Multiverse: Deathstroke

Chapter 108: Ch.107 Journey to Blackhawk Island

"For whom do they serve?"

The scenery around them had blurred into streaks of light. The tundra under their feet transformed into barren mountains. Diana furrowed her brows, contemplating the question Su Ming had posed.

On Barry's other side, Su Ming clutched the wound on his chest, the healing process making it incredibly itchy.

"The Blackhawk Squadron has helicopters, warships, robots, military satellites, and an island hidden by magic. They also have secret bases spread across the globe, a few hundred elite special forces soldiers, scientists in various fields... But they are just ordinary people. Every operation requires deploying warships or planes. Adding in ammunition, fuel, and cleanup costs, each mission costs at least seven figures in US dollars."

"Huh? When did you visit them?" Diana asked, confused, her face showing a skeptical expression.

"That's classified. The question is, you, the Justice League, were first funded by the UN, then by Bruce, which allowed you to build planes and a space station. So who funds the Blackhawk Squadron? Where does their money come from?"

Of course, Su Ming wouldn't say that his information came from comics, so he immediately steered the conversation back on track.

"Isn't their leader Hawkman and Hawkgirl? Their first lives were as Prince Khufu and Chay-Ara, so they should be rich, right?" Barry's brain worked quickly, immediately coming up with a plausible explanation.

Diana also leaned toward this reasoning, as it was the most logical explanation within legal boundaries.

"Prince Khufu's wealth is still in the British Museum. Hawkman and Hawkgirl's reincarnations involve being reborn, and they don't necessarily retain memories of their past lives. Wealth isn't something you bring with you when you're born or take with you when you die."

Su Ming chuckled lightly. If there had been some trust in the Blackhawk Squadron before, now there was absolutely none.

"You seem pretty sure of yourself. Do you know something we don't?" Diana countered, sensing the smugness in Su Ming's expression, even through his mask.

She preferred Bruce's calm and straightforward way of delivering information. Deathstroke's style of questioning felt like playing a guessing game.

Of course, Su Ming noticed her displeasure. He had intended to cultivate her and Barry's ability to think independently, which was actually a good deed. But if they didn't appreciate it, there wasn't much he could do. Maybe he should start keeping a ledger of debts—how much should he charge for information fees?

"The Blackhawk Squadron is backed by the Council of Eternity. They're a group of ancient spellcasters, all immortals," Su Ming said, his tone carrying a hint of disdain. "This includes Archmage Morgaine le Fey, Archmage Shazam, Time Master, Director of the Shadow Agency, Egyptian goddess Isis, the angel Etriel from Heaven, and others."

Barry's face scrunched up, his lips pressed tightly together. "Doesn't sound very reliable. Mages are never trustworthy, right?"

"Ha, seems like Constantine has screwed you over before." Su Ming shook his head, correcting Barry's misunderstanding. "Most mages are trustworthy. Before, the Council of Eternity's stance was reliable. But didn't you notice that Constantine didn't call them to the Ritual of the House of Mystery? Even though the Council is the strongest mage group on Earth."

"You mean?" Diana seemed to catch on.

"Yes, even he realized it. He knew those people couldn't be trusted. The Council of Eternity always thought they were invincible. But when Barbatos' dark power surged across the multiverse like a tsunami, their confidence from being immortal made them think that if they couldn't resist, then no one on Earth could either. So they surrendered. They've become traitors to the planet."

Su Ming spoke calmly. The other two couldn't see his expression through the mask, but his tone wasn't particularly pleasant.

"Why?" Diana clenched her fists. She wanted to beat these traitors senseless. They had surrendered without a fight: "The Earth has faced countless crises. They never even showed up."

"That's because they have a new leader among the immortals. Vandal Savage, your old acquaintance."

Just hearing that name made Diana and Barry show expressions of disgust.

Savage had been a longtime foe of the Justice League. After being exposed to a meteorite in the Stone Age, he gained immortality. He was a genius, a schemer, who amassed an enormous fortune through various evil means. He had been a serial killer, joined the Nazis, committed massacres, and incited racism and military coups around the world—all in pursuit of amassing wealth and building military power.

His ambition was to rule the world, to become its master, and he would do anything to achieve that goal.

"Damn it, what were they thinking? How could they let a scoundrel like that join?" If they weren't in the Speed Force right now, Diana would have shattered the ground beneath them.

Su Ming understood, though. A bunch of immortal beings stuck in a dark room, holding meetings for eternity—their lives were too long, and the concepts of good and evil had become blurred.

"The Council of Eternity isn't the Justice League. Their only membership requirement is immortality. Savage fits that perfectly. He might even be the oldest person on the planet."

"Do the Blackhawks know about this?" Barry asked. He seemed calmer now. He understood that if Deathstroke was revealing this information, it meant he already had a plan. Now, the outcome of their visit to Blackhawk Island depended on whether the Squadron was willing to cooperate. If they were fully under the Council's control, a fight was likely.

"The good news is that they know nothing. The Council and the Squadron are connected by a single line of communication. Only their leader, this generation's Hawkgirl, Kendra Saunders, knows. And right now, she should be at a meeting with the Council in Antarctica." Su Ming's response dripped with sarcasm. The Council had been utterly deceived. Wanting to continue their immortal existence, they'd fallen right into Barbatos' trap.

"How ironic. The Council of Eternity doesn't deserve their power." Diana couldn't be bothered to say anything else. She bit her lip and sighed.

"Barbatos' intimidation drove them to desperation. They thought they were choosing to compromise for the sake of the world, believing that surrender would save the Earth. But can Barbatos' promises be trusted?"

Barry shook his head. Those people had truly regressed. To call them naive was an understatement—they were just scared to die.

Su Ming patted Barry on the shoulder to console him. He wanted to ruffle Diana's hair too, but her look stopped him.

"In any case, our actions might not go completely unnoticed. If we have to fight, you both need to stand by my side. I've explained everything."

"Of course, I trust you," Barry responded immediately, showing a bright smile. He was already used to trusting Deathstroke's decisions in battle.

Su Ming looked past Barry's nose at Diana. She nodded decisively as well. She would never compromise with the enemy. Anyone who surrendered was now her enemy.

"Good. Our target is the spaceship hidden in the underground hangar of Blackhawk Island, the Sky Splinter. It's used by the Monitors to travel through the multiverse. Its central computer contains coordinates for nearly every location in the Dark Multiverse. We need that information."

Seeing her nod, Su Ming felt confident in moving forward. As for any potential guards, they were just ordinary people. There wouldn't even be a need for tactical planning.

"Huh? We don't need the spaceship itself? The Sky Splinter is designed for traveling through the dimensions of the multiverse, isn't it?" Diana asked as she looked at the sea below them. They were now over the ocean.

"The Sky Splinter now belongs to the Council of Eternity. After they surrendered, Barbatos already knows of its existence. If we pilot the Sky Splinter to the heart of the Dark Multiverse, we'd be a beacon in the darkness. We need to find another way."

Su Ming immediately dismissed the option. In the comics, the Justice League had taken the Sky Splinter and been cornered by the Dark Knights, barely escaping with Cyborg's Boom Tube.

But the plot had changed now. Su Ming didn't have Cyborg with him. If they got caught in the void of space, they'd have no escape.

"Fair point. So what do we do? We still need those coordinates, right?" Barry nodded. Deathstroke's assessment was accurate. A ship like the Sky Splinter was far too conspicuous.

Su Ming didn't answer, only looking at him through the crimson lenses of his mask.

Barry: "???"

Deathstroke's silence made Barry uncomfortable, and he slowed down his pace, glancing at Diana, only to find her looking at him meaningfully as well.

Barry: "???"

Diana's gaze sharpened, as if hinting at something: Stare.

"Uh... me again?"

Barry chuckled bitterly, realizing what the plan entailed.