High Table
Supreme Directive - Global Assassin Organization Ranking Tournament - Mandatory Conscription
Recipient: Night Owl
Identity Code: #HD-BRONZE-SS0019 / Participant Number: No.39
Date: July 14, 2014 | Classification: Top Secret - Recipient Exclusive
Subject: Global Assassin Organization Annual Summit Ranking Tournament - Mandatory Conscription Service Notice
Night Owl:
In accordance with the absolute authority granted by Chapter Seven, "Wartime and Strategic Resource Mobilization Clauses," of the high table charter, the High Table Elder Council has unanimously ruled and issued this unchallengeable conscription order.
You, codenamed Night Owl, named Johnny, have been officially selected and commanded to immediately participate in the 11th Global Assassin Organization Annual Summit Ranking Tournament as a High Table representative. This event concerns the organization's reputation, resource allocation share, and core strategic interests in the global landscape.
Conscription Details:
1. Nature of Conscription: Mandatory Obligatory Service. This order is effective immediately, instantly suspending all regular and dormant missions under your name. All activities' priority shall be subservient to this ranking tournament.
2. Assigned Team: High Table Glory Vanguard
John Wick
Night Owl (Nighthook / Johnny)
Ghost Wolf (Shadow Wolf / Magrasov)
Witch (Lysandra)
Little Devil (Imp / Peter Dinklage)
3. Tournament Objective: Represent the High Table and win the highest honor. This objective takes precedence over everything. Team members must cooperate in combat, and overall performance directly determines the organization's ranking and resource quota. Special Note: Your actions, performance, and survival rate, along with John's, will be considered highly correlated critical variables.
4. Tournament Information: Complete rules, schedule, initial rendezvous point, communication encryption protocols, and logistics support details have been sent via a secure path (encrypted data packet and instruction manual attached to this letter) to your registered terminal (High Table Assassin APP and associated encrypted email). Immediately verify and initiate the access process.
The first operational briefing will take place within 72 hours at the designated safe house P{[q, 0.004976, 0.6917], [K, 0.0197, 0.6895]}, and absence will be considered desertion.
Note: This conscription is not a request, nor is it a selection. This is the High Table's final and indisputable decision based on strategic resource requirements.
You are directly responsible for the team's overall performance. Any actions leading to a ranking failure due to personal incompetence, operational errors, or violation of team directives will be considered a challenge to the High Table's will.
Retired status, personal wishes, or seniority have no exempting effect in the face of this order. The High Table's mark is an eternal covenant.
Consequences of Refusal or Failure to Fulfill Conscription Obligations:
In accordance with the high table charter's sanction clauses, the highest level global ban will be immediately activated.
Relevant sanctions (including but not limited to revoking all permissions, freezing assets, canceling asylum, initiating public bounties, etc.) will take effect immediately and permanently.
All High Table-affiliated personnel will be forcibly commanded to prioritize your elimination.
Choose to accept this mission, and you will continue to exist under the High Table's order. Challenge this order, and you will be utterly erased.
Act immediately.
Glory or Annihilation.
Authorized and issued by the High Table Elder Council (High Table Emblem)
After seeing the full content of this invitation letter, Johnny was speechless.
"What virtues or abilities do I possess to be chosen to participate in the Global Assassin Organization Ranking Tournament?"
This email came unexpectedly, and this mission was even more inexplicable. He didn't even know why he was picked for this mission until he saw the list of participants.
An idea popped into Johnny's mind, "Damn it, could I have been brought along just to get my unlucky master to participate in this ranking tournament?"
This was the only normal reason Johnny could think of. Besides this, he had no reason to believe that he would be chosen by the High Table, after all, he wasn't the only assassin of the High Table.
At the same time, John's phone, far away in Europe, rang. He pulled out his phone, took a look, and his expression immediately became solemn.
Although John used an old-fashioned phone, the High Table chose to inform him via text message.
Subsequently, John didn't dare to delay. Instead, he found a nearby device capable of checking emails and began to read the email about the Global Assassin Organization Ranking Tournament.
The more he read, the uglier his expression became. He hadn't expected that even after so many years of retirement, he would still be forcibly conscripted by the High Table.
Especially when he saw Johnny's name on the list of participants, how could he not know the High Table's true intention behind this action?
Subsequently, John immediately took out his phone and dialed a string of numbers.
A female voice answered in the receiver, "Welcome to the Continental Hotel's special exclusive customer service hotline. How may I help you?"
John's phone number had long been recorded in the High Table's system, so when John dialed this exclusive hotline, a dedicated customer service representative would connect with him.
"I want to know what exactly is going on with the Global Assassin Organization Ranking Tournament?"
John's tone was very unpleasant, but he knew this was not the time to lose his temper.
"Okay, please wait a moment..."
After clearly understanding John's request, the voice paused slightly, then a series of keyboard clicks could be heard.
After a while, the exclusive customer service voice came through the receiver again, "The system shows that you have been forcibly conscripted to participate in the Global Assassin Organization Ranking Tournament. The specific reason is unknown. However, according to the absolute authority granted by Chapter Seven, "Wartime and Strategic Resource Mobilization Clauses," of the high table charter, you are not allowed to resist or refuse to participate in this Global Assassin Organization Ranking Tournament, otherwise, it will trigger the Purge Plan."
What does it mean to speak the coldest words in the most elegant language?
John had truly witnessed it. Although the customer service representative had always answered the questions with a smiling tone and professional service, the absolute authority in her words was undeniable.
After hanging up the phone, John thought for a moment and then called another person in his contacts. The caller ID on the screen showed the name, noted as Winston.
After two rings, the waiting tone sounded, and the call was connected.
"Winston, I've been retired for 5 years, why am I still being forcibly conscripted?"
John had never participated in the Global Assassin Organization Ranking Tournament, but he knew what it was about.
He wasn't concerned about the competition itself, but rather why he was being forcibly conscripted.
Winston on the other end of the phone was silent for a while before calmly saying, "John, this matter is not something you or I can decide. As the manager of the Continental Hotel, I also have no way to resist the High Table's rules. I think you understand this."
"As for why they want you to participate? That's because the High Table is worried about losses if those assassins who haven't retired yet are killed in this ranking tournament. You, being retired, are the best choice."
Winston's tone also revealed a hint of helplessness, but he couldn't change anything. Although he was the head of the Continental Hotel's New York branch, he was not a high-level executive.
As for why Johnny was included, anyone with a bit of sense could guess.
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