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Chapter 306: Where Are the Troublemakers?
2023-10-28 Author: Rowing Without Oars 233
Chapter 306: Where Are the Troublemakers?
Zandia.
This is one of the fictional nations in DC Comics, a common backdrop that has appeared in many different hero publications. This is because it's the place on DC's Earth with the strongest ties to global criminals.
Due to certain fictional political factors, Zandia is far removed from all law enforcement agencies in the DC Universe. This delicate status has, naturally, turned it into a paradise for supervillains.
When not robbing banks or brawling, many famous supervillains occasionally take a little vacation for themselves, and Zandia is a popular destination. Even the Joker owns property here.
And so, Orin Vale and Kara also made a special trip to Zandia, flying halfway around the world to experience the culture of the crime capital.
But of course, they certainly hadn't come just for fun. The goal of their trip was also clear: a certain item specifically requested by the Old Wizard.
A Memory Crystal.
The name alone revealed it to be a magical item related to memory, an excellent medium for performing various memory-related spells.
Regarding the Trinity's amnesia, the Old Wizard couldn't tell for the time being who had cast the spell or what its effects were. Furthermore, with his insufficient magical power at the moment, he had little confidence in resolving it himself. But with the Memory Crystal in hand, things would be much easier.
The Old Wizard mentioned that he had contacted a few old friends and inquired about the whereabouts of this item.
To be honest, Orin Vale was a little surprised when the Old Wizard said he still had old friends. After all, when a nine-thousand-year-old man says that, you can't help but wonder if his so-called friends are six feet under or resting in an urn. But considering that the magical world always has some of those undying old geezers, it didn't seem all that surprising.
And so, they arrived here, in Zandia.
Lorratt. A dangerous woman whose name appeared on lists of the world's most deadly and intelligent figures, she was also a perennial fixture at the top of the A.R.G.U.S. wanted list.
But unlike others at the top of the list, she rarely took action herself, generally holing up in her stronghold in Zandia. Her main business was running entertainment venues for supervillains; under her name were a series of enterprises such as the Villain Bar, Villain Casino, and Villain Club, all located in Zandia.
And the item Orin Vale was looking for was said to be at a black market run by Lorratt.
The location was rather well-hidden. From the outside, it appeared to be an abandoned steel mill, its main entrance locked tight. No, not just locked—judging by the rust covering it, it might not even open anymore.
But a wise man once said that when the front door won't open, going in through the back door is also an option.
Sure enough, they followed a dark, damp, and seemingly inconspicuous side path.
One after the other, they squeezed inside.
Deep within the black market, a man wearing a deep purple helmet and strange armor slowly opened his eyes.
His codename was "Snake Eyes," and he was one of Lorratt's right-hand men. He possessed super-senses unparalleled by ordinary people, so acute they bordered on tormenting his own nervous system. The helmet and equipment he wore were designed to effectively control his abilities.
Now, he had been appointed the head of this facility. His powerful senses ensured that no government agents or superheroes could infiltrate the villain facility, while also ensuring that no overly arrogant villains would use their superpowers to break the rules.
And at this moment, he seemed to have discovered something.
"Looks like we have some uninvited guests," he said faintly.
"Here?"
The one who answered from the back door was a burly man, his build so massive it was almost unnatural. His enormous body was wrapped in a tight-fitting suit, seeming to contain infinite power.
Nuclear Man, a villain of Superman, possessed strength rivaling Superman's and had appeared in the old movie "Superman IV."
A heavyweight brawler, currently also working under Lorratt.
"Two people, a man and a woman," Snake Eyes said faintly. "They've put on some disguises, thinking they could fool my eyes. But while they might fool others, they can't fool me. They lack the unique aura that criminals have. Instead, they have a... scent of light."
"The scent of light? You can smell that?"
Nuclear Man frowned, seemingly finding the description a bit odd.
But he didn't ask further, only chuckling lightly.
"No matter, I'll handle it."
Passing through the long, narrow path, Orin Vale saw the location of the back door, but at the same time, he also saw their interceptor.
Nuclear Man was currently standing expressionlessly in front of that door, wearing his uniform emblazoned with its iconic nuclear symbol and looking coldly at the two of them.
Kara glanced down at her own criminal-style uniform, which had been changed to all black. "Are we exposed?"
Although Orin Vale had said it didn't matter whether they were exposed or not, that they could just fight their way in through the front door at worst, they had still put on a simple disguise before heading out, adhering to the principle of "the less trouble, the better" to make themselves look like a pair of emerging, third-rate supervillains.
"I'm used to it," Orin Vale said calmly. Having their identities exposed has become a recurring theme for people from the Land of Light. It's standard procedure, nothing to be surprised about.
"You've trespassed where you don't belong," Nuclear Man said icily.
"This will be the last place you ever come to."
Kara shot an inquiring gaze at Orin Vale.
"Should I? Or..."
Seemingly feeling he had been slighted, Nuclear Man let out a great shout, leaped forward, and threw a punch with immense strength—powerful enough to shatter mountains—right at them!
Orin Vale didn't reply, only turning his head to glance at Nuclear Man.
Super strength, super speed... but not as fast as Superman. His form was sloppy; it was less a technique and more a simple boar rush. With a single glance, Orin Vale saw at least seven or eight major weak points in the guy's movements, as if in slow motion.
Orin Vale casually leaned to the side. As his figure swept past, he lightly guided Nuclear Man's punching wrist, changing the direction of his charging force from horizontal to vertical. He followed up with a complementary elbow strike to the man's chin, also with an upward burst of power.
He stopped. Time flowed again, and a transparent shockwave exploded out of thin air. The two vertical, immense forces superimposed, and Nuclear Man instantly shot up like an ascending rocket, vanishing into the sky with a whoosh.
"You were too slow. To save time, I did it myself," Orin Vale said, clapping his hands.
Kara shrugged without a word, and the two of them stepped inside.
Unexpectedly, what seemed like a dark and narrow place was bright and open after they entered.
Entering through the inconspicuous back door and fumbling down a dim flight of stairs, what greeted their eyes was a scene of magnificent, golden splendor. The vast and open hall was extraordinarily lively, with the world's most deadly criminals enthusiastically selling all sorts of strange things.
For instance, a single glance showed Orin Vale a tattered piece of red cloth labeled as an old cape torn from Superman. There was also a bullet that had been flattened on Superman's chest and Batarangs used by Batman...
Kara suddenly stopped in her tracks, her eyes practically bulging as she saw the merchandise at a certain stall.
Under a glass cover was a single strand of golden hair, almost unnoticeable if one didn't look closely.
The product name was: One strand of Supergirl's hair. Collected from the battlefield of the fight against Brainiac in Metropolis. Comes with a Kryptonian DNA verification certificate. Tenfold compensation if it's fake.
Kara: "???"
Deep within the black market.
When his super-senses captured the sound of Nuclear Man being defeated in an instant, Snake Eyes fell silent.
How strong was Nuclear Man?
Back in Metropolis, he could even go toe-to-toe with Superman, and their fight had been earth-shaking. Although he was ultimately put down by Superman, he had at least fought with style and vigor.
So how long had it taken that mysterious person just now?
A nanosecond?
He didn't know, but Snake Eyes knew it was shorter than the limit of his own reaction time.
It seemed that with just one punch, Nuclear Man had become a star in the sky.
After a moment of silence, a Henchman suddenly ran in hastily.
"Sir! Mr. Snake Eyes, that troublemaker got in..."
But unexpectedly, Snake Eyes shot his head up and glared at him icily. The Henchman immediately shut his mouth, uneasy and unsure what he had said wrong.
"Troublemakers? Where are the troublemakers?" Snake Eyes demanded coldly, crossing his legs. "Why don't I see any?"
Henchman: "?"
The Henchman stood stunned for a moment, then said hesitantly, "But... didn't you just tell Mr. Nuclear Man to handle it? And then Mr. Nuclear Man was sent flying..."
"You misheard," Snake Eyes said, calmly taking a sip of tea.
"He just told me he felt a bit stuffy and wanted to go out for some fresh air, so I let him."
Henchman: ".?"
(end of chapter)
2023-10-28 Author: Rowing Without Oars 233
Chapter 306: Where Are the Troublemakers?
Zandia.
This is one of the fictional nations in DC Comics, a common backdrop that has appeared in many different hero publications. This is because it's the place on DC's Earth with the strongest ties to global criminals.
Due to certain fictional political factors, Zandia is far removed from all law enforcement agencies in the DC Universe. This delicate status has, naturally, turned it into a paradise for supervillains.
When not robbing banks or brawling, many famous supervillains occasionally take a little vacation for themselves, and Zandia is a popular destination. Even the Joker owns property here.
And so, Orin Vale and Kara also made a special trip to Zandia, flying halfway around the world to experience the culture of the crime capital.
But of course, they certainly hadn't come just for fun. The goal of their trip was also clear: a certain item specifically requested by the Old Wizard.
A Memory Crystal.
The name alone revealed it to be a magical item related to memory, an excellent medium for performing various memory-related spells.
Regarding the Trinity's amnesia, the Old Wizard couldn't tell for the time being who had cast the spell or what its effects were. Furthermore, with his insufficient magical power at the moment, he had little confidence in resolving it himself. But with the Memory Crystal in hand, things would be much easier.
The Old Wizard mentioned that he had contacted a few old friends and inquired about the whereabouts of this item.
To be honest, Orin Vale was a little surprised when the Old Wizard said he still had old friends. After all, when a nine-thousand-year-old man says that, you can't help but wonder if his so-called friends are six feet under or resting in an urn. But considering that the magical world always has some of those undying old geezers, it didn't seem all that surprising.
And so, they arrived here, in Zandia.
Lorratt. A dangerous woman whose name appeared on lists of the world's most deadly and intelligent figures, she was also a perennial fixture at the top of the A.R.G.U.S. wanted list.
But unlike others at the top of the list, she rarely took action herself, generally holing up in her stronghold in Zandia. Her main business was running entertainment venues for supervillains; under her name were a series of enterprises such as the Villain Bar, Villain Casino, and Villain Club, all located in Zandia.
And the item Orin Vale was looking for was said to be at a black market run by Lorratt.
The location was rather well-hidden. From the outside, it appeared to be an abandoned steel mill, its main entrance locked tight. No, not just locked—judging by the rust covering it, it might not even open anymore.
But a wise man once said that when the front door won't open, going in through the back door is also an option.
Sure enough, they followed a dark, damp, and seemingly inconspicuous side path.
One after the other, they squeezed inside.
Deep within the black market, a man wearing a deep purple helmet and strange armor slowly opened his eyes.
His codename was "Snake Eyes," and he was one of Lorratt's right-hand men. He possessed super-senses unparalleled by ordinary people, so acute they bordered on tormenting his own nervous system. The helmet and equipment he wore were designed to effectively control his abilities.
Now, he had been appointed the head of this facility. His powerful senses ensured that no government agents or superheroes could infiltrate the villain facility, while also ensuring that no overly arrogant villains would use their superpowers to break the rules.
And at this moment, he seemed to have discovered something.
"Looks like we have some uninvited guests," he said faintly.
"Here?"
The one who answered from the back door was a burly man, his build so massive it was almost unnatural. His enormous body was wrapped in a tight-fitting suit, seeming to contain infinite power.
Nuclear Man, a villain of Superman, possessed strength rivaling Superman's and had appeared in the old movie "Superman IV."
A heavyweight brawler, currently also working under Lorratt.
"Two people, a man and a woman," Snake Eyes said faintly. "They've put on some disguises, thinking they could fool my eyes. But while they might fool others, they can't fool me. They lack the unique aura that criminals have. Instead, they have a... scent of light."
"The scent of light? You can smell that?"
Nuclear Man frowned, seemingly finding the description a bit odd.
But he didn't ask further, only chuckling lightly.
"No matter, I'll handle it."
Passing through the long, narrow path, Orin Vale saw the location of the back door, but at the same time, he also saw their interceptor.
Nuclear Man was currently standing expressionlessly in front of that door, wearing his uniform emblazoned with its iconic nuclear symbol and looking coldly at the two of them.
Kara glanced down at her own criminal-style uniform, which had been changed to all black. "Are we exposed?"
Although Orin Vale had said it didn't matter whether they were exposed or not, that they could just fight their way in through the front door at worst, they had still put on a simple disguise before heading out, adhering to the principle of "the less trouble, the better" to make themselves look like a pair of emerging, third-rate supervillains.
"I'm used to it," Orin Vale said calmly. Having their identities exposed has become a recurring theme for people from the Land of Light. It's standard procedure, nothing to be surprised about.
"You've trespassed where you don't belong," Nuclear Man said icily.
"This will be the last place you ever come to."
Kara shot an inquiring gaze at Orin Vale.
"Should I? Or..."
Seemingly feeling he had been slighted, Nuclear Man let out a great shout, leaped forward, and threw a punch with immense strength—powerful enough to shatter mountains—right at them!
Orin Vale didn't reply, only turning his head to glance at Nuclear Man.
Super strength, super speed... but not as fast as Superman. His form was sloppy; it was less a technique and more a simple boar rush. With a single glance, Orin Vale saw at least seven or eight major weak points in the guy's movements, as if in slow motion.
Orin Vale casually leaned to the side. As his figure swept past, he lightly guided Nuclear Man's punching wrist, changing the direction of his charging force from horizontal to vertical. He followed up with a complementary elbow strike to the man's chin, also with an upward burst of power.
He stopped. Time flowed again, and a transparent shockwave exploded out of thin air. The two vertical, immense forces superimposed, and Nuclear Man instantly shot up like an ascending rocket, vanishing into the sky with a whoosh.
"You were too slow. To save time, I did it myself," Orin Vale said, clapping his hands.
Kara shrugged without a word, and the two of them stepped inside.
Unexpectedly, what seemed like a dark and narrow place was bright and open after they entered.
Entering through the inconspicuous back door and fumbling down a dim flight of stairs, what greeted their eyes was a scene of magnificent, golden splendor. The vast and open hall was extraordinarily lively, with the world's most deadly criminals enthusiastically selling all sorts of strange things.
For instance, a single glance showed Orin Vale a tattered piece of red cloth labeled as an old cape torn from Superman. There was also a bullet that had been flattened on Superman's chest and Batarangs used by Batman...
Kara suddenly stopped in her tracks, her eyes practically bulging as she saw the merchandise at a certain stall.
Under a glass cover was a single strand of golden hair, almost unnoticeable if one didn't look closely.
The product name was: One strand of Supergirl's hair. Collected from the battlefield of the fight against Brainiac in Metropolis. Comes with a Kryptonian DNA verification certificate. Tenfold compensation if it's fake.
Kara: "???"
Deep within the black market.
When his super-senses captured the sound of Nuclear Man being defeated in an instant, Snake Eyes fell silent.
How strong was Nuclear Man?
Back in Metropolis, he could even go toe-to-toe with Superman, and their fight had been earth-shaking. Although he was ultimately put down by Superman, he had at least fought with style and vigor.
So how long had it taken that mysterious person just now?
A nanosecond?
He didn't know, but Snake Eyes knew it was shorter than the limit of his own reaction time.
It seemed that with just one punch, Nuclear Man had become a star in the sky.
After a moment of silence, a Henchman suddenly ran in hastily.
"Sir! Mr. Snake Eyes, that troublemaker got in..."
But unexpectedly, Snake Eyes shot his head up and glared at him icily. The Henchman immediately shut his mouth, uneasy and unsure what he had said wrong.
"Troublemakers? Where are the troublemakers?" Snake Eyes demanded coldly, crossing his legs. "Why don't I see any?"
Henchman: "?"
The Henchman stood stunned for a moment, then said hesitantly, "But... didn't you just tell Mr. Nuclear Man to handle it? And then Mr. Nuclear Man was sent flying..."
"You misheard," Snake Eyes said, calmly taking a sip of tea.
"He just told me he felt a bit stuffy and wanted to go out for some fresh air, so I let him."
Henchman: ".?"
(end of chapter)
