Time passed quickly, the chaotic day was coming to an end, and people, like predators living in the forest, would return to their nests at night to tally their gains.
The city became much quieter.
And now, only Diana and Bo Bo were left in the Hall of Justice. Everyone else had been sent out to maintain order.
The effect was very limited. Messages from around the world confirmed one thing: panic had erupted. People fell into a frenzy of hysteria, and at this point, members of the Justice League had almost become like rats crossing the street.
Barry captured over a thousand people in one day, but they included men, women, old and young, all just trying to acquire essential supplies for survival.
The police stations and prisons wouldn't accept these prisoners because they didn't have enough food, and locking them up would only mean slowly starving them to death.
Arthur proposed using fish as food, and Mera thought it was feasible. Maybe it could win some people over. As long as they didn't oppose the Justice League, they could come to the entrance of the Hall of Justice every day to receive one fish as sustenance for their entire family.
Although Diana felt this sounded like coercion, she had no better solution, as the Amazon Warriors from Paradise Island were now also relying on fishing to survive.
The Atlanteans helped with the fishing and could probably feed a city, but Mera didn't want to give the fish to those opposing the Justice League because she believed it would be aiding the enemy.
Wonder Woman could only compromise; after all, the fish were theirs.
She suddenly remembered that Deathstroke took her to dinner last night at the Iceberg Restaurant, which seemed very deliberate. Did that imply Deathstroke had anticipated that Earth would soon face a food crisis and took her out for one last good meal?
But she quickly shook her head, guessing it was just a coincidence.
Diana was responsible for commanding the overall situation. The sonic communication system was repaired by Batman during the flood period and was now usable.
As for why Bo Bo stayed, it was even simpler. He was just a gorilla with no strength to truss a chicken—could anyone expect him to go out and maintain order?
He was now idly smoking a cigar, sitting on the table next to Diana, watching the dark crowd outside the Hall of Justice through the big screen.
These fanatics of Luthor's didn't even prepare any reserve supplies and were now holding banners and slogans, demanding the Justice League hand over Superman, the one who murdered the president and Luthor.
They attacked the Hall of Justice and even threw incendiary bullets, but they were all blocked by the defense barriers.
"If Deathstroke saw this scene, he'd probably slaughter them all." Bo Bo said abruptly after exhaling a puff of smoke.
Diana was stunned for a moment: "Why?"
"There are about three thousand people on Justice League Plaza, and we all know globally people are scrambling for supplies, some even plundering them, but these people didn't. Don't you find it unusual?" Bo Bo rubbed his stomach and mentioned that he was getting a bit hungry too.
"Are you saying there are people of Luthor among them?" Wonder Woman frowned but only ordinary people could be seen on the screen.
"I can't say for sure, but it's possible that they've been organized and promised rewards, maybe a bag of flour or a few bananas…" Bo Bo shrugged, speaking helplessly: "In this situation, the Justice League can't take action against them, and only a mercenary like Deathstroke can act at will."
Diana slowly rubbed her face like a cat washing its face, muttering: "No, a massacre in front of the Hall of Justice, you wouldn't want to see that on the internet."
Bo Bo nodded, also sighing: "I know you actually want to kill too. Luthor wants people this way; he kept the internet's function, as a social channel, but in daylight let people cull each other. What kind of freaks will this contradictory society create...."
"With extreme scarcity of supplies externally, people's spirits will soon darken under the stimulus of negative news. What he wants are beasts that can speak and write." Diana sighed deeply and stood up: "Where is Deathstroke, tell me."
"I can't say." Bo Bo covered his mouth, shaking his head like a rattle.
"Why? You should've said his position as soon as you returned. We need his help right now." Diana grabbed the gorilla's two hands and lifted him up.
Bo Bo couldn't match Diana's strength. He grimaced and said: "If I betray him, he'll definitely kill me later on. He's not an animal rights activist."
"No, he's a good person." Diana said this confidently, still holding onto the gorilla.
Bo Bo felt a bitterness in his heart, his lips quivered into wave-like shapes. He wanted to speak but couldn't utter a word.
............
"You've come."
Su Ming heard the sound of the stone door being pushed open. He leaned on his Great Sword, eyes still closed, resting in the corner of the wall.
"I'm here."
Batman, holding Can Luo, appeared at the entrance, with the torches in the corridor casting long shadows of his ears that stretched all the way to Deathstroke's feet.
Su Ming propped himself up, opening his eyes, which were completely bloodshot: "You're later than I expected."
"I was in the Hall of Justice the whole time. It wasn't until Bo Bo and the others returned that I used Can Luo to read their memories and found your location." Batman walked into the small room, smiling: "As for how I got here, I have my own channels."