"Huh?"
Alfred and the witch siblings stared in confusion after hearing Axel speak.
Axel looked between them, then turned toward Washington.
After one glance, he burst into laughter.
"Alfred, get some watermelon. I need something to snack on while I watch this comedy unfold."
He laughed harder.
"I swear, it's been days since I've seen something this ridiculous."
Still amused, Axel led everyone back into the dining room.
Once seated, the Witch cautiously stepped forward.
"Lord, we..."
Axel raised a brow.
"What did you call me?"
She swallowed.
"Lord, you..."
Axel waved a hand.
"Fine, that works. What do you want?"
He took a sip of red wine while studying the siblings.
The Witch carefully chose her words.
"Last night, it was you who destroyed the woman controlling me and freed me from captivity."
"Because of you, I saved my brother."
"You gave us freedom, and a second life."
"To thank you, we have brought you a gift."
She carefully produced a glowing essence, condensed divine energy forged from three hundred thousand souls.
Even as she handed it over, reluctance flashed in her eyes.
It was a treasure even gods would covet.
Axel looked at it while cutting into his steak.
"What is this?"
The Witch blinked.
"You don't know?"
Axel smirked.
"Should I?"
He leaned forward slightly.
"Or are you just shocked I noticed those wide eyes of yours?"
With casual mischief, he tilted her chin upward.
Before she reacted, he fed her a mouthful of red wine from his own sip.
She froze in stunned confusion.
Her brother looked like his brain had stopped functioning.
Axel released her chin and glanced at the glowing sphere.
"This thing looks like bottled lightning."
"You didn't rob Zeus, did you?"
The Witch finally recovered and spoke.
"Lord, this is divine power essence, refined from nearly three hundred thousand exceptional souls."
"Every soul was carefully chosen."
"Gods would fight over this."
"Demons would wage wars for it."
"But I offer it to you willingly."
"In exchange..."
She hesitated.
"We ask for land where we can live freely."
"And permission to gain followers under your protection."
"If you grant this mercy, we can offer similar essence in the future."
Even her brother looked stunned hearing her make such a bold request.
She continued.
"Though once we settle down, we will not repeat massacres like last night."
"Future offerings may take two or three thousand years."
"We..."
Axel interrupted.
"Hold on."
He tossed the essence back into her hands.
"I never said I wanted that."
The Witch caught it awkwardly.
Axel shrugged.
"I'm not growing stronger through souls, faith, or divine leftovers."
"Keep it."
Then he leaned back.
"And you're serious about wanting territory?"
The Witch nodded immediately.
"Very serious."
Axel thought for a moment.
Then looked at Alfred.
"Alfred, do we have a world map?"
"Of course, Master."
Alfred returned shortly with a globe.
Axel spun it.
"You two understand maps?"
"Of course," the Witch said eagerly.
Axel turned the globe, found a location, and pressed a finger onto it.
"There."
"You want territory?"
"Expand there."
The Witch leaned in.
After seeing the location, her expression briefly faltered.
Small.
Very small.
But still, it was territory.
Real territory.
Her disappointment turned to excitement.
In a burst of emotion, she leaned onto Axel's lap and kissed him hard.
When she pulled back, arms around his shoulders, she turned to her brother.
"Brother, thank the Lord."
"This place, Israel, is ours now."
"Even if it isn't our old glory, it is far better than remaining sealed forever."
Her brother dropped to one knee.
"Thank you, Lord."
Axel laughed and gave the Witch a playful squeeze before lifting her off his lap and setting her down.
"Alright, land's settled."
"You two go build your kingdom."
"I need to retrieve my buddies."
He started laughing again.
"I cannot believe they spent all night fighting the Justice Society."
He pinched the Witch's cheek.
"I'll drop by when I feel like it."
"Don't forget to welcome me."
She nodded quickly.
"My territory will always welcome you."
Axel gave her one last playful swat, then walked to the window.
And stepped out.
Before reaching the ground, his body shot upward.
A chain of sonic booms tore through the sky as he rocketed toward Washington.
Alfred watched him vanish, then turned slowly toward the siblings.
His expression was deeply troubled.
"So... the Washington massacre last night..."
The Witch bowed slightly.
"We apologize."
"Our power had diminished after centuries of imprisonment."
"To recover, we secretly harvested strength within the Lord's territory."
"That was our wrongdoing."
"But the Lord showed mercy."
"He even returned the divine essence to us."
"He is truly benevolent."
Her eyes lingered where Axel had disappeared.
"If only he had appeared earlier, perhaps we never would have fallen."
Alfred stood frozen.
Then slowly swallowed.
If the true cause of the Washington disaster had been staying in Wayne Manor since last night...
Then just as Axel said...
Who exactly had Bruce and the others been fighting all night?
The Justice Society?
If they were the ones fighting the heroes...
Then who was the villain?
Alfred rubbed his forehead.
At this point, he genuinely had no idea anymore.