone, made a quick call, and said, "Move the convoy to the Shiranui Agency's garage entrance."
Hanging up, Fisk placed two briefcases on the table. He opened one. "Inside this one, there are 300 million in Oscorp bearer stocks, 300 million in Coca-Cola, and 300 million in Stark Industries."
"Stark Industries will see a dip today, but Oscorp is on the rise. Together, they are valued at 900 million dollars."
"For the remaining 100 million of the deposit, I have 50 million in cash and 50 million in gold."
Hayate took the briefcase, briefly verified the untraceable stocks, and nodded. Seeing the 900 million in stocks put away, Fisk opened the second briefcase. Inside were used, uncleaned dishes and utensils.
"These were used by Madam Gao. They carry her scent. I trust this will be of use to you."
Fisk closed the case and pushed it toward Hayate. Hayate was highly satisfied; Fisk was indeed a long-time collaborator who understood exactly what a "ninja" needed for tracking.
Fisk's phone rang again. After a brief listen, he spoke: "The rest of the payment has arrived at your garage. Have your people receive it."
Hayate pressed the call button, and Iruka re-entered. "Lord Hayate, your orders?"
"Take a few men to the back garage. Secure everything Mr. Fisk brought into the vault."
"Understood, Lord Hayate. I'll handle it immediately."
As Iruka left, Hayate opened the The Balvenie 50-Year-Old that Fisk had brought. He poured two glasses, sliding one toward the Kingpin.
"To the swift completion of the mission and the removal of your greatest headache."
Fisk raised his glass, signaled to Hayate, and drained it. "Thank you."
After seeing Fisk out, Hayate returned to the System interface. He submitted the newly signed scroll to the Task Assembly Hall. The evaluation popped up quickly:
A-Rank Mission: Reward: 5,000 Reputation, 500,000 Copper Coins, and 1 Exquisite Chest.
Hayate felt a slight pang of disappointment that it wasn't S-Rank. Likely, because this only "severed one finger" of the Hand and targeted the U.S. branch rather than the entire global organization. Total annihilation of the Hand would surely be an S-Rank feat.
He then checked the status of Lee and Sasuke's previous tasks. Both were finished. He clicked "Claim":
Total: 1,000 Reputation, 100,000 Copper Coins, and 2 Common Chests!
Exiting the System Space, Hayate sent a message to his subordinates: Gather in the War Room.
War Room
Hotaru, Umino Iruka, Uchiha Sasuke, Rock Lee, and Shiranui Hayate were all present. Carlos, Wesley, and John Wick were still abroad; though they were capable, they were too far away for this immediate strike.
"Fisk has commissioned a massive contract," Hayate began. "It is an A-Rank mission, and it is vital. I want a full-scale deployment."
The team nodded in unison, no objections raised.
Hayate handed a hard drive to Hotaru. "Your task isn't combat, but it isn't simple either. This drive contains data on every major building in Hell's Kitchen. I need you to cross-reference every skyscraper built or managed by Rand Enterprises—completed or under construction."
"Mobilize the High Table's New York assets to vet these buildings. Flag any location where Hand members are congregating."
"One of these buildings sits on top of something I need. You must find it."
Hayate then briefed the team on the specifics: the Dragon Bone, the Hand's structure, and their primary target—Madam Gao.
One relevant follow-up question: Since the mission involves locating a Rand Enterprises building, do you think Hayate plans to leverage the "Iron Fist" lore to find the Dragon Bone entrance?