Harcourt was rigid with tension, feeling completely helpless.
She, with a gun, had a slower attack speed than someone using a sword; her life had no guarantee whatsoever.
But fortunately, Katana didn't kill her. After slicing the pistol, she sheathed her sword.
"Good, you seem to be real."
Katana's eyes could see the opponent's soul in an instant during a fight; this was a power granted to her by the God of Death.
Seeing the other shore between life and death—it perfectly aligned with Japanese philosophical style.
Harcourt didn't understand, but she saw that Katana had no intention of killing her, which made her breathe a sigh of relief.
She probed, "So, what do you want to tell me by asking to meet alone? Also, where are the others?"
Katana walked ahead, leading the way, and Harcourt hurried to follow.
Reaching a door, Katana opened it, revealing Killer Frost still unconscious on the bed.
"She might have a concussion," Katana explained to Harcourt, then added, "As for the others... they're all dead."
As Katana said this, her eyes fixated on Harcourt, making her instinctively take a step back.
"Why? Could Atlantis...?" she urgently pressed.
Could it be that even genetic weapons couldn't defeat those Undersea dwellers?
Katana's heart sank. The Atlantis incident was indeed instigated by Checkmate. She suddenly felt a strong aversion to the organization.
If they had only targeted the Atlantis Army or a specific group of people, she could understand, but this was, without a doubt, an act of genocide.
Due to historical reasons, the entire nation of Japan had a certain filter when it came to the United States, but today's events made her feel like that filter had shattered.
Working for Checkmate was not as good as working for My Lord.
So she said unceremoniously, "Atlantis, as you expected, has become a dead city, but I don't understand, isn't Peacemaker one of your people? Why would he suddenly hunt us?"
"Peacemaker? He hunted you?" Harcourt was very surprised. Heavens, they really hadn't issued such an order.
It was just a simple reconnaissance mission; there was no need for them to resort to murder.
She felt something was wrong; something was slipping out of her control.
"What exactly is the situation with Peacemaker? Can you explain it in detail?"
Seeing that her expression wasn't faked, Katana also grew suspicious.
She then recounted her underwater experiences to Harcourt, though she naturally omitted the part about the "gods."
The more Harcourt listened, the uglier her expression became. She was absolutely certain that the real Peacemaker was just an ordinary person, definitely not a monster; otherwise, his threat level should be higher.
"Something's wrong with this. We conducted background checks and blood tests. Peacemaker is absolutely 100% human. What you encountered…"
"Are you saying those monsters have nothing to do with you? Then what about the weapon that caused Atlantis's current state? That has nothing to do with you either?"
Katana stared intently at Harcourt.
Harcourt suddenly didn't know what to say. She felt Katana's change seemed quite significant.
"This is all… for the future of humanity…"
The explanation was weak, and Katana lost interest in continuing the conversation with her.
"Anyway, I've delivered the intel to you. Killer Frost is your responsibility."
Katana turned to leave, but Harcourt quickly stopped her.
"Where are you going?"
Katana merely turned her head slightly, only showing her a side profile.
In the moonlight, Harcourt clearly saw her mask.
No wonder she had found the other person's face blurry just now. When did Katana switch her mask to a black one?
And those eyes, they didn't look like they belonged to a human. Did the soul taker have this ability?
Harcourt believed Katana must have hidden something before. The Japanese are indeed untrustworthy!
"I am already free, Harcourt. Delivering the intel and the witness to you is the last thing I can do for Checkmate."
"You won't get away!" Harcourt said with a dark expression.
If Amanda found out about this, she would be saddled with multiple responsibilities!
Katana just smiled at her. She had never smiled before, so this smile actually left Harcourt stunned for a moment.
"We'll see about that!"
With that, her body vanished like a shadow, disappearing from Harcourt's sight.
Harcourt's face was grim as she brought her watch to her mouth.
"How much longer until you arrive?"
"Five minutes! You only need to stall for five minutes. This is Superman's territory after all, we must be careful with our actions…"
"You don't have five minutes; she's already gone!"
Harcourt said bitterly. She was an old schemer herself; how could she possibly follow exactly what Katana said?
She had already arranged a special squad, ready to ambush Katana while she stalled her.
Are you kidding? When did Checkmate ever let a mere X-agent call the shots?
But she had been tricked. Whether Katana knew it beforehand or it was just a coincidence, the plan had already failed.
She tried to calm her anger, choosing to face the facts, so she spoke into her watch:
"Have the squad send a medical team directly. There's an X-agent here who needs to be recovered."
She hung up the communication after speaking.
She then pondered Katana's words. If what she said was true, then the nature of this matter was terrifying.
This meant that there was a very likely unknown force hidden within Checkmate.
The known intelligence was that the enemy could transform into anyone, even any creature, at will.
And from Katana's description, they likely also possessed the memories of the person they transformed into.
Harcourt boldly speculated that the other party either ate Peacemaker's brain or occupied his body.
Of course, the possibility of magic couldn't be ruled out, but Checkmate didn't have any magic-side talents internally.
The closest one was Katana, and she had already fled.
Hmm? That's not right either… Harcourt mused thoughtfully. She remembered that the Justice Society's archives mentioned a person called "Doctor Fate," who was said to possess power comparable to Shazam…
Although the relationship between Justice Society's Hawkeye and Checkmate was tense recently, she felt that Hawkeye shouldn't truly ignore all crises.
After listening to Katana's account, Harcourt deeply suspected Checkmate's internal workings. She had also opposed it when the higher-ups issued the mission to release the genetic weapon.
But she was insignificant, and to put it bluntly, Harcourt herself didn't feel much sympathy for the Undersea people; it was merely a natural empathy for suffering.
But now, as she reconsidered, she found many flaws in the plan, because it hadn't considered the consequences of failure at all.
Considering defeat before victory is a basic tactical principle; constantly clinging to the idea of inevitable success is destined not to go far.
Therefore, she strongly suspected that the person who drafted this plan was very likely a part of the unknown force.
Of course, there was also a possibility that Katana was lying.
She was just trying to divert Checkmate's attention to facilitate her escape.
But if that were the case, would she need to leave Killer Frost as a witness?
Harcourt looked at the unconscious Killer Frost, feeling somewhat undecided.
This was an unknown game, and Harcourt didn't even know who her opponent was or who she could trust.
Amanda? She was the prime suspect; she issued the entire plan.
Just in case, Harcourt couldn't tell her everything… While Harcourt was still racking her brain for countermeasures, in The Pentagon, a group of middle-aged military officers gathered.
Our comrades have lost contact.
What was being referred to were Peacemaker, who was on a reconnaissance mission to Atlantis, and the submarine crew.
No news at all? No survivors from that squad?
So far, no members who survived the Bermuda waters have been found, but I have located the submarine. It ran aground on the Metropolis waterfront.
Metropolis? Is this related to Superman?
Currently unconfirmed.
First Batman discovered our movements, then our comrades heading to Atlantis lost contact. Do you think this is a coincidence?
You mean… we've been exposed?
We have to consider that possibility.
Then should the plan be launched early?
It can only be so.
But our strength is not enough to contend with the Justice League.
If it truly comes to a point where the survival of our species is at stake, then we can only execute "that" protocol.
This is a crazy idea.
We are born of "the Lord," and naturally, we can return to "the Lord." Perhaps this is the destiny of our race… I don't believe it!
The general who spoke angrily left, taking a group of people with him, leaving only a few still seated.
You know nothing, nothing at all
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