Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1111, Chapter 1107: The Sage's Time (First Update)

For Tony Stark, the news on television had lost its appeal. Friday's routine maintenance was proceeding slowly, and the armor repairs were going according to plan; all he had to do was sit on the sofa.

Although German officials and American news media tried to cover up the conflict at Halle Airport, passengers in the terminal and those forced to disembark still managed to capture video footage of the clashes between the Avengers. This news, somewhat overshadowed by the major revelations from Latvian officials, was the first time the public learned of the Avengers' internal strife. It easily shattered the public image cultivated by the Avengers' PR department, and research institutions in various countries believed it represented the failure of the US plan to implement the Sokovia Accords, establish an enhanced military, and use it as a new era of low-intensity sanctions.

He had always believed his choice was right. Creating Ultron was merely a mistake born of impatience and a desire for quick results, not a defeat for his ideas. He still wanted to armor the world in his own way. Only now did he truly understand failure—the world wasn't under his control, even after taking over his father Howard Stark's job as Secretary of Defense for the Pentagon.

In his mind, he was completely oblivious to the implications of having a private company monopolizing global defense solutions—it meant he would become the most powerful person in the world, the most powerful military-industrial complex. After achieving world peace through such means, Stark Industries, driven by profit, wouldn't stop. The ultimate result would be a society dominated by oligarchs, with Tony Stark becoming the de facto ultimate producer. From defense to daily life, Stark Industries, possessing absolute power, wouldn't let any opportunity to profit slip by, regardless of his own will. Even if Tony Stark himself blocked Stark Industries' path to wealth, the only outcome would be death.

Perhaps this is an inevitable stage in the development of human society, but no one will allow such a thing to happen, and human society has no time to correct itself. The general lack of political awareness among Americans meant that Tony Stark was completely unaware of why only 117 out of 193 UN member states signed the documents.

By forming expert delegations to investigate whether a country is abusing capability enhancers, the very act of establishing international standards and shaping international discourse power is setting a precedent. This could very well become a condition for future armed intervention under the guise of "weapons of mass destruction" or "human rights violations." Even now, the composition of the expert delegations in the Sokovia Accords remains opaque, allowing for numerous opportunities for behind-the-scenes manipulation. Another major reason the UN's Sokovia Accords were able to be implemented was simply due to the need for regulation of capability enhancers among all countries; not all countries can trust the conclusions of experts with dubious backgrounds.

The CIA found footage of an unidentified black-armored warrior, dressed completely differently from the Avengers, in videos taken by travelers. They then instructed the media to broadcast on television, through "expert analysis," confirming that the blurry image of the black-armored warrior was indeed a super-soldier sent by Latvinia. Based on this, the White House spokesperson accused Latvinia of illegally crossing the border to participate in the Avengers incident, while simultaneously announcing the experiences of US troops stationed in Germany and the death of Secretary of State Ross. The spokesperson claimed that Latvinia's super-soldier attacked US troops and the Secretary of State, an act that not only violated humanitarian principles but was also an outright act of war.

Then came some old tricks, such as claiming that there were forced labor camps in Latvinia, that ordinary people could only eat tree bark, that many people were monitored and deprived of their freedom, that the military and police required everyone to swear allegiance every day, and that freedom of speech was deprived, and then inviting some wealthy people who had fled Latvinia to appear on the show to talk about the persecution they had suffered.

In response, Latvian news media released a video of Secretary of State Ross's transformation, along with extensive documentation of Navy SEALs infiltrating other countries to carry out kidnapping and assassination missions. Although the first-person video was somewhat shaky, everyone could clearly see how Secretary Ross transformed from an elderly man who had undergone several heart bypass surgeries into a giant over three meters tall, covered in red blood. The person filming from that first-person perspective also attracted the attention of many military experts. Some discussed the practicality of carrying such a clear camera in a soldier's equipment, while others focused on the actions and combat capabilities of the person filming from that angle.

On the surface, Latvia appears to have won the battle for international order. However, few realize that the international situation Latvia faces remains extremely challenging. Without resorting to methods that undermine international consensus, Latvia has few options to break free from its predicament. Other major powers are also aware of Latvia's weaknesses and are therefore avoiding provocation to prevent it from dragging the entire world down with it. Although Viktor von Dum has repeatedly stated that such a scenario is absolutely impossible, no one will gamble their security on a mere, unenforceable statement.

Tony Stark yawned on the sofa; the heated debates on TV only made him feel drowsy.

But for other New Yorkers watching the news, the situation was a little different.

New Yorkers are well aware of the Hulk's destructive capabilities, but those in the know still gasped when they saw Latvian super soldiers so easily defeat a Hulk (though red-skinned). Previously, many had fiercely debated who was the most powerful Avenger—the Hulk or Thor—but the current situation suggests the Hulk can be ruled out, as a new contender has emerged—or rather, many contenders. Video of a Latvian state visit has surfaced, showing not just one, but hundreds, if not thousands, of heavily armed and powerful super soldiers in the background.

The armed motorcycle in the video also proves that Latvian defense industry has the capacity to customize the entire system of equipment for those super soldiers, from individual equipment to armored vehicles. This shows that the Latvian government's genetically modified soldiers are a product of a long-term plan, and the fact that these genetically modified soldiers can freely enter and leave Germany has aroused fear in some countries.

Tony Stark's despondency was finally roused by a phone call. "Sir, there's an incoming call," Friday announced. "Caller: Salomon Damonette."

Tony Stark jumped off the sofa. "Connect it," he said, suppressing his anger. "I want to hear what he has to say!"

Unlike others who tossed and turned all night, Natasha Romanov didn't get up until almost noon.

She didn't sleep in the guest room, but woke up in Emperor Latvinia's private bedroom. When she opened her eyes, the sorority members, clad in power armor, pushed a service cart into the bedroom, bringing in the clothes and necessities she needed. These fully armed sorority members did not lower their guard because she was a woman; Natasha Romanov saw them place their fingers on the grips of their weapons, clearly indicating that the sorority's leader had ordered her to be closely watched.

This bedroom was once the master bedroom of the Duke of Latvian. It underwent a complete renovation after the war, but the enormous four-poster bed was preserved. However, the Emperor of Latvian did not stay here last night. Instead, in the early hours of the morning, he donned his armor again and boarded the Pegasus heavy assault transport ship with Constantine of the Imperial Guard to carry out a mysterious mission at an unknown location.

Hammurabi, who remained in the capital, arranged for her to stay in this bedroom as ordered, and then placed her under house arrest there until the monarch returned in the afternoon.

For a spy skilled at gathering intelligence and disappearing without a trace, no precautions are too much. This converted, unused bedroom became the most courteous place of confinement. Natasha Romanov was not surprised by her old friend's cold-blooded orders, and the well-equipped bedroom also somewhat mitigated her anger.

The international debate over the definition of "justice" has had no impact on the current situation in Latvinia, nor on anyone else except Steve Rogers, James Buchanan Barnes, and Sam Wilson. The three, led by the Wild Band, were touring the reconstructed town of Latvinia after the press conference, with the remains of bunkers used to hide insurgents also on the tour itinerary.

Today, Steve Rogers is also filming a video with a professional team documenting the dismantling of a roving gang—a madman opened fire at a bus stop, killing several people. Normally, in such situations, military and police would use Legislator armored vehicles to fire laser cannons or heavy explosives at the hiding place, regardless of who was inside; blood for blood is a deterrent to the gang. If they survive, they go to prison, face trial, and are then executed—but this time, the gang members are lucky; they won't die in the heavy weapons bombardment. Captain Rogers will send them to a juvenile detention center for trial, and the video will be posted on the Latvian news homepage for public viewing.

After filming was completed, the group was able to travel to Siberia via the military teleportation point in Latvia, except for Natasha Romanov, who was not on the list.

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(End of this chapter)