France, Marquis's Castle.
The High Table Adjudicator found the Marquis admiring a painting. He presented Chen Ye's challenge letter and said, "This is a challenge letter from Chen Ye of Hell's Kitchen. According to the rules, you must accept the challenge."
The Marquis, initially unconcerned, spread his hands and crossed his legs, saying leisurely, "According to the High Table's rules, someone who doesn't belong to any family of the High Table shouldn't be able to issue a challenge, right?"
The High Table Adjudicator lowered his head and told the Marquis, "Just today, the High Table unanimously agreed that Kingpin has replaced the Antonio Family of New York and established a new family. According to the rules, Chen Ye is challenging you on behalf of the Fisk Family."
Upon hearing this, the Marquis's wonderful mood instantly plummeted.
Although he remained composed on the surface, the oppressive feeling Chen Ye represented from Hell's Kitchen could not be entirely hidden.
The Marquis was no longer as relaxed as before; he stood up with his hands on his hips, his eyes vacant, perhaps recalling the embarrassing experience of being beaten and fleeing a few days ago.
As a Marquis of the High Table, he knew very well that the challenge could not be refused. And the High Table's Adjudicator also brought up Kingpin's, or rather, Chen Ye's demands.
First, a compensation of 500 million, along with granting John Wick his freedom, and rebuilding the Continental Hotel in New York, with all repair costs to be borne by the Marquis.
Of course, all of this depended on Chen Ye winning.
The Marquis looked at a painting in front of him and readily agreed. After all, he had no choice but to refuse. At this moment, he realized how heavy the price of provoking Hell's Kitchen was.
Subsequently, the Marquis set the discussion location for the challenge at the Eiffel Tower at noon.
The High Table Adjudicator listened and said, "I will convey it to Mr. Chen Ye." Then he turned and left.
Leaving the Marquis to ponder.
......
Hell's Kitchen, Good Luck Restaurant.
"Alright, I understand." Chen Ye hung up the phone. John Wick and Winston waited anxiously beside him.
Chen Ye slowly said, "The Marquis has agreed to the terms. Tomorrow, we'll go to Paris to discuss the duel."
John Wick and Winston exchanged glances, sighing in relief. They hadn't expected Chen Ye to actually convince the High Table to agree to such outrageous terms.
"However, France is the Marquis's territory. Are you sure the Marquis will obediently participate in the duel?" Winston clearly saw the problem.
"Of course, I know it's the Marquis's territory, and I know he won't let me easily participate in a duel, because he knows who would lose if we really dueled." Chen Ye smiled slightly.
Chen Ye, of course, knew the Marquis's intentions: nothing more than to use his family's influence to gather men and eliminate Chen Ye before the duel.
If the Marquis wanted to eliminate Chen Ye, why wouldn't Chen Ye want to eliminate the Marquis? Not just the Marquis himself, but to wipe out all of the Marquis's forces in one fell swoop.
If Chen Ye were to choose New York as the location, even if he eliminated the Marquis, other members of the Marquis's family would continuously seek revenge. Although Chen Ye wasn't afraid of revenge, it would still cause him unexpected trouble.
So, a permanent solution was the best approach: directly invading their territory and seeing whose people were stronger. When you're in this line of work, you need influence and strength. Do you think Hell's Kitchen would have fewer people to call upon in Paris?
"Pack up. John and Old Ma are coming with me to Paris for work. As for you, Winston, stay here with Pietro and wait for my good news." After speaking, Chen Ye got up, ready to pack his things and depart.
......
The next day at noon, Chen Ye, accompanied by John Wick, arrived on time. After confirmation by the High Table messenger, the Marquis was already sitting in a chair at the dueling table, legs crossed, having waited for a long time.
Seeing Chen Ye and John Wick, the culprit behind everything, the Marquis's face showed a hint of resentment, then instantly transformed into a smiling expression as he said to Chen Ye:
"Mr. Chen Ye, you are indeed a talented individual. The previous incident in Hell's Kitchen was my mistake. I will pay 500 million U.S. dollars as compensation.
As long as you hand John Wick over to me, I can pretend nothing happened.
After all, you have already become a member of the High Table, just like me. There's no need for you to risk everything for an insignificant assassin, is there?"
Chen Ye sat opposite the Marquis, first ignoring him, and then spoke to Master Ye behind the Marquis in Chinese: "Master Ye, Hell's Kitchen Community College is preparing to enroll students." Clearly, Chen Ye wanted to use this subtle way to tell Master Ye that his daughter was safe.
Originally, Chen Ye didn't want to be so ostentatious. Even speaking in Chinese carried the risk of exposure, making it easy for the Marquis to guess. But Master Ye was blind, so Chen Ye couldn't use gestures for him to see; he could only use his voice to inform him.
The Marquis, who was beside them, listened with a puzzled expression, looking at Chen Ye and Master Ye. He hadn't expected them to have any connection, and his face instantly turned gloomy.
Master Ye clearly understood Chen Ye's meaning, and his face didn't change at all. Anyone who didn't know would have thought Master Ye was ignoring Chen Ye.
In reality, the system had already informed Chen Ye,
"Ding!"
"Congratulations, Host, you have successfully added Kane as a friend."
"Acquired attribute: Swordsmanship Lv7."
"Congratulations, Host, Kane's favorability has increased to two stars."
"Acquired attribute: Enhanced Hearing Lv8."
"Congratulations, Host, Kane's favorability has increased to three stars."
"Acquired attribute: Martial Arts Mastery Lv7."
"Fuse immediately?"
"Yes," Chen Ye quickly replied in his mind. It seemed his daughter was indeed very important to him.
Snapping back to reality, Chen Ye quickly asked the Marquis, "I'm sorry, what did you just say? I didn't quite catch it."
The Marquis narrowed his eyes, clearly displeased by Chen Ye's dismissive attitude. He only wanted to kill this arrogant fellow, but he still suppressed his anger.
"It's fine. I was saying, you can hand John Wick over..."
Chen Ye directly interrupted, shaking his index finger, "What you say isn't important. John Wick is my friend. You know people from Hell's Kitchen have a common trait, and that is being protective. I just need to confirm that you want to kill my friend, so stop the nonsense and let's get this over with."
Just as Chen Ye finished speaking, the system's voice echoed in his mind again,
"Ding!"
"Congratulations, Host, John Wick's favorability has increased to three stars."
"Acquired attribute: Assassination Mastery Lv10."
"Congratulations, Host, John Wick's favorability has increased to four stars."
"Acquired attribute: Driving Mastery Lv9."
"Congratulations, Host, John Wick's favorability has increased to five stars."
"Acquired attribute: Dog Rearing: Lv10."
"Fuse immediately?"
"Fuse immediately."
Chen Ye instantly felt the human skeleton appear in his mind, knowing where the most fatal points were.
Looking at the acquired Dog Rearing Mastery, Chen Ye complained to himself, John Wick really loves dogs; this dog-rearing skill is almost maxed out. And he happens to have a dog at home too.
The moment Chen Ye saw the system prompt, he knew that John Wick truly considered him a good friend. Hell's Kitchen also welcomed another legendary assassin, though a retired one.
However, in the future, Hell's Kitchen's school could add a self-defense class and have John Wick teach it. After all, New York is so chaotic, and when the children are no longer in Hell's Kitchen, they'll need some self-preservation skills.
"Alright, alright, you're determined to go against me. Then you and your good friend can go to hell together." Evidently, the Marquis had lost his patience and no longer intended to abide by the High Table's rules.
He merely waved his hand, and countless assassins who had been ambushed burst out from all directions. Even two helicopters appeared in the sky.