History Main / MurderInc

The {{Trope Namer|s}} is [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder,_Inc Murder, Inc.]], a gang that mainly did killings for Lepke Buchalter and the National Crime Syndicate from the 1920s through the 1940s, dubbed Murder Incorporated by journalists, aka the Brownsville Boys. They also hired their men out to other mobs. What set them apart was, unlike hitmen who worked on a per-contract basis, they were ''salaried'' and had a benefits package.

* G'Kar from ''Series/BabylonFive'' is once targeted by someone from the Thenta Makur, a Narn assassin's guild. Their signature is leaving a black flower on the target's bed, which is a signal to get one's affairs in order. The group has such a dedication that when G'kar fakes bribing the man they sent, they cancel the contract on him and move it to the assassin out of embarrassment.

[[folder:Western Animation]]

[[/folder]]

* ''WebAnimation/Pretty Blood'': [[AntagonistTitle PrettyBlood]] hosts {{Snuff Film}}s, as well as torture devices like the Stress Generator, which shocks and increases its victim's stress levels.

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[[caption-width-right:320:''[[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII Requiescat in pace.]]'']]

In various forms of fiction, it is terribly common to have various criminal organizations floating around with a single purpose in life: [[ProfessionalKiller causing death to others]]. It is often called [[WeirdTradeUnion The Assassin's Guild]], but it could appear under any number of other names or in any number of settings. Their goals for this vary. It's often simply for money, but it could just be a group that enjoys playing politics. In that case, there's some overlap with the AncientConspiracy, except they're not that old ... and not that big.

Indeed, there's often overlap between Murder, Inc. and other groups. Often, what makes Murder, Inc. ''different'' from any other [[TheSyndicate Organized Crime Syndicate]]/terrorist front/SecretPolice is the fact that their strength comes not from their numbers or their training, but their reputation. Most such groups could, in fact, really consist of ten competent people and it wouldn't hinder their operations too much. Or two--don't forget [[Literature/{{Neverwhere}} the Old Firm]]. They're feared as the ones that "take people" who are "never seen again." Usually people that [[DeadlyEuphemism "cause problems" that need to be "solved." Capisce?]]

In less contemporary settings--far past or far future--they are the frequent source of TrainingFromHell (and, if their membership is large enough, TheSpartanWay).

There are more pragmatic evils out there. Why kill people when you could be doing something else? Why, for fun and profit, of course! "[[ForTheEvulz For fun]]" usually entails that the group sees murder as an art form of one sort or another (like the BloodKnight you never see coming). "For profit" usually invokes images of the League of Extraordinary Hitmen (tm). Sometimes, what keeps such a group together is a slavish devotion to their leader, who will serve as TheDragon. First glance would indicate Murder, Inc.'s leader would be a good [[TheManBehindTheMan Man Behind the Man]]. Unfortunately, TheReveal is usually too foreshadowed to be useful: after all, if every person on the street fears them, it's not surprising when they turn out to be the BigBad. One can still play it that way, but don't expect the audience to be surprised.

The {{Trope Namer|s}} is [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder,_Inc Murder, Inc]], a gang that mainly did killings for Lepke Buchalter and the National Crime Syndicate from the 1920s through the 1940s, dubbed Murder Incorporated by journalists, aka the Brownsville Boys. They also hired their men out to other mobs. What set them apart was, unlike hitmen who worked on a per-contract basis, they were ''salaried'' and had a benefits package.

Please note that Murder, Inc. isn't always [[EvilInc evil.]] They don't tend to let [[TrueNeutral codes of morality]] get in the way of their [[OnlyInItForTheMoney business model]].[[note]](Sometimes...)[[/note]]

Compare with PrivateMilitaryContractors, which has similar functions with employees acting as HiredGuns, but is often "legal" compared to the criminal Murder, Inc. ([[CorruptCorporateExecutive not that they're above engaging in dodgy business practices either...]])

* The Red Dragon Syndicate in ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' was always called that, but became much more...uh...[[MeaningfulName vicious]] as time passed. Eventually, their full-time job seemed to be killing people and antagonizing the main characters. The people that the organization was seized from were very opposed to this and even said the organization wouldn't survive long like this.
* The various ninja villages in ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' are partly this, but are primarily mercenaries who will perform any task for the right amount of money. None of the main characters actually perform assassinations, such tasks being reserved for high-ranking individuals. None of the villages are explicitly 'evil' ([[spoiler:except Orochimaru's]]), but are mostly considered enemies of each other.
** Kakashi is a main character and he used to perform assassinations and may still do so if not as often. The rookies later own devise their own assassination attempt [[spoiler: against Sasuke]] and in the Grass Country arc, the plot revolves around intercepting an Akastuki spy in the Sound village with the intent that his info. can be used to draw up plans to assassinate Orochimaru; this ran simultaneously with a secret plan to [[spoiler: kill Sasuke]] by new member Sai, on orders from ROOT, for whom he had already carried out numerous killing missions.
* The Black Organization of ''Manga/CaseClosed''. They also deal with drugs and illegal weaponry as well.
* The [[SortingAlgorithmOfEvil Gung Ho Guns]] in ''Manga/{{Trigun}}'' are the murderous minions specifically of the BigBad, selected for their power and willingness to slaughter people, up to and ultimately including ''[[KillAllHumans everybody]]''. In the manga, however, some slots in the Guns are explicitly filled from the ranks of [[ProfessionalKiller The Eye of Michael]], which is one of these that fronts as a Christian church and has its roots in a plant worshiping cult. They therefore tune in to the AncientConspiracy part of the trope. The arrangement is useful to [[BigBad Knives]] because it means if one of these minions dies off there's already a contract in place to bring in a replacement.
** [[spoiler: Wolfwood is one of them, of course. They adopted him around age twelvish and subjected him to horrible experimentation and TrainingFromHell, and he's got subversive goals, but he's very much what they made him.]]
*** In fact, he took advantage of the 'auto-replacement' feature to shoot his [[EvilMentor teacher]] and infiltrate the Guns.
** Anime Chapel the Evergreen, Chapel-with-an-apple, is not shown to be from one of these. He could at least as easily be someone's pet assassin who took on an apprentice and then later fell in with [[TheDragon Legato]], although the information is sparse enough it could go either way.
*** The sense of honor anime Chapel ultimately shows ("the cornered mouse will attack the cat") does not fit with the frenetic nihilism that seems to be in fashion in the Eye, although that might just be Razlo being AxCrazy, Livio being beyond the DespairEventHorizon, and Master C being crippled and out for revenge.
* Broadly speaking, the Hell Correspondence from ''Anime/HellGirl'' is this in a supernatural, DealWithTheDevil context. They'll instantly whisk anyone you don't like to Hell, but the price is your own soul (after your natural death).
* The Anten Seven in ''Manga/OutlawStar'', who are a group of elite assassins who work under Lord Hazanko. They were sent to kill Gene Starwind and the Outlaw Star crew.

* Koroshi, the assassin's guild from ''ComicBook/UsagiYojimbo''.

* ''Animation/ScissorSeven'' has the Killer League, the biggest orgonazation of assassins in the setting. It even has a yearly ranking of its members, which can be improved by completing tough contracts, or killing higher ranked assassins. The country of [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Xuanwu]] makes full use of it to conquer new territories, hiring killers or placing bounties on the strongests inhabitants of the targeted territory to weaken it, making the defensless population left [[KnowWhenToFoldEm surrender by themselves.]]
** And at the very top of it rests the Shadow Killers. A group of 7 individuals and their [[BigBad Leader,]] all of whom [[RedBaron feared far and wide]] for [[CruelAndUnusualDeath very]] [[RankScalesWithAsskicking good]] [[ProfessionalKiller reasons.]] [[spoiler: [[AmnesiacHero Seven]] used to be the seventh member, but [[HeelFaceTurn betrayed the organization.]] [[ActionGirl Thirteen's]] Master, [[TheChessmaster Green Pheonix,]] is one of them as well.]]

[[folder:FanFiction]]
* The Assassins' Guild of Ankh-Morpork, and especially its School, are greatly expanded upon in the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' fic written by A.A. Pessimal. Assassins who are barely there in the canon become [[AscendedExtra Ascended Extras]] and get full bios and [[Fanfic/NatureStudies stories to themselves]]; the workings of the School are currently being described in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10383608/1/The-Prospectus The Prospectus]]''.
* ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/14997911/chapters/34760702 The Horsewomen Of Las Vegas]]'' has the Wrestling/BulletClub as one of these.
* The Rainbow Factory from a famous My Little Pony creepypasta ''Fanfic/RainbowFactory''. They use a machine to kill ponies and drain their colour to make rainbows.
* The [[Recap/DoctorWhoS5E2TheAbominableSnowmen Great]] [[Recap/DoctorWhoS5E5TheWebOfFear Intelligence]] in ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/18742849 this]]'' Wholock fanfic.

[[folder:Film]]
* ''Film/TheEnforcer1951:'' The film features a group of hired killers based on the original, real-life Murder Inc. They have a bad case of NoHonorAmongThieves and unravel pretty fast during a police investigation.

* Two such organizations collide in ''Film/MrAndMrsSmith2005''.
* The Deadly Viper Assassination Squad of ''Film/KillBill'' infamy.
* The Fraternity in ''Film/{{Wanted}}'' is a high-powered group with GunKata.
* ''Film/TheAssassinationBureau'', based on the unfinished novel ''The Assassination Bureau, Ltd.'' by Creator/JackLondon.
* In ''Film/TheParallaxView'', the Parallax Corporation seems to be this, whether or not it was a secret government front, as their entire business is arranging assassinations.
* The ''Franchise/JohnWick'' series features an elaborate world of Assassins that seems to effectively operate with impunity. They all function on a strict set of rules and obey a CosmopolitanCouncil of criminals called The High Table. The Assassinations themselves seem to work on a contract-based system, with open contracts being basically public bounties anyone can collect and closed contracts being essentially traditional hitman hiring.
* ''Film/VioletAndDaisy'': Violet and Daisy seem to be a part of an organization like this. They even have the ranks of 9 and 8, with this going up to 1. Daisy also meets Killer No. 1 in the film. Aside from that however we get no information.
* ''Film/{{Murder Inc|1960}}'', a 1960 BMovie, is [[BasedOnATrueStory an adaptation of Brooklyn DA Burton Turkus's]] account of the RealLIfe {{Trope Namer|s}}. It's otherwise notable as the breakout performance for Creator/PeterFalk.
* ''Film/NakedWeapon'' revolves around the heroine and her bestie, two young girls raised to be top assassins from such an organization. It's run by a sadistic DragonLady called Madam M who had minions kidnap young girls from all over the world, imprisoned in her torture dungeon, and have them brainwashed since birth to be obedient killing machines that obeys everything she demands.

** The Assassins' Guild of the great city of Ankh-Morpork, whose motto is "''Nil Mortifi Sine Lucre''": "No killing without profit", is at once a parody and a lampshading of the trope. The Guild is legal, its head is an influential public figure, and it is common for nobles to send their children to its excellent fee-paying school. The Guild will take political actions for the good of the city, and will even enforce their monopoly on assassination by hunting down murderers. Assassins themselves abide by several rules, including that they always wear black, even when this is [[HighlyVisibleNinja detrimental to any attempt to be inconspicuous]], and especially that they're not allowed to kill people unless they are paid to do so, and they cannot kill the defenseless (although as far as the Guild is concerned, anyone rich enough to hire bodyguards automatically falls under "capable of defending himself"). In ''{{Literature/Pyramids}}'', the head of the Assassin's Guild gives a great speech about how killing for a cause is extremely dangerous and inherently evil, as compared to killing for money.

** There is a Klatchian ([[FantasyCounterpartCulture read Arabic]]) assassination group, the drug-using Hashashin, resembling accounts of the original Assassins (Hashishim). However, descriptions of the Hashashin are sometimes parodic; apparently, they kept [[TheStoner giggling at the way light reflected off their knives, swaying to music, and falling over]]. In ''Literature/{{Jingo}}'', as Ankh-Morpork goes to war with the Klatch, Vetinari notes acidly that the Guild's boast of being so good that the Klatchians send their children there really means that Klatch's assassins know Ankh-Morpork's methods, have refined their ancestral skills, and have a working knowledge of the city's layout.

* The Hashishin are identified as the ([[UnreliableNarrator possible]]) forebears of the Illuminati in the ''Literature/{{Illuminatus}}!'' trilogy, reflecting assorted flaky real-world conspiracy theories.

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' actually features multiple Murders Inc.

* The protagonist of Eric Nylund's ''Literature/AGameOfUniverse'' works for Umbra Corp, a great example of this trope.
* Michelle West's novels have a group called the Kovaschaii, who are high-quality assassins. Among other things, they take information on the target directly from the client's mind, foiling any attempts at eavesdropping. Also, one of them does leave and become a hero, but not because they're evil or even because he wanted to: a girl who can see the future convinced him that he would be needed elsewhere to help save the world.
* ''Literature/TheExecutioner'' series by Don Pendleton. The Black Aces are elite Mafia hitmen under the control of the Five Families. Toward the end of Mack Bolan's war against the Mafia we discover they're not above manipulating the politics of the Mob for their own ends. Bolan also finds their reputation useful by pretending to be one himself.
* In ''Dreams of Steel'', a novel in Literature/TheBlackCompany series, the cult of Kina plays this role pretty explicitly. They believe that anyone they kill for the goddess Kina will go directly to paradise, so they make it their goal to kill as many as possible.
* Henry Slesar's short story "The Candidate" concerns the Society for United Action, a group of like-minded individuals who, upon deciding someone is truly "not fit to live", engages in mass wishing for the person's death, after letting them know that they've been targeted; the sheer psychosomatic effect of knowing so many people are wishing you dead has resulted in their "hits" being successful the vast majority of the time.
* The Silent Guild of ''[[Literature/AssassinFantastic History and Economics]]'' operates openly, with several of its laws not only common knowledge but featured as obligatory reading in Introduction to Law, along with the court case "Romanez vs. the Silent Guild".
* In Creator/CJCherryh's ''Literature/Foreigner1994'' series, the alien atevi have a strange form of government-approved Guild: someone contracts with the Guild to assassinate a target, the Guild informs the government, and the government informs the target. If the target is still killed in spite of the warning, the killing is legal. If an amateur kills someone themselves, it's illegal. If a Guild member kills someone without a Guild sanctioned contract, it's illegal ''and'' ticks off the Guild.
** In spite of being called the Assassin's Guild, and the members being called assassins, most assassins spend the majority of their time doing security work or being bodyguards, on the theory of "to catch a thief, send a thief".
* A humorous novel titled ''Going Public'' (author unknown, sorry) starred three young hitmen who decided to actually offer stock options for their assassination business, 3W Undertakings. (The "W" was because the three had adopted nicknames based on "Willie" -- Willie the WASP, Willie the [[NWordPrivileges Wop]], and Willie the Watusi.)
* ''Radio/{{The Shadow}}'' once fought an organization that offered death insurance. People would buy insurance on a person and would be paid if they did not die by a certain time. Of course, this was really a paper-thin disguise for a murder for hire business, though when the organization failed to carry out a hit they did pay up.
* The Brotherhood of the Hand from ''Literature/TheDeathGateCycle'' is part Murder, Inc. and part ThievesGuild; they are the most powerful criminal organization in their world and have their hands in all sorts of dubious enterprises, but are most well-known for producing highly competent assassins, including AntiHero [[BadassNormal Hugh]].
* ''Literature/{{Neverwhere}}'' by Creator/NeilGaiman has '' "Croup and Vandemar, the Old Firm, obstacles obliterated, nuisances eradicated, bothersome limbs removed and tutelary dentistry." ''
* Subverted in Creator/JohnMoore's ''Literature/TheUnhandsomePrince''. The capital of Melinower ''does'' have an Assassin's Guild--but it's actually a fake, run by the palace guard, to catch people who might want to hire or join such an organization.
* In Sherrilyn Kenyon's ''The League'' series they have "The League", who also offer education. The entire futuristic society runs around a very public assassination contract system. Things like "Spill-Kills" offer bonus payment for everyone killed trying to get to the target.
* The Gray League in ''Literature/DiamondSwordWoodenSword'' is part assassin's guild, part information brokers.
* In the Yellowstone society described in ''Literature/RevelationSpace'', a number of companies provide "Shadowplay" services, which allow the bored, wealthy, immortal aristocrats living in the upper city to set an assassin on... themselves. The assassin has a limited time to kill his target (often a few months), both the assassin and the target are alerted by a special implant when they get close to each other, and there may be other constraints and requirements specified by the target (for example, limitations on weapons, or on the place of the killing). The game is designed so that most of the targets manage to escape, but around 30% get killed. Why do they do that? They are so bored that facing death is the only way they manage to feel alive, and besides, surviving a shadowplay session makes you famous and respected.
* The events in ''[[Literature/RevelationSpaceSeries Chasm City]]'' are instrumental to the creation of Shadowplay, and the end of the novel sees the foundation of the first and biggest shadowplay company, Omega Point.
* In ''Literature/{{MARZENA}}'' according to Helena, there's this thing called the Coven which is a modern-day evil league of super evil women. The Coven hides itself behind a number of companies such as Starcloud and the C-Section. They form the Feminist Mafia and controls the stock market by killing people for a profit to buy ruined companies with [[FictionalCurrency decimals on the Credit]]. There's also the United-Bank of all Nations, the UBN, money is all about profit at any cost.
* Creator/DorothyLSayers wrote a story about a firm called "Smith & Smith, Removals" that specialized in such matters. It was supposed to be part of a series, but she never wrote any more.
* Creator/AgathaChristie's ''Literature/ThePaleHorse'' had one of these.
* The ''Literature/MalazanBookOfTheFallen'' has several:
** The Guild of Assassins in Darujhistan is exactly what it calls itself. They are headed by Guild Mistress Vorcan and organized in internal clans and make it possible for noble families to settle their disputes away from the public eye.
** The Claw doubles as the SecretPolice of the Malazan Empire. They are typically trained from a young age and organized in Hands, which often include assassin mages as well. Any place facing a Malazan conquering army tends to shit its metaphorical pants at even the ''rumor'' of a Claw Hand or two having slipped in to prepare their army's arrival.
** The Talon was the precursor of the Claw but with less emphasis on the police and more on the secret parts. It was allegedly wiped out by the Claw to secure Empress Laseen's hold on the empire, yet rumors of a few agents still existing and operating tend to have even the Claw scamper in near panic.
** The Kingdom of Lether has the peculiarly named [[WeirdTradeUnion Rat Catcher's Guild]], which purports to do just that - catch rats and other vermin. In truth, they act as the unofficial assassins guild, [[ThievesGuild the guild of thieves]], a refugee smuggling ring, ''and'' are conveniently contracted by the crown to investigate disappearances.
* ''Literature/VillainsByNecessity'': The assassins guild Sam used to be a member of.
* ''Literature/JoePickett'': In ''Stone Cold'', Joe is sent to Medicine Wheel County to investigate what retired financier Wolfgang Templeton is up to on his ranch. It turns out that Templeton is running a murder-for-hire organisation, with Joe's friend Nate as one of his operatives.

* In ''Literature/LePereGoriot'', the Society of the Ten Thousand, led by Vautrin, is able to arrange for major crimes (a policeman explicitly said they didn't care for matter less than 10,000 francs), such as thefts and murders.
* The ''Literature/TheRiftwarCycle'' has the Nighthawks, which play a central plot point in ''Silverthorn'' and ''A Darkness at Sethanon''. The Black Slayers who infiltrate the Nighthawks have an annoying tendency not to stay dead unless [[KillItWithFire killed with fire]] or the heart is cut out.
* ''Literature/AgentG'' by Creator/CTPhipps has the International Refugee Society (IRS) that provides the billionaires of the world with untraceable murders that they make look like accidents. Notable for the fact that their agents are all brainwashed memory-less HollywoodCyborg assassins called Letters.
* ''Literature/GirlsDontHit'': Synergistic Business Services, a company officially specializing in mediating corporate disputes but actually arranging contract killings. They have assassins around the US and elsewhere. Joss and Echo are just two, with Miles their only actual link to the business. Sometimes though Joss goes to an office where she does fake work but actually just surfs the Internet. It's mentioned that the FBI suspects their activities, but can't prove it-they killed one agent who'd come too close.
* ''Literature/TheSilerianTrilogy'': Along with their main extortion rackets, waterlords' assassins can be hired to kill people for a high price (usually they just take out enemies of the waterlord they serve).

* Series/DoctorWho:
** The [[Recap/DoctorWhoS5E2TheAbominableSnowmen Great]] [[Recap/DoctorWhoS5E5TheWebOfFear Intelligence]], mainly in "[[Recap/DoctorWho2012CSTheSnowmen The Snowmen]]".
* [[FunWithAcronyms Homicide International Trust]] on ''Series/MacGyver1985''.
* G'Kar from ''Series/BabylonFive'' was once targeted by someone from the Thenta Makur, a Narn assassin's guild. Their signature is leaving a black flower on the target's bed, which is a signal to get one's affairs in order. The group has such a dedication that when G'kar fakes bribing the man they sent, they cancel the contract on him and move it to the assassin out of embarrassment.

* Buffy in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' is once targeted by the Order of Taraka, an assassin's guild hired by Spike to take her out.
* In ''Series/TheWestWing'', Toby Ziegler's father was a member of the historic Murder Incorporated.
* One episode of ''Series/MutantX'' featured Blue Bolt, an organization of BadassNormal assassins with acute hand-to-hand skills and cutting-edge technological weaponry.
* The Junshi clan from ''Series/{{Jake 20}}''.
* ''Series/TheCape'': The Tarot society are a group of assassins for hire.
* ''Series/KrodMandoonAndTheFlamingSwordOfFire'': Dongalor hires one called the Stygian Corps which promises to murder Kröd and Aneka. They fail.
* ''Series/TheWatch2021'': The Assassins Guild. All of their work is legal, so long as they leave behind a calling card, don't kill members of other guilds and stay inside of a quota.

[[folder: Multiple Media]]

[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
* ''ComicStrip/ModestyBlaise'' has several examples, starting with "La Machina" in the very first story arc. The most notable example would be Salamander Four.
[[/folder]]

* The Assamites in ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'' and other TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness role-playing games are used as hired vampiric killers. Their backstory ties them to TheHashshashin.
* In ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' 3.5 members of the Assassin prestige class are typically supposed to be members of an assassin's guild. in supplemental campaign material, one of the most famous of such organizations is The Garrotte, a multi-planar guild of assassins with operatives virtually everywhere. They are also the only apparent epic level assassins guild. Notably, they don't just kill their targets, they can also use special rituals and weapons to render them DeaderThanDead in order to circumvent the fact that DeathIsCheap at epic level play. All of this may or may not hold true in a given campaign.
* The ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'' has a number of assassins guilds. The Fire Knives of Westgate play a minor role in ''Literature/AzureBonds''.

* TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 has the Officio Assassinorum supplying the Imperium of Man with four flavors of assassins (six if you count those found only in the background lore). There are also Death cult assassins, Eldar Striking Scorpions and Dark Eldar Mandrakes which have their own organizations.

* The Molochean Hand in ''VideoGame/ArcanumOfSteamworksAndMagickObscura''. They are secretive, with an ancient and actually very compelling history, and they're quite literally ''everywhere'' you go - hot on your trail, keeping lookout in bars, and waiting for you in plot-relevant dungeons. Sadly their fearsome reputation becomes a bit implausible when you realize you've killed two dozen already, and you're not even playing a combat-oriented character.
* The main character of ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedI'', Altaïr, is one of TheHashshashin, and the game depicts the Syrian branch; future games would depict successor incarnations of the Assassins as being more politically-motivated (namely opposing Templar schemes to consolidate control over humanity), though they're willing to invert this by actually putting contracts on Templars and hiring either Assassins or outsiders for minor targets.

* CELL from the ''VideoGame/{{Crysis}}''. Despite being a mercenary company who is supposedly fighting off the [[AliensAreBastards Ceph]], they have no qualms about murdering civilians and are [[MeleeATrois trying to kill the protagonist and the other Marines as well.]]

* ''VideoGame/DeadToRights'' features a large mercenary group whose forces are a recurring element in the game called Mayhem Inc.. Weirdly enough, Jack Slate -- the main cop character -- is already acquainted with them and identifies them as "[[UnusuallyUninterestingSight that assassin's guild out of Broadway]]." [[OpenSecret Is its address listed in the phonebook?]]

** The Antivan Crows in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' fall under this category, with members being raised and trained for the sole purpose of assassinating and... well, sex. If Zevran is recruited as a companion, he shifts his allegiance from the Crows to the Warden, and if his friendship increases sufficiently he will answer questions about the organization. The Warden can also choose to take assassination side-missions from a representative of the Crows. Sten (if recruited) will question Zevran about the organization's name, pointing out that crows are scavengers not killers. Zevran says he heard a rumor that they considered calling themselves 'The Antivan Kestrels', "but it didn't sing, it didn't dance".
** ''Videogame/DragonAgeInquisition'' introduces the House of Repose, which operates from Orlais. [[AffablyEvil They're probably the most polite ruthless murderers you'll ever meet.]] They target [[spoiler:Josephine]] because of a contract against her family that was drafted a hundred years ago. Even though the original clients are long dead and their descendants no longer nobility, the House of Repose will still honor the contract for the sake of their reputation. However, since the situation is so unusual, they extend the courtesy of an explanation, so that at least she understands ''why'' they're trying to kill her. The conversation also gives her an idea of how to have the contract nullified, and though their representative warns that it will take a long time, he sees merit in the idea. If allowed to leave unharmed, he adds that "I pray we never meet again," suggesting that he personally doesn't like having to honor the contract.

** The Morag Tong is a guild of assassins officially sanctioned by the [[OurElvesAreDifferent Dunmer (Dark Elf)]] government. To put it lightly, the Dunmer [[TheClan Great Houses]] don't get along very well, and since open warring between the Great Houses would weaken the Dunmer overall, the Morag Tong was sanctioned as the solution. Whenever someone with enough wealth to hire the Morag Tong wants someone dead, an "Honorable Writ of Execution" will be created for that person and a Tong assassin will be dispatched to kill them. They [[EvenEvilHasStandards follow a strict code of honor]] and are [[ProfessionalKillers highly professional]] in regards to their work. (Even if one of their agents could get away without getting caught following an assassination, they are still encouraged to turn themselves in and present their Honorable Writ of Execution to ensure that everything remains above board.) After aiding in [[TheKingslayer the assassination of Emperor Reman Cyrodiil III]] at the end of the 1st Era, they were outlawed everywhere in Tamriel except for Morrowind. Amusingly, their and the Dark Brotherhood's modern lore characterization is almost an exact flip of what they were when the Morag Tong was introduced[[note]]''Redguard'' introduced the Tong as the creepy cultist assassins with odd possibly Sithis-connected beliefs, while the Dark Brotherhood were presented as professional and business-focused with little religious influence between ''Daggerfall'' and ''Morrowind'' (the Dark Brotherhood ''was'' a secretive cult up to nefarious deeds in ''Arena''... but they [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness weren't assassins yet]])[[/note]].

* The Lotus Assassins in ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire''

* Sharon reveals in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel III'' that she used to be a member of a group of assassins called the Order of the Moonlight Horse. The group was eliminated during a conflict with [[TheConspiracy Ouroboros]], save for Sharon and two other members known only as the Golden Butterfly and the Thousand Oathbreaker, who all ended up joining Ouroboros after the order was destroyed.

* Thugs-4-Less in ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankGoingCommando''. Boasting such mottos as "If it ain't broke, we'll break it!" and "Pay for six hits, and the seventh one's free." Thugs-4-Less flunkies challenge Ratchet throughout the game, and the Thugs-4-Less leader serves as one of the game's main villains, even though [[spoiler:you end up on the same side as the person who hired them in the first place. Right around the time it's revealed the thief is a good guy, and Mr. Fizzwidget doesn't really want anything more to do with you, the Thugs-4-Less leader gets a phone call to make him switch sides, and still be opposed to you.]]
* The Howling Voice Guild and Nether Gate in ''VideoGame/{{Suikoden}}''. The latter even has no fewer than ''four'' [[DefectorFromDecadence defectors]]. They're all, naturally, quite loyal to the cause once recruited.
* The Assassin's Guild in the video game ''VideoGame/{{Summoner}} 2''.
* The [[TheDreaded Scattered Bones]] of ''VideoGame/TalesOfZestiria''. Infamous and have a catchphrase in "[[PreMortemOneLiner may these weary bones find peaceful rest]]". They also fall under the kind with morality, researching their targets and only killing those who they feel deserve it, aka AssholeVictims. [[spoiler: Considering they used to be the famous [[HiredGuns Windriders]] their morality makes sense. They also act as the Sparrowfeathers, a group of [[IntrepidMerchant Intrepid Merchants]] who aid [[TheHero Sorey]] and others more than once.]]

* ''WebAnimation/PrettyBlood'': [[AntagonistTitle PrettyBlood]] hosts [[SnuffFilm snuff films]], as well as torture devices like the Stress Generator which shocks and increases Its victim's stress levels.

* Team Vorg, from ''Webcomic/CwensQuest'', is a "business" in CQ's fantasy world whose whole business model is based around having large armies going about conquering city's and towns at the behest of their psychotic and unstable but also Reaganomic, corporate-minded & business savvy leader.
* The titular group in ''Webcomic/SuicideForHire'', though it consists of just two teenagers, and their clients and their victims are the same people.

[[folder:Web Original]]

* ''WebVideo/TalesFromMyDDCampaign'' features The Organization. Originally founded as LaResistance against the evil [[FishPeople Kua-Toa]] occupation forces, it has more recently branched out into assassination and bounty hunting. [[spoiler: Angel Bloodright, one of the protagonists, is a member.]]
* In ''WebVideo/SwordArtOnlineAbridged'', the PlayerKilling guild Laughing Coffin shows up to do some contract killings as in the source material, though [[HeroicComedicSociopath Kirito]]'s method of handling the situation is a ''bit'' different - he advises them to drop the [[AsTheGoodBookSays "Bible-quoting serial killer"]] motif they've got going [[DoWrongRight and totally rebrand themselves with a new PR campaign to reach more clients.]] They withdraw to follow his advice, but a later episode reveals that they [[TooDumbToLive had the bright idea to include directions to their exact location in their promotional video.]]

* The Creator/BobClampett short ''Coal Black and De Sebben Dwarfs'' has the queen hire assassins literally called Murder Inc. to "black out So White''. On their van, they even have "Midgets 1/2 Price, [[WartimeCartoon Japs Free]]" proudly lit up on its side. Just in case it wasn't offensive enough already.
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' had the Society of Assassins (also known as the Society of Shadows.)
* The Guild of Assassins from ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime''.

The TropeNamer is [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder,_Inc Murder, Inc]], a gang that mainly did killings for Lepke Buchalter and the National Crime Syndicate from the 1920s through the 1940s, dubbed Murder Incorporated by journalists, aka the Brownsville Boys. They also hired their men out to other mobs. What set them apart was, unlike hitmen who worked on a per-contract basis, they were ''salaried'' and had a benefits package.

** The [[Characters/BatmanLeagueOfAssassins League of Assassins]], as their name implies, they're an organization that specializes in covert operations that involve assassinations. They mostly work to fulfill [[Characters/BatmanRasAlGhul Ra's al Ghul]]'s goals, but some stories have them being working as assassins [[OnlyInItForTheMoney just for money]].
** The DCU also has the Council of Spiders, a [[ArachnidAppearanceAndAttire spider-themed]] group of elite assassins that decide to kill Ra's al Ghul as a ''game'' since he seems like challenging prey. Their membership includes poisoners, martial artists, and a guy with [[MultiArmedAndDangerous six extra arms]]. He can ''[[GunsAkimbo oct]]-wield''.
** In addition to the Council ''ComicBook/RedRobin'' also introduced the Covenant of Ka, a group of PoweredArmor wearing assassins based out of Cairo. Tim had an exasperated inner monologue marveling at just how many organizations there are that deal near exclusively in death upon running into them.

* ''Film/{{Murder Inc|1960}}'', a 1960 BMovie, is [[BasedOnATrueStory an adaptation of Brooklyn DA Burton Turkus's]] account of the RealLIfe TropeNamer. It's otherwise notable as the breakout performance for Creator/PeterFalk.

* ''Film/NakedWeapon'' revolves around the heroine and her bestie, two young girls raised to be top assassins from such an organization. Said organization is run by a sadistic DragonLady called Madam M who had minions kidnap young girls from all over the world, imprisoned in her torture dungeon, and have them brainwashed since birth to be obedient killing machines that obeys everything she demands.

* ''WebAnimation/PrettyBlood'': [[AntagonistTitle PrettyBlood]] hosts [[SnuffFilm snuff films]], as well as torture devices like the stress generator which shocks and increases It's victim's stress levels.

* ''WebAnimation/PrettyBlood''s... well... [[VillanTitle PrettyBlood]] hosts [[SnuffFilm snuff films]], as well as torture devices like the stress generator which shocks and increases It's victim's stress levels.

* The Creator/BobClampett short ''Coal Black and De Sebben Dwarfs'' has the queen hire assassins literally called Murder Inc. to "black out So White''. On their van, they even have "Midgets 1/2 Price, [[WartimeCartoon Japs Free]]" proudly lit up on its side.

* In the ''Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse'' multimedia event ''Doom's Day'', Doom is an assassin for the Lesser Order of Oberon (presumably related to the Grand Order of Oberon, which is supposed to be more of a KnightTemplar group, although [[Recap/DoctorWhoS22E6RevelationOfTheDaleks the only member we see in the series]] is reluctantly working as an assassin-for-hire). Their slogan is "We aim to kill".

[[folder:Real Life]]
* The politically-motivated [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Hand_(Serbia) Black Hand]] is a group commonly blamed for the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, beginning World War I.
* The TropeNamer was [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder,_Inc Murder Inc.]], an organization run along corporate lines during the heyday of the Italian Mafia, and employing mostly Jewish hitmen. They fell apart along with ''Omerta'' at the end of the prohibition period.
* TheHashshashin (see [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashshashin here]]) were a group of assassins during the Middle Ages. They also were a Muslim sect (Nizari Ismailis). Their name is the origin of the word "assassin" in western languages. They were also another politically motivated example, assassinating first Muslim and then Christian enemies of their state.
* On February 2021, [[https://www.reddit.com/r/IntelligenceNews/comments/lcctgf/hit_squad_of_french_secret_agents_hired_for/ four French spies were arrested]] for engaging in contract killings.
* Heavily {{subverted|Trope}} with regards to "hitmen services" on UsefulNotes/TheDeepWeb (and the Dark Web), where despite [[UrbanLegends frequent rumors that they exist]], they're almost always in some way a scam. For anyone with the audacity to actually try and hire hitmen through deep/dark web sites, you'll usually just find your money taken in exchange for nonexistent services, and at worst, you'll end up getting arrested on account of the site being a honey pot used to get you reported to the appropriate authorities ([[TheMole sometimes run by the authorities themselves]]). There have been next-to-zero legitimate, confirmed reports of assassins hired through the dark web to put out hits, but there are ''far'' more stories of people getting arrested for conspiracy to commit murder after getting caught trying to use these services at face value.
[[/folder]]

* ''Franchise/{{Hitman}}'' has the ICA (International Contract Agency), although the ICA themselves could be considered more of a VillainProtagonist in the sense that they seem to only take hits against scum-of-the-earth criminals who escaped justice, although this is more to do with the fact the handlers the agency employs are the ones who select the contracts, and have their own moral stances. Diana just happens to go after really bad people, and freely admits in later games that other handlers get to choose better contracts for more lucrative reasons. The Franchise in ''Blood Money'' was being set up as this before their eventual dissolving by the end of that game.

* ''VideoGame/{{Hitman}}'' has the [=ICA=] (International Contract Agency), although the ICA themselves could be considered more of a VillainProtagonist in the sense that they seem to only take hits against scum-of-the-earth criminals who escaped justice, although this is more to do with the fact the handlers the agency employs are the ones who select the contracts, and have their own moral stances. Diana just happens to go after really bad people, and freely admits in later games that other handlers get to choose better contracts for more lucrative reasons. The Franchise in ''Blood Money'' was being set up as this before their eventual dissolving by the end of that game.

* Heavily {{Subverted|Trope}} with regards to "hitmen services" on UsefulNotes/TheDeepWeb (and the Dark Web), where despite [[UrbanLegends frequent rumors that they exist]], they're almost always in some way a scam. For anyone with the audacity to actually try and hire hitmen through deep/dark web sites, you'll usually just find your money taken in exchange for nonexistent services, and at worst, you'll end up getting arrested on account of the site being a honey pot used to get you reported to the appropriate authorities ([[TheMole sometimes run by the authorities themselves]]). There have been next-to-zero legitimate, confirmed reports of assassins hired through the dark web to put out hits, but there are ''far'' more stories of people getting arrested for conspiracy to commit murder after getting caught trying to use these services at face value.

* Heavily {{Subverted|Trope}} with regards to "hitmen services" on UsefulNotes/TheDeepWeb (and the Dark Web), where despite [[UrbanLegends frequent rumors]], they're almost always in some way a scam. For anyone with the audacity to actually try and hire hitmen through deep/dark web sites, you'll usually just find your money taken in exchange for nonexistent services, and at worst, you'll end up getting arrested on account of the site being a honey pot used to get you reported to the appropriate authorities ([[TheMole sometimes run by the authorities themselves]]). There have been next-to-zero legitimate, confirmed reports of assassins hired through the dark web to put out hits, but there are ''far'' more stories of people getting arrested for conspiracy to commit murder after getting caught trying to use these services at face value.

* Heavily {{Subverted|Trope}} with regards to "hitmen services" on UsefulNotes/TheDeepWeb (and the Dark Web), where despite ([[UrbanLegends frequent rumors that they allow you to reach deadly services of this kind]], they're almost always in some way a scam. For anyone with the audacity to actually try and hire hitmen through deep/dark web services, they'll usually just find their money taken in exchange for nonexistent services, and at worst, they end up getting arrested as the site is a honey pot used to get you reported to the appropriate authorities ([[TheMole or are run by the authorities themselves]]). There have been next-to-zero legitimate, confirmed reports of assassins hired by through the dark web to put out hits, but there are ''far'' more stories of people getting arrested for conspiracy to commit murder after getting caught trying to use these services at face value.

* There exists at least one fake Murder Inc website that has fooled several people looking to hire hitmen. The owner of the website actually reports people who try to use it to the appropriate authorities. It continues to fool people despite being featured in the news several times for getting users arrested.

** The Assassins' Guild of the great city of Ankh-Morpork, whose motto is "''Nil Mortifi Sine Lucre''": "No killing without profit", is at once a parody and a lampshading of the trope. The Guild is legal, its head is an influential public figure, and it is common for nobles to send their children to its excellent fee-paying school. The Guild will take political actions for the good of the city, and will even enforce their monopoly on assassination by hunting down murderers. Assassins themselves abide by several rules, including that they always wear black, even when this is [[HighlyVisibleNinja detrimental to any attempt to be inconspicuous]], and especially that they're not allowed to kill people unless they are paid to do so, and they cannot kill the defenseless. Of course, anyone rich enough is automatically considered able to defend themselves by hiring someone else to protect them. In ''{{Literature/Pyramids}}'', the head of the Assassin's Guild gives a great speech about how killing for a cause is extremely dangerous and inherently evil, as compared to killing for money.

* There's a dubious group on your space station in ''VideoGame/ThePerilsOfAkumos'' that deal in explosives, among other ''less'' legal activity.
* ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' has several factions that basically exist to murder other players, particularly the Darkwraiths, Blade of the Darkmoon, and the Forest Hunters.
* The [[TheDreaded Scattered Bones]] of ''VideoGame/TalesOfZestiria''. Infamous and have a catchphrase in "[[PreMortemOneLiner may these weary bones find peaceful rest]]". They also fall under the kind with morality, researching their targets and only killing those who they feel deserve it, aka AssholeVictims. [[spoiler: Considering they used to be the famous [[HiredGuns Windriders]] their morality makes sense. They also act as the Sparrowfeathers, a group of [[IntrepidMerchant Intrepid Merchants]] who aid [[TheHero Sorey]] and others more than once.]]
* Pendles from ''VideoGame/{{Battleborn}}'' runs Executive Executions, of which he's the sole proprietor and star assassin. He advertises EE services with all the affability and charm of a professional business-minded assassin.
* RED and BLU from ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' could probably be considered this.
* CELL from the ''VideoGame/{{Crysis}}''. Despite being a mercenary company who is supposedly fighting off the [[AliensAreBastards Ceph]], they have no qualms about murdering civilians and are [[MeleeATrois trying to kill the protagonist and the other Marines as well.]]
* Sharon reveals in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel III'' that she used to be a member of a group of assassins called the Order of the Moonlight Horse. The group was eliminated during a conflict with [[TheConspiracy Ouroboros]], save for Sharon and two other members known only as the Golden Butterfly and the Thousand Oathbreaker, who all ended up joining Ouroboros after the order was destroyed.
* ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSinII'': The Lone Wolves are a disparate band of PsychoForHire assassins who range from barely AffablyEvil to [[ChewingTheScenery frothing-at-the-mouth mad]]. Their victims' spirits litter their camp, [[VengefulGhost hoping for vengeance]], and their {{Sadist}} leader's office has no fewer than five [[UndeadChild child ghosts]]. By Act II, they've taken a contract on the PlayerCharacter...

* The Assassin's Guild in the video game ''VideoGame/{{Summoner}} 2''.

* The Howling Voice Guild and Nether Gate in ''VideoGame/{{Suikoden}}''. The latter even has no fewer than ''four'' [[DefectorFromDecadence defectors]]. They're all, naturally, quite loyal to the cause once recruited.
* The main character of ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedI'', Altaïr, is one of TheHashshashin, and the game depicts the Syrian branch; future games would depict successor incarnations of the Assassins as being more politically-motivated (namely opposing Templar schemes to consolidate control over humanity), though they're willing to invert this by actually putting contracts on Templars and hiring either Assassins or outsiders for minor targets.

* ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes'': The UAA (United Assassins Association) follows this trope. Interestingly enough, it also sets up deathmatches between members of its own organization, allowing ambitious killers to climb their way up the UAA's assassin rankings.
* ''VideoGame/{{Hitman}}'' has the [=ICA=] (International Contract Agency), although the ICA themselves could be considered more of a VillainProtagonist in the sense that they seem to only take hits against scum-of-the-earth criminals who escaped justice, although this is more to do with the fact the handlers the agency employs are the ones who select the contracts, and have their own moral stances. Diana just happens to go after really bad people, and freely admits in later games that other handlers get to choose better contracts for more lucrative reasons. The Franchise in ''Blood Money'' was being set up as this before their eventual dissolving by the end of that game.
* The Molochean Hand in ''VideoGame/ArcanumOfSteamworksAndMagickObscura''. They are secretive, with an ancient and actually very compelling history, and they're quite literally ''everywhere'' you go - hot on your trail, keeping lookout in bars, and waiting for you in plot-relevant dungeons. Sadly their fearsome reputation becomes a bit implausible when you realize you've killed two dozen already, and you're not even playing a combat-oriented character.

* ''Franchise/DragonAge'':
** The Antivan Crows in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' fall under this category, with members being raised and trained for the sole purpose of assassinating and... well, sex. If Zevran is recruited as a companion, he shifts his allegiance from the Crows to the Warden, and if his friendship increases sufficiently he will answer questions about the organization. The Warden can also choose to take assassination side-missions from a representative of the Crows. Sten (if recruited) will question Zevran about the organization's name, pointing out that crows are scavengers not killers. Zevran says he heard a rumor that they considered calling themselves 'The Antivan Kestrels', "but it didn't sing, it didn't dance".
** ''Videogame/DragonAgeInquisition'' introduces the House of Repose, which operates from Orlais. [[AffablyEvil They're probably the most polite ruthless murderers you'll ever meet.]] They target [[spoiler:Josephine]] because of a contract against her family that was drafted a hundred years ago. Even though the original clients are long dead and their descendants no longer nobility, the House of Repose will still honor the contract for the sake of their reputation. However, since the situation is so unusual, they extend the courtesy of an explanation, so that at least she understands ''why'' they're trying to kill her. The conversation also gives her an idea of how to have the contract nullified, and though their representative warns that it will take a long time, he sees merit in the idea. If allowed to leave unharmed, he adds that "I pray we never meet again," suggesting that he personally doesn't like having to honor the contract.

* ''VideoGame/DeadToRights'' features a large mercenary group whose forces are a recurring element in the game called Mayhem Inc.. Weirdly enough, Jack Slate -- the main cop character -- is already acquainted with them and identifies them as "[[UnusuallyUninterestingSight that assassin's guild out of Broadway]]." [[OpenSecret Is its address listed in the phonebook?]]