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The carefully calculated concentrated fire
from all five mechs produced devastating destructive power far beyond expectations. The attack left no blind spots, including the passages connected to the open chamber, dealing a catastrophic blow to the Reapers.
Achieving such results wasn't entirely due to the mechs' capabilities, either. Reapers and vampires had obvious weaknesses. Once the correct method of attack was found, these monsters that struck fear into everyone's hearts could prove remarkably fragile.
However, don't assume that achieving such results with a single barrage was easy. The primary reason the concentrated fire had been so effective was that one-third of the maximum ammunition supply had been expended in a short period. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say these Reapers had been killed with money.
The people who had been on the verge of death witnessed the entire sequence. Rather than simply feeling relieved that the crisis was over, their emotions were considerably more complicated.
For one thing, it was only when the blue radiation streams erupted that they finally realized just how large this space was and how many Reapers had been hiding inside it. Even if they could kill one enemy with every bullet, there had still been enough enemies here to bury their entire group beneath a mountain of bodies.
Second, they had been rescued.
They had originally believed that they were the ones saving everyone from danger, powerful figures who stood above the numerous contract gunmen of the Continental Hotel and possessed the strength to deliver the decisive blow.
Now they had become the ones being rescued.
How were these proud Assassins supposed to accept such a reality?
Unfortunately, no one noticed that the situation was far from over.
The Bonnie mech was the first to enter the chamber, intending to rendezvous with the group of humans. But while gliding forward, it suddenly froze in place in a strange posture.
The blue radiation streams should have quickly faded after the barrage ended, returning the chamber to pitch darkness.
But in Green Arrow Duck's eyes, this process seemed to stretch on infinitely, as though time itself had stopped.
His consciousness remained perfectly clear. He wanted to move, yet couldn't.
It wasn't that his limbs were unable to move. Rather, the Duck-Panther Armor itself was preventing him from moving.
He glanced at the time displayed within his helmet's field of vision. The timestamp was accurate to one-thousandth of a second, yet the final digit was now constantly flickering between 3 and 4.
This clearly wasn't technology.
It was magic.
So who had arrived?
Was this the mastermind behind the Reapers appearing in New York?
Using his molecular-penetration ability, Henry stepped out of the Duck-Panther Armor.
In this strange environment, even the movement of air had completely stopped.
It was an extremely peculiar experience. The resistance created by the stationary air was actually greater than normal. Every step Henry took required him to force his way through countless millions of air molecules.
For a Kryptonian, this was naturally no great difficulty.
But the sensation of resistance was so strange that Henry found himself uncomfortable with it. For a moment, he even felt as though he had fallen into gelatin, or some environment filled with a non-Newtonian fluid.
"Henry Brown."
A voice broke the silence of this strange dimension.
A creature with the appearance of a Reaper, yet an utterly different temperament and expression, sauntered through the same environment toward Henry.
"Mephisto?" Henry asked tentatively.
"Oh, what an honor. You still remember me. In that case, I suppose I can save myself the trouble of introducing myself again."
"So—" Henry rotated a finger, gesturing toward the entire environment. "—you did this?"
"No, no, no. I merely gave things a tiny little push. If I interfere too much, I'll attract unnecessary attention. You should know who I'm referring to."
"A tiny little push?"
"Yes. A tiny one."
Mephisto emphasized the word by forming the classic C-shape with his thumb and index finger, holding it in front of his narrowed eyes.
"Then—"
Henry took a step forward.
Mephisto immediately recoiled like a startled bird, taking two steps backward.
The sight left the Kryptonian speechless.
"What are you afraid of? I just want to ask you some questions."
"Last time, I patiently wanted to hear what you had to say, and I ended up taking a punch. I didn't lose any teeth, but it seems I lost something else. If I don't learn my lesson this time, won't you laugh at me?"
"So you're here to reclaim what you lost?"
"Would that be possible? If you happened to have picked it up and were willing to return it to me, I would be extremely grateful."
"You created such a huge commotion over a tiny coin. Aren't you worried the costs will outweigh the benefits?"
"Remember, it was only a tiny little push. I merely saw so many beasts running wild without anyone controlling them and gave them a little advice and direction. I haven't crossed the line.
"The reason I keep emphasizing this isn't because I'm afraid of that person. You know that."
"Oh, I understand."
Henry secretly moved forward.
Mephisto quietly stepped backward.
"It's just that regarding that coin, I have a few ideas I'd like to discuss with you."
"Planning to make a deal? Everyone knows that I'm the most contract-minded being in the entire universe. So whatever terms you have, feel free to propose them. I'll certainly do my utmost to satisfy your needs."
Henry said, "Oh, I'm also the kind of person who believes in honoring contracts. Because outsmarting each other within an agreed framework is far more interesting than settling everything directly with our fists.
"But everyone knows that you're only required to honor the contract itself. Outside of it, there are no rules, so you don't have to follow any rules.
"Your attitude of having me owe you first and letting you name the price afterward makes me rather nervous."
Mephisto shook his head.
"No, no, no. Surely you don't think I'd ask for your soul? No, absolutely not. You're far more valuable alive than as a soul for someone to toy with.
"I need an agent who can walk among mortals. When necessary, you can serve as a vessel for my descent. Under normal circumstances, you can do whatever you want. I'll support you one hundred percent.
"That's a pretty good offer, isn't it?"
Henry smiled.
"Sounds wonderful. The moment I heard those terms, a hundred different ways of exploiting them popped into my head—ways that would let me manipulate anyone who signed such a contract like a puppet. Can you think of that many ways?"
"How could I? I can't think of a single one. I told you, I'm the most contract-minded and promise-keeping being in the entire universe."
"If you're really that stupid, why would I make a deal with an idiot? What if you can't understand what I mean? Is it acceptable for me to pay the price but fail to receive the compensation I actually want? Who would make such a losing bargain?"
"Uh... actually, I can think of a few."
"So you really were planning something like that. You intended to turn me into your clothing! I'd be wearing you—or rather, you'd be wearing me—all the time while I'd lose my sense of self. What's in it for me? Give me a break."
"...I have to admit, very few people have dared to humiliate me like this. Even the Ancient One wouldn't dare. Are you prepared to face my wrath?"
"Then hit me."
Henry enthusiastically presented his right cheek.
"The Bible merely says that if someone strikes me on my right cheek, I should turn the other cheek to him as well. I haven't even been hit yet, and I'm already offering you my face. Aren't you going to do it?"
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