The ocean surface quickly swept by below, the turquoise waves reflecting sunlight like shimmering fish scales, and the sea breeze brought a salty, fishy scent. Su Ming held onto the cryo-chamber with one hand, while his other hand pulled Hel, swiftly heading towards the United States.
Being dragged along while flying was a bit uncomfortable, and her face showed a look of indifference: "What's the use of those broken stones to you? Those things are of no benefit to us."
Su Ming glanced at her. Originally, he hadn't planned on explaining, but now he was at leisure anyway.
"Humans have a saying, one's trash might be another's treasure. These things are useless to us, but on Earth, there's a faction of Inhumans, secluded descendants from tens of thousands of years ago. They have no crystals and live a miserable life."
Hearing Deathstroke talk about others being miserable, combined with his schadenfreude tone, Hel already understood this guy's plan.
Balance or manipulation, Deathstroke definitely had a plan, and it's a plan Hel couldn't see in the short term.
Su Ming adjusted the cryo-chamber on his shoulder and continued explaining to her: "As the key to Atlan, Terrigen Crystals are like the most important means of production. Uneven distribution of production resources will only promote the emergence of a different kind of people."
"Dictators," Hel understood the secondary intention: "Without crystals, then the caste system based on abilities doesn't exist."
"So that orange Fatty winning the competition, I'm quite satisfied. I like his stance towards humans, and it saves a lot of trouble."
"Aren't you afraid he's not the one who ultimately wins?" Hel said with a half-smile.
"History is always written by the victors, and I decide who to give the pen to," Deathstroke replied in a raspy voice.
During the war, he stood with the Westmark rebels. But after the war, he leaned more towards the descendancy faction, who favored humanity.
No one ever regulated that supporting someone meant supporting them to the end.
"Will Atlan's emergence of a King align with your interests?" Hel tilted her head, her long black hair fluttering in the wind.
"Who knows, hehe..."
..................
Returning to the company via a covert route, Su Ming invited Hel for a meal to thank her for her help. However, only Su Ming and Gin ate at the table; Hel showed no interest in food and merely drank wine continuously.
After the meal, they discussed some cooperation issues. Su Ming indicated it wasn't the right time yet, but Hel could come to Earth anytime to play, as long as she didn't cause mass destruction or similar disturbances.
After Hel returned to the Netherworld, Su Ming's shoulders immediately sagged as he trudged back to bed and left his half-eaten steak.
"Boss?" Gin walked over and patted his shoulder.
"Don't say anything, call Hamill for me."
At this moment, the suit formed by Strangulation slipped off him, and muscles freed from their restraint collapsed like meat in a plastic bag.
Apart from the unchanged skeletal shape, he was like a bag of water, sprawled on the bed, his muscles blasted apart by the explosion, tender enough for splashy beef balls.
Without Strangulation and the cloak, it would have been hard to make it back, let alone put on a show in front of Hel.
Disassembling a battleship barehanded was indeed strenuous; the technology he brought back needs to be processed quickly, at least the Super Bomb must be prepared first.
Hamill moved quickly, and the teleportation gate arrived almost immediately. He and Gin approached the bedside, remaining calm at his injuries: "Master."
Su Ming nodded slightly to him: "Do you know what to do?"
"I understand."
Hamill immediately started preparing magic, drawing magic arrays in mid-air with the Suspended Ring, imprinting them on the surrounding walls, and then stepping aside, indicating the work was done.
Strangulation's tendrils picked up Su Ming's hand, placing it on his chest.
A green glow flickered, and the Time Gem worked its magic, restoring Su Ming as if inflated.
He sat up and moved his neck: "Are you sure no one noticed?"
"I shielded all sight."
Hamill helped him stand, then retrieved the black pot, intending to prepare a nourishing herbal meal on the spot.
Su Ming couldn't be sure if anyone was watching, from Supreme Wisdom to the Skrulls, and from Inhumans to Mutants, so many ways to probe and he didn't want them knowing about the Time Gem yet.
So he gritted his teeth and made it back to his home on Earth, seeking Hamill's protection to safely use the gem's power.
Gin then brought him his robe, which Su Ming declined with a shake of his head.
"It's not the right time yet, the whole thing isn't over." The suit formed by strangulation wrapped around him again, and he adjusted his cloak-turned-tie. "Gin, prepare a truck. I'm going to Zhongsi Academy alone."
Gin nodded and went back to the phone.
"Dinner?" Hamill used a magic array to light a fire, and was putting something resembling a toad into the black pot.
"No, thanks. Go help me check if Mordo is being captivated by Satanah. If he is, tell him the Supreme Mage agrees with his decision. There's a Chinese proverb: It's better to travel a thousand miles than to read a thousand books. Being a turtle in the Queen's shop is a rare opportunity to experience the dark life."
"As you command." The teleportation gate opened again, and Hamill went in carrying the pot.
The Supreme Mage's intention was something he could somewhat understand. Mordo's stubborn nature was well known in Kama Taiji; he couldn't stand anything associated with darkness.
This time there was finally something dark he could accept, and naturally, he had to experience it more to reshape his worldview and values.
"The car is ready." Gin came over, helped him adjust his clothes a bit, as some parts of the strangulation weren't fitting well: "The coffin you brought back has also been secretly loaded onto the truck. It looks somewhat like an Asgardian surgical table."
"Close enough, it's Inhuman technology." Su Ming began taking things out of his backpack, all trophies from this operation: "These should be given to the adjutant, and this stained glass should be put in my office. By the way, has Surtur's leather carpet been made yet?"
"The tanning is a bit tricky, but I'm keeping an eye on it." Gin took each item and categorically placed them aside: "Once the items are delivered there, they should be back soon, right?"
Su Ming smiled and shook his head. He walked to the desk and poured a glass of wine: "There's a point of doubt. I've been to so many places, yet I still haven't found the answer."
"Oh?" Gin also walked over, leaned against the desk, poured herself a drink, and clinked glasses with Su Ming; her big eyes blinking: "What's the point of doubt?"
"Howard had two assassination attempts. One at the cemetery and one at our meeting place." Su Ming raised his head and drank all the wine: "The timing of the first assassination is the biggest issue."
"You mean..." Gin rolled her eyes and suddenly widened them.
"Yes, Howard and I arrived at the cemetery around noon, the weather was windy but still sunny," Su Ming said calmly.
Gin put her finger to her lips, imitating teeth: "And during the second assassination, it was two blood race members who killed themselves in front of you."
Su Ming picked up a stack of papers from his desk and handed them to Gin: "We reclaimed the bodies. Holloway conducted a thorough examination. Can you guess what's missing in the report?"
"He didn't detect any sunscreen components."
Gin took the report and laughed too, realizing the issue was indeed there.
If vampires needed to operate during the day, they'd have to use the highest-end sunscreen from Wilson Enterprises. Because clothes can't fully block UV rays, they'd need to smear it all over their skin, even their scalps under their hair.
A greasy assassin covered in oil during the day, cleans up completely by night? Su Ming didn't see it that way.
As a mercenary, also an assassin, he understood the habits of assassins.
There are many who like to shower after a kill, himself included. But before a kill, bathing, changing clothes, and perfuming oneself? He's never seen that.
It's something found in novels, like Ximen Chuixue, but that's a far cry.
In other words, those who attempted to assassinate Howard in the day and night were not even the same group!
"I noticed this issue early on, but I didn't show it, instead taking a big loop to see if the mastermind behind all of this would make a move." As he spoke, Su Ming poured himself another glass of wine: "Unfortunately, having interacted with mutants, the blood race, Inhumans, demons, Asgardians, Kree, and Skrulls, the mastermind didn't slip up..."
"Sounds like they have tremendous patience." Gin thought for a moment and also sipped her drink.
Su Ming nodded, looking out at the ocean: "So I have a theory that Howard was lying to me."
"Why do you say that?" Gin rubbed her chin, knowing Howard wasn't aware Slade was Deathstroke, making this action meaningless.
"Howard and I were originally supposed to meet at Stark Tower, but he got in the car halfway, waiting by the roadside, as if expecting me." Su Ming pointed out Howard's suspicious behavior, sliding his fingers slowly across the desk: "He looked around anxiously before getting in, as if hoping someone would follow him."
"Hmm..." Gin looked out the window too; she wasn't aware of the situation at the time, but it did seem suspicious.
"Then, at the cemetery, we encountered Professor Xavier's family, Little Charles, Professor Xavier's son, a psychic who could read thoughts. In subsequent conversations, Howard cleverly moved the widow away from Little Charles's ability range. Charles only read two sentences between them, then got a nosebleed and couldn't continue."
"But you've caught the Inhuman who killed Professor Xavier, and it turns out he's the culprit." Gin crossed her arms, feeling things were complicated but simple at the same time: "The mission is already over."
"But now I have to figure out who orchestrated this elaborate scheme, entangling various factions. After all, if the Vampire Bug or Obelisk goes wrong, the world could end," Su Ming placed the glass upside down on the table, leaving a ring of moisture: "It's an unstable factor. Without investigating, I can't be at ease."
"Alright, boss, what do you want to do?" Gin nodded seriously; if the boss intended to dig deeper, she'd support it.
"First, have Charles confront his father's killer." Su Ming took a coat from the coat rack, put it on, and grabbed a soft felt hat: "Inform Dotti and the others to help me locate Stark. His bill is going to be quite lengthy this time."