John Wick - Chapter 119: The Willing Take the Bait (Patreon)

“Order confirmed!”

Beep! Beep! Beep!

The moment the words left the operator’s mouth, Nate, John, and the others’ phones began ringing one after another.

Nate pulled out his phone.

It was a message from the Administration Department containing the details of the bounty on his head.

[Contract No. RM-2021-0873]

[Target: Nate Lin]

[Bounty Type: Public Bounty]

[Bounty Amount: $25 Million]

[Contract Status: Open]

[Bounty Issuer: Cassian]

[Effective Time: 10:47 PM Today]

Rome’s assassins really didn’t take that many jobs.

Back in New York, the contract numbers had already gone well past a hundred, while Rome was only at this number.

The plan had already been decided.

Nate would serve as the bait, while John would follow from a distance and provide cover.

Working together, the two of them would eliminate as many of Rome’s assassins as possible before Gianna’s coronation.

It was risky, but Nate felt a thrill he hadn’t experienced in a long time.

Opportunities for a fight like this didn’t come around often.

Ever since he had partnered up with John, none of the battles they had gone through had put much pressure on Nate.

John covering his back was simply too reliable.

Seriously, who wouldn’t want to have the entire world hunting them, only to turn around and carve through everyone chasing them with the Baba Yaga watching their back?

Just thinking about it was exciting.

And this wasn’t just the ordinary John Wick.

This was an enhanced John Wick, one already approaching his prime.

Besides, Nate wasn’t exactly weak himself.

“John, we’ve got an hour to get our equipment ready. We’ll be operating separately this time, so make sure you bring enough gear.”

John nodded, walked over to the cabinet, and took out a tactical backpack for Nate.

“You have plenty of equipment too. You’ll need this.”

Nate smiled as he accepted it.

He understood what John meant.

John didn’t want Nate’s ability to make equipment appear and disappear exposed, so he had specifically prepared a backpack for him.

At that moment, Elena rushed into the room with a shocked expression.

She was still wearing pajamas.

“Nate! What’s going on?! Why is there a bounty on you... Cassian!”

Cassian walked in at almost the exact same moment, looking just as confused as he stared at his phone.

Elena immediately pulled a gun from behind her waist and aimed it at him.

Nate stepped forward and snatched it out of her hand.

Then he lightly knocked her on the head.

“Relax. He didn’t put the bounty on me. This is part of our plan.”

“We don’t have much time. John and I need to get ready first. Gianna can explain the rest to you.”

Elena held her head and nodded blankly.

John was already fully equipped.

He wore his black bulletproof suit, with the TTI AR-15 inside his backpack and part of the barrel sticking out.

A Glock 34 and Glock 26 were holstered at his waist.

He still needed to visit the Sommelier and buy more ammunition.

After all, the two of them would be fighting separately this time, so Nate wouldn’t be able to resupply John during the fight.

Nate went with him.

Each carrying a backpack, they headed down to the hotel lobby.

The lobby was much more crowded than before.

Especially around the front desk.

A huge group of people had gathered there, all scrambling to register themselves as assassins.

There was no helping it.

Independent assassins who weren’t registered couldn’t use the hotel’s bounty system.

Even if they somehow managed to kill Nate, they wouldn’t get paid unless they registered first.

The crowd noisily asked where they could register as assassins.

The moment they got their answer, excitement spread across their faces.

They rushed toward the elevators in a wave, dragging Nate and John along with them.

The Administration Department was on the first basement floor.

The Sommelier was on the second.

The elevator was packed.

A strange smell quickly filled the cramped space.

Body odor mixed with heavy perfume until Nate could barely keep his eyes open.

John, standing beside him, looked just as uncomfortable.

Directly in front of Nate stood a slightly overweight, broad-built white man wearing a black jacket.

With his back to Nate, the man was pressed tightly against him, forcing Nate flat against the elevator wall.

All Nate could feel was the man’s surprisingly springy ass pressed against him.

The man even turned his head and gave Nate an embarrassed smile.

The elevator finally reached the first basement floor.

Everyone rushed out as though they were afraid they might miss their chance at something.

In an instant, only Nate and John remained inside.

Nate stepped forward and pressed the button for the second basement floor.

“People really will risk their lives for money, huh, John?”

John nodded.

“The willing take the bait. So when we start, we should make it quick and clean.”

He paused.

“Professional courtesy.”

Nate nodded.

“Yeah~”

The elevator reached the second basement floor.

Nate pushed open the door to the Sommelier’s station.

The Sommelier was looking at his phone.

The moment he saw Nate enter, his eyes widened dramatically.

He immediately turned the screen around and pointed at the bounty notice.

“Mr. Lin, what exactly are you doing?!”

Nate waved dismissively.

“Rome was getting boring. I figured I’d get some exercise.”

Then Nate looked at him.

“You’re not planning to join the hunt too, are you?”

He still felt the need to ask.

Nate had a pretty good impression of the Sommelier.

It would be a shame if the man got himself killed over this.

The Sommelier put down his phone and answered solemnly.

“No, Mr. Lin. I am an employee of this hotel. I will not participate in the hunt.”

“Good.”

“What can I get for you gentlemen?”

John told him what he needed.

Nate glanced over his own gear.

He already had plenty of guns and ammunition.

“Got any knives left?”

The Sommelier gave him an apologetic look.

“I’m sorry, sir. You bought out my entire stock the day before yesterday, and the next shipment hasn’t arrived yet, so...”

“What about those metal playing cards?”

After trying them out last time, Nate had to admit they felt surprisingly good to throw.

“Yes, sir.”

The Sommelier reached into a cabinet and pulled out two decks.

“I made these myself.”

Nate carefully accepted them and smiled.

“Thanks. I really like these. The weight, the feel, even the way they look.”

“Could you make me a few more decks?”

The Sommelier smiled sincerely.

“Of course. As many as you want.”

It was the same feeling Nate got from cooking.

Having someone you respected admire you because of your work was probably the greatest validation a craftsman could receive.

John took the backpack filled with AR-15 magazines.

The two turned to leave.

The Sommelier’s voice came from behind them.

“Gentlemen, do enjoy your party!”

When they returned to the hotel lobby, the place sounded like a crowded marketplace.

It was packed.

Every sofa was already occupied.

Assassins who couldn’t find seats stood around in small groups near the walls, smoking and talking.

Others kept rushing between the front desk and the elevators.

John left first.

He needed to find a position outside where he could keep Nate in sight.

“Jonathan!”

Julius’s voice came from behind.

Nate turned around.

Julius had just emerged from the manager’s office.

But the lobby was so noisy, and John was already at the entrance, that he simply didn’t hear him.

John pushed open the hotel doors and stepped outside.

Several people entering the hotel froze the moment they saw him.

John ignored them and continued walking.

Julius quickly approached Nate.

“Nate, what’s going on? This bounty...”

Nate raised a hand and cut him off.

“Manager, keep your people under control.”

“Don’t let them get involved.”

“They’ll die.”

Julius hesitated for a moment.

Then realization dawned on him, and he nodded.

By then, several assassins sitting in the lobby had noticed Nate because Julius had approached him.

Their reactions were almost perfectly synchronized.

First, they quickly grabbed their phones and looked at the bounty notice.

Then they looked at Nate’s face.

Then they simply stared.

More and more people began noticing him.

The noise in the lobby gradually faded.

Quieter.

Quieter.

Until eventually, the entire lobby fell silent.

Under everyone’s gaze, Nate calmly walked toward the hotel entrance.

On the way, he even waved to the receptionist.

When he reached the doors, Nate stopped and turned around.

He could feel the hostility filling the lobby, coming from every direction.

Nate smiled.

“Gentlemen.”

He paused.

“Oh, right. Ladies too.”

“Allow me to introduce myself.”

“I’m Nate.”

Nate even removed his hat and gave the entire room a formal bow.

The lobby immediately erupted in murmurs.

Julius, the receptionist, and the attendants all stared in disbelief at the young man in the white suit bowing before a lobby packed with assassins.

Nate straightened.

His expression became cold and completely calm.

“What I want to tell you is...”

“Whoever comes.”

“Whoever it is.”

“I will kill them.”

“I will kill them all.”

For one brief moment, the lobby was completely silent.

Then it exploded into chaos.