Ch.363 Leopard Won

The deal had been made. As someone hired for the job, she was far more reliable than Constantine, at least until they faced some cosmic demon directly.

"Can I ask why you're investigating this?" Albera asked as she adjusted her coat, placing various magical items into its inner pockets. "From what I can tell, neither of you has a trace of magic in you, but you do have a bunch of artifacts."

"Curious about the employer's identity?" Su Ming walked out of the room first, the wooden floor creaking under his feet.

"Naturally. If I'm hired by an emissary of the gods, I could add that to my advertisement later." She took a drag from her cigarette, speaking nonchalantly as a lock of golden hair swayed before her eyes.

"But that kind of advertisement is too outrageous. Ordinary people wouldn't believe it; instead, they'd think you were bragging." Su Ming offered a different perspective.

"Ha, good point." Albera nudged Diana out of her office, locking the door behind her, and gave Su Ming an approving nod.

More self-mockery than agreement.

At least she'd been using demonic power to do some good in recent years, but ironically, no one believed in those deeds.

Until people saw a demon with their own eyes, they wouldn't believe demons existed. Yet they believed in God. Had anyone ever seen God?

"Actually, you're trying to determine our identity so you can judge what kind of crisis you'll be facing later, right?" Su Ming said softly. "If we're errand runners for the magic community, then you only need to prepare for a few minor demons. But if we're divine emissaries, you might have to consider a global crisis."

"Pretty much," Albera admitted openly, her attitude unflustered even though her intentions had been exposed. "But it's not like we haven't faced world crises before. Doesn't the Justice League handle like a dozen world-ending situations every year?"

Diana's expression softened slightly. At least someone acknowledged the Justice League's contributions.

However, the mage's next words nearly made Diana lose her temper. Albera, swaying as she walked down the stairs, said to Su Ming, "If I were as rich as them, I'd be maintaining world peace too. But I still have to eat, hahaha."

Diana looked ready to punch the mage, and Su Ming quickly blocked her. Things were still uncertain, and an internal fight wasn't a good start.

Albera noticed the irritation from the cloaked woman, but instead of backing down, she added fuel to the fire. "Your girl's having a fit. She's shaking all over. I think it's epilepsy; you'd better not take her to bed."

"Huff... huff..." Diana took several deep breaths to calm herself, taking off her hood to reveal her face and her starry tiara.

She glared at the mage, trying to compel her to apologize with just her gaze.

But Albera only looked her up and down, half-dead yet nodding. "So, the Amazonian Queen, huh? Wanna hook up?"

"???"

Diana glanced at Su Ming, bewildered. She didn't quite understand what that meant.

Albera flicked the ash from her cigarette, leading them into the basement where she had rented a small space and set up a magic circle.

"I'm asking if you want to sleep with me. We could have some fun with women's toys."

"!!!"

Diana understood now but had absolutely no interest. She was straight—straight as steel.

Even though it was quite common among Amazons—many of her sisters were in relationships with each other—Diana just couldn't accept it for herself.

She had close relationships with some girls, but it never meant anything like that.

Just like Harley—despite always hugging and kissing other women and sharing beds, Harley was also straight.

"No, I'm not interested," Diana refused immediately, though she found it hard to be too angry.

After all, the other party was a woman and at least acknowledged her attractiveness, didn't she?

Thinking this, Diana stole a glance at Su Ming, but his expression remained as impassive as always. That strange nano-whatever thing made it impossible to read his emotions.

Albera shrugged indifferently, cigarette still in her mouth, signaling them to join her in the magic circle.

"Your loss. You don't know how great I am." She sighed in mock regret, though her tone betrayed no real remorse. "How about you? Batman, interested in dating and getting married?"

"Oh? That's quite the leap," Su Ming chuckled; clearly, she had mistaken him for someone else.

Albera pursed her lips into a smile. "We both live hard lives. Two broken people together might be nice. Plus, you're rich."

"So, it's Batman's superpower that interests you, huh?" Su Ming shook his head, patting his chest. Stranglehold seeped into the seams of his armor like a tide washing over a beach, revealing his black-and-yellow uniform. "Too bad, you've got the wrong guy."

Albera's cigarette fell from her mouth. First, she suspected she was under some illusion, and then she started doubting her entire existence.

She thought that the one walking around with Wonder Woman, spending money lavishly and seeing into people's hearts, would be Batman. But how could it be Deathstroke?

A mercenary. A top-level assassin.

She rubbed her temples, feeling the effects of her drink. Ever since the Source Wall exploded last month, had the world changed this much?

The most justice-oriented Wonder Woman with the darkest assassin, seemingly in a good relationship... too crazy.

Her expression grew serious, her eyes narrowing.

As a mage and a believer in the theory of the occult, she knew that if too many incomprehensible things happened in a short time, it meant trouble for everyone.

Meanwhile, in Maryland, Zatanna had arrived at Winters Manor, where she could see Baron Winters welcoming the previous guests from afar.

It was the Witch Boy and Morgan.

Klarion the Witch Boy was a powerful sorcerer whose allegiance often aligned with that of the Underworlders, making him at least Zatanna's enemy.

As for Morgan le Fay, nothing needed to be said. Arthur's half-sister, Queen Morgan, was never one to underestimate. Her golden mask and arsenal of magical artifacts made her extremely dangerous—an enemy of the Justice League.

"If I were you, I wouldn't go in there." The metallic click of a lighter sounded from behind. In the darkness, a man emerged. "Darling, that's not a place for us."

Zatanna turned, unsurprised by who she saw.

"Constantine, you piece of garbage. I can't get rid of you, can I?"

"I drew your teleportation circle, darling. Your reversal spells aren't working, and the portal has to pass through the Astral Plane where the House of Mystery resides. What do you think?" Constantine smiled smugly, sitting on the hood of a random car.

Zatanna glared at him. "Baron Winters guaranteed there wouldn't be any conflicts today. Everyone inside is one of our kind."

"Ha? I don't think I'm the same kind as a blue-skinned goblin, a snake-warlock, or a toad-mage," Constantine scoffed nasally, smacking his lips and spitting on the curb.

"The Baron welcomes all casters." Zatanna was done wasting words. The meeting was starting soon; she had to attend to learn about the current situation.

Constantine could either follow or leave.

"Except me. Ever since I burned three people alive in his parlor, I have to disarm at least twenty magical traps just to enter." Constantine shook his head, making it clear he wasn't going in and suggesting she shouldn't either. "You don't need to waste time. Demons and angels under one roof? They won't agree on anything."

But Zatanna barely heard his last point; what registered were the three people burned alive, those flames still vivid in her memory.

"You've always been a total asshole, haven't you?" Zatanna cursed at Constantine. If her magic wasn't failing, she'd definitely teach him a lesson. "One of those three was my father!"

"So... we're done?" Constantine scratched his head, dandruff scattering visibly under the streetlight.

"Because you tricked my father into facing some extraterrestrial demon? Then abandoned them, letting them turn to ash in agony?" Zatanna shook her head in disappointment. She had once loved this vagrant, but not killing him now was the most compassion she could muster. "Yes, we're done."

With that, she turned towards the manor. The Baron had spotted her and stepped out to welcome her.

He also noticed Constantine, sending his pet leopard, Merlin, to drive away the scoundrel.

Constantine didn't want to be mauled by a big cat, so he left quietly.

In truth, those three who burned had willingly sacrificed themselves. To seal an extradimensional demon, they had paid the price with their lives.

The seal succeeded. The fallen were heroes; the one who lived was the villain.

Four had started the ritual together. The other three, all more powerful mages than Constantine, had perished. Why did Constantine survive?

It had to be because he tricked them!

In reality, Constantine survived not because he ran, but because he needed to stay alive to complete the ritual, one that only he could conduct with the demonic blood within him.

Everything had happened. There was no need for him to explain. The mental and physical agony were his burden. And whenever he found any happiness, a whole host of demons from Hell would come for it.

It was better like this. Better than Zatanna being swarmed by endless demons while her powers were gone.

Constantine took a drag from his cigarette, glaring at the leopard. His hell-magic hadn't failed. Now, he was far stronger than the Baron.

The leopard stared back fearlessly, watching him walk off into the distant darkness.

Constantine walked briskly down the street, muttering curses under his breath and glancing back occasionally.

He wouldn't use magic, but that didn't mean he couldn't or wouldn't. He knew a hundred ways to kill a familiar, even one named Merlin.

But valuable resources should be used wisely; he had other matters to attend to—Batman's orders.

For now, he'd let the damn leopard win.