Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics-Chapter 4575 - 3657: Injustice League (9)

In the end, Wonder Woman was locked in a room in the lower level of the base, reshaped by Hal with green lantern energy.

After this, the group remained unusually quiet.

Batman returned to his room, but this time he did not intend to avoid anything. He knew that if he didn't stand up, and if Superman did something foolish again, their universe would surely be torn apart by the other side.

The Flash appeared in the room. Batman looked at him. The Flash said, "I saw the engine for collecting cities on Brainiac's ship warming up again. The next attack won't be long."

"What about the Flash from the other universe?"

"I don't know, I didn't see him." The Flash shook his head and said, "Even if he's done something, I can't do anything about it, his divine speed is too bizarre. I don't even dare to touch it."

"Has he shown any anomalies before?" Batman asked.

"You mean the time he caught me?" The Flash thought for a moment, then frowned and said, "I vaguely saw another figure in his divine speed. But due to the interference of that black energy, I couldn't see who it was."

"You mean he brought someone extra to our universe?"

"I'm not sure." The Flash said, "But whoever he brought, it doesn't seem to matter, right? They could come over openly, there's no need for a sneak attack."

Batman stood in place pondering. The Flash made sense. The gap between their two universes was too large now. The other side was fully armed and in peak condition. There's no need to keep anything hidden, no need to prepare an ambush.

If this person came with their main team, the outcome would be the same. After all, even the local Justice League couldn't defeat them.

But Batman still felt a vague unease.

He went over everything these people had done after they arrived in his mind, then felt some regret—he had focused too much on Superman, causing him to miss too many of their actions. Now, it was a bit late to check the surveillance.

"Try not to show up." Batman instructed, "If something really happens, we'll have to rely on you."

The Flash nodded. He disappeared into the divine speed again.

Batman pushed the door open and walked out. When he entered the meeting room, he found the atmosphere still silent.

Bruce came even later than him, but he was holding a small crystal and said, "I have cracked the energy frequencies used by the collection engine. You just need to use another form of energy during the process of converting the city into a collection item, to interfere in a special way. This bottle is useless to us. We can sneak into the ship like this and then steal the blueprints of the ship."

"We can all sneak into the ship, so why not just deal with Brainiac directly?" Green Lantern asked.

"Were you not in the previous meeting, or is your brain just not working?" Bruce was clearly losing his patience, he said, "Haven't we already discussed this? We can't handle such a large ship. Without blueprints, if we act rashly on the ship and damage its engine or gravity system, what will happen to Earth?"

Having said that, he tossed the item onto the table, crossing his arms as he said, "We're kindly here to help you, and you not only killed our people but are asking questions here to delay time. Is this really your universe?!"

At this moment, Catwoman walked over, gave Batman a look, and then said to Bruce, "Regarding Diana's matter, I apologize. I don't want to make excuses for the culprit, but we've just been through several catastrophes, everyone is a bit tired, and their attention may not be so focused. Don't mind these little things."

Bruce took several deep breaths, as if gathering all his willpower to barely suppress his negative emotions. He said, "I've left the item here, and I've arranged the plan, do as you see fit."

After saying that, he left.

Beside him, Hal picked up that crystal and said, "Green lantern energy should serve as interference energy. But my suggestion is—I participate in the final assault. You handle the infiltration and blueprint theft yourselves."

"I and Cyborg also need to go." Batman spoke, "Brainiac is not a human, he won't leave paper blueprints in a room waiting for someone to steal. All information related to the ship is in its system. We need a hacker."

"Then let Cyborg go with me, you stay." Superman looked at him and said.

"I know you don't trust me, and likewise, I don't trust you," Batman said, "If you tamper with the ship even a little, the whole ship crashes, and Earth is doomed. We must go together, there's no second choice."

Superman thought in his heart: Now this universe's Green Lantern is also on Batman's side. If Green Lantern, Batman, and Cyborg all go up, then he'll be one against three.

"I think it's better for you to go," Superman looked at Hal and said, "You are stronger than the Green Lantern from our universe."

What he thought was: Outsiders are dangerous too, but at least they don't side with Batman. If Batman and the others want to attack me, he should stop them.

But Batman didn't agree. He thought taking an outsider onto the ship was very dangerous. Both sides were firmly rooted in their positions, and the meeting ended unhappily.

Everyone else left the meeting room, only Superman and Batman remained. Superman coldly stared at Batman and said, "What exactly do you want to do?"

"I know what you want to do." Batman said, "You want to use something from Brainiac's place against the outsiders, forcing them to hand over the power to reverse time. But it's impossible."

"How do you know?"

"It won't be some divine artifact, formula, or even a specific power. It's more likely a method, a method executed by humans."

"Can't we execute it?"

"You should know, if it were feasible, someone would have already done it," Batman said. "You don't think you've ruled Earth well, do you?"

Superman's expression darkened further. But Batman seemed oblivious as he continued, "We can't execute this method, not because we're missing something or some kind of strength, but more likely because we're missing someone."

"The Flash?" freeweɓnovel.cøm

"Not him. If The Flash alone could do it, he would have turned back time by now. I think it might be Hai'er."

Superman furrowed his brow. They had arrived at that universe to execute the mission quite early—Zod had just arrived when they got there, so they also witnessed the entirety of Hai'er's invasion and Brainiac's invasion.

"You should know, if it's that guy, we can't force him by any means," Batman said. "Or rather, we simply can't catch him."

Superman detected a different implication and said, "Now you're not opposed to reversing time?"

"I'm just telling you that your methods won't work," Batman calmly said. "You can't solve all problems with violence. You should use your brain."

"They won't let it go," Batman said. "Whether you believe me or not, I have a hunch—they must be plotting something. This might not be a good thing for us."

"So you want to deal with them, too?"

Superman's reaction was quick. He immediately realized that Batman coming out of his room and being willing to talk was clearly because this group of outsiders had made him feel threatened.

And because of Wonder Woman's foolish action, the situation between them was now completely irreconcilable. Even if Batman didn't agree with reversing time, if he didn't join Superman in dealing with these people, they'd be busy after defeating Brainiac.

Superman chuckled mockingly. He walked to Batman's side and looked at him, saying, "In the end, you still have to rely on me, don't you?"

"Now's not the time for that, Clark," Batman said expressionlessly while shaking his head. "Whatever you want to do, we'll discuss it after we've solved all the troubles."

"What do you want to do?"

"I'll pretend to negotiate with them to stabilize them."

"And then?"

"We can't force them to remain calm and ensure the safety of our universe with military might. We must make them sit down for talks. But ensuring they come to the negotiation table requires leverage."

So that's it. Superman thought to himself: No wonder Batman was talking about reversing time.

The situation was like this: They were completely outmatched and had already offended the other side. To have them leave after the war and not start another, they had to find a way to talk.

But negotiations require leverage. Since they can't win directly, they have no leverage, and the other side wouldn't negotiate with them.

Batman wanted leverage, but he couldn't obtain it himself. So he sought out Superman, using a concession in the time reversal for negotiation leverage with Superman, to have Superman find the leverage to make the other side sit down and talk.

Batman understood: If Superman dared to detain them boldly, he must have his own trump card. If he brought that thing out, perhaps it could calm the other side enough to make them sit down and talk.

And to have him bring it out, he needed to understand that wielding it to threaten the other side with force wouldn't work. Only by following Batman's plan and engaging in negotiations and deals with them could they achieve a time reversal.

So Batman had to talk about Hai'er—although he didn't know what the leverage Superman had, it probably wouldn't work on this Super Kryptonian.

If the key to reversing time lay with Hai'er, Superman's careful calculations would surely fall apart. Better to join Batman's plan and use that thing as leverage to deter the other side with some chance of getting their help.

Superman understood all of this. But he wasn't willing to yield so easily. On the surface, he said, "Alright, you have a point. But you must promise to do everything possible to secure the opportunity for a time reversal..."

However, after Batman left, Superman's face turned cold. He knew Batman wouldn't strive for it—he would never agree to reverse time. He would deceive him once again.

Superman went to the base's lower level, where Wonder Woman was kept.

Now, there were too few people completely on his side. Most of the Justice League had reformed, and the few who could fight all listened to Batman.

This made Batman's promises have no weight—because Batman could leverage his military advantage, he could break his promises and lock him back in the prison. Superman wouldn't allow that to happen.

Even if Wonder Woman was reckless, at least she could fight, and she firmly stood by his side. To ensure Batman kept his promise, Superman needed Wonder Woman.

He walked to the door and knocked. The door opened, but Superman couldn't enter, and Wonder Woman couldn't come out. They could only talk through a layer of Green Lantern energy.

"I believe you're innocent," Superman said, suppressing his disgust. "The Green Lantern who locked you here will go with us on the ship. I'll find a chance for him to get injured. When the Green Lantern energy is weak, you escape from here. I'll come to see you when I return."

Wonder Woman was moved to tears. She nodded vigorously and said, "Don't worry, Clark. I'll always help you."

And in his room, toying with the crystal, Hal suddenly revealed a mysterious smile.