Inside a historic restaurant in New York's Chinatown, Hunter set down his chopsticks. He leaned back in his chair and looked across the table at Diana, who had stopped eating long ago. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and immediately frowned.
"Japanese tea," Hunter muttered, staring at the fine green dust floating in the cup.
He shook his head in disappointment. The food wasn't authentic either. He could tell the dishes had been heavily altered to suit the palates of local tourists.
It wasn't terrible, but it was far from excellent. Hunter estimated the head chef was barely sitting at a Level 3 or Level 4 proficiency.
"Who is the genius managing their inventory?" Hunter thought to himself. Serving steamed, powdered Japanese green tea in a traditional Chinese restaurant was just lazy. The mouthful of bitter tea dust instantly soured his good mood.
Diana was incredibly observant. She had noticed Hunter frowning multiple times throughout the meal and realized he was dissatisfied with the food. She actually thought the meal was quite good, so she assumed he was being deliberately difficult.
"Is the food not to your liking?" she asked, her tone slightly defensive.
"Don't misunderstand," Hunter replied with a polite smile. "I've studied authentic culinary arts for a while. This place might be a historic Chinatown staple, but they've heavily watered down their recipes for the local tourist crowd."
"It just doesn't suit my palate," he added smoothly. "If we have the time someday, I'll cook you a proper meal myself. I guarantee it will be vastly superior to this."
It wasn't an empty boast. His Cooking skill had reached Level Max half a month ago. Hunter was now objectively one of the greatest culinary masters on the planet.
Back at the farm, his women would devour every single dish he prepared, even without his supernatural emotional infusion. They would eat until they were physically bursting, yet still crave another bite. He genuinely didn't mind letting Diana experience his mastery if the opportunity arose.
Hearing his explanation, Diana's tense expression finally relaxed. She had spent a considerable amount of time selecting this specific restaurant. The ICA had compiled a massive psychological profile on Hunter, and she knew he favored traditional cuisine.
She had put genuine effort into this meeting and didn't want him scoffing at it. Remembering Agent 47's report about Hunter's terrifying, photographic learning capabilities, she felt a flicker of genuine curiosity.
"Alright," Diana agreed, offering a rare, faint smile. "If the opportunity presents itself, I would love to taste your cooking."
"It's a promise then," Hunter nodded.
He pushed the bitter tea aside and popped a sweet pastry into his mouth to cleanse his palate. He watched Diana carefully. She was surprisingly patient today, refusing to bring up business first.
Since she was paying the bill, he decided to throw her a bone. "By the way, Miss Burnwood. Is that complex contract you kept mentioning still available?"
"I'm feeling a bit curious," Hunter continued. "If it falls within my current capabilities, I might be willing to take it off your hands. If it's too much of a hassle, you'll have to find someone else."
Hunter knew it wouldn't be a simple hit. Diana had been pestering him about it for over half a month. But despite sitting on a billion-dollar fortune, Hunter still took difficult contracts. He simply loved the adrenaline rush of the underworld.
Diana blinked in surprise. Hunter had been expertly stringing her along for weeks. She had been frustrated by his arrogance, but she couldn't deny his immense capability and undeniable charm.
Seeing him willingly open the door to negotiations threw her off balance. "Is he giving me a way out?" she wondered. Her perspective of the young assassin shifted slightly, and her icy demeanor thawed.
"The contract is still open," Diana confirmed, her voice much softer now. "It is incredibly complex. I haven't been able to find a suitable operative to handle it."
She leaned forward slightly. "Truthfully, this mission actually concerns you."
Hunter paused, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean by that, Diana?"
Diana let out a soft sigh. "Do you remember the backdoor deal we made in New York a few months ago? You requested a massive shipment of heavy weaponry."
"The ICA couldn't source that kind of ordnance on such short notice. We contacted a highly trusted arms dealer and purchased the stockpile directly from him to supply you."
"Shortly after completing that transaction with us, he vanished."
"His family eventually utilized some underground channels to contact the Agency," Diana explained. "Since he has been a reliable partner for years, the ICA launched an internal investigation."
"We have basically confirmed his current location. He was set up by an unknown rival and thrown into a clandestine, privately owned prison."
"No one knows the actual geographic coordinates of this facility. The only thing we know is its reputation."
Diana locked eyes with Hunter. "It is known as the most impenetrable fortress on the planet. Any prisoner sent there will never walk out, not even as a corpse."
"Due to the absolute secrecy of the facility, the ICA cannot launch a large-scale paramilitary rescue. We need a highly versatile solo operative with a diverse skill set to infiltrate the prison and extract him."
"What do you say?" Diana asked, a hint of challenge in her eyes. "There are two separate bounties for this job. One from the target's family, and one directly from the ICA."
"I guarantee the payout will satisfy you."
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