Ep 22. Smart, the Assassin

Max and 99 are having a relaxing time in a park when they are confronted by a portly man who claims he is an old friend of Max's from the "old days." The man, who goes by the name of Sam Vittorio, has a proposition for Max. Sam is a world famous assassin and he is retiring from his line of work. He is willing to let Max take over his "business" for a commission of 10% of all the fees that Sam has earned. Max is initially not interested, but after some deliberation, he decides to take up Sam's offer and becomes an assassin himself.

In his first job, Max is to eliminate a man named Heinrich Stubel, a high-ranking official from the country of Pinerovia. Stubel is a vital link in an international criminal organization's plan to smuggle secret plans that could endanger the free world.

Smart, who is also known as agent 86, manages to get close to Stubel by posing as a hairdresser. As per the plan, Max is supposed to shoot Stubel at the site of the hairdressing salon, using a gun disguised as a hair dryer. However, just as Max is about to pull the trigger, he gets cold feet and fails to complete the job. Max flees from the scene, but the mission is still on. Now, Max has to complete the job, for if he does not, the organization will send their other hitmen to finish the job, including Sam Vittorio himself.

Smart tries to think of a way to rectify the situation. Desperate, he enlists the help of 99 and uses her as bait to lure Sam to the apartment, with the promise of giving him a chance to eliminate Smart himself. To his surprise, Sam falls for the trap and comes to the apartment, revealing his plan to take out Smart. Smart tricks Sam into believing there is a party in his honor, to give the other agents time to set up a plan to capture Sam.

The episode not only showcases Max's investigation and the attempt of the assassination. It also shows Max's struggle with taking on the role of an assassin and his honesty in correcting his mistakes. Along with Max's earnest heart, 99's crafty plan to lure the hitman provides a thrilling experience for the audience. The season episode marks an essential shift in the relationship between Max and 99, with the latter becoming more involved in the investigations.