Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1202 Imperial Guard Agents (First Update)

"This is the castle's Royal Guard tactical preparation room. All the armor polishing tools, machine guns, ammunition, life support systems for powered armor, nutrient solutions, and combat medicine you need are here. Armored vehicles and jet-powered hovercrafts are all here," Hammurabi enthusiastically explained to his new colleague, introducing everything needed for close protection of the Emperor. He knew this Royal Guard had been dormant and reacting in artificial amniotic fluid for nearly two hundred years. If it weren't for the Time Stone's help in accelerating his transformation, Hammurabi believed he might never have met this colleague. Gene alchemy, which continuously modifies his core genome from a conceptual level, elevating his body and soul, allowed this Royal Guard to begin work immediately.

"This is a blessed and purified library. Some books have been scanned and uploaded to your power armor database for your reading at any time. However, some more dangerous books can only be read here and are not allowed to be taken out of the castle. After all, we are not in the Obsidian Tower of the Immortal City. This place is full of the Emperor's servants, and they are all human."

Hammurabi led another of the Praetorian Guards into a winding, dark corridor.

The first half of this passageway beneath the castle is riddled with sensors and harmonic tripwire detection systems. These invisible security measures are the most basic kind of spiderweb, easily evaded by low-light vision, but for ordinary people, they are insurmountable invisible barriers. Further ahead are cold, sealed alloy doors, genetic code locks, pre-programmed armed servants equipped with various weapons and hymn purification implants, and psionic imprints. Only authorized guards can pass safely; even the Sorority is kept out.

"Protecting the Emperor is unlike any other mission; you must remain vigilant at all times. We have the authority to refuse any request to see the Emperor, but at the same time, we must use our wisdom to meet administrative needs while ensuring the Emperor's safety," Hammurabi said as he walked. Where he and the newly appointed guards passed, the invisible tripwires temporarily deactivated their alarms due to the detection of bio-keys within the powered armor. "The Emperor remains here for administrative work, and therefore we, the guards, must fulfill this duty. Besides this escort mission, you will also learn to manage emergency medical systems, plan emergency escape routes, and so on. From scheduling state visits and escorting troops during battlefield assaults to the identification, health checks, and food tasting of the chefs and service personnel on assault transport ships, all are within our purview. Many ordinary people serve your work for life and pass it down through generations, helping you serve the Emperor with loyalty and skill."

“Genetically modified brains don’t forget anything, and sleep isn’t essential for us.” The new Royal Guard was a man with tanned skin and a black beard, possessing features that blended Central Asian and Mediterranean genetics. His eyes, as Hammurabi had expected, were filled with vigilance and wisdom. “But I accept your advice, sir. I’d like to hear how you intend to explain the Seraphim shooting.”

Hammurabi stopped and glanced back at the newly appointed guards.

"Gene alchemy has given you the talents that suit you, Amon, but you still have much to learn. **** We hope to see us continue to improve, and we are capable of continuously learning and perfecting ourselves. So you must remember, no matter how much authority we possess, we can never surpass the Emperor. A populist religious militant can perfectly embody the Emperor's benevolence, letting the fearful people of Serayafo know in the most direct way that the Emperor will protect them, making them willingly submit. This is the most cost-effective approach; a little risk is nothing."

He didn't directly explain why the Imperial Guard couldn't find a militant sniper hiding in the city. Instead, he talked about the impact of the Emperor's handling of the situation after the sniper fired. As for what prompted the sniper to evade the initial search, hide in that apartment building, and fire at that specific time, these were mysteries that Hammurabi and Amun couldn't access at the moment.

Amun accepted this explanation and sincerely apologized to Hammurabi, understanding that the matter was beyond Hammurabi's control. Hammurabi quickly put the previous minor unpleasantness behind him; after all, even the Praetorian Guard could not directly comprehend the hidden meanings behind the Emperor's every plan. These were secrets known only to Constantine, who oversaw the overall situation, and the Emperor. Hammurabi, in charge of other tasks, could only piece together a vague truth from the impact of the event and the fragmented tasks he had handled.

Hammurabi knew the Emperor would oppose such a dangerous plan, so it was reasonable for him to bypass him and proceed with the operation. The subsequent events unfolded entirely within the Emperor's plan; there was no need for further emergency funding to resolve the issue. The militia of Seraphim surrendered and took up arms to defend their livelihoods—but if Hammurabi had been given the choice, he would have preferred to pay the military expenses. This wasn't a matter of honor as a member of the Praetorian Guard, but rather that his identity as a Praetorian Guard wouldn't allow him to risk the Emperor, even though he knew that a single shot posed less of a threat to the Emperor than a mosquito.

"Information imparted through knowledge cannot solve all problems, and I believe you have deeply experienced this during your hunting and combat training. I have reviewed your records; the talent bestowed upon you by the Emperor allowed you to choose the method most suitable for yourself and the realities of the situation to solve problems."

"A spire made of the heads of twelve hundred alien cultists, with the carcasses of the beasts they worship as trays," Amon murmured. Before he could even express his pride, Hammurabi prompted him to put on his helmet. The low-light night vision mode clearly showed that the tunnel beneath their feet led to an unfathomable dark abyss, with only the red glow of the signal lights from the hovering drones that had been accompanying them providing a sliver of warmth.

He found relevant information about the castle in the archives. It is said that the former Duke of Latvian had a family tradition of witchcraft and superstition. This tunnel was a place that was sealed off by the emperor himself after the Latvian Liberation War. Nowadays, apart from the Imperial Guard's archives, no other documents mention this tunnel. Even the part of the construction drawings has been erased, leaving only a restricted area on the ground where construction is prohibited.

"A religiously charged intimidation tactic, well done, Sphinx. Those cultists must have run away in a panic." Hammurabi stood before the alloy blast-proof door. The passageway behind the door was entirely paved with thick alloy plates, equipped with independent power supplies and jammers to prevent anyone from controlling the armed servants within via hacking. "Welcome to the Shield Guard, Amon. You still have a lot of work to do. Now, meet the Order's agents."

This is a group of blind men and women who manage a group of equally miserable archival servants. Even though this is not the library of the Guardian Order of the Immortal City Obsidian Tower, the security measures are just as stringent. Regular memory erasure procedures ensure that these men and women do not retain any harmful knowledge, and their gouged eyes and auditory implants prevent them from being affected by auditory hallucinations and falling into the hands of a formidable enemy due to weak will.

"This contains reports about the Sylcarian vampires, including folklore, law enforcement investigations, autopsy data, and more. Some of these materials are in your database; files numbered Gamma-A3 and later have been sealed here due to their dangerous and contaminating nature. Later, when the Emperor communicates with the Wild Order, you'll be glad you've learned this knowledge."

Who is hosting this event?

"She's right here. Ms. Wanda Django Maximov, would you like to come back to the castle with us to give your report?"

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)