Multiverse: Deathstroke

Chapter 57: Ch.56 Preemptive Strike

Seeing Barry's reaction, Su Ming knew that the small flashlight was not something Barry brought with him. However, for now, it wasn't a priority. Despite Barry's worried look, Su Ming put the small flashlight away. The previous conversation between the two wasn't really about Barry being persuaded but rather Su Ming giving him an excuse, a way out.

Barry saw the way out and chose not to delve deeper. After all, he had taken such exits many times before.

He understood that the world was in crisis and that unity and fighting together, like the Justice League, was necessary. He had initially joined the Justice League just to make friends.

Su Ming decided to handle those Owls thoroughly. While he might not be able to eradicate them completely, he would deal a heavy blow, forcing them underground like a bunch of groundhogs hiding in their burrows.

Ignoring the rest of their organization, the 'Strigidae' Priests must be completely eliminated as they are the communication link to Barbatos.

He already had a plan and knew where they were.

After this, he and Barry didn't chat idly. Most of the important topics were already covered, and there wasn't much more to say. Meanwhile, Cindy and Bryce kept arguing, seemingly debating some trivial matters.

For instance, Cindy mocked Bryce for her failures in their previous encounters, while Bryce insisted that it was actually a draw since Cindy was also injured. Then Cindy retorted that her mission was completed and that Bryce had failed to protect the assassination target, which counted as a loss.

After listening for a few moments, Su Ming knew it was time.

"Ahem, ladies, should we get down to business?"

"Hmph!" x2

Bryce and Cindy both stood up, knowing that this was not the time for idle chit-chat, but their stances were completely opposed.

"I understand. I'll take care of Falcone. I'll make sure he and his daughter are sent to prison," Batwoman said, pulling up her cape to cover her face as she looked at the unconscious pair on the ground. She decided to send them directly to Blackgate Penitentiary.

"Why not just kill them? I can give you a discount," Cindy sneered provocatively. She hated the hypocrisy of the Bat-family.

"We cannot decide someone else's life or death," Bryce immediately warned, her voice sharp as she clenched her gloved fists.

Su Ming stepped between them, raising his hands in a cross gesture in front of his chest: "Stop, both of you. The real victims here are Gordon and the GCPD. They should decide what happens to them, but they must pay. And if Falcone escapes, capturing him again will cost extra."

Cindy took a deep breath and calmed down, nudging the unconscious Sofia with her foot.

"Fine, you heard what Su said. Better pay up quickly."

Although technically, it was Barry who caught them, even without the Flash's help, the two Deathstrokes would have caught them sooner or later. And those minions in the way? That was still a service, all part of their hard work.

"There's something dangerous down there. We guessed it when we passed the upper levels. This place needs to be sealed off, and all the weapons inside destroyed," Bryce said, ignoring Cindy as she turned her gaze to the hidden passage leading downward, acknowledging Su Ming's arrangement.

Barry raised a finger, indicating for them to wait. The next second, a streak of red lightning shot down the passage and quickly returned.

"There's a magical poison down there, designed to target all of humanity. It looks like they were planning to launch it into rain clouds with rockets to wipe out the citizens of Gotham."

"Hmm... maybe it's better to send them to Arkham then. That seems more fitting," Bryce shook her head at the madness of Falcone's plan. Even he had turned into this? What had happened to this world?

"Gordon and his daughter can go back home or to the precinct. The next steps aren't something the police can handle," Su Ming added. Dealing with the remaining enemies was indeed beyond the capabilities of a city's police commissioner.

"And the reporters should be sent away too. I still don't understand why you brought reporters along," Bryce said to Su Ming, scrutinizing him with a skeptical gaze.

Su Ming raised an eyebrow, putting his black-and-yellow helmet back on. The cold metal sensation enveloped his head again, the headache making him frown slightly.

"We needed to leave evidence for you to investigate. Cindy and I are professional mercenaries. If we left clues behind, it would seem too deliberate and would make you suspicious. So, we chose to bring some civilians along, moving openly. Sure enough, your curiosity led you to follow us."

Bryce frowned. "My system traces and the TV news were meant to track me down. You seem to know me well."

"Not really, but I do know the Batman from another world."

Su Ming grabbed the bottle of wine from the table, planning to drink it on the way. Cindy took the box of tea leaves, seemingly fond of the curry-flavored tea.

Outside, Su Ming saw Gordon's expression of despair as Vickie kept pestering him with questions, almost as if she wanted him to start recounting stories from decades ago.

Shaking his head, Su Ming walked over and signaled for the camera to stop rolling. He had something to say to Gordon.

"Commissioner Gordon."

"Deathstroke."

As soon as he said the word, Cindy and Su Ming, with their black-and-yellow masks and red monocles, both focused on him.

Su Ming gestured for Cindy to take the others outside, then shook hands with Commissioner Gordon. "You can call me Slade. Although we won't cross paths much in the future, I'm leaving Falcone and his daughter to you. How you handle them is up to you."

"Even if you did the right thing this time, I'll still come after you if you commit any crimes in Gotham again."

Gordon's expression was serious, but his handshake was firm. He knew they had saved Barbara and found him in time.

Su Ming didn't mind his bold words. Gordon wanting to arrest Cindy was just a show of resolve, an empty gesture. The GCPD had always been virtually useless, and this time they had taken heavy losses.

"There's just a misunderstanding. We mercenaries are business people. If the city government is willing to pay, we can help out now and then. As long as the money is right, anything can be negotiated." Su Ming laughed, patting Gordon's arm. "You can discuss it with Bryce. Maybe set up a protection fee fund or something. Mercenaries don't have enemies, only business."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Gordon's face was calm, pretending not to understand, but he felt a jolt inside.

"We all know Bryce's identity. No need to be so scared. Is the Bat making you afraid too?" Su Ming whispered in his ear, nodded, and then walked away.

Gordon was left standing there, deep in thought.

Catching up with Cindy, they took the two reporters and Barbara back to the car. Su Ming then returned to the junkyard, taking a long time before coming back again. He was soaked with rain and covered in mud, but he was holding something bloody in his hand.

It was the hood of the Talon they had fought earlier.

The hood was a bit torn from the explosion, and the bloodstains, though black, were still visible. But a little dirt didn't matter. Su Ming needed it to disguise himself as a Talon assassin. As Slade's memories continued to return, his thinking also broadened. To perfect his backup plan, he needed this.

The side door of the broadcast van could be opened, and he and Cindy sat there shoulder to shoulder, looking out at the rainy junkyard, which looked just like when they had arrived.

He was scrubbing the bloodstains off the hood in the rain. Just hours ago, he would never have imagined himself becoming an expert in covering up evidence.

"That guy in red, can you really deal with him the way you said?" Cindy asked softly, her gaze fixed on the dark shadows of the junkyard.

"Not necessarily. Dealing with speedsters isn't just about explosions. It requires a huge amount of calculation: speed, movement trajectory, his psychology." He unfolded the hood and examined it. The headgear was mostly intact, although the round glasses were cracked. It looked like he'd have to find a place to repair them. "Another Deathstroke in another world used this strategy to defeat Barry's nephew. I was just scaring him earlier. He doesn't know that you should avoid fighting speedsters unless you have to. If you must, you have to find their psychological weaknesses, not just brute force."

"I see. So, it still depends on tactics." Cindy nodded, looking at the dirty water on the ground. "But it seems like you two get along well."

Su Ming rolled up the Owl's hood and stuffed it into his bag. "Maybe. Because he's someone who always has a good heart."

"But you just lied to him." Cindy took off her helmet, rubbed her hair, and looked at the distant rain. "I've noticed what makes you different from me."

"Yes, though I don't know why, my eyes can see a faint shadow. Normally, we shouldn't be able to see a speedster's movements." Su Ming replied calmly, without a trace of guilt. "But he doesn't need to know that. I'll keep it as a trump card."

The heavy rain poured down, hiding their expressions in the darkness.

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