Oliver Queen was still a little confused by Su Zhan's words. He could not quite grasp why Su Zhan had chosen him or what made him worthy of such attention. Yes, he had some abilities—better than most people, perhaps even more than many—but in the end, he was just a man. He had no superpowers, no cosmic strength, and certainly no ability to protect the entire Earth, let alone the universe.
Su Zhan smiled at Oliver's puzzled expression. "You know, I actually understand you quite well. Some of your actions, strictly speaking, don't fit the classic definition of a hero. Most people think heroes capture criminals and bring them to justice, but they never take lives. The problem with that is the same villains escape again and again, causing trouble over and over. That's why I need you—a dark hero. The method and means don't matter. What matters is that you have a righteous heart."
Oliver looked down, a hint of gratitude in his eyes. "I appreciate your trust and understanding, but I'm not a hero. I just want to do something for this city." He shook his head. "So, I don't really know why you're investigating me, but I'm afraid I'm not the right person."
Su Zhan was not bothered by Oliver's refusal. He had not come to form the Justice League today; that was just a concept for the future. For now, it was enough that Oliver understood Su Zhan's intentions. Besides, at that moment, Su Zhan received a system prompt.
"Arrow: Oliver Queen, five percent friendship!"
Su Zhan smiled to himself. This increase in friendship must have come from his genuine appreciation for Oliver's character. It was only five percent, but it was a good start.
He turned back to Oliver. "Whether you're the right person or not, I'll find out in time. But for now, I don't think you should refuse my help. For example, I can help you get a secret base—a place where you can operate safely. After all, one person's strength is limited, right?"
Oliver hesitated. The offer was tempting. He could not reveal his identity, and finding trustworthy help was nearly impossible. If Su Zhan could truly help him, it would be a godsend. Still, he was not so quick to trust. The past five years had taught him to be cautious, to never take people at face value.
Seeing Oliver's hesitation, Su Zhan decided not to give him time to refuse. "That's settled. I know a place that's perfect. Time is tight, so let's go now!" Without waiting for an answer, Su Zhan acted. With a wave of his hand, an energy barrier enveloped Oliver and Carol, lifting them gently off the ground. Su Zhan floated out the window, and the three of them soared into the sky.
Oliver was startled but kept his composure, curiously examining the energy field that held him. He tried to figure out how it worked, but it was unlike anything he had ever seen.
Soon, they descended and landed softly in front of an old, abandoned factory. Oliver looked around in surprise. "This is… my father's old factory?"
Su Zhan nodded, leading the way inside. "Yes. It's been abandoned for years, and hardly anyone comes here anymore."
They walked through the dusty halls until Su Zhan stopped abruptly. "It should be empty below, right? This is the perfect spot for a secret base. And up here, you can turn it into a nightclub. Name it after yourself, Oliver Queen. No one would ever guess that the Arrow's base is hidden beneath a nightclub. It's the perfect cover."
Oliver's eyes lit up. "It's perfect!"
"You can handle the nightclub however you want. For now, let's focus on what's below," Su Zhan said.
Oliver was about to look for tools when Su Zhan stopped him with a smile. "No need for that."
A massive hammer materialized above the floor. With a mighty crash, it struck the ground, sending tremors through the building and cracking the floor. Su Zhan frowned, dissatisfied with the result. With a thought, the hammer transformed into a pile driver, pounding away until the ground collapsed, revealing a hollow space beneath.
Su Zhan peered down and nodded in satisfaction. Oliver jumped in first, and Su Zhan followed with Carol in his arms, floating gently to the bottom.
The underground space was dim and filled with dust.
"We'll need to clean this up," Su Zhan said. With a wave of his hand, a field of energy enveloped Carol, and then a gigantic vacuum cleaner appeared, sucking up all the dust and debris.
Oliver stared in amazement. "Your ability… it's really something."
Su Zhan grinned. "It's all energy constructs for now. If I can fully absorb the etheric particles, I'll be able to create real things from nothing. Like the legendary Ma Liang, whatever I draw, I can make real."
Oliver snorted, a smile tugging at his lips. "Can you make an energy shield too?" He finally understood why Su Zhan had covered Carol in a barrier earlier.
Su Zhan shrugged. "Actually, there's not much for you to do here. You're just in the way. Why don't you go get your equipment? I'd love to see your archery skills."
Oliver bristled at the remark but turned and left with a huff.
Two hours later, he returned. The space was completely transformed—clean, organized, and unrecognizable from before.
"You're finally back. Come on, let's see your archery. Just now, Carol asked me what your ability was. I told her your archery is legendary. Don't embarrass me in front of my girlfriend," Su Zhan teased, his eyes full of anticipation. Carol blushed a little, but her gaze was filled with excitement.
Oliver smiled, feeling a surge of pride. He was ready to show them just what he could do.