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Smith Doyle stared at the box on the table in front of him. Inside lay three Dragon Balls.
Originally, John Wick had intended to keep all four Dragon Balls for himself. However, Smith decided to let him take only one. That way, it would be easier to monitor John's movements.
As for the whereabouts of the remaining three Dragon Balls, Smith Doyle had been somewhat surprised at first. He hadn't expected Ivan Vanko to be lucky enough to obtain one. Still, considering how destitute Vanko was, as long as John Wick was willing to spend money, acquiring that Dragon Ball shouldn't be too difficult.
Xu Xialing, on the other hand, was a more complicated case. As Xu Shang-Chi's sister, she ran an underground fighting arena in Hong Kong and wielded a certain degree of influence there. If John Wick wanted to take the Dragon Ball from her, it would likely require considerable effort.
By contrast, the Dragon Ball at the InterContinental Hotel was in the hands of the hotel's manager—one of the very few people willing to risk his life for John Wick.
The reason Smith Doyle wanted John Wick to accelerate the collection of the Dragon Balls was simple. Smith had discovered that although Yamcha appeared extremely powerful during his first appearance, he was still unable to completely defeat Wick. The fact that ordinary pistols and assault rifles couldn't harm him didn't mean that grenades, sniper rifles, or even heavier weapons wouldn't.
Wick didn't possess a vibranium shield designed to absorb firepower, but Smith knew enough about Marvel-level technology to understand how dangerous things could become.
To face the coming crisis, Smith needed greater strength to protect himself. Breaking through the fifty-point combat power threshold was an excellent first step—at the very least, it would allow him to gain a firm foothold in the Marvel Universe's prequel era.
Elsewhere.
Poole arrived in front of John Wick carrying three documents and said:
"John, Master instructed me to deliver these to you—and from now on, I'll be following you."
John Wick took the files from Poole and began reading. He finished them quickly and immediately understood what needed to be done next.
"Poole," John said, "how am I supposed to carry you without attracting attention?"
Following John Wick's instructions, Poole transformed into a blue, cat-shaped hydrogen balloon and spoke:
"Just keep me by your side like this."
John Wick nodded. It was a relatively simple solution.
He then left the textile factory with Poole. His first destination was the Osaka InterContinental Hotel.
Nightfall.
Osaka InterContinental Hotel.
Shimazu and his men were patrolling their territory, nodding politely to the hotel's guests.
At that moment, the black-clad assassin known as "the Hunter" arrived at the Osaka InterContinental with his beloved dog—a powerful German Shepherd.
Akira looked at the man before her and said:
"Welcome to the Osaka InterContinental Hotel. How may I assist you?"
The Hunter slid a Continental gold coin toward her.
"I'd like a room."
Akira took the coin, then bent down to look at the German Shepherd beside him.
"I'm sorry, sir. Animals are not permitted in this hotel."
The Hunter looked at her and replied:
"Emotional support animal."
Akira glanced at the dog and asked:
"Is this your emotional support animal?"
The Hunter lowered his gaze to the German Shepherd.
"Quite the opposite. I'm his emotional support animal, right?"
As he spoke, he crouched down and gently patted the dog's head.
Akira suppressed a laugh and took out a keycard.
"It must remain in your room."
The Hunter accepted the card and turned to leave.
"Sir, we hope you enjoy your stay," Akira said.
Watching him walk away, Akira smiled and shook her head.
The Hunter sat down in the lounge area of the lobby. He took out his phone and checked information about John Wick.
Open bounty: John Wick. Reward—2.2 billion dollars.
"Very nice," the Hunter muttered.
He put his phone away, opened a notebook filled with bounty targets—each already marked. He stopped at the page bearing John Wick's portrait and made a new mark.
Shimazu continued patrolling the lobby and noticed the German Shepherd at the Hunter's side. He looked at Akira and asked:
"There's a dog in my hotel lobby?"
Akira sighed.
"It's an emotional support animal."
Shimazu scoffed.
"I don't think so."
Akira then briefed him on his schedule for the next day. After listening, Shimazu asked:
"What are your plans at eight o'clock?"
Akira replied:
"Dinner with your daughter."
"She's worried that you've been working too hard lately."
Shimazu smiled.
"I must have accumulated immense good karma in a past life to have such a gentle and considerate child."
Akira smiled back.
"Good deeds bring good rewards."
Shimazu nodded.
"Do they, really?"
He then glanced around and asked:
"How are our guests?"
Akira replied:
"Some Gold Club members are quite anxious."
Shimazu nodded.
"The world has never truly been at peace."
Akira continued:
"Something major happened at the New York Continental Hotel yesterday. The manager there was beheaded."
Shimazu asked calmly:
"How is my doorman?"
"A bit worried," Akira replied.
Akira was the concierge of the Osaka Continental Hotel, holding a position equivalent to Charon's in New York. Beyond that, she had another identity known only to a few—she was Shimazu's biological daughter.
Shimazu joked:
"Perhaps I should get you an emotional support animal as well."
Akira grew serious.
"When you meet John Wick, a single wrong choice could lead to catastrophic consequences."
Shimazu replied:
"We have never offended the High Table."
Akira pressed on:
"Everyone knows about your relationship with John Wick. A High Table hearing will come sooner or later."
Clearly, Akira didn't know that John Wick had already joined the Assassin Brotherhood. She believed he would seek her father's help.
Shimazu said:
"Nevertheless, we will treat him with courtesy."
Still uneasy, Akira warned again:
"Wherever John Wick goes, nothing grows."
Shimazu turned to look at his daughter.
"When I first met him, you hadn't even been born yet."
Akira apologized.
"Forgive me, Father."
With that, she turned and walked away.
Shimazu sighed and said:
"Akira, please tell her I'm looking forward to dinner."
At those words, a smile appeared on Akira's face.
Shimazu dared not reveal his daughter's true identity. He knew all too well that the High Table controlled people like him by threatening their relatives and children.
So even though Akira was his daughter, he continued to treat her as an ordinary member of the Concierge Club, never daring to show their relationship in public.