"Your plan seems to be progressing well."
Su Ming retrieved the Godslayer from Cindy, exchanged a few words with her, and then went to meet some people. Ultimately, he stood once more before Dr. Manhattan.
In his domain, there was neither time nor space concept. The pure quantum state of reality made Su Ming unsure whether this was a dimension or a plane.
For Su Ming, Manhattan disappeared before, and now he had reappeared. But for the other party, it's possible either happened first.
Dr. Manhattan still floated cross-legged in mid-air, his gaze fixated on the splendid Star Sea, neither affirming nor denying Su Ming's words.
"We are all alike, knowing many things, but choices are difficult."
"You chose Luthor to sound the Doomsday Clock. What did he actually see outside the wall?" Su Ming took off his rings one by one, placing them into Manhattan's open palm.
Dr. Manhattan's blue face retained its unchanging expression: "Whatever he saw, it was just observing a possibility; whereas you are the anomaly with infinite possibilities."
"To merge the Watchmen Universe and the Multiverse's core, now you have the time and space to replace—shouldn't you proceed?"
Su Ming squinted his eyes, probing with a question.
Dr. Manhattan redirected his gaze to the cosmic space, watching the stars pass by, floating silently: "Be it humans or the Creator God, they are merely acting out a possibility, and quantum is omnipresent."
Su Ming pinched his brow, knowing it wasn't time yet, and Manhattan would say nothing.
This guy, declared dead by Death, currently exists in an unknown state that no one comprehends.
As for the Sleep Demon and Lucifer, if all goes as expected, they have already gone ahead to the realms beyond the Multiverse. Even if Su Ming doesn't seek them, they will come back on their own.
But it would be best if they could return with intelligence soon, to aid in his preparation.
"Alright, you only consider God your opponent. I roughly know what you're planning to do, but don't drag me into your celestial fights. I just want to stably upgrade the Cosmos, allowing it to connect with the All-Powerful Universe."
Su Ming dropped a remark, activating the teleportation gem on his left arm bone with Strangulation within, instantly returning to the Marvel Multiverse.
Perhaps after undergoing the baptism of various dimensions, his power had increased slightly, now perceiving Dr. Manhattan's power more clearly.
It's akin to close contact with a cold sun, abundant in contradictions yet existent, and immensely powerful.
However, compared to his own, time in the DC World had paused; it's better to quickly find The Ancient One to study soul health.
.............
Su Ming flew back to his own universe, not returning to his company, but first going back to Kama Taiji.
About ten days had passed in Marvel's time stream, not too long. It remained December 1955, with the new Black Friday just begun, and the month-long Christmas sale battle was waged by merchants.
However, after introducing chain supermarkets and Thanksgiving-Christmas dual sale, over the years Su Ming and Gin had been minimizing their presence in corporate affairs.
His unchanged appearance over decades could be explained by good maintenance, but living too long would still draw some unnecessary attention.
Thus, he established a foundation under the name Wilson, delegating all commercial dealings to their operation.
On one hand, he remains a behind-the-scenes remote operator; on the other, charity offsets many taxes.
Secretly, there's supervision by Spider Web and Adjutant; no one dares steal his money.
Now he truly is the hands-free shopkeeper, spending more time vacationing or on the way to vacations with Gin.
If one day he gets a hold of a cleaned-up Infinite Prescription or Leech Potion, his current identity might continue to be of use.
First, have Spider Web strive towards this, guide SSR towards thoughts of immortality, quickly confronting Hydra to snatch items!
"Hey, Monac, how have you been lately?"
Su Ming floated lightly into the main hall, greeting the Magic Prince kindly.
Monac's hair was disheveled; hearing the voice, he slowly raised his left hand, which trembled violently in the air, taking off his glasses:
"You still know to return?! You scumbag!"
"Wow, why did you suddenly speak German? Which Demon King's price is this?" Su Ming smiled, patting his shoulder, expertly sitting back at his low table: "Any wish you need me to fulfill, don't play with overly dangerous magic."
"I just wish you'd properly be the Supreme Mage!" Monac threw his glasses onto the coffee table, drank deep from a cup, exhaling much steam.
The winter at Kama Taiji remained as calm as ever.
"Relax, later I'll have Hamill stand in for a few days—satisfied? Quickly tell me, any big news in the Magic Realm lately?" Su Ming dug into his ear as if a breeze had just blown by.
Monac wordlessly took out his beard wax; he needed good grooming before enjoying a vacation and courting girls.
In a place like Kama Taiji, isolated at the end of nowhere, he felt cut off from society. While waxing his beard, he said:
"Just the usual, those who died in World War II, several Hell Planes are fighting over the ownership of their souls. Mephisto is the strongest, but others have formed an alliance. Now there are demons defeated every day, recklessly fleeing and colliding with the Earth Dimension's protective barrier. I really can't keep up with them."
"So that's it. Didn't I give you the command of the Nameless before I went on vacation? Why do you still look so drained?"
The Nameless are the group of monks specifically raised in Kama Taiji to share the casting costs for the Supreme Mage.
Monac looked even more bitter. He sighed, "Perhaps you've forgotten that I'm a Black Mage. I'm skilled in Voodoo and various Dark Magic, which is completely different from the White Magic passed down in Kama Taiji."
Su Ming pursed his lips, understanding. That is to say, Monac doesn't want the Nameless to share the cost, but he's like a three-pronged plug, while Kama Taiji is a two-hole socket, so they can't fit together.
"Alright, I'll find something better than rabbits for you later, to share the burden." Su Ming poured him a cup of tea and picked one up himself.
"You're not talking about demons, are you?" Monac suspiciously picked up the teacup in his hand.
"No, the time isn't right yet. You'll understand in the future." Su Ming gently blew on the tea: "Now, I have some soul questions I want to ask Master Gu Yi. Do you know her whereabouts?"
"Soul questions? Aren't you getting along well with all those demons? Go and ask them." Monac squinted mischievously, although the Supreme Mage inevitably deals with demons, Deathstroke's situation seems different.
"Enough nonsense, do you know or not know where Master Gu Yi's location is?" Su Ming rolled his eyes helplessly. He knows soul matters are demons' specialty.
But the Secret Guest is just a novice; she belongs to the Ancient Pantheon and doesn't play with souls.
Hel and Satanah do know quite a bit, but Su Ming worries they might dig a pit for him, so he absolutely won't seek them out when his combat power is affected.
Monac forcefully pressed his mustache, making it curl up appealingly at the corner of his mouth: "That's her unique magic, traveling physically to the Multiverse, not Star Realm Projection, not Plane Teleportation Gate... I'm afraid now besides Emperor Vishanti, no one knows where she is."
"....Oh, I see, then I'll look for the Leopard God instead. Maybe Big Cat can offer some advice." Su Ming stood up, feeling quite uneasy about his soul now and needing to resolve this issue quickly: "Notify Hamill to come and take over, and bring some televisions over. Life here is too simple."
"You mentioned the Leopard God? Sounds like one of the Loa Spirits. As someone with decades of experience as a Witch Doctor, I advise you to be cautious with any Animal Deities. Their thinking is quite different from humans and demons."
Monac got serious, giving a couple of warnings. He was entrusted by Master Gu Yi to assist Deathstroke. Deathstroke's strength isn't a problem, just concerned he doesn't understand the twists and turns in the Magic Realm.
"Don't worry, Wakanda's Leopard God is different from other Loa Spirits. Are you coming on an African journey?" Su Ming smiled and handed him a pack of cigarettes brought back from the DC World, as a sort of local specialty.
"Forget it, I don't particularly like Black Sister. Why don't you ask the doctor? He hasn't seemed to have taken a break from the hospital all these years."
Monac accepted the cigarettes with a smile, but decided against the African journey.
What's there in Africa these days? Nothing but warlords and various deadly diseases.
"For a doctor, treating patients is his hobby. Holloway is New York's best surgeon, and he definitely can't leave now." Su Ming shrugged, then called out to the doorway: "Mordo!"
Just as he spoke, Mordo, who had somehow taken to wearing full-body leather outfits, appeared at the door, his face bearing a masochistically delighted expression.
"Master, what are your orders?"
"Teleportation Gate, to Africa here." Su Ming pulled out a map and pointed it out. Actually, with latitude and longitude, it's rather easy to locate.
Mordo instantly donned his Suspended Ring and drew a circle in the air, and in a blink, a golden flaming ring appeared mid-air.
"Please, Master."
"Hmm, nice. But at least wear a robe over that outfit. The students will wonder what's up seeing you dressed like this." Su Ming approached the Teleportation Gate, casually commenting.
Though Kama Taiji teaches Body Technique too, it's not a wrestling school. Since learning a few lessons in Satanah's shop, Mordo always carries an aura of 'dark reverie.'
"You helped me see the darkness within my soul, Master. I'm just accepting it now. This way, I'll become a qualified Warlock; where there's light, there's shadow. I was too naive before."
Mordo replied to Su Ming while stroking his toned chest through the slick leather, his black face showing an intoxicated expression.
"Ahem... never mind, as long as you're happy."
Su Ming almost choked on his saliva. Considering Mordo's current darkness, it seems Black Magic in the Magic Realm is no longer alluring to him.
Speaking, Su Ming turned to Monac and made a grimace. Mordo's transformation is just too drastic.
Monac shrugged, offering a knowing look.
If he were Deathstroke, he'd definitely avoid seeking Master Gu Yi; if she saw her proud student transformed into his current state, she'd probably go crazy.
Alas, what karmic debt did Mordo incur in his past life to fall into Deathstroke's hands like this? Truly unfortunate.
Monac patted his mustache, tidied his hairstyle, and changed into a stylish suit.
While Deathstroke was off to Africa, he could also leave. His goal was still Paris, to make up for the regrets from the wartime period.