Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1332 Side Protection (Second Update)

There are very few people in this world who are qualified to step through the ancient threshold of Kamar-Taj but do not possess the talent for spellcasting.

This situation may change over time, as Kamar-Taj will no longer be an independent organization, but rather a specialized department subordinate to the Emperor. When an Emperor's servant needs to be aware of the dangers of the outer dimensions, Kamar-Taj's apprenticeship program is the best form of education—however, Master Hamil believes that the apprenticeship program still contains content unsuitable for ordinary people, such as the parts about using rituals and meditation to contact the outer dimensions. Therefore, this part of the external education has been cut to ensure the absolute safety standards initially required by the Emperor. This is just one of the responsibilities and functions of the secondary department established by Master Hamil, a 90-year-old sorcerer who is currently the head of Kamar-Taj; his leadership ensures everyone's peace of mind.

The sorcerer Hamil welcomed Supiluliumas's arrival. During the time the Royal Guard was wounded, few people besides the Emperor and Constantine were able to see him, as his sickroom was located in the most secure dungeon of Kamar-Taj, and the sorcerer Hamil sometimes had to personally deliver his medicine and sustenance. Supiluliumas was well aware of the sorcerer Hamil's status and showed him appropriate respect.

"I would welcome you more if your aircraft didn't always set the fallen leaves in the courtyard on fire."

"I'm sorry, Mage Hamil," Supiluliumas said in a steady voice. "It's not that I can't appreciate the beauty of fallen leaves. I assure you, the fire extinguisher supplies will arrive soon, and I will definitely not let the house burn down next time."

"It's just a joke, don't take it too seriously." The mage Hamil waved his nimble mechanical hand, slapping the guard's arm armor with a loud thud. Beside Supiluliumas, Victoria Hand looked around, curious about everything. She only needed to look up to see the snow-capped peaks shrouded in night, the silvery moonlight like a soft silk ribbon spilling across the surrounding mountains, the high-altitude winds trailing long, snow-white ribbons, and the glittering Milky Way stretching across the sky. It was a breathtaking sight. Victoria Hand judged that she was still on the plateau, but she had never imagined that in such a secluded environment there would be a warm valley.

She didn't ask herself such a foolish question as where she was. She had been brought here by Supiluliumas himself, piloting a gunboat. In the completely enclosed carriage, she couldn't see anything outside. Apparently, due to secrecy regulations, no one wanted her to know anything about the location.

"Victoria Hand?" Mage Hamil extended his hand to her. Victoria hesitated for a moment before grasping the mechanical hand. Compared to the composed Royal Guard and the knights exuding a violent aura, Mage Hamil, who looked like an ordinary old man, seemed easier to get along with. "I've received your training application. You will be attending a week-long course here," he said. "The apprentices have arranged guest accommodations. Everything you need is provided. I hope you will begin your studies immediately after settling into your work."

"Is this considered a business trip?" Victoria Hand asked, somewhat displeased. She considered it highly disrespectful. As she had repeatedly emphasized, she was a minister, not a servant. A surge of past courage seemed to return to her; many men with strong bodies and deadly strength, capable of easily killing her, stood before her, yet they all obeyed her commands. "You should have informed me of my business trip a week in advance," she said. "I need to arrange my work. My schedule is full; you're forcing me to make changes."

Supiluliumas nodded, seemingly oblivious to her anger.

Or rather, the Imperial Guard deliberately ignored this sentiment. In his eyes, the work of the defense intelligence department was not difficult. After all, Kosovo and Albania had returned to peace through military repression. Almost all the militias had died under the knights' mortars, the Imperial Guard's halberds and greatswords, and the First Secret Regiment's laser guns. The emperor promised them peace, but only if they accepted the emperor's ideals. Sometimes, progressive ideas and methods cannot solve all problems. The root of the problem was the Ottoman Empire's ravages on this land. Negotiation, concessions, and reconciliation were meaningless. Conflicts would eventually be instigated by ambitious individuals, and the mob's revelry would eventually be ignited by gasoline and guns. Many Albanian women even preferred to give birth at home rather than go to hospitals run by Serbs.

To resolve this core contradiction, Victoria Hand, in the name of the Emperor, did many things she didn't want to do. Not every nation has the capacity or right to independence, nationalist independence doesn't guarantee a better future, and not every ruler possesses clear vision and is unaffected by personal ambition and greed. Many politicians are merely a mob driven by their own desires. This is a harsh reality: economic downturn, inflation, violent conflict, and scarcity of resources have long plagued this land. The Emperor promised them what they had once willingly abandoned, but these things would be bought with even more blood. Victoria Hand was the primary candidate to collect this blood tax.

"There will be a personnel reshuffle between the Department of Justice and the Defense Intelligence Agency during this period. S.H.I.E.L.D. armed personnel will be integrated into the Department of Justice, and those paramilitary personnel will need new equipment and training," Superuliumas said. Victoria Hand sensed the political infighting in his words. S.H.I.E.L.D. agents have always had a strong tendency to stick together; after all, they had all experienced the Hydra betrayal, and there were very few superiors they could truly trust—she was one of them.

This is an inevitable reaction from someone who has experienced a disaster, but it is very detrimental to the work.

To maintain the health of the system, internal reforms were imperative. Victoria Hand knew she had no choice but to stay out of it; she had witnessed the fate of those who tried to stop a chariot but failed. She only hoped to remind a few people to accept the Emperor's ideas. Coming here was a form of protection, allowing her to get through this period unscathed. She wasn't sure if this was at the behest of the Emperor or the Regent, as both were adept at political maneuvering and could even influence the vote of a member of Congress from their sofas.

"After you finish your studies, you can smoothly assume the position of Minister of Justice. My Lord requires you to shoulder even greater responsibilities. Here are the tools for external communication; you can arrange your work without causing any delays." Seeing that Victoria Hand did not object but instead began to think, Supiluliumas was pleased. This proved that the Emperor had not misjudged her; she was indeed an official worthy of being given important responsibilities. "Venerable Hamil, I suggest you visit the dining hall at Kamar-Taj," he said. "Not everyone can adapt to the food and snowmelt water here."

Kamar-Taj was a quiet hubbub of activity in the dead of night, its buildings scattered throughout the valley ablaze with light. Apprentices, just finished with their evening study and discussions, were still engaged in their evening study sessions, flashes of orange-red sparks constantly bursting from their fingertips. This reminded Victoria Hand of the times she had witnessed the Emperor casting spells. "Watch out for those Pallas's cats," the mage Hamil pointed to the piles of shadows beneath their feet, which Victoria deftly scurried around. These furry creatures lay sprawled across the rock slabs and grass, merely stretching out their short legs and yawning as someone passed by, before continuing their slumber. They seemed determined not to get up unless someone stepped on them. "Those guys are quite plump now; they tripped up several unfortunate souls today."

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(End of this chapter)