2024-04-25
Author: Pencil Dancing
Winston removed his glasses and said with a smile, "No, you have no right to order me around, Mr. Antonio."
"This kingdom belongs to me alone!"
Santino Antonio's face darkened as he said unhappily:
"Fine!"
"Guard your kingdom, Winston!"
"While you're still alive!"
Winston shot back without the slightest courtesy, "Then you can guard your privileges!"
Santino Antonio no longer looked at Winston. Instead, he turned and went to an empty seat, called over a waiter, and ordered a steak.
Charlotte and Ginny had silently watched their exchange the whole time. Once Santino Antonio sat down nearby, Ginny finally whispered, "That's the guy who issued the Bounty Order, right? Why does he look so pathetic now?"
"Whose membership was he trying to revoke just now? John Wick's?"
With a mocking look on his face, Charlotte said, "Some people think that just because they hold a little power, they can do whatever they want. First they burn down someone's house and make him fulfill a promise, then the moment the job is done, they put a bounty on his head."
"So whether it's a blood marker or a promise, it must be entrusted to someone with integrity and principles."
"Otherwise, who knows what kind of mess will come in the end?"
Charlotte made no effort to lower his voice. His words echoed through the entire hall, and everyone heard them clearly.
Quite a few people looked at Santino Antonio with contempt in their eyes.
Santino Antonio's expression turned ugly. Having fled all the way to The Continental Hotel, he had already been in a sorry state. Now, after Charlotte's barrage of mockery, his anger surged even higher.
But he did not dare vent his rage at Charlotte. John Wick alone had already left him in a miserable state; if an even more formidable Charlotte Doyle joined in—
He would probably never leave The Continental Hotel for the rest of his life. Fortunately, the waiter arrived just then with the steak and red wine, ending the awkward atmosphere.
With dinner served, Santino picked up the knife and fork on the table and began cutting his steak into pieces, using the motion to conceal his embarrassment.
Meanwhile, John Wick arrived outside The Continental Hotel with a pistol in hand.
He pushed open the hotel doors and entered with Killing Intent written all over him. Reaching the service desk, he said to Charon, "I'm here to see Santino Antonio."
Charon looked at John Wick, who was brimming with Killing Intent. He took a deep breath, swallowed, and said, "He's waiting for you in the lounge, sir."
John Wick did not stop. He headed straight for the Dining Area on the basement level. At the stairs, he saw Santino Antonio below, drinking red wine and eating dinner. John's fury intensified, and he went straight down.
As footsteps sounded from the stairs, Santino Antonio saw that John Wick was coming down. Perhaps because of everyone's earlier ridicule, or perhaps because he believed The Continental Hotel was an absolutely secure safe zone—
Santino Antonio adjusted his suit, straightened his back against the chair, and watched John Wick approach.
Everyone in the Dining Area, whether Winston or Charlotte and the others, saw John Wick. The gun in his hand was especially conspicuous.
As John Wick came before him, Santino Antonio unhurriedly picked up his fork, speared a piece of beef, dipped it in some duck fat, and put it into his mouth to chew.
He sprawled back in his chair, eating as he looked at John Wick, then said, "Duck fat is a very important seasoning."
Winston, beside them, wanted to stop John Wick and called out, "John!"
Santino Antonio provoked him, "John, have you seen the menu here?"
"Take your pick."
Seeing the Killing Intent radiating from John Wick, Winston realized things were going badly and hurriedly said, "John, listen to me."
Meanwhile, Charlotte and Ginny quietly watched the performance unfold.
John Wick ignored Winston's words and simply glared at Santino Antonio with hatred.
Santino Antonio continued provoking him. "When you stay somewhere long enough, you have to change your taste now and then."
Santino's words implied that he, Santino, had moved into The Continental Hotel and would not be leaving easily. If John wanted to kill him, he had no chance.
Noticing this, Winston's tone changed as he said gravely, "John, leave. Now."
As if he felt the provocation was not enough, Santino Antonio continued taunting him, "That's right, John."
"Get out!"
The instant the word "out" left Santino's mouth, John Wick raised his hand and fired, shooting straight through his head.
John Wick's fury had finally reached its limit. Disregarding The Continental Hotel's Rules, he had directly killed Santino Antonio inside the hotel.
Seeing this, Charlotte thought, Even in a safe zone, don't run your mouth. Some people will risk being wanted just to force a PK.
Ginny covered her mouth. She stared at Charlotte in disbelief, her eyes seeming to say, "Charlotte, your investment failed. It really failed."
Winston was equally shocked. John Wick had actually killed Santino Antonio inside The Continental Hotel, right before everyone's eyes.
Looking at the thoroughly dead Santino Antonio, Winston slowly asked, "What have you done?"
John Wick placed his pistol on a hotel table and coldly replied, "Ended this."
After saying that, John Wick turned and limped out of The Continental Hotel.
But as he passed Charlotte Doyle, he paused briefly, then clenched his right hand as though gripping something.
After John Wick left, Ginny asked curiously, "Boss, what did you give him?"
Charlotte placed a finger to his lips in a silencing gesture, then said, "Ginny, it's time for us to return to the Agency. The assassin world is about to undergo another upheaval."
Winston looked at Charlotte Doyle and asked, "Mr. Doyle, is this the change you mentioned before?"
Charlotte shrugged and said regretfully, "Isn't it, Winston?"
Meanwhile, at the hotel's service desk, John Wick looked at Charon standing with his dog and asked, "How is he?"
Looking at John Wick, Charon said with a trace of respect, "He's very well-behaved. It's nice having him around."
John Wick did not look at Charon again. He bent down slightly and said to his dog, "Let's go home."
And so, John Wick left The Continental Hotel with his dog.
New book setting sail—please keep reading, and please send recommendation votes and monthly votes!
Your support, dear readers, is what gives Pencil the motivation to write!
Before you continue