On the other side—
John Wick, having avenged his great grievance, returned to the Continental Hotel. Now, he needed to meet with Winston to retrieve a blood oath medallion and hand it over to Smith Doyle under the Continental's witness.
Just as he returned to the hotel and was about to change clothes, he heard Charon call out behind him.
"Mr. Wick!"
John Wick stopped and turned around to approach the front desk.
"What is it, Charon?"
Seeing John approach, Charon took out a set of car keys and said:
"Mr. Wick, the Continental deeply apologizes for the events of last night. These keys are a gift of apology from the hotel's management."
He then pushed the keys toward John.
John glanced at the keys and accepted them without refusal. He then said:
"Arrange a meeting with Winston for me. I need to see him."
After giving the instruction, he turned and left.
Back in his room, John changed clothes and went to meet Winston.
Once in Winston's office, John said:
"Winston, I need a blood oath marker."
"And I need you to witness the oath."
Winston tapped his desk thoughtfully and said:
"Jonathan, it seems you truly are returning."
John shook his head.
"No. This is just a personal thank-you."
"Only a Continental blood oath can show the sincerity I intend."
Winston looked at him and said again:
"Jonathan, others won't see it as retirement when you come back here and swear a blood oath."
With a serious expression, John replied:
"I need the marker to show my sincerity."
Seeing John's determination, Winston didn't say more but smiled.
"Seems like you owe quite a favor this time."
"Alright then. Let me witness your blood oath."
…
John brought Winston to Smith Doyle's room and knocked softly.
When the door opened, Winston saw who the oath was for—an assassin from the guild—and couldn't help but wonder: Was John giving thanks, building ties, or both?
Smith Doyle looked at the two at the door and said:
"Looks like your business is done?"
John nodded:
"Yes. It's done."
Smith nodded as well:
"Come in and have a seat."
Once inside, John didn't waste time. He pulled out the blood oath medallion and said:
"Smith, thank you for saving my life."
"This marker is all I have that might be of any use to you."
"As long as you activate this marker, I will fulfill the task, even at the cost of my life."
Winston added:
"This blood oath marker will be signed under the witness of the Continental."
"If the giver fails to fulfill the contract, the Continental will punish him."
Smith understood: if John failed to uphold the oath, the hotel would execute him.
He looked at the bloodied fingerprint on the medallion and put it away.
"I accept your thanks. Very sincere indeed."
Then Fox interjected:
"John, have you dealt with Viggo?"
John answered honestly:
"I only had a personal conflict with his son. It didn't involve him."
"After he gave me the address and removed the bounty, I let him go."
Fox rolled his eyes—clearly frustrated with John's lack of follow-up.
"Good luck. I hope Viggo doesn't mind you killing his son."
Winston sighed too. That was classic Jonathan—reckless as always.
"I trust Viggo Tarasov will keep our agreement. But thanks for the warning," John replied.
Just then, Smith Doyle's phone rang. Seeing the caller was "The Cross," he answered.
"GOD, we've selected the mission zone. Come back and prepare."
"Alright, I'm on my way."
After hanging up, Smith turned to John and Winston.
"I've got something to handle. Make yourselves at home."
"Manager Winston, please tell Charon I've checked out."
Then to Fox:
"Let's go home."
…
After Smith Doyle and Fox left, John planned to meet his old friend, Marcus.
That night, shots had warned him in the hotel room—letting him take down Perkins.
Driving the black Dodge gifted by the Continental's higher-ups, he reached the usual meeting spot with Marcus.
"Marcus, thank you for saving me at the Continental."
Marcus joked:
"John, how many times do you need me to save you?"
"But it seems you made quite the powerful friend this time."
Marcus recalled a moment—the man leapt from a ten-meter-high warehouse rooftop holding a woman, landing steadily like some real-life Captain America. It was absurd.
John offered another sincere thank-you:
"Much appreciated, Marcus."
He didn't go into detail about Smith Doyle.
Marcus looked at his old friend and said:
"You look good."
"This is what retirement looks like," John replied.
Marcus wasn't impressed. But he saw something in John—a spark of life, not the despair after his wife's death.
He said:
"Retirement? Do you even believe that?"
"Just showing up at the Continental again makes everyone think you're back."
"Nobody's buying the 'retired' act."
"You think no one knows about your conflict with Viggo?"
Then Marcus patted John's shoulder and continued:
"Be ready. This won't end here."
He sighed, then turned and walked away.
The conversation hadn't gone well.
Neither Marcus nor John realized that their meeting had been watched from a nearby car—by one of Viggo's men—who recorded
everything and reported back.
That man had actually come to give Marcus a new assignment from Viggo.
...
(End of Chapter)
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