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The Assassin Alliance
Smith Doyle arrived at Bulma's laboratory and found her still busy, her hands never stopping.
"Brother Smith, what's wrong?" she asked.
Smith Doyle rubbed his nose, thinking that he might be exploiting child labor—but he asked anyway:
"How's the progress on the combat power detector?"
"I plan to use it here."
Hearing this, Bulma stopped what she was doing. On one side of the workbench lay a fully intact combat power scanner; on the other side was a pile of materials, clearly intended for reverse-engineering the device.
Bulma picked up the scanner, placed it over her eye, and glanced at Smith Doyle.
"190. That's very high."
"Everyone else in the castle is between level five and six. Only three people reach level eight under special conditions."
Hearing this, Smith Doyle knew his combat ability had indeed improved—likely the result of recent training. As for those three, they were probably Mister X and the Cross father and son. Only when they activated bullet-time did they reach that special state.
Bulma removed the scanner and casually tossed it to Smith.
"I've already taken it apart and analyzed it. The concept is excellent."
"I have a plan, but due to material and size limitations, the production version probably won't exceed a reading of 300."
Smith was genuinely impressed by her efficiency. As expected of a genius who would someday build a time machine by hand.
"Cut all parameters in half. One hundred fifty combat power is enough for the main version."
"It also needs anti-tamper protection—if someone tries to dismantle it, it should explode."
Smith Doyle did not underestimate Earth's research capabilities. Without countermeasures, once a few units were sold, someone would inevitably attempt to crack and replicate the technology.
Hearing this, Bulma—wearing her white lab coat—narrowed her eyes and smiled.
"Release one generation, store one generation, develop one generation?"
"That's exactly how Capsule Corp operates."
At that moment, the lab door was knocked open, and Fox entered, dressed in an office-lady uniform.
"Chief, our agents stationed outside the Midland Central Finance Building report that several Hand leaders have departed in armored vehicles. They're likely heading for the flour mill."
Smith Doyle's eyes brightened slightly at Fox's outfit. The uniform itself wasn't special—but Fox's figure was stunning, the buttons on her chest nearly bursting. More importantly, this was the first time he'd ever seen her dressed like this.
"The Five Fingers are all out in the open," Smith said with a faint smile."This is getting interesting. I'd like to see what they do next."
He waved to Bulma.
"Bulma, I'm heading out to deal with the enemy. Thank you for all your hard work."
After leaving the lab, Smith stopped and turned to Fox.
"Is that bulletproof too?"
Fox paused, kissed him on the cheek, and smiled.
"Well? Do you like it?"
Smith wrapped an arm around her waist, kissed her back, and said:
"Wait for me at home. Once I deal with those Hand bastards, I'll celebrate tonight wearing that outfit."
Fox pulled two pistols from her waist.
"Aren't you taking me with you?"
Looking at Fox in her professional outfit, dual-wielding two .45-caliber Kimber pistols, Smith shook his head.
"It'd be a shame if this got damaged or dirty."
"The Hand will suffer heavy losses, but we may not stay peaceful here either."
"Take your people and secure headquarters. Expand reconnaissance. Who knows what they'll try next."
Hearing this, Fox didn't insist. She could only watch as Smith Doyle departed.
Under cover of night, Smith Doyle took flight toward Hell's Kitchen.
Elsewhere
Just after leaving the flour mill, John Wick was ambushed by the Hand. Without his high-grade ballistic suit, he would have died on the spot.
"Rat. Rat. Rat."
Using his car as cover, John returned fire with his assault rifle.
This time, however, the Hand had deployed an elite unit—members armed with thermal weapons and ninjas wielding cryo-enhanced blades.
Under the combined assault, John was pinned down, unable to raise his head as the encirclement tightened.
Several breakout attempts failed, and when his rifle ran dry, John switched to dual pistols. The Hand didn't have it easy either—three of their men were already dead.
As the circle closed, ninjas advanced toward John's vehicle.
John took a deep breath, preparing to fight to the last.
At that critical moment, a massive iron hammer appeared out of nowhere, smashing back a ninja who tried to ambush him.
Boom!
The hammer swept across the battlefield, sending Hand members flying.
The Hand reacted instantly, unleashing gunfire at the hammer. Some ninjas even slashed at it with their blades, displaying astonishing aggression in the face of overwhelming force.
"Rat. Rat. Rat."
Bullets struck the hammer, sparks flying.
Poole roared as he counterattacked:
"Ow! Ow! Ow!"
Hearing Poole's voice, John Wick immediately surged into action. He rolled out from beneath the car and shot the fully armored Hand members in the thighs.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Their legs gave out, dropping them to the ground. John stepped forward and fired into one man's face.
Bang. Bang.
One shot shattered the mask. The next blew out his head.
Other Hand members opened fire. John raised his suit jacket to shield his head, rolled in close, seized a rifle with one hand, and fired three rounds into the man's face with the other—killing him instantly.
He shifted targets again, strangling a nearby ninja before finishing him with a pistol shot.
With Poole's arrival and timely support, John Wick—who had been on the brink of death—launched a counteroffensive. The Hand's elite forces fell one by one under their combined assault.
After fierce combat, only three ninjas remained.
Just as victory seemed within reach, several vehicles drove into the battlefield.
"Hmph."
Madame Gao snorted coldly and waved her hand. An invisible force blasted John Wick and Poole backward, forcibly interrupting Poole's transformation and reverting him to his original form.