Santino D'Antonio denied knowing the function of the object John Wick was seeking. "I do not know. You don't need to know. But I just heard that you were looking for something similar, and then I searched on a second-hand platform and found some for sale. Do you think this is interesting?"
John Wick felt a mixture of relief and surprise: relief that Santino was ignorant of the Dragon Balls' true power, but surprise at his casual method of acquisition.
"John, would you mind telling me what this is?" Santino pressed.
John Wick maintained his stoic expression. "Are you willing to use the Blood Oath contract in exchange for information about this thing?"
Santino laughed sharply. "John, are you kidding me? Originally I didn't want to look for you. I respect your retirement. But when you stepped into the Continental Hotel again and even paid a new Blood Oath contract, I thought you had returned."
John Wick shook his head. "That was a personal vendetta."
Ignoring the explanation, Santino held up the Blood Oath marker and spoke with solemn finality: "There are two rules at the Continental Hotel."
"No killing allowed in the First Hotel. The second Blood Oath contract must be completed."
John Wick nodded, knowing the ritual was sacred. Santino continued to list the consequences:
The Continental Code:
Those who hand over the Blood Pact cannot attack the holder.
The mission of the Blood Pact must be completed.
Refuse the mission and you will die.
Escape and you will die.
Kill the holder, and you will die.
Violators will be removed from the Continental and hunted by the High Table.
John Wick knew he was trapped. "Tell me what you want," he conceded. "Also, I want the Four-Star Ball in your hand."
Santino D'Antonio smiled, satisfied. "So this thing is called the Four-Star Planet, no problem. When you complete your mission, someone will give it to you."
Santino then revealed the mission: "I need you to kill my sister."
John Wick was puzzled. "Why?"
Santino's face hardened with ambition. "The High Table seats twelve. Camorra, Mafia, 'Ndrangheta, Chinese, Russians... When my father died, he passed the seat to her. She now represents the Camorra, and I can't help but wonder what I could have achieved if I had replaced her."
John Wick confirmed: "You want me to kill Gianna D'Antonio?"
"I can't do it myself. She is my family, and I still love her," Santino lied smoothly.
John Wick immediately understood the immense trouble. "It's impossible to do this."
Santino offered a sliver of intelligence. "She will be crowned head of the Camorra in Rome. You will enter through the catacombs..."
John Wick shook his head, knowing logistics were irrelevant to the existential risk. "It doesn't matter where she is." To refuse was death by the High Table. To accept and succeed was likely the same. Yet, the Four-Star Dragon Ball was the prize.
Santino looked John Wick in the eye. "So I need a ghost. A ghost named John Wick. Help me do this, you will complete your blood contract, and I will give you the Four Stars as a gift. What do you say?"
John Wick stood up, his jaw set. "I've accepted the mission. Remember to hand over the Four Stars to me."
Smith Doyle was now accompanied by his two closest followers: Fox and Wesley (Cross's son), with Poole floating discreetly nearby.
"GOD, what is our next mission?" Wesley asked, still occasionally glancing with curiosity at the blue cat, Poole.
Smith thought for a moment. "Wesley, go find John Wick. I have something to tell him. This is his home address."
Wesley accepted the task and immediately drove off.
Fox watched Wesley leave and turned to Smith. "Are you going to tell Wesley about the Dragon Ball thing? And the entire top management?"
Smith nodded firmly. "Not only Wesley, but the entire top management will know. I said the Dragon Balls will be the new sacred objects of the Assassin's League. We need to focus all intelligence on finding them."
Fox then looked at Poole, who was casually hovering. "Then what about him? There are surveillance cameras on the streets now. If you speak outside, someone will definitely call the police."
At that moment, Poole used his transformation technique, instantly turning himself into a mundane, blue cat-shaped hydrogen balloon. "I won't talk outside and cause trouble for the young master."
Fox's eyes widened. "Now I have nothing to worry about," she conceded, utterly astonished by the level of power Smith now commanded.
Smith shrugged. With the looming wish to be made via the Dragon Balls, his own strength would increase exponentially. When that happened, he wouldn't care who saw Poole.
Soon after, Wesley brought John Wick back to the Assassin's League headquarters. John Wick looked around the massive New York textile factory with professional interest.
"GOD, I brought John Wick," Wesley announced.
"Mr. Smith," John Wick acknowledged with a nod.
"Any drinks?" Smith offered.
"A glass of whiskey," John Wick requested.
Fox quickly poured him a glass of the League's finest whiskey. John Wick took a sip, then got straight to the point. "Sir, I found the second Dragon Ball."
Smith asked, "Which one?"
"The Four Stars are in the hands of Santino D'Antonio, but they will soon be mine."
Wesley, sitting nearby, looked thoroughly confused, but held his tongue.
Fox, who had just finished reviewing the intelligence on the High Table, narrowed her eyes. "Is it D'Antonio, the man who runs the Camorra?"
John Wick corrected her. "Yes. His sister was about to inherit the High Table seat, and he came to me with the Dragon Ball and the Blood Oath Contract, asking me to kill his sister, Gianna D'Antonio."
...
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