Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1410, Chapter 1406: To the Moon (Two Chapters Combined)

This is not a fair game.

If anyone had speculated about Nick Fury's whereabouts in the past, the location would never have been limited to Earth, especially for those who knew him; such speculation wouldn't have been far-fetched. But now, Nick Fury's activities are firmly confined to Earth. He has lost most of his available resources, at least his deeply hidden safe houses and interpersonal relationships. Even though he is known as the "King of Spies," in this information age, even the King of Spies is easily tracked down.

He needs to eat and sleep, and he needs to interact with people. Since a person is the sum of their social relationships, he will inevitably leave a trace in society, whether it's through credit cards, security cameras, hotel rooms, or photos shared on social media. Nick Fury can't be sure he'll never be filmed; after all, anyone can easily record their life with their own equipment these days, and nobody knows if they'll appear in someone else's lens.

He was released voluntarily by the Emperor, and Nick Fury knew very well the Emperor's intentions in doing so.

Assyrian-era stone inscriptions describe the domestication of falcons by humankind. This technique, prevalent in Mesopotamia around 2000 BC, was also common among nomadic peoples in Central Asia and the Far East, evolving into a stable hunting method that continues to this day. In ancient times, without firearms, telescopes, or other tools, human ancestors turned their attention to animals, making a domesticated bird of prey a crucial hunting aid. However, because birds of prey are difficult to tame, they had to be trained manually to obey commands, eliminate their wild nature, and gain discipline. Since the hunting efficiency of birds of prey far surpassed that of hunting dogs, every falconer was willing to invest significant resources.

But it's less about training birds of prey and more about a battle of wills between the birds and humans. In the most crucial step—the sleep resistance training that breaks down the birds' wild instincts—the falconer must remain awake alongside the birds, for at least five days and five nights without sleep. This is the most important step in destroying the birds' will, and also a test of the falconer's own will.

Nick Fury knew very well that he was the bird of prey being tamed.

He might find nails in food he buys by chance, or be reported and raided by the police while staying in a motel under a false identity. Even if he leaves the United States and blends into the refugee camps in Northern Europe, he might encounter charitable organizations that suddenly become generous and donate supplies, then invite him to participate in televised street interviews under the pretext of "getting more help." Just one such incident would be enough for Nick Fury to know that someone is watching him. Even if nothing similar happens afterward, he wouldn't dare to draw any conclusions—he's familiar with this kind of psychological warfare, the aim of which is to break the target through psychological pressure, making them live in a state of fear. But he's been accustomed to a high level of vigilance for decades and wouldn't be frightened by such a situation. Instead, he's quite curious about the extent of the Emperor's surveillance.

He traveled all over the world not only to shake off the emperor's eyes and ears, but also to figure out the limits of the emperor's technology.

"So, this is a game?"

Victor von Doom toyed with the small black box with silver trim between his fingers. This was the first shipment Constantine had sent from the Lighthouse Base on Lake Ontario, and it was a priority shipment, personally escorted by Sergeant Ronald of the First Class Regiment. At the same time, Sergeant Ronald also brought with him an observation report and behavioral analysis of Nick Fury; some had already determined Nick Fury's movements and special intentions.

"Will we be the ultimate victors?" Although Victor von Doom softened his tone, speaking to the masked Regent was still stressful. Meeting the Emperor was a dreamlike experience, but meeting the Regent felt like being squeezed by a hydraulic press, inevitably prompting him to ask something. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked you that question, Ronald. It's not your fault."

He placed the black cube on the table and then connected a data cable to its only port. Sergeant Ronald, dressed in a sharp grey suit with a gold eagle badge adorning his cap, seemed pleased to be able to remove his body armor. "I appreciate your diligent work. Now you're on leave as per procedure. After your leave, I'd like to invite you to join another project," Viktor von Doom said, removing his mask and greeting the sergeant with a warm smile and friendly demeanor. "Also, have a pleasant honeymoon. I hope your wife won't complain about me making you go on such a long business trip."

"It's my pleasure, Regent," Sergeant Ronald laughed. "My salary makes her less temperamental."

After Sergeant Ronald left, Victor von Doom continued toying with the black cube. This was a data storage device Nick Fury had given to Agent Coulson, crammed with classified S.H.I.E.L.D. documents—a mere fraction of the files Natasha Romanoff had uploaded during the Hydra rebellion. However, these documents were of no help in finding Nick Fury; that cunning man would never entrust his agents, safe houses, and escape routes to anyone else, not even his most trusted Agent Coulson. Yet, this cube had been created many years ago; before Nick Fury determined the escape route, some data must have left traces of its existence.

"Ms. Lister, please invite Ms. ROOT to the Regent's office." Victor von Doom pressed the call button on the office phone, making contact with another office in the castle. "Tell her I need Thumbelina's help—I know she doesn't like the name, but that's what the documents call her—and I need her to get some sunlight, instead of always hanging out with a bunch of Martian logic sages. For Her sake, tell her to hurry up."

The Emperor's first encounter with what could be called artificial intelligence occurred many years ago when someone discovered his unusual identity—his simultaneous presence in New York and London within eight hours, exceeding the speed of all mainstream modes of transportation on Earth at the time. Simultaneously, he also cracked down on criminal gangs around the Witch's Apartment, thus attracting an investigation, including the newly formed Coulson Special Agent Team.

But that's all in the past. The AI ​​with access to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's network is now working for him, along with several AI-selected executors. It's a very worthwhile deal. The Emperor fully supports the work of the AI's creators and executors—namely, using big data to predict and save people who might die in murder cases. The Emperor will provide absolutely secure server storage to ensure the AI's existence, while the AI ​​will provide information censorship and assistance when the Emperor needs it.

The Emperor and Regent placed greater emphasis on the executor chosen by the "Thumbelina" system, Ms. ROOT, who possessed considerable expertise in network information technology. While providing the "Thumbelina" system with resources, the Emperor also offered the executor substantial assistance. Although this executor was somewhat eccentric and referred to "Thumbelina," who held all network access, as God and "she."

This is similar to the Martians' worship of machines as symbols of life and perfection, but Ms. ROOT's logical thinking and cybersecurity skills are equally commendable. The Emperor even allowed her to serve as a technical advisor for some small projects, all of which were related to "Thumbelina".

Now Regent Victor von Doom needs the ability to root.

He needed ROOT to retrieve the original data Nick Fury had entered from this vibranium box and hand it over to the Guardians' intelligence department. This data would then be compared to the First Class Secret Service's map of Nick Fury's movements to identify the agents and safe houses Fury was trying to hide. This was just a simple task, taking five minutes, on Regent Victor von Doom's to-do list for the day.

Nick Fury didn't realize that he wasn't as important as he thought.

Regent Victor von Doom was busy preparing for the Emperor's next move and had no time or energy to waste on the agent who was traveling the world. Wherever Nick Fury went, he could not leave Earth and posed no threat to the Emperor's cause, not even to Natasha Romanoff, who was helping him, who had her own concerns.

The Regent likened the female spy's act of providing intelligence to Nick Fury to the falconer's practice of feeding the bird its own saliva during the sleep-testing phase of training, allowing it to become familiar with the scent. The Regent tolerated Natasha Romanoff's intelligence gathering to observe when Nick Fury would act based on her information. When Nick Fury's next move was predictable, it meant the Regent's taming plan was complete. Nick Fury, like a falconer familiar with its trainer's scent, would have mastered the intelligence given to him by the Regent, and that would be the time to truly bring him under his control.

Furthermore, the only armed force Nick Fury can utilize is the Avengers. Nick Fury's danger has now been minimized, and there's no need to pay too much attention to him, unless radar detects a human-sized light falling from the sky. Even if that day comes, Regent Victor von Doom believes he can completely resolve that problem.

"Long time no see, my old friend. Now, will you allow my mind to recall your name?" Not everyone likes an emperor, or the emperor's worldly status, especially when some find their minds manipulated by forces they cannot comprehend. "Why are you suddenly contacting me? I never thought you intended to do business with me! There are many dictators and tyrants in this world who want my technology, and you are one of them!"

"Fate doesn't work, Tony Stark. If fate existed, our lives wouldn't be so illogical." Salomon didn't look at the holographic projection in mid-air, nor at the Cheshire Cat eagerly eyeing it. "That's just probability, nothing more. I found you simply because I thought there were things you might be interested in. I've never had any ill intentions towards you; on the contrary, I greatly admire your contributions to the advancement of human science, a point I've expressed to you more than once. You've made significant contributions to the advancement of human science, which is why you and the Stark Industries have survived to this day."

"You sound like a Hollywood star giving a spiel at an awards ceremony."

"Don't think I can't tell you're insulting me, but I'm telling you the truth." Salomon adjusted his posture. Tony Stark's projection wasn't a neat suit or oil-stained work clothes, but rather a very casual light-colored T-shirt. He looked to be in excellent spirits; the disbandment of the Avengers had actually given him plenty of time to rest. "Now it's time to use your wisdom. Your skills, your knowledge, and your flashes of inspiration."

"You've piqued my curiosity." Tony Stark glanced around, as if worried someone might discover this fairy tale. "Could it be related to that alien fleet invasion? If so, I have my own methods and don't need to participate in your project."

"Relying on a few drones dropped from low Earth orbit, Stark? Is this what you call arming the Earth with steel?" Salomon waved his finger, and a document was transmitted to Tony Stark's information terminal without even the AI ​​"Friday" noticing. "The UN Security Council is embroiled in a dispute over your occupation of low Earth orbit. Latvia's suggestion is that the five permanent members give Latvia a sum of money, and then we'll destroy Stark Industries' satellites," Salomon said. "The White House is happy to pay that money. And does anyone remember that Latvia has the capability to revert America's communications systems to World War II era? Nobody in the world possesses the technology to manufacture void fighters except me."

"And me too."

"Perhaps, but you didn't have the opportunity to conduct the experiments, did you?" Salomon said. "Just like your refusal to share the Iron Man suit manufacturing technology, we have the same concerns. But some things can't be solved by a few people; they require all of humanity to face them together. That's one of the reasons I oppose the Avengers."

"one?"

"There's also the vague interpretation of the clause in the original Sokovia Accords regarding the 'necessity for superheroes to maintain national security.' To prevent so-called superheroes from becoming special forces, I had to resort to other means. After all, Americans have maintained American national security thousands of miles away in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan."

"Okay, I've had enough. I don't need to lecture you, and don't forget, I'm much older than you."

"But your mental age is far below 40 percent of your peers, and that's even including those with mental disabilities," Salomon said. "In short, I need you on this project. Before the Dark Order fleet arrives in the solar system, we must begin to gradually build a defense network, and our first step is to go to the moon."

"Sir, *To the Moon* is a game that tells the story of..."

"No hint needed, Friday. Tell me, Salomon, what's on the moon?" Tony Stark raised an eyebrow. "I don't believe you."

"There are just some mutants."

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)