Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1219 Higher Committee (Second Update)

"Perhaps. The only difference between us is that you've found another patron." Dr. Domiggs adjusted the pillow behind his neck, tore open a protein bar, and popped it into his mouth. "That's fate, Laura Crawford. My working for Trinity was fate, your father's death at Trinity's hands was fate, and your current situation is fate. All I dreamed of was breaking this meaningless cycle, but reality hasn't given me that chance."

"This is not fate, Domiggs, and it is not a reason for you to condone Trinity's hiring of mercenaries to massacre the locals."

"No matter how I try to explain, you'll believe it was my will." Domiggs stuffed the wrapping paper into his pocket, then closed his eyes, pretending to fall asleep. "Searching for relics in that primeval forest isn't an easy task; I suggest you start resting now."

"You know that primeval forest very well, and that 'mountain crowned with silver,' don't you?"

Dr. Domiggs did not answer, but instead went to sleep.

The temporary encampment only came to life the next morning when Camilla's team returned to the armored personnel carrier and the soldiers in the crew compartment awoke. The torrential rains that had lasted for days had temporarily ceased, and the distant stars sparingly cast their warm morning light. The dust in the air had been washed away by the rain, and everyone cleaned themselves with disposable toiletries before enjoying their self-heating marching breakfast. While eating, Camilla found Laura Crawford and confirmed their itinerary one last time—they needed to pick up Jonah near the town, replenish fuel and food, and confirm whether supplies had arrived via the Ucalia River. After that, they would embark on an expedition into a dense forest cut off from the outside world. In that primeval forest, there were almost no usable communication tools besides the satellite phone and the armored vehicle's communication system, so Camilla had to be prepared.

This armored personnel carrier was one of the supplies issued by the Immortal City to Camilla's team and Laura Crawford.

Due to legal and transportation limitations, the armored personnel carrier was actually disassembled into parts before being transported to Peru. A Martian technician, who was packed into a crate and transported along with the parts, then reassembled it. Supiluliumas then notified Camilla to pick up the vehicle. Perhaps considering that Camilla and her team were not familiar with this tracked armored personnel carrier, unique to the Immortal City and Latvinia, and therefore unable to perform repairs, the Martian foundry technician, who was supposed to return to Latvinia, was also kept on, serving as co-driver while also performing repairs.

At first, Camilla and Laura Crawford were surprised by the Martian foundry technician who was undergoing cybernetic modifications, but as time went on, they gradually became familiar with his style and discovered that he was actually a decent person. Aside from the armored vehicle, the mechanic didn't care about anything else, not even the fact that his rations consisted only of protein bars.

Next, they would cross the Ucaliya River. This armored personnel carrier, equipped with a sealed system and onboard oxygen tanks, would temporarily serve as an amphibious assault vehicle, transporting them into the sparsely populated primeval forest. Therefore, after a short rest, the mechanic with the prosthetic body began inspecting the vehicle, including its sealing and oxygen supply.

Hammurabi turned his head and looked at the coordinates marked on the holographic projection.

Laura Crawford and Camilla's team's location was relayed in real-time to the Latvian Guard's intelligence system via the troop transport vehicle's positioning system. Camilla's anticipated loss of contact with the outside world wasn't as severe as she had feared; her team, like the US Navy fleet, was being tracked in real-time by Latvian satellites. Supilulius had already set off ahead of the archaeological team to explore the target volcano and locate the inhabitants of the local indigenous population.

Intelligence from Superuliumas indicated that he might have found a very primitive indigenous settlement, about a ten-hour drive from Laura Crawford's team. He was currently evading the indigenous people's notice while exploring this village filled with ruins—but due to the Guardians' immense size, the first exploration had to be abruptly halted because they couldn't squeeze into the cramped space, and he could only use his portable drone for rudimentary filming. Meanwhile, the background check on Dr. Domiggs was underway; Camilla's unnecessary involvement had added considerable workload to the Guardians' intelligence officers, and even Nick Fury was constantly complaining.

But now, the investigation results have made everyone involved feel "thankfully" that this was the case. The results of Supiluliumas' local investigation also proved this point. Dr. Pedro Domiguez is a Peruvian, but he did not come from the city like Camilla.

While investigating Dr. Pedro Domegs's social connections, the Presbyterian Order discovered an Italian cardinal named Guarettiro de Luca Domegs. This cardinal had been very helpful to Pedro Domegs, recommending him for further studies at European universities after Pedro completed his university courses. On the Presbyterian Order's list, this cardinal was the former president of the Trinity Higher Council, who had been murdered by agents several years earlier. Further investigation revealed that this cardinal had actually been in contact with Pedro Domegs for some time, even training him like a son, intending for him to be his successor. In other words, Pedro Domegs was not actually the archaeologist collaborating with Trinity at all; he was a remnant of the Trinity Higher Council.

Nick Fury immediately boarded a Quinjet, intending to travel to the Vatican to meet with the Pope.

One piece of information in the intelligence report caught his attention: it was claimed that Catholic missionaries had once established a church in that indigenous area, and Supilulius had even photographed the ruins of the church. As a Jesuit of South American origin, the current Pope Jorge Mario Bergorio must know something; even if he didn't, there must be relevant records in Vatican documents. Perhaps some record could prove that Cardinal Guarettiro de Luca Domíguez of Italy had worked at this missionary site, confirming Pedro Domíguez's true identity.

Camilla didn't tell everyone the news. Instead, she turned her head and showed the data panel to her trusted adjutant, who then turned to whisper to the soldiers beside him. Jonah was now on the vehicle. The armored personnel carrier's fuel and ammunition had been replenished, and the crew compartment was undoubtedly overloaded. Jonah and another soldier could only sit at the machine gun position, facing the Ucalia River, which could rise to their chests at any moment, chatting aimlessly and snacking on potato chips. Only Laura Crawford was still immersed in the pleasant mood of embarking on a journey and getting closer to the truth.

The soldiers whispering to their adjutant quietly relayed the order to another person, until all of Camilla's soldiers knew the secret. An unspoken atmosphere gradually formed in the crowded carriage. Pedro Domiggs raised an eyebrow, refraining from pointing it out or asking questions—from the moment he saw the armored personnel carrier and the mechanic, he knew that Laura Crawford and Camilla's backers were not simple individuals. The Trinity contenders possessed immense determination, advanced technology, and vast wealth; to achieve their true goals, Dr. Pedro Domiggs had to offer some bait.

"I once participated in an expedition to Paititi," Pedro Domiguez suddenly mentioned his destination. "In fact, my parents are native to Paititi. You can imagine how difficult it was for me every time I visited them."

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(End of this chapter)