38 Chapter 038: Where Life Lies
Returning home in the pouring rain, John Wick gazed at the ruins that used to be his house. Pain was evident on his face.
Amid the debris, he found a photo frame with a picture of him and his wife. He tried to wipe off the soot, hoping to reveal the original photo, but his efforts were in vain.
Disappointed, John Wick sat amidst the rubble, looking at the ashes under his feet. He spotted the necklace his wife had left behind and immediately reached for it.
After sifting through the ashes, he managed to find the relatively intact necklace. Holding it in his hand, he walked to an undamaged couch and sat down, placing the necklace on his chest and reminiscing about his wife.
Suddenly, a voice beside him startled John. He turned to face the source of the sound.
Emerging from the darkness was Charon, the concierge of the Continental Hotel. He said, "Mr. Wick."
Seeing John's gaze, Charon continued, "If you're willing, you can come with me."
John didn't speak but nodded, agreeing to go.
...
Charon drove Winston's Rolls-Royce, accompanied by John Wick and his dog, to meet Winston.
Sitting in the back seat, John took out a tissue from his pocket. On it was written "Doyle Agency," the same tissue Charles Doyle had handed to him at the Continental Hotel.
Seeing the words, John knew that Charles was telling him that his opportunity for a fresh start was with his agency.
Putting the tissue back in his pocket, he glanced at the scenery outside and quietly waited.
Soon, the car arrived at the entrance of a park. The warm sun was just rising, casting its light on the sky.
With his dog by his side, John stepped out of the car as Charon approached him. Charon said, "It was a pleasure spending time with you, Mr. Wick."
After shaking hands with John, Charon added, "Farewell."
He then pointed in the direction of the park, indicating that the person John was waiting for was there.
Walking into the park and crossing a bridge, John spotted Winston sitting in the center of a square and approached him.
Seeing John approach, Winston greeted, "John."
John cut straight to the point, "Winston, what punishment will I receive?"
Winston sat on the steps, his expression serious as he spoke, "The bounty on you placed by the High Table has doubled through the Camorra. You're now globally hunted."
Hearing the name "Camorra," John asked in confusion, "The High Table?"
Winston nodded, "Yes."
John continued, "And what about the Continental Hotel?"
Winston lifted his head, looking directly at John with a hint of anger in his tone, "You killed on the hotel premises, John."
"I must excommunicate you, I have no other choice."
"From now on, all services and assistance from the Continental Hotel will be cut off for you."
Winston stood up, coming in front of John, and said, "I'm sorry, but you're worth nothing now."
John's voice was somewhat hoarse, "If I've broken the rules, why am I still alive?"
Hearing John's question, Winston's expression turned solemn, "Because I demanded it."
He then nodded to a man in a black trench coat standing nearby.
In the next moment, the man in the trench coat pulled out his phone and said, "Now."
The park, once bustling with people, suddenly froze, as if someone had pressed the pause button. Everyone stopped moving.
John Wick looked around, understanding that Winston was serious.
Once he confirmed John's comprehension, Winston nodded again. In the next second, everyone in the park resumed their movements.
Winston glanced at his wristwatch, saying to John, "You have one hour. I can't extend it too long."
"Perhaps in the future, you'll need this."
Winston produced a blood oath marker, the very one John Wick had possessed, the one he had earned by aiding another. However, when he chose retirement, he surrendered it to Winston.
Now, Winston returned John Wick's blood oath marker, the same one he once held.
Accepting the marker, John Wick said, "Winston, tell them, tell everyone."
"No matter the future, no matter the circumstances, when assassins come for me, I will show no mercy, I will not hold back."
Winston looked at John's earnest expression and smiled, "Of course you will."
As John turned to leave, Winston remembered what he and Charles had discussed at the Continental Hotel. He spoke again, "If there's anyone willing to help you now, the most likely candidate is Charles Doyle."
"After all, he still holds your blood oath marker, unused. He probably won't let you die easily until he uses it."
"Of course, it's just a possibility."
John halted his steps and said, "Thank you, Winston."
With that, John Wick left the park without looking back.
Watching John's departure, Winston picked up his phone and dialed a number, "Open an account, 1 1 1 1 1. In one hour, John Wick, excommunicado."
...
On the other side-
Charles Doyle Agency-
At this moment, Charles was briefing the team, "Ginny, prepare the healing bath. We'll need it when John Wick arrives."
Surprised at the news of John Wick's visit, Ginny exclaimed, "Boss, John violated the rules at the Continental Hotel. How is he even able to come here alive?"
Clearly, Ginny didn't believe that John, who had broken one of the Continental Hotel's two cardinal rules, could still be alive.
Charles smiled and then said, "Trust me, Ginny. John won't die."
"And I won't let him die."
Playfully, Ginny remarked, "Boss, that's a $7 million price tag!"
As Ginny finished speaking, everyone's phones received a notification.
John Wick had been excommunicated from the Continental Hotel, his membership revoked. His bounty had also doubled to $14 million.
An hour after receiving the message, anyone could hunt John Wick worldwide.
Seeing the notification, Ginny whispered, "It's $14 million now. His bounty is even higher. He's undoubtedly the undisputed top of the hit list."
"Boss, do you really think he has a chance of survival coming here?"
"Every hitman in the city must be eager to claim their share of the reward. Besides, would he really dare to come?"
Charles grinned and said, "Go prepare, Ginny."
"Trust my judgment. After all, I've never been wrong."
Then, addressing lruka and the others, Charles continued, "Prepare for combat as soon as John arrives. If any other assassins target the agency, eliminate them on sight!"
"Yes, Lord Charles!" X3
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