Hidden Order

The symbol of the Order is a metallic-black spades playing card.

The **Hidden Order** (also known as the **Syndicate**, or simply **The Order**) is a clandestine international criminal organization featured in the Hidden Order Saga. The organization controls transactions and operations for various gangs and crime groups worldwide under contract with them. The Order is notoriously secretive and enforces its contracts with brutal efficiency through its elite agents, the Knights of the Syndicate.

## Background

The Hidden Order's exact origins are shrouded in mystery, but it is widely believed that the organization began to take shape in the aftermath of World War I. In the early 1920s, a surplus of military equipment from the war was collected and sold by various gangs throughout Europe. As government crackdowns made arms trading across borders increasingly difficult, the Hidden Order, then known as the Syndicate, established a secret network of transport corridors to facilitate the safe exchange of contraband.

Many of the early Marshals of the organization were former soldiers with extensive knowledge of military logistics, enabling them to create shipping routes that were virtually impossible to trace. As a result, the Syndicate evolved into a major player in the underground transport of refurbished wartime machinery and weaponry.

In the present day, the Hidden Order is rumored to have agents in almost every country, making it incredibly difficult for law enforcement to track the organization. Captured agents often claim to have no knowledge of the Syndicate's true size, stating that such information is reserved for high-ranking officials within the group.

## Organization Structure

### Hierarchy of Authority

The Order adheres to a simple hierarchy of authority, with a group of directors known as Marshals at the helm. Most Marshals remain anonymous due to the nature of their work. Each Marshal is responsible for a specific operation within the Syndicate and manages a set of contracts with other criminal organizations.

When a task needs to be executed on behalf of the Order, Marshals dispatch their most elite agents, the Knights of the Syndicate. These specialized agents undergo rigorous training and are capable of being deployed worldwide to carry out their duties.

All other members of the Syndicate are known as "agents," who support operations in various capacities. Aegis Operators, for example, provide logistical and intelligence support for Knight teams during operations.

### Operations

The Syndicate's primary source of revenue is in facilitating transactions between different criminal organizations. Due to their authority within the criminal underworld, the Hidden Order serves as a trustworthy middleman between groups that may not have otherwise interacted directly.

When a criminal group wishes to request assistance, they enter into a contract with the Syndicate, which remains in effect until the transaction is complete. Contracts provide strict guidelines on the terms of a transaction and are authorized by Marshals of the Order. If a contract's terms are breached, the agreement will be terminated, and severe penalties will be imposed on the violating party.