Multiverse: Deathstroke

Chapter 192: Ch.191 Business Deal

Chapter 192: Ch.191 Business Deal

"It's impossible! You're lying! Don't believe him!"

The senator shouted at Su Ming, and his last words were directed at the others around him.

No matter what, he couldn't be associated with Hydra.

BANG!

Su Ming fired another shot into the ceiling, reminding everyone that he was armed. The smell of gunpowder and the bits of debris falling from the ceiling reinforced that fact.

The senator quickly realized his predicament: his life was still in someone else's hands. Political life or human life—this was the real dilemma.

"Whether I'm lying or not, let Colonel Phillips check for himself," Su Ming graciously invited Phillips to examine the young man's body. Phillips signaled for Carter to do it, while he kept a wary eye on Su Ming.

"How do you prove he was Hydra?"

"He had a bomb and a remote on him. Federal officials don't typically carry those around, do they?" Su Ming responded. "Not to mention, he had a cyanide capsule and a Luger pistol."

Carter had already found the bomb disguised as a cigarette box on the body. She also discovered the weapon. While it wasn't enough to definitively prove he was Hydra, the dead man was clearly no ordinary individual.

Colonel Phillips shot a deep look at the senator. He mentally took note of this—bringing a spy into the SSR. Now he had leverage on the senator, which might come in handy for future funding and equipment shortages.

However, while discovering a spy was one thing, it didn't solve their immediate problem: the mercenary was still there and showed no sign of leaving.

"We can pay you," Phillips said, rubbing his large nose, his thick eyebrows furrowing. "Name a price and a method of exchange. Once you leave and we're safe, we'll transfer the money."

Su Ming shook his head, glancing down through the glass at the experiment below, where Steve was still screaming in agony.

"Sorry, I've already taken another job. My client specifically asked for the Super Soldier Serum. As a mercenary, I have to honor my commitments."

Of course, this was just an excuse. The serum was what Su Ming wanted, but not for himself. He had already undergone one enhancement procedure, and with the world's energy from the X-metal supporting him, he didn't need this little blue vial.

The key problem with the serum was that it made good people better and bad people worse—a truly terrifying side effect.

Su Ming wasn't sure whether he counted as good or bad, but he had no interest in becoming either better or worse. He just wanted to remain himself.

The atmosphere grew tense again. Neither Phillips nor Carter would ever hand over the serum, yet Su Ming made it clear that the serum was all he wanted. This was a problem.

The politicians standing against the pale gray concrete wall, hands over their mouths, shifted their gazes back and forth between the colonel and the man in armor. Then, they noticed Su Ming was looking at them.

"Why are you still here?" Su Ming asked.

"W-what? We can leave?"

The politicians were stunned. Leaving was an option?

Of course, they could leave. Su Ming didn't need hostages to deal with Captain America and Peggy Carter. Steve Rogers wasn't Batman, after all.

"We're leaving! Right now!"

The politicians, feeling as if they had been granted a pardon, quickly plastered on forced smiles and rushed toward the exit. They were already planning that once they got out of there, they would sprint down the street, laughing hysterically to relieve their terror.

Then, just like the absent Mr. Wilson, they'd take a vacation to Hawaii and relax.

"Wait."

Su Ming called them back, forcing them to suppress their urge to flee. They knew no matter how fast they ran, they wouldn't outrun bullets.

"Hehe, Mr. Deathstroke, is there something else?" Senator Brandt turned back, forcing a smile that looked worse than crying.

Su Ming rummaged in the pouch on his leg and pulled out a stack of business cards, handing one to each person.

"You've all seen my skills firsthand. I offer a ready-made Super Soldier at a fair price. In case you have any political enemies or dissenters in the future, you know who to call. I do clean work."

This wasn't about money; it was about something else.

Su Ming lacked a large, sophisticated intelligence network. The people working at his distillery were too low-level to gather anything more than street gossip.

But these people were different. Politicians had networks that could uncover very secretive information.

When they would inevitably hire Su Ming for a job, they'd provide information related to their assignments. The Marvel Universe was vast and deep, and Su Ming needed this intel to prepare for the future.

Perhaps one of these seemingly unremarkable clients might, unknowingly, hold the key to critical world-saving secrets. Without realizing it, they would become part of his intelligence network, helping Su Ming in the long run.

"Hehe, I have no political enemies. We're all working for the good of the country."

Brandt laughed nervously, shaking his head, but his hands were quick to stuff the business card into his suit pocket.

Su Ming chuckled. "Exactly. We're all working to make this country better."

The business card only had Su Ming's alias—Deathstroke—and the address of a fast-food joint. Anyone who recited the code on the card would be told by the staff to wait at the public phone across the street.

Once Su Ming confirmed that they were a legitimate client, he'd call the public phone from a secure location to discuss their business.

For now, it was a hassle, like spy rendezvous. But once the internet was invented, things would become much easier.

"Hehe, goodbye, Mr. Deathstroke."

"Hehe, take care. Watch out for the unconscious people outside. Don't trip over them—the streets are full of Hydra agents."

Colonel Phillips and Peggy Carter exchanged exasperated glances, watching Su Ming wave the politicians off as if they were old friends. Just moments ago, these people had nearly wet themselves, and now they were smiling like nothing had happened.

Looks like New York is going to become a lot more chaotic in the future.

But that wasn't their concern. The SSR only dealt with Hydra. City security was a job for the police.

They had their own problem to handle right now.

Su Ming turned and walked past Phillips and Carter without a second glance, leaving them standing there, tense and ready for action.

He descended the stairs from the observation room, timing it perfectly. Just then, the surrounding machines began sparking, as if they were on the verge of exploding.

Howard's equipment had malfunctioned. Again.

Su Ming couldn't help but think Howard must have been a gremlin engineer in a past life. His inventions always blew up. And when he eventually worked for S.H.I.E.L.D., his creations would become even more of a headache.

Su Ming strode over to the equipment, pulled out the last vial of serum from the box, and stashed it in his prepared bag. Then he looked over at the stunned Dr. Erskine and knocked him out with a single punch.

By the time Carter had rushed out of the observation room, Su Ming had already acted. His movements were too fast for any normal person to keep up with.

But what could she do even if she caught up? He was impervious to bullets, terrifyingly skilled in combat, and incredibly strong. Sure, the government officials were gone, but the scientists were still hostages.

Sizzle, pop!

As the intense light dimmed, Howard Stark turned around. The experiment had finished, though he wasn't sure how successful it had been. Still, he pressed the button to open the chamber's hatch.