Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1006, Part 1002: The Orator and the Righteous Man (Second Update)

Dave seemed to be chatting about his girlfriend Betty, but Victor von Doom didn't recognize him at all; a mere nod was already an exceptionally generous gesture. After exchanging greetings with Salomon, Victor cast a spell and left the valley. Nothing was more important to him now than Latvinia. The Immortal City had entrusted him with its personnel and military; he had to be responsible for the future of both the Immortal City and Latvinia. The two guards, however, cared nothing but their duties. Only Salomon maintained his polite smile—his back to Dave, seemingly listening intently to Dave's casual conversation.

But in reality, he was multitasking, listening to Dave while slowly counting the personnel and vehicles below. Salomon mentally assessed whether the list of the next batch of fuel, ammunition, and food supplies provided by the Department of Military Affairs was accurate, his efficiency far surpassing that of all the actuaries in the Department of the Interior.

However, even after Salomon spent over ten minutes calculating the next batch of supplies needed for the camp, Dave's mouth showed no signs of stopping. He was talking about how Betty had found a job after graduation and then used her first paycheck to treat him to a pizza, moving Dave, who was dressed like a homeless man at the time, to tears. There wasn't much good food on that planet, and Merlin had left him there without looking back, to avoid his disciples and followers rushing up to keep him there—now Dave planned to use some funds to rent an apartment and move in with Betty. However, the Merlin School was dirt poor; even Merlin himself didn't have a single coin in his pocket, the old man living entirely by swindling money.

He was indirectly bringing this up with Salomon; the brief time spent studying abroad on another planet hadn't changed some of the most fundamental aspects of this awkward engineering student's personality. "Of course I'll cover that cost, Dave. In fact, once you start working, you'll receive a monthly allowance, along with Immortal City's social security and health insurance."

Salomon was indeed somewhat disappointed in Dave, but he could understand Dave's thoughts. He wanted to compensate Betty for her lack of resources, which was understandable; not everyone could choose between family and work, and not everyone could calmly face their mission. While Dave was still worrying about the apartment, Salomon was already considering details such as Latveria's lack of strategic depth and the security pressures it would face if it actively expanded northward. He didn't listen any further, but said bluntly, "This is what you deserve. Not everyone who enters the magical world can study in N'Gara for this long." He said, "Now, go pick an apartment you like; the Immortal City will pay for it."

The assault transport ship rose vertically, then accelerated, carrying its passengers straight into the sky. "My lord, the next visitor will arrive in six minutes," Hammurabi whispered after Dave left. "Would you like to find a relatively comfortable meeting place, perhaps one of the tents left at the previous camp?"

"That's a good idea. Our next guest doesn't seem to like alcohol. Could you and Superuliumas make me two cups of tea? Honey only, no milk. Oh, thank you. I didn't know you brought my treasured honey. Did Constantine ask you to?"

Steve Rogers was completely unaware that the giant in golden armor was standing in the corner of the tent. Only when Supiluliumas walked up to him and placed the teacup down did that chilling feeling of death wash over him. Even as the guards placed the palm-sized teacup in front of him, he could hardly contain his nervousness. The keen intuition honed through countless special operations constantly reminded him that coming here was a foolish decision.

Not everyone could remain calm after witnessing the sheer size of the Royal Guard, especially not Steve Rogers, a genetically modified warrior. He didn't want to see other enhanced individuals used as weapons. This wasn't out of jealousy, but because he knew that if people like him appeared on the battlefield in large numbers, it would be a catastrophe for all humanity.

However, things didn't go as he wished. He had to admit he was out of touch with the times; Salomon had somehow acquired incredibly powerful genetic modification technology. Steve Rogers realized he had never truly known the man sitting across the long table. From the very first moment they met, every action of Salomon's seemed to have a hidden meaning—and even Nick Fury couldn't uncover Salomon's true nature. Yet, he couldn't refuse to come, because Salomon had shown him terrifying things he thought had vanished into the annals of history.

The goal he had dedicated his life to was ruthlessly betrayed; the things he hated never disappeared; and he, the soldier, never accomplished his mission. It was a negotiation, or rather, in Steve Rogers's view, a negotiation, even though he knew it wasn't.

He had already deduced from the track tracks outside the tents that a mechanized infantry force, unequipped with weapons from any country in the world, had once existed here. Connecting this with recent intelligence regarding the political turmoil in Latvia, Steve Rogers quickly realized that Salomon was the mastermind behind it all. However, he didn't know how this young man had created such terrifying war potential.

"If you've carefully read the books I gave you, you'll understand my ideals, Steve Rogers," Salomon said calmly, taking a sip of his tea. "What you despise is exactly what I despise. The Immortal City saved tens of thousands of civilians in Eastern Europe. My pursuit of freedom for the entire human race does not conflict with your pursuit of individual freedom. I believe you've read the information I gave you, and you know the curses you received after arriving in Eastern Europe, yet you still went there, which I greatly admire. Only Tony Stark doesn't understand why the Afghans hate him so much—the Avengers, in the eyes of those suffering people, are nothing more than America's dogs. So, are you going to continue being that leashed dog, or do what you believe is right?"

"What do you want me to do?" Steve Rogers asked.

"Take your shield, take your principles and morality, and fight for the justice of the common people."

"I've always done this," Steve Rogers began, but the words wouldn't come out. He knew that even in the past, the very entities he served continued to profit from the wars they waged, using the guise of justice to carry out aggression. After seeing that report, he understood that the so-called super soldiers were nothing more than fools blindly following orders, those brave and noble souls sacrificing their lives for a mob they knew nothing about.

The world has changed so much, and he feels himself gradually losing his strength. He has grown old. It's not physical aging, but a weariness that comes from the depths of his soul.

"All those who have sacrificed for my ideals will achieve their goals. I will completely end the pointless infighting between human nations, and everyone will become fuel for humanity's journey to the stars, including myself. I will use them prudently, because I understand the value of each individual. Tony Stark cannot understand this, Nick Fury cannot understand this, but I believe you can. You know the meaning of sacrifice, and you know that peace must be bought with blood." Salomon said sincerely, showing no trace of the highly inflammatory speech he had just delivered. "I want to ask for your assistance, Steve Rogers, to help me create a world with true freedom, reason, and equality. Become the righteous person you want to be, and I swear to you, this time no one will let you down. We will fight side by side."

"One last question. How can you guarantee that everything you've done is worthwhile?"

Salomon responded calmly to the criticism. "Because I know I'm right, that's all."

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)