Multiverse: Deathstroke

Chapter 366: Ch.365 Detective Chimp

Diana spotted Bobo and signaled for Albera and Deathstroke to wait aside while she approached the bar to speak with him.

Bobo was a very just-minded chimpanzee. He genuinely had no interest in money and had never been particularly fond of mercenaries.

Albera had no objections; as long as there was booze and cigarettes, she could feel at home anywhere.

"So? Not going to buy me a few drinks?"

She tilted her head towards a nearby booth, slipping into the seat. Just like Su Ming, she preferred dimly lit corners.

"Do they accept U.S. dollars here?"

"As long as mages need to live in human society, the dollar works." She raised her arm and snapped her fingers, but Tracy behind the bar just chewed her gum, pointing a finger at the shelf behind her.

Self-service magic—you just had to shout the type of drink you wanted.

This was a method of service Albera had always feared, as it often led to her drinking too much without realizing it, and spending money like water.

You couldn't expect the enchanted shelf to act like a real bartender, advising against excess or sending you home safely.

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As a magical counter, its only obligation was to fulfill the earliest rules—to get everyone who came through the door as drunk as possible.

But today, someone else was footing the bill, so she didn't need to be polite.

"Two bottles of Ballantine's 21-year-old whiskey."

Two bottles floated off the shelf, landing on their small round table.

Albera motioned for Su Ming to pay, placing the money on the table—four hundred dollars, including the tip.

Yes, the bartender here was only responsible for collecting payment. Once Su Ming pulled out the cash, Tracy used magic to whisk the bills away.

Su Ming clicked his tongue. This woman sure knew how to drink, and she had quite a heavy preference. Ballantine's whiskey was notorious for its strong alcohol kick.

"Not a bad shopping experience."

"Alright, looks like Wonder Woman's having a tough time. She'll probably need a while. Come on, cheers."

Albera smiled, twisting open one of the whiskey bottles. Without waiting for Su Ming to clink glasses, she took a long swig, wiping her mouth cheerfully before sprawling out on the booth's couch.

Since he was paying, Su Ming figured he might as well taste the drink. He took several large gulps and slouched in the same manner, watching what was happening on Diana's side.

Diana removed her hood and approached Bobo, taking a seat at the bar. The hanging lights over the bar cast a soft glow over her long hair.

The chimp turned his head slightly, seeing that it was Diana. He shook his head, swirling the liquid in his glass.

"Here to buy a drink for me, chimp?"

Diana shook her head slightly. She rarely drank, only doing so to celebrate a victory. "You're the owner here."

"Ah, sometimes I tend to forget that."

The chimp grinned wryly, his eyes carrying sadness. He raised the glass and downed the drink. Everything here reminded him of his old friend, the Nightmaster.

"I'm just feeling lost. What's been happening lately? Why have all those mages who once entrusted me with their lives left, one by one?"

Diana frowned, leaning on the bar as she gazed at the chimp.

The fur on the chimp's face was unkempt, and it seemed like he wasn't doing so well lately either.

"Who knows... maybe they didn't like you and decided to escape this world, hehe." The chimp gestured for a second beer. "That's always my first guess—they think I'm irresponsible or lacking a sense of duty or something."

Diana sighed, turning her back and resting her lower back on the bar, her fingers stroking her Lasso of Truth.

"Maybe you're right. Maybe the magical world doesn't like me."

"Uh, wait, you know I was joking, right?" The chimp's face showed surprise. What was going on with Diana today? Why so melancholy? "You're a six-foot-tall goddess with the body of a supermodel; everyone loves you."

"Then why won't they tell me what's happening in the magical world?" Diana turned back, leaning her elbows on the bar and looking the chimp in the eyes. "After all we've faced together..."

The chimp pondered her words, and from not far away came the sound of Deathstroke and the mage sharing a Hell joke.

"Listen, Diana, I was there during that crisis too, remember? I piloted the Ultima Thule to bring in reinforcements from the multiverse." The chimp downed his drink, as if he could never get drunk. "But this time is different. They wouldn't let me know either. I'm just as shut out from the magical world as you are."

"Why?"

"Well, you live in an ivory tower that glows at night, in a world made up of good guys and bad guys. Magic, on the other hand, is just more chaotic and dark." The chimp put down his empty glass, letting out a burp. "As for why I'm excluded... it's probably because I'm just an immortal 'primate' that solves mysteries."

"The magical world rejects me because I'm not a caster."

Diana's gaze shifted to Deathstroke. He was leaning close to the mage, the two of them singing some demonic ditty together. She frowned, then turned her eyes back to the jukebox against the wall.

"But I was riding a griffin before I could even walk. My homeland is Themyscira, an Amazonian magical society, but recently I've seen the mages falling apart. I've never seen anything like it before."

"So I guess it's some sort of backlash," the chimp deduced, his detective mind using its unique logic to theorize.

The laughter of Deathstroke and the mage made Diana restless. She walked over to the wall and turned on the jukebox, letting the classic jazz drown out the noise.

"Magic was supposed to be a power for the benefit of the world, but since the Source Wall shattered and the Omega Titans descended on Earth, the world has grown a 'Tree of Wonder' in a kind of shock response. Not long ago, there was crustal movement, and the Moon was destroyed. Lately, there have been many things I don't understand."

Bobo tapped his finger on the table. "And that's exactly why. Back then, to solve the problem, the Justice League decided to blow up the Moon. But did you ever think to ask the mages for help? Even I know at least a dozen spells that could've solved that crisis without destroying the Moon."

Maybe Batman considered it, but he saw everything as the Justice League's responsibility. He wouldn't have asked the mages to get involved.

With Superman Clark around, who needed magic?

Diana could be reckless at times, but she wasn't stupid. She returned to her seat at the bar and, for the first time, ordered herself a stiff drink.

"A pint of draft beer."

Detective Chimp, sharing her woes, also extended his furry hand. "Two pints."