Chapter 229: Views Part 1

As the news regarding the claimed HS attack spread across the globe, it reached an in-transit Batman and co, who were currently in his Jet making their way back to the U.S.

The only person who had already left in advance was The Flash, for obvious reasons concerning Kid Flash as soon as the news regarding his death had broken.

Having initially gone to Markov in hopes of tracing a lead by shadowing Arias's movements, Batman and the small team he took were unable to uncover anything aside from traces the light purposefully planted to further support the existence of the HS group and mask the real operations going on in Markov.

Despite Batman finding said evidence, it was purposely created in such a way that it would provide clues to lead them elsewhere, sometimes even other actual crime operations, other times emptied bunkers with even more signs and clues of the HS group having been there.

It was a simple strategy that would eventually cease to work as Batman would sooner or later build a large collection of clues that would reveal that he was simply on a wild goose chase.

At that point, he'd also question whether the HS group was even real.

But, Arias didn't plan on ever letting things get that far. Even if he did, he always made sure to keep a few problematic events rising to keep Batman and the league busy.

So hearing this news, Black Canary, who sat in a seat just behind Batman's, couldn't help but comment, "This doesn't make any sense, did we miss something?"

Having combed through as many routes as they could into Markov in search of clues for the HS group, Black Canary found it hard to believe that an attack of that scale was launched without them finding a single clue to suggest it was coming.

Batman, although having been silent much of the flight, also felt the same. From the time the news reached them, he kept processing the clues in his mind trying to see some sort of connection.

But his instincts kept settling him on a single conclusion.

"It must be a great ploy. Arias Markovic could have staged this whole thing so that his adoptive daughter could ascend to the throne." Batman suggested, but he also had doubts about this point, he only stated it to get a non-biased perspective on the point since he very much had a clouded and suspicious view of Arias.

Hearing the suggestion, Black Canary who had considered the point already, quickly shook her head.

"That wouldn't make sense either. Princess Tara turns 18 in a year, so even if Arias Markovic was in a hurry to make her Queen, there'd be no point in rushing it to this extent. I also don't see what he'd gain from it that he didn't already have before giving up his billions… supposedly." She theorized.

Arias's movements and actions made it incredibly difficult to accurately predict his actions and or goals.

He had reached a stage where he possessed influence that could rival minor religious figures, his wealth was among the world's elite, he possessed powerful meta-human abilities, and showed that he could even take down Superman, but despite all this, he didn't seem to pursue personal power but rather spread what he felt was a better life to others.

Hence Batman saw him as an extremist and not inherently bad. Even Superman, no matter how much he hated Arias's way of doing things, couldn't see Arias in the same light as some sadistic villains like the Joker.

Because of this image that Arias had so neatly crafted, he could not only build his foundation but also seek to taint that of the league itself, without them being any wiser.

Destruction was easy, but careful assimilation where the most benefits could gained was far from a simple ask, and yet it was already in motion.

Just as Batman and Canary were discussing this issue, Superman and Martian Manhunter were doing the same on an island in an unknown location.

There, Superman could be seen hovering above the said island as he watched his many robots work efficiently toward the construction of a new base for the Justice League.

As J'onn oversaw this construction, news reached them as well of what transpired in Markov.

Having not yet been over the death of Green Lantern and Kid Flash, Superman was not in the mood to hear any news regarding the person who humiliated him on more than one occasion.

Not even for a second did Superman believe that Arias was hurt, such a thought was wishful thinking to him.

But as Arias's name was brought up, Superman couldn't help but remember his most recent beating. He had long since been suspicious of his attacker in Metropolis being Arias but he could never settle on this point, for the same reason as Batman.

It didn't fit the profile Arias had built. Arias had the opportunity to kill not only Superman but other members of the league before when they attempted to capture him, however, he had surrendered to avoid risking the lives of children, beating up Superman only later and even then not killing him.

Although many other factors could be considered, they didn't provide much proof of Arias being more than just a meta-human extremist with a deep care for children.

This was an actual government profile made on him, with many thinking he was this way because of the psychological trauma he faced as a child.

All in all, it was quite comical, and until the day Arias blatantly killed innocent people in front of their eyes, it was unlikely they would see the truth.

Especially since most were starting to accept him as a necessary evil. He was beyond their ability to contain and control, but his actions often bettered the lives of many, even if at times extreme.