The bald man walked alongside John Wick with a smile on his face and said:
"Mr. John Wick, it's been a long time since you've graced our city with your presence."
John turned to him and began to speak,
"I need to talk to—"
But the bald man cut him off before he could finish.
"I know. Ms. Arazwa. She's waiting for you."
Soon, the two arrived at the entrance of the hotel. As they opened the doors, they were greeted by a small plaza bustling with activity. A crowd was celebrating, holding champagne flutes as if attending a grand banquet.
"Mr. Wick, welcome to the Moroccan Continental Hotel. I hope it's to your liking."
The bald man led John Wick through the crowd, heading toward the interior.
"This way. Ms. Arazwa does not like to be kept waiting."
Finally, he brought John to a room and said,
"Good luck, Mr. Wick."
Then, with a cheerful smile, he repeated,
"Good luck!"
With those parting words, the bald man exited the room.
Now alone, John Wick stepped deeper into the empty hall. On a round table, he noticed several photographs. He picked up a small frame—inside was a picture of Sofia and her daughter.
As he examined it, two Malinois dogs appeared in the room, baring their teeth at him menacingly, ready to pounce.
Suddenly, from deeper inside the room, came the sound of a gun being cocked. A woman stepped into view, holding a pistol, and said:
"I heard you like dogs, John."
John stared into the shadows and cautiously asked:
"Sofia?"
He gently placed the photo frame back on the table and raised his hands to show he meant no harm.
Sofia, showing no mercy, immediately fired a shot into John's abdomen.
Bang!
The bullet struck his suit, knocking him to the ground from the pain and force.
"Sofia!"
"You can't kill the holder of your Chikoku Keiyaku (Blood Oath)!"
Sofia approached, gun still trained on him, and said:
"I didn't kill you. I just shot you."
She glanced down at him and added,
"Nice suit."
John gritted his teeth, exhaled, and adjusted his suit. The deformed bullet fell to the floor.
It was the latest bōdan sūtsu (bulletproof suit) tailored for him at the Continental, the only reason he wasn't bleeding out on the floor. Even so, it still hurt like hell at close range.
"I'm glad to see you," he said.
Sofia replied through clenched teeth,
"I should've shot you in the head."
She knew John's arrival meant trouble.
"I know," he said, still on the floor.
Slowly, he sat up and reached into his inner coat pocket.
Sofia, wary, warned him,
"Don't do that."
But instead of a weapon, John pulled out something else: the Chikoku Keiyaku (Blood Oath) she had once given him.
Sofia kept her gun trained on him but said,
"You've been excommunicated, John. That blood oath doesn't mean anything anymore."
John stood slowly, holding up the blood-sealed medallion.
"This is your blood," he said.
"Your oath."
"When you needed help, I was there for you."
He was quoting back the same words that had once been used on him.
Sofia sighed, finally lowering her gun.
"Sit," she commanded.
Instantly, the two Malinois sat down on command.
John glanced at them, still holding the blood oath in his hand.
Sofia frowned,
"I meant you, John."
She turned and sat down on a nearby sofa.
Once John joined her, she said,
"You do realize I'm part of hotel management now, right?"
"I don't offer services anymore, John."
"So no, I won't be going out and putting bullets in people's heads."
John raised a hand,
"I'm not asking you to kill anyone."
"I just need one thing."
Sofia's brow furrowed,
"What thing?"
She seemed to suspect what it was—but didn't say it aloud.
John looked at her seriously,
"The Ryūzu (Dragon Ball). The one you have."
Sofia didn't answer directly. Instead, she changed the subject.
"Listen. When I agreed to manage this hotel, I made a promise."
"I promised to abide by the rules of the High Table."
"Just letting you walk through that door could get me killed."
Her expression turned grave.
"If I slip up, make the wrong enemy, someone might go after my daughter."
"I know what you did to get her out. I'm grateful."
"But I can't take that risk again. I'm sorry."
John looked down and said solemnly,
"Do you want to know where she is?"
Sofia stared at him and answered firmly:
"No. I've never wanted to know."
"Because I don't trust myself not to go looking."
"Part of me wants to see her… and I have to kill that part of me every single day."
"All to keep her safe."
Her voice was filled with quiet pain.
"Because sometimes," she continued, "you have to kill what you love."
"That's why I gave you that blood oath."
"That's why I'm sitting here right now—and why everything is such a mess."
John looked down at the blood-sealed medallion and muttered,
"Reaping what we sow…"
Sofia nodded.
"Yeah. Reaping what we sow."
John then looked up and said,
"All I'm asking is for that Dragon Ball."
"I know you have one. Just give it to me, and we'll be even."
"None of what I do next will involve you."
With that, he placed the blood oath medallion on the table and slid it across to Sofia.
······
(End of Chapter)
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