They stopped several rooftops away on an abandoned rooftop. Batman stopped and tossed Hawkgirl her mace. She caught it and glared at Batman. "Why did you stop me? We could have learned everything from them if we captured them and interrogated them." Hawkgirl pointed out as she landed on the rooftop.
Green Lantern nodded his head in agreement as he brought over the unconscious Wonder Woman and Supergirl. "Yeah, we should have backed them up. If we had, they might not have ended up like this."
"Unlikely. There was a good chance it could have been far worse. Especially if we had fought. Those mercenaries have begun training and adjusting their equipment to take on supers and metas. Not to mention Poison Ivy's powers have been getting stronger. Now they have both Artemis, an amazon turned mercenary, and Killer Croc who is getting a clean slate because of the way he has been treated." Batman explained.
"What…" Hawkgirl's wings flapped for a moment. "That does not explain why we had to back off."
"It is because they are 'lawful' citizens. That means they have not broken any laws. Even when they openly kidnapped citizens of this country. Yet there is nothing coming after them. Why do you think that is?" Batman asked.
Green Lantern and Hawkgirl exchanged a confused look before Robin scoffed and shook his head. "Morons. He is saying the government hired Ricardo Bell and his merry band of mercenaries. If you detain him and any of his mercenaries or unlawfully attack them you become criminals. No matter how much you cry out about it being an injustice."
Green Lantern went to respond but stopped as he realized everything fit. "He is right. This is… bad. How do we know they won't push the issue?"
"Ricardo Bell does not care enough to pursue the issue. But if the people who hired him hear about it they will press the issue." Batman explained as he glanced at Supergirl who was groaning while pulling herself up out of the green floating mattress.
"So we need to investigate this without our usual methods." Hawkgirl asked as she started to realize the issue with what they were about to do.
"Yes, we need to regroup and set up an investigation. But we need to have two teams. One that is more obvious and is investigating the attack in order to distract whoever is watching us. The other will be discreet and will be investigating the government in secret. Now can we get back to the others so I can explain the plan without having to worry about Supergirl and Wonder Woman flipping out." Batman explained before looking at Robin. "Head on back. Make sure they know to avoid that group of mercenaries."
"What is going on?" Supergirl asked as Robin jumped off the roof and disappeared into the night.
"We are going back. I will explain when we get there." Batman ordered.
She frowned as she looked at Wonder Woman and her eyes shot open when she noticed her condition. She was still breathing but she had been knocked out. She had to bite her lip as she thought of something her cousin told her. She would have to ask Martian discreetly to check something if she does not wake up.
—--------------------
"That took longer than I thought it would." Luthor commented as he walked out of the prison. Mercy bowed her head to him as he walked up to the limousine and climbed inside. Mercy climbed in with him and closed the door.
A moment later the vehicle began driving away. While Mercy took out a phone and handed it to Luthor before grabbing a suitcase and opening it up. "Your phone. There is also a tablet with as much information as we collect. How was your stay?"
"Decent until you had informed me of what occurred. Were we able to get it back?" Luthor asked as he glanced at the phone before pocketing it. Then he accepted the tablet and looked at the contents. His mood worsened as he read it.
"In addition, since the attack on the Justice League by our stolen Justice Busters, Superman has been missing." Mercy informed him. "In addition our security group, who we had follow the mercenary group to Smallville, were outdone but none of them are dead. Just a few that were injured badly. What do you want to do with them?"
"Make sure they are taken care of. But fire them if this is their third failure. You know my rule." Luthor answered as he frowned. "So we learned that the mercenaries were acting on the orders of someone else? Do we know who?"
"Not yet. But an analysis of his personality means he will not surrender the information easily." Mercy informed him. "How should we handle this?"
Luthor seemed to think for a moment as he read the file that was about Ricardo Bell. That aligned with the few conversations they had. "We need him on our side. Even if it is to hire him for a few jobs or to just keep him on retainer. Go to him and see if you can hire him for a few simple jobs we have."
"Sir… if he has already taken a job, all indications say he will not accept another one until that one is almost complete. In fact he does have a new one. They are helping the feds and GCPD clear the Gotham Underground." Mercy pointed out as she picked up a folder and glanced at the contents before waiting while holding it.
"Yes, but he has a tendency to sleep around. Go to him. Seduce him or just whore yourself out, I do not care. But try to figure out what he knows or even see if we can hire him for a job as a test. I want to know how good they are and how far they want to go." Luthor explained as he set aside the tablet before holding out his hand.
But Mercy was still processing his words so she took a moment before she handed the folder over. "Are you sure?" Mercy asked in doubt as she thought about it. This Rico guy was exactly her type, she had a feeling that if she slept with him she would keep on sleeping with him.
"Yes, in fact I order you to go to him and do all you can to figure out who hired them. I do not care if you have to sleep with his entire group or become their personal prostitute. Just do it." Luthor ordered and then thought of something. "Actually… There are a few female members of the security team. If they are about to be fired, inform them their last chance is to join you and to spread their legs for Rico and his people."
"A few of them are married." Mercy Graves pointed out. Already knowing there were a few female security team members she was preparing to fire. There were a number who were married to other members.
"Then tell them to keep it a secret from their spouses. I really could care less. Just tell them it is their last chance." Luthor told him as he had a thought. "Speaking of… I have the itch, tell that broad to come over to my place."
Mercy nodded and pulled out her phone as she thought of a plan she was already feeling excited about. For some reason she was looking forward to it.