Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1314 (Second Update)

Gideon Malik discovered that the Emperor was not as he had imagined. He showed no interest in General Hale's mission, and barely mentioned its details. The Emperor's previous negotiation skills and understanding of General Hale's character suggested he knew her better than she knew him, what topics would pique her interest, and what secrets would drive her to do what. This attitude changed when the mission was assigned, and based on his years of experience in political maneuvering, Gideon Malik instinctively sensed something was amiss.

However, what happened next only gave him a glimpse of the tip of the iceberg of the emperor's plan.

Gideon Malik recalled that the Emperor had used him to convey a message to General Hale, asking her to bring her daughter. The subsequent offer from the Emperor in that conversation was enough to make General Hale realize that her work required more trustworthy help, and no one but Ruby could do it. This led him to instinctively conclude that the Emperor's true target was the young and beautiful Ruby—but then he sensed something was amiss. If that were the reason, the Emperor wouldn't have gone to such lengths, even fabricating a mission or crisis; it was too exaggerated. There was no need to go to such lengths for a youthful body. The real target must be General Hale.

The Emperor also provided General Hale with the resources to establish a conservative Hydra family: a political and business revolving door to a top-tier military-industrial complex contractor, a family trust fund, and a government position that the family could hold (something General Hale herself could easily achieve). This was incredibly important for General Hale, a product of Dr. Whitehall's Aryan eugenics project; it meant she could escape the shadows of her past and her identity, climbing to the very top of Hydra—a height even Dr. Whitehall couldn't reach.

Seemingly out of maternal love or for reasons known only to the emperor, General Hale agreed.

The conversation, though initially calm, became shrouded in mystery at crucial moments, leaving even Gideon Malik, who was listening in, completely bewildered. He only knew that the Emperor's offer had easily shattered General Hale's defenses, a veteran of the political arena, manipulating him like a puppet. As for the source of these resources, Gideon Malik had no idea. As for what his daughter, Stephanie, knew, he knew he couldn't get any answers. His daughter was completely infatuated with the Emperor, her heart and soul belonging entirely to this terrifying man, and she would never entertain the thought of betrayal.

"I have only one request, please, for the sake of completing my work," Gideon Malik said. "The Malik family has a long history; don't let us disappear completely. I don't want the Malik family to fall into the hands of those ambitious distant relatives. I don't want the Malik family crest to be erased and its glory to be forgotten."

"Don't worry, I won't be that harsh." The Emperor patted the old man's shoulder, the warmth of his palm through the wool coat making Gideon Malik feel scalding, startling him so much that he exhaled a breath of decaying cold air in the approaching gray night. "Stephanie has done a good job, you have nothing to worry about," the Emperor said. "I hope she can shoulder even greater responsibilities."

"I'm worried she's doing too well."

Gideon Malik chewed for a while, but ultimately couldn't bring himself to spit out the words, which stung his throat and made him cough incessantly. The Emperor had subdued the Malik family using pure violence and fear. Although he had subsequently shown them favor, like previous feudal monarchs, it was only because the Malik family was still useful. Judging by his own experience, Gideon Malik didn't believe the Emperor would have much patience. The future of the Malik family depended solely on the relationship between Stephanie Malik and the Emperor—nothing more. But this connection was too fragile, and Stephanie had repeatedly ignored his hints. Gideon Malik knew he had to act.

General Hale was also burdened with worries, for the future the Emperor had revealed to her was filled with despair.

With an alien fleet pressing in, humanity is utterly powerless to resist. Ground-based anti-orbital weapons might not even be effective, and even if satellites were armed, they would be nothing more than slow-moving targets to the aliens. The insurmountable technological gap is terrifying; Earth's laws and money are meaningless to the aliens. The key is how to preserve humanity's survival in this environment.

When she spoke to the Emperor about the emergence of surrender factions on Earth, she was testing his stance, probing whether humanity could survive by taking a stand. Issues like dignity and independence seemed less insurmountable in the face of survival—yet the Emperor's words revealed his position; he firmly stood on the side of human independence, confidently asserting that humanity could repel the alien fleet. The Emperor promised to send her biological samples and individual equipment from the Chitauri and the Dark Order's genetically modified bio-soldiers to the base for her testing.

According to him, these samples came from his time as a space pirate. While General Hale admired the Emperor's steely resolve and insight, and was aware of his individual combat capabilities, she wouldn't place her hopes on one person. She had to consider the cost of resistance; the industrial population was more important than the agricultural population, soldiers more important than civilians, engineering more important than the humanities. She had to consider how to minimize losses; losing science and technology meant the very possibility of human extinction. As for those Avengers… General Hale had never thought highly of them. Special operations depended on having an army capable of holding back the enemy's main force. When Atomic Skyfire rained down from the sky and humanity's air defense systems were helpless, it meant annihilation; even the most powerful special operations team would be powerless.

No, this is not surrender, this is pragmatism.

She had to find a trustworthy helper. Not Ruby, who was by her side, but someone more reliable and stronger.

"Lonner Reagan (Washington National Airport)." Stephanie Malik issued the order on behalf of the Emperor as soon as they got into the car. "I want the private jet ready for our trip to New York." The Malik family estate is located in McLean Langley, a neighborhood next to Washington, D.C., an informal Republican area with a very pleasant environment. Meanwhile, the nearby Langley community is home to the CIA headquarters, meaning the Emperor's journey would be right under the noses of the enemy.

The driver nodded.

The Malik family has its own retinue, so making some small moves isn't difficult. A bottle of medicine had already appeared in the liquor cabinet of the car carrying Stephanie Malik and the Emperor. This was nothing unusual for the Malik family; the car, as their official vehicle, was also armed. However, the accompanying security team had been forcibly removed, so security wasn't necessary this time. The driver knew his task: he would inform the future family head at the opportune moment that everything had been arranged, and she only needed to follow instructions. "Ten minutes. Arrangements can be completed before arrival at the airport," the driver asked. "Would you like the flight attendants to arrange meals and drinks, madam? Our catering company can prepare dinner upon our arrival, making the one-hour flight very comfortable. Would you like to confirm the menu?"

Stephanie Malik turned to the Emperor, and after receiving a negative reply, she relayed it to the driver. "Hurry, we won't be staying in New York for long," she said. "I hope JKF (John F. Kennedy International Airport) is ready to pick us up; we're going to Mount Athena."

"We're professionals, ma'am. Obedience is rewarded, serving the Malik family is our duty—" The partition between the driver's cab and the back seat slowly rose, but the driver dutifully finished his lines, "—It's an honor. Phew... what a big shot."

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(End of this chapter)