As Su Ming spoke, Monac looked even more skeptical.
"Why do you say that?"
"I observed the signs at night. Mordo has a treacherous mind, and he will betray us." Su Ming said solemnly.
In fact, among The Ancient One's disciples, Mordo was relatively better. Kaecilius was the real problem. Taking over Kama Taiji meant also dealing with these two problematic figures. Before, it was just about watching the drama, but now it's his own trouble.
"So?" Monac raised an eyebrow skeptically, waiting for Deathstroke's further explanation.
Did he check the future with the Time Gem?
But without Magic, that's impossible. The Ancient One could do it, but Deathstroke couldn't.
"That's why, to keep him from overthinking, I need to send him into the world to practice. He's been with Master Gu Yi for over a hundred years and thinks he's mastered all Magic and has no need to learn more, which gives rise to an ambition for greater power."
"So you plan to let him learn on the streets about things he doesn't know and discover himself?" Monac understood. He's lived for hundreds of years and only found his place after experiencing many things himself.
Having a clear understanding prevents losing direction. Deathstroke's style of education is just the opposite of The Ancient One's.
"Close enough. Magic isn't everything in our world. He still has a lot to learn, and until he's confident he's surpassed me in all knowledge aspects, he won't dare to betray. Besides, how can he be a master without even knowing the essentials?"
The water's temperature was almost right. Su Ming began to skillfully brew tea, a fragrant aroma gradually spreading.
Monac looked awkward, shifting his legs as he wasn't used to sitting cross-legged: "Actually, I don't know either."
Su Ming pushed a tea cup towards him and raised his own cup to blow on it: "It doesn't matter, a good person doesn't need to endure these trials. You just wait and enjoy."
............
When leaving Kama Taiji, the mage beside Su Ming had already been replaced by Mordo.
Monac, being too full to move, stayed overnight at Kama Taiji. For some reason, Deathstroke spoke only Chinese there, which confused him, and he inexplicably agreed to watch the place for Deathstroke.
At this moment, Su Ming took his new follower out to witness the world, with their first stop being the London Sanctuary.
The white-bearded Elder Master remained as eccentric as ever, once again bringing out cold tea and cakes harder than bricks to entertain them.
When Mordo clutched his jaw, his facial features scrunching up, the old man clapped and laughed joyfully.
"Alright, Master of Mischief, please take me to see Experimental Subject 9527."
Su Ming didn't touch the tea or cake, aware of the quirks of this old bearded mischief-maker, not expecting any special treatment for being the Supreme Mage.
"Of course, Master, please follow me." The Elder Master didn't mind being nicknamed, still smiling.
The London Temple remained the same, the labyrinthine description fit it well, with routes and stairs constantly shifting, and Victorian-style chandeliers flying around lighting the way.
After climbing three floors, descending a few more, and seemingly retracing their steps, the Elder Master finally led them to a cell.
The so-called Experimental Subject 9527 was precisely Mr. Sinister.
This undying freak presently had hair as messy as a bird's nest, bearded and huddled in a dark corner. A cockroach scurried past him, and he stuck out his tongue, rolling the insect into his mouth and chewing it.
The shell crackled as it was crushed, and the white sticky liquid oozing from his mouth made Mordo turn away.
"Experimental Subject 9527 is quite durable. The most recent experiment on him was... observing the effect of an alternate-dimensional toad possession on a person."
The Elder Master pushed up the Half Moon Glasses on his nose, the lenses glinting.
"Very creative, Master of Mischief." Su Ming calmly leaned closer to the Horror, squatting to watch him eat, and the Horror raised his head to look at him, his pupils having turned golden, resembling an amphibian.
"The alternate-dimensional toad granted him the ability to breathe underwater and increased swimming speed, but his intelligence greatly declined, making him like an animal now." The Elder Master replied calmly in a researcher's tone.
"Lift the Magic. I want to talk to him."
"As you wish, Supreme Mage." The Elder Master complied readily, immediately raising his hand to cast a spell, living up to being from the older generation, his casting speed almost rivaling Monac's.
Horror's pupils gradually returned to human appearance, as if awakening from a dream, but he quickly realized he had fallen into an even deeper nightmare.
Before him stood one of his greatest fears, clad in black and yellow Armor identical to that of years past, only the Red Light in the solitary eye was now absent.
Yet this made the other appear lifeless, like cold Armor moving in Darkness independently, with no trace of a living human's aura.
"No, no, this isn't real! It's not you!"
"Don't deny Reality, Nathaniel, hmm... there are already three Nathaniels, so I'll address you as Horror from now on." A deep voice echoed from behind the yellow-black Mask, while a hand firmly grasped Horror's face.
With a tight squeeze, the cockroach shell fell from his mouth.
"No, I beg you, kill me, don't subject me to this torment any longer." Mr. Sinister realized what he had just done, retching while desperately clawing at his throat, crying out.
"Regrettably, you possess Undying qualities, and eliminating you thoroughly is too troublesome. I refuse."
"For God's sake!"
"No need to look to God, look at me!" Su Ming forced his head up: "I can grant you freedom, but I need you to do something for me."
"What? Can you... really release me?" Mr. Sinister's face expressed incredulity, his fingers leaving shallow marks on the ground.
"Can I?" Su Ming turned to the Elder Master.
"His physique is too strong, and the experiments on him hold no further significance. I've also had my fill of fun." The Elder Master replied casually; 9527 was originally Deathstroke's prize, his fate now naturally subject to his discretion.
The will of the Supreme Mage must be executed without question.
"You've heard the answer, now tell me, what is your response?" The black-yellow Mask bore down on him, like a Nightmare becoming increasingly clear.
"I agree! Whatever the terms, I agree!"
Nathaniel knelt, his head pounding furiously up and down as if nodding, nearly forgetting what the outside world looked like, tormented by various illusions and experiments to the brink of insanity.
"Very well, the task is simple. Infiltrate the Hellfire Club, it should be easy for you. Surveil and gather intelligence, and at the crucial moment, help me kill Sebastian, then you are completely free."
That is Su Ming's condition. On one hand, Sebastian is an enemy of the Magnetic King, ingratiation requires eliminating him.
On the other hand, Mr. Sinister indeed needed release; his future experiments lead to Cable's creation. To prevent World War II's history from being reversed, Su Ming needed Cable.
Additionally, the current situation necessitates understanding actions on the Mutant front, requiring a Mutant to gather intelligence for Su Ming.
Mr. Sinister was a suitable candidate.
Without much hesitation, Horror's head bobbed up and down, as if bowing in fervor: "I agree!"
"I won't trust you so easily. This is a transaction, and I need a contract... Mordo, connect with Emperor Vishanti, the notary office should be open."