"Since ancient times-" Papa Midnite began.
"The greatest thing about humanity," Morin cut in calmly, "is the miracles they create within their short lives. Humanity has nothing to do with those religions. It wasn't created by any god. It was born from nature itself-a miracle of natural evolution. As for those so-called ancient legends, in my view, they're just stories made up to control humanity."
He paused briefly.
"Let me ask you something. If humans were truly created by God, why would He need to make a bet with the Devil?"
"I don't quite understand what you're trying to do," Papa Midnite said. He had never been a Christian anyway. Neutral, profit-oriented-he had no interest in arguing theology with Morin.
"Constantine, your physical condition is terrible," Morin said instead.
"Thanks for stating the obvious," Constantine replied, coughing lightly.
"You hunt demons not to enter Heaven," Morin said slowly, "but to avoid Hell. If I told you there's actually a third option between the two, what would you choose?"
"You can cure me?" Constantine froze, forgetting to inhale his cigarette.
"I can make it so you go to neither Hell nor Heaven."
"Oh?" Constantine raised an eyebrow. As long as Hell was off the table, the rest didn't really matter.
"And if you want to be cured," Morin added, "that's also possible."
"I'm in," Constantine said without hesitation. He stubbed out his cigarette hard. He was still furious over how easily Gabriel had dismissed everything he'd done. If there were another way, he wouldn't be running errands for Heaven like a dog. "As long as there aren't too many side effects."
"There's no better treatment than mine," Morin said. "But not now. If your lung cancer vanished overnight, it would draw attention."
He looked straight at Constantine.
"Trust me. Something is watching you. Both good and evil. High-ranking and low-ranking. Right now, you're at the center of it all."
"So your previous identity was just a disguise," Constantine frowned, glancing at Papa Midnite. "Who are you really? What's your goal? And this event you're talking about-what are they trying to do?"
"How about you both leave first?" Papa Midnite said flatly. "My reputation for confidentiality is excellent, but the best way to keep a secret is not letting it exist."
"You're already part of the plan, Papa Midnite," Morin smiled.
He snapped his fingers.
Arrays exploded outward.
Multicolored light, layered structures, intricate formations-Morin deliberately added visual effects so they could see it. The magic spread until it filled the entire conference room.
"No one can enter," Morin said. "And no one can hear us."
Papa Midnite and Constantine's expressions turned grave.
They could feel it.
The power.
This wasn't normal spellcasting. Nothing like what they were used to.
They had misjudged him badly.
This wasn't a lunatic.
This was a heavyweight.
"I come from another world," Morin said. "There, I am the Sorcerer Supreme-the highest authority among mages. My duty is to protect Earth from otherworldly invasions, including threats from Heaven and Hell."
He continued calmly.
"I originally brought my apprentice here for training. I didn't expect this world's situation to be so... complicated. So if you cooperate with me, we can do something big."
Tony stood silently beside him.
He was already used to Morin lying with a straight face. Besides, this was just a lightly edited version of the truth.
The real reason Tony stayed quiet was simpler.
He understood what Morin was planning.
And it shocked him.
This wasn't about individuals anymore.
It was about humanity.
Civilization.
And for the first time, Tony also questioned himself.
Was what he did truly for his own sake?
Or for humanity?
"If not for what you just showed us," Papa Midnite said slowly, "I'd think you were insane. I've always stayed neutral. I only intervene when balance is broken."
"The balance is broken," Constantine said. "I've seen it. Felt it. There's no way all this effort is just to let a few low-level demons mess around."
"Angels and demons are working together," Morin said. "Gabriel intends to release demons from Hell and turn the mortal world into Hell itself."
He paused.
Then his thoughts drifted.
If he remembered correctly, Gabriel's actor was Tilda Swinton.
The same person who played the Ancient One.
So this time, he'd be fighting both sides.
Personal revenge?
Perfect.
When the time came, he'd shave Gabriel's head first. Immersion mattered.
"Do you realize what you're accusing?" Papa Midnite asked uneasily. "You're saying an Archangel-the guardian of Heaven's security-betrayed God."
"I have no reason to lie," Morin said. "I don't have proof yet. But I will."
"Even Gabriel can't release demons from Hell," Constantine said. "The covenant was made between God and Lucifer. Only their power can break it."
"Correct," Morin nodded. "Gabriel can't. But he can use substitutes."
He continued evenly.
"The Hell Bible states that for the Son of the Devil to descend, a powerful psychic is needed, along with God's assistance. The hardest part is God's help-but there are equivalents."
He looked at Constantine.
"The Blood of God. Or the blood of the Son of God."
Constantine's eyes widened. "The Spear of Destiny."
"The Spear of Longinus," Papa Midnite nodded. "The weapon that pierced Jesus. Stained with divine blood. If they truly possess it... that would be enough."
"I'm not telling you this so you stop them now," Morin said. "Not yet. Act as if you know nothing. Continue as usual. I'll pose as an ordinary exorcist and step in at the critical moment."
This wasn't about playing weak.
Under normal circumstances, Morin could crush Gabriel and Mammon alone.
But this world had another Sorcerer Supreme.
And Morin could feel him.
Above.
Guarding something.
In that moment, Morin understood.
Sorcerer Supremes joked. Slacked off. Complained about work.
But when it mattered, they never failed.
They protected humanity.
And not just their own world.
As long as someone was human-and worth protecting-they fell under that protection.
Humanity's fate should be decided by humanity itself.
...
"So," Morin asked casually, holding a bag of seafood, "how do you usually eat crabs?"
Constantine went silent.
They had just discussed the fate of the world.
And now this?
Tony answered instead. "Steam them? Or grill them?"
"Of course not." Morin waved a hand proudly. "Once ingredients reach the Far East, dozens of methods are born. I know at least twenty."
He glanced at the bag.
"Not enough for all of them. Let's do soy-braised crab. We'll save the rest for when more demons show up."
Tony & Constantine: "You're treating demons like a food supply?"
...
After they left, Balthazar appeared in Papa Midnite's office.
"You've broken the balance," Papa Midnite said coldly.
"Balance is always fragile," Balthazar smiled, flipping a coin over his knuckles. "You've stayed neutral this long. No need to change now, right?"
"Is that a threat?" Papa Midnite looked up.
"Of course not." Balthazar bowed slightly. "Just advice. Neutral parties often profit the most-and live the longest."
Then he left.
Classic. Acting cool, then running before getting beaten to death.
Papa Midnite snorted.
Neutrality only worked if you were strong.
Before, he had been.
Now?
Angels and demons were allied.
And a Sorcerer Supreme had appeared.
He couldn't stay neutral anymore.
Originally, he leaned toward Heaven.
But angels working with demons?
That disgusted him.
For some reason, he believed Morin.
And Morin had promised him a future.
A big one.
General agent for all humanity. Overseer of half-angels and half-demons.
Not a petty middleman.
Would it succeed?
No guarantee.
But Papa Midnite was a businessman.
There were no guaranteed wins.
Only equivalent exchange.
To gain more, you had to risk more.
"It's time to prepare," Papa Midnite muttered.
He opened a drawer.
Ledgers.
Names of every half-angel and half-demon. Their deeds. Habits. Weaknesses.
Enough to control chaos when order changed.
He had asked Morin once if it could all be solved at once.
Morin had just smiled.
Some things had to be fought for to be valued.
Without effort-
What was the worth of what you gained?