Cold sweat had already started forming on John Wick's forehead, but Smith simply smiled without saying a word.
At that moment, Fox was mentally grumbling This guy Smith is such a con artist. Since when was the mission of the Assassin's League to "observe and guide"? But then again... Does the Dragon Balls thing really exist? Can they actually grant any wish?
Why does John Wick believe it so firmly? Is it because of that crystal ball-like thing?
John Wick ignored the sweat trickling down his forehead and asked,
"I... I just want to bring my wife, Helen, back to life."
"And... have I passed your observation?"
Smith Dole smiled and replied,
"You're still under evaluation."
Hearing that, John Wick stood up and said,
"I hope I pass your test. But for now, I need to deal with some personal matters."
When it came to his beloved dog and car, John Wick had to settle things — they were the treasures Helen left behind. Besides, if he gave up halfway, not only might he fail the assessment, but Viggo and his son, Iosef Tarasov, would still be obstacles in his path.
Smith Dole nodded gently and said,
"Go take care of your personal matters. Your evaluation is still ongoing."
"Thank you."
After thanking him, John Wick left Smith's room.
Once the door closed and they confirmed no one was outside, Fox sized Smith up and down.
"GOD, were you serious about what you said?"
Smith chuckled.
"Partially."
Fox's eyes widened in shock.
"So... the Dragon Balls are real?"
Seeing Smith nod, Fox, despite having his suspicions, was still stunned.
"As for the rest... I think it's about to become reality too."
Fox was silent for a few seconds before asking,
"If it's real, don't you want to make a wish or something?"
Smith shook his head.
"I don't need to."
Fox opened his mouth to say something, but in the end held back. After a few seconds of silence, he muttered,
"No wonder you're our GOD... your level is just on another plane."
Seeing the puzzled look on Fox's face, Smith didn't bother explaining. After all, the Dragon Balls were created based on his power. He had no wishes that needed fulfilling — anything he couldn't do, even Shenron couldn't help with. And what he could do, he didn't need Shenron for. With his foresight and knowledge of the Marvel Universe, he already had the upper hand.
Smith pulled out his phone and dialed Winston. Within seconds, the call connected.
"Smith, calling an old man at this hour is quite rude."
Hearing Winston's voice, Smith smiled without the slightest hint of shame and went straight to the point:
"Winston, someone broke the rules of the Continental."
"As a kind-hearted soul, I'll help you clean up the trash."
Winston sat up in bed, instantly fully alert. His tone turned grave:
"You're sure someone violated Continental rules?"
"What exactly did they do?"
Smith glanced at Perkins, who was seated in a chair, then said,
"Perkins went after the bounty on John Wick she attempted an assassination inside the hotel."
"I believe the hallway cameras will back that up."
As he finished speaking, Smith Dole pulled out his pistol and shot Perkins in the head.
Bang!
A single shot clean and deadly.
There was silence for three seconds on the other end of the line, then Winston spoke:
"Understood."
Smith hung up and said,
"I didn't want to see her live till dawn. We've got other business to handle."
Fox rolled his eyes.
"You figured out she was awake and eavesdropping, didn't you?"
Smith nodded.
"That rapidly beating heart gave her away. Looks like the Dragon Ball news was just too tempting."
"Let's head to Little Russia and see what John Wick does next."
Smith Dole and Fox left the Continental. Not long after, Winston arrived with his men at Room 819. After inspecting the room, they took Perkins' body away.
Before dawn, Smith Dole and Fox arrived near a church in Little Russia — an important stronghold of Viggo Tarasov's Russian mafia. It stored evidence of bribery, political blackmail, and a stash of cash. A very critical location.
After scouting the area, they even found a warehouse likely used to hold John Wick. Finally, they picked a rooftop with a good view and decent cover, and waited.
---
Daybreak.
Fox, using binoculars, saw John Wick walking into the church with a large canvas bag.
"Smith, John's arrived."
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Gunshots rang out — the Night Demon had begun his killing spree.
Smith Dole pulled a second-generation power level detector from his system backpack and put it on.
4... 5... 5... 4... 3.
Strange. The Russian mob actually has people with power levels this low?
Let's see what John Wick's is.
6. Surprisingly high...
Stronger than your average battle level 5 trash.
John Wick fired several consecutive shots, each one a kill. The process was smooth and efficient no wasted movement, no unnecessary words. It exuded a kind of charm unlike those idiotic characters who monologue while killing or stare longingly mid-battle. Ridiculous.
It was exactly this clean, efficient killing style that made Smith want to bring Fox to witness the carnage.
Meanwhile, Fox had become more curious about the gadget Smith was wearing than the actual battle. He asked,
"Smith, what's that thing you're wearing? I've never seen it before."
Smith pointed at the device.
"This is a power level detector. It reads a target's energy and represents it as a numerical value their combat strength."