Chapter 203: The True Arias Markovic Part 1

"What?!"

Diana's voice echoed through the room as she expressed immense shock. This also drew the attention of Mercy and Harley, who stopped fighting and came to the lounge immediately, with Harley taking the initiative to ask, "What's going on here?"

Arias looked their way and gestured for them to come over. "Nice of you two to finally join us. Are you done bickering?"

"She started it! I was just pointing out the obvious," Harley quickly defended, pinning the entire blame on Mercy.

Mercy, of course, was about to retaliate, but Arias spoke up before she could. "Forget I asked, just sit down."

Hearing Arias's words, Mercy frowned but didn't object. Meanwhile, Harley looked at her with a childish, mocking expression and hopped onto an empty chair. The only one still standing was Diana, hands placed firmly on her waist in a grand pose. Arias chose to continue without commenting.

"Well, the reason I gathered you all here today is to let you know that as of today, I am formally cutting ties with the Gotham Special Task Force, thereby making it an independent group."

Arias's words were not met with any large reaction. The current two members of the task force, Harley and Diana, both looked confused.

"What does that mean? Why must you leave?" Diana, still unaware of the intricacies behind some decisions, simply saw Arias's words as him leaving.

To answer her question, Arias met her gaze and replied, "It means that I will no longer play any part in the Task Force's affairs. With the Justice League currently under investigation, they can't operate with the freedom they once had. As a result, the danger of rising crime is imminent. To combat this, the Task Force will fill the void the League left. But to do so without issue or controversy, I must separate myself from it."

Arias purposefully chose to word it this way to avoid complaints from Diana, as she was most in the dark about his true activities. With the League currently reeling from the blow Arias dealt them, he saw an opportune situation to take advantage of. Not wanting to reveal the true details, he mixed some half-truths into his words, adding, "In these hard times, the world needs a crutch to lean on and a symbol for the people to look up to. That's why I want you, Diana, to lead the Task Force and help it grow. It's a daunting task, I know, but Mercy will ensure you're adequately funded, and Slade—should he win the presidential elections—will ensure the government provides honest support."

On the surface, Arias's words sounded like a grand vision for the world in its current troubled state. In reality, it was another move to weave his web of deceit and manipulation. The true reason Arias wanted to separate himself from the Task Force and his company was simple: growth.

He knew it was impossible to truly play both sides of the spectrum—evil and good. To counter this, he needed a proxy, and Wonder Woman was the perfect candidate. The stage was already set for the Task Force to become greater than the Justice League in time. Funding was no issue, resources were abundant, a positive public image was present, and—most importantly—government backing was on its way through Slade. Like it or not, it was inevitable for the group to become the largest and most popular in time. And by putting Diana at the helm, Arias was confident she trusted him enough to do what was necessary for justice.

But despite this massive advantage Arias stood to gain, it wasn't even his primary goal for separating. By relinquishing his power and wealth, he would show the world that he wasn't greedy or power-hungry, only concerned for the people's welfare. In reality, his true desire was to operate in the shadows, pulling strings he couldn't from his current position. Wealth and power were redundant—he already possessed both. His goal now was biological assets...

Diana went silent for a bit, pondering Arias's words. She understood it was for the greater good, but she had one concern. "Does that mean we won't see you anymore?" she asked, not showing sadness but some degree of reluctance.

Even Harley seemed concerned. "Say it ain't so, Mr. M! Are the pigs trying to bust ya? We can take 'em!"

Arias shook his head. "No, you'll still see me, just not as often. For now, I'll be heading to Markovia as an international ambassador for meta-human and alien rights, working with various dignitaries to help children of the future avoid growing up in hostile environments."

Arias's honeyed words were fully believed by Diana. As for Harley, she didn't care much for the details and was content knowing Arias wasn't leaving due to trouble but business, which was normal. Mercy and Cheshire had their doubts, but since this didn't directly affect them, they remained silent.

Diana nodded at the explanation, her expression content and proud. "I see. Then I, too, will carry out my responsibilities with great pride. Your actions inspire me, Arias. You are truly a good man. I shall not let your faith in me be questioned!" Diana declared, feeling invigorated with a need… a need for justice!

Arias smiled, satisfied with her eagerness. "Good. I suggest you and Harley get some rest. Tomorrow, you'll need to hold press briefings to explain the situation to the world. I'll also participate via an interview. Mercy and Cheshire, stay behind; I still have some words for you."

Both Diana and Harley groaned upon hearing the words "press briefing."

"I really don't like those people with flashing cameras and pointless questions. Anyway, good night, friends. May the gods watch over you," Diana said, walking away with a frown at the thought of talking to the press.

Harley followed, dragging her feet. "I hear ya, it's tough being famous."

Soon, the two left the lounge, and Arias turned his attention to Mercy, who met his gaze and asked, "What is this really about? What are you planning now?"

Arias gave a small smile, not intending to share his full plans. "Many things, but you'll find out bit by bit. For now, I need you to arrange some things for me."

Mercy didn't like being kept in the dark, but she knew Arias wouldn't reveal more if he didn't want to. "Fine. What?"

...

After a long 30 minutes, a still-frowning Mercy had listed everything Arias mentioned. "I'm not even going to ask what you plan to do with all this, but I'll get it done. I knew that whole ambassador story was bullshit."

"Good. Make sure it's all ready on time, and fill Slade and Terra in on the circumstances. I'll need them to put up strong fronts for me," he instructed.

Mercy nodded casually. "Right. But you said you'll need supplies and accommodations for four people. Who's coming with you?"

Arias turned his head to Cheshire. "Her, for one. As for the other two…"