Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1206 (First Update)

Normally, the emperor would appear before his subordinates in a Western suit, but after lunch he would change into the crimson robe of the hominid, which he had not worn for a long time. To this day, this robe still holds great significance for him, and there are few robes on earth that can provide more help than this robe of the hominid.

In addition, he donned a heavy black fur-trimmed cloak, with the Holy Sword and a blaster pistol at his waist. Wanda also wore a white fur-trimmed coat to ward off the approaching low temperatures. She didn't bring the snake-bone staff, but instead carried only a Kimber M1911 pistol and a replica of Paracelsus's mercury dagger, serving as a wand to enhance her magic and as protective weapons—the Emperor, as her teacher, required her to be vigilant at all times, hence the weapons she carried. Otherwise, she wouldn't have carried weapons while dressed so lightly; it would have been too unsightly.

Led by Hammurabi and with Amun bringing up the rear in standard tactical formation, and flanked by a Sorority assault squad and a Sorority heavy firepower squad, the Emperor, accompanied by Wanda Maximoff, took the private elevator in the office lobby to the underground platform. There, they boarded a bullet-shaped armored train bound for the secret railroad terminal station guarded by the Black Armor Guard of the Immortal City—the same landing pad used by the Guardians and once used by the Avengers. Using the anti-gravity elevator on the terminal platform, they boarded the Pegasus super-heavy assault transport ship, which had received prior orders and was ready for takeoff.

This wasn't Wanda Maximov's first time traveling on an aircraft from the Immortal City, but previously she had always traveled on Eagle-type assault craft. This time, she was aboard the Pegasus Super-Heavy Assault Transport, equipped with highly sophisticated reconnaissance and command electronics and a comfortable cabin, allowing passengers to rest during long journeys. This Pegasus-type Super-Heavy Assault Transport was the Emperor's personal aircraft; the cost of cramming in a large amount of electronic equipment was a drastic reduction in personnel capacity, allowing for a maximum of 50 fully armed Imperial Guardsmen. If heavier weaponry was carried, this number would decrease further.

"Before heading to the manor, we need to go to the Stark Industries building in New York. Stephanie can make her own decisions about official business this afternoon, and even Victor, who can't make decisions, can handle it. I only have a few hours free for this conversation." After the crew was ready and some inspected supplies were loaded into the cargo hold of the air fortress, the Emperor left the command center and went to the small cabin prepared for Wanda by the flight attendants. Its size and furnishings were similar to those of a first-class cabin on a commercial airliner. "I need to speak with Tony Stark. If you don't mind, you can talk to him."

"Why are you going to see him? Didn't we break with the agreement faction a long time ago?"

Wanda was clearly surprised. She had assumed the flight would end at Oxfordshire Manor, not cross the Atlantic to the dangerous American East Coast, where the US and Latvia were still at war. "Or are you planning to kill him?" Although she knew the Emperor could easily move freely within the United States, Wanda couldn't help but worry. "Have you considered that this might be a trap? Tony Stark's money can bribe many people."

“If that’s the case, Hammurabi, Constantine, Amon, and Hannibal could all accomplish this mission. Even without relying on powered armor and physical advantages to kill the target head-on, the Imperial Guard can still solve the problem using their preferred assassination methods.” Salomon shook his head, mentioning two Imperial Guard members who weren’t present. “I just wanted to talk to him about the future world, which is why I changed into my usual clothes. To be precise, I want him to work for me… The intelligence from my informant indicates that Tony Stark will be there when our assault transport arrives in Manhattan. I have no reason to question the informant’s intelligence because I have no intention of hiding my presence from the U.S. Air Force.”

"Of course, you can trust Agent Hill; she can't go anywhere but Avengers Tower right now."

Even as the Pegasus super-heavy assault transport boat approached the East Coast, Nick Fury calmly reassured Hammurabi. He knew the Pegasus super-heavy assault transport boat's jamming system could counter pulse, continuous wave, and low-frequency air defense radars, and that the strategic and tactical air defense radars along the US East Coast would be unable to accurately acquire information about the aircraft in a short time. The planned conversation had ample time, assuming no armed conflict occurred.

"Besides your master, I don't think anyone can persuade Tony Stark to abandon this foolish idea."

"I'm not sure if I can do it." The Emperor took the communicator from Hammurabi. "According to Agent Hill, Tony Stark is in too much trouble right now. If he's really willing to share the armor manufacturing technology with the Pentagon, then I have no choice but to resolve this through war."

"Whether it's persuasion or threats, we cannot allow Tony Stark's actions to disrupt the balance of the international situation." Nick Fury, as a member of the Guardians' intelligence team, automatically joined the Guardians' advisory group. Through the advice of these advisors, the Guardians could select suitable solutions and submit them to the Emperor. Regarding Tony Stark, Nick Fury had been urging the Emperor to resolve the issue since receiving the intelligence. He was the one who protected the armor technology from the Pentagon and Congress. Now, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s influence had vanished, and the remaining conservative Hydra could only postpone the initiation of the Patriot Act for another two weeks before it could be delayed any longer.

This is a siege of Stark Group by other capital.

Tony Stark and Stark Industries have always positioned themselves as providers of security technology to the United States, a position that persisted even after the closure of the weapons manufacturing division. This is why so many defense technology contractors, such as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, sought to vie for the market share left by Stark Industries' weapons division when Tony Stark became Iron Man, while also promoting themselves as companies that protect freedom and democracy.

But all of this vanished on the day Emperor Latvian arrived at the United Nations headquarters in New York and the engines of war destroyed Wall Street landmarks; all the bubbles burst that day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500, the S&P 500 Industrial Index, the S&P 100, and other stock indices plummeted, even surpassing the levels seen during the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis. The expected federal government intervention, similar to that of 2008, did not materialize. The intervention bill remained entangled in a power struggle between the White House, Congress, and the Federal Reserve, as if even the financial oligarchs at the Fed were hesitant to shift their investment focus to a place beyond Latvian reach. Some capital remained on the sidelines, while others began to reap the benefits from the inescapable manufacturing sector to cover their losses. As a benchmark for American manufacturing, Stark Industries was once again facing a siege from the wolves of Wall Street.

To ensure the survival of his company and its 2.8 employees, and to secure federal support for Stark Industries, Tony Stark was forced to make a painful decision. However, he hadn't completely lost control. Through the recovered Colonel Rhodes (who had been reinstated after receiving the Purple Heart), he negotiated terms with the U.S. Air Force. He would remain a defense military technology contractor, and he would retain thousands of patents related to armor manufacturing for fifty years—a promise personally made to him by the President and the Secretary of Defense. Tony Stark would become a figure known to generations of American youth for his active support of the Patriot Act.

Once this contract is reached, the United States will regain confidence in the capital markets, and the primary beneficiary of the bailout bill will be Stark Industries. Stark Industries will also begin to promote clean energy initiatives. Tony Stark knows this is the only thing he can do.

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)