Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1083 (First Update)

Although he spoke optimistically about Latvinia's endeavors to Athena, the reality was that even with the Immortal City's intelligence agencies possessing highly efficient teams and command chains, and a wealth of dirt on European and American officials and their families, imitating the methods of the CIA and the National Endowment for Democracy was not so easy. American hegemony in the cultural sphere was deeply entrenched; both popular culture and religious groups were staunch supporters of the American spirit. Even if Latvinia, like the National Endowment for Democracy, poured money into the cultural circles and intellectuals of hostile countries, it couldn't achieve the level of bribing a large number of spies to subtly spread ideas and smear enemies through textbooks, photography, films, animation, music, and other cultural means.

The reason for this is that Latvian is too realistic, while everyone dreams of pursuing a better life.

American popular culture and religious culture both tell you that as long as you are devout enough and believe enough in democracy, you can possess money, wisdom, and power. You can indulge in extreme selfish hedonism and enjoy boundless freedom and rights. This ideology wraps people up like a soft blanket, trapping them in a beautiful dream and blinding them to the terrible reality. Even when they see the ugly reality, they only need to satisfy themselves through formalism such as mourning.

Latverian thought, while stitching together Marxist-Leninist ideas, exposes the ugly reality and tells you that humanity must unite to overcome difficulties, abandon pleasure and selfishness, and that only the survival of the collective and the human race matters. This ideology tells you what reality is like, what methods to use to solve it, and urges you to act quickly because formalism is useless; everything you admire is a facade presented by others to numb you and make you blind to reality. Because it is too realistic, it is not recognized; because it touches too deeply on vested interests, it is opposed. This is the current state of "Unified Truth."

The idea of ​​prioritizing a shared future for humanity, so rare in this world, is both profoundly clear-headed and incredibly far-fetched. However, with the alien fleet approaching, the validity of the "Unified Truth" is becoming increasingly clear over time, and Latvinia's formidable technological prowess seems to be emerging as a lifeline for humanity. It's not that there aren't clear-headed individuals and nations in this world; otherwise, the cooperation agreement with Latvinia wouldn't have been signed so quickly. People will eventually discover that a soft blanket is utterly ineffective against aliens; only a sturdy fortress can guarantee the survival of the human race.

After investigation by intelligence agencies, the Yale University professors were also found to be under close FBI surveillance, a mission of similar danger level to the Black Panther Party members who had been assassinated. These professors primarily studied Marxism-Leninism and mathematics. Victoria Hand's agents planned to use a shuttle to directly enter the American heartland and bring the professors and their families away. Initially, intelligence agencies worried this would provoke a strong backlash from the United States, potentially escalating the already tense situation. The initial plan was to travel from the US-Mexico border to Mexico and then from Mexico to Latvia. However, the Latvian leadership was unconcerned about this possibility, insisting that intelligence agencies complete the mission using the most efficient methods possible, regardless of international circumstances.

The Latvian regent believed war was inevitable, and strengthening Latvian power beforehand was paramount; Latvian had to withstand the first wave of nuclear attacks. This wouldn't be difficult for Latvian, but Salomon feared that the US would indiscriminately drop missiles after a nuclear war – if they couldn't survive, no one else could either. Once nuclear war broke out, the US would fall from its superpower status, and to preserve its position afterward, it would likely drag all of humanity down with it. Salomon never underestimated the limits of humanity; this scenario was highly probable, requiring Latvian to immediately destroy all land-based and sea-based missile launch sites, including those located in the US mainland, overseas military bases, and naval fleets.

It now seems that this requirement is too difficult. Those US Navy nuclear submarines that have sunk into the deep sea are the deadly daggers pressed against humanity's back. Achieving this goal would consume a great deal of Salomon and Viktor von Dum's time for prophecy. Therefore, the best-case scenario is that Latvian salami slicing tactics will be effective, gradually eliminating US forces in Eastern and Western Europe. In this case, the intelligence department's actions can also be seen as a step in the salami slicing tactics, gradually desensitizing the Americans to Latvian breakthroughs in air defenses. Not long after the Sisterhood was established, the Immortal City obtained damaging information about human trafficking in Eastern Europe and the extravagant parties of the upper echelons of Europe and America. That information was intended for use at this time. Salomon had already foreseen all that was happening now. That intelligence would be released along with the intelligence department's actions, sent to the world through Latvian's powerful network capabilities, striving to ensure that everyone using the internet received a copy.

"You don't need to do it yourself. With the US presidential election in full swing, both the Democrats and Republicans are desperately searching for dirt on each other. Just leave it to the campaign team." After listening to Salomon explain his plan, Athena hugged the bearskin and remained silent for a while before speaking. "Release the information you have step by step. They'll do anything for the presidency."

"I don't think so," Salomon shook his head. "There's a consensus among America's elite politics: it's all about making money."

Both the Democratic and Republican parties represent elite politics. What Democratic politicians have done, Republican politicians will also do. What ordinary people consider to be against social morality is just commonplace in their eyes.

"I never trust those politicians' bottom lines because I know the evil and ignorance in human nature," he said. "All it takes is for something to happen in Hollywood, and public opinion will quickly shift its focus, the ignorant frenzy will flow in another direction, and no one will remember what happened. Moreover, a lie repeated a thousand times becomes the truth. This is the environment in which the common people of this country live, and that's why the historical process of this country has never reached the point of awakening, because there are enough things to distract them."

"This is difficult, Salomon. Aren't you being a little too hasty?" Athena scrutinized her adopted son's back. She knew how many scars from fierce battles lay beneath those clothes, and how these silent sacrifices went unnoticed and unappreciated. "Your opponent is an empire of lies built on money and weapons. Breaking this financial bubble created by lies, which the whole world dreams of, will come at a heavy price. And how much will you, standing against all the beneficiaries, have to pay?"

"Don't worry about me, Athena." He quoted a famous saying, "If we choose the profession that best serves the happiness of mankind, then the burden cannot crush us, for it is a dedication to humanity. Then what we feel will not be pitiful, limited, selfish pleasure; our happiness will belong to millions, and our cause will endure forever. And noble people will shed tears before our ashes. Athena, I will not fail, nor can I fail. This world has descended into an abyss of division and hatred, and anyone who drags the human race into this mire will be my enemy. Even if it means hundreds of millions of lives will die in World War III, on the eve of the dawn of a shared future for mankind, it will all be worthwhile, because the future will be one of eternal peace."

"Then what will you do?" Athena swallowed the question, patting her adopted son's shoulder with a mixture of relief and sorrow. On one hand, she was grateful that her upbringing had instilled in him an iron will; on the other hand, she worried whether the Sorcerer Supreme and Kamar-Taj's teachings had turned him into an incorrigible martyr. "Think of Bayonetta and Joan of Arc," she rephrased. "Although I don't like witches, I hope you won't let them down."

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)