Chapter 702: The Ugly Duckling and the White Swan
The Confession of Envy
It turned out that Barbara's supposed actions against Diana were a complete joke. Luke didn't even have to show up; just Wang Hu alone was enough to pin her down. The current Hong Sect was no longer the former gang organization. It had firmly established itself in both political and business circles and possessed its own security system: an overt security company and a covert legion of death guards.
Dozens of men were equipped with the most advanced power armor and weapon systems. While a one-on-one might not favor Cheetah, in a group fight, she might not gain any advantage.
This force was controlled by Wang Hu, which was his confidence in unifying the East Coast in just two years and driving out the Italian, Mexican, and Russian mobs.
In the past, Diana would never have associated with someone like Wang Hu. Now, it was different. Since he called her "Sister-in-law," she had no choice but to accept it.
The Face-to-Face
The next morning, the clear blue sky held a single fiery orb, promising another beautiful day.
Diana arrived at work punctually, as usual, walking through the museum lobby with long strides, greeting every acquaintance with a polite smile. Once in her office, she put on her gloves and uniform and began her routine work of artifact restoration.
She had repeated this life for years, and today was meant to be no different.
A short while later, the door was kicked open. Barbara Minerva walked in with a dark expression.
"Damn it! Why are you hiding? Are you scared, you coward? Peh!"
The tranquility was instantly broken. The working staff turned their heads, looking bewildered.
Diana put down her pigments and said softly,
"Could you all step out for a moment? Barbara and I have something to discuss."
Although confused, everyone complied with her request, put down their work, and left the room.
This room was specially designed for artifact restoration and had excellent soundproofing, ensuring nothing would be overheard. Diana put away the artifact, carefully placing it in storage before turning to carefully look at her former friend.
Her skin color had changed, her figure had changed, and her eyes had changed. The old Barbara's eyes sparkled; now, they held cold hatred.
"Diana, stop acting so high and mighty. Why didn't you come out to see me last night? Are you afraid, too?"
"If you're scared, call all your companions—Superman, Martian Manhunter, Supergirl, The Flash, and your boyfriend, Luke Shaw. Bring them all! I'm not afraid."
Diana shook her head. "I don't want to fight you. If possible, I'd like to talk, right here."
"We have nothing to talk about."
Diana ignored her attitude and spoke slowly.
"The world is vast, and hidden secrets lie in places ordinary people don't notice—demons, sorcerers, spirits, and evil gods. They are skilled at tempting humans, offering things they deeply desire in exchange for seemingly negligible costs."
"What appears to be an uneven transaction is actually full of traps. Once you agree, you unknowingly sink into it and can't get out. Barbara, have you considered what you've lost?"
"You don't need to lecture me. I know my own business."
"Is that so?"
Diana suddenly countered. "Does that mean you enjoy eating internal organs, swallowing another person's organs into your belly? How does that feel? Isn't it disgusting?"
Barbara's face turned pale, her forehead veins bulged, and the rage in her eyes was almost tangible.
"The difference between humans and beasts isn't just intelligence; it's self-awareness and self-restraint. A human who eats people is not human. Barbara, do you want to degenerate into a beast?"
"Bullshit! What I become is none of your concern! I only came here to tell you that what happened last night isn't over. From now on, you are my mortal enemy."
Diana sighed inwardly and said softly,
"There's one thing I still don't understand: why do you harbor such great hostility toward me? Is it just because I discovered this other side of you?"
Barbara suddenly laughed, her face filled with sarcasm.
"You don't understand?"
"Right, how could you understand?"
"You are Diana Prince! The beautiful, elegant, powerful, and confident Wonder Woman! You are the center of attention everywhere you go. The gentlemen who adore you are countless; the people pursuing you could line up for blocks. Who am I? Who am I?"
Barbara pounded her chest, screaming hysterically. "I am a damn idiot woman that even a homeless man wasn't interested in!"
"Do you know why I didn't go to nightclubs? Because I was scared! I was humiliated there, just like that middle-aged man who hit on me that night, only worse. Have you ever experienced anything like that? Can you understand what I felt inside?"
"We are not from the same world, never have been. You are high and mighty. You are beautiful and powerful. You don't care about the things others dream of. Do you know how much I envied you? I dreamed of becoming a woman like you."
Barbara clenched her fists, making a crunching sound.
"Now I've done it! I'm as beautiful as you, and I'm stronger than you! I will crush all the men who despised me under my feet and make them feel the humiliation I once experienced!"
"Diana, you and I were never friends."
Every word of her confession was laced with venom and grim satisfaction, like an ignored nobody finally getting a turn, or the ugly duckling transforming into the white swan.
At this moment, Diana finally understood the root of everything.
Jealousy!
Barbara, consumed by jealousy, had lost herself. She couldn't see her own predicament and even thought everything was deserved. If this continued, she would eventually turn into someone else entirely.
Who that person was, Diana didn't know, but it was certainly not Barbara Minerva.
"What? Are you speechless? I don't want to hear your nonsense anymore. Since we can't be friends, let's be enemies."
"Only one of us can live."
"Tonight at midnight, North Suburb Farm. I'll be waiting for you there. If you don't show up, I'll go on a killing spree and tell everyone you are Wonder Woman."
With that, she turned and left without delay.
The museum director cautiously entered, hesitating.
"You and Barbara, are you..."
"It's nothing, just a misunderstanding."
Diana took off her gloves. "I have an urgent matter these next two days, so I'll need to take leave. I'll leave the work here, and when I return, I'll work overnight to catch up. I won't cause any delays."
"No problem. Go take care of your business. Don't worry about the work; I'll find someone to handle it."
The director was surprisingly accommodating, a barely perceptible look of reverence in his eyes.
Diana smiled, left the museum, and used a teleportation circle to reach the Rock of Eternity, finding Shazam resting there. Since Luke was still asleep, she had no choice but to seek help from the Wizard.
"Mister Wizard, I want to ask you about something. Have you ever heard of a human or deity that can transform into a cheetah?"
As she spoke, she opened her communicator and projected the image of the half-human, half-leopard Barbara onto the wall.
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