Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1276 Unending Entanglement (Second Update)

The massive stockpiling of food, fuel, steel, and building materials is now one of the top priorities in Latvia. The Emperor and Regent foresaw that the global transportation system would collapse during a large-scale alien invasion. Just as described in Leviathan, the return to a primitive state of society would use the most brutal means to eliminate the population created by technological development and the global supply chain that exceeds the local food supply chain's capacity. Everything would become a state of war where "all against all".

At that time, not only will the import and export of grain become a problem, but fuel oil, which is the lifeblood of industry, will also be affected.

Both Central Asian oil pipelines and Russian natural gas pipelines pass through the Balkans on their way to Europe. This is why, even though Moldova is needed as a geopolitical buffer, Regent Viktor von Dum remained determined to control Moldova's domestic capital and government power through informal means. Losing Moldova would mean losing at least half of the Balkans' fuel and gas supply. The same applies to countries like Greece. All actions are aimed at ensuring Latvia's industrial development has sufficient lifeblood; otherwise, this newly born giant might die from a lack of blood flow to its brain.

Even the numerous large-scale nuclear fusion power plants being built in Latvia cannot completely solve this problem. Not all problems can be solved with sufficient industrial electricity. Even the giant mining tunnel boring machines built on Mars, once deployed to Earth, will require fuel to complete the task of opening new oil pipelines. Sufficient food, fuel, and a robust military-industrial complex are essential for the emperor and regent to ensure the survival of people during wartime, protect those who might be eliminated by the cruel world, and unite survivors and alien rebels to re-establish primitive groups and organizations.

Because part of the project is located on the seabed in international waters, Regent Victor von Doom faced a barrage of protests every day, from animal rights organizations to marine conservation groups, from prominent news media to renowned scholars. No one could figure out why these people were so enthusiastic about the project being carried out in Latvia, until Victor von Doom dug into the foundations to which these people belonged and the investors of the organizations, and unsurprisingly found an old friend, the National Endowment for Democracy.

The regent then compiled these protests marked as processed and placed them in the bottom layer of the document box to be handed over to the emperor.

This wasn't some trivial trick by Whitehall civil servants; the documents in the briefcases were all incredibly important. After the First War of Expansion, the foundation had its legs broken—literally broken. Everyone working for the organization within Latvinia had their legs broken and was thrown into the Middle East war zone without identification, money, or survival supplies. Their only value was the money the Regent paid smugglers to ensure their safe arrival in the war zone—and now, the protests from the Peaceful Evolution Foundation were secondary. These briefcases were initially transported to the Emperor by plane, but now that the Regent knew the Emperor was still in the Kamar-Taj library, many briefcases were taken from Latvinia Castle by Kamar-Taj apprentices who used a portal. Then, a dozen or so people were hired to carry them to the library, returning the documents annotated by the Emperor the previous day to the Regent for his processing.

The Regent, finally unable to contain himself, passed through the portal to Kamar-Taj. As he passed the training grounds, he remained constantly on guard against any potential attacks. Mordo's greatest grievance against the Emperor was the appointment of Victor von Doom as Regent. Mordo distrusted this former traitorous sorcerer, a distrust stemming from his own past trust in Victor von Doom. They were close in age, and Mordo had spent a considerable amount of time with him, training and studying together, enduring long apprenticeships together. The more Mordo had trusted him then, the more he now hated him, to the point that Mordo swore to kill the traitorous sorcerer Victor von Doom with his own hands—however, fate played a cruel trick. The former traitorous sorcerer reappeared and stood openly beside the future master of Kamar-Taj, even possessing the power to issue orders to the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj.

Unsurprisingly, Mordo blocked Viktor's path. This was the only way to the library. Viktor von Doom sighed, spreading his arms to indicate he meant no harm. "I don't understand, isn't he worried you'll betray him again?" Mordo raised his voice, using a hint of sarcasm squeezed from his utterly humorless brain, attempting to wound Viktor von Doom with such a weak verbal blade. "Perhaps, as his brother, it's necessary for me to teach him what kind of people can never be trusted."

“I’m not here to argue, Mordo. No one needs your instruction except for apprentices.” Victor von Doom’s face, hidden behind his iron mask, contorted in anger. Though he tried to suppress his rage, he couldn’t help but retort. He hadn’t expected Mordo to be so foolish as to fail to grasp the true reason for his departure from Kamar-Taj. “Let me go find him. That alchemical doll will soon have another use; he must appear in public at certain times.”

"My orders are not to attack you. I am not like some people who can disregard their oaths."

The high-altitude winds, filtered by magic, lost their razor-sharp edge and bone-chilling cold, transforming into a gentle, warm breeze that urges spring flowers to bloom. Victor von Doom's deep green cloak billowed in the fragrant, intoxicating wind, resembling deep green wings. "I apologize for the past, Mordo. But do not test my patience. You must know that I have never killed any of the mystics or hunters who came to hunt me," he said. "You not only do not understand the Venerable One, Mordo, nor your fellow disciples, nor me. You merely presume to know, judging others by your own standards, which only makes you appear foolish."

Having said that, Victor von Doom stood there with his arms crossed, ignoring Mordo's anger.

He knew Mordo would continue to haunt him, venting his past anger. Victor von Doom knew his past actions were terrible, but he remained steadfast in his principles: he would not use arcane arts to gain wealth, would never harm any Kamar-Taj sorcerer, and would even offer assistance to them when necessary. For this reason, when the Sorcerer Supreme personally sought out Victor von Doom, he did not attack, but patiently spoke with him for a long time, trying to understand why he had left Kamar-Taj. Just as Victor von Doom was apologizing for his actions and refusing to return to Kamar-Taj, the Sorcerer Supreme told him that the child he had found in the church parking lot in Kamar-Taj had grown old enough. That child possessed his own thoughts and could help him fulfill his wishes; now the outcome had arrived, and Victor von Doom's people would no longer face hunger and poverty.

It wasn't until the arrival of the Royal Guard, Amon, that Victor von Doom unilaterally ended the standoff with Mordo. The latter angrily waved away the onlookers and ruthlessly increased the intensity of their training. Victor and the Sorcerer Supreme had long recognized Mordo's weaknesses: his stubborn and arrogant nature made him suitable as an executor but not a ruler. This was why the Sorcerer Supreme had never included Mordo in his list of successors. Without someone capable of controlling the situation, Mordo would never even have the chance to wield power.

"What are you looking for?" When Victor von Doom found the emperor in the library, the emperor was surrounded by ancient stone tablets. "These are prophecies," the regent said. "There are no answers here, only danger."

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(End of this chapter)