Marvel: The Alchemist Just Wants a Peaceful Life

“A friend of a friend is also a friend, isn’t he, Mr. Sherlock?”

Winston spoke calmly, as if he were stating a truth, but his gaze remained fixed on Sherlock's face.

It was only at this point that Sherlock and Zhao Weike finally understood what Winston was trying to do.

This old fox's original goal was actually Sherlock; he wanted to gain Sherlock's friendship! This can be seen from Winston's way of addressing him.

Sherlock was previously addressed as 'Mr. Flamel,' but here he is referred to as 'Mr. Sherlock.'

In an instant, having understood everything, Zhao Weike looked at his 'old friend' with a complicated expression, while also giving Sherlock a guilty look.

For Sherlock, this was hardly a problem. In fact, Sherlock could vaguely sense that Winston only wanted to use his name.

Therefore, Sherlock did not refuse. He retrieved his armor, looked at Winston with a smile, and replied to Winston with the same word.

"Yeah~"

Upon hearing Sherlock's reply, Winston's smile widened, and he clapped his hands with an air of excitement.

As Winston moved, the gun shop door was pushed open again, and Charon, who had returned, walked in carrying two suits.

Winston smiled like a cunning old fox, pointing to the suit Charon had brought in and speaking to Sherlock and Zhao Weike.

"Give it a try?"

Clearly, this is another 'free' giveaway.

Having spent his entire life in the world of assassins, Zhao Weike knew one thing well: here, 'free' things are often the most expensive. Watching Winston's actions, Zhao Weike's brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly.

After a long while, Zhao Weike finally spoke.

Winston.

Before he could finish speaking, Sherlock grabbed his sleeve and turned around to see him smiling as he spoke to Winston.

"Of course!"

Having said that, Sherlock took the clothes Charon handed him and simultaneously stuffed the clothes Charon was holding in his other hand into Zhao Weike's hand.

Seeing Sherlock's actions, Zhao Weike could only sigh helplessly, unsure of what to say. He was now somewhat confused about the 'deal' between Sherlock and Winston.

He could only silently accept the bulletproof suit that Sherlock handed him, and then turned around and found a place to change his clothes.

Soon, the two reappeared before Winston.

Zhao Weike, of course, needs no introduction. His black suit paired with a black shirt is a classic look, and combined with his weathered face, he exudes the air of a down-on-his-luck aristocratic uncle.

What's truly stunning is Sherlock's attire.

A scarlet peak lapel suit paired with a black shirt and a scarlet tie, and his hair, which had been changed to a half-up hairstyle by a ronin at some point, was messy yet exuded a touch of nobility, and nobility yet revealed a touch of evil.

Combined with Sherlock's flamboyant suit and his nonchalant smile, he looked more like a young master on an outing than a weapon-wielding assassin in a Continental Hotel.

Looking at Sherlock and Zhao Weike, one is righteous and the other is evil. One is serious and earnest, a killer with a strong sense of justice, while the other is cynical and irreverent, not a killer but with a strong sense of evil.

When this contrasting and unexpected pair stood together, Winston's eyes were full of admiration.

Upon arriving before Zhao Weike and Sherlock, Winston personally helped them straighten their suits, casually plucking a blooming rose from the vase and placing it in Sherlock's suit pocket before nodding in satisfaction and stepping back.

He bowed slightly to Sherlock and Zhao Weike.

May you have a safe and peaceful future!

Upon hearing Winston's words, Zhao Weike responded in kind before turning and leaving with Sherlock.

Winston and the staff of the Continental Hotel did not see them off, but stood there watching them leave.

The farewell just now was the highest-level and most coveted blessing that the Mainland Hotel could offer in the assassin world.

Zhao Weike's response was also a blessing for the mainland hotel and for Winston.

It wasn't until Zhao Weike brought Sherlock back to the hotel lobby that Zhao Weike stopped and said to Sherlock with some guilt.

“I’m sorry, Sherlock, Winston…”

Sherlock simply waved his hand calmly at Zhao Weike's apology, indicating that Zhao Weike didn't need to worry about it. In Sherlock's mind, Winston had always been a cunning old fox.

And seeing him today confirms it; Winston truly lives up to his reputation as a hotel manager who has overseen the business for 36 years, fitting Sherlock's stereotypical image of him as an old fox.

Throughout, Winston never displayed any overstepping of his bounds that would make anyone uncomfortable. Even the phrase "a friend of a friend is a friend" was a carefully considered statement made in an appropriate context.

What Winston was seeking in doing this was nothing more than Sherlock's 'friendship'.

There's no need for any substantial development of a friendship with Sherlock; all that's needed is to maintain the friendship with Zhao Weike while gaining Sherlock's affirmation.

By doing so, Winston was able to seek greater power at the High Table and to secure more benefits for his hotel.

This is exactly what that old fox Winston was after.

Just as Sherlock was about to say something to comfort Zhao Weike, Zhao Weike's phone rang at that inopportune moment.

But the name on the caller ID instantly restored Zhao Weike's Night Demon aura.

Vigtarasov!

Chapter 78 The Collapse of the Vigtarasov Father and Son

Yosef Tarasov, the second-generation heir of a large Russian gang.

He's called a rich kid, but that's only because his father is a gang leader. If it weren't for his father, Yosef Tarasov would be no different from any other street thug, in terms of his behavior or anything else.

But recently, Yosef happened to see a great car by chance! A 1964 Ford Mustang! A classic car!

Yosef, who was eager to buy the car he had his eye on, was refused by the owner no matter what price he offered!

This made Yosef lose face in front of his friends or underlings, so Yosef made what was probably the most regrettable decision of his life.

Car theft! Revenge!

Taking advantage of the moment when no one was home, Yosef led his men into the old mansion. After smashing and ransacking the place, Yosef enjoyed the thrill of revenge and, with his henchmen, brazenly stole the vintage car he had his eye on.

But when he drove his "new car" to a car wash owned by a gang member, wanting to transfer ownership of the car to his own name, the car wash owner punched him and kicked him out without hesitation.

Enraged, Yosef called his father, Vigtarasov, the gang leader, and after embellishing the story, waited outside the car wash for the owner to come running out crying and apologizing.

However, Yosef was destined to be disappointed.

After Vig called the owner of the 'car wash,' the other party said only one sentence and then hung up.

"That car belongs to John Wick!"

Upon hearing this, Vig felt his head spin, completely bewildered as to what had gotten into his unruly son that he dared to provoke Zhao Weike.

He immediately grabbed his phone and called Yosef, demanding that Yosef arrive at his estate undamaged as quickly as possible! Immediately! Right now!

Yosef was also frightened by his father's irritable tone. He didn't care about saving face and immediately drove towards Vig's manor.

Upon arriving at the manor, Vig punched Yosef almost without saying a word and explained the situation to him.

Up until this point, Yosef didn't take it seriously at all. After all, in his eyes, Yosef was just an assassin who had once served his family. What was there to be afraid of? He could just deal with him according to the rules for assassins.

Looking at his son, who was as stupid as a pig, Vig truly regretted not throwing the kid against the wall back then. He could only order his men to restrain his only son and wanted to call Zhao Weike to make peace.

After a few busy tones, Zhao Weike's voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Yeah~"

After hearing Zhao Weike answer the phone, Vig then spoke to Zhao Weike.

“John, it’s all a misunderstanding. I will compensate you double for your losses, and your car will be returned to you intact. How about we just leave it at that?”

However, to Vig's surprise, he did not receive a reply from Zhao Weike, but from another voice.

"You only know fear when death is imminent? Too late! Vig, right? Remember one thing: the war has begun! Only one side—us, you, and your son—can survive!"

After saying this, the other party hung up the phone without giving Vig any time to react.

However, these words also annoyed Vig.

He was a legitimate godfather of a gang, and eight out of ten big shots in New York were connected to him. How could he be so brazenly provoked?

Even a clay figure has some temper, let alone a big shot like me humbly coming over to beg for peace.

Vig immediately abandoned any attempt to make peace and prepared to fight to the bitter end. He first summoned the assassins in his gang and ordered them to kill Zhao Weike and anyone who was with Zhao Weike.

Afterwards, Vig felt that this was not enough to hold Zhao Weike back, so he immediately opened the official website of the Continental Hotel and wanted to offer a reward of two million US dollars for Zhao Weike's head.

However, what horrified Vig was that when he entered Zhao Weike's name, the reply he received was that it was rejected because Zhao Weike's name was on the High Table's whitelist!

People on this whitelist will never appear on the bounty list unless they harm the interests of the High Table!

Note that it's a high table, not a mainland hotel!

In other words, as long as the people on this whitelist are willing, you can beat up anyone you want in a mainland hotel, provided you don't kill anyone!

This situation instantly soaked Viger's shirt with cold sweat. Almost without hesitation, Viger immediately led his men and his foolish son toward other mainland hotels.

After all, the Continental Hotels in New York are now closed, leaving Viggo with only the option of choosing Continental Hotels in other cities.

However, Vigé could never have imagined that this was only the beginning.

When Vigé arrived in Boston with his foolish son and his men on a private jet and stood in front of the Continental Hotel, the news he received caused him to completely break down.

The hotel in mainland China refuses to allow any members of the Tarasov family to stay!

Note that the other party rejected the Tarasov family, not just the Tarasov father and son! This means that the entire Tarasov family has been blacklisted by the Continental Hotel!

This is even more terrifying than Zhao Weike's name appearing on the whitelist!

"Damn it! Who did you mess with?"

Standing at the entrance of the Continental Hotel in Boston, Vig's anger almost consumed his reason, and it was only at this moment that Joseph felt fear.

Although he was a bit foolish, he wasn't stupid. It was obvious that no matter how powerful Zhao Weike was, he couldn't shake the Continental Hotel and the High Table. There must be other reasons behind this!

The problem is, even at this point, Yosef still doesn't know how or when he offended such a big shot!

"Save me, Father, save me! Please, save me!"

Immediately, Yosef knelt down in front of Vig and pleaded with him, weeping bitterly.

Seeing Yosef with snot and tears streaming down his face, Vig finally softened. After all, he was his only son, and no matter how angry Vig was, he couldn't bring himself to be so cruel.

After letting out a helpless sigh, Vig then spoke to Joseph.

"Now that things have come to this, go back to Damao, beg the bureau chief to take you in, ask for his protection! Maybe only in the theater will you have a sliver of hope!"