Where Life Lies

Walking through the heavy rain, John Wick returned home to find his house reduced to ruins. His face contorted in pain.

He searched the rubble and found a framed photograph of himself and his wife. He tried to wipe away the soot to reveal the picture, but it was no use.

Disappointed, John Wick sat on the ruins, gazing at the ashes beneath his feet. He thought he saw a necklace left by his wife and immediately began digging through the ashes with his hands.

Finally, he found a relatively intact necklace in the ashes. Holding the necklace, John Wick walked to an undamaged sofa and sat down. He placed the necklace over his heart, thinking of his wife.

Suddenly, a voice beside him startled John. He looked in the direction of the sound.

Blending into the night was Charon, a concierge from The Continental Hotel. He spoke, "Mr. Wick."

Seeing John turn his gaze towards him, Charon continued, "If you are willing, you can come with me."

John didn't speak, merely nodding in agreement.

Charon drove Winston's Rolls-Royce, taking John Wick and his dog to meet Winston.

Sitting in the back seat of the car, John took a tissue from his pocket and placed it in his palm. The tissue had "Charlotte Agency" written on it.

It was what Charlotte Doyle had given him earlier at The Continental Hotel.

Looking at the words, John knew Charlotte was telling him that this was his chance for survival.

He tucked the tissue into his pocket, glanced at the scenery outside the car, and John Wick waited quietly.

Soon, the car arrived at the entrance of a park. The warm sun was rising, and the sky was just beginning to brighten.

With his dog, John got out of the car. Charon approached John and said, "It was a pleasure serving you, Mr. Wick."

After shaking hands with John, he said, "Goodbye."

Then, he pointed in a direction within the park, indicating that the person waiting for him was there.

John Wick walked into the park, crossed a pedestrian bridge, and saw Winston sitting in the center of the plaza. He walked towards him.

Winston greeted John as he approached, "Wick."

John got straight to the point, asking, "Winston, what punishment will I receive?"

Winston sat on the steps, looking at John with a serious expression. "The High Table has doubled the bounty on Santino's kill order. You are now being hunted globally."

Hearing the name "The High Table," John asked in confusion, "Executive?"

Winston nodded. "Yes."

Then John Wick continued, "And your Continental Hotel?"

Winston looked up and met John's gaze, saying with a hint of anger in his tone, "You killed someone in the hotel, John."

"I have no choice but to excommunicate you."

"From this moment on, all services and assistance from The Continental Hotel to you will be cut off."

Winston then stood up, walked over to John, and said, "I'm sorry, you're worthless now."

John's voice was hoarse as he asked, "Since I broke the rules, why am I still alive?"

Hearing John's words, Winston's expression turned solemn. "Because that is my request."

Then, Winston nodded to a man in a black trench coat standing nearby.

The next moment, the man in the trench coat took out his phone and said, "Now."

The park, which had been bustling with people, suddenly froze as if paused. Everyone stopped moving.

John Wick looked around, knowing Winston wasn't joking.

After confirming John Wick understood the situation, Winston nodded again. The next second, the people in the park resumed their movements.

Winston glanced at his watch and said to John, "You have one hour. I can't delay too long."

"Perhaps you'll need this later."

Winston produced a Blood Pact Badge from his hand. It was the same badge John Wick had once held, something he had received after helping someone. He had given it to Winston when he chose to retire.

Today, Winston returned the Blood Pact Badge that John had once possessed to John Wick.

Taking the Blood Pact Badge, John Wick said, "Winston, tell them, tell everyone."

"No matter the future, no matter the method, I will show no mercy to any Assassin who comes for me. I will not hold back."

Winston looked at John Wick's solemn face and smiled, "You certainly will."

As John Wick turned to leave, Winston remembered what he had said to Charlotte at The Continental Hotel and spoke again, "If there's anyone willing to help you now, it's most likely Charlotte Doyle."

"After all, he still holds your Blood Pact Badge and hasn't used it. Before he uses it, he probably won't let you die easily."

"Of course, that's just a possibility."

John stopped in his tracks and said, "Thank you, Winston."

Then, John Wick, with his dog, left the park without looking back.

Watching John Wick depart, Winston picked up his phone and dialed. "Open Account, 1 1 1 1 1. In one hour, John Wick, excommunicated."

On the other side.

Inside the Charlotte Agency.

At this moment, Charlotte was announcing the mission, "Ginny, prepare the wax bath. John Wick will need it when he arrives later."

Upon hearing that John Wick was coming, Ginny asked in surprise, "Boss, John broke the rules at The Continental Hotel. Can he still make it here alive?"

Clearly, Ginny didn't believe that John, having violated one of the two iron laws of The Continental Hotel, could still be alive.

Charlotte smiled and then said, "Trust me, Ginny, John won't die."

"And I won't let him die."

Ginny then said playfully, "Boss, this is 7 million US dollars!"

Just as Ginny finished speaking, everyone's phones received a message.

John Wick, exiled by The Continental Hotel, membership revoked, bounty doubled to 14 million.

One hour after receiving the message, anyone could hunt John Wick, anywhere in the world.

Seeing the message, Ginny said softly, "It's 14 million now. His bounty has increased, making him the undisputed number one on the bounty list."

"Boss, do you still think he has the life to make it here?"

"All the assassins in the city are probably looking to get a piece of him. Besides, would he really dare to come?"

Charlotte smiled and said, "Go prepare, Ginny."

"Trust my judgment. After all, I've never been wrong."

Afterward, Charlotte spoke to Iruka and the other two, "When John arrives, be ready for combat. If any other assassins attack the agency, kill them directly!"

"Yes, Lord Charlotte!" X3

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