In today's Justice League watchtower, the atmosphere is unusually solemn.

Green Arrow Oliver Quinn, who had just been discharged from the hospital, was still a little weak, and walked into the Hall of Justice on crutches and was supported by his girlfriend, Lady Black Canary.

When the high-tech hatch opened, the round table in front of me was already full of people.

This scene is very similar to the last time everyone was here to discuss how to deal with the alien world that crashed into Earth, but the theme of today's meeting is obviously different.

Oliver thought all the attendees were unusually serious, their faces so deep in thought that they didn't see the slightest smile.

This is clearly a statement of high emotional intelligence.

Low EQ, if it's more vulgar, don't say it.

Even Miss Magician, Zatana, who was present on behalf of the spellcasters, was filled with frustration and worry on her face, apparently being the "wet nurse" of a group of young wizards in the last few days had made the famous unmarried white wizard feel the horror of married life in advance.

Daily fear of marriage +1!

The atmosphere was very oppressive, and the pale Wonder Woman sitting at the round table and the tired Flash with a cup of goji tea added to the spread of this atmosphere.

The most outrageous thing is the steel bone.

This Justice League cyborg is still in the process of upgrading itself to the quantum brain, so he has a thick data cable attached to the back of his head.

Nearly all of its outer armor has been removed, and it sits in a chair as a "mechanical skeleton", with a large number of mechanical nanoworms roaming around its body frame to reconstruct internal modules.

To be honest, this scene looks a bit oozing.

But Green Arrow is well aware of the origin of this scene in front of him, the low pressure of the big guy is due to the shameful defeat he has just encountered, and everyone here is a loser.

Even including Batman, who is dressed in black and doesn't say a word.

"Green Arrow, sit."

Dachao stretched out his hand to invite his companion to sit in the chair, and when he saw the twitching corners of his mouth under Oliver's Domino's mask, Superman asked softly:

"Are your legs better?"

"It's okay, I'm already able to walk."

Green Arrow whispered:

"It's just going to take some time to recover, and that crazy young man broke my leg and poured me horrible potions, and the pain made me see the gates of hell open."

"He just took off your leg bone, how serious can it be? Stop complaining. ”

Wonder Woman, who was short of breath, touched her wrist and sighed:

"I still don't know how much he took from me. Honestly, if he hadn't thought of that shameful and vicious way to torture me, I wouldn't have known I had such a weakness."

"He also snatched your weapon."

Arthur Curry, who was present, glanced at Diana, who was in a depressed look, and the reckless man of the deep sea whispered:

"I guess for a warrior, that's a lot more painful than a physical injury, right?"

"The loss of the Lasso is not a big deal."

Diana shook her head and said:

"The temple on Paradise Island also houses the girdle of the goddess Hestia, which can be remade by simply finding skilled craftsmen. But you're right, Arthur.

I'm a warrior and I've had a weapon captured, and that's enough to make me a disgrace to all Amazons. ”

"It's better than being strapped to a rocket and plunging headlong into your own farm under the watchful eye of the whole town, right?"

Dachao couldn't help but join the complaint.

The mild-mannered Kryptonian seemed to remember some embarrassing scenes, and he couldn't help but sigh with his hands on his forehead:

"My family was terrified, and everyone except my stupid son was excited, and everyone else was starting to worry about whether my heroic career would be ruined because of it.

The Planet Daily has published several articles to refute the rumors, but the bad impact will not be dissipated in a short time.

Worst of all, I had to find a way to make up for the loss of this year's crop due to the corn fields I destroyed, and explain to my family that my cousin was missing."

"So you're having a big time now? How miserable can you be to me? ”

Green Lantern Hal Jordan, who sat in the chair unscathed, complained with a painful face:

"My Lantern Ring has been invaded by a virus and has been ordered to shut down, a rare occurrence for the entire Green Lantern Corps in countless years.

I was ordered to write an accident report and rushed to O'Astar to attend an interrogation meeting of 72 lanternmen.

The worst thing is that O'Astar's central battery has gone into a self-upgrade because of the bug I found, and until the cause of the failure has been identified and the upgrade program has been written, all Lantern Heroes are not allowed to overuse the Lantern Ring.

What the hell!

If you lose, it's okay, the Lantern Man is never afraid of failure, but the tragic thing is that I haven't even seen the face of the enemy, how should I write this accident report?

The minimum requirement is 40,000 words! I can't make it all together. ”

Seeing that this Justice League "Miserable Competition" is getting more and more intense, the old man who has not spoken feels that he can't come forward, and everyone's morale will be lost if it continues like this.

He looked around, wondering if Mason's "anti-union tactics" needed to be added, and said:

"Everyone!"

As soon as the old man spoke, everyone's complaints stopped.

They all looked at Batman.

The meaning in the eyes is different, and it is said that the Lord was in the Bat Cave of Gotham before, and was brutally attacked by strange individuals on his own territory.

If he hadn't prepared in advance, he probably wouldn't have been able to appear here today.

According to the gossip from the telescopic man who was the first to rush to support after receiving the distress signal, Batman was beaten badly by that fierce and mysterious opponent, and even the bat suit on his body was torn everywhere.

It is said that the old man was wounded all over his body, extremely weak, and lacked qi, as if he had suffered some kind of suspicious abuse.

"We're not here today to share each other's experiences of defeat."

Ignoring the gazes that were looking at him, the old man stood up and said in his trademark mute voice:

"Although such things are rare, it is an inescapable fact that we have suffered terrible defeats, and our enemies have cunningly caught our weaknesses and targeted them.

We can say that he is opportunistic.

But in a life-and-death confrontation, such a defeat can be fatal and cause irreparable damage.

This failure should make us wary! We are not invincible, and we should face up to our weaknesses and avoid them. ”

"That's right."

Dachao also looked at his companion with a straight face, and he said in a deep voice:

"Is our failure really because we are not strong enough? No, not really, and from what I know of Cooper, he's no match for any of us in terms of sheer strength.

Yet he toyed with us overnight.

We are not losing to a great power.

We lost in our own mentality, we felt that he couldn't make any splashes, but that magical young man gave us a few mouthfuls with practical actions.

But, that's not a bad thing."

"Please, Superman, don't force bad things into good things at this time."

Aquaman complained:

"Losing is losing, and we can't afford to lose! I also know the reason why you are here today, the first defeat can be said to be underestimating the enemy and being unprepared, but if you suffer a second defeat, there will be no excuse.

The most important thing at the moment is not to review, but to come up with a methodology. ”

Speaking of this, Arthur glanced at the old man with a strange look in his eyes, and he said:

"I estimate that Batman's anti-union tactics have been greatly expanded, in order to protect us from being defeated by strong enemies, and in order to protect us from being seen through by our own people, I think it is necessary for us to carry out targeted training in the next time.

And this mission has to be Batman. ”

"Yes, for a guy who thinks about how to beat his own people every day, it is a matter of hand to have him design a reinforcement plan for us."

Green Lantern chimed in:

"And the intelligence gathering part has to be put back on the agenda, as it turns out that we are seriously underestimating the abilities of that mysterious member of the Stellar Society.

They are by no means third-rate opponents as we imagined.

They are dangerous!

We have to prepare in advance.

I've sent the information of the Stellar Society to O'A, and I'm applying for the help of the Lanternmen, and while the Watchers don't participate in or advocate it, they haven't stopped me from recruiting.

If we're lucky, we'll have strong allies from other planets the next time the war resumes. A real group of lights!

Ha, we'll be invincible. ”

"Luck?"

Xiao Shan, who had not spoken, suddenly raised his head and said in a firm tone:

"We can't rely on luck for this kind of thing, Hal! That would trigger quite terrible results, and we have to do 100%! No, 500% ready! ”

These words made everyone around look at Xiao Flash in surprise.

In their minds, the Flash is a very active and kind character, occasionally a little rough but always optimistic, and it is hard to imagine that this kind of bat speech will come out of his mouth.

"Speaking of which, where have you been lately?"

Xiao Shan's good friend Hal Jordan frowned and said:

"Why have you been calling you these days and asking you to come out for a walk, but you haven't answered? I thought you were running through the timeline again. ”

"Me"

Xiao Shan hesitated, coughed and said:

"I went out for a run, after all, being frozen by an ordinary person is too hurtful to my self-esteem."

"yes, I heard that your bare butt was frozen."

Green Lantern quipped:

"It's a pity that I was too busy to take a few photos to laugh at you."

"Everyone!"

The old man accentuated his tone, causing Green Lantern to immediately make an apologetic gesture, and then reached out and pulled on his mouth, indicating that he would not interject again.

"Zatana, release the information you've gathered."

Batman made a "please" gesture to Xiao Zha, who immediately got up and placed a magic trinket at the center of gravity of the Justice League round table, and soon a series of projections were released.

She took off her tall hat and set it aside, explaining:

"We have not found nothing in our Gotham operation, ladies and gentlemen, we have captured 15 casters of the Society of Stars, all of whom are currently imprisoned in the Mystery Room and questioned and tortured.

We've gotten a lot of valuable information from a few of the less determined ones, but their soul curses prevent them from telling anything about the core secrets of the Star Society.

We can't identify their headquarters, we can't identify their high-level structure, we can't identify their modes of action and specific plans.

At present, it is certain that the core members of this organization are tens of thousands, and the number of low-level members who are used as consumables is even larger.

The most terrifying thing is that they occupy the planetary resources of many parallel worlds.

We can't fight a war of attrition with them, there's no chance of winning. ”

"Wait, Zatana."

Wonder Woman, who has always been very emo, suddenly raised her head, she looked at Xiao Zha and said:

"There were more than a few spellcasters on the run in Gotham that night, are there any fugitives who haven't been caught?"

"Yes!"

Xiao Zha stroked the smooth long straight black hair and said seriously:

"Doctor Fate is personally leading the hunt for them, but we can confirm that there are people in this world who are secretly helping these outsiders, and their tracks are quite secretive.

That's why I'm here today, we need intelligence support from the Justice League to search for them around the world.

The barrier that suppresses the gate of the world to prevent it from crossing the border cannot be opened for a long time.

That would destabilize the world's web, so we must capture those who have fled before it is forced to shut down. ”

"And prevent them from jumping off the wall!"

Dachao got up and said:

"Those people are very dangerous, and they have strong malice towards our world, and they can cause inhumane disasters around the world at any time.

We must act! ”

"yes, can't you catch Mason Cooper and can't catch them?"

Arthur Huo Ran got up, and the deep sea reckless man said loudly:

"I'm going back to Atlantis to mobilize marine life to alert the world, and if you need help, squeak, I'll rush over immediately."

"I'll go too."

Wonder Woman, whose face was still a little weak, moved her wrist and stood up, and the female demigod moved her wrist, gritted her teeth and said:

"I'm on fire right now and desperately need a fight to bring myself back to life."

"Cyborg?"

The old man glanced at the cyborg that looked like a shutdown for maintenance, which was still in the process of being upgraded, and responded in an electronic voice with no mood swings on the alternate thread:

"The World Surveillance Program is live!

In the operation of the energy tracking program, the mobile communication authority is decentralized. Regions consistent with energy characteristics have been detected in South America, Africa, and Antarctica.

Target designation, waiting for the assignment of combat missions. ”

"I'll lead the team."

Dachao's finger moved, and he glanced at Batman, and he said:

"About Mason Cooper, who mysteriously disappeared after that night"

"He was a member of the bat family."

The old man said in a dumb voice:

"I'll deal with him!

I'll come up with an intensive training program when you come back, and besides, Diana, I can help you find a craftsman who is capable of handling divine objects, if you can rest assured."

"You do things, I don't worry."

Diana waved her hand and followed Dachao out of the hall, and she said majestically:

"The warriors of Paradise Island will send the girdle of the goddess Hestia to you, and help me complete the rearmament as soon as possible."

"Well, that's all for now."

Green Arrow also raised his hand and said:

"I feel like my weapons and those of the Black Canary need to be upgraded as well, and it turns out that ordinary suits and weapons are no longer able to protect us in the face of the attack of the Stellar Society.

But I might as well ask for your help in this regard, Batman, you are a recognized master at this. ”

"Well, a full outfit plan is also on the agenda, and I've found a credible enough master to help."

The old man nodded and said:

"I'll get the finished product as soon as possible, Green Arrow, you and the Black Canary will stay in the watchtower to assist Cyborg first, Flash, you come with me.

I need your help in finding Mason's traces in this world. ”

A few minutes later, the Batfighter flew out of the watchtower and headed towards Earth, and in the cockpit, the master activated the data protection to avoid prying eyes, and Xiao Flash behind him took out a document and handed it over.

He whispered:

"I went to the Gotham orphanage seventeen years ago and saw firsthand the scene of the infant Mason being sent there, and I have to say, Bruce, we really underestimated his origins.

I almost had my heart pulled out by that mysterious woman. ”

"Huh?"

Batman didn't expect this to happen when he sent Flashey to get the file, and he asked in a dumb voice:

"You mean, Mason was sent there on purpose?"

"No, I mean maybe Mason doesn't even know that he's not from our world at all! He's an alien! Just like Clark, though he didn't crash here in a spaceship. ”

The Flash sighed and said:

"I saw with my own eyes that the woman had opened a very peculiar door, and she seemed to be badly wounded, and she left Mason at the door of the orphanage and staggered away.

Someone was chasing her, and I tried to help but was attacked by her.

And the car accident on the night Mason was adopted, which was also intentional, and another group of people who crossed the line tried to take him away, and I stopped them.

It was also I who guided the drunken Robert Cooper to find him at the scene of the car accident.

Seriously, I wanted to send him to you in swaddling clothes. But I've seen firsthand the consequences of having time disrupted, and I'm amazed that I've known Mason seventeen years ago.

No wonder I always felt a wonderful closeness to him.

I suspect he has it too.

Otherwise, I wouldn't explain how he would show mercy to me when he beat up others. ”

Batman listened to the incredible story as he opened Mason's adoption papers and his childhood belongings, and he looked at one of the blood-stained cards in deep thought.

After a few seconds, the old man suddenly spoke:

"Barry, tell me honestly, did you and Mason bring something back from another world?"

"Huh?"

Xiao Shan was stunned for a moment, and he whispered:

"We don't, that's a violation of the laws of time and space, I wouldn't do that kind of thing, you know mine. But do you feel something?

Could it be that the people of the Stellar Society are already lurking around you?

Need help finding it? ”

"No, I can't be sure, but if there is a need, I will contact you as soon as possible."

The old man shook his head.

He played with the blood-stained card that belonged to Mason in his hand, and stopped talking but remembered the meal he had had last night.

He didn't know how to describe Barry, but he ate a feeling he hadn't felt before, a feeling that was alien to Batman.

It's so warm that it's unsettling, but it's irresistible.

It's like yes.

It's like a treasure that has been lost for a long time has suddenly returned, and even makes him resist revealing the truth behind it for the first time in his life, however, he is Batman after all.

Gentleness was just an illusion for him.

He had to keep his eyes open at all times, and it seemed that it was time for a "big check" on Wayne Manor.

(End of chapter)