Faced with the dozen or so armed agents carrying tactical rifles outside the door, no one in the barbecue restaurant, except for the owner who was grilling meat, showed any panic.
Hal even materialized a semi-transparent nail file using the Green Lantern energy, and leisurely began manicuring his nails while leaning back in his chair.
Amanda Waller stepped across the gravel in her low-heeled leather shoes, her plump body managing to project a sharp, imposing aura as she walked to the greasy square table.
She ignored the several flashy superheroes beside her and focused her gaze precisely on Chen Mo.
If it weren't the Pentagon the Pentagon's information department's supercomputer producing that shocking report, she would never have personally come to this dilapidated restaurant where even the air conditioning was broken.
According to that top-secret analysis report, if the Asian youth in front of us, who is eating barbecue with bamboo skewers, suddenly had any unfriendly thoughts, it would only take him less than a fraction of a second to completely flatten the ground.
This is not a combat capability assessment; it is a doomsday warning that they knew in advance.
Waller suppressed the fear surging deep within his soul, forcing a seemingly enthusiastic smile onto his chubby face.
"It is an honor to meet you, esteemed sir."
She slightly bent her thick waist, her posture extremely humble. "I am Amanda Waller, Director of the United States Superhuman Administration. On behalf of the U. S. government, and on behalf of all humanity, I would like to express my deepest gratitude and respect to you."
After he finished speaking, apart from Chen Mo chewing, no other sound came from the barbecue restaurant.
Chen Mo slowly chewed the sizzling hot kidney in his mouth, without even lifting his eyelids.
This woman reeked of politicianism; her calculating and bureaucratic hypocrisy was more repulsive than a rat in the sewer. He simply couldn't be bothered with her.
Being treated like air would have made Waller flip the table in Washington, but for now, she could only force a brighter smile.
"Haha, I know. Someone as great as you certainly isn't interested in the mundane, empty titles and honors of our human society."
Waller enthusiastically offered the government a series of bargaining chips that had been prepared long ago. "The title of Secret Service Director is far too beneath you. Just nod your head, and the government can tailor-make a global-level honorary position for you, where your will will directly supersede all laws and international conventions."
Chen Mo, whom I could see, was still just chewing his food.
Waller swallowed hard, and had no choice but to grit his teeth and continue betting.
"You will not only have the highest level of diplomatic immunity, but we will also allocate unlimited non-public funds to you annually. All military restricted areas, classified project laboratories, and core resource warehouses around the world will be open to you with the highest level of access, 24/7, if you are interested."
Barry bit his tongue, his face contorting in pain.
Unlimited funds?!
This amount of money is enough to buy the entire Central City and renovate it twice; he couldn't even imagine how many zeros were in that sum!
Even Hal always tried to appear calm, accidentally broke his nail clippers.
Chen Mo swallowed the roasted meat and casually grabbed a tissue to wipe the grease from his mouth.
"You've drawn a bigger picture of this pie than the one on my plate."
Chen Mo leaned back in his plastic chair and sneered mercilessly, "Your measly banknotes that will turn to dust any minute, and that scrap metal that I can't even lift with one finger, you might as well keep them to buy your coffins."
The tactical agents standing outside the door unconsciously gripped their assault rifles tighter, even though these things wouldn't actually do anything.
Waller's eyelids twitched; cold sweat had already soaked his shirt.
She dared not show the slightest hostility, but simply clasped her hands in front of her lower abdomen, maintaining that humble posture.
Bruce, who had been sitting quietly on the edge, witnessed the entire scene.
This is the profile he wanted to see.
In Chen Mo's eyes, worldly power, wealth, and the highest armed forces that humanity is proud of are not even worthy of being brought to the negotiating table.
What is it that he seeks? Those monsters are being devoured; is that his purpose?
Seeing the tense atmosphere, Clark quickly stood up, his massive frame positioned between Waller and the square table.
"Director Waller, Mr. Chen has just been through a major battle and now just wants to have a quiet meal."
Clark spoke gently, with his usual good temper, "Whatever it is, or whatever the proposal is, we can discuss it at a formal occasion after he's rested."
Waller gave Superman a deep look, then seized the opportunity to back down.
This large man in a blue and red cape was indeed the best communication buffer; the Pentagon's psychological assessment model was correct.
"This gentleman is absolutely right. It was my oversight that disturbed your enjoyment of the meal."
Waller gritted her teeth. She knew perfectly well that ordinary conditions were meaningless to Chen Mo, so she simply made up her mind and revealed her trump card.
Since conventional methods cannot confirm the other party's bottom line, the only option is to use the utmost sincerity to obtain the most basic promise.
"However, to express the government's unwavering sincerity, I would like to present Mr. Chen with a small gift after the meal."
"Spit it out." Chen Mo threw away the tissue.
Waller ignored the other person's crude language and slowed down his speech.
"Within Area 21, there is a crashed, intact alien spaceship, which preserves many unimaginably advanced technologies of a civilization, as well as a special energy vein that has never been seen before."
She revealed the top-secret underground treasure trove that the entire U. S. military coveted.
"Even the Department of Defense doesn't have permission to access anything inside, but from now on, it's entirely yours. The highest control password for the entire base will be sent to your private encrypted channel shortly. You are free to access or destroy anything inside."
Bruce frowned even more deeply.
The fact that the Pentagon would so readily hand over such a trump card involving core planetary defense technology shows that their fear of Chen Mo has reached an extreme level.
Chen Mo casually picked up an onion ring and threw it into his mouth.
"You even took off your underwear just to give me a toy?"
He looked the other person up and down with a mocking gaze. "Going to such lengths, what price do you want me to pay?"
"There was no cost."
Waller answered decisively, his tone even carrying a hint of barely suppressed pleading.
"We only hope that when you're feeling bored or down, you can give this fragile planet just a tiny bit of breathing room."
She lowered her head deeply, revealing her final bottom line.
"As long as you don't accidentally crush the Earth, you can do whatever you want on this planet."