Ch.318 A.R.G.U.S.

Detroit, once the abandoned automotive capital, has seen slow recovery since the Metal Event, as if all of America has forgotten about it. The divine power of Merciless flattened this place, and when Su Ming arrived here to help Diana, it was nothing but ruins.

Even now, it's not much better. Burnt-out cars and shattered bricks still dominate most of the city.

There are few people left; this city is dying.

Yet some people like such places—quiet, empty, with no disturbances.

A new complex has been rebuilt on the outskirts of the city, the first in a sequence of reconstruction projects. Alongside it is a quasi-military zone with two regiments of rapid response troops stationed around it.

Here, one can see various new weapons and equipment, with patrols ongoing 24/7.

The above-ground buildings are just a facade, while the real core operations lie underground.

An enormous fortress, using 800 million tons of steel and alloy, functions as a nuclear shelter. After the old headquarters was destroyed, those in charge have been pondering how to defend against divine powers.

Unfortunately, they have no answer. How does one fight against gods?

Let's rewind time a bit, back to when Su Ming and Barry were eating.

During that time, in an underground command room in Detroit, a woman stood sternly before a wall full of screens, listening to reports from her subordinates.

"The object has landed in the Nevada desert, close to the Air Force testing range. We deployed troops, but they encountered resistance from the Justice League."

"Energy analysis complete—this is a type of energy we've never seen before, and its sheer magnitude is unlike anything we've encountered."

"The Justice League has started driving out our troops. Their magic users have hidden the object, and our forces may have even had their memories tampered with."

"Ma'am, the White House and the United Nations are awaiting your report."

A series of adverse reports echoed in the command room, but the woman remained impassive, arms crossed, unwavering.

She was a true patriot, never trusting these superpowered individuals.

She was speculating about the nature of that giant, head-like object—where it came from and what purpose it might serve.

Could it be the key to unlocking superpowers for everyone? Or perhaps a powerful weapon?

If it were, then the country needed it. Humanity needed it. They couldn't let the Justice League get ahead; she had to take action.

The woman lowered her hands, gripping the railing in front of her as she addressed the personnel, her gaze devoid of emotion.

"Report to the President and the Security Council that everything is proceeding smoothly. Suggest that they initiate inquiries against the Justice League—use any means to stall them, whether through meetings, phone calls, or even in-person visits. Any method will do."

She turned and left the command room, returning to her office. There, she opened a secret compartment on her desk, entered a series of codes, and retrieved a device that looked like a briefcase.

Opening the briefcase, she revealed a screen displaying two rows of photos, all showing offline status in red.

In the dark room, the screen's glow lit up the woman's face, her dark skin making her appear almost demonic.

She pulled a key from her pocket, inserted it into a slot on the case, turned it, and then typed a series of commands into the keyboard.

All the photo frames turned green, indicating that the bombs had been activated.

She picked up the phone on her desk and dialed a number. Without any greetings or hesitation, she gave an order: "Assemble the squad, fully armed. You have a mission."

Harley was in her cell, absentmindedly brushing her hair. After the Metal Event, she thought she'd be free once she got off the "Christmas tree."

She could return to her home in New York and continue being a landlord.

However, Poison Ivy reminded her that the bomb in her head was controlled by a global satellite, and any attempt to remove it would result in an explosion.

Of course, there were people who could disarm it, like Cyborg or the Atom, who could easily remove such a bomb.

But Harley didn't want to beg them. Apart from Bruce and Diana, she wasn't close to anyone in the Justice League.

The U.S. government had already considered her their property, and Batman wouldn't face government scrutiny just for her sake.

She might be a bit crazy, but she wasn't stupid. The Justice League's claim to justice meant they lacked the courage to oppose human society or act against mainstream values.

She was a psychologist; she saw through them clearly.

So she returned, voluntarily surrendering to Amanda Waller, and ended up locked up again.

But given her good behavior, Amanda had granted her some privileges: an espresso machine, a few comic books, and a comb with a mirror in her cell.

These items were things a dangerous prisoner like Harley wouldn't typically have—unlike Killer Croc in the next cell, who only had a filthy pool.

He always ate in the water, devouring raw cows and sheep, making the water stink like Gotham's sewers. The stench often wafted through the bars into her cell, though she kind of missed the smell, ha ha.

After breaking up with the Joker, she had fallen into a depression. At least before, she had voices in her head to keep her company, but now even that voice was gone.

She was utterly bored and hoped Red would stage a jailbreak soon, taking her out for a ride, maybe to buy something.

She didn't care if the bomb in her head might go off; she just wanted to get out.

She lay sprawled on her bunk, flipping through a comic book with her legs in the air. Then, she heard the sound of an electronic door opening down the hallway.

She flipped over quickly, grinning ear to ear, licking her lips. Sure enough, a guard soon opened her cell door.

"Crazy lady, time to go."

Soon, Harley found herself in the briefing room with her teammates—Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, and other inmates, along with government representatives like Rick Flag and Katana.

The ever-unhinged Enchantress had left the squad and joined the Dark Justice League.

Another "Justice," Harley mused, feeling a bit exasperated. But then the sight of that nauseatingly smug, overweight woman entering the room made her stomach churn.

"Suicide Squad, new mission: An alien object has fallen into the Nevada desert. Our intel suggests it's protected by some kind of force, and the Justice League is planning to leave the area. I need you to investigate what it is, and if possible, bring it back."

The woman gave her orders, casually flashing a more portable tablet, reminding them, as always, that their lives were in her hands.

Harley blew a bubble with her gum, playing with her hair and rolling her eyes to the ceiling. Amanda, the fat witch, always made it sound easy. She wasn't the one who had to face Superman.

She was already zoning out, dreaming of her days of freedom.