From a certain perspective, Su Ming's objective was achieved.
Batman sent a new contract, and Damian fell for his misdirection, while the modified anti-Batman plan proceeded smoothly.
Cindy and the Legendary Squad continued to wait in the shadows for signals, with contingencies underway.
But facing the Laughing Bat, the current matters had to be set aside for now. He wasn't absolutely confident to ensure victory in the future.
The Laughing Bat only wanted to win; he desired nothing else, making him difficult to deal with. The one thing he wanted, Earth couldn't provide.
Damian snapped a few pictures of the monster's head, then casually tossed them aside and tugged at his gloves.
"What can we do?"
"Batman left you all to me; do you understand what that means?" Su Ming took a drag on his cigarette and exhaled through his nostrils.
"I understand," Damian replied calmly.
Su Ming shook his head, smacked his lips, and blew out a bit of smoke to the side:
"No, you still don't understand."
Billy Wu and Himeko exchanged a glance, Fatty furrowed his brow and shook his head slightly, while Himeko ignored him, continuing to tinker inside the monster's belly.
Mili floated out of the monster's belly, holding several arrows with black metal tips.
"Here you go, Red Arrow. Uh... what are they talking about? I can't understand."
Himeko took the arrows, checked them, then placed them back in the quiver, patting her knees to stand up: "Damian is hard to understand, and no one ever understands Deathstroke."
Mili tilted her head, showing a puzzled expression. Her eyes were filled with purple magic radiance, as if she was contemplating, but Himeko had already turned her head to look out the window, offering no further explanation.
Damian and Su Ming continued their gaze, not caring about their teammates' conversation, focusing only on Deathstroke's actions. Gradually, his eyes fell onto the insignia on the other's chest.
A blood-stained red smiley face.
"I really don't understand; teach me."
He fastened his hood and hid his injured arm beneath his cloak.
Su Ming took a deep drag, the cigarette quickly burned, and he exhaled thick smoke, tossing the butt onto the ground, stretching his hand towards the air in front of him.
"Now you understand; follow me." Deathstroke's mask covered his face again, the red monocle lighting up once more. He spoke to non-existent individuals: "Teleportation Gate, Forgotten Bar."
A purple teleportation gate opened instantly, as if it were the writhing intestinal wall or a cavity of some monstrous creature, he stepped boldly into it first.
Da Mi looked at his teammates; everyone was waiting for his command. He nodded: "Teen Titans, follow up."
...................
Suddenly, warm orange light flooded in, the oppressive topsy-turvy feeling vanished instantly, and after a slight wobble, they stood on the wooden floor.
Not far away, a girl in a Gothic-style dress kneeled on the floor, scrubbing, looking at them all helplessly.
A Black Ape in a plaid three-piece suit lay on a round table, patting his belly weakly with closed eyes.
The Holy Statue Armor instantly melted, transforming into a black suit on Su Ming's body, as he walked over and knocked on the table.
"Knock knock..." The aged solid wood table emitted a heavy sound.
Bo Bo opened his eyes, wiped his face, and sat up: "You're back. How's the situation now? This ape is starving."
His opening and actions led the Teen Titans to start whispering, and even Da Mi and Red Arrow looked at him curiously.
The ape spoke!
"There's plenty of alcohol here; it can provide energy. You're not going to die that easily."
Su Ming calmly sat at the table, seemingly having forgotten to call Bo Bo after the world's rewrite.
But it couldn't be helped; he didn't have a phone. The phone, monitored by Batman, should still be inside some carnivorous plant.
"Alright, but if you knew that I'd puke over you if I stood upside down now, you'd probably not say that." Bo Bo's facial expression was black; it was always black.
Starving all night, his belly was full of alcohol, as he had no idea when things outside would return to normal. Alcohol's breakdown and absorption in the intestines take time.
"Stop with that talk; let's assemble the Shadow Contract—trouble is upon us again."
Bo Bo took off his detective hat, fanned himself with it: "What's going on?"
Su Ming snapped his fingers, ordering drinks from the magic wine cabinet and accepting a floating glass: "The old issue, the Dark Multiverse."
The ape fell silent for a moment, looking at the Teen Titans, then down at his hands.
"Has that monster returned?"
"Not sure yet; we've only discovered his pet. Just to be safe, I need a space skirting the Main World's outer layer as a base."
Su Ming took a sip of his drink, moistening his lips, and sighed comfortably.
Bo Bo pondered while stroking the fur on his head: "But the Forgotten Bar isn't safe, as you know."
"Correct; it's not my target here. I'm just assembling a mage team to get you out of here." Su Ming glanced at Trish, who was still cleaning humanoid black marks on the floor: "Stop it; hurry and pack your things."
Bo Bo held Su Ming's hand, shook his head with determined eyes:
"Take her away; I'm not leaving. Jim entrusted the bar to me, and I won't allow that filthy psychopath to step inside a second time!"
Su Ming looked at him, the ape fearlessly met his gaze, with grief, anger, and something ineffable reflected in his eyes.
Su Ming couldn't allow Bo Bo to die.
"Playing tough with me, huh? Good! If you fall into the Laughing Bat's hands, you might divulge information. Better I kill you first. I usually have three execution package deals; will you choose euthanasia, a miserable death, or dead and silent?"
The conversation was originally dark, Bo Bo was initially serious too, but after hearing this, he couldn't remain serious.
The ape had an expression of 'you're kidding me,' seemingly helpless against Su Ming's dark humor, but Deathstroke simply ran his hand over his temples.
"Is this really up for choice?"
"As teammates, consider it a complimentary gift. I'd recommend the dead and silent package; it affords you the opportunity to regret it during your painful wailing."
Su Ming nodded with a smile, the Godslayer suddenly appeared in his hand, transforming from a curved blade to something increasingly round, resembling a kitchen utensil.
"No, no, don't hit me."
Bo Bo, annoyed, stretched his legs and leaned against the table: "I rely on brains for a living, and I'm no Amazonian who can endure such mistreatment."
"Assemble the squad; time is tight."
Su Ming gently combed the ape's hair with the frying pan before pulling the detective hat from the Black Claw's grasp and placing it on the ape's head.
Bo Bo leaped off the table and staggered towards the phone.
He gazed at the ceiling with a sigh, never feeling the lights so piercing before.
But Deathstroke wasn't joking; he wasn't about to die meaninglessly at the hands of his own. So, with no choice, he reluctantly followed orders.
Damian approached the table, staring at Su Ming's glass, then looking at his face, wordless.
Su Ming slid the glass toward him: "Drink."
"You know I'm underage." Damian remained motionless, allowing the liquid to sway at the rim.
"I know, but I think if you die without having tasted alcohol, it'd be unjust." Su Ming glanced at him casually.
Damian finally smiled, his hand reaching for the glass.