Chapter 162: A Gift Part 1

Arias's plane took off shortly after Rose came back, marking the second time in just a few days that she had shot down the Man of Steel himself. As they sat in the plane, she had many questions she wanted to ask but stopped herself.

Arias noticed the questioning gazes she gave him and turned to face her, a smirk decorating his face as he spoke. "You seem stressed. Craving release so soon?" he teased.

Rose immediately turned away from him, denying the accusation. "Of course not! I'm just thinking... about stuff. You're the one who wants to get hot and heavy with his bodyguard."

Her words caused Arias to look at her at an angle, his smile still present. "I'm quite sure you'd enjoy the experience as well. Why don't you—"

Before Arias could say any more, his satellite phone buzzed again, and he sighed before picking it up. Meanwhile, Rose looked both relieved and disappointed.

"Hello?" he answered nonchalantly, curious about who was calling him now.

**[Uh, Mr. Markovic?]**

"Barbara?" Arias asked, raising a brow in confusion. Of all the people he suspected would call, she wasn't even on the list.

**[Uh, yeah. I'm sorry for using the Leviathan network to track you, but I had no other way of reaching you,]** Barbara explained in a somewhat worried tone.

"It's fine. I assume you had a good reason to call and didn't just miss me?" Arias leaned back into his seat, teasing the girl.

**[I didn't miss you like that, you know. Like, normally the whole city misses you and—ugh, we're getting off track. I wanted to tell you that I think some of the students here are spies from other organizations or countries, here to either recruit or something else,]** she revealed, urgency in her voice.

Arias pondered the situation for a moment before replying in a calm tone. "That's always been within the realm of possibility. But I suppose with my absence, some people may choose to be bolder. Alright, then consider this your assignment. I want a list of all the double agents in the academy and who they work for."

**[What? You mean me? Alone? I mean, I can... it's manageable, but just asking to be sure...]**

"Yes, you. You're free to incorporate any help you might need. I trust you can do this?" he questioned in a doubting tone.

This made Barbara agree all the more enthusiastically.

**[Of course I can. I could have that list in a week.]**

"A week it is then," Arias replied and cut the call, before looking back at Rose. She looked at him but narrowed her gaze, clearly worried.

Without saying a word, Arias stood up and began walking toward her.

"What? Oh, come on... wait, I swear I'm on my period... look, the pilot will hear us. Okay, at least let me freshen up, I'm still sweaty. Aw geez..."

---

Meanwhile, back at the airport in Markovia, after Bruce heard from the other group that Superman had flown toward the airport, he and the other League members rushed over. What they found shook them—or at least, some of them.

"Again? That's twice in one week," Green Lantern commented while hovering in the air, scanning for enemies.

Batman walked over, checked Superman's breathing, and sighed before turning to Martian Manhunter. "Get him into the jet. Good thing we prepared for this after last time."

The Flash sped onto the scene after scouting the entire interior of the airport. "Inside's clear. Wow, he got shot again? I know the bullet's dangerous, but can't he, like... y'know?" Flash asked while zooming his head left and right at immense speed.

Green Lantern nodded in agreement. "That's a good point, actually. Maybe he was just caught off guard."

"With super hearing and x-ray vision? Not a chance," Green Arrow shook his head and walked over to Batman. "What aren't you telling us?"

Batman kept a stoic expression and just walked over to the jet. "Nothing important," he answered in a distant tone.

This made Green Arrow angry, but Flash zoomed in front of him. "Easy there, greenie. Don't let Bats get to you. He's, uh... what's the word?"

As if on cue, Kid Flash quickly answered, "Edgy?"

The Flash nodded. "Yeah, edgy. You know—dark, brooding, and serious, minus the makeup..."

Batman looked back at Flash with narrowed eyes, causing him to frown and feign ignorance. "What?"

Batman said nothing and just boarded the jet along with the other members present. All while Flash shrugged in confusion, "Why are you guys ignoring me? You know I'm right."

---

At the same time, in the mountainous headquarters of the League of Assassins, Ra's al Ghul was seated on a lone throne with a tablet in his hands. On it was a video of what had transpired at the airport, including the footage of the League retrieving Superman's body.

The feed soon ended and was replaced by Vandal Savage's stern expression as he spoke. "Arias Markovic's plan was a success. His daughter, Terra, is the only direct descendant left and will ascend the throne in the coming months. By then, the Light will control much of the meta-human population. All other members have since expressed their support, except you. You did so even before this, which is unlike you, Ra's. What do you know?"

Ra's wasn't intimidated in the least by Vandal Savage and just shook his head. "What I know is of no benefit to you or the Light. Unless you're worried he is more suited to lead the Light's operations than you?"

Vandal Savage quickly dismissed this notion. "Of course not. I made the Light what it is today. Without me, there is no Light."

"Maybe so. It's too early to judge someone based on one performance alone. For now, I'll continue to observe," Ra's replied before cutting the call.

He then slouched back and sighed. His daughter, Talia, soon walked to his side with worry. "Father, we must move to the new home. Lady Shiva tells me it is nearing completion and the Lazarus Pit is ready," she urged.

However, Ra's shook his head. "I know my body best. I'm still more than well enough. More importantly..." he trailed off while looking toward Talia, who nodded and looked into the distance of the seemingly empty hall before speaking. "Cheshire."

In the next moment, a figure appeared from the shadows above and landed near the throne, kneeling before Ra's and Talia.

The figure was a young female assassin with a slender build, wearing a dark green-colored kimono with shreds and rips along it. The kimono was tied around her waist, ending just above her knees, with black knee-high boots below.

Her face was hidden behind a white mask resembling a cat's head with red stripes and a wide grin. "You called?" she respectfully asked, bowing her head.

Ra's gave a subtle nod and spoke. "Yes, you have been chosen to be the bearer of a gift I wish to send to a new ally. This person is very dangerous and cunning, better to have as a friend than a foe, which makes this task I am granting you all the more important."

Cheshire kept her head lowered and responded in agreement. "I will carry out the wishes of the Demon's Head. What gift must I deliver?"

Ra's maintained his unfeeling demeanor and answered, "Yourself. You will accept and respect him as your new master, in mind, body, and soul. Should my predictions prove correct, then this is for the future of the League."

Cheshire went silent for a moment and once again agreed, though somewhat hesitantly. "I will carry out the wishes of the Demon's Head."

Ra's could see the doubts lingering in her mind and spoke clearly. "If you are to accept him as your master, his words are absolute, and mine are obsolete. Should you refuse, by failure to comply with your oath, you will be slain but will die as my disciple. Choose your destiny."

Cheshire went silent again, as if in thought, before asking, "What is the name of my new master?"

Ra's nodded toward Talia, who handed a tablet to Cheshire with an image on it before revealing, "His name is Arias Markovic."