Deathstroke does things without needing an explanation, just like Batman, without needing understanding either.
Did Hera really think a few words from her could shake Deathstroke? Haha, that was just a show Su Ming put on for her!
First, he pretended to recall the past, looking up to the right, which is a subconscious action people do when they're reminiscing.
Then he gently closed his eyes, showing a regretful expression, as if he was remorseful about the things he missed in the past.
Finally, he opened his eyes with an enlightened look, 'Oh dear, you are right'...
If only there was background music, Wade was right, sometimes the mood needs music to enhance it.
If there was 'The rain we missed those years, the love we missed those years...', with such heartbreaking music as the backdrop, wouldn't it be even more convincing?
All of it was just for Hera to see, even if the heart isn't impressed, behave thoughtfully, this is called playing along with the plan, only then can one figure out what Hera's next move is...
Hera's proposal? Stop and wait for others? Enjoy the view?
In the DC World, that means waiting to die...
After going through such a mess with the gods, Su Ming would be foolish to trust any god.
Are allies better if they're stronger? Not necessarily, everyone hopes their ally has some weaknesses, giving them leverage to maintain a certain understanding or balance.
Hera hopes that when Deathstroke lacks strength, he can rely on Olympus, forming a symbiotic relationship, the whole thing is a chain plot.
Deathstroke currently has no weaknesses, she plans to create bonds and weaknesses for him, slowly assimilating him into Olympus...
But she underestimates humanity's strongest tactical master, after all, strategizing and alliance weaving were invented by Su Qin of the Su Family, although whether Su Ming agrees with that is another story.
Moreover, Su Ming already has a Symbiote.
"Right, Strangulation?"
The black liquid creature sensed his thoughts, sneakily revealed a sinister smile on his shoulder, it knew it had endless possibilities from the host, it was the hidden card the host always kept.
The host belongs to it, should a god try to seize the host, it will kill the god!
Su Ming doesn't want to become any concept in DC, that's true, what good comes from being completely bonded to the DC World?
Beyond the Origin Wall lies endless worlds, if he truly became like the Inverted Man or a concept like the Endless Clan, he'd be strong enough in DC, but would never be able to leave again.
Is Dr. Manhattan strong? Quantum concept is indeed strong in DC.
But who is stronger between him and 'The Mask' across the door? Who is stronger between him and 'Peppa Pig' diagonally?
The answer is unknown, as Manhattan is bound within the DC World, unable to take a step outside, without even a chance to compare.
Would you want to be the tyrant in a village during the era of interstellar development?
Su Ming already possesses the strongest concept, which is 'Transmigrator', able to freely go to any world for benefits.
Exchanging this concept for any concept within a small world is a losing trade.
How to stay true to oneself while getting stronger? Avoid going insane?
Su Ming still has confidence, the Way of the Warrior is one way that only moves forward, never retreating, but always being grounded.
As for receiving only a deposit for protecting Diana? Using the reward to prevent three silly women from becoming political sacrifices?
Su Ming thinks it's worth it, then this business can be done.
They might never understand fully, treating Deathstroke as an enemy, keeping their distance in future, if so, the plan succeeds...
Deathstroke only does what he wants, he has ways to handle Hera.
As for his losses, it's merely tarnishing some reputation, like 'attempting to imprison a young lady deprived of divine power', 'a pervert wanting to play forbidden desires' and so on.
But Su Ming was never a hero, what reputation is there to tarnish?
However, some material losses are present, he needs to find a way to compensate from Batman.
Raise the price of selling Black Manta a bit.
............
Su Ming hooked Barry with his left hand and Arthur with his right, the three of them merrily wandered the island, trying to find some fish to eat.
But after the mutation caused by the purple seawater, many fish appeared quite ferocious, not yet back to normal.
Not only did they have full mouths of sharp fangs, but their bodies were also covered in a toad-like bubbling membrane, looking unappetizing.
Fortunately, they finally found, in the back garden, a completely enclosed large fish tank, the fish inside were of unknown species but had not mutated.
They looked somewhat like dragon fish, but bigger, longer, shimmering in golden light, very beautiful.
"Beautiful, huh? Can we eat them?" Su Ming asked Arthur.
Arthur laughed heartily, with Justice League partners wanting fish, how is it possible not to?
Beautiful? Well, that's great, they'll look even better on the plate!
"Of course!"
He horizontally wielded the Trident, promptly smashing the fish tank open, after all, the palace had to be rebuilt, what's one less fish tank?
He carried the fish on his shoulder heading to the kitchen, bold and straightforward like any man of the sea!
Yet Mera's look at him already seemed murderous in intent, this fish was hers, a specialty from the Zebri Sea.
Zebri now has a national alert out for her, just short of outright rebellion, this was all she had left...
But seeing the three of them cheerfully walking and singing sailors' songs, she took a few deep breaths, decided to bear it, deal with Arthur once outsiders leave.
And those three former goddesses, now those little elves, Arthur seemed to have his eyes light up when he saw them just now...
No way, Mera decided to secretly find a way to drive those three women away.
Luckily, the technique required for roasting fish wasn't high, and after Barry brought pepper powder and cumin salt, Su Ming put on a show of infusing soul and then placed the fish on the table.
Su Ming noticed Mera was eating aggressively, as if she had a vendetta against the fish, not sure what's gotten into her.
Arthur was twenty-four or five years old, Mera was younger than him, why did she seem like she had a hormonal imbalance?
But Su Ming quickly understood, Arthur was often not in Poseidonis, but hanging out on land with the Justice League.
Mera, at this age, guarding an empty house would drive any normal woman crazy, she had fire in her heart.
After dinner, to express his gratitude, Su Ming spoke a few secret words to Arthur.
"Start like this... then like that... finally end with the Eiffel Tower reverse."
Su Ming gave a thumbs up, but Arthur frowned and sneakily glanced at Mera tidying the cups and dishes in the distance, looking somewhat hesitant.
"Really? Can I? Won't I die?"
"If you don't believe me, you can ask Batman, what is called near-death pleasure, he knows it well." Su Ming patted Arthur's shoulder, it was already dark, not suitable to stay long: "Barry, we should leave, first take me to New York Brooklyn."
Barry listened secretly to Deathstroke's descriptions of those moves, scared and stuck his tongue out, it exceeded his limits too much, he's going to have nightmares tonight.
He awkwardly waved goodbye to Arthur, a flash of golden light passed through the dining hall, taking Deathstroke away.
Arthur hesitated for a moment, pacing back and forth in place, then seemed to make a decision and picked up the wine bottle, drank it clean, then smashed the empty bottle onto the ground.
Smash!
Mera jumped in fright: "What are you doing? Drank too much?"
But Arthur didn't answer, just rushed forward with red eyes.
In the empty palace, eerie noises quickly sounded, accompanied by Mera's screams, but strangely, she seemed happy.
............
The floods in Brooklyn had receded, but there were no pedestrians on the road at all, Barry and Su Ming got off the aircraft.
"Are you sure there's no issue with Arthur?" Barry's expression was quite bizarre.
"They're Atlanteans, their physical endurance is much stronger than ordinary people, it's not good that Arthur always neglects his wife, the Justice League wouldn't want to see members having family crises, right?"
Su Ming examined the surroundings, in reality, after the flood, the streets were full of all kinds of trash.
But that had nothing to do with him, he was just a temporary tenant.
"Alright, but you're really renting Harley's place? I'm not saying she's bad, but her thinking... uh, is clearly different from others."
Barry rubbed his hands, gritted his teeth for a long time before finding a word.
"Then you should think, in a world with so many places to live, why did I choose here? This isn't a place with superior conditions, not matching my status at all."
Su Ming started setting up some things around the rooftop, specifically, small alarms.
"Wait, these are bat-shaped alarms, where did you get them?"
"Bo Bo disassembled them from the aircraft and gave them to me, I think it might be a gift from Batman." Su Ming answered without lifting his head, fixing some alarms in hidden spots like wall corners and drainholes.
"I thought you lived at Harley's because you had a plot for her, she's indeed quite pretty." Barry touched his chin.
Su Ming smiled: "Close, someone has a plot for her, but that someone isn't me."
"Hmm?"
"Laughing Bat probably isn't dead, last time Joker took his head, now Joker's joined the Destruction Legion, knowing Luthor that bald guy, he will stop at nothing to achieve his goals, I think he'll find a way to get Mad Laugh from Joker, release him and have him mess with the Justice League."
"Jeez..."
Barry thought and his head hurt, he'd had enough of Laughing Bat and the Dark Knight Order, if that madman got out, he'd likely raise a big army from the Dark Faraway Universe again, leaving everyone with a bunch of Batmen to deal with.
"Got it? When fighting other Batmen, maybe I can handle it. But if the enemies also include Mad Laugh and Joker, we need Harley, let mental illness deal with mental illness. She's smart, only her personal strength is a bit lacking, that's why I'm here, to make up for that shortcoming."
"You think those two madmen will come after Harley?" Barry's expression turned serious, Deathstroke's arrangements were unknown how many steps ahead of anyone.
If he didn't explain, no one would guess.
Maybe Batman had guessed, but he wouldn't say.
"She's simultaneously the person who's most familiar with both Joker and Batman, completely understanding their thought processes, which is a threat... Laughing Bat is a fusion of Joker and Batman, Joker's side will try to kill Joker and Harley, and Batman's side will attempt to eliminate another Batman. Get ready, Laughing Bat entering the battlefield means to win, it's his only wish, maybe he had others but I shattered them."
"How much time do we have?" Barry asked seriously.
"The destruction of the Multiverse is still six months away, and Laughing Bat, after his last failure, will certainly prepare more thoroughly, preparation time should be a few months, he might even act shortly before the universe's destruction, after all he only wants to win."
Su Ming pondered, imagining if he were Mad Laugh what he would do.
But he could only mimic Batman's rational thinking, unable to mimic a madman, that's the problem.
He could only give an uncertain answer.
"I'll take a trip to Earth -11, inform Brusie and Cindy, hope they notify us if they detect Mad Laugh's movements."
Barry thought about it, if Mad Laugh returned to the Dark Multiverse, the intelligence we can get is too little, but luckily he isn't without familiar faces there.
"This period should be extremely calm, like a quiet night before the storm, not a single stir." Su Ming stood up, clapping his hands.
"Another bunch of crazy Batmen? Yes, I'm already feeling cold." Barry smiled bitterly.