Mandelas's large hand gripped Helena's neck, dangling her outside the window. He watched her struggle and said, "I have many flaws, but one thing is for sure: I'm tough. So, you might as well die."
With that, he loosened his grip, intending to drop Helena to her death.
Helena wasn't foolish. This was no longer the same situation as before; another fall like this would surely kill her. Even if Mandelas let go, to prevent herself from falling, Helena clung to Mandelas's arm with both hands.
Seeing this, Mandelas found a perverse amusement in the situation. He watched Helena struggle desperately, his playful mood escalating. He didn't rush to pull her in, content to watch her fight for survival.
It was also Helena's good fortune that Mandelas wasn't decisive enough. Had he immediately thrown Helena down, or if he had chosen to beat her to death with his fists instead of dropping her, none of the subsequent events would have unfolded.
While struggling, Helena, seizing an unguarded moment from Mandelas, pulled a signal flare gun from her waist and fired it at his aged face.
*Bang!*
Mandelas, with his thick hide, took a signal flare to the face. Though not fatal, it caused him immense discomfort. However, Mandelas wasn't entirely foolish. Feeling the pain in his face, he first pushed Helena away.
Helena, landing on the ground, knew she was done for; her vision swam before her eyes. But just as she was about to hit the ground, her body stopped, magically suspended, mere centimeters from the earth.
"I didn't expect this. You finally used it."
The next moment, Bai Qi appeared before Helena. With a wave of his hand, her injuries instantly healed, and she felt invigorated, a far cry from someone on the verge of death.
"This is… incredible," Helena exclaimed, astonished at the change in her body.
Bai Qi waved his hand. "There's more incredible stuff to come. But first, we need to discuss terms."
"Terms?"
"Indeed," Bai Qi said, producing a parchment scroll and handing it to Helena. "I will help you eliminate Mandelas, but in return, you must pay a significant price."
At this point, Helena was blinded by her hatred, her sole focus on killing Mandelas. She didn't even glance at the contents of the contract, simply signing her name at the bottom. Sudanshu.com
The contract took effect, and a mark was imprinted on Helena's other hand.
Satisfied, Bai Qi waved his hand. Mandelas, who had been clearing his face downstairs, suddenly felt his body become light. Then, he was propelled out the window, hovering in the air before the two of them.
Bai Qi conjured a dagger inscribed with incantations and handed it to Helena. "This is a cursed dagger. As long as you pierce him with it, he is guaranteed to die."
"This…"
Helena's hatred for Mandelas had never waned with time. But now, facing the moment of truth, she hesitated.
Mandelas wasn't a fool. Seeing Bai Qi and recalling the day's events, he instantly realized he had been set up.
Just as he was about to speak, he found his mouth sealed as if stitched shut. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't open it even a crack.
Seeing Helena's indecision, Bai Qi decided to give her a nudge.
Helena, dagger in hand, still wavered when a mournful cry suddenly echoed in her ears.
That familiar sound struck the softest chord in Helena's heart. Looking at her enemy before her, tears streamed from her eyes.
Helena hardened her resolve, gripped the dagger with both hands, and thrust it forward.
*Slash!*
The dagger plunged into Mandelas.
The curse began to spread, engulfing Mandelas in moments.
The once massive Mandelas deflated like a balloon, his body visibly shrinking and withering. Finally, as a gentle night breeze blew, Mandelas's remains turned to dust and scattered.
Helena stood frozen, witnessing the scene. Revenge should have brought excitement, joy, or relief, but Helena felt no happiness at all.
Bai Qi, however, was unconcerned.
Watching his plan conclude flawlessly, he noted that having killed someone, Helena could no longer turn back. Not only was she bound by the contract, but Bai Qi had also had his Shadow Ninjas secretly record the entire process of Helena killing Mandelas.
"Good, very good. Now, Helena, you are mine."
With a slight wave, the dagger returned to Bai Qi's hand.
When Nightwing arrived, Bai Qi had already departed, leaving Helena in a daze.
"Helena! Are you alright?"
After all, they had a past. After Deathstroke retreated, Nightwing had rushed back immediately to check on Helena's condition.
"I… I'm fine."
Nightwing looked around. "Where were you rushing off to just now, and how did you end up here?"
Helena didn't answer Nightwing's questions.
"My mind is too chaotic right now. So, this is goodbye."
With that, Helena fired a grappling hook into the distance and quickly fled the scene.
"What's wrong with her?"
Sensing something was amiss, Nightwing decided to investigate: why was Helena here, why was she fighting the Sportsmaster, and what was she so urgently going upstairs for?
However, Bai Qi was unaware of all this, and even if he were, he wouldn't care.
Bai Qi had never intended to keep this a secret. After all, this was Gotham, the domain of the Dark Knight. The disappearance of a mob boss wouldn't go unnoticed for long. Even if Batman couldn't investigate directly, news of Mandelas's death would spread quickly. Other criminal factions would then carve up Mandelas's territory, inevitably drawing Batman's attention to maintain order.
As for Nightwing's appearance, it was somewhat unexpected, but it was no cause for concern. It would merely hasten Batman's discovery of the event.
Even so, they wouldn't be able to trace it back to him.
To cover his tracks, Bai Qi had long since ordered his Shadow Ninjas to destroy all surveillance cameras within a few kilometers, not even sparing dashcams.
Moreover, the locals knew how dangerous the docks were at night, and for their own safety, they stayed home, making eyewitness accounts impossible.
The Mimic, who had fought with Nightwing, was now believed by Nightwing to be the Sportsmaster. And the Sportsmaster was associated with Cruel, so even if Batman eventually uncovered the truth, it wouldn't lead back to the Mimic.
To ensure the plan was seamless, Bai Qi had deliberately dispatched a Shadow Ninja disguised as the Mimic to clear pirates in the waters near Gotham at the same time.
And as for Helena, it was even more impossible. The contract Bai Qi had signed with her included a clause that she was not to reveal anything about that night to anyone in any form.