Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1065, Part 1061: War Machines (First Update)

What's happening at the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan right now is arguably the most attention-grabbing news in the world: two colossal war machines have suddenly sprung into action, the entire city seemingly able to hear the thunderous roar of their massive weight as they land. While Manhattan's main avenues are wide enough to barely accommodate war machines, the side streets are too narrow for such a large operation. However, footage captured by a news helicopter has made New Yorkers forget this obvious fact. Some may have seen war machines in front of the Hungarian Parliament Building on the news, but most have no concept of the scale of that building or the machines themselves. Now, as these massive war machines in New York begin to operate, and everyone can hear the thunderous footsteps of their steely forms, the raw fear of such colossal objects easily captures everyone's attention.

Panic began to spread, and many people started driving out of New York. Within minutes, several bridges leading to New Jersey and New York City were jammed with luxury cars and dilapidated vehicles. The frantic honking and red taillights overflowed onto the main roads leading out of the city like a blocked river. Many people on the west side of Manhattan also began to flee, regardless of whether they would actually be affected. But not everyone wanted to leave. When chaos erupts, there are always those who want to take advantage of the situation, even if their fate is uncertain, they are still indulging in the satisfaction of wielding power and wealth. George Stacy awkwardly offered her condolences to the grim-faced Pepper Potts, then planned to deploy all the officers still on duty to maintain order.

“Now is the time we need the Avengers, Detective Carter.” NYPD Commissioner George Stacy, with the assistance of his newly promoted right-hand man, Inspector Carter, returned to the station. He said this from the passenger seat of the patrol car, watching the chaos spread from the streets into the affluent neighborhood. “I don’t like those people, but we need them now. We need confidence, Inspector Carter; that’s far more important than any semblance of order.”

Colonel Rhodes contacted Pepper Potts urgently. Although Pepper's attention was entirely focused on Tony Stark's resuscitation efforts in the ward, Happy Hogan didn't dare delay after seeing that the contact was Colonel Rhodes. Colonel Rhodes stated that his mission on Air Force One was over, the President had gone to the shelter, and he needed to come to New York for a mission. "Get Tony to safety, Pepper," Colonel Rhodes said. "I should be in New York in about ten minutes. Until then, stay safe. I know the situation in New York. Tell Happy he can shoot if necessary. Tell Dr. Strange the President has ordered him to use all means to save Tony Stark. We can't lose him."

"I will," Pepper Potts replied calmly, "but there's no safe place now."

Why did both the Democratic and Republican parties in the United States tacitly approve of the Avengers' existence after the Battle of New York, and regard them as official idols, constantly trying to win them over on various occasions? Why did the US government turn a blind eye to the collateral damage caused by the Avengers during their missions before this, and why was it ultimately Tony Stark's foundation that compensated the victims?

Beyond the superficial factors of Captain America Steve Rogers' ability to garner votes from retired police officers and veterans in Republican strongholds, and Iron Man Tony Stark's ability to appeal to Silicon Valley elites and left-wing figures in the media and news media in Democratic strongholds, the most crucial factor is that the Avengers can instill confidence in Americans, thereby compensating for the US government's weakness and procrastination in the 2012 Battle of New York against the alien invasion forces, and creating a safe environment to stabilize the financial markets. This also includes secondary factors such as the military-industrial complex's desire to exaggerate the alien threat and increase US military spending for profit, and the US government's need to address unemployment through military manufacturing, requiring an enemy to amplify the threat. Whether Democrats or Republicans, their ultimate goal is to make money, not solve problems—a situation that reached a new level after the Dark Elves' invasion of London in 2013. Europe, lacking a cohesive superhero system, found that the alien invasion required the help of the Asgardian Thor to resolve, leading to a massive transfer of European assets to the US, resulting in the fastest economic growth since the 2008 financial crisis.

This is one of the main reasons why Mycroft Holmes wanted to win over Salomon. Having an official superhero meant security and stability. Since he couldn't find Thor, who was permanently based in Asgard, he had to find another hero who had fought during the Dark Elves' invasion. This cabinet secretary, who was also the most intelligent and responsible in history, hoped to find a lever to save the British economy. However, the truth was that Salomon was completely uninterested in his proposal. All Europeans and Americans forgot that war is not the glamorous scene in movies, comics, and books. It's not about two heroes confronting each other under the scorching sun, in the admiring eyes of ordinary people, using various high-tech equipment. War is a combination of flames, smoke, ashes, rotting flesh, sweat, excrement, and charcoal. It's the air raids, bombings, massacres, and looting that all mainstream European and American media would never report on in "subhuman" countries.

Salomon studied the impact of the Vietnam War on the United States. Until the end of 1965, no American opposed the Vietnam War, just as no American opposed the Iraq War before its conclusion. Before witnessing its brutality, Americans were optimistic, their sense of superiority leading them to believe intervention in foreign affairs was justified. Domestic economic growth was also booming, delaying the economic crisis that should have occurred in 1967. However, as the US military became deeply mired in the war, its brutality was presented to Americans in a bloody manner on television. Rising taxes and soaring prices began to shatter this confidence and sense of superiority, sparking a wave of opposition to the Vietnam War. Similarly, after 2008, calls for opposition to the Iraq War emerged in the US, resembling a replay of the 1966 anti-war movement. However, due to the escalation of warfare and the smaller number of young Americans lost in the Iraq War, this anti-war movement was not as large-scale as before.

Latvia has now initiated a war in Europe, which will inevitably lead to a larger-scale capital flight from Europe, with the United States as its destination. While Latvia demonstrated to the world how a Mach 26 hypersonic missile destroyed the Norfolk Naval Base, the news on television is too distant and far removed from the visceral pain. The US capital markets have not been affected; on the contrary, they may surge when trading resumes tomorrow. The US president may also issue declarations of war, repeating the "boom" of the US economy during the Vietnam War, attempting to use external conflict to achieve a rapid economic recovery.

There's no more direct way to damage the American economy than by directly undermining the confidence of Americans and the capital markets. That's why Supilulius decisively destroyed the Hulkbuster armor—to show Americans that their superheroes are nothing, stripping away the false sense of security provided by superhero culture, revealing the ugly reality they face. That's why the war machine is honking its horns and cruising down Manhattan's avenues, heading towards Wall Street in South Manhattan—to tell the capital markets that America is not the safest place, and that the destruction of the Knights Templar could be repeated in the modern era. Any declaration of war issued by the US president tomorrow will face the fiercest counterattack, and America is incapable of protecting everything it has, including you.

Latvia, possessing a large number of armed satellites, void fighters, and interstellar missiles—capable of destroying almost all communication and military reconnaissance satellites in the world—can, despite its ongoing territorial expansion based on Yugoslavia, be considered the uncrowned king of the planet. Salomon is helping the world see this clearly, warning everyone not to stand in Latvia's way.

Imagine the US president delivering a five-minute speech, in which a hypersonic missile launched from an armed satellite could strike the White House in just three minutes, completely uninterceptable by existing missile defense systems, and this warhead happens to be nuclear. Even less cumbersome; uninterceptable teleportation technology could destroy a nation's organizational capacity, much cheaper than an interstellar missile, and with a far more terrifying deterrent effect. This threat would be fatal to any country or organization, especially since such a weapon is in the hands of someone unbound by international order, time, or power. Even if everyone wanted to kill Salomon, they would only dare to plot it secretly, not openly.

But he never felt any joy about it, never.

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)