Loyalty

The phone still on the table rang with a text message sound again. Charlotte picked it up and saw that John Wick's bounty had increased to 15 million US dollars.

"That's quite a sum!"

"Where are you going, John Wick?"

Meanwhile, John Wick had fought his way from the street to the stables, killing all the assassins who had invaded. He then mounted a horse and charged out.

As soon as he hit the road, two assassins on motorcycles gave chase.

John Wick was galloping under an overpass. One of the motorcyclists caught up and reached out, trying to pull John Wick off his horse, but failed several times.

John seized the opportunity and slapped the rider's helmet, causing the motorcyclist to lean forward and reveal a handgun tucked into his lower back.

From his horse, John Wick bent down, drew the handgun from the rider's back, and fired three shots at his neck.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The motorcyclist died instantly. The motorcycle, out of control, crashed into a nearby van.

Seeing another motorcyclist chasing him from behind, John Wick slid to the side of his horse as the pursuer closed in, hiding his body completely behind the horse. He then reached out and fired several shots at the motorcycle.

Instantly, the motorcyclist lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a car parked ahead.

After dealing with both motorcyclists, John Wick glanced back, confirmed no one was following for the moment, and galloped towards Charlotte Agency at 71st Avenue of Forest Hills, Queens.

Charlotte Agency.

In the lobby, Charlotte and the other four were waiting.

Ginny looked at Charlotte Doyle and asked, "Boss, are you sure you guessed right? Will John still make it at this hour?"

Charlotte wasn't 100% certain either, but thinking of John's situation, he said, "As long as he's not dead, he'll come."

Just as Charlotte finished speaking, there was a knock on the agency's door.

Iruka got up and went to open it.

"Mr. John Wick, please come in."

Seeing the agency door open, John Wick looked at Umino Iruka, who was opening the door. He didn't enter but asked, "I'm looking for Charlotte Doyle."

Iruka looked at John standing outside the door and said, "Lord Charlotte has been waiting for you in the lobby for a long time."

Hearing that Charlotte Doyle was inside the agency, John Wick followed Iruka in.

On the street opposite the agency at this moment, an assassin saw John enter Charlotte's agency, then left with a look of regret.

John Wick followed Iruka, passing through the lobby and arriving before Charlotte.

Charlotte looked at John Wick, whose white shirt was stained red with blood and who was drenched in rain, a mess, and said, "John, what are you doing here?"

Although Charlotte knew he had to help John, he couldn't offer it himself. After all, chasing after someone wasn't a transaction. Even if the outcome was the same, the gratitude received would be different.

John Wick knelt on one knee and said with a pleading voice, "Mr. Charlotte, I request your protection."

Looking at John Wick, who was practically kneeling, Charlotte pondered for a moment before speaking, "John, you've been excommunicated from The Continental Hotel and there's a public bounty of 15 million US dollars on you."

"Let alone helping you, even meeting with you would offend the High Table, not to mention sheltering you."

"However, since I agreed to see you, it means there's a possibility I can help you."

"So, John Wick, after I rescue you, what will I gain?"

As he spoke, Charlotte pulled John Wick's Blood Pact Badge from his pocket and held it in his hand.

Charlotte's meaning was obvious. John also knew that Charlotte was telling him, "I already have your Blood Pact Badge. If you want my help, the price cannot be small."

John Wick looked around, seeing Ginny, Iruka, Sasuke Uchiha, Rock Lee, and others sitting in the lobby. He seemed to make a decision in his heart, then slowly said to Charlotte, "I am willing to pledge my loyalty and become your subordinate, just like them."

Looking down at John Wick, Charlotte knew that the man had reached a dead end. He then asked, "John, why do you want to live?"

John didn't expect Charlotte to ask this question. He paused for a moment before answering, "Because of my lover. I want to live, I want to remember her."

Charlotte looked deeply at John Wick and said again, "You've been out of the assassin world for five years, for your lover."

"Now, because of your lover, you've returned to this world. John, are you ready to return?"

"Carrying the memory of your lover, returning once more to this world filled with slaughter."

John Wick knelt on one knee and pledged his loyalty to Charlotte, saying, "Mr. Charlotte, I am willing!"

"For Helen, I once laid down my weapons and returned to a peaceful world."

"Today, for Helen, I am willing to pick up my weapons and protect her in my memory."

Hearing John Wick's words, Charlotte thought of a sentence he had seen in his previous life, how to define a person's death.

The first level of death: physical death.

The second level of death: the death of social relationships.

The third level of death: the death of the last trace.

Clearly, John Wick wanted Helen to live forever in his memory.

"John Wick, I accept your loyalty!"

Hearing Charlotte agree to his loyalty, John's suspended heart finally relaxed. Charlotte continued, "You must know that sheltering you means going to war with the High Table, as the High Table wants you dead."

"And for you to truly be safe, you must be readmitted to the Continental Hotel, and the High Table must cancel the bounty on you!"

"And the only ones who can truly accomplish all of this are the elders of the High Table, those who control one of the Thirteen Seats."

Charlotte said no more, just quietly watching John.

John Wick's mind raced, then he tentatively asked, "I'll go to Casablanca to find a High Table elder to lift my excommunication?"

Charlotte shook his index finger and smiled, "No, you're not going to find an elder, you're going to become an elder, one of the people who controls one of the Thirteen Seats on the High Table."

John Wick was utterly shocked. He never imagined that Charlotte Doyle's goal was the High Table, above the rules. Not to become a member of the High Table, but to become its administrator.

Looking at the stunned John Wick, Charlotte smiled, "Iruka, take John Wick to the Recovery Room. He's not in any condition to do anything in his current state."

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