Chapter 167: Various Plots Part 2

The days began to move once again with the various organizations of the world each focused on their own dealings and individual plans.

Arias's plan for Markovia was now in full swing with Markovia's children's hospital receiving a complete renovation to accommodate the new duties that awaited it.

All this was overseen by Baron Bedlam and his subordinates with little international involvement, even from Arias's organization through Terra.

She herself had returned to the Ark institution and for a time, Arias looked to have gone silent. With the only person allied to him still making moves being Slade.

This gave off the image that Arias's sole focus was perhaps getting Slade into office.

In truth though, Arias didn't even contact Slade in that regard. Whether he won or not was of little consequence, as Arias's plans could work no matter the result.

He simply wanted to divert the government's attention from him. And now with ever rising incidents from the Human Supremacy group, they had no choice but to completely divert resources.

This was finalized in the White House's situation room, where only the president and his highest ranking officials were present.

Superman was also present as representative of the justice league. His recuperation didn't take long, just like before, however mentally he was deeply scarred by Arias, nearly losing his life to him in two instances.

So when the meeting concluded with them deciding Arias wasn't really a threat anymore, Superman was vexed. "What!?"

His hand slammed against the table he was seated around and shattered it as he stood up in disagreement to meeting's resolution.

The few guards stationed within the office immediately drew their weapons and pointed them at him but the president quickly waved them off. "Stand down!"

After doing so he looked at the frowning Superman and spoke. "Look, as it stands, the country's resources are already stretched thin as is, we can't afford to funnel efforts to both Arias Markovic and the Human Supremacy group. One is laying dormant and the other is threatening the entire meta-human population, think about it."

Even when angry, Superman couldn't argue with the logic behind the decision. The greater threat right now was clearly the human supremacy group, but Superman just couldn't stop himself from worrying that the longer they allowed Arias to reign free, the more difficult he would be to deal with.

"Fine." Superman answered passively and just began to walk towards the exit, but the president said my final words to him before he could leave.

"Can we expect the league to cooperate with our government in bringing this threat to an end?" He inquired of Superman.

Superman looked back in silence for a bit before replying, "I'll discuss it with the others and get back to you."

Saying nothing more, Superman left and the president heaved a bitter sigh while shaking his head. With so much happening around him, he could barely focus on his campaign.

If he chose to ignore what was happening around, the opposition would definitely use it as a point to negatively criticize him and his term in office.

The entire ordeal was proving to be an immense headache for the president.

But he wasn't alone in this sentiment…

Superman who had just left was perhaps even more stressed over the current happenings of the world, with so much occurring before he could even register it.

Luthor, Joker and Waller's death, Slade's candidacy, Arias's rise to prominence, his impact on the meta-human community and so much more.

For now, he put these thoughts to the back of his mind and rushed to the hall of justice, where the other members were already awaiting him to hear the result of his meeting with the president.

They had gathered in the usual hall but this time the junior team was absent. Superman didn't mince his words and just directly went over what had been discussed and the final decision to focus on the human supremacy group.

Superman didn't mention his own stance on the matter in concerns to Arias as he didn't want to seem paranoid in front of the others.

His revelation was taken with mixed expressions by the members of the league.

Green Arrow was especially concerned and voiced his thoughts. "Sounds like the president wants us to deal with it quietly so it doesn't affect his little political image with the elections so close. If he mobilizes government resources against the group and fails, it will look very bad."

Black Canary could see where he was going with this and continued. "But by using us, even if it fails, the government loses nothing. However if it works, the president takes some credit and improves his image. It's basically a win-win situation for them."

Her crossed and her brows furrowed, as did the expressions of the others upon thinking about the situation more clearly.

The majority of them joined to better be of help in keeping the world save, not to act as a governments personal army.

Batman who had been silent with an unreadable expression for a bit finally commented on the situation as well. "We've also got nothing to lose by agreeing to work with them, our focus is the human supremacy group who we know very little about. If working with the government helps us deal with this threat quicker then we can only agree."

His logic was also understood. Although they'd be helping the president's image if they succeeded, they needed the information and resources the government would secretly provide them to aid the efforts against the human supremacy group.

Given what was at stake, no seemed unwilling to accept this approach. But Batman wasn't finished and he also presented a revelation of his own.

Revealing that he had contacted Arias Markovic and asked for his assistance in regards to the group as well.

Unsurprisingly, Superman was the first to object. "What?! You can't be serious."

Batman though had expected this time of response from Superman, and prepared for it.

"I am. As it stands, he is far too cautious and strategic to be caught by either us or the government directly. But if we use a common enemy to establish grounds of alliance, we open an opportunity to engage when he least suspects it."

After this was said, the others could now see the logic behind his words.

To use Arias's help in dealing with the human supremacy group then during this period as his caution towards them lowers, they could prepare a means to capture him as well.

And even if they failed, they had nothing to lose as he would have already provided some assistance against the human supremacy group by then.

Despite the immediate pros of the plan, Superman remained skeptical.

"And what if the plan fails? Or he doesn't lower his guard?" He asked with crossed arms and furrowed brows.

Batman though, simply clapped back casually, "Then we use your approach to dealing with him, since you must have a better one right?"

No such approach existed in the mind of Superman. His only concern being that Arias needed to be delt with but not how.

Hearing this made him realize that he was letting his emotions run rampant and not allowing him to think straight.

He could only resign his argument. "I don't, we'll do it your way then."

Clearly upset, Superman left quickly after agreeing, leaving the other members in thought.

Martian Manhunter was the one to speak on these. "His mind is in unrest, he just needs some time to properly assess everything. Otherwise this plan does indeed seem most optimal given how things stand."

Batman nodded towards this but warned. "Let's just hope it works and he doesn't see through us. The kids shouldn't know what's really happening and if possible should play a distant role. The same way we feel we're fooling him, he could use the situation to fool us."

A/N: A usual, gimme stones and check out my other works if you haven't already. Enjoy