Soon after, in Gotham City at Downton Manor, Axel stepped out of the flames, his body restored and his energy renewed.
The moment he appeared, he noticed Selina, Alfred, and an unexpected guest talking on the lawn.
The sudden burst of fire drew attention. The woman sitting across from Selina stood up abruptly, her body trembling despite herself.
Selina glanced at her and gently patted her hand. "Relax. My husband isn't as frightening as he looks. He's just… interesting."
"Interesting?" the woman muttered under her breath.
Zatanna Zatara let out an annoyed sigh. "That's easy for you to say. You're with him. Does he seem interesting to anyone else?"
She shivered again, her discomfort obvious.
"Other than lunatics, who would willingly get close to someone like Axel?"
Meanwhile, Alfred approached Axel calmly. "Master, Miss Zatanna arrived earlier this afternoon. Since you had not returned, I arranged for her to wait here."
Axel chuckled and patted Alfred on the shoulder. "Good. I trust you with the house."
Without slowing down, he walked straight toward Zatanna.
Seeing him approach, she swallowed hard but forced herself to step forward as well. Her fingers intertwined tightly, her nerves barely contained.
When she finally stood in front of him, she took a deep breath.
"W Wraith Boss, I am Zatanna Zatara. I want to exchange information with you. It is about my father."
Axel raised a brow, then grinned. Without hesitation, he slung an arm over her shoulder.
"Ah!"
Zatanna stiffened instantly, letting out a startled cry.
Amused, Axel casually slapped her backside.
"What's with the hesitation? If you came to trade, you should be ready for everything that comes with it. Madam, take her to clean up."
"No, no, no, no!"
Zatanna's voice shook as she quickly covered herself. "That is not what I meant. I mean a real exchange. Information."
She steadied herself, forcing the words out.
"Someone is coming after you, and I know who it is. In return, I want to know who is targeting my father, or who he is pursuing. That is all. I will not trade my body for anything."
She held her ground, though fear lingered in her eyes.
Axel narrowed his gaze, then leaned closer, his voice low.
"Plenty of people want me dead. Whoever they are, they can try."
He smirked.
"I am not interested in your information. I am interested in you."
His hand struck her again.
Slap.
Zatanna broke free instantly, retreating in panic. She shook her head firmly.
"If that is your answer, then I will leave."
She shut her eyes tightly, bracing herself.
She did not run. She knew better.
As a powerful magician, she understood exactly what Axel was capable of. If he did not allow her to leave, escape would be impossible.
Nearby, Selina watched the tense scene, swallowing quietly.
She turned and cleared her throat. "If it is not too much trouble, it is only information. There is no harm in sharing a little."
Zatanna's eyes remained shut, unaware as Selina subtly gestured between herself, Axel, and the girl, signaling she could handle things.
Axel noticed. His expression turned slightly displeased.
Still, he shook his head.
Zatanna's situation was far from simple.
He did not fear trouble, but others around him would be affected. Selina, Bruce, even the quiet life in the manor.
The Zatara family was deeply entangled in forces far beyond ordinary magic.
Even someone like John Constantine dealt with dangerous enemies, yet the Zatara lineage had ties to something far worse.
Axel had no interest in getting involved.
He waved dismissively.
"Forget it. I am not dealing with this."
He glanced at Zatanna.
"If you want to leave, go. Whether I help or not, your problem will resolve itself eventually."
Zatanna opened her eyes, confused. "Really?"
Axel nodded.
She hesitated, then asked, "I can go?"
"Yes. This is my home, not a prison. Come and go as you like. Just do not cause trouble."
He lightly tapped her head.
Zatanna wasted no time. She spoke a spell in reverse, and in an instant, she vanished.
Axel smirked and took a seat across from Selina.
She leaned forward slightly, curiosity clear. "That was unusual. Is her situation that serious?"
Axel let out a short laugh.
"Very. Her family owes a massive debt."
He leaned back, speaking casually.
"It traces back to the old Greek gods. They stole a treasury from a powerful entity while it was weakened. They divided the gold and forgot about the treasury itself."
"Years later, one of Zatanna's ancestors found it and claimed it."
He spread his hands.
"Now they owe not just the gold, but the treasury itself. And it is far more valuable."
He paused briefly.
"The original owner is expected to return within the next decade."
Selina's expression shifted.
"At that point, others will try to exploit the situation. The entity they wronged is already powerful. The one above it is even worse."
Axel scoffed.
"Anyone manipulating this situation is no small player either."
Alfred's expression stiffened in shock.
Axel suddenly raised his middle finger toward the sky.
A blinding bolt of lightning crashed down.
Boom.
His body disintegrated instantly.
Moments later, flames ignited, and Axel reformed, completely unharmed.
He raised both middle fingers this time.
"Damn it."
Not far away, Lex stormed out of his lab, furious.
"What is wrong with this weather?"
He rushed toward Axel.
"My experiment was halfway done when a sudden magnetic disruption ruined everything."
Axel blinked, slightly confused, then casually raised his hand again.
Before he could finish the gesture, Zatanna reappeared in front of him.
She stared at his raised hand, her expression shifting into something awkward before she looked away.
"This afternoon, two agents from ARGUS approached me."
She steadied herself.
"One of them, Booster Gold, was completely useless. The other was a witch. Powerful. I could not read her properly."
She met Axel's gaze.
"They wanted me to deal with you. But I know better."
She took a breath.
"I thought… if I could be on your side, it would benefit me."
She straightened slightly.
"So this information is free."
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