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Chapter 40: Shoot at Me
🕑 Added 2023-08-31 17:26:18 +0000 UTCLooking at the heavy rain outside the window, Charles sat in the lobby of the office, silently pondering: "You had long distanced yourself from the Rossrom people. Would you still seek refuge with them for survival?"
"Or will you come straight here?"
Glancing at the clock hanging on the wall, Charles murmured to himself, "John, you don't have much time left."
...
In the library, John Wick had just finished dealing with Ernest using a book. Staring at his fallen enemy, John picked up the book and placed it back on the shelf. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder.
Wiping his hand across it, he realized it was stained with blood.
It was from the dagger wound inflicted by Ernest during their struggle just now.
"Damn it!"
John Wick cursed under his breath and quickly rushed out of the library, clutching his injured shoulder.
He was headed outside, considering the distance to Charles's office. John decided to take advantage of the remaining time to patch up his wound. Otherwise, he doubted he would make it to Charles's location alive.
There were still ten minutes left until John Wick's removal from the Continental Hotel would take effect.
...
Meanwhile, in the underground realm of the Bowery District, a criminal kingpin similar to the leader of a beggars' gang, known as B, spoke to his subordinate, Ella: "Spread the word. The Bowery District will respect the decision to remove him."
"We won't provide any form of help or service to John Wick."
...
At this moment, John Wick had managed to reach the residence of the black-market doctor in Chinatown. He knocked loudly on the door and called out, "Doctor, Doctor, it's Wick."
The hatch on the door opened, and the doctor peered through, looking at the person outside. He said, "Mr. Wick, no, you shouldn't have come here. Time is running out."
John Wick urgently pleaded, "I know."
"Doctor, I'm begging you, there's still time."
The doctor gazed at John outside the door and still refused, "No, I can't do this."
Seeing the doctor's refusal, John pulled out a Continental Hotel coin from his pocket, held it in front of the doctor, and said, "I have five minutes left. Please, I'm begging you."
The doctor took the coin from John's hand through the small window on the door, then opened the door and said, "Come in quickly."
After John Wick entered, the doctor peeked his head outside to check the corridor, ensuring no one was following, and then hurriedly closed the door.
Leading John Wick to his workstation, the doctor immediately said, "Quick, have a seat."
John Wick didn't hesitate, he took off his suit jacket, revealing his injured area.
The doctor saw the wound on John Wick's shoulder and said, "Let me take a look."
As he spoke, he picked up a hemostatic gauze and began to clean the wound. While cleaning, he said, "Stab wound, it's deep, it cut an artery."
"It needs stitching."
Without hesitation, he started stitching up the wound.
Time flowed by, minute by minute.
John sat on the chair, watching the clock in the doctor's room. He then said, "Doctor."
The doctor continued stitching without stopping and replied, "Almost done, just halfway to finish stitching."
"Doctor, there are only five seconds left."
John began to count down for the doctor, "Five, four, three, two, one!"
When the clock's hands pointed to six, the bell rang.
The doctor looked at John with regret and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Wick, I can't continue to help you."
John understood, "I understand, it's the rules."
The doctor muttered, "Rules."
At this point, John's removal from the Continental Hotel had taken full effect. He was no longer allowed to receive any services from any organization or individual loyal to the authority of the High Table.
John Wick took the scissors from the doctor's hand and faced the mirror, continuing the rest of the stitching himself.
...
Continental Hotel, Information Processing Center-
At this moment, a message was sent to all registered members of the hotel's assassins.
Target: John Wick.
Bounty: $14 million.
Distribution: Global assassins.
Status: Public.
Last known location: New York, Chinatown.
Update: Bounty officially in effect.
Meanwhile, Winston was playing a word puzzle game at the Continental Hotel. Seeing the message on his phone, he muttered to himself, "It's begun."
At the hotel's front desk, Charon noticed numerous assassins in the administrative hall corridor. Simultaneously, they all looked at their phones upon receiving the message.
In Charles's office, he also received the bounty message from the Continental Hotel. After glancing at the message, Charles threw the phone onto the table, picked up a bottle of Bourbon whiskey, took a sip, and then silently waited for John Wick to arrive.
...
Meanwhile, John, who was still at the doctor's place, had finished stitching up his wound himself. He started searching the doctor's medicine cabinet for painkillers.
After rummaging around for a while, he couldn't find what he needed. Seeing John still searching, out of respect for Mr. Wick, the doctor spoke up, "Top shelf, on the right."
"Yes, take four."
"It'll help you stay alert and alleviate the pain."
John Wick looked at the Chinese doctor in surprise, then immediately took out the medication and started taking it.
At this point, the doctor walked to the cabinet, opened a drawer, and took out a handgun, saying, "Mr. Wick, they won't believe I stopped treating you on time."
John looked at the doctor and said, "But you did stop."
Holding the gun, the doctor continued, "They'll find out."
John turned around, adjusted his clothing, and asked, "Find out what?"
"That I told you where the medicine was."
Hearing the doctor's words, John Wick hesitated for a moment, then turned back.
At this point, the doctor walked up to John Wick, handed him the gun, and then sat down on a chair, picking up a hemostatic gauze to be prepared for first aid.
Taking the gun from the doctor, John walked to the opposite side, facing the doctor, and asked, "Where should I shoot?"
The doctor lifted the hem of his shirt, revealing his lower rib area, pointing with one hand, "Here, just below the floating ribs. Don't hit me..."
Before the doctor could finish his sentence, John Wick raised his hand and fired a shot, hitting the target accurately.
"Ah!"
The doctor cried out in pain and slumped in the chair.
As John was about to put down the gun and leave, the doctor shouted, "Wait."
"Perhaps one shot isn't enough."
Then, the doctor unbuttoned his collar, exposing his neck and shoulder, and continued, "Please don't shoot me there..."
Before he could finish his sentence, the gunshot rang out again.
"Ah! Ah!"
The doctor groaned in pain once more.
John approached, picked up his own suit jacket, and turned to leave.
At this point, the doctor watched John Wick's retreating figure and said, "Good luck, Mr. Wick."
John Wick paused, turned back to face the doctor clutching his wound, and said, "Thank you, Doctor."
After speaking, John didn't linger and headed straight outside.
