Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1348 Slaughter (Second Update)

This was the third day of the closed-door session of the Hungarian Parliament. As promised by the Emperor, water and bread were provided in unlimited quantities, but no one was allowed to leave the polling hall to go home to rest or use the restroom. Whenever a member of parliament succumbed to drowsiness and fell asleep, a soldier in black bulletproof armor would push in a "giant metal plate."

This was the account of Azaliman, the deputy to the Marshal of the Ministry of Justice. He didn't recognize a gong, but he knew that every time it was struck, the entire parliament building could hear it, let alone the members of parliament who came into close contact with it. According to him, the gong could wake the dead from their graves—and in such a difficult environment, the Emperor's bills were passed one by one. Only when the most solemn and civilized place in the most magnificent building of the Hungarian province had become a stinking barbaric place did the regent who came to take over feel satisfied, and he arranged rooms for the members of parliament to wash and rest.

They are still not allowed to leave the Capitol.

The Emperor could not tolerate the inefficiency of these parliamentarians, nor could he tolerate their backers' rampant embezzlement of state assets after the collapse of the Eastern Bloc, transforming them into oligarchs manipulating the political arena. These parliamentarians, too, had already arranged their escape routes through the political-business revolving door. All resources had to be used to save the human race from extinction; seizing assets meant for the resistance was tantamount to self-destruction. Now, this escape route was completely cut off, because the Emperor's nationalization bill had been passed by the parliamentarians themselves. Energy companies (including coal, natural gas, etc.) and all military enterprises within the Hungarian provinces were taken over by the Martian Foundry, which had been prepared in advance.

Now that these legislators have completed their historical mission, the regent will naturally not keep them around.

The documents the Emperor had previously shown to the parliamentarians were now in the Regent's hands. Without needing to speak, Viktor von Dum naturally understood the Emperor's intentions. Before the Emperor's arrival, corruption and laziness had permeated the Hungarian province from top to bottom, and administrative reforms in Latvia had encountered significant resistance there. While other provinces were operating at a rapid pace, Hungary was still sluggishly progressing, making Budapest stand out from the other cities in the emerging Balkan federation.

Before the instigators could even muster a march, the regent preemptively seized control of major transportation routes and several large cities, dispatching genetically modified soldiers to monitor the mortal army. Only then did the news media begin reporting on the bills passed by parliament. This process took a full day, and one can imagine that today's provincial news in Hungary is entirely focused on these bills, followed by numerous interpretations from experts and scholars.

The varnished wooden door opened after the greeting, and Regent Victor von Doom, who was in his office, appeared very pleased to see the visitor. "Ms. Hand, you've come at the right time." He removed his mask and let out a long sigh of relief. "I hope the matter of setting up two more war tribunals hasn't bothered you, because you also have to set up a new one here."

“I’m an agent, not a politician,” Victoria Hand stated bluntly. “And the Ministry of Justice is an executive agency, not a judicial one.”

"The Ministry of Justice is now not only a law enforcement agency, but also a judicial one. While you were recuperating at Kamar-Taj, we completed the functional separation and merger. You can represent the Emperor in establishing courts, and I, representing the Emperor's authority, delegate this power to you. Congratulations, Victoria Hand, you now have complete control over the law of the entire Balkans, and countless jurists will work for you. If your work isn't entirely legal, you can make it legal, just like the CIA." Viktor von Doom's cold humor infuriated the Marshal of the Ministry of Justice. She didn't feel the thrill of gaining power, because she believed the Regent enjoyed this kind of humiliation. "Now, before establishing the Federal Court of the Former Yugoslavia, I need your help."

"Is there anything a bureaucrat like you can't solve?"

Viktor von Dum finds that his temper is improving steadily after he meets the Emperor.

“We need the rule of law, Victoria, that’s why I need you,” he said. “We can’t rely on the Emperor’s authority for everything; it’s an insult to his ideals. He needs you to establish a symbol of law for this land, even if that symbol is too serious and bloody, it’s still necessary. Our forced takeover of energy and defense companies was illegal in itself, a breach of contract, so some less important companies need you to resolve things through legal means. Not only that, the trials of those members of parliament must also be put on the agenda. I hope that when those people wake up from their slumber, they will find that their past greed has become evidence that lands them in prison.”

Viktor von Dum handed her a document five centimeters thick. "These are Appendices A through D."

Victoria Hand took a deep breath. "This is impossible. My men cannot complete this task in such a short time, nor would any judge be willing to conduct such a rushed trial in such a short period of time."

"I know, but I don't want to use the emperor's authority to push this through." The regent smiled. "I believe that obtaining dirt on a few judges shouldn't be too difficult for you, right?"

"And what about you?"

“Me?” The Regent pointed to several trolleys beside his desk, piled high with sheets of printed paper wrapped in kraft paper. Victoria Hand counted about six trolleys, each stacked with at least thirty documents several centimeters high. “This is my job. After the bill passes, someone needs to push it forward, and that’s my job,” he said. “If the trial can begin as scheduled, my work in pushing the bill forward will be much smoother. If I have evidence of wrongdoing on certain officials or business owners, then I’ll be getting more than just paper and pens.”

"You're really cunning, Victor."

"Thank you for the compliment." The Regent extended his hand toward the door, a broad smile on his face. "I have prepared an office for you," he said. "All the documents, equipment, and personnel you need are provided, and you can begin work soon. Once your work here is finished, I suggest you request leave from the Emperor. He will grant it; he knows what you have learned at Kamar-Taj, and you need time to process some of the more difficult things."

Before leaving, Victoria Hand hesitated, seemingly considering whether it was appropriate for her to say what she was about to say. Victor von Dum seemed to sense her thoughts and urged her not to go against her nature. After all, the Emperor admired her straightforward style most of all—never beating around the bush, always getting straight to the point. She didn't need to be a politician, because the Emperor didn't need her to be one.

"I've heard Master Hamil mention you, Victor."

The regent nodded.

“I will not deny my learning experience at Kamar-Taj. The Sorcerer Supreme taught me a great deal, and I will never deny that kindness. Sorcerer Hamil was also one of my mentors.” He pointed to the pile of documents. The next second, the parchment and combination lock bindings on the documents automatically untied, and the papers floated orderly before landing neatly on the Regent's desk, arranged by page number, as if an invisible, silent servant had provided assistance. “We all know who the real enemy is, and that's why I'm willing to work with the Emperor. Now you know our true purpose, so I won't hide the threat we face from you, just not now. You need to work now.”

The Regent earnestly said, "You are not in the right mental state to receive that information right now. There are risks involved in even knowing some of this information. I will tell you something a thousand times more sensational than the story that Master Hamil told you. So I hope you can learn about that information at the right time and in the right state. Otherwise, your mind will be damaged, and the Emperor and I will be burdened with an insurmountable debt."

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(End of this chapter)