Rules

Three days had passed since the Charlotte Incident.

Charlotte Doyle stood in the Agency lobby, looking over the newly renovated and reopened Agency with satisfaction as he nodded.

In just three days, the damaged interior furnishings had been restored. He was quite satisfied with that efficiency.

"Boss, we've tested the Wax Bath formula. There are no problems with it," Ginny reported as she walked over to Charlotte.

Charlotte smiled. "Good. Since the Wax Bath works, set up a recovery room as soon as possible."

"Boss, the owner of the place next door isn't in New York right now. They won't be back to negotiate until next week, so the recovery room may have to wait a while."

"But we can renovate one of our existing rooms first. That way, anyone who gets injured can recover there."

Charlotte nodded. "All right, go arrange it. I'm heading to the Storage Room."

The Storage Room was on the basement level, a vault Charlotte had set up to store cash, weapons, and equipment.

When he arrived at the vault, Charlotte waved his hand, and a crate of gold and a crate of jewelry that he had previously placed in Storage Space appeared before him.

He glanced at the firearms and ammunition hanging on the vault wall and shook his head. He had rarely touched those things over the past three years.

After locking the vault, Charlotte went back upstairs. He spotted Umino Iruka sitting in the lobby and walked over. "Iruka, where are Sasuke and Rock Lee?"

Iruka immediately rose respectfully. "Lord Charlotte, Rock Lee and Sasuke are sparring in the Training Room."

Charlotte smiled. "Iruka, I've told you that you don't need to be so formal, yet you're still this respectful every time. Once Rock Lee and the others come out, tell them that the Wax Bath has been verified and can be used for physical recovery."

Iruka said happily, "Lord Charlotte, that's wonderful. Technology here may be advanced, but medical recovery is still far too slow. We don't have any Medical Ninja right now either, so this Wax Bath is an excellent supplement."

Charlotte was about to say something else when Ginny came jogging over and immediately said, "Charlotte, there's news about John Wick, the one you asked me to keep an eye on."

"Just as you predicted, Santino Antonio had someone blow up his house!"

"Boss, how did you know in advance that John's house would be burned down?"

Upon hearing that John Wick's home had been burned, Charlotte knew that after John fulfilled Santino Antonio's Blood Pact Badge, he would shoot Santino at The Continental Hotel, violating its Rules and having his membership revoked before being exiled.

That meant he had an opportunity to intervene with the High Table.

Charlotte smiled. "I guessed."

Hearing Charlotte brush her off, Ginny rolled her eyes. "Since you already knew, what are you planning to do next?"

Charlotte gave a mysterious smile. "Wait. Wait until the time is right."

Seeing him speak in riddles, Ginny turned to leave.

Charlotte called out, "Ginny, the jewelry and gold have been placed in the vault downstairs. Remember to sell them off soon."

"Got it, Boss!"

Elsewhere.

John Wick arrived at The Continental Hotel with his newly adopted Staffordshire Terrier.

John Wick walked straight to the hotel's service desk, stopping before Charon. "I want to see the Hotel Manager."

Charon looked at John Wick. "It's a pleasure to see you again so soon, Mr. Wick."

"Shall I inform Winston?"

John glanced at the Staffordshire Terrier beside him, then looked back at Charon. "Yes, thank you."

Then he told his Staffordshire Terrier, "Sit."

After seeing the Staffordshire Terrier obediently sit down, John Wick headed upstairs.

Once John Wick had left, Charon made a call. "Sir, Mr. Wick is here to see you."

After hanging up, Charon looked at the dog before him and let out a long breath. I wonder which fool has provoked the Night Demon this time.

When John Wick arrived at the hotel's Garden Terrace, the first thing he said upon seeing Winston was, "Where is he?"

Winston did not respond to John Wick immediately. Instead, he rose and saw his guest off first.

After the guest had left, Winston looked at the man before him. "What are you doing here, John?"

"He blew up my house."

Winston replied expressionlessly, "You refused his Blood Oath. He only blew up your house, so consider yourself lucky."

"What were you thinking?"

"Making a Blood Oath with someone like Santino Antonio?"

John Wick answered, "It was the only way I could get out."

Winston surveyed the disheveled John Wick. "Do you call this getting out?"

"What did you think would happen? What were you expecting?"

"Did you truly believe this day would never come?"

"Don't forget, you gave Charlotte Doyle a Blood Pact Badge just a few days ago."

When Winston mentioned the Blood Pact Badge Charlotte Doyle held, Wick felt somewhat frustrated. He turned his face away and refused to look at him.

Seeing John's embarrassed expression, Winston continued, "What did Santino Antonio want you to do?"

"I didn't ask. I refused him outright."

Winston shook his head helplessly. "So when Charlotte comes to you with his Blood Oath, are you planning to give him the same answer?"

"Take a guess. What do you think will happen if Charlotte finds out you've played him?"

John Wick said, "If Charlotte comes to me, I'll honor my Blood Oath. He saved my life!"

Hearing two entirely different answers from John, Winston was rather speechless.

When Santino Antonio came to collect on the Blood Oath, John refused.

Yet Charlotte had not even sought him out a few days ago, and John had voluntarily rushed to The Continental Hotel to help him.

John Wick, you really cannot be this hypocritical.

Winston helplessly held up two fingers. "John, there are two Rules at The Continental Hotel that must be obeyed."

"At The Continental Hotel, no blood may be spilled."

"No Blood Pact may be dishonored."

"Although I can currently reduce your punishment to exile, if tradition is broken, the High Table executives will not let you off easily."

John Wick looked at Winston, his voice low. "Do I have no other choice?"

Winston's expression turned grave as he spoke each word slowly.

"Dishonor a pact, and you die!"

"Kill a Pact Holder, and you die!"

"Run, and you die!"

After a brief pause, Winston continued, "John, these were the terms you accepted before. Only by doing as he says can you redeem yourself."

"After you fulfill the Blood Pact, if you want to follow him or burn down his house, do as you please. But before that..."

John Wick uttered two words. "The Rules."

Winston smiled. "Exactly. Follow the Rules."

"Without Rules, what is the difference between people and animals?"

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