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Jackie Chan and Tohru stepped up beside Xiaoyu and peered into the cargo box, their expressions mirroring her shock.

"It really is the Holy Lord!"

Jackie Chan quickly turned to look at Constantine, who was still seated inside the shop. "Did you capture the Holy Lord? What about Valmont and the others?"

"They were arrested as well," Constantine said with a smirk. "Do you really think a group of gangsters could escape me? I came here to wrap things up properly and take care of what needed to be done."

Valmont has been arrested?

Jackie Chan's eyes widened in disbelief. He had spent years dealing with Valmont and the Dark Hand, yet Constantine had handled it all so effortlessly.

It was only now that Jackie truly grasped the vast difference in ability between himself and Constantine.

Even though Constantine had barely shown himself during this whole ordeal, he had clearly been in control the entire time—guiding events to their inevitable conclusion. This outcome was no surprise to him.

As Jackie processed this realization, Constantine turned his attention to Johnny Blaze.

"Johnny, Mephisto's scheme has been shattered. At least for the time being, he won't be bothering you anymore… So, what's next for you?"

"I…"

Johnny hesitated, then shook his head. "I don't know."

Out of everyone present, he was the most lost.

Even though Xiaoyu and Dad had tried to explain things to him on the way to the 13th District, he was still struggling to piece it all together. All he knew was that Mephisto had allied with another powerful demon, but in the end, their scheme had been crushed.

And he had been caught up in all of it.

"Mephisto took a serious hit this time," Constantine said. "He'll be too busy dealing with his own mess to come after you again anytime soon."

Constantine leaned forward slightly.

"I'll give you two choices. If you want to escape your fate, I suggest finding a secluded place—somewhere far from civilization, maybe Africa. That way, you can avoid the lingering effects of the Spirit of Vengeance."

He paused.

"But… if you want revenge—whether it's for your family, your adoptive father, or for how Mephisto tried to manipulate you this time—I can give you that opportunity."

Johnny froze. Then, after a moment, his eyes hardened with resolve.

"I understand."

Taking a deep breath, he met Constantine's gaze.

"Whatever you have planned, I'm in."

Huh?

Dad and the others exchanged glances, sensing something strange in Constantine's words.

A heavy silence settled over the antique shop.

"What are you up to?"

The silence only lasted a few seconds before Xiaoyu, brimming with curiosity, broke it.

"Mr. Constantine, why do you sound like you're recruiting people for a cult?"

"You'll find out soon enough," Constantine replied cryptically.

WEE-OOO! WEE-OOO!

The sound of approaching police sirens filled the air.

Sheriff Black arrived, leading officers from the 13th District to the antique shop.

"Hello."

Stepping out of his car, Sheriff Black greeted Jackie Chan and the others before turning his attention to Constantine—the conspicuously blond man seated inside.

"This time, I'm here on orders from my superiors," he said. "Mr. John Constantine, we need to talk."

"No problem. Anton already filled me in."

Constantine remained completely calm, still lounging in the old man's chair as if he owned the place. He gave a slight nod.

"Take a seat."

…

Dad glanced at Constantine, then at his chair, and his fists clenched. He was seconds away from using his skills to throw Constantine out of it.

"Dad…"

Jackie Chan, ever the peacemaker, stepped forward and placed a calming hand on Dad's shoulder.

Constantine, noticing this, simply smirked and blinked innocently.

"Let's get straight to the point," Sheriff Black said.

"Mr. Constantine, first and foremost, we appreciate your efforts in this incident. However, we also want to understand more—about our enemies and about the magical world you operate in."

"I can't give you much information about the magical world," Constantine said, spreading his hands. "It's a very closed-off society. Magicians from different factions form their own systems and rarely interact with one another. For example, my father and I come from completely different magical traditions—we didn't even know each other before now."

After a brief pause, he added, "However, if you want to understand your opponents better, I can tell you this—about 30% of the myths and legends passed down through history are real."

"What?"

Sheriff Black's pupils shrank.

Thirty percent of mythology is real?

Instinctively, he turned to look at the old man.

"If you ask me, I'd put that number closer to 50%," Dad said, surprisingly agreeing with Constantine. He shrugged. "Of course, some ancient myths you've never heard of have been lost to history."

…

Black felt his entire worldview shatter—again.

"So… does that mean the villains from those myths are our enemies?" he asked, swallowing hard.

"I wouldn't rule it out," Constantine replied. "But keep in mind—problems within the magical world are usually handled by those in the magical world. The fact that Earth has functioned normally for so long is proof that someone is keeping things in check. You just have to trust that there are people guarding this world."

"Yes. Only magic can defeat magic!" the old man echoed, nodding in agreement.

"If you're interested in keeping an eye on the magical world or forming a team to monitor magical activity, I have a proposal," Constantine continued. "In fact, that's the main reason I wanted to meet with you."

"Go on."

Black was intrigued, but at the same time, a crazy idea had already formed in his mind.

"I want to follow Batman's example and create a magical task force," Constantine said, his tone suddenly serious. His sharp gaze swept across the room.

"I call it the Dark Justice League."

"Dark Justice League?"

Everyone exchanged looks.

"You're imitating Batman?" Xiaoyu asked, surprised. "Why not just team up with him and start the Dark Justice League under his name?"

"Because only magic can defeat magic," Constantine repeated the old man's mantra. "Batman is incredibly capable, but he has no way to fight against supernatural threats. Magical problems must be handled by those who understand magic."

"I agree with that," Dad said, nodding again.

"I propose working with the 13th District," Constantine continued. "I'll provide intelligence and manpower, and in return, you assist me—similar to how the Justice League cooperates with the military."

He paused, carefully gauging everyone's reactions before adding, "Of course, the Justice League will remain our ally. Wonder Woman, for example, has magical abilities. You can consider her an honorary member of the Dark Justice League."

Black hesitated for a long moment before finally stepping aside to make a phone call. After a brief but serious conversation, he returned, looking at Constantine with a complicated expression.

"The higher-ups agreed," he said.

Then, after a short pause, he added, "But… they have some conditions."

…

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