Chapter 7: Aladdin's Lamp? No, It's the Dragon Balls
Inside the Red Circle Club, the battle involving John Wick had pretty much concluded. Smith and Fox had both witnessed everything that had transpired inside.
Back in the car, Smith turned to Fox and said:
"31 kills, 4 of them with a knife. How do you feel about that?"
Fox glanced at the fleeing Iosef Tarasov and said somewhat regretfully:
"Decisive and ruthless. He used the Mozambique Drill—two shots to the chest, one to the head. He doesn't leave survivors."
"Although the body count is high, his actual target was that kid who just escaped…"
Smith nodded. Fox wasn't wrong.
"Let's go. We've seen what he's capable of. Let's head back to the Continental."
Fox stepped on the gas, and the car sped away. At that moment, John Wick dragged his wounded body out of the club, while Iosef Tarasov had already fled in a car.
---
Room 819
Fox leaned against the wall, arms crossed, pondering:
"You're not thinking of recruiting him into the Assassins' Guild, are you?"
"With his skills, he's qualified. A bit of training and he could fit in. But are you sure he'd accept our philosophy?"
"I even suspect he might be one of our targets."
Smith thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"I don't currently have any plans to recruit him into the Guild."
"But your suggestion is worth considering."
Fox sighed, poured herself a glass of bourbon whiskey, took a sip, and said:
"Let's hope the final outcome isn't too boring."
---
Time Passed
Back at the Continental Hotel, John Wick returned to his room after treatment from the hotel doctor.
The noise at the door wasn't quiet, and Smith, next door, knew John had returned.
Sure enough, within minutes, the sounds of a fight broke out next door.
Fox sat up in bed, quickly got dressed, and said:
"Looks like not everyone follows the Continental's rules."
"If I'm not mistaken, that's John Wick's room."
Smith smiled. He already knew what was happening in the next room. If not for John's friend shooting outside to warn him, he might've been taken out by the female assassin Perkins.
"Rules are meant to be broken—
But only if you can afford the cost."
Fox smirked and said:
"Someone's going to be in trouble. Clearly, the one who broke the rules is about to pay the price."
"With that kind of noise, I'm sure guests have already notified the hotel."
Before long, the sounds of fighting stopped. John Wick had won.
Smith opened his door and saw Perkins crawling in the hallway.
"Looks like someone overestimated themselves," he said to Fox.
John Wick emerged from his room, held Perkins at gunpoint, and questioned her until he got the information he needed.
After knocking her out with the butt of his pistol, he turned to Smith:
"Smith, can you take care of this sleeper?"
"I'll pay one gold coin. Just turn her in to the Continental in the morning."
"You know killing is prohibited in the hotel."
Smith smiled at that. The "rules" of the Continental, huh?
"Bring her in. I have something to tell you anyway."
John nodded, returned to his room, grabbed handcuffs and a gold coin, then brought Perkins—now cuffed—into Smith's room.
After placing her in a chair and setting the gold coin on the table, Smith said:
"Fox, pour John a glass of bourbon."
Fox poured the drink and stood to the side, curious about what was coming next.
John took the drink and downed it in one go.
"Good whiskey. Charon also recommended this brand."
Smith smiled and nodded.
"John Wick, your personal business isn't over yet."
"But before that, I need to ask—what is your wish?"
John set down his glass and replied seriously:
"My wish…"
(Pause)
"Is to bring my wife back to life."
Smith saw that John wasn't lying. He examined him for a moment, then continued:
"Okay, I believe you."
Fox was confused—how had this turned into talk of resurrection? But she kept her face neutral and continued watching.
"The Assassins' Guild is an organization with over a thousand years of history. The Dragon Balls are our sacred relics."
"You possess the One-Star Ball. If you gather all seven, you can summon the dragon and have one wish granted."
John nodded. He had learned about their power when he first encountered one.
"Sounds a bit like Aladdin's lamp."
Smith replied casually:
"That was a bard's retelling of the Dragon Balls' legend. Just a fable."
John was surprised by the explanation. He then asked:
"If the Dragon Balls are your sacred relics, why did one end up in my home?"
Smith answered:
"After granting a wish, the Dragon Balls scatter across the world and turn into ordinary stones, only returning to their true form after a period of time."
"We don't keep them locked away. When someone comes across one, we observe them and evaluate their wish."
"If they pass the test and their wish isn't selfish or destructive, we guide them to find the rest."
John nodded. Whether true or not, he now had a general understanding.
"And if someone's wish is evil or selfish—what then?"
Smith asked back:
"How do assassins view the Assassins' Guild?"
John thought for a moment. The Guild didn't take contracts, yet enemies and dangerous figures always mysteriously died.
Maybe those were people who failed the Guild's test?
No wonder the Dragon Balls weren't widely known—everyone who knew got eliminated.
...
(End of Chapter)
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