Volume 4: The Last Day Chapter 1 When I return victorious, we'll have a showdown
The next morning, Harley Quinn ran out and walked around Crime Alley as if patrolling her territory. When she was happily returning home with her beloved baseball bat and two ice cream buckets, she saw a group of people gathered in the store .
She knew that Mason's mysterious "little friends" came to play with him again.
Harley wanted to move closer to listen to their conversation, but before she could take any action, Poison Ivy next to her pulled her out the door.
He said he wanted to take her to the Iceberg Bar and see if Selena was feeling better.
Although Catwoman is a very proud person and prone to causing trouble, she magically maintains a very good relationship with the girls around Mason.
And because of her age... ahem, I mean she is relatively mature and has a strong appeal, and she has almost become the leader of the "women's army" of Team K.
So, Harley Quinn, wearing a safety helmet, put the ice cream she brought specially for Mason on the table, and then cheered and went out with Ivy, not forgetting to bring her cool golden baseball bat.
That was Mason who was pestered by her last night, so he used the magical alchemy array to make a "big toy" for her.
Don't be fooled by its ordinary baseball bat shape, but this thing is made of magical metal and has Isu inscriptions carved by Mason's practiced hands. It is at least a high-quality equipment .
At least Harley found it very easy to use.
The members of Team K gathered in Mason's shop did not discuss much about the mission at this moment. Mason knew very well that some things had to wait until they passed the World Gate, lest a scumbag in the team escape again.
He finally understood.
If you want Zha Kang to work well, you can't give this guy the right to choose, and you have to coax him. It's just like watching a naughty child of seven or eight years old who is hated by everyone.
"Are you sure this thing is really harmless?"
Lying on the makeshift operating table in the basement of the shop, Zha Kang looked suspiciously at Mason pouring a ball of blue liquid from his alchemical holy grail into three syringes, and then glanced at the platinum-level trauma team bio-cabin from the 2077 era placed next to him.
As he took off his clothes, he said:
“Although you promised before that you would give me the best enhancements, the timing is too tight. I just came back from there yesterday, and you took out the finished product today. It really makes me think too much.
What if you use defective products to fool me? I won’t be able to argue with you.”
"Then you'd better not think too much!"
Mason looked at the guy who ate steamed buns and complained about the dark color of the buns. He shook the super soldier serum in the syringe to check the color and said with a straight face:
“This is an improved version that I worked on late at night. Although it may not be as effective as the original, the effect of the replica will definitely satisfy you.
I made a slight adjustment to its formula, adding some Isu people's biotechnology enhancement formula to make its original strength enhancement that was effective on the body become more evenly distributed.
Simply put, it will not only strengthen your physical fitness, but also allow you to take your energy control to a higher level.
The Isu are very good at this kind of biological transformation. They performed similar universal transformation on ancient humans 70,000 years ago in that world.
You've seen the real thing, and I think that puts you at ease.
Now, lie down!
Damn it!
No need to take off your pants!
Stop swinging that thing around, it's annoying to look at!"
"What's wrong with you today?"
Zha Kang snorted, took off his shirt and lay down in the bio-capsule. He watched Mason put three syringes into the sophisticated equipment and asked suspiciously:
"You seem to be very irritable. Is it related to this mission? You should at least reveal some information in advance so that I can be prepared."
"You just need to lie in there quietly, and you will be fully strengthened in twelve hours."
Mason glanced at the perceptive fellow, wondering why he was always so amazing at predicting danger, then smiled gently and said:
"As for the mission, don't worry about it. It's not a big deal. We can discuss it in detail after you become a superhuman when you get there."
After saying that, Mason activated the bio-capsule. As three syringes pierced into Zha Kang's blood vessels at the same time, the smoke vaporized from the life and death water that caused the powerful coma was also filled into the entire bio-capsule.
Zha Kang made an OK gesture with a playful smile and soon fell into a deep sleep.
Mason hadn't lied to him.
The reinforcements used for him were carefully prepared by Mason, and the effect is absolutely good, which can effectively improve Zha Kang's combat effectiveness and survivability.
However, this super soldier serum has a notorious "side effect".
It will magnify human desires, the good the better, and the bad the worse. Judging from Zha Kang's living habits, after it takes effect, it will probably make this guy more dissolute and cunning at the same time.
It's not like he'll fall into darkness and become a villain like the Red Skull.
Zha Kang is just a scumbag.
Although there is a lot of darkness in his heart, he has spent the first half of his life fighting these things in his own way. Mason is not worried that he will become a big villain after being strengthened.
He just vaguely felt that the on-and-off relationship between Kang and his ex-girlfriend Zuckerberg would become more bumpy because of this...but what does that have to do with him, a spectator?
If Zha Kang wants it, just give it to him. He can just bear the subsequent troubles himself.
Mason put the bio-capsule into the suitcase and walked out of the basement to check the status of the members.
Needless to say, the second barrel.
The pastime of "doing justice" in Gotham last night and beating a bunch of unlucky guys into pieces made this killer's face full of smiles, and he was in a much happier mood, as if he had been resurrected with full blood.
He still had a bandage on his hand, but there was a box sitting under his butt.
There was the "birthday gift" that Mason had given him. Ertong was very satisfied with this set of Isu Vanguard Armor. He wished he could spawn two Cleaner Bio-Soldiers in front of him right now so that he could practice.
The Kite Man and Captain Jack were very resentful. They had just returned from drilling through a hole in the Hogwarts world, and were covered in dust and dirt, and now they had to set off again without even two days' rest.
But these two guys are really efficient.
They got enough palladium for Mason from the abandoned atomic energy research institute to last for a long time, and they have made an atomic battery according to the specifications given by Dr. Otto.
This was enough time for Mason's Fenrir armor to activate and fight at full strength.
Barbara was also in a good mood.
Although I spent three thrilling days in the assassin world, I had a good rest last night. Before coming here, I found Judy who was hanging out in the Iceberg Bar and upgraded several hacking programs for her. Now I am ready to do something big.
"Barbara, is Selena okay?"
Mason asked.
"It's OK. She can walk on her own."
Batgirl is sitting in a wheelchair pretending to be paralyzed. She smiles and says:
"I left Judy there to take care of her, and both of them are quite satisfied with it. Lady Elizabeth and Angelina will also help take care of her. If anything happens here, they will immediately send Selena and Judy to Peter's world.
That's our 'safe house'."
"Very good. That's good."
Mason nodded and took out the sword Alice left by Mr. Hunter. As soon as he took it out, Ertong, who was very fond of and knowledgeable about cold weapons, immediately lit up his eyes.
He saw at a glance that this was a peerless sword.
"Well, I'll leave it to you for now."
Mason handed Alice to the second barrel with both hands and said:
"It's a 'mission item' lent to us by a big shot. You're the only one among us who can fight in close combat. We'll all see how you perform when the time comes."
"no problem."
Ertong agreed readily, grasped the handle of the knife and pulled it out a little. A cold and gloomy aura instantly enveloped the surroundings, causing Captain Jack, who was smoking a cigarette, to turn his gaze over.
The superstitious pirate squinted his eyes and said in a mysterious voice:
"There is a terrible hatred on this blade that is almost solidified. Don't pull it out, Jason. I have heard of many such things on the sea. Once this dangerous magic knife is unsheathed and does not drink blood, it will be very troublesome.
It obviously still doesn't obey you, maybe we need a ritual, ask Zha Kang for some holy water or something."
"Stop selling your three hundred year old ghost stories. This isn't some evil creature. It just has a bad temper."
Ertong put the precious sword back into the scabbard, stroked the handle of the precious sword as if he were caressing his wife, and said:
"It's a pity that it's borrowed. If I could buy it..."
“It’s not impossible actually.”
Mason stroked his chin and said:
"If we do a good job and curry favor with the big shots, we might be able to apply to keep it in Team K's permanent collection.
Anyway, that big shot has plenty of spare weapons.
But that's all for the future, everyone get ready to go, I'll explain the specific mission details after it's over."
Mason gave everyone a few minutes to move around and arrange their household chores.
Especially Barbara has to report her itinerary to Director Gordon again, otherwise she will be scolded for being away from home every day.
But according to Barbara, her father seemed to be very busy these days. When he ran out after work, he still smelled of perfume.
It is very likely that he is secretly renewing his old relationship with a certain doctor who appears cold on the outside but is warm-hearted on the inside.
Gordon was also very happy that his daughter brought a friend back with her last time. He felt that this was because Barbara's knot in her heart was finally untied and she started a new life.
Although Gordon didn't have a very good feeling about the cool girl with tattoos all over her body.
The veteran policeman's decades of experience working in Gotham City made him feel that there was something indescribable about the girl named Judy.
Mason also planned to communicate with Poison Ivy about the arrangements for the next few days. He estimated that he would be gone for at least five days. Poison Ivy could take care of the potion field in the Forbidden Forest, but leaving Harley alone in Gotham was obviously not a good plan.
He planned to let Harry go to the Iceberg Bar to help Mrs. Elizabeth for a few days.
Anyway, with her excellent and outstanding appearance and the fact that she has learned dancing, there is absolutely no problem for her to play the role of a dancer.
But just as Mason picked up the phone, it suddenly vibrated. He squinted his eyes when he saw the number, then quietly left the room and picked up the ice cream Harley had left for him. He answered the phone and put it to his ear, saying:
"Bruce? What's going on?"
"Mason..."
Batman's voice came from the other end of the line.
The man's voice was filled with fatigue, which was rare. The master said in a hoarse voice:
"We need to talk."
Mason's heart skipped a beat.
He said tentatively:
"About what?"
"About your organization, about your secret base under Miller Port, about Selina, about this world, and about the unknown event that is about to happen."
The master is not pretending anymore.
He said bluntly in a showdown tone:
“We have observed some bad signs at the Watchtower Space Station. The space distortion has reached a very dangerous level, but even Doctor Fate, who can see through time, can’t tell the truth.
My instinct tells me that maybe I can get the answer from you.
I've been waiting for you to speak up, and I think that would show my trust in you, but time is running out, so would you be willing to share some news with me?
Or I'll ask a different question."
Batman paused, and the master said in a more serious tone:
" Can I trust you in this situation, Mason?"
"You should ask if you can trust Selina."
Mason also breathed a sigh of relief.
Although he had already prepared himself mentally for the master to discover his secret, when the moment actually came, he would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous.
After thinking for a moment, he replied:
"I have an urgent mission now. I cannot tell you the content, but it should be related to what you just observed. Selina will stay in Gotham. She was injured in the last mission.
I'll tell her to tell you what you want to know. If it's convenient, you can come back to Gotham.
But Bruce, this is something only you know!"
Mason stressed:
“The Assassin’s League is not the only partner they have found in this world. Although the identities of other forces cannot be determined at present, I am sure that there are their partners around us.
Even in the Justice League...
I'm not trying to sow discord.
But you should understand that the fewer people who know about this, the better. And if you really want me to give us a definition, I would be happy to tell you that we are undercover agents sent into each other's territory by this world.
The deeper we go, the more you will know.
So back to your question, can you trust us? I don't know, and I can't give you a definite answer, but we have seen different apocalypses with our own eyes.
I am sure that everything my friends and I are doing now is an attempt to reverse the coming of a tragic doomsday in this world.
Selina wouldn't want you and Damian to go through what she saw.
This is the only response I can give you right now.”
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a long time, and then Batman's hoarse voice sounded again. He said:
"Stop using the BatNetwork. Cyborg has placed a listening device deep in the data infrastructure. Keep a low profile in Gotham. The Watchtower has a program monitoring the area 24 hours a day."
"Thanks, Bruce."
Mason smiled.
He knew that the master did not completely trust him.
It is impossible for Batman to completely trust someone, but the old man's answer shows that he is willing to accept Mason's statement.
With his habit of preparing for any bad thing in advance, he knows better than anyone in the Justice League the strategic advantages that Team K can bring by hiding in the Star Society.
So he made the same choice as the old Green Goblin.
He stood on the side of Team K.
Of course, this is only temporary.
Mason calmed himself down and dialed Selina's number again. After listening to what had just happened, Catwoman's voice was a little shaky.
She complained:
"You're taking too much risk, Mason. Maybe Bruce is just trying to keep you steady. Maybe Superman and Wonder Woman will be at your doorstep in the next second."
"I'm still here, and they haven't shown up, which means the master is at least willing to give us a chance to defend ourselves."
Mason walked to the window, ate his ice cream, opened the blinds and looked out. Not seeing the big boy from Kansas and the Valkyrie of Olympus descending on Crime Alley made him not so pessimistic.
He said to Catwoman:
“You don’t have to think too much, Selina.
When Bruce comes back, answer whatever he asks you. You don't have to hide anything or say anything good for me. But remember about the soul curse and don't reveal too many inside secrets of the Star Society.
I think with your intelligence, you can find a way to talk to Bruce without triggering the curse, and the world's number one detective will definitely understand our difficulties."
"You really hurt me."
Catwoman snorted.
The elder sister sighed and said in a long voice:
"I'm going to be at a disadvantage in the war with him now, and it's all your fault! But I can't go with you this time, so you must take good care of yourself and them, okay?"
