The cabin looked as simple inside as it did outside, and many of the furniture pieces were even roughly made, clearly the handiwork of the former hitman himself.
However, the small flowers on the windowsill and the exquisite handmade ornaments visible everywhere in the house filled this humble cabin with a sense of life.
Just as Mike was looking around, John, who had sent his wife to the adjoining room, came out again.
"What do you want from me?" John, with a bulge at his lower back, stared at Mike and asked directly.
It was obvious that he had hidden a weapon on himself when he came out again.
On the other side, Needy, sensing the "killing intent," also alertly reached for her waist, which was exactly where she kept her weapon.
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
"This isn't the way to treat guests, John," Mike said calmly, "As the host here, facing a guest who has come a long way, shouldn't you prepare us a drink first?"
Perhaps Mike's reaction was too calm, making John unsure of his opponent's intentions for a moment.
So, after staring at Mike for a few more glances, he suddenly turned and went to the kitchen.
Soon, a freshly brewed pot of black tea was placed on the table, and John himself sat opposite Mike.
The slight buffer time allowed the former hitman to calm down significantly.
"John Wick, former professional assassin at the New York Hotel, completed over twenty A-level missions, over fifty B-level missions…"
Mike began to recount John's past, and just as the man opposite him was about to lose his composure, he changed the subject and said, "Now, on behalf of the X Special Department, I'm giving you a chance to choose your life again. Join my X Squad, and I'll help you resolve some of the troubles you have."
"Or refuse me, and then have a match with my team member Needy…"
Because of his assassin identity, John was already blacklisted by public agencies, making it difficult for him to find a regular job that required identity verification.
And because he had also violated the rules of the New York Hotel, his reputation in the assassin world was equally notorious.
It could be said that John had no place to stand in both the legal and illegal worlds.
In this situation, if he wanted to earn money to treat his wife's illness, Mike was his best choice.
"Why do you work for the organization?" John was clearly tempted. However, out of caution, he then continued to ask, "And how do you prove that your organization has no ill will towards me?"
As a desperado, John could afford to lose his life. But with his wife still on his mind, what he feared most was dealing with police officers.
You know, his previous "work" was not honorable. If he accidentally got sent in, it would be at least a life sentence.
"I work for the MIB, and we also cooperate with public departments such as the FBI and IRS…"
Mike showed a stack of credentials and grandly declared, "As long as you join my squad, I can re-process an identity document for you, giving you the opportunity to live in the sunlight…"
"At the same time, as my team member, you will have a fixed monthly salary of fifty thousand dollars. And for each special mission performed, there will be an additional bonus."
Revealing his identity was to prove the power of his organization, deepening the persuasiveness. And the salary offered could solve John's urgent needs.
As a former assassin, John had not saved much money at all. The expenses needed for his wife's current illness had already made his situation visibly tight.
And after hearing the conditions Mike offered, John was clearly even more tempted.
After his eyes flickered a few times, he seemed to have made up his mind and decided to take a gamble: "If everything you say is true, I am willing to join your squad…"
"But before that, I still want to know what exactly the MIB department you mentioned does. And what are the specific contents of our missions?"
As expected of someone who had been an assassin, his thoughts were meticulous.
However, his attitude had already indicated that Mike's recruitment plan was mostly successful.
"The MIB is a department that handles special events, dedicated to maintaining world peace." After basically confirming the relationship, Mike said familiarly, "As for the specific mission content, you'll know in a couple of days. For now, I need you to help me investigate the information of a person named Wesley."
Wesley, an ordinary office worker, had likely already been taken by the Fraternity organization to deal with his father, the Fraternity's former renegade member, Cross.
Mike had previously asked Chris to help investigate Wesley, but unfortunately, the person did not work for any company under Wall Street.
However, there is a way for every rat, and in this situation, a "small person" like Wesley was very suitable for John, who had a vast network of lower-level connections, to investigate.
"I…" Facing Mike's familiarity, John wanted to say that he wasn't ready to start working yet.
"How about this, as a work reward, I'll pay you this month's salary in advance." Mike, who could reimburse bills, generously chose a money offensive.
Then, John, seeing fifty thousand dollars added to his phone account, wisely shut his mouth.
He needed this money too much right now.
Ten minutes later, Mike, after giving John some more instructions, left the cabin with Needy.
Helen, who had been observing the situation from the adjoining room, saw Mike and Needy leave, then slid her wheelchair to her husband's side and gently held his hand.
The woman had long, soft hair and a gentle demeanor, which had a calming magic on those around her.
"Everything will be alright." Looking at his wife beside him, John felt both happiness and a renewed sense of purpose in life.
Then, to reassure his wife, John briefly told her about Mike's identity and situation.
On the other side, Mike actually already knew the exact location of the Fraternity Headquarters and planned to take action two days later.
As for investigating Wesley's situation, it was a move he made on the side.
The reason was that the person had the potential to become a member of his squad.
Then, for the next day or so, Mike went to the Men in Black Headquarters to apply for funds and weapons, and also helped John solve his new identity problem.
Although the MIB does not belong to any agency, the organization's power is unquestionable.
At least now, John's criminal record no longer existed in the public agency's information network.
Two days later, Mike, sitting in a super car, met John, dressed in a black suit, in the suburbs of Queens.
Having tidied himself up, if it weren't for his full beard, he would have looked more like an elite white-collar worker.
"I found out about Wesley. A few days ago, he was taken by a woman to the abandoned factory ahead…"
John, now with a new purpose, quickly got into character and continued to report, "I've been staking out here for a day and haven't seen anyone come out of the factory. But I also made an unexpected discovery: it seems someone else is also monitoring that abandoned factory, just like me…"
"All signs indicate that there must be some secret hidden inside the factory ahead."
As expected of a former top assassin, John's reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance abilities were excellent.
"You've worked hard. As for the person hiding in the dark, we don't need to worry about him for now." Mike affirmed John's work ethic, then took out a new ID and a Series 4 De-Atomizer and handed them to him, continuing, "Now embrace your new identity. From now on, you'll never have to worry about anyone coming to check the water meter."
The new identity card subtly moved John, giving him a general understanding of the MIB's power.
Joining such a capable organization didn't seem so bad.
Then, John, holding the Series 4 De-Atomizer, asked curiously, "What is 'checking the water meter?'"
Apparently, the former hitman did not get the water meter joke.
"You'll know in a moment." Mike smiled, keeping him in suspense.
Then John saw Mike, who had pulled a giant three-barreled cannon from an old Ford car, swagger to the front of the abandoned factory and loudly knocked on the door.
"Is anyone home? Open the door!!! We're here to check the water meter—"
Queens is also one of New York's three major slums. There are many abandoned factories that have closed down in the suburbs here, but abandoned factory buildings as large as the one in front of them are rare.