NOVEL NEXT 231. The Meeting.
"Dad, I'm over here."
Ashley closed her eyes in exasperation.
She truly didn't know how to express her current feelings. Ashley was deeply troubled as she looked at her nearly blind father, who still cared about her. It made her feel quite uncomfortable.
"Huh? Oh." Old Barton turned around in response to the voice, forcing a smile and shaking his head. "Ah, getting old, haha."
Perhaps sensing the awkwardness, Pietro quickly spoke up to shift the topic.
"By the way, the time is almost up. When is Miss Lance arriving? Are you sure this is the agreed-upon place? She hasn't run into any trouble, has she?"
"Not likely. After all, she's a superhero from another world. I don't think members of the Justice League are weak," Kara speculated.
For Kara, she believed that the organization her cousin had established was a formidable one, even if it had crossed into another world. They were certainly not ordinary people.
"Didn't you forget about that guy currently tied up by Red Skull?" Pietro reminded.
"He's not part of the Justice League," Kara retorted quickly, then continued, "We should find somewhere else to wait. We're drawing too much attention together."
At this moment, Kara and the others were waiting to meet Lance, who had come from Bishop City. Although they had meticulously planned the meeting location, they had underestimated the bustling nature of Lake City.
The streets were crowded with people, many of whom were large, muscular men patrolling the area. Factory workers in work uniforms passed by as well. Among them, Kara and the others, dressed in robes, stood out as out of place.
Kara had noticed several nearby gang members eyeing them. If not for the uncertainty of their identities, those individuals might have approached them for questioning by now. However, standing around like this wasn't ideal. With gang members increasing in number, any reckless individual could reveal their presence.
"Kara's right; we can't stay here any longer. I remember there's a bar nearby. I know the owner well. We can go there and find a private room," Old Barton suggested after thinking for a moment.
Having roamed various cities in the wasteland for years, Old Barton was quite familiar with major cities, including Lake City, which was not far from Hammerfall.
"What about Lance? We agreed to meet her in an alley in the Third District," Pietro said, looking up.
"It's fine. It's not a big deal," Old Barton waved his hand dismissively and pulled out a few special arrows. "I'll leave some markers at the original meeting location. Since she can recognize the signals between me and Kate, she should understand these markers as well."
These special arrows were made using Peter Parker's webbing. They were highly adhesive and discreet, visible only to those familiar with them. Even if others found them, they wouldn't understand the symbols, and the arrows would dissolve and vanish after a few hours, leaving no trace.
Narrowing his eyes and relying on his unclear vision and muscle memory, Old Barton set up the markers. He then stood up and waved his hand.
"All set. Let's go!"
"Dad, this way."
"Oh, oh, I forgot."
Hawkeye's eyesight wasn't as sharp as it used to be, but maps don't lie. Under Ashley's guidance, the group of five quickly found the bar.
Lake City's bars were open 24/7, always bustling with activity. It was common for people to lose track of time and indulge in drunken revelry here.
At this hour of the evening, the bar was starting to get crowded. Consequently, Barton and the others didn't attract much attention—at most, a few curious glances.
"Get a private room, a big one," Barton said with a smile as he pulled out cash from his pocket at the bar, showing his yellowed teeth.
They had acquired a lot of money from Baron Zemo, most of which they had hidden in a secure place, as they didn't have a convenient magic pocket like Zhang Ye.
"Same as usual?" The bartender recognized Barton and took the money. "Do you still need me to prepare the Ace of Spades for you?"
"Not today. We have business to discuss," Old Barton said with a hearty laugh as he led the group smoothly into the bar's interior. Clearly, he had been here many times before.
The dim lighting and the intoxicating atmosphere of the bar helped calm the group's nerves. There was nothing more comfortable than relaxing after a dangerous encounter. Perhaps that's why mercenaries frequented such places.
Walking to the deepest part of the bar, Old Barton opened a door to the innermost room. As the door swung open, dazzling lights flashed, and the sound system started playing background music.
"Please, have a seat. Don't be shy. I used to come here often when meeting clients. I have a good relationship with the owner, and we've had many collaborations in the past."
Seeming to sense the curiosity of the others, Old Barton voluntarily shared his relationship with the bar's owner and why he was so familiar with the place.
"That bartender knows you, Barton. Don't forget you're still on Hydra's wanted list. He might betray us all," Pietro said with a frown.
"Don't worry, Pietro. That won't happen. Do you know why so many people come here? Because it's beyond Hydra's reach. Countless criminals live here because Hydra's hands don't reach this far," Barton said confidently.
"Let's hope so," Pietro mused for a moment but didn't say much more. He soon turned his attention to Kara.
Meeting her gaze, Kara understood Pietro's concern. She shook her head slightly and said, "The music here is too loud. I can't monitor the surroundings properly."
"It's alright. I'll handle that," Melissa, who had been silent, spoke up. "I'll listen to the surrounding sound waves. Barton is right; the bartender hasn't reported us, but…"
"But what?"
Pietro and Kara couldn't help but ask.
"But…"
Melissa's expression grew strange.
"But it seems he's trying to set up beautiful girls for Barton to have drinks with."
Instantly, everyone's gaze turned to Barton, with Ashley's eyes showing the most pronounced reaction.
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232. Black Canary and Hawkeye.
233. The Secret of Black Canary.
234. The Disappearance of the Justice League.
235. Magic.
236. Execution Approaches.