Shoot Me

Watching the heavy rain outside the window, Charlotte sat in the Agency lobby and pondered to himself, Having long since broken away from the Rothman, would you return to beg for their protection just to survive?

Or would you come straight here?

Glancing at the clock hanging on the wall, Charlotte Doyle murmured, "John, you don't have much time left."

In the library, John Wick had just finished Ernest with a book.

Looking at his already dead enemy, John picked up the book and returned it to the shelf. Then he suddenly felt pain in his shoulder. When he touched it, his hand came away covered in blood.

Ernest had stabbed him in the shoulder with a short sword during their fight.

"Damn it!"

After cursing under his breath, John Wick hurriedly rushed out of the library.

One hand clutched his shoulder as he ran. Thinking of the distance to the Charlotte Agency, John decided to get his wound stitched up while he still had time. Otherwise, he doubted he would even make it there alive.

There were still ten minutes until John Wick was excommunicated from The Continental Hotel.

Elsewhere.

The underground king of the Bowery, Bowery King, spoke to his subordinate Eila. "Spread the word. The Bowery will respect the excommunication decision."

"We will not provide John Wick with any form of help or service."

John Wick had already run all the way to the underground doctor's place in Chinatown. He pounded loudly on the door. "Doctor, Doctor, it's Wick."

The hatch in the Room Door opened, and the Doctor looked at the man outside through it. "Mr. Wick, no. You shouldn't be here. Time is almost up."

John Wick said urgently, "I know."

"Doctor, please. There's still time."

Looking at John outside, the Doctor still refused. "No, I can't do this."

Seeing the Doctor refuse, John took a Continental Gold Coin from his pocket and held it before him. "I have five minutes left. Please."

Through the small window in the door, the Doctor took the Gold Coin from John Wick's hand, then opened the Room Door. "Get in, quickly."

After John Wick entered, the Doctor specifically stuck his head out to look down the corridor. Once he confirmed no one had followed, he quickly shut the Room Door.

The Doctor brought John Wick to his workbench and immediately said, "Quick, sit down."

Without hesitation, John Wick immediately took off his suit jacket, exposing the injured area.

Seeing John Wick's wounded shoulder and neck, the Doctor said, "Let me see."

As he spoke, he picked up hemostatic gauze and began wiping the wound. "A stab wound. It's deep, and it nicked an artery."

"It needs stitches."

Without hesitation, he immediately began stitching it up.

Time passed second by second.

John sat in the chair, staring at the clock in the Doctor's room. Then he said, "Doctor."

The Doctor did not stop moving as he stitched. "Almost done. Half of it is left."

"Doctor, there are five seconds left."

John began counting down for the Doctor. "Five, four, three, two, one!"

As the clock hand pointed to six o'clock sharp, the chime rang.

The Doctor looked at John regretfully. "Sorry, Mr. Wick. I can't continue treating you."

John understood. "I know. Those are the Rules."

The Doctor also muttered, "Rules."

At that moment, The Continental Hotel's excommunication had officially taken effect. No organization or individual loyal to the High Table could provide John Wick with any further service.

John Wick took the scissors from the Doctor's hand and began stitching up the rest himself in front of the mirror.

The Continental Hotel, Information Processing Center.

At that moment, a message was sent to all registered Assassin members under its network.

Bounty Target: John Wick

Bounty Amount: 14 million US Dollars

Distribution: Assassins worldwide

Status: Open

Last Known Location: Chinatown, New York

Update: Excommunication bounty officially active.

Winston, who was playing a word game at The Continental Hotel, looked at the message on his phone and murmured, "It's begun."

At the hotel service desk, Charon saw the many Assassins in the Administrative Hall corridor all look at their phones at the same time.

Charlotte, at the Agency, also received the bounty notice from The Continental Hotel.

After looking at the notice, Charlotte tossed his phone onto the table, picked up the bourbon whiskey on the desk, and took a sip. Then he quietly waited for John Wick to come knocking.

John, still at the Doctor's place, had finished stitching up his own wound and began searching the Doctor's medicine cabinet for painkillers.

But after rummaging around for a long time, he still could not find what he needed.

Watching John continue to rummage through the cabinet, the Doctor spoke out of respect for Mr. Wick. "Top shelf, on the right."

"Yes, take four."

"This will help keep you alert and ease the pain."

John Wick glanced at the Chinese doctor in surprise, then immediately took out the medicine and swallowed it.

The doctor walked to a cabinet, opened a drawer, and took out a pistol. "Mr. Wick, they won't believe I stopped treating you on time."

Looking at the Doctor, John said, "But you did stop."

Holding the pistol, the doctor continued, "They'll find out."

John turned and straightened his clothes. "Find out what?"

"That I told you where the medicine was."

Hearing the Doctor's words, John Wick froze for a moment before turning back around.

The doctor walked up to John Wick with the pistol, handed it to him, then went over to the chair. He picked up a piece of hemostatic gauze, preparing to stop the bleeding immediately.

John took the pistol, walked over to face the doctor, and asked, "Where should I shoot?"

The Doctor lifted his shirt over his stomach and pointed with one hand. "Here, below the floating rib. Don't hit my—"

Before the Doctor could finish, John Wick raised his hand and fired, hitting the target dead on.

"Ugh—ah!"

The Doctor cried out in pain and collapsed into the chair.

Just as John was about to put down the pistol and leave, the doctor called out, "Wait."

"One shot might not be enough."

Then he undid the buttons at his collar, exposing his shoulder and neck. "Whatever you do, don't hit my—"

Again, before he could finish, the shot rang out.

"Ugh—ah—ah!"

The Doctor groaned in pain once more.

John stepped forward, picked up his suit jacket, and turned to leave.

Watching John Wick's departing back, the Doctor said, "Good luck, Mr. Wick."

John Wick stopped and turned to look at the Doctor clutching his wounds. "Thank you, Doctor."

After saying that, John did not linger and walked straight outside.

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