Chapter 217: A Bloodbath Sparked by a Dog
Night descended over Casablanca like a deep blue curtain.
The Casablanca Continental Hotel blazed with warm light, its white arches glowing beneath golden lamps.
Ethan leaned against the balcony railing, gazing at the city's lights stretching into the distance.
Eventually, curiosity got the better of him.
"So... that woman earlier."
"Sofia."
John sat quietly in a chair, methodically cleaning his pistol.
Every movement was slow, precise, and silent.
Ethan turned toward him.
"What's the story between you two?"
John was silent for a long moment.
For John, silence wasn't golden.
It was sand—everywhere, natural, and endless.
If you asked him to tell a story, he could probably compress an entire novel into three sentences.
Fortunately, Ethan was used to it.
All he needed were a few key pieces.
He could fill in the rest himself.
After a while, John finally spoke.
It didn't take Ethan long to piece everything together.
Sofia hadn't wanted to help John.
The reason was simple.
She was now the manager of the Casablanca Continental.
Everything she did was being watched.
One mistake...
One powerful enemy...
...and the retaliation probably wouldn't fall on her.
It would fall on her daughter.
She had once said that her daughter's safety was the only thing that truly mattered to her.
So she refused to take unnecessary risks.
Unfortunately...
John possessed her blood marker.
One created many years ago.
Back then, Sofia had been just like John.
A gun in her hand.
A trail of bodies behind her.
Then someone targeted her daughter.
In the underworld...
Family was every assassin's greatest weakness.
Once that weakness was exposed, even the deadliest killer could be forced to kneel.
So Sofia sought John's help.
John, true to form, permanently removed everyone hunting the child.
Her daughter was given a new identity.
A new life.
A new world.
Every trace of her existence was erased from the underworld's records.
Had John not intervened...
Sofia's daughter would almost certainly have fallen into someone's hands.
She might not even be alive today.
That wasn't merely a favor.
It was the salvation of a life.
Exactly the kind of debt a blood marker was meant to represent.
John had always respected the rules of the underworld.
He had never used that secret to manipulate Sofia.
Nor had he ever revealed the girl's whereabouts to anyone.
Not even the High Table's intelligence network possessed any record of her.
After thinking for a moment, Ethan asked,
"Does Sofia know where her daughter is now?"
John shook his head.
"She doesn't."
Ethan blinked.
"She doesn't want to know?"
John nodded.
"The fewer people who know..."
"...the better."
He paused.
"Including her."
Ethan chuckled.
"That is such underworld logic."
Then another realization struck him.
"So..."
"Only you know where she is."
John didn't answer.
But his silence answered everything.
Ethan's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Where did you hide her?"
"Maybe we could secretly keep an eye on her."
"Protect her. Support her financially."
"If we do that, Sofia will owe us forever."
John looked at him calmly.
"Where she used to be doesn't matter."
He holstered his pistol before continuing in the same even tone.
"Right now..."
"...she's in the safest place possible."
Ethan froze.
"Where?"
John simply looked at him again.
The meaning in his eyes couldn't have been clearer.
Ethan sat in silence for several seconds before it finally clicked.
"...Wait."
"Don't tell me..."
"...you placed her near the clinic?"
John didn't deny it.
Ethan was speechless.
A few moments later, he sighed.
"Well..."
"That actually makes perfect sense."
After another pause, he asked,
"Have I met her?"
John remained silent.
"Have I treated her?"
Still nothing.
Ethan spread his hands helplessly.
"Fine."
Then another thought crossed his mind.
"So your plan was to wait until the blood marker was fulfilled..."
"...and only then tell Sofia where her daughter is."
"So she'd still owe us another favor."
John nodded lightly.
"Yeah."
Ethan stared at him with a complicated expression.
John becoming this calculating...
Helen deserved at least half the credit.
He finally understood what she'd meant when she said,
"Your battlefield is the clinic."
She hadn't been joking in the slightest.
Now that Ethan understood Sofia's connection to the clinic, he relaxed considerably.
With that relationship established...
Sofia could essentially be considered one of their own.
---
Early the next morning, the group entered the manager's office.
Sofia was inspecting the magazine of a handgun.
Her two Belgian Malinois lay quietly at her feet, their ears twitching every so often.
Leaning against the bar, Ethan asked,
"So we're looking for..."
"...someone who knows how to find the Elder?"
Sofia nodded.
"Berrada was once my superior."
"He's Morocco's leading arms dealer."
"And an intelligence broker."
"He has extensive ties to the High Table."
"He operates a weapons shop here in Casablanca."
She inserted the magazine back into the pistol.
"The desert is filled with different factions."
"But only a handful of people know how to reach the Elder."
"He's one of them."
John Wick remained silent.
Natasha looked at Sofia.
"Can he be trusted?"
Sofia shrugged.
"In the desert..."
"'Trustworthy' is always relative."
She glanced at John.
"But he was my boss."
"That counts for something."
She clapped her hands.
"Let's go."
---
Several black SUVs rolled through the narrow streets of the old city.
Eventually they stopped at the entrance to an inconspicuous alley.
At the end stood an aging two-story building.
From the outside it looked like an ordinary warehouse.
The dozens of heavily armed guards outside told a different story.
More gun barrels were visible on the rooftop and behind the windows.
This wasn't merely a weapons shop.
It was a fortified stronghold.
The doors opened.
Sofia stepped out first, her two dogs immediately falling into formation beside her.
John exited next.
His black suit looked especially lethal beneath the morning sun.
"Wait."
Ethan suddenly spoke.
Before entering a dungeon...
...the party always received buffs.
He raised a hand.
Soft Holy Light descended upon John and Sofia.
Then, almost as an afterthought...
...he buffed both dogs as well.
John was already accustomed to it and didn't react.
Sofia, however, clearly felt the change.
She looked down at herself before staring at Ethan in surprise.
Ethan waved casually.
Then climbed back into the SUV.
He and Natasha would remain outside.
That had been the plan from the beginning.
Watching the pair walk away, Ethan suddenly remembered something.
He quickly cast Mind Vision.
John seemed to notice.
He glanced back toward the vehicle.
Ethan smiled.
"Good luck with the negotiations."
"And if they don't go well..."
"...we'll handle things from out here."
John turned away.
He and Sofia disappeared into the building.
They passed through a narrow corridor.
Guards occupied every important position.
Before entering the main hall, they were stopped.
"No weapons."
The guard's voice was curt and emotionless.
John immediately raised his hands.
Sofia did the same.
After a thorough search confirmed they were unarmed, the guards nodded.
Two escorts led them farther inside.
The heavy doors closed behind them.
The interior was far larger than it had appeared from outside.
Weapons filled the hall.
Rifles.
Machine guns.
Rocket launchers.
It looked more like a military museum than an arms shop.
In one corner...
Workers were actually minting High Table gold coins.
Watching through Mind Vision, Ethan raised an eyebrow.
So this is where the coins are made?
Certainly not the only mint...
...but enough to prove this place's close relationship with the High Table.
A well-dressed man approached.
He wore an immaculate suit and looked every bit the successful businessman.
Seeing the two visitors, he opened his arms with a smile.
"Sofia."
"It's always a pleasure to see you."
His gaze immediately dropped to the dogs at her feet.
"And of course..."
"...your wonderful dogs."
"They're magnificent."
"May I pet them?"
Sofia nodded.
"Of course."
Berrada clearly adored dogs.
He crouched to stroke them before looking up at John.
"Mr. John Wick."
"I heard you'd washed ashore in my corner of the world."
He rose and carefully examined John.
"Please."
"Come in."
"I have a feeling we have much to discuss."
Leading them deeper into the hall, he continued,
"I'm curious."
"What brings you to my territory?"
He suddenly turned around.
"Have you come to kill me?"
John shook his head.
"No."
Berrada smiled.
Returning to his seat, he looked directly at John.
"Mr. Wick..."
"Do you know the origin of the word assassin?"
"There are many theories."
"Some say it comes from the followers of Hassan."
"Others say it refers to hashish users."
"And still others believe it originally meant..."
"...the faithful."
"Those devoted to their beliefs."
Watching remotely from the SUV, Ethan couldn't help yawning.
What is this guy even talking about?
Berrada then presented two treasured relics.
The very first gold coin minted by the High Table.
And...
...the very first blood marker.
He proudly explained how difficult they had been to acquire.
"Order."
"And rules."
Looking at John, he finally arrived at the point.
"You broke the rules."
"The High Table has sentenced you to death."
He slowly approached.
"So tell me..."
"Why should I allow you to leave here alive?"
John answered calmly,
"I intend to make amends."
"I'm prepared to pay for what I've done."
"I seek an audience..."
"...with the one who stands above the High Table."
Berrada stared at him.
Silence lingered.
Then he absentmindedly reached down to pet Sofia's dogs again.
"I really do love this dog."
Looking up at Sofia, he asked,
"My old friend..."
"Does your dog shed?"
"Sometimes," Sofia replied.
Watching from the SUV, Ethan looked utterly baffled.
This guy seriously loves dogs...
Can we please get back to the important part?
Berrada settled back into his chair.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Wick."
"But I cannot tell you where to find the Elder."
John's expression never changed.
Berrada continued,
"You don't understand."
"The Elder isn't someone you can simply decide to meet."
"He chooses whether to meet you."
"If you wish to find him..."
He pointed toward the distant horizon.
"Go to the edge of the desert."
"Look up."
"Follow Orion across the night sky."
"Keep walking."
"Walk until your legs can carry you no farther."
"Then keep walking."
"If the Elder believes you're worthy..."
"...he'll find you."
That's it?
Ethan couldn't help grumbling inwardly.
He was wondering whether they should press for more information.
But John had apparently heard enough.
The conversation was over.
John and Sofia thanked Berrada and turned to leave.
Then—
"Wait."
Berrada's gaze drifted back to the two Belgian Malinois.
"Information has a price."
"As payment..."
"I like that dog."
"I'm keeping it."
Inside the SUV, Ethan was left speechless.
Is this guy mentally ill?
He's obsessed with that dog.
The room fell silent.
Sofia's expression instantly turned cold.
"No."
Berrada smiled.
"I helped you."
"This is simply the price you can pay."
Sofia's voice was icy.
"No."
"You are not taking my dog."
"I only want one," Berrada replied casually.
"I already said no."
Berrada sighed.
"What a pity."
The next instant—
He suddenly grabbed a pistol from the table.
"Then I'll kill it."
Bang!
The gunshot thundered through the hall.
One of the dogs collapsed.
Sofia dropped to her knees almost instantly, frantically checking the animal.
Fortunately, the dog was wearing a ballistic vest.
It was wounded...
But alive.
Berrada spread his hands.
"My apologies, Sofia."
"I merely wanted you to understand..."
"Everything has a price."
Sofia slowly raised her head.
Then looked at John.
John gave the slightest shake of his head.
Time seemed to freeze.
Then—
Sofia moved.
In one fluid motion, she drew the concealed pistol hidden beneath the dog's tactical vest.
Bang!
Berrada was hit immediately.
She pivoted and opened fire again.
Several guards dropped before they even realized what was happening.
The firefight exploded into chaos.
---
Inside the SUV, Ethan shot upright.
Through Mind Vision, he watched the entire battle unfold from John's perspective.
Gunfire erupted from every direction inside the building.
Natasha heard the shots through the surveillance feed.
She didn't hesitate for even a second.
"Move."
The strike team waiting outside acted immediately.
Seconds later...
Gunfire erupted from every side of the compound.
The entire building became a battlefield.
---
Ten minutes later...
The shooting gradually died away.
The stronghold had been completely cleared.
Berrada, drenched in blood, was dragged into the center of the hall.
One hand clutched his groin.
Besides the gunshot wound...
One of the dogs had apparently bitten him somewhere far more painful.
John stood before him.
Without saying a word...
He simply pressed his pistol against Berrada's forehead.
For the first time...
Berrada's smile disappeared.
"I already told you how to find him."
John remained motionless.
The muzzle pressed down just a little harder.
Berrada stayed silent for a long moment before finally sighing.
"...Fine."
"I'll tell you the real location."
He described everything in painstaking detail.
The correct direction through the desert.
The hidden route.
The patrol zones used by the Elder's guards.
This time...
He held nothing back.
After listening carefully, John nodded once.
Then turned and walked away.
Berrada let out a long, relieved breath.
Only for a pistol to press against his forehead once again.
This time...
It belonged to Sofia.
"Sofia, don't."
John spoke calmly.
Sofia's breathing was uneven.
Her eyes remained locked on Berrada.
Then—
The pistol slowly lowered.
Bang!
The bullet shattered Berrada's kneecap.
A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the hall.
Grinding her teeth, Sofia said,
"He shot my dog."
John was silent for a second.
Then he nodded.
"...That..."
"I can understand."
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