Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1179 Bloodstained Determination (Second Update)

Stephen Strange's performance was seen as utterly hopeless by the Latvian Emperor. One day he was pleading with Kamar-Taj for help, and the next he was arrogantly nitpicking. Even though His Holiness had laid out the path for him, he still wanted to solve the problem through other, easier means.

Lazy, reckless, impulsive, and irresponsible.

After a moment of self-reflection, the Emperor realized that his viewpoint was not based on personal bias, but rather on conclusions drawn from his various actions. If Mordo had known what Stephen Strange had said not long ago, he would have been ashamed for questioning the His Excellency's decision last night. If he hadn't insisted, the His Excellency might have left Stephen Strange standing in the street for even longer.

Now the Emperor of Latvian is going to do just that.

Stephen Strange was thrown into the apprentice confinement cell for a week, where no one would interact with him until he could sift through his flaws and leave them behind. Kamar-Taj had encountered people recruited from secular society before, and these individuals typically carried the characteristics of the social environment and their own class, such as superstition, unhygienic behavior, and arrogance. The confinement cell was one of Kamar-Taj's methods for educating its apprentices.

However, it is quite rare to find someone like Stephen Strange who remains unrepentant even after witnessing just the tip of the iceberg of the outside world. This person had no concept of responsibility in his past life, and the education he received during the era of neoliberalism further fostered this repulsive mindset in Stephen Strange.

Stephen Strange, who was taller than average, was grabbed by the Emperor like a chick, completely powerless to resist. "What do you want?!" Stephen Strange screamed hoarsely, pounding on the Emperor's arm, but after only a few blows, he howled like a kicked dog from the pain of his dislocated bones. Only then did tears and snot stream down his face as he almost cried out, pleading, "I really have nothing left."

"I want your life, your very being, everything you have," the Emperor of Latvinia said coldly. "To learn magic means to take responsibility, Stephen Strange. No one in Kamar-Taj has ever been as eager to shirk responsibility as you. Everyone here has given everything for their ideals. Can you do the same?"

"But all I want is to heal my hand!" Stephen Strange cried out, his voice nasal and choked with emotion. "You can do it! I've seen the news about Latvian's research on brain-computer interfaces! You guys are very knowledgeable in neuroscience!"

"I refuse to provide you with medical services because I don't need anything from you. Everything in your past is worthless to me. Surgical skills? Automated surgical robots are more precise than you. Medical knowledge? Compared to Latvian's biological research department, you're just a child who has barely learned to read. Money? That means even less to me and Latvian. Stephen Strange, even if you hadn't lost everything you once had, you'd be less valuable to me, to Kamar-Taj, than a stray dog ​​on the street. You had to give everything to learn this."

"But, but... I just want to heal myself..."

"Then you can die in the garbage dump, letting flies suck your rotting corpse. Those who are unwilling to take responsibility have no value to humanity." The Emperor of Latvinia abandoned Stephen Strange, leaving him to waile on the ground. He utterly denied Stephen Strange's worth, forcibly dragging the arrogant doctor, who had always held himself on a pedestal, down to face the harsh reality—that Stephen Strange's life was worthless to Kamar-Taj and to everyone in the world, unless he began to confront the responsibility he had to bear for coming to this point.

The Emperor turned to look at the Sorcerer Supreme, and after receiving a nod of approval, he casually walked past Strange, who had lost his ability to perceive the outside world because of crying, and no longer paid any attention to this ignorant and pitiful wretch.

Perhaps this conversation would have been better initiated after Stephen Strange had received his early education, but he wasn't worth the Emperor's trip back from Latvinia or the Immortal City. Sherlock Holmes, compared to Stephen Strange, placed greater emphasis on his responsibilities, and the Emperor of Latvinia appreciated his intellect more than his potential.

"Teacher, have you reviewed my application?"

"The King is currently serving as the Librarian; he can accompany you to Latvia to establish a formal department." The Sorcerer Supreme pulled a very modern-looking manila envelope from a pile of ancient books beside him. The Emperor took the document, pulled it out, and glanced at the magical emblem personally stamped by the Sorcerer Supreme. "While the people you recruited aren't particularly talented, quite a few schools of magic are complaining that you've poached their future apprentices. What do you plan to do?"

"Of course, we should shut them up." The Emperor of Latveria would not indulge those schools of magic like the Sorcerer Supreme.

Almost every year, these smaller schools of magic would cause some kind of trouble—whether it was accidentally summoning extradimensional beings, inadvertently allowing ordinary people to obtain magical items or books, or simply creating magical disasters during experiments—causing Kamar-Taj endless headaches. If they could handle these situations themselves, it would be fine, but almost every time they would turn to Kamar-Taj for help. Aside from the Druids, Taoists, and Buddhists who are close to Kamar-Taj, many magical schools still refused direct control of Kamar-Taj, even being extremely reluctant to hand over a portion of their school's heritage as a copy. They completely failed to realize that what Kamar-Taj needed was not their heritage, but the safety of all human society from extradimensional threats.

For example, the likely resurrection of the feathered serpent god that will occur soon is very likely related to the lineage of ancient Aztec priests who lived in the South American jungle.

"They should understand that the future world will not allow them, these potential threats, to cause trouble at will," the Emperor said. "I want to convene a meeting in the name of Kamar-Taj of all schools of magic on Earth. At the meeting, I want to re-establish the codes of conduct and punishment mechanisms for these schools. For those schools that frequently cause trouble, their qualifications to use magic should be revoked, and all their heritage should be confiscated. Anyway, there are still many empty rooms in Kamar-Taj's underground prison; killing a few and imprisoning a few will make them understand that they must be responsible for their actions."

"You intend to destroy an ancient school of thought?" Even the Sorcerer Supreme was shocked by the bloodthirsty resolve revealed in his disciple's words. "You should know that many of these people are people you know. Kasirius once took you to the Bar Without Doors and had conversations with them."

"I will persuade them to accept management. If they still cannot be used by humanity and even cause a lot of trouble, then this is the only acceptable option." The Emperor nodded without changing his expression. "On the eve of the arrival of the alien fleet, I cannot spare the resources to deal with the troubles of these magical schools, so I can only resolve the issue ahead of time. The genetically modified warriors have experience in dealing with material universe creatures corrupted by extradimensional forces during their training. The advanced weapons and magical weapons I have prepared for them are fully capable of dealing with witchcraft. If you allow, I would like to schedule the meeting before the awakening of Quetzalcoatl, at the Temple of Vatum in South America, where the interstellar missiles and warriors I have prepared will gather."

"I understand, and I agree with your approach. But I hope you can show them some leniency. Similarly..." The Venerable glanced at Stephen Strange, who was curled up on the ground. "Let him stay here. Don't mention solitary confinement for now. I believe that this experience will definitely change Stephen Strange."

"I hope so."

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(End of this chapter)