Multiverse: Deathstroke

Chapter 255: Ch.254 Being Hunted

Chapter 255: Ch.254 Being Hunted

After sending away the street patrol, the three of them couldn't just stay hidden in the alley forever. Rather than imperfect concealment, it would be better to casually stroll around the streets.

"Operating in German-occupied territory isn't that hard," Su Ming said, leading the two onto the main street. "As long as you don't feel guilty and act naturally, you won't have a problem."

The key was not whether you spoke German but to perfectly imitate the innate arrogance of a Junker noble, or the superior pride of a Hydra officer.

The shadows of airships in the sky cast large swathes of darkness on the ground, creating the constant sensation of gloomy skies. It felt as though the light from the streets was being consumed by these airborne beasts, leaving an oppressive feeling in their hearts.

But discussing plans in the middle of the street wasn't an option. Doctor Holoway's Brooklyn accent would give them away immediately, so Su Ming quickly chose a café on the side of the road.

This was an intersection with great visibility, making it easy to retreat in any direction, and with few people around, it was a good spot to find some privacy.

Paris had as many cafés as Berlin had beer halls.

Perhaps before the war, this café with its view of the Eiffel Tower was a romantic hotspot for many young couples. But now, those seated in the café were mainly German officers, sitting stiffly in their chairs.

Even on leave, sipping coffee, they sat like robots, their posture impeccable. Every sip of coffee seemed meticulously measured.

Su Ming whispered to the café owner in French, switching to a Marseilles accent.

"Give me and my friends a quiet spot, away from the Germans."

The café owner gave him a look, seemingly understanding, and without a word, led them to the balcony on the second floor.

There were a few small tables on the balcony overlooking a park at the intersection. Though narrow, there wasn't a single German soldier in sight.

It was a good spot. After ordering some coffee and snacks, Su Ming carefully observed his surroundings.

For the moment, they were safe. There were no surveillance or eavesdropping devices.

"Alright, Monarch, where's our target?" Su Ming asked, cutting short their intended rest day. Paris was no place for sightseeing—it was better to focus on the mission.

There were still about two hours before sunset, and if possible, Su Ming hoped to complete their task by nightfall.

Monarch took a rabbit out of his pocket, gently stroking its soft white fur on his lap. With his other hand, he began forming magic seals.

After a few moments, he snapped the rabbit's neck and, trembling slightly, downed a few gulps of coffee.

"Our target is constantly moving... If my guess is right, the Paris fragment is somewhere above us."

As he spoke, he put down his empty cup and pointed toward the sky.

There, countless airships hovered like a dense swarm of bees.

They moved in layers, constantly shifting. From the ground, all that could be seen were their enormous shadows.

It was impossible to tell which airship carried the fragment.

Airships had a large carrying capacity, enough to house a laboratory, and they could remain airborne for long periods without needing to land for resupply.

The trio didn't have many tactical options.

The first option was to locate where the airships docked for resupply, wait for them to land, and have Monarch sense the target. Then Su Ming could stealthily infiltrate the right airship.

The downside of this approach was that it was too passive. If the enemy used something like aerial refueling to keep the lab airship aloft indefinitely, they'd be out of luck.

And for Doctor Holoway's rabbits, this was an apocalyptic scenario. Divination magic required a sacrifice—a rabbit for each casting. With hundreds of airships in the sky, making them all land would quickly exhaust his rabbit supply.

The second option was for the three of them to fly up and search actively. With the help of the Cloak of Levitation, this was feasible and would save time.

The problem with this plan was that Su Ming would be the one engaging in aerial combat against the flying saucers. The airships also had anti-air defenses and radar, making a stealthy approach nearly impossible.

If a direct battle ensued, it could cause airships to crash. If the Namor fragment was destroyed—well, it would be one thing if it was a limb, but what if the head was lost?

The third tactical option was to create a massive disturbance, like blowing up half of Paris. The Germans would undoubtedly transfer the Namor fragment for safety, forcing the lab airship to leave. Su Ming could then use the cloak to follow it, staying hidden.

However, this option had its drawbacks as well. Paris was a city rich in historical value, with buildings even the Germans were reluctant to bomb. Destroying it would feel like wiping out cultural treasures.

Moreover, Su Ming hadn't brought enough explosives to level half a city—that was a major issue.

As he drank his coffee, Su Ming silently weighed the tactical options. While all were feasible, each had its pros and cons that needed to be carefully considered.

The goal was to exert minimal effort while achieving maximum results.

"I'm sensing magical energy fluctuations," Monarch said, stopping his actions. He looked down from the balcony, and the Cloak of Levitation peeked out from Su Ming's box, as if to confirm Monarch's words. "It seems my magic has drawn the attention of German sorcerers. They're like bloodhounds, rushing in at the slightest whiff of magic."

"We're safe for now. They haven't pinpointed our location; they're just wandering the streets," Su Ming said, watching as a group of oddly dressed figures walked past the street, holding strange tools that resembled divining rods. The rods in the lead sorcerer's hand kept spinning.

However, they hadn't found the trio's exact location—the crowded streets were disrupting their search.

"You mentioned that the Germans have sorcerer units, but aren't most mages uninterested in mundane affairs?" Holoway asked, his hand resting on the grip of a concealed weapon as he peered into the distance.

Monarch popped a small pastry into his mouth and watched the sorcerers disappear around a corner. "They're not mages; they're sorcerers, supposedly fused with demonic blood. They're hardly proper wizards. While they can cast some spells, they mostly rely on firearms in combat."

"Oh, that doesn't sound too dangerous," Holoway said, helping himself to a snack as well.

"Their strength lies in their acute magical senses. They're constantly searching for magical artifacts for their Führer or offering sacrifices to their demonic overlords. I'd bet they've already investigated the portal we used to enter Paris. It's only a matter of time before they find us here."

With that, Monarch grinned, dumping the rest of the pastries into his hat, then placing it back on his head. He gestured for them to leave quickly.

Su Ming sighed. The coffee was good, but stealth came first. They needed a more secure location before planning their next move.