"I... I... I managed it! Probably." Zatanna stepped out of the portal, visibly enlivened. She pressed her hand to her chest and took a few deep breaths. "To be safe, I wiped out his mory of . Otherwise, he might have discovered I planted a subliminal spell for him to work hard."
Zatanna looked at Bruce timidly, "Do you think I'm a little evil?"
"I think you did very well."
Andrea, the bartender, started to applaud her, but Zatanna was startled by Bruce's straightforward praise as she recalled that Bruce rarely complinted anyone in the past.
"Honestly, I need your help with sothing," Bruce said, his gaze fixed on Zatanna's eyes as he sat at the bar. "You probably haven't been watching TV, so you might not know I've sponsored a variety show."
"Oh, I heard Andrea ntion it a few tis," Zatanna comnted.
Bruce frowned as if troubled. "Years ago, when I first got this gemstone, I knew sothing was off. But at that ti, I just thought it was beautiful, valuable for my collection and sothing that Selina would appreciate. So, I shattered it and scattered it around the world, hoping to surprise Selina when I collected them."
"However, I didn't anticipate that Master Andrew later ca to warn that it was extrely dangerous, so sort of 'Spirit of Wrath'. Each fragnt of the Black Diamond that was scattered carries imnse power. This could easily attract the attention of power-seeking magicians."
"As you know, the Magic realm is mostly dominated by the young and robust mages, and most people beco Grand Mage when they are relatively young, including those in the Great Mage Alliance."
"Unlike the elderly mages imrsed in the Magic realm for many years, these individuals are not completely detached from ordinary society. They watch TV, read newspapers, and proficiently use modern electronic devices. So they will watch this variety show."
"No doubt, so financially strapped, young apprentices that have yet to fully imrse themselves in the Magic realm would want to seize this opportunity. Equipped with so magic tools, they would assu they have an edge over ordinary people and can effortlessly secure a massive reward."
"Once they lay their eyes on the Black Diamond, even from a distance, it would be clear to them, based on their knowledge of magic, that it's not just any ordinary object, but one containing enormous power."
"Word of mouth spreads quickly, and rumors of this nature would certainly reach the Grand Mages. If their negotiations with the demons go sour, they might set their sights on the Black Diamond."
"I've heard that Beelzebub has returned to Hell as he and Azazel couldn't reach an agreent in terms of contract conditions concerning the human race. The demons aren't in a hurry, but the mages are."
"The longer the delay, the more impatient and crazed they beco. They are even willing to forsake their human dignity to kneel before devils – why wouldn't they try to snatch the Black Diamond?"
"Since the variety show we engaged ordinary participants has already begun and many have started their search for the Black Diamond, it's undeniable that a clash will arise once mages get involved."
"The unwritten rule in the Magic realm is to act discreetly to draw as little attention from the human society as possible. Unlike thousands of years ago, nowadays, if mages were to fight with humans, their only outco would be obliteration."
At this point, Zatanna began to tense up. She hastily slid off her barstool, saying, "Although the Magical Families have substantially declined, I still have friends in the Magic realm. I need to warn them not to chase after that damned diamond. It's no good at all. They should also avoid conflicts with ordinary people. If they're hunted down, they will die grueso deaths!"
Bruce held her back, looking at her seriously. "Even if you can stop a few mages, can you stop all of them? What will you do if the Grand Mages are insistent on obtaining the Black Diamond?"
Zatanna stood in place, visibly troubled and after a pause said, "They should not be impulsive. This could start a war between ordinary people and the Magic realm. That's no joking matter."
As she was speaking, the door of the Forgotten Bar flung open, and Jim, the Master of the Dark Night, walked in with his allies, looking somber.
Among them were familiar faces: Bennett, Dead Man, and Lady Shangdu. There was also a gigantic figure covered in hanging vines and moss, a black gorilla dressed as a detective, and a woman in a purple bodysuit wearing a mask.
Upon seeing Bruce and Zatanna at the bar, Jim looked surprised, then approached with a steely glare, slamming a longsword onto the table.
"What happened?" asked Bruce, concerned.
"The people from the Great Mage Alliance have gone mad!" Jim's voice trembled. "They're desperate for power. They're even contemplating killing ordinary people to seize their power! These damn fools and devils, they'll get us all killed!"
Noticing Zatanna's puzzled expression, Deadman Boston sighed. "We've collected allies from all over the world and garnered significant support. This is the Swamp Creature, this is Master Detective Bobo, and this is Miss Black Orchid."
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