Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1090 (Second Update)

Thaddeus E. Ross simply smiled at the statement, then squinted at the German Foreign Ministry vehicle slowly approaching from the other side of the airport, completely ignoring Tony Stark's protest. If the Democrats won the next presidential election, he would become Vice President, and Tony Stark would be appointed Secretary of Defense. That position would grant the power to enforce the Sokovia Accords within the United States, and oversee all Enhanced Beings within the US and in Europe. Secretary Ross knew Tony Stark wanted to protect the Avengers, so he would never relinquish that position. Moreover, the best way to implement the Sokovia Accords was to have an Avenger oversee its execution, thus building public and Enhanced Being trust in the government.

This was a decision made by an entire interest group, and even someone as wealthy as Tony Stark could not resist it.

"The German Foreign Ministry is here," Thaddeus E. Ross said calmly. "Get in the car. Think about how you're going to greet your old friends. Be mature, you're not a child anymore. Don't let us down, Stark. Think about how much support we've given you." Then, as if just remembering something, he added, "Do you know that one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s assets is a superhuman prison? We've taken it over now, I think it's called Raft Prison?"

"You bastard!" Tony Stark was both angry and anxious.

He glared at Secretary of State Ross, then climbed into the German Foreign Ministry's car without looking back. German police were ready to escort the convoy at any moment. Even in the air-conditioned car, Tony Stark's forehead was covered in cold sweat. He had noticed a very abstract eye pattern on Secretary Ross's gold lapel pin—the All-Seeing Eye. He knew the meaning of this pattern, and Stark had seen it more than once on the logos of various Rothschild foundations (including Château Mouton Rothschild). He had been warned by Salomon about the meaning of this logo more than once; he just hadn't expected that what seemed like conspiracy theories would actually be happening around him. Tony Stark began to suspect his father's past. Had Howard Stark also discovered the truth? He thought of his parents' unexpected deaths, and a chill ran down his spine, but he suppressed the urge to scream, trying to act as if nothing was wrong.

He muttered to himself, tapping the black partition between the driver's seat and the cabin, and asked impatiently, "When do we leave?" After receiving a reply, Tony Stark discreetly took out his phone and typed a text message out of the rearview mirror. While being head-on wasn't exactly associated with caution, he still took precautions to ensure his safety this time. He had no doubt that if Steve Rogers' faction refused to sign the Sokovia Accords, an "accident" would follow, and he wouldn't allow that to happen.

As the convoy of cars, escorted by German police, drove out of the airport, Tony Stark got the answer he wanted.

Colonel Rhodes was traveling on a modified Boeing airliner belonging to the Department of Defense. However, even with his military rank and status as an Avenger, there was an area he couldn't access—something he hadn't encountered even during his escort missions for Air Force One. Moreover, the airliner carried a large group of military personnel and far more medical staff than Air Force One itself. These people appeared tense, constantly whispering amongst themselves. Colonel Rhodes's attempt to ingratiate himself and find out the situation failed; everyone, including the medical personnel, seemed trained and extremely tight-lipped. All Colonel Rhodes saw was them produce enough tranquilizers to stun an elephant.

Tony Stark considered many options, but the last one made him clench his fist.

"God, Rogers, don't be so stubborn. But we don't have Saul right now." He muttered, shoving his phone into his pocket and closing his eyes to rest. He just hoped things wouldn't spiral out of control. He hadn't expected Ross to be this crazy; he couldn't imagine what Ross would do if Steve Rogers resisted. As for another possible solution, he rejected it himself. In his view, that option was even crazier than what Ross was about to do—that person absolutely couldn't be in Germany, because that meant World War III.

"I have no doubt Ross would do something like this; he's completely sided with the Democrats." Victoria Hand snorted dismissively, drawing the attention of the intelligence analyst in the command center. Victoria Hand was currently aboard a low-orbiting space carrier, a crucial mobile command center for the Immortal City, where the assault transports and soldiers in the hangar could launch a devastating raid at any moment. "If his plan fails, the Democrats, with their media dominance, can shift the blame to the Avengers who refused to sign the agreement and bolster public support for the Sokovia Accords. This kind of manipulation of public opinion is easy for S.H.I.E.L.D., but are you sure you want to deal with him? I need the real odds; I need to know how certain you are of victory… I understand, I will. Activate Red Route 3-110, contact the mission executor."

"Mission ID: Alpha-112-10-Omekron-Alpha. Mission Codename: Credit. Mission Level: Crimson; Executor: Heinrich Zemo, ID: Alpha-112-10-Omekron-Alpha-A1. Executor's Classification: Crimson." A mechanical voice spoke in a flat, straightforward tone, "Please confirm mission progress, Executor."

"A criminal psychologist. No one will notice my disguise."

"As recorded, mission progress 56.5%. Subcutaneous signal transmitter confirmed, 3, 2, 1..."

"Ugh! Can't you guys send a human operator?" Zemo complained. "I'm fed up with talking to machines!"

"Subcutaneous implantation of signal transmitter confirmed. Request accepted." The mechanical voice seemed completely oblivious to Zemo's complaint. "Awaiting human transfer, please wait..."

"Skip!" Zemo held up his phone, brushing back the slightly longer strands of hair from his forehead with his finger. "Enter the critical call."

"Request accepted." A sharp buzzer sounded from the other end of the phone.

After a brief silence, a nostalgic voice reached Zemo's ears.

"They repaired your vocal cords?" The man's previously cold face instantly broke into a smile. He spoke to the woman on the other end of the phone with a beaming smile, softly describing his current life, omitting any mention of the suffering and grief he had endured. He felt time flying by, no matter how tightly he clenched his fists, he couldn't slow its passage. As the twenty-minute call time drew near, Zemo quickened his pace, promising the woman that they would eventually be reunited, repeatedly assuring her that he would keep his word. "We'll be together soon, darling," he said. "I promise you, I'll come get you after this mission is over. We'll go somewhere no one can find us, and no one will bother you, I promise..."

"Call ended." The shrill buzzer sounded again, the mechanical voice abruptly cutting off the call, forcing Zemo to swallow back the last words he was about to say. The mechanical voice then asked, "Do you still require service?"

"That's all." Although dissatisfaction filled his heart, Zemo still checked the next call time before hanging up. He rubbed his face, just about to relax, when a sudden knock on the door made him alert. The voice claiming to be room service didn't make him let his guard down. He picked up the silenced pistol from the table, checked the magazine, and casually swept the documents on the table aside. Those documents, including the passport, belonged to a criminal psychology expert affiliated with the FBI, and he had successfully impersonated the expert. He slowly approached the door with the gun, aiming the muzzle at the approximate location of the knocker through the door panel, before carefully opening the door a crack to avoid being completely exposed. Only after seeing who it was did he put on a smile again.

"Let me have it, ma'am," he said, taking the plate with one hand. "It looks delicious."

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)