Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1020, Part 1016: For Unification (Second Update)

"Where are you taking us?" a reporter who looked to be of European or American descent asked eagerly.

He didn't constantly talk about human rights, because everyone here had witnessed that "human rights" didn't exist here. The "war correspondents" who caused trouble were dragged away on the spot, and no one knew what became of them. While there weren't any public executions or beheadings, it was obvious that their fates were grim. The soldiers here were tight-lipped; no one would reveal any information to them. However, after several days of tracking and reporting, and after seeing the rebels' equipment and the ethnic composition of their soldiers, these war correspondents understood that the Latvian civil war was not as simple as they had seen in the Middle East.

The sheer technological sophistication of the super-heavy tanks and assault transport boats surpassed that of many countries worldwide, not to mention the unique army comprised of soldiers of diverse ethnicities from around the globe—Latin, African, Asian, Slavic, and others. This suggested a larger conglomerate was orchestrating the war. Some experienced war correspondents immediately suspected proxy wars, believing that certain countries were using Latvia for weapons testing and power expansion—and if they had seen the presence of the Guards, their suspicions might have been even more extensive and terrifying. Aside from a select few war correspondents eager to uncover the truth, most wisely remained silent; after all, they were war correspondents, not soldiers or secret agents.

"As long as you follow orders, you won't die," the soldier said with a smile. He pointed to the military police who were marching in formation to maintain order, "Don't waste time, they have something else to show you!"

As the assault transport boats swept across the sky above the royal city, which was shrouded in thick black smoke, Victor von Doom, staff in hand, led the Latvian rebels into the city. Soldiers equipped with recoilless rifles and specifically tasked with clearing enemy strongholds moved swiftly into the city's alleyways to take control of these positions. Tracked armored vehicles with buckets cleared debris and mines while providing cover for soldiers to establish mortar positions and squad-level explosive machine gun positions, and simultaneously supported attacks on large enemy strongholds. Light armored personnel carriers dispersed into the surrounding streets, using twin-barreled heavy explosives and coaxial machine guns mounted on their front to suppress the royal guards hidden in the houses, helping the rebels capture every building. Finally, super-heavy tanks advanced steadily along the cleared roads, firing shells and lasers at oncoming sniper fire, using their thick reactive armor and powerful firepower to control the main passage from the royal city to the castle.

Due to the prior reconnaissance efforts that guided rocket bombardment and assault transport ship attacks, the Royal Guard's heavy firepower and armored units were almost entirely wiped out when the rebels entered the city. Many Royal Guard soldiers surrendered as soon as the fighting began, forcing Victor von Doom to leave several squads behind to guard the prisoners and evacuate them from the city to prevent them from causing trouble. Meanwhile, another group of soldiers had to stay behind to guide the evacuation of civilians; those civilians who hadn't been found by the elite "Exonerator" squads now all rushed out.

The war was progressing rapidly. Even though Victor von Doom had slowed his advance to avoid casualties due to haste, thanks to the Immortal City's heavy firepower and the elite soldiers trained around the world, he crossed the ruins and arrived at the castle, now reduced to rubble, in just half an hour. The artillery fire gradually subsided, and apart from the initial resistance upon entering the city, the offensive proceeded smoothly. The closer they got to the castle, the easier the advance became. The rank and morale of the royal guard were inversely proportional; whether it was Molotov cocktails, improvised explosive devices, or hostage situations, they were all easily resolved by girls clad in black power armor and bearing the emblem of irises and roses—the sisters would never miss a war initiated by their monarch; they would always stand by his side. Everything was proceeding according to plan. All the firing positions and the strength of resistance were being calculated. Viktor von Dum felt that this was less of a siege and more of an armed parade, or a mathematical problem made of artillery fire and bloodshed, and his superiors had already come up with the optimal solution.

Salomon, clad in golden power armor, had been waiting there for some time. The Latvian royal family, dressed in expensive and exquisite attire, knelt disheveled before the shattered cobblestone square. Before them stood a large group of soldiers in royal uniforms. These soldiers knelt on the white leaflets scattered across the Immortal City and the bomb-ravaged stone pavement—their hands covering their heads, their knees stained with blood. Advanced equipment such as firearms, anti-aircraft missiles, and armored vehicles were carelessly scattered in designated locations. A large number of prisoners were controlled by a white-haired girl in black power armor and a crimson cloak, and a squad of [Immunizers] clad in black bulletproof armor. All the royal guards within a two-hundred-meter radius had surrendered; this was the prestige and fear they had earned by storming into the royal guard wielding chainswords and explosives. Some of the girls' armor still bore the stench of flesh.

The royal guards stood helplessly beside the monarch.

This was Hammurabi's first encounter with the Sorority. Before this, he only knew that the Immortal City possessed an all-female armed organization. The Sorority's commander, Tita, repeated to Hammurabi what she had told Constantine. Even Hammurabi had to admit that Tita was right; the Royal Guard needed the Sorority to control the surrounding area and completely prevent any attempts to attack the monarch. However, they weren't always with Salomon; he entered the city earlier than everyone else, and he was also the first to finish the battle.

Only then did Victor von Doom notice a body lying at Salomon's feet, severed in two by a bomb. It was an elderly man with a terrified expression, perfectly matching the information gathered earlier outside the city—this was the dark wizard—there was a breach in the collapsed castle, leading to bottomless tunnels and rooms. No one witnessed the supernatural battle Salomon had experienced; even the royal guards only saw the golden figure order the Latvian royals to kneel before him, and then they all surrendered, for those who did not were killed.

Victor von Doom stepped forward and stood beside Salomon, a smile spreading across his burn-scarred face beneath the iron mask. Salomon nodded, planting his longsword on the ground, facing the armored army and the large number of soldiers carrying crimson eagle banners beneath the ruins. His voice carried an indescribable passion; whether kneeling prisoners, rebel soldiers wielding laser-guided rifles, or gathered civilians, anyone alive, regardless of their native language or ability to understand such standard Latin, understood every word he spoke.

"This is the first step in the liberation of Latvia. From now on, you will dedicate your lives to a greater cause."

He didn't need to explain his identity to everyone; in everyone's mind, he was the most perfect figure.

Although Dragan, Noval, Milos, and Tiana were positioned on the outer edge of the line, with the speaker George and his assistant on the other side, they could clearly hear every word. Whether these people were cowardly or brave, noble or base, everyone held their breath. All the hardships they had endured were forgotten in this moment; they listened intently to the speech, courage completely banishing the weariness of battle, and every pair of eyes was fixed with longing on the golden figure amidst the ruins.

"But those greedy thugs and tyrannical magnates will not forget, they will not forget, our ideal is to completely end their rule and liberate the human race from the futile infighting, the slave-based economic system, and the shameless lies! They will not forget our ideal is to realize the value of every individual equally, they will not forget that we pursue the survival and freedom of the human race, they will not forget our ideal is to completely end wars between humans, and they will not forget that we will use the wealth they have greedily exploited to save those who have been enslaved by them!"

His voice gradually ignited the flames in the hearts of every listener. As he raised his longsword, the low-hanging leaden-gray clouds were dispelled by the light emanating from him, as if he were the blazing sun descending upon the world.

"Now they hear our name! As they lie on beds forged from the blood and sweat of the masses, as they sit on sofas woven from the blood of the innocent, they will die of fright because of our name! They will relentlessly smear us, portraying us as slave owners like themselves—no! We are far more noble than they are, because we care not for individuals, but for the entire human race! We are not slaves who would grovel before aliens for wealth and power; we are humans who uphold reason and science! We are the noblest race in the galaxy, and we deserve the brightest future!"

A thunderous roar echoed throughout the city, even the sky resonated, casting a strong but not blinding light. The audience's faces flushed, as if their bodies were once again surging with power. "Latvinians, and people from all over the world, a war awaits us! A war waged by armies and politicians bribed by despicable men, a war to utterly end the rule of ignorance and short-sighted interests, a bloody war to forge humanity into the galactic hegemon. Let me hear your roar! Let the tyrants feel your wrath!"

"For Latvia! For unity!"

"Louder! Let those bastards far away tremble with your anger!" he shouted amidst the smoke and ruins, the blood-red shroud billowing in the wind.

"For unity! For humanity!"

"Come, you foolish and short-sighted tycoons and politicians! Throw yourselves into our guns and swords, and we will stain your worthless lives with eternal shame! We will end your lives and your rule, shattering your blood-red shackles! We will spread reason and science; nothing and no one can stop humanity from marching towards the stars! No matter how dark and treacherous the universe may be, we will ultimately win a great victory for future generations. We will create a glorious civilization belonging to humanity. I promise you this victory that belongs to you and to humanity. For unity! For the destiny of the human race to rule the galaxy!"

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)