Multiverse: Deathstroke

Chapter 89: Ch.88 Exposed

Chapter 89: Ch.88 Exposed

Fortunately, the interior of the house wasn't as dilapidated as it looked from the outside. Though old and worn, it was at least livable.

Passing through the tall doorway, they entered a spacious, high-ceilinged hall that was much larger than it appeared from the outside—clearly the result of some magical effect.

Su Ming wasn't surprised. There were similar houses in *Harry Potter*, where they used the Undetectable Extension Charm. In the DC universe, it probably had another name. But Barry, on the other hand, kept looking around as if searching for something.

In the dark corners of the house, faint shadows flickered here and there. Su Ming knew those were real ghosts, but it was best not to tell Barry. The young speedster was already a bit paranoid, his eyes darting around constantly.

Constantine wriggled free from Su Ming's grasp and led them further inside, wearing a smug smile as he invited them to sit in the living room.

A loose-skinned creature appeared. Its entire body was a yellowish-brown, with a lizard-like tail trailing behind it. It wore a black tuxedo, walked upright, and had round, frameless glasses perched on its nose.

Seeing Constantine with two guests, the creature's squinting eyes showed no emotion as it bowed slightly, but it was clearly insincere.

"Greetings, everyone. I am Abaddon the demon, temporarily serving as the caretaker of the House of Mystery due to certain unspeakable, filthy, and disgusting circumstances."

"A demon?" This was Barry's first time facing a demon directly, and he couldn't take his eyes off the creature's sharp claws.

"That's right, just a minor demon, nothing worth mentioning." Constantine casually propped his feet up on the table, lighting another cigarette: "And you, haven't you noticed we have guests? Go make some tea, you shit-eating old goat!"

Abaddon turned and left. Although it didn't say a word, seemingly accepting the order, Su Ming noticed the way it shot Constantine a vicious, murderous glance.

The tea that's about to come will definitely be poisoned...

Constantine was clearly courting death in style. Not only did he make a demon his butler, but he also kept insulting it. Maybe he had bound it with a contract, but contracts always had time limits. There were countless demons in Hell waiting eagerly for the day Constantine would die and his soul would descend there. They all couldn't wait to torment him.

Constantine seemed oblivious, smoking nonchalantly, occasionally licking his teeth, as if something from dinner was still stuck in them.

"I know why you're here. It's about Barbatos. I can help, but you'll have to do something for me in return."

Su Ming removed his helmet, ignoring Constantine and speaking to Barry instead: "Barry, hit him on the back of the head."

"Huh?" x2

Both Barry and Constantine were confused, but under Su Ming's one-eyed gaze, Barry gave Constantine an apologetic smile.

With a flash of lightning, Constantine was knocked off his chair, but Su Ming knew he was fine. With his protective magic in place, the cigarette was still in his mouth, and not even a speck of ash had fallen.

"What's going on? The Justice League is attacking civilians! Superman wants to exterminate humanity!"

He flipped over and got up. Barry chuckled nervously, glancing at Su Ming, still not understanding why he'd been told to zap Constantine.

Su Ming calmly lit a cigarette and exhaled a puff: "Do you think I'm an idiot? Barbatos is not something you can handle. You agreed too readily, so you must be planning to screw us over."

Constantine immediately denied it with righteous indignation: "Impossible! I only want to contribute my strength."

Su Ming sneered, raising his fist the size of a pot and turning it over in front of Constantine's face. It was covered in black and red dried blood: "Let me tell you, there are plenty of people who can take your place. I'm not a good guy; I can go find the Pentacle or the Cold Flame, your sworn enemies. They'll provide magical services for a price anytime. I always buy the best. If I'm going to spend money, I might as well hire a demon lord as a bodyguard. But once a demon lord reaches the main world, I can't control them, and they all probably want you dead."

Constantine's expression turned to one of helplessness, and he sat down in his chair with a resigned look: "Alright, I admit it. We really don't have anyone available to help you right now."

"I figured as much. If you weren't all so busy, Master Nightshade wouldn't have died." Su Ming flicked the ash from his cigarette, the embers strangely absorbing into the floor: "If I'm not mistaken, the entire magical community is fighting the dark energy invasion right now."

Constantine's eyes widened, his usual sleepy demeanor replaced by seriousness: "Is that why you specifically sought me out and intentionally entered the House of Mystery?"

"Yes. If the Shadowpact hid in the magical realm of Myrra, the rest of you wouldn't be able to get there without the Oblivion Bar. But the Oblivion Bar has already been taken over by the Dark Knights. So the question is, when Barbatos invaded, besides Doctor Fate and Raven causing trouble outside, why did all the magicians in the world disappear? Can you tell me where they might be?"

Su Ming pressed his hand against the table, leaving a bloody handprint on the white tablecloth like an evil spirit had visited.

Constantine forced a bitter smile, secretly shocked. How did Deathstroke figure out the magicians' actions? It was unbelievable: "You've already guessed, haven't you? That's why you used money to lure me out. That's my weakness."

Su Ming stood up and glared at him: "Do you think I'd believe that just because you say it's your weakness? Money, booze, those are just your disguises. I know your real weakness. But with so many people here, I'm giving you some face."

Constantine rubbed his face with his hands, looking as if he were about to lose his mind: "You're a hundred times more troublesome than the Slade from our world. I give up. Everyone, come out."

Barry, still puzzled, wondered what Su Ming meant by 'so many people.' He didn't see anyone at all.

At that moment, what seemed to be a corridor leading deeper into the mansion twisted, and everything shattered like glass, revealing the true scene behind it.

The real living room was there, and the previous space had just been a small side room.

In the living room, dozens of people were either seated or floating around. Some shook their heads with wry smiles, while others outright mocked Constantine. Titles like 'Most Disgraceful Sorcerer,' 'Shame of the Magical Community,' and 'You Piece of Shit' were thrown at him.

These people weren't scattered haphazardly but arranged around a massive magic circle on the floor, each contributing their power to it. The pattern of the magic circle wasn't complex, but it had an intricate simplicity to it, glowing with a flickering purple light.

Su Ming stood up. He had told Barry to hit Constantine earlier to assert dominance. With the Speed Force, he could leave the Limbo anytime, using the Speed Force dimension as a bridge.

Right now, most of DC's magical heroes were gathered here, including some well-known teams Su Ming recognized, as well as some mages he didn't know at all.

This wasn't surprising. If the hidden societies in the dark were like a vast ocean, then the magical world was like an undersea trench, even deeper and more unfathomable.

In his memories, there were only the translated comics he had read, and he didn't know some of the heroes here. But he glanced down at the magic circle and immediately matched it to his memories.

"Oh, it's the Purple Light Array, designed by John Dee in 1500 to fight the Exiled Demons. With this here, those tainted with dark energy really can't get in."

Constantine's expression soured further: "Are you the sorcerer, or am I? Aren't you a mercenary? How do you even know this?"

Su Ming smiled and greeted some of the others. Some responded politely, while others pretended not to see him. He didn't mind; that was just how magicians were. He patted Constantine on the shoulder, making his legs turn to jelly.

"We're actually quite similar. You're a master of the dark arts, and I'm a master of dark tactics. Almost the same. After all, it never hurts to know more. Isn't it normal for me to understand some magic?"

Constantine's eyes turned into dead fish eyes. He didn't believe a single word of this forced explanation.