Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1072, Section 1068: Monopolistic Business (Second Update)

Aside from the US Security Council representative and members of the Foreign Relations Committee, most countries had little objection to Latvinia's plan to unify the Balkans. Even those who did object mostly focused on Latvinia's space-based military capabilities and its exploration of planets in the solar system. Now, the agreement aimed at limiting Latvinia's space-based military has been proven worthless by a decapitation strike. Even without space-based weaponry, Latvinia is capable of using teleportation technology to carry out strategic strikes.

This demonstrates that current human technology is insufficient to prevent Latvian forces from reaching any part of the world. Whether it's an underground strategic command post or a heavily guarded military production facility, no matter how well-prepared or heavily defended, Latvian forces can traverse it with ease. This is why, after Asgard demonstrated the capabilities of the Rainbow Bridge, many nations, after strategic calculations, considered surrendering—military forces cannot predict teleportation points and deploy defenses in advance. An attack on logistical supply systems or public infrastructure would completely paralyze the military and daily lives of civilians, halting economic and material supply processes. It doesn't even require weapons of mass destruction; a small number of soldiers can utterly cripple an entire organization.

Although the Latvian monarch declared that the space-based weapons were aimed at alien fleets rather than human nations, everyone knew that these weapons could also be targeted at Earth. This was an obvious threat, but everyone knew that having one more friend was better than having one more enemy, especially when the other side was using the pretext of combating alien threats and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Fortunately, Latvia has temporarily confined its ambitions to the Balkans, much to the relief of many countries. The opinions of other Balkan nations have been completely ignored, as the benefits and deterrent effect of Latvia far outweigh those of the Balkan states, and a unified Balkan Peninsula would be highly advantageous in containing NATO. Currently, apart from NATO members like the US and UK, whose interests have suffered significant losses, no UN Security Council representative is bringing up the issue again, as if the agreement to sanction Latvia never existed.

They chose to become friends with Latvinia, and savvy individuals were already planning cooperation with Latvinia. After all, a military superpower was on the verge of rising in Southern Europe, and if they didn't cultivate good relations now, they would miss future opportunities. In addition, there were plans to profit from the impending volatility in the US stock market when it opened tomorrow. Interior Secretary Stephanie Malik had already convened Hydra's conservative interest group to arrange tomorrow's work, aiming to give Latvinia more initiative in the capital markets and make greater progress in infiltrating the European and American military-industrial complex. When the US president, finding the threat gone, emerges from the shelter to give a speech encouraging the nation and capital, Latvinia's front will become an important part of the US military-industrial complex, holding a large number of key shares.

If the United States really wants to start a war, then it is creating economic revenue for Latvia.

Salomon sat in the main seat of the super-heavy assault transport vessel. After Supiluliumas, beaming with satisfaction, drove the anti-gravity jet motorcycle into the hangar, the Sleipnir-class super-heavy assault transport vessel, hovering over New York, immediately took off and flew towards the orbital space station. The long night eventually ended. No one expected Latvia to launch such a decisive attack on the United States. The hastily fleeing US president had become a laughing stock in international news—many Democratic media outlets had begun writing articles exaggerating the threat Latvia posed to world security, attempting to find a plausible excuse for the president's hiding. However, this did not prevent the stock prices of the military-industrial complex from plummeting the next day, causing widespread turmoil in the financial markets. The world had witnessed the overwhelming superiority of Latvia's advanced military technology over the US military-industrial complex; the still-burning Norfolk Naval Base and shipyard were the best proof.

No amount of declarations or boasts could change anything; the only solution was to win a war against Latvia. But at that moment, the bourgeoisie's weakness was on full display.

No one in power in the United States wants to go to war with Latvia. The destruction of the Sixth Fleet, European communications satellites, numerous NATO military bases in Eastern and Southern Europe, and the Norfolk shipyard on the east coast of the United States all indicate that Latvia is an adversary that requires the full force of the nation to deal with. Even if victorious, it would be a Pyrrhic victory, and the domestic economy, industry, and organizational system would certainly suffer a devastating blow, after all, the other side possesses nuclear weapons and is not a member of the United Nations, completely unrestrained by international law. This is an enemy that cannot be sanctioned by any means. The greatest threat to the United States today is more terrifying than the so-called threat of an alien fleet, because it makes the capitalist class realize that the fortress they rely on is no longer secure, and there is someone outside who can kill them at will.

This attack also, to some extent, prevented capital flight from Europe. If even the United States cannot guarantee the safety of the bourgeoisie, then the only way out is cooperation.

Viktor von Dum received numerous conference invitations. Many Western European countries, witnessing the flames of war raging in Southern Europe, Eastern Europe, and the eastern coast of the United States, sought to integrate Latvia into their economic system. However, he refused. While joining would bring Latvia short-term benefits, the ensuing restrictions would stifle its future development. Latvia's development path would inevitably diverge from those of the European nations. Neither he nor Salomon wanted their country's economic lifeline to be controlled by international financial groups. They believed that by weathering this period, Latvia could establish a self-sufficient industrial system, freeing it from dependence on any country's resources.

Salomon, who had returned to Latvia ahead of schedule via teleportation, did not rest but instead held a brief meeting with Viktor von Dum. The military forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Croatia, Romania, and Hungary had been utterly routed by Latvia. The next step was to either support a government that endorsed the "United Truth" and slowly cultivate the Southern European Community, or to continue expansion, annexing these regions in one fell swoop and then gradually cultivating local forces belonging to the Immortal City. The different measures and priorities for each region required decisions from Viktor von Dum and Salomon.

Victor von Doom, as regent of Latvinia and the Immortal City, holds a very important position. His main task is to provide resources for the war waged by Salomon, both in terms of manpower and equipment, which he has the capability to do, and this is the fundamental reason why Salomon appointed him as regent.

His suggestion was to adopt the latter approach for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania in the south, and the former approach for the countries in the north, establishing a buffer zone with NATO to focus on developing heavy industry in the event of direct conflict. Although the war between the US and Latvia is ongoing, he believes the US probably doesn't have the courage to actually attack Latvia. Repeated wars have already made the Immortal City unsustainable; otherwise, Salomon wouldn't have resorted to the cheapest method—a teleportation decapitation strike—to resolve the issue. Even if they acquire a lot of money, it must be spent, converted into military and industrial strength, arming more soldiers and producing more equipment.

This will create a large number of manufacturing jobs. Although there will inevitably be rebellions and opposition in the early stages, those voices of opposition will quickly disappear as long as the common people of the southern country benefit. The Immortal City will gain actual control of the southern country and many Adriatic ports, allowing equipment produced in the Immortal City to be transported by sea to the actual control of Latvinia, greatly reducing transportation costs.

"This means higher upfront investment."

"Yes, but I believe it's worth it." Victor von Doom's iron mask remained expressionless. "These countries have the ideological foundation; promoting the 'United Truth' won't be too difficult. Besides, Europe's satellite systems have already been destroyed by us. I will later sign a communications satellite leasing and protection agreement with European countries. If European countries don't want their communications paralyzed, they will have to provide Latvian with a steady stream of usage fees and patent fees. This monopoly alone can recoup the initial investment. It's a worthwhile cost, not to mention the invitations I received when you were at the United Nations—unify the Balkans first, then we'll figure out how to expand northward."

He did not mention the suppression measures taken after the rebellion. Those genetically modified soldiers were cold-blooded killers, flesh-and-blood machines created for violence, a fact that both men present knew perfectly well.

"Agreed, let's do it that way."

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)