As John Wick left the hotel, Winston approached Smith.
"Mr. Smith, do you think John Wick will make it to you alive?"
Winston believed the Assassin's Guild had the strength to protect John Wick—but how much effort they would put in was uncertain. This incident might even reignite a war between two factions that had long been at peace. After all, the consequences of John Wick's actions could range from trivial to catastrophic. It all depended on how the High Table's Twelve Elders decided to handle the Continental's rules.
Smith Doyle smiled and said to Winston:
"If he doesn't even have the ability to survive the journey, then there's no need to protect him."
Winston understood—John Wick had to prove his worth.
"Then, I'll thank you on behalf of Jonathan."
···
Outside, rain poured as John Wick returned home, soaked to the bone.
Inside, he gazed longingly at a photo of himself and his late wife. He replayed her video message once more.
He had already secured two of the seven Dragon Balls—five remained.
"Helen, wait for me."
Just then, the doorbell rang.
John opened it to find Charon, the Continental's concierge.
"Mr. Wick," he said, "If you're willing, please come with me."
John didn't reply—he only nodded.
···
Charon drove Winston's Rolls-Royce, ferrying John to meet with Winston.
John, seated in the back, knew all too well—after this meeting, the manhunt would begin, and he would need to reach the Assassin's Guild alive.
Surviving that gauntlet would mean an end to the bounty. If not—he'd be dead, plain and simple.
The Assassin's Guild was his only hope. Watching the city slide past outside, John waited silently.
Soon, the car pulled up outside a park just as the first light of dawn broke through.
John stepped out. Charon shook his hand and said,
"It was a pleasure, Mr. Wick."
"Goodbye."
He then gestured toward a part of the park.
John entered, crossed a footbridge, and found Winston seated in the center of the plaza.
"Jonathan," Winston greeted him.
John got straight to the point:
"What punishment awaits me, Winston?"
Winston, seated on the steps, answered gravely:
"Camora has raised Santino's bounty to 20 million, and they want the two Dragon Balls in your possession."
"You are now globally wanted."
Hearing Camora's name, John asked,
"The High Table?"
Winston nodded.
"Yes."
John continued,
"And your Continental?"
Winston stood, looked John in the eye, and said angrily:
"You killed someone on Continental grounds, Jonathan."
"You left me no choice—I had to excommunicate you."
"All privileges related to the Continental are now revoked."
He stepped closer and added,
"I regret to say this, but you are no longer alive."
John's voice rasped:
"Then why am I still breathing?"
Winston replied solemnly,
"Because I believe it's not yet your time."
He nodded to a man in a black trench coat nearby.
The man pulled out a phone and said,
"Now."
In an instant, the busy park fell eerily still—time seemed to freeze.
John looked around, realizing Winston wasn't bluffing.
Once Winston was sure John understood, he nodded again. Life resumed in the park as if nothing had happened.
Winston checked his watch and said,
"You have one hour. I can't hold this off much longer."
"You may need this."
He handed John a Blood Oath Marker—something John had once earned helping someone, then entrusted to Winston upon retirement.
Now, it was being returned.
John accepted it and said:
"Winston, tell them—tell everyone."
"No matter when, no matter how, any killer who comes for me… I'll kill them. All of them."
Winston smiled:
"Oh, I know you will."
As John turned to leave, Winston remembered Smith Doyle and called out:
"You have two paths."
"The Assassin's Guild—or the High Table Elders."
"The former can protect you. The latter can call off the bounty."
John paused. He knew his only real chance was the Guild.
"Thank you, Winston," he said before walking away without looking back.
Winston watched him go, then dialed a number:
"Activate 1 1 1 1 1. One hour from now—John Wick. Excommunicado."
Unbeknownst to either of them, Smith Doyle and Fox watched from a nearby rooftop with binoculars.
Fox checked his phone and said:
"The price just went up—20 million dollars."
"John Wick is now number one on the Continental's bounty board."
"Camora's people are interested in the Dragon Balls too."
"Do they know the secret?"
Smith Doyle turned off his power-level scanner, disappointed by the lack of impressive talent in the crowd. He replied:
"If the secret of the Dragon Balls was easy to uncover, it wouldn't still be in the shadows."
"But it has drawn attention. A lot of assassins are starting to look into it."
"After all, if both John Wick and Santino are after it—it's bound to stir curiosity."
Fox nodded:
"Let's hope John makes it to the textile factory alive."
Smith Doyle glanced toward the distant figure of John Wick:
"Let's go. Follow him. Let's see what kind of show John Wick puts on."
···
—End of chapter—
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