This time, Zod found himself intrigued by a mission—a high-stakes target not related to the Midnight Hotel but to other assassin organizations.
The details were scarce, as expected. The target's identity was classified, and even the client remained anonymous. What was clear, however, was that the mission had been active for 20 days, and despite being dispatched to killers across the world, more than 30 assassins had already disappeared without a trace. The target was still alive, and the reward had ballooned to five million dollars—an upgrade from the initial offer of one million, thanks to the rising body count of those sent after him.
"A worldwide bounty... What could this guy have done?" Zod mused, flipping through the mission details. He quickly dismissed any concern that the target's troubles involved him.
Still, Zod was tempted to wait for the reward to climb even higher. Yet, a nagging thought persisted: What if someone got to the target first?
Better to act now.
The target had started in North America but had slipped through the fingers of those pursuing him, escaping to Japan. Most assumed his final destination would be Russia, but Zod had other suspicions. The Midnight Hotel's information indicated a detour through Japan, and soon the trail would lead back to Detroit.
In Japan, Jitt—an alias for the infamous target—had taken refuge with a friend, Shinsuke Yamada. The weight of the bounty on his head hung heavily in the air.
"Jitt, what the hell did you do?" Yamada asked, his voice tense with concern. "You've got the whole world's killers after you, even the ones from the Midnight Hotel."
Jitt shook his head, his expression grim. "It's better if you don't know. I don't want to drag you into this."
Yamada was incredulous. "You come to my doorstep, and you're worried about dragging me in now?"
Ignoring the jab, Jitt changed the subject. "Where are my babies?"
Yamada led him to his underground garage, revealing a secret weapons cache hidden behind a sliding wall. "Your custom arsenal, just like you left them."
Jitt smiled for the first time in days, his eyes lighting up as he examined the guns he had modified himself. His stash in North America had been blown to bits, making this cache even more precious.
Zod had arrived in Japan via the Midnight Hotel's specialized transport services, and their intelligence on Jitt's whereabouts saved him time. But he wasn't the only one hunting Jitt. The air was thick with danger.
A sniper.
Zod, dressed in a bulletproof windbreaker, sensed the presence before even spotting the glint of the rifle. He ducked behind a corner, carefully assessing the situation.
Not yet sure if his Kryptonian strength could withstand a sniper bullet, Zod chose caution. That moment, Jitt made his move. Two killers on motorcycles roared into view, rushing at him.
Boom!
A sniper shot echoed across the street. Both assassins fell, their bodies crumpling as the bullets pierced them clean through.
One shot, two kills.
The sniper was skilled—one of the best Zod had encountered so far. Even Jitt, unflappable as he usually was, darted for cover, knowing he was now a marked man.
The chaos caused the few remaining pedestrians to scatter, leaving the killers frozen, uncertain of their next move. No one dared challenge the unseen sniper.
Zod, however, wasn't like the others.
He stepped into the open, drawing attention with his two gleaming Desert Eagles hanging at his sides.
Dual-wielding Desert Eagles?
To the seasoned killers watching, this was either madness or a display of extreme confidence. They quickly decided it was the latter.
Zod's appearance triggered a response, and a handful of assassins turned their weapons on him. But Zod moved swiftly, drawing his guns in one fluid motion.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Six assassins dropped, their heads blown apart before they had a chance to fire.
"How is his aim that good?"
"I swear he wasn't even looking at me!"
As the surviving killers stared in shock, Jitt saw an opening and fired, but Zod was quicker. His bullet met Jitt's mid-air, shattering it. Though the shot was deflected, Zod's second bullet found its mark, striking Jitt right between the eyes.
Jitt's body collapsed, lifeless.
The killers watching couldn't believe it. Jitt, the man who had evaded and killed so many of them, was dead in a matter of moments.
The assassins, realizing the hunt was over, dispersed, leaving Zod alone. He had expected a longer, more intense battle. Instead, it ended abruptly.
Hearing sirens in the distance, Zod holstered his guns and left the scene.
Later, at the Midnight Hotel in Japan, Zod's arrival didn't go unnoticed. The other killers in the lobby murmured among themselves, aware of the events that had just transpired.
"Mr. Heath Zod," greeted a blonde receptionist with a warm smile. "Congratulations on completing your mission."
"I need a transport back to Texas tonight," Zod said, handing her two gold pounds.
The receptionist's smile widened. "Of course, Mr. Zod. But why not stay for a few days? We have excellent accommodations here, and after such a successful mission, you deserve some relaxation."
Zod shook his head. "I'd rather sleep in my own bed."
The killers nearby exchanged glances as Zod left. His name was already spreading like wildfire.
"The White Devil… got himself a nickname already."
"Three hundred and fifty kills, and he's just getting started."
"And don't forget, he wiped out a third of the Hellfire Gang in his last mission."
Back in Texas, the Midnight Hotel arranged Zod's return as promised. He yawned as he arrived, already seeing the deposit of over three million dollars in his account. He had converted the rest into gold pounds, now safely hidden away on the ranch.
Judley was still busy dealing with construction workers and custom steel orders. The villa hadn't even started yet.
After a brief rest, Zod returned to the Midnight Hotel, consulting with Keyala to review his firearms for the next mission. His ascent in the assassin world had only just begun.