Santino D'Antonio shook his head.
"I don't know."
"And I don't need to."
"I just heard you were looking for something like it, so I searched second-hand markets… turns out it's for sale."
"Funny, right?"
Hearing that Santino didn't know the true nature of the Dragon Balls, John Wick felt a bit of relief—but the way Santino had acquired it was still surprising.
"John, would you mind telling me what it really is?"
John kept a blank face and asked:
"Would you be willing to trade your Marker for that information?"
Santino raised an eyebrow, incredulous.
"John, are you joking?"
"I didn't want to come to you. I respected your retirement."
"But when you walked back into the Continental… and gave someone else a new Marker, I realized you were back."
John shook his head.
"That was personal."
Santino ignored the reply, raising the Marker in his hand.
"There are two rules at the Continental."
"First—no killing on hotel grounds."
"Second—the Marker must be honored."
John nodded. Santino continued:
"The one who offers a Marker may not harm the holder. The request tied to it must be completed."
"Refuse the task—death."
"Run—death."
"Kill the holder—death."
"Break the rules—excommunicado from the Continental, and hunted by the High Table."
Now that Santino had laid everything out, John knew there was no way to refuse.
"What's the task?"
"And… I want the Four-Star Ball in your possession."
A smile spread across Santino's face.
"So that's what it's called—Four-Star Ball. No problem."
"Once the job is done, someone will bring it to you."
He paused, then added:
"The mission—I want you to kill my sister."
John's eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
Santino grew serious.
"There are twelve seats on the High Table."
"Camorra, Mafia, Yakuza, Triads, Russians…"
"When our father died, the seat passed to her."
"She now represents the Camorra. And I can't help but wonder—if I replaced her, what could I achieve?"
John confirmed flatly:
"You want me to kill Gianna D'Antonio?"
Santino nodded slowly.
"I can't do it myself. She's family. I still love her."
John now fully understood the complexity—and danger—of the mission.
"This is impossible."
Santino, however, revealed more:
"She'll be in Rome, being coronated as the Camorra's new head. You'll enter through the catacombs…"
John cut him off.
"Where she is doesn't matter."
Whether he did the job or not, either way the High Table would come after him.
Refuse—and he'd be a marked man.
Accept—and he'd become the assassin of a newly appointed Elder. Either path was deadly.
Santino stared at him.
"That's why I need the Ghost. The Ghost of John Wick."
"That's why I need you—to finish this. Do this, and your Marker is fulfilled. And the Four-Star Ball will be yours."
"So, what do you say?"
John stood.
"I'll do it. Just make sure I get the Four-Star Ball."
Santino grinned, took a sip of his coffee, and left John's house.
······
Elsewhere.
Smith Dole was walking with two companions—Wesley, the son of Cross, and Fox. Of course, Poole was there too.
Wesley already knew Poole, but he still couldn't help stealing glances—curiosity burning in his eyes.
"GOD, what's our next mission?" Wesley asked.
Smith thought for a moment.
"Wesley, go bring John Wick. I need to speak with him."
"Here's his address."
Wesley accepted the task and drove off.
Fox, watching him leave, asked:
"Are you going to tell Wesley about the Dragon Balls?"
Smith nodded.
"Not just Wesley—the entire upper echelon will know."
"I already said the Dragon Balls will become the new holy relics of the League."
Fox looked over at Poole.
"What about him?"
"There are surveillance cameras everywhere. If he talks in public, people will definitely call the police."
Poole, unfazed, activated his shapeshifting ability and transformed into a blue cat-shaped balloon.
"I won't speak outside, I wouldn't want to trouble Young Master."
Fox widened her eyes in shock—she hadn't expected such a skill.
"Well… I'm not worried anymore."
Smith shrugged. For now, Poole wouldn't reveal himself. But once a wish on the Dragon Balls was made, Poole's powers would likely increase drastically. At that point, even if people saw him, it wouldn't matter. The early stages of the Marvel Universe weren't particularly dangerous anyway.
······
Soon, Wesley returned with John Wick, bringing him into the League's base—which, surprisingly, was hidden in a textile factory in New York.
"GOD, I brought John Wick."
"Smith-san."
John nodded in greeting.
"Drink?" Smith offered.
"Whiskey," John replied.
Fox poured him a glass. John took a sip and said:
"Sir, I've found the second Dragon Ball."
Smith's expression changed.
"Which one?"
"The Four-Star Ball. It's in Santino D'Antonio's possession, but it'll be mine soon."
Wesley looked a bit confused. He had no idea what a Dragon Ball was, but with John present, he held back from asking.
Fox, having just studied the High Table documents, asked:
"The D'Antonio from the Camorra?"
John nodded.
"Yes. His sister is about to take a seat at the High Table, and he's offered me a blood oath contract—to kill her in exchange for the Dragon Ball."
······
(End of Chapter)
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