Su Ming took hold of Gordon and arrived at Wayne Manor, which is situated on the outskirts of the city, boasting a decent terrain.
The surrounding hills and mountain streams effectively bought some time, and Bruce had taken adequate protective measures, completely isolating the building from the seawater.
He installed the same energy shield found at the Hall of Justice in his own home.
What's the big deal about spending money?
He went directly for the best, and if time had permitted, he would have installed such a protective system on every building in Gotham.
But this shield couldn't stop Deathstroke, who quickly burned a hole at the top with a large fireball and took the opportunity before it remerged to fly in with the Director.
Su Ming threw Director Gordon onto the balcony on the third floor and went to look for Alfred.
When he found him, the butler was still gracefully preparing breakfast in the kitchen.
Although the young master might not return, breakfast had to be ready at all times, and the newspaper had to be ironed before it could be handled by the young master.
Orange juice, toast, pan-fried bacon, and runny fried eggs, none could be skimped on.
However, today's newspaper was delivered somewhat late, and it still hadn't arrived.
The butler turned around to find Deathstroke standing at the kitchen door.
"Uh, you're not the paperboy."
Su Ming: "???"
Alfred straightened his suit and continued making breakfast, having already learned much from Batman, such as the existence of Otherworldly Deathstroke.
So seeing someone like him appear in the mansion didn't surprise him.
It took Director Gordon a minute to catch up, worried that Deathstroke might harm the butler, but when he found the two, he saw Deathstroke eating breakfast.
"Huh?"
Initially, Gordon had taken a sword from the decorative armor in the hallway, but seeing the current scene, he instinctively put the sword down.
"The toast is quite good, no bat flavor,"
Deathstroke critiqued as he ate.
There was still plenty of time before the flood submerged Wayne Tower, so forget about eating breakfast; even taking a nap here wouldn't be an issue, letting Harley and Ivy wait a bit longer.
The butler stood by the table with his hands behind his back, holding a fruit platter in one arm, with a towel draped over it, and smiled as he bantered with Deathstroke.
"If you're talking about young master's personal preferences, it's clear he has no say in family meals."
"Ha, you've exposed one of his weaknesses to me; he can't cook," Su Ming laughed and nodded, starting to eat the fried egg.
"Actually, as his butler, I'd rather my young master knew nothing, at least not end up like today," Alfred's smile faded and he bowed slightly.
Su Ming sighed, as an elder, Ah Fu naturally didn't want to see Bruce become Batman, preferring a peaceful life instead.
Ideally living like other wealthy young masters without shouldering the responsibility of protecting the Earth.
But the world still needs Batman, and the old butler's wishes were just that, a wish. Now the old man only felt proud of Bruce.
Su Ming enjoyed Bruce's breakfast, as Batman surely didn't have time to come back, so the food shouldn't go to waste.
If the flood couldn't be stopped, this might be the last egg on Earth.
The old butler had seen the situation outside, but he cooked simply out of habit.
However, reality is reality; he eventually gave breakfast to those who needed it.
If he had known earlier that the butler had heard of him, Su Ming wouldn't have needed to bring Gordon as some witness or hostage.
Oh well, consider it a good deed; at least it's a safe place, and even if Gordon wanted to go out and get himself killed, he'd need Alfred's permission first.
Not to mention, even if the butler asked the Director to use both hands and feet, Gordon still might not be a match for the old butler.
But this place wasn't suitable for bringing Harley and Ivy; madwomen were unpredictable.
"What are you... doing?" Gordon dragged his sword and approached the dining table, looking at the unusually young Deathstroke and the old butler with a peaceful expression.
Su Ming, while chewing his food: "It seems Batman hasn't told you there are two Deathstrokes now? As you can see, I'm eating."
Given the current state of the world, Su Ming assumed that the original Old Slade of this world was also trying to save the world.
"Mr. Wilson, please swallow your food before speaking. It's quite unbecoming to do otherwise."
The old butler immediately seized the chance to lecture him, and Su Ming suddenly felt immense pressure.
Gordon knew Batman's true identity, but Batman still kept many secrets from him.
But it seemed this Deathstroke was an ally of the Justice League?
"You shouldn't have brought me here. The city is being flooded, and the citizens need me." He placed the sword on the table and leaned forward, as if to negotiate with Deathstroke.
The old butler put down the fruit platter and confiscated the sword.
Su Ming raised his hand to signal a pause until he swallowed what was in his mouth and took a few sips of orange juice.
"To clarify, while the citizens indeed need rescue, it's not you they need. In my view, as an ordinary person, you are one who also needs rescuing."
Gordon was speechless, just realizing that the two had flown over earlier.
"I've seen it already; the Bat Clan, the Birds of Prey, and even a few Tier Three Heroes from the Justice League are in the city helping, and even the super villains from Arkham have started self-rescue efforts. At such times, the best choice for ordinary people is not to add to the chaos."
Under the butler's gaze, Su Ming put down the hand he was about to use to wipe his mouth, picked up a napkin, and wiped leisurely. Only then did the old butler smile.
He stood up and re-fastened his helmet: "Ah Fu, am I right?"
The butler nodded, quickly tidying up the dining table: "A very rational choice."
"That's good, I want to use your communications equipment to contact the Hall of Justice. Can you watch over Director Gordon and stop him from running around?"
Su Ming pointed at the still dazed police director.
No matter what the other side thinks, he plans to leave Gordon here.
The butler naturally agreed. Director Gordon is the young master's friend, Barbara's father, and the most upright officer in the city.
Now, to ensure his safety, the only option is to temporarily detain him.
Subsequently, Ah Fu arranged a safe house for Gordon, a luxuriously decorated room without windows, and locked the door with a fingerprint lock.
"The wooden door is lined with Promethium metal, making it safe both inside and out. Now, please follow me."
He led Su Ming to the underground Bat Cave, and at this time, due to the flood, the tunnel leading outside was already closed.
The butler skillfully used the computer to contact Batman.
"Ah Fu, now isn't the time." Batman's face appeared on the screen, he was busy to the brim, surrounded by monitors displaying various catastrophes around the world.
"Young master, I wasn't trying to ask you home for dinner, but a friend of yours needs to contact you."
"I've already seen it." Batman turned his head to other screens, directing local heroes to adopt backup plans for rescue: "But Deathstroke certainly has his own plan, contacting me is not a good sign... he's an ally of the Justice League, not my friend."
The old butler wasn't buying his act; Bruce's claim was completely ineffective for him: "Indeed, young master, you think you don't need friends, but many people consider themselves your friends, you should see things from their perspective to avoid hurting them."
"Deathstroke, don't hide behind my butler." Batman's mouth twitched slightly, he evaded the butler's words and spoke directly to Su Ming: "What do you want?"
"I want to borrow your spaceship, the one you built with Steel Bone for the Justice League, with eight seats and a restroom. I know you definitely have a backup." Su Ming wasn't holding back.
"An alien fleet has blocked Earth's orbit and caused global flooding. The total number of warships exceeds one hundred thousand, I don't think heading to the cosmos is a good choice." Batman indirectly refused.
Su Ming rubbed his chin, it turns out it's an alien invasion, the sky is locked down...
"One hundred thousand ships, haven't you asked Superman to try? It should be easy for him to shoot down a few."
"The enemy has a special technology, they've now formed a dense energy barrier structure trapping everything trying to leave the atmosphere on Earth, including Superman... Moreover, our primary issue is rescuing the populace and stopping the continuously rising sea level."
Batman indicated he had tried.
He certainly has a way to send Superman off Earth, but with the water constantly rising, Batman chose to first arrange manpower to save people.
This transformation into fish is uncertain if it can be reversed, but for now, every civilian mutation is a potential future enemy.
Plus, superheroes also need to eat and drink, relying on ordinary people's contributions, saving more civilians now will sustain longer if a prolonged battle is needed in the future.
"I see, if you're willing to lend me a spaceship so I can take a few friends to roam above, I can consider boarding the alien warship to explore for you, and if possible, kill the enemy leaders along the way."
Su Ming wasn't interested in saving people, but going to space to chop some aliens wasn't too bad.
What energy isolation zone? Can it withstand X metal?
Batman squinted, contemplating that even if he didn't want to hire Deathstroke, he had to agree to this deal.
Every time Deathstroke appears, it seems he's forced to make deals, this feeling of being schemed is awful.
But he couldn't control the circumstances.
He pressed a series of buttons on the console, and the floor of the Bat Cave cracked open. A spaceship rose from the abyss below the hall, identical to the Justice League's spacecraft model.
Except the original was taken by Steel Bone, now this is one of Batman's backup plans.
"The spacecraft's permissions have been unlocked, it's yours to use, but it's just on loan." Batman proposed a new condition, such a valuable spacecraft couldn't be given to Deathstroke, only temporarily lent.
Though he didn't mention a rental period, it seems he's realized Su Ming won't stay in this world too long.
"Alright, but if the spaceship isn't a gift, then we need to discuss the fee." Su Ming wasn't bothered, he only needed a ship as a temporary action base: "I'm not a teenager, taking the Bat Spaceship for a spin isn't much compensation for me."
He himself can always break through the atmosphere physically, what's the use of a spacecraft?
"Deposit of one million."
Batman is busy, hardly has time to discuss money issues? It's just a string of numbers, no big deal!
"OK, though this task isn't easy, but since you're a long-time client, I'll give you a discount, you're in for a win." Su Ming turned to the spaceship, he wanted to familiarize himself with the controls.
In his memory, he has skills to pilot various aircraft, space ships... should be roughly the same...?
Batman glanced at him, then turned to Ah Fu: "Guard our home."
The butler merely nodded slightly, he would do so.
"Batman?" Su Ming seemed to remember something, turning around in the dim Bat Cave.
"Go ahead."
"Try not to die before you pay, be careful, things aren't right."
Batman operated the keyboard, providing intelligence support and dispatch to global heroes, his current considerations were priority over his own safety.
As for Luthor, currently there's no connection found between the bald head and this matter.
"I know, you be careful too."
Batman cut off the communication.