บท 127: Chapter 127 Hephaestus's Forge
New week everyone. Let the Powerstones start rolling in.
...
"...". There was no response.
Ra's Al Ghul maintained the indifferent facade on the surface but deep within, he was at a loss for words.
This was supposed to be a regular grab and stash operation. The Pheno Drug would be taken so Doctor Langstrom could complete his research on the Manbat formula.
It was supposed to be that easy. But who knew that they would encounter such a situation.
In simpler words, it was nothing short of horrible.
Slade had every right to be gloomy. Although he was called the world's greatest assassin who worked for the highest bidder, he was still self-conscious on a lot of things.
Rarely would he take any work that required him to deal with situations that could easily escalate out of his control.
Fighting against the actual big guns of the Justice League was one of them. Superman was still doable with the right tools at his disposal, but no amount of money would make him stupid enough to blatantly brandish his blades and attempt to hunt Wonder Woman.
That was purely asking for a beating and a get into jail card.
This wasn't fear..... It was self-awareness. The serum he took wasn't enough to make him look down on everything else with his skills.
But now, the situation had changed.
Forget the Justice League. He had messed with someone who even death couldn't stop.
"Really old man? Nothing?" His voice took a colder tone to it.
"... This is not my fault Slade". Deathstroke was angry, while Ra's was depressed.
Between both of them, The Demon's Head wanted to see Amari less.
After all, the other party had publicly made it his goal to kill him and the rest of the light.
They might be able to overlook it the first time, but with Orm's display, no one dared to feel at ease anymore.
"Do I look like I care whose fault this is?".
His voice was practically roaring at the moment. He grabbed one half of the mahogany table and threw it towards the nearest wall in a fit of rage.
Bang!
Swoosh!
Multiple dark shadows appeared around them, turning up from seemingly out of nowhere.
Gleams of silver light reflected off the cold steel on their hands.
The moment Slade took action, several assassins that guaranteed the safety of The Demon's Head at all times surrounded the room, both in an out.
Each and every single one of them had sharp eyes, tense nerves and exuded an aura of murderous intention.
Their blades, throwing stars, Shurikens and Kunai were held within their grasp, locked on Deathstroke least he tried anything foolish.
This was the foundation of the League Of Assassins, but Deathstroke didn't bat an eyelid.
"Are you going to have your shadow guards kill me?" He asked in a mocking tone.
Ra's Al Ghul didn't speak, but simply signalled with a wave of his hand.
Following which, his shadows disappeared just as fast as they arrived.
Looking at Slade's ugly expression, Ra's knew that he was particularly pissed off.
Sigh!
A sigh of weariness finally escaped the lips of the centuries old man.
"I know the matter is... Difficult. But believe me, I am in no better position right now than you are. He has also threatened to take my life. And my involvement with you will only lead me to him sooner ".
His words seemed to calm down the assassin.
"Threaten you?"
Thoughts reflected through his mind as he analyzed those words. A second later, it finally came to him.
"I see...". The man muttered with a hint of realization.
"You're one of the people he's looking for".
"Yes". The Demon's Head replied with a slight frown.
"Hmph! Looks like I'm not the only unlucky one".
"So you can see that I'm in the same situation you currently find yourself in. And do not forget Slade.....".
The old man's eyes narrowed greatly.
"... That I didn't order you to attack that facility. No ..... I hired you to get doctor Langstrom to complete his life's work. How you go about it wasn't in my instructions".
As an old fossil who had survived for hundreds of years, Ra's Al Ghul was shrewd, cunning and a particularly ruthless character who built everything he had now with his own hands.
He wouldn't allow himself to be despised by anyone, and the only reason Deathstroke wasn't immediately besieged from all sides was because he valued Slade's capabilities.
Nothing more, Nothing less, and they both knew it.
"So.... Calm your temper, Slade and remember where you stand and who you stand before". The Demon's Head stood up from his seat, his hands placed behind his back, completely revealing the aura and majesty of a leading monarch.
Too bad.... Slade wasn't buying any of it.
The imposing aura of the Ruler of the League of Assassins wasn't enough to make his forty-two-year-old back bend in submission.
Deathstroke adjusted his posture.
"I didn't come here for sympathy". His eyes were blooming with a dangerous light.
"I'm here for solutions".
"And I have never known you to be a man afraid of death".
Ra's said.
"I know I will die someday". The atmosphere was terrible, depressing.
"But I will not accept dying for something that isn't worth it". Slade was well-prepared to die, similar to the man before him.
They knew what it was like to live on the edge of the blade their whole lives.
So yeah, he wasn't afraid of death. But no way in hell was he willing to die for such a matter.
He was a mercenary, who promised to deliver when paid appropriately.
And last time he checked, he certainly didn't get paid to deal with this shit.
There was a moment of silence.
Finally, it was broken by Ra's himself.
"This matters..... concerns me just as much as it concerns you".
This was the truth. If Amari found out that Slade had done what he did under his orders, whether directly or not, he was sure that his end would be miserable.
By then, his hidden identity wouldn't be needed and Amari would have another perfect reason to end him. And unlike Ocean Master, he wasn't sure he would be left alive.
The images briefly flashed through his subconscious.
In the dark night, the island was completely ruined, flames blazing in all directions. His shadows..... All dead, his daughter..... Dead. Those glowing blue eyes staring at him with unprecedented coldness.
Even someone as tough as him felt fear at the thought.
Ra's had decided. He could not let this happen.
His death was acceptable, but the destruction of his legacy was something the arrogant old man would never accept. His daughter suffering before death was something he would not accept even more.
"While I can't tell you not to worry about this, as that would be a lie, I can say that we are searching for ways to deal with this".
Ra's felt no need to hide his secret identity as a member of The Light.
He turned around and walked towards the wall where an old painting hung on the wall.
"My... Associates are searching for a solution to this matter as we speak. And our recent gathering has let me know that they have found.... A possible solution".
His footsteps halted.
Slade's frown didn't lessen in the slightest due to the old man's choice of words.
He knew Ra's. And this man before him never mixed up his words. Anything he said was precisely how he meant it.
The ending of that sentence was not the least bit encouraging.
'A possible solution'.
This simply meant that they weren't sure they could succeed. And this alone was enough to make his heart sink.
Deathstroke never did things he wasn't sure of, and neither did Ra's. Yet here they were.
The old man turned his face to reveal his side profile.
"Transport Langstrom. Lie low for a while. Let no one know of your location, and I will contact you when we are ready to resolve the issue. That, Slade, is all I can say".
That was The last words of the Demon Head. Following which, he turned his attention to the painting completely, leaving Deathstroke behind him to ponder in silence.
They stayed the same way for a while. That was until Slade moved.
"Fine". The mercenary turned around and walked towards the exit.
"And I do hope you're right old man".
That sentence was similarly the last and soon, even the lingering sound of footsteps disappeared completely.
The room once again regained its peace and quiet. The indifferent expression that remained constant on Ra's face was finally broken.
Worry, fear, anger, and helplessness appeared on his features one after another as he thought about possible countermeasures that were ultimately useless.
"L-0". After a while, he tapped the center area on the clothing in the center of his arm and called out with a cold tone.
"Yes sir. You called?"
A hologram appeared right before him of a teenager girl exuding a pure color white.
"Contact Savage".
"... As you wish". Her figure changed to display a holographic screen midair. The Demon's Head waited patiently for several seconds as the White Queen connected him to one of the two actually immortal members of their group.
It didn't take too long, the image of a man with long hair and a full, well trimmed beard appeared on the screen.
His full lips, black eyes and the three shallow white scars that ran across his face completely betrayed his identity.
"If it isn't Al Ghul".
"Vandal".
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your call".
"You might have to speed up whatever plan you have. The situation is facing a probation escalating".
Vandal frowned. He could immediately guess the only thing that would make this man speak in such a tone.
"Tell me what happened".
Ra's frowned. Although he didn't want to disclose his operations, he didn't have a choice at the moment.
Although they were partners, everyone had their own thing going on. No one was truly loyal to this secret organization of theirs and only saw it as a way to further their own interests.
Due to this, Ra's could only withhold as many actual details as he could while giving a clear picture of the whole incident.
"I see". Vandal replied after Ra's was done.
"It seems that you are right. But worry not, we have made substantial progress in our endeavors".
"Would you care to clarify". How could simple words put him at ease? Ra's called precisely to know how far Vandal had gone in his efforts to get rid of the scourge that was sharpening a butcher knife right over their heads.
Savage was silent for a few seconds, apparently pondering his choice of words.
"It's been done. Klarion has located her in the Forge of Hephaestus. Now all we need to do is make contact".
"... What about the weapon?"
"We have yet to confirm if it is truly in her possession. But that should not be a problem. Klarion and I will personally see to it that matters are completed".
The sentence surprised The Demon's Head.
"Your are going by yourselves?"
"Yes. I feel it is the most appropriate".
Vandal's face showed a smirk.
"After all, The Gods must be shown proper respect".
....
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