Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1290 Ruby Ruby (Second Update)

Aside from its high-strength blast-resistant walls and alloy blast-resistant doors that can only be opened from the outside, Ruby's room is almost identical to that of an average teenage girl. Textbooks piled on her desk, her tracksuit clothes still in disarray and unpacked in the laundry basket, and a few celebrity posters—while not particularly spacious, it's enough for Ruby Hale to live in. She was born in this facility, and the next seventeen years of her life were spent here, with learning and training permeating her entire existence.

Until she met the handsome man who suddenly appeared there, not much older than her, and the date that afternoon that disrupted all her plans and abruptly crashed into her dull life. She saw the man again later, but only because of her mother's work, and then she had to leave him, filled with disappointment and a few words. However, she did receive some invaluable gifts from the man: a folding hunting knife longer than her forearm and a pistol, which she kept on her bedside table, occasionally taking them out to play with. Although her mother often suggested confiscating these items, Ruby's unusual rebelliousness, the power of the Malik family, and the man's authority ultimately made her abandon these ideas; anything that happened was seen as a harbinger by those who navigated the political arena.

Using a folding hunting knife requires skillful technique. Ruby noticed that the blade seemed to never wear down; even when used to chop a cow's leg bone, the seemingly thin blade could withstand enormous recoil before cleanly severing the bone. Its excellent balance and high-strength alloy blade made it equally impressive in both slashing and stabbing. The seemingly complex yet reliable mechanical design gave the knife good stability and concealment, making it suitable for both direct combat and assassination missions. Ruby estimated that using this knife to dismember a human body would be about as easy as chopping tree branches.

As for the pistol, Ruby only used it once, and the alloy plate that was normally used as a shooting target was blasted with a large hole by a specially made bullet. With extremely high accuracy, huge chamber pressure, and recoil that needs to be carefully controlled, it is a devastating self-defense weapon at close range, and its drag is enough to shatter the parts of the human body that are hit into pieces.

The blade had already opened mechanically, its sharp tip aimed at the uninvited guest in the room. Ruby's other hand seized the opportunity to grab the pistol. The presence of the Imperial Guards filled the not-so-large bedroom. The slightly tilted halberd instilled a sense of fear and oppression in Ruby, making the sweat on her back, cooled by the air conditioning, feel even colder. Ruby glanced warily at Stephanie Malik. She recognized this woman from the Malik family; she was rumored to be in a very close relationship with that man. But she didn't let her guard down, because her mother had told her that no one inside Hydra could be trusted except herself and her.

"You say my master gives me orders, then who is my master?"

“Don’t be nervous. We’re here on a mission for you. These are his guards. Your master is the one who brought this knife and that gun under the blanket. We share the same master, and so does he.” Stephanie Malik didn’t name any of the characters, but she revealed crucial information. Stephanie smiled and pointed to Ruby’s lower body, which was covered by the blanket. “If you understand, we’ll leave for now. Change your clothes, and then we can talk properly.”

It seemed only then that Ruby realized how embarrassing that coldness was. Her cheeks flushed instantly, and the folding hunting knife she held firmly in her hand began to tremble slightly. The thought of having to throw the sheets into the washing machine tomorrow made her so ashamed she wanted to crawl under the bed. "No need," she said, feeling as if her neck and back were on fire. Ruby raised her head, her long, platinum blonde hair piled messily on her shoulders, and said stiffly, "You can tell me now what task he wants to give me!"

"This isn't up to you, girl. We still have some time; you can take a cold shower."

Stephanie Malik chuckled as she walked out of the room, followed by Amon, who closed the blast door but didn't lock it. Since entering the underground facility, the Imperial Guard had been looking around. The Hydra insignia was blatantly displayed on the walls, and the classrooms and training facilities he saw indicated that many people, mostly teenagers, had once lived there.

"I think I can smell hormones," he said. "What's going on?"

"This is adolescence. You didn't have adolescence, so you wouldn't understand." Stephanie Malik crossed her arms and led Amon down the corridor. "The first time I came here, your master brought me here to show the Malik family that he had access to Hydra's secrets. Today, many politicians, civil servants, and military officers in high positions in the US government, lobbying groups, research institutes, think tanks, media stars, and even Freemason masters come from here. Dr. Whitehall built a network of radical Hydra through Project Paperclip and youth training camps, controlling government intelligence, opinion polls, financial risk control, the Federal Reserve, the Pentagon, and so on. Even Alexander Pierce has connections here; he even taught here for a time."

"A truly astonishing network of secret organizations." Amon nodded. "Hydra has no reason to fail."

"Dr. Whitehall was too hasty. His life-extending surgery isn't sustainable; organs from other people will always cause rejection. Furthermore, he's gradually developing resistance to immunosuppressive drugs. When we dissected his body, we found that aging had caught up with him. No matter how intelligent he is, he's still just a mortal. Not everyone can escape death, and not everyone is qualified to influence human society." Stephanie shook her head and sighed. "However, this is a good thing for conservatives. Excessive greed will only lead us all to our doom. While capitalism is suitable for Hydra's development, there are also many competitors. The radical Hydra's secret societies are quite mediocre. But speaking of which, have you figured out how to persuade her to accept that order? Your master made her assessment upon first meeting Ruby, and the psychologist's evaluation report also concluded that Ruby's mind is not suited for particularly difficult tasks. If you want her to…"

Amon knew what Stephanie Malik hadn't said. In an emergency, Ruby was the most likely person to stay by General Hale's side. While the Emperor's forces couldn't reach General Hale for the time being, Ruby had to make the right decision: to plunge that folding hunting knife into General Hale's spine or the Kree's neck. Whether facing her own mother or an alien, Ruby had to learn to be decisive, otherwise she would be of no value to the Emperor.

"It's just announcing the order, nothing more." Amon loosened the cloak's ties, revealing an exquisitely beautiful, work-of-art golden power armor beneath the heavy cloak, its gemstones and intricate bas-reliefs shimmering under the corridor's white fluorescent lights. He donned his helmet, concealing his expression behind the complex electronic systems. "If she accepts, that's a good thing."

Ruby, her hair still damp, accepted the ruby ​​pendant set in gold. She now realized that among the other gifts the Emperor had given her was a miniature receiver. Because she had kept it hidden in a cabinet, Stephanie Malick had to personally bring the Royal Guard to find her, a fact that filled Ruby with shame.

"Don't forget this time," Stephanie Malik said. "Now you can consider whether you can accept the mission. This mission won't be as easy as training. All your past efforts will be useless in this mission. You will only prove your worth by completing it. You will have blood on your hands, no matter whose blood it is."

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(End of this chapter)