Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1075 (First Update)

The ongoing purges in the conquered territories have focused on two main aspects.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe, the Balkan countries collectively shifted their allegiance to the West, and many politicians who had previously been close to the Soviet Union changed their stance. Objectively speaking, these politicians do not bear the primary responsibility for this. The root of the problem lies in a multitude of factors, including corrupt officials like Gorbachev and Yeltsin who eroded the Soviet Union from within, the incompleteness of the Eastern European revolutions which prevented the complete elimination of capitalist vested interests and their infiltration into political parties, and the increasingly dire economic situation within the Soviet Union. Understanding all the reasons requires extensive and meticulous investigation and study over a long period.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, some shrewd politicians in Eastern Europe led their countries to rapid economic development in a short period, demonstrating exceptional domestic and foreign policy capabilities. However, after completely aligning with the West, Western financial giants entered the Eastern European market through free trade policies. The consequences of their previous complacency quickly became apparent. The industrialized nations previously supported by the Soviet Union completely lost their advanced industrial production capabilities, becoming reliant on external aid and subject to rampant plunder by Western financial giants. Latvia, having learned from the lessons of the Eastern European upheaval, naturally understood where the problem lay and how to address it.

Before embarking on the development of heavy industry, the Latvian intelligence service launched a massive purge, primarily targeting the administrative system.

Nick Fury sat in his airport waiting seat, flipping through the purge list with great interest. Without exception, everyone on the list was a business owner controlling heavy industrial resources, ranging from small town enterprises to publicly listed companies. He wasn't fully integrated into the Immortal City's intelligence network, but the Immortal City had still specifically assigned him to participate in some of the purge work. Nick Fury also saw the current problems in Latvia from another perspective—like in the United States, every town had an elite family controlling local businesses and resources. These families formed small cliques, and these people were the core force of capitalism, one of the reasons for the rapid decline of industry in Eastern Europe.

This is a problem that Eastern Europe failed to solve after it surrendered to socialism. Now, in order to completely resolve the historical issues and eradicate urban industrial capitalism, resources such as steel, coal, land, and a large number of production facilities were forcibly nationalized. Accountants selected by Stephanie Malik were moved into foreign-owned enterprises in batches, and soldiers were arresting all board members in the country.

Only after completing this purge can the focus be placed on developing state-owned heavy industry, avoiding a repeat of the mistakes of Eastern Europe's past industrial development. Heavy industry will be the lifeline of Latvian's future. Viktor von Dum has no intention of allowing the wealthy to extend their influence into the political system; such a political-business revolving door must never happen in Latvian. Intelligence obtained from these wealthy individuals helps the intelligence service further identify politicians who have accepted bribes; even those who have fled abroad will be forcibly brought back for trial. Nick Fury, meanwhile, is directing agents under the Imperial Guard to cooperate with Victoria Hand of the intelligence service to arrest corporate executives whose names are held by relatives of foreign politicians.

The first purge was merely a cursory arrest of leaders; this purge, however, aims to thoroughly reshape the conquered territories to reflect the monarch's vision. Therefore, this massive purge represents a significant shift in the political and economic system of the entire Balkans. However, thanks to the efficient work of the administration, the chaos did not spread widely, and the purge targeting the administrative system did not affect many lower-class civilians. Most of the politicians elected through democratic voting, as long as they did not violate fundamental principles, were preserved. After all, their role was to remain in their positions, obey Latvian orders, and buy time for the cultivation of local Latvian officials. Some workers were surprised to find that their companies, after a few days of closure and a new name, had reopened. All management personnel, from top to middle management, had been replaced, and all previous contracts were voided, replaced with more secure ones. Many workers who had initially feared unemployment also abandoned their resistance and returned to work after seeing the businesses reopen.

The second target of the Great Purge was the military.

The military capabilities of the Balkan countries are extremely poor, lacking not only training but also experience in operating advanced weaponry. NATO military instructors teach tactics based entirely on experiences and tactics developed by the US military in counterinsurgency operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan. Without absolute air superiority over the US, these counterinsurgency tactics are inapplicable to the current situation. However, this isn't the major problem; Latvian tactical manuals can effectively address this. The real issue is that the Balkan armies have long relied heavily on NATO military aid, and their constant contact with Western militaries has led to rampant corruption, extremely lax discipline, and some high-ranking officers becoming spies receiving multiple stipends and profiting from intelligence selling.

Because military affairs did not affect civilians, Latvinia immediately launched an extremely harsh purge upon taking over the army. Almost all high-ranking officers were subjected to extreme interrogations comparable to those conducted by the CIA. Large numbers of mid- and lower-ranking officers were tried by newly established military courts and imprisoned. Only a small number of those who proved themselves innocent were spared and promoted. Even many low-ranking soldiers were ordered to accept punishment after questioning. The political commissar, wearing a black overcoat and a peaked cap with a brass eagle insignia, read out the military court's verdict and, with the help of his personal guard, personally executed officers sentenced to death. Nearly two hundred people were executed on the first day of the purge, and many of the soldiers watching the executions recognized the officers being executed.

Almost all political commissars sent to take over the army had this kind of work experience. Their job as military discipline officers was not only to promote the "Truth of Unity" within the army, but also to address corruption, enforce discipline, supervise training, and build an army with conviction. This was an extremely difficult task, so all political commissars received assistance from the Sorority and genetically modified soldiers. Sofia, the political commissar of the military discipline department, was fully responsible for this work; her subordinates were people from the lost city of the Snow Country (Latovina is their ancestral home). Only with the approval of the military discipline department were those troops eligible to receive new equipment; otherwise, they would become, in a sense, punitive battalions, their only remaining value being to sacrifice their lives for the cause of unification, or to be annihilated by the genetically modified soldiers and the Sorority through absolute violence in the event of a mutiny.

In addition to these, there were also assassination threats against IMF decision-makers, impersonation, and a complete replacement of mainstream media and their backers. However, until the first two purges were completed, Latvia, having just unified half of the Balkans, still relied heavily on the monarch's personal fighting prowess, decapitation strikes, and space military strength. Although the monarch alone could deter Western powers eyeing Latvia, Viktor von Dum did not forget the original purpose of Latvia's founding: industrialization was urgent and could not be hindered. Therefore, he planned to have his superiors appear more frequently before completing reforms, increasing deterrence and buying time for Latvia.

"Anyway, your power armor is flashy enough," Victor von Doom said dryly, devoid of any sense of humor. "I need you to make other countries fear you, just like you did before."

Salomon shrugged at the answer, something that wasn't easy for someone wearing power armor. "Shouldn't you be terrified of a three-meter-tall giant?" he asked. "I don't think my height is any more suitable for a state visit than your iron mask. If possible, I'd rather avoid showing myself in front of civilians to avoid frightening them."

"Ordinary people don't actually have that many complaints; the loudest voices come from politicians, students, and the middle class. But that's not a problem. The genetically modified warriors and the sorority's suppression can handle it perfectly well. Once we establish an arbitration tribunal composed of local people, these problems will soon disappear. Humans admire the strong, and that's why humans need heroes. For ordinary people, being able to eat and stay warm is enough. But for the civilians in these countries, someone who can protect their lives is a hero," Viktor von Doom said.

Salomon stood in front of the desk, waiting for him to continue.

"You ended the atrocities committed by US troops stationed abroad, you enacted laws to eradicate gangs and uphold justice, you arrested and purged corrupt officials, you developed manufacturing to save jobs, and you prioritized agriculture to protect everyone from hardship and poverty. All of this makes you a hero to those who benefit from your kindness. Data from the communications monitoring center shows that in cities where you have been present, the residents' will to resist is minimized. So be a little more aware of being a hero; you are not just a king, but to those ordinary people you represent hope, order, and a new era."

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)