After assigning tasks to everyone, Charlotte gazed at the sky outside the window and sighed. "The weather's about to change."
Charlotte Doyle then opened the system interface and performed today's sign-in.
Ding—Sign-in successful. Obtained 200 Reputation Points! Recharge to VIP4 to claim double rewards?
After tapping the X, Charlotte exited the system interface and began considering how to gain the greatest benefit from this operation to rescue John Wick.
Elsewhere.
The previously clear sky suddenly became overcast, as though a storm was about to arrive.
John Wick had just left the park. Dragging his injured body and accompanied by his dog, he stepped onto the bustling streets and saw quite a few assassins watching him with greedy eyes.
John checked the time. His excommunication would take effect at six o'clock. He had one hour left.
Thinking of the note in his pocket and Winston's suggestion, John Wick already knew where he needed to go.
Still, out of caution, he planned to visit the New York Road Library to retrieve the Gold Coins he had hidden there, along with another item that could help him escape.
"A Rothman pass!"
He could not treat the Charlotte Agency as his only way out. After all, a fourteen-million-dollar bounty was no small sum.
At that moment, heavy rain suddenly began to fall.
John Wick flagged down a taxi on the road and said, "New York Road Library."
The driver glanced back at him. "No problem."
The taxi sped off, but before it had gone far, traffic caused by the heavy rain brought it to a standstill.
Listening to the chorus of honking cars ahead, John Wick grew anxious. He knew his window of safety was running out. Once the time came, anyone could become his enemy.
John Wick rolled up his sleeve, checked the time, then took a Gold Coin issued by The Continental Hotel from his pocket and handed it to the driver. "Change of plans."
Hearing him, the driver turned around, looked at the Gold Coin in John Wick's hand, and accepted it.
"Go to The Continental Hotel. Can you give this to the front desk?"
As he spoke, John Wick glanced at the dog seated beside him.
The driver looked at John and nodded. "Of course, Mr. Wick."
Clearly, this taxi driver also knew the famous Night Demon.
John Wick stroked his dog a few times and gently instructed, "Good boy. Good boy."
Then he opened the door, got out of the taxi, and sprinted toward the library.
Countless pairs of eyes on the street were fixed on John Wick. But knowing they could not make a move until an hour had passed, they settled down again. Before then, they had to obey The Continental Hotel's Rules.
Before long, John Wick ran through the pouring rain to the New York Road Library.
He rushed to the library's service desk and immediately said to the staff, "Russian Folk Tales, by Alexander Afanasyev, 1864."
As the librarian searched for the book's location, John Wick checked the time again and confirmed that the hour had not yet passed.
The librarian wrote John Wick a slip of paper and said, "Second floor."
"Thank you!"
Taking the slip, John Wick quickly ran upstairs.
Meanwhile, Charon drove Winston back to the Continental Hotel.
After entering the hotel, Charon said to Winston, "I truly hope Mr. Wick can get away safely."
Winston adjusted his collar as he walked. "Charon, he knowingly broke the rules and killed someone in the hotel."
Charon followed beside Winston and asked, "Do you think he can escape?"
Winston turned to look at Charon. "There's a fourteen-million-dollar bounty on him. Every assassin in the city wants a share."
"I think his chances of escaping are only fifty-fifty, assuming he can find Charlotte Doyle and obtain his help."
Charon asked in confusion, "Fifty-fifty?"
In his view, Charlotte, who had established his dominance outside the Continental Hotel a few days ago, had become someone countless assassins dared not provoke. If he was willing to intervene, John Wick's odds of escape should have been absolute.
Winston smiled. "There's a fifty percent chance Charlotte kills John with one strike and claims the bounty, and a fifty percent chance he helps John escape."
"After all, John Wick himself is now worthless. Does Charlotte choose the promise of the Blood Pact Badge, or fourteen million dollars?"
"That depends on Charlotte Doyle's own choice."
With that, Winston headed upstairs.
Charon stared at Winston's departing back and stood there in a daze.
Holding the slip, John Wick quickly arrived at the book's location on the second floor.
He took out the book and tore off the label. Inside were a photograph of his late wife, five Gold Coins, a pass, and other items.
He placed the photograph on the shelf, took out the Gold Coins and shoved them into his pocket, then put the pass and all the other items into his pockets as well.
Finally, John Wick picked up the photograph of his late wife, looked at it deeply, kissed it, and sealed it back inside the book.
A voice suddenly sounded beside him. "Think about why God created you."
Accompanied by the sound of footsteps, the voice continued. "Not so you could live like an animal, but so you could pursue virtue and knowledge."
A giant over two meters tall emerged, holding a book. He said to John, "Dante."
He showed John Wick the book's cover, indicating that the words came from the book, then placed it back on the shelf.
John Wick also returned the book in his hand to the shelf.
Looking at John Wick, the giant said, "You look a little weak, John."
John Wick looked at the giant before him. "Ernest, the time hasn't come yet."
Ernest said without any politeness, "It's almost here."
"Who would know exactly when you died?"
John Wick's expression turned grim. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
Ernest raised his head, greed gleaming in his eyes. "Fourteen million. That's a lot of money."
"No. First, you have to live long enough to spend it."
Ernest hesitated no longer. He pulled a short sword from his coat and thrust it at John Wick.
John casually grabbed a book from the shelf and used it to block the attack.
The two quickly began fighting.
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