Multiverse: Deathstroke

Chapter 353: Ch.352 What Diana Discovered

After Batman finished discussing the upcoming plans, it was J'onn's turn to give a few words of encouragement. Just like any organization in the world, this was a delayed pre-battle pep talk.

"We can't afford to make mistakes. Our multiverse, everything we love, is on the brink of destruction," the green-skinned Martian looked at each hero, speaking with a calm and steady voice. "Our enemies have formed a legion, and that legion believes that the essence of the multiverse, its fate, lies hidden within the Totality and within everyone's heart. And that essence is evil."

The heroes listened thoughtfully, while Su Ming nonchalantly smoked a cigarette. J'onn sighed, "But that is not true. We will prove them wrong. We will unite the entire universe against them, and we will prevail. Though this may change the world as we know it, it will not change us. We are the Justice League!"

However, Barry was a bit uncertain at this point. Everything he had seen within the Still Force contained nothing but evil.

J'onn probably saw something similar within the colossus, just as Kendra did within the Totality, Barry thought.

"What if... I mean, what if we are wrong?" Barry's voice grew softer as he spoke, and the heroes looked at him with exasperated expressions. J'onn was trying to boost morale, and here Barry was, turning things too real and dampening everyone's enthusiasm.

Batman didn't let J'onn answer the question. He quietly sat in his wheelchair and spoke up.

"Then we must... enforce justice even more profoundly."

Everyone nodded. If the world was destined to go astray, then correcting its errors would still be worth the effort.

Everyone was assigned their tasks, and soon, only Batman, Diana, and Su Ming were left in the conference room.

Diana's eyes shifted from left to right, glancing at Batman on one side and Su Ming on the other. Meanwhile, the two men were silently staring at each other.

However, since Bruce was currently in the Bat-wheelchair, he was much shorter than Su Ming, giving him a clear disadvantage in terms of presence.

"You have something to say."

Bruce was the first to speak up. He had no interest in playing guessing games with Su Ming right now.

"Time to pay up, rich man."

"Name your price."

"Hmm, taking down Turtle Man, let's call that two million. Beating back Ultra-Humanite and saving Aquaman and the others, one million. After that, I dealt with the Star-Eater problem. Although it wasn't completely solved, I saved many people—so, another two million. How's that?"

Su Ming sat down, resting his elbows on the round table.

"Fine. I've already prepared it—old bills, non-sequential cash."

Bruce didn't hesitate. He wasn't interested in money, but as the child of a business family, he understood a mercenary's obsession with money.

It also made Su Ming more trustworthy.

After a brief moment of thought, Bruce added, "If you want to join any of the ongoing operations, you're welcome to."

"What if I want to take over Barry's task of maintaining order in Gotham?" Su Ming smiled as he flicked his cigarette butt to the ground, crushing it under his boot.

"...No."

Batman's face darkened.

If he was going to be out of commission for three months and Su Ming took over Gotham, wouldn't Su Ming end up stringing up all of his 'old friends' outside the police station a few times?

"Heh..." Su Ming knew it would end this way. Batman was testing him, and he had tested Batman in return. It turned out Bruce had no genuine intention of collaboration. "I have my own plans to attend to, and besides, I prefer being around Diana."

Bruce squinted his eyes. Was this some mutual understanding between warriors? Or did Su Ming have some ulterior motive?

In truth, Su Ming was only here because of Hera's request. He had already received an advance payment, so naturally, he had to do the job properly—he couldn't ruin his reputation, after all.

What Batman thought of it didn't really matter to Su Ming.

"You have permission to move freely within the Hall of Justice, but it's a time-limited permit."

Batman paused briefly before adding Su Ming to the 'High-Level Visitor' category in the main control computer. After that, the armored wheelchair carried him away silently.

Diana, meanwhile, was left puzzled. What was that bold statement Su Ming had made earlier supposed to mean? Telling Batman that he liked being around her?

Su Ming was also looking at her, and Diana's expression seemed strange—a bit conflicted, perhaps even somewhat smug, but also irritated.

She noticed Su Ming looking at her, and since they were the only two left in the conference room, the atmosphere became quiet, and the air between them started to feel a little ambiguous.

Could it be...

Diana was conflicted. This Su Ming from another world wasn't bad. He had saved her life, and their previous sparring match had proven his strength.

"If he says something now, how should I respond to appear bold and carefree?"

Diana pondered silently. After all, agreeing to something wouldn't hurt her in any way.

However, Su Ming wasn't thinking along those lines at all. If he spoke, it definitely wouldn't be about love or anything similar.

"What's your plan next?"

"I'm going back to continue fixing up my palace." Diana raised her arm, flexing her muscles as she smiled.

Strong enough, bold enough, right? Isn't he going to invite me to go hunting monsters together? Come on, admire the Amazon princess in action!

But Su Ming wouldn't do that.

"Have you had any nightmares lately?" Su Ming put his helmet back on, adjusting his gear.

"???"

Diana tilted her head. The shift in the topic was way too sudden. What was that supposed to mean? Was he trying to assess her mental fortitude and courage?

So she drew her sword and knocked it against her shield, producing a loud clang. "No, Amazons never fear anything, and I never have nightmares."

"Oh, that's good. Carry on, then. I'm leaving."

Su Ming nodded, casually leaving the conference room. He planned to find a secure place to stash his money.

According to Hera, someone was watching Diana, attempting to awaken a force of witchcraft—a power that was the bane of gods and magic.

And Diana had encountered this entity as a child. If it appeared again, Diana would surely have nightmares.

Since she hadn't had any yet, it meant she was still safe for now.

Diana stared blankly at the conference room door as it closed behind Su Ming. The black-and-yellow figure disappeared from her view.

She absentmindedly sheathed her sword. "Main control computer, what was Su Ming's heart rate just now?"

A mechanical voice answered from the conference room.

"Since his arrival at the Hall of Justice, his heart rate has consistently been forty beats per minute, with no changes."

"Damn it!"

Diana ground her teeth as she threw her shield onto the table. This was the first time she'd ever doubted her own charm. Did that guy care about nothing but money?

No, wait—not even the money seemed to make him happy. Was he pretending?

Diana narrowed her eyes just like Batman often did. It seemed she had discovered something...