Just like Su Ming said, he indeed has a pile of things to handle.
Being a mercenary isn't the kind of job where you can just walk away after completing a mission. At least most of the time, collecting payment is part of the job.
The White Lantern Ring in his possession was only given to him by the Spirit of Existence when it was cornered, and he doesn't know when it might be taken back.
The Invisible Light Ring from the Eclipse Star is the same. Although Su Ming reached a ceasefire agreement with it, it didn't take back Sinestro's ring; it just gave Su Ming a similar one.
Eclipse Star itself can stay out of it, no longer attempting to devour the cosmos, but the more messengers for the Lantern Group, the better.
Su Ming has no objections; he also wants to see what Luthor plans to do with the Invisible Light, providing him with an internal intelligence channel.
Not to mention, even if Eclipse Star wanted to take back Sinestro's ring, Su Ming wouldn't let it do so.
It can both lull the enemy and leave a 'backdoor,' a prepared contingency in advance. Even if the intelligence leaks mutually, it depends on who can think faster.
Now with ten rings still in hand, Su Ming wants to put them to good use.
First is to go to Olympus, to 'comfort' the Gods who have suffered from the flood. He also wants to hear Hera's explanation regarding the marriage proposal event.
And what trick is Eris planning?
New Olympus is still intact, with no signs of the flood, but stepping out of the ship, he sees they are holding a funeral for Poseidon.
Su Ming frowned and took a breath through his teeth.
They're holding a mourning ritual at home, is it really a good time to collect debts now? Although business involves buying and selling, doing something too heartless might shorten one's lifespan.
Perhaps come another day?
"Ding..."
However, just as he was about to leave, he felt someone secretly watching him.
It turned out to be Athena in the crowd who noticed Deathstroke's arrival, with tissue stuffed in her nostrils, shivering.
Deathstroke threw her to Antarctica then dealt with Hecate, and the Gods' divine power was lost.
After Athena woke up, she could only survive in the small icehouse Barry made for her. Thankfully, Hera's Celestial Mirror is a magic prop, unaffected by the loss of divine power, and had the Fire God fly her back on the spaceship.
Athena initially wanted to settle accounts with Deathstroke, but then the world was flooded again, and amidst the stormy rains, the Gods were pressed to repair Olympus's protective array, busy all day.
Thus Athena caught a cold.
She sought out the God of Plagues and Diseases, but the latter said that losing divine power meant losing divine authority, and her illness was no longer under his jurisdiction.
Best to have the Fire God take her to the human world to see a doctor.
She heard that human doctors would pull down a person's pants and jab them with needles, something she wished to avoid at all costs.
The Fire God deemed her immunity could hold; after all, her divine physique remains, perhaps a few days would pass it. So he handed Athena a pack of tissues and returned to the volcano.
He had matters at home; Hera had only asked him to run an errand, and he didn't want to stay in Olympus.
Although smithing without divine power was more effort, he still had technology; punch presses and lathes all could still be used.
Seeing Athena's complicated gaze towards him, Su Ming hesitated to leave.
The Gods don't seem overly saddened, do they? Athena still had time for idle thoughts, not at all serious.
Poseidon was her uncle after all; even though capricious and ill-natured, he was still family.
Since the Gods aren't heartbroken, Su Ming doesn't need to be either, so he's off to see Hera about the debt.
Without a further glance at Athena's gaze, nor behind her Artemis, Su Ming strolls boldly up the mountain path to Hera's palace.
Walking in the Greek-style divine domain, he increasingly feels like a Saint Seiya. Let's hope Athena, having lost power, doesn't plan to go to Japan to train some young people to fight Deathstroke as the big villain?
The thought amused him; after all, trying to cultivate a Little Universe in the DC World might as well be an absurdly impossible feat.
Entering Hera's palace, it seemed she had long anticipated his return, waiting calmly by the poolside.
"Mother of Gods." Su Ming nodded, a form of greeting.
"You should know best; there are no more Gods." Hera spoke with utter calmness, seemingly unbothered by the loss of divine power.
"But you aren't human either. You need some designation, right?" Su Ming smiled, removed his helmet, and sat down in the same spot as last time. Similarly, there were maids offering fruit and wine.
Hera nodded, taking a sip from her wine glass: "It seems you know much already. At least, we were once human, and now, we're just a bunch of pitiable beings."
Su Ming didn't see what was pitiable; the Gods lived so long on the stolen fire, returning now to normal; is having a fall equivalent to being pitiable?
Their current lives are much better than those of the people in the slums of Gotham.
"I don't know how to comfort you, but you should understand the purpose of my trip, right? Diana survived safely from Hecate's hands, and she's living better than all of you now. My mission is completed."
"You want a reward, but Olympus has already paid you, hasn't it?" Hera widened her eyes, seemingly puzzled, and asked back.
"Heh heh..." Su Ming chuckled. Has Olympus been detached from the mortal world for so long that they can't even distinguish between a deposit and a reward? No one dares to owe him a debt that's not repaid: "Have they paid? Why haven't I seen it? The weapon enchantment was just a deposit, wasn't it made clear at that time?"
"I've already given you my aunt and daughter; what more do you want?" Hera looked aggrieved, clutching her peacock shawl: "After losing divine power, what in Olympus could possibly attract your attention? We've already given up our most precious things."
"Oh... I understand."
Su Ming paused for a moment, so that's how it is...
It turned out Hera had long foreseen that no one could withstand the Inverted Man's revenge.
She had already predicted the demise of the gods, so she straightforwardly used her daughter as compensation, claiming it was to make up for the reward, while actually using the goddesses to make connections and find backing.
Perhaps previously Hera was just allowing Eris to act out to lay the groundwork for the future. If Deathstroke failed, naturally Olympus wouldn't be saved, and talks of marriage wouldn't be important.
If Deathstroke succeeded, Olympus could cling to a new powerful ally and be free from worries about survival.
Clever calculations, such willingness for sacrifice.
Though she didn't know much about Deathstroke's strength, being able to defeat Athena and Diana head-on, eliminate Hecate, and strike a deal with the Inverted Man, unquestionably marked him as a super powerful figure.
Darkness, so much darkness; no wonder Diana is unwilling to interact with the gods. Hera's deviousness surpasses a hundred Dianas.
"Don't act all pitiful; we both know the truth. The real question is, why me? I'm not the strongest person on Earth."
Hera had indeed been acting, quickly putting away the pitiful expression and restoring her dignified demeanor.
"Before you wore ten rings, did anyone foresee you achieving this? If you're going to invest, naturally you'd choose the one with the most potential."
Su Ming looked down at his fingers, seeing nothing, not knowing how Hera knew.
"But I might soon lose these powers; is that not a concern?"
"The universe is vast, so vast. There are depths of power so profound that I can't even describe them. What does it matter if you lose the spectrum? With your skills, you could find a power equivalent to it at any time."
Hera was very candid.
Anyway, no matter what, Olympus is counting on you.
Su Ming nodded. The power of rules isn't limited to the spectrum; even beyond the Origin Wall, there's a whole array of concepts. If Su Ming wished, he could even claim the power of 'entropy' possessed by the giant god that died in the last "No Longer Justice," a power representing the origin of humanity.
But just to deal with Luthor? No need to reveal all his cards; isn't it better to keep some in the vast cosmos?
And it saves some black-dressed guy from having a persecution complex.
"Your judgment is sharp, and you act decisively. You're a more qualified leader than Zeus ever was." Su Ming sighed, speaking with some reflection.
Hera snorted coldly, tossed back the drink in her glass, and threw the cup aside:
"He was fine when using his brain. After all, it was his plan to steal power and imprison Hecate, and it truly prospered Olympus. But later, he started thinking with interests between his legs, and Olympus nearly perished many times."
Su Ming also understood Zeus; to be a king, one's desires must be stronger than anyone else's.
But mingling with humans and aliens would be fine, yet that Father of Gods kept messing around with cows, sheep, chickens, and fish—who could bear that?
There were always various monsters coming to Olympus to claim kinship, and Hera enduring it all this time is no small feat...
"Let me confirm once more, can't I really get cash? Gold and silver jewelry, or real estate works as well."
Su Ming wasn't immune to the goddesses; aside from the fact they were all clean, their looks were top-notch among beauties.
Though perhaps a tad less enchanting than Albella's captivating looks.
But whether they're women or goddesses, they would be entanglements for Deathstroke. He is human too, capable of emotions and desires; over time, he might genuinely get involved.
However, these things do nothing to enhance his power.
Spending time indulging with goddesses doesn't compare to practicing a few sets of push-ups or quick shuttle runs.
Hera smiled, shaking her head, and picked a grape from the bunch, placing it in her palm:
"Didn't you tell Batman that people are fundamental...? If you wish to be human and not a concept or a god, it's best to try not to speed ahead; look at the scenery along the way, and wait for others... This is the realization Olympus came to after thousands of years."
Su Ming fell into deep thought.