Los Angeles Continental Hotel

Sherlock's obviously abnormal tone made John Wick realize almost instantly that something was wrong.

Out of concern for Sherlock, John Wick did not directly tell him the address of the Los Angeles Continental Hotel. Instead, he asked Sherlock in an equally serious tone.

"What happened? Sherlock, where are you? Are you still in Los Angeles? I'll come find you right now!"

Hearing John Wick's words, Sherlock's reason, nearly consumed by fury, calmed slightly. A trace of warmth welled up in his heart, and his tone unconsciously softened as he spoke to John Wick.

"Old Zhao, no need. You insiders aren't suited to get involved in this matter. Just tell me the address and the manager's name."

Upon hearing Sherlock say that, John Wick, who had long since returned to New York, immediately began cursing over the phone.

"Fxxk off! Sherlock, I'm Night Devil! Give me your address! I'm not so old that I can only watch my friend charge into a den of danger alone!"

Sherlock instinctively moved the phone slightly away from his ear. Only after John Wick's roar died down did he bring it back, speaking with both gratitude and amusement.

"John Wick, calm down. I know you're loyal, but I really don't need you to show up this time. I'm just going to ask about something. It's not your time to step in yet.

"On the contrary, you showing up would only make things more troublesome. Besides, the life you have now didn't come easily, brother. Think about that impossible mission you survived against all odds. Think about Helen!"

At Sherlock's words, the sharp screech of tires scraping against the road came through the receiver. Rarely, John Wick did not immediately respond. Instead, he fell silent.

After a long while, all the countless words in John Wick's heart turned into a single sigh. He gave Sherlock the address of the Los Angeles Continental Hotel, as well as the manager's name.

"If you need me, Sherlock, contact me immediately! We're friends!"

After giving Sherlock the information he wanted, John Wick added that final line, only to be met by Sherlock's laughter. Then Sherlock teasingly added,

"Don't worry. Even if you die, I won't."

"Fxxk yourself!"

John Wick instinctively shot back. The two burst into hearty laughter at the same time, and the atmosphere finally became less tense. After exchanging a few casual words, Sherlock hung up under John Wick's farewell telling him to stay safe.

As Sherlock ended the call, the smile on his face quickly faded. He glanced at the rental house behind him, then turned and got back into the car.

After briefly locating the Continental Hotel on the map, Sherlock shut off his phone, started the car, turned the wheel, and drove toward the hotel.

Although it was Sherlock's first time setting foot in Los Angeles across both his lives, he was strangely familiar with its streets. He could even determine a location after merely glancing at a map.

Speeding all the way, Sherlock soon parked in front of the Los Angeles Continental Hotel.

Like the Continental Hotel in New York, this one operated on a membership system and was not open to the public. Just entering the hotel lobby required paying a gold coin.

But to an alchemist like Sherlock, the Continental Hotel's gold coin system was practically the same as free. He casually took several coins from his pocket and pressed his palms together. A flash of electricity later, a freshly made Continental Hotel gold coin obediently lay in his palm.

After getting out of the car, Sherlock casually tossed the freshly minted coin to the doorman. This "newcomer" then swaggered into the Los Angeles Continental Hotel.

Unlike the Baroque decor of the New York Continental Hotel, Los Angeles, thanks to Hollywood, had always been one of the most typical places of fame and fortune in America.

The Los Angeles Continental Hotel perfectly matched the city's character as a place of fame and fortune. Its entire decor emphasized nothing but dazzling glamour and luxury.

But no matter how dazzling or luxurious the Continental Hotel was, it meant nothing to Sherlock. After all, he had come here to make trouble!

Sherlock strode up to the hotel's front desk. Behind the counter stood a short-haired woman with a strikingly heroic air. Her androgynous attire, coupled with that beautiful face that seemed both masculine and feminine, gave her a strange air of being both gentlemanly and ladylike.

Seeing Sherlock stop before her, the short-haired woman gave him a professional smile.

"Hello. How may I help you?"

Faced with the receptionist's polite question, Sherlock still wore a dark expression. He braced both hands on the counter, his eyes filled with coldness as he spoke to the short-haired woman.

"My name is Sherlock Flamel. I want to see the manager here!"

Sherlock's tone was cold and stiff. He might as well have had troublemaker written across his face.

The woman behind the counter stiffened for a moment, then quickly regained her professionalism. Maintaining her standard smile, she said to Sherlock,

"First, Mr. Flamel, I need to remind you that the use of any force is prohibited within the Continental Hotel. Those are the hotel's rules.

"Second, sir, if you need anything, you may tell me first. If it is something serious, I will notify the manager to handle it..."

Before the receptionist could finish, scarlet lightning began crackling from Sherlock's hands resting on the counter. The next second, the counter that had separated them instantly turned to ash and vanished without a trace.

Before the receptionist could react, the tip of a long spear gleaming with metallic light was already pressed against her throat. Sherlock now resembled a tiger poised to devour its prey, his eyes bloodshot as he stared fixedly at the receptionist before him. His voice seemed to come from hell itself.

"I said, get your manager out here!"

Sherlock's voice was not quiet. Nearly everyone in the lobby heard it clearly. Yet though they heard him, not a single person dared to step forward as usual to attack Sherlock for causing trouble in exchange for the Continental Hotel's reward.

The reason was simple. The method Sherlock had used to make the entire counter disappear was clearly not something an ordinary person could accomplish.

Though these assassins were formidable, they were still ordinary people by nature. When facing a superhuman like Sherlock, they naturally stayed as far away as possible.