Seeing Barry's embarrassed smile, Su Ming knew for sure it was Batman who sent him over for someone.
On one hand, Thomas was here; on the other, Batman didn't want to deal with him.
Batman is still that petty, surely still angry because Su Ming said he and Joker were a gay couple.
Yes, Catwoman is dead, Joker is dead too—it's quite a blow for Batman.
Maybe Su Ming did a little something, like keeping a tacit understanding with Joker, helping Batman 'broaden' his thoughts or something...
But in the end, didn't Su Ming give him back his dad, preventing Batman from really losing control?
Friends can be made anew, a dead wife—one can always find another, but lost family is truly gone.
No matter how you look at it, isn't Thomas more valuable?
Batman, this person, just doesn't know how to calculate, in some ways, even dumber than Arthur.
Thinking about this, Su Ming picked up a bottle of liquor and looked at Sea King with dead-fish eyes.
Dressed like a corn, looks silly.
Sea Hero Gass's uniform is much better, deep blue, like a vest, showing the tattoos on both arms, paired with a bushy beard and wavy long hair—how cool?
But Arthur's uniform is like autumn clothing, covering all the tattoos, turning from wild to agricultural...
"Gulp gulp gulp... huh?" Sea King, drinking, showed a puzzled expression; he felt Deathstroke's gaze and immediately had a face full of question marks.
Why is Deathstroke looking at me with such a strange expression? As if he's very disappointed?
"Um that..." Arthur tentatively removed the bottle, inquiring Deathstroke.
"No, it's nothing. Do you have enough booze?" Deathstroke's previous expression disappeared as if it was an illusion, and he smiled, taking out a few more bottles of liquor.
"Oh, the more the better." Arthur, suspecting nothing, immediately took the bottles and drank heartily.
Yet before that, he didn't forget to 'smash' the empty bottle onto the ground, there's manliness.
"Speak, Barry, my good buddy, what did Ron have you come over for?" Su Ming sighed secretly, despairing at Arthur's aesthetic, he turned his gaze back to Barry.
Barry rubbed his hands before him, scratched his head, and with an awkward smile, didn't know what to say.
"It's Bat..." Barry almost slipped his tongue, suddenly remembering Thomas was beside him, and Bruce had snuck out of the house: "Ahem, Ron wants everyone back for a meeting. I told him your task here still needed some time, but he wouldn't listen..."
"No problem, only one Laughing Bat left for me to handle, so seems like the meeting won't concern me and Thomas." Su Ming nodded, having no objections.
If Batman were to go crazy, it's best to let Green Arrow keep an eye, otherwise Ron and Superman, those two who believe in the fundamental goodness of humanity might come up with some wacky plan.
Barry pushed away the spicy sticks Su Ming offered, the gluten sticks couldn't replenish much energy.
"He said just Justice League members, so..."
"I understand, you guys go, leave this to me and Thomas." Su Ming nodded, showing no intention to dissuade, his gaze fell on Thomas, silently drinking in the shadows behind him: "How about it, old man, any problems?"
Thomas carefully wiped the mouth of the empty bottle he drank before placing it gently on a nearby table, he flicked his cloak to cover the lower half of his face:
"Gotham is my city because... I am Batman."
With the answer, Su Ming laughed and spread his hands at Barry; could the Laughing Bat do it?
Pure Flash; Deathstroke plus Batman, against another Batman with Joker, ours is Bat Dad, theirs is Bat Son.
As long as you don't get reckless, the boat won't capsize.
"Is it really okay?" Though Diana knew Superman needed help more, she was reluctant to leave here.
Last time she was inexplicably caught by Laughing Bat, that guy's really weird.
Su Ming nodded, stroking his beard: "Laughing Bat is different from other Bruces, if we completely disrupt his plan, he may very well hide or even leave the Main World. I'm still without a lead on how to find him now, but we aren't without reinforcements, the Humiliation Squad is good at finding people."
"That's good, we'll see you later then."
Diana went to the window, waved goodbye, and jumped out, others either relied on their own abilities or used Barry for transportation.
Su Ming signaled Green Arrow with a glance, Green Arrow knowingly nodded, he'd keep an eye on Bruce.
Soon, the building's middle layer was left with just Su Ming and Thomas, silently exchanging glances in the dim light, it was Deathstroke who broke the silence first:
"You let Ah Fu release Bruce, didn't you?"
Thomas nodded, from Deathstroke's behavior since meeting, he had always been a smart guy.
"Yes, the child has grown up. Although I don't want him to become Batman, I still have to respect his own decision, instead of him feeling that he's lost his place because I returned."
"Are you planning to retire? Also, none of you have undergone any physical modifications. At your age, combined with old injuries over the years, it's quite a burden for ordinary superheroes."
Su Ming sighed. Batman had opportunities to enhance himself, like those mad Batman in the Dark Multiverse, and the methods they use could naturally be conceived by Batman in the Main World.
But refusing the temptation of power, adhering to the humanity in him, is Batman's choice.
Even like Deathstroke who injected Super Soldier Serum, he was unwilling to do so, fearing he might not be able to think like an ordinary person over time.
Batman has his own thoughts and principles which are different from most people. Su Ming can understand, but he himself couldn't do it.
If Batman's yearning for the truth is his weakness, then Su Ming's craving for power might well be his.
Perhaps someone discovered this weakness, perhaps no one has, but Su Ming felt that Luthor probably knows something.
Thomas touched the bat emblem on his chest, beneath the outstretched wings lay a red sun. He smirked on one side of his mouth, "I just wanted to see my own son, and now this wish has been fulfilled..."
"Stop, stop here." Su Ming stood up and waved, "Don't rush into flagging yourself. Your whole family are pessimists. Why does everything you say sound like a will?"
"Just in case."
Thomas had indeed been about to deliver a will because after achieving his dream, many years of persistence had turned into endless emptiness.
Seeing his son satisfied him, but also robbed him of the motivation to move forward. Now he could die contented.
"That's because you don't understand me, Dr. Wayne." Su Ming walked up to him and earnestly patted his arm, "I'm not a good person; you can probably see that. I'm a mercenary. Yet, the Justice League is willing to act alongside me, Bruce allows me to exert influence on them. Do you know why?"
"Why?"
"Because he regards me as the Justice League's insurance. My purpose is to guard against those unforeseen events."
...............
"Bruce, what's the hurry in calling us back like this?"
Oliver's teleportation and The Flash's speed were about the same, so both arrived almost simultaneously at Metropolis, the temporary base of the Justice League.
Diana was a bit slower, being the last to arrive, only because she didn't use the invisible jet when she was out handling things.
Batman had everything ready, and the 'yurt' now looked like the end of the world.
The surrounding buildings were in ruins, debris and brick tiles filled the streets, burning cars and houses emitted faint black smoke, many charred 'bodies' lay sprawled by the roadside.
The air bore a foul odor, the scent of despair mixed with destruction. The sky was extraordinarily dim, as if the sun was about to burn out.
Of course, besides Superman's arrangement, Batman had also employed virtual reality techniques; outside this building, the world was still fine.
He wasn't quite clear on what the black snow prophesied looked like, but luckily no one else knew either.
Thus, he arranged this area in the nuclear winter mode, to execute his plan.
Seeing everyone was present, he glanced around the street and gestured for them to hide in a piece of ruins to talk.
"How's it going in Gotham?" he didn't answer Green Arrow's question but posed his own instead.
Green Arrow again felt the taste of being ignored; internally, he seemed to become invisible in the Justice League. Though the treatment in Deathstroke's hired business was also general, at least someone would respond when he spoke!
This time, he finally got assigned such equipment, Batman, just take a look!
But Diana was not swayed by Green Arrow's resentful gaze. She took off her hood and brushed her hair, "There's Deathstroke and your father there. He seems quite confident, as usual."
".... I've already discussed my plan with Superman and the others. Previously, the Justice League failed in their attempts to unveil the truths of the universe and make use of them. We need to change."
While speaking, Batman tapped a few times on the Bat Terminal, causing the sky to sprinkle black snowflakes.
If looked at closely, one would find these weren't snowflakes but embers from burnt items, drifting along with hot airflow and wind.
Diana caught one in her hand and rubbed it; they were indeed some sort of embers. She looked up:
"Why do we have to be so urgent? We can totally wait for Deathstroke to finish the task over there and then join us."
Batman remained expressionless, "Because Luthor might not give us this time, he certainly monitors what's happening in Gotham. If everything ends, then he'll be prepared, ready to counter us. Only now, aside from your return being seen, everyone's actions remain unnoticed, allowing us to seize a time gap."
"Hmm?" Arthur gently tapped his chin, failing to grasp the idea.
"Our previous judgments on Totality, the Door Handle of Destruction, the seven types of Dark Creation Power, were all wrong; we can no longer take a conservative approach. If we aim to save the world, we must take risks."
Batman wouldn't explain; he'd only say what he wanted to.