Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1199 Sing! (Second Update)

The golden-armored warriors entered on their own, leaving them behind. After a long wait, the golden-armored warriors opened the doors again, and they were escorted into the emperor's office by two white-haired women dressed in black armor and carrying large-caliber rifles.

To some, this vast space was nothing short of a library and museum. Huge machines of unknown purpose, a dazzling array of war equipment, piles of books, ancient sculptures and stone carvings, and worn parchment combined to create a eclectic mix of eras, testifying to the long years its owners had lived through. The couple were not allowed to move freely; they were escorted by golden-armored warriors and a white-haired woman until they passed through several equally exquisite bronze doors, finally reaching their destination.

When the Emperor stood before them, Lepa Bellena and Slobodan Chivojinovic truly felt the aura that the live television broadcast could not fully capture. His obsidian-black eyes were so deep they seemed to swallow a person whole; his long, dark hair cascaded down his back like a dark cloud; a golden eagle's wings accentuated the shoulder armor atop his head; his giant-like body was as solid as a city wall, yet possessed the unimaginable power of a lion. A strong sense of pride and humility mingled simultaneously, creating an uncontrollable impulse that made one want to touch the blood-red cloak on the Emperor's armor.

As the couple whose wedding was once the most anticipated by the Southern Federation, Lepa Bellena and Slobodan Zivojinovic had seen many grand occasions. However, in front of the Emperor, they were still as uneasy as children who had made a mistake, even though they knew they had not done anything wrong.

"I apologize, the War Council has delayed us somewhat."

The Emperor spoke first, and as a singer, Lepa Berna instantly recognized that his magnetic voice would be able to sing the most captivating songs. There were no tedious formalities or bureaucratic intimidation; the Emperor's smile was warm and friendly, easing the couple's tension considerably. However, the power armor still caused a stir. All Latvians knew that when the Emperor donned this armor, it meant an inevitable war—the people of the Balkans had suffered too much fratricide and infighting. The Emperor's appearance had quelled the conflicts between Bosnia, Republika Srpska, Serbia, and Kosovo; the world's most powerful nations had bowed to him. Lepa Berna and Slobodan Chivojinovic couldn't imagine which other armed group in the Balkans would declare war on the Emperor.

"If you wish, I can send agents to bring your children back from the United States." The Emperor stood before their desk, looking down at them. To be honest, being looked down upon by such a giant was hardly calming, but the Emperor's aura soothed their hearts like a visible radiance. "Latvia is currently at war with NATO. If you were to publicly support Latvia, your relatives would inevitably face investigation and imprisonment by the US authorities."

"Is it really possible to do that?"

Slobodan Zivojinovic was immediately met with a subtle elbow to the mouth by his wife, realizing that his abrupt question was indeed very impolite and might even anger the emperor. Perhaps emboldened by the brandy shared by the emperor, Slobodan Zivojinovic downed a double serving, even though he was aware that the question was quite inappropriate.

"I'd like to ask... uh, are you planning to start another war?"

"Yes, a localized war," the Emperor readily admitted. "The causes of the war are somewhat complex. You can understand it as a relationship between the continued decline of the Nasdaq and Dow Jones Industrial Average, oil prices, the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes, the appreciation of the Euro, the Brexit referendum, Eurozone trade, and my speech at the United Nations headquarters. But whatever the cause, the poison of populism is still spreading in Macedonia. Since the other side has chosen to provoke us, I must respond to express my ruthless attitude towards the narrow-minded populist armed groups."

"How long will this war last?" Lepa Bellena asked nervously, refusing to drink the brandy the Emperor had prepared to ease their anxieties. Lepa Bellena wasn't exactly a patriot, but her identity as "the last Yugoslavian woman" was a symbol, and she would always care about the situation in the Balkans. "Could it be like...Serajevo?"

"Just like before, the war will end within a month, or more likely, the other side will surrender first, and the matter will be dropped." The Emperor shook his head. "As long as we eliminate Macedonia's political and military organizational capabilities, and eliminate the leaders and funding sources of the militia, not too many civilians will be harmed, and the subsequent management costs will not increase. I know what happened during the siege of Serrajevo. I promised the Bosnian people and the people of the entire Balkans that unless there is an intention to rebel, the horrific siege of Serrajevo will not happen again, and we will not use too many weapons of mass destruction."

Seemingly remembering something, the Emperor handed a document to Lepa Berna and Slobodan Chivojinovic, instructing them to forget its contents once they left the room. "This war will not be confined to the Balkans. Any nation or organization that secretly supports populist and religious armed groups will pay a bloody price for manipulating my people." The Emperor raised his voice slightly, but to the average person it sounded like distant thunder, striking their minds and bodies with raw power. "Another vow I made to the Yugoslavs was that no power could ever again manipulate them, making them pay the price for the interests of others. Now I will fulfill my promise, through war."

"But this is war." Slobodan Chivojinovic felt the youthful impulse surge within him, then he questioned, "War cannot be without death!"

"Yes, so this is my mercy, and the Yugoslavs should accept it, as should those people still trapped in ignorance and folly. I have no time to slowly soften their emotions; a greater war is coming, and we must be fully prepared for it."

The emperor's mood was unpredictable. He had specially opened a bottle of incredibly expensive wine for the couple; they would probably be even more surprised if they knew that this unlabeled brandy had been aged for over two hundred years. Slobodan Chivojinovic wanted to ask more questions, but Lepa Bernard, who had been in the entertainment industry for many years, held onto her husband, with whom she had a strained relationship.

The Emperor noticed their movements, but he shrugged, his smile unchanged. He initiated a conversation with Slobodan Chivojinovic about tennis, and with Lepa Bellena about their Miami home and summer beaches. The couple were still amazed at how well the Emperor knew Miami, but he said that in all his years, there weren't many places on Earth he hadn't been.

The conversation, which had been somewhat tense, gradually eased as they discussed these lighter topics. Lepa Bernard also discovered that the Emperor possessed a unique sense of humor, contrary to the image of the iron-fisted, cold-blooded leader portrayed in newspapers and social media. Surprisingly, the Emperor later spoke with Lepa Bernard about the sniper who shot at him during his speech in Sarajevo. He emphasized the injuries the populist sniper had sustained during the siege of Sarajevo and how to prevent similar incidents from happening again. His composure deeply impressed Lepa Bernard, and his calm demeanor inspired unquestionable trust.

"Rather than saying that Ms. Berna's decades-long support for the unification of the Yugoslav Federation is extremely commendable, but times have changed. The religious conflicts in the Balkans can no longer be resolved through the moderate methods of the Tito era, nor will anyone possess Tito's prestige to unite the various ethnic groups. The goal of this cause is the liberation of all humanity, therefore, Yugoslavia today needs a new national identity beyond blood ties and religion: science, reason, peace, unity, and the human race. To awaken the Yugoslavs' yearning for peace, no one is more suitable than you, Madam."

The Emperor poured a glass of wine for Lepa Bellena. "Sing, Lepa Bellena, the people of the Southern Federation need your voice. Awaken their souls. I want to see those eyes, like the Adriatic Sea."

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)