Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 144 Falling into a Trap (Second Update! Please vote!)

The sorcerer and Natasha walked out of the alley one after the other.

This is his plan.

He and Natasha outwardly displayed discord to show that he still doubted Natasha's true identity and that there was still a rift between them (although there was, Natasha harbored resentment over Salomon killing her). This was a performance for Nyarlathotep's benefit; the sorcerer wanted Him to believe that His plan had successfully created a rift between their enemies. Natasha's performance was so convincing that even Salomon wasn't sure if she was truly angry (which she probably was). The bloodstains on her chest seemed to indicate a conflict with Salomon, and Natasha even clutched her chest while walking, suggesting she was injured.

If He was watching this scene, then He had fallen into the trap set by the sorcerer.

This was exactly what Salomon wanted, because only by going to great lengths could he deceive Nyarlathotep. He needed the evil god to believe that his plan was progressing smoothly; only then could the sorcerer find an opportunity to kill Him. Cornering Natasha in the alley earlier was precisely to ensure that Nyarlathotep wouldn't know he had verified Natasha's identity.

Salomon patted the dog's head and left the town with the stray. Since Matteo Hopkins might be an incarnation of Nyarlathotep, escaping His surveillance and ensuring Nyarlathotep couldn't track him was paramount—because Salomon was about to carry out an assassination plan, and the target was Matteo Hopkins.

The witch trials slowly came to a halt from dawn till dusk. This wasn't because the judges and interrogators were tired of torturing the prisoners, but because there weren't enough gallows. The royal army had arrested over twenty people that day, but there weren't enough gallows. According to the rules, witches had to be hanged to rot, so Cotton Mather had no choice but to stop the trials and order the remaining prisoners to be imprisoned. Judge Cotton Mather also arranged for tight security; the prison was constantly patrolled to ensure that other prisoners wouldn't disappear mysteriously like Titusa.

As the fervor of some in the town subsided, fear took its place. They feared that their neighbors, their wives, and their mothers were witches; some worried that those they didn't get along with would accuse them of having ties to the devil, so they preemptively denounced those people. Thus, chaos spread further in Salem, and even as the witch trials were underway, the judges and inquisitors received numerous accusations.

Despite the prison being overflowing and several suspects crammed into a small cell, Cotton Mather chose to detain all the accused. Chaos then began to spread throughout Salem, ushering in an era of widespread fear. This was exactly what Nyarlathotep wanted to see; this was the kind of drama He loved.

If Nyarlathotep were watching Salem, He would know that Natasha is the only outsider currently in the town. After sending Titusa back to Randolph Katna, Coulson set off that very night to find the stone tower Salomon needed; Salomon, meanwhile, lingered on the edge of the Dark Forest—the wizard didn't know how many incarnations were in the town, but he assumed Matthew Hopkins was a dark being in disguise. Therefore, Nyarlathotep should have returned to the Dark Forest after the witch trials, and Salomon's location was at the border between the peninsula where the town was situated and the forest on the mainland.

Here, near the coast, Salomon can even smell the salty sea breeze. The arcane mage, wielding the Sword of Excalibur, stands guard here alone.

If Matthew Hopkins or the Dark One doesn't appear, it means there are likely two avatars in the town, or Nyarlathotep has used teleportation magic to return to the Dark Forest. In this case, Salomon would travel to Salem to investigate Matthew Hopkins's residence—if he disappears, it means there's only one avatar in the town, which would mean Salomon must once again venture into the forest to face the countless monsters summoned by Nyarlathotep.

This is barely good news, since one less avatar means one less problem.

One crucial point is that Salomon has never used portal magic in Salem. Although he could have used portals to traverse this reality after deducing its true nature and understanding his own timeline, Salomon only used this strategic magic when absolutely necessary. Now, his caution has paid off. Tonight, the portal can help him swiftly ambush Nyarlathotep's avatars in the town or the Dark Forest before Nyarlathotep can react, thus resolving the matter completely.

Salomon waited for a long time, but no one came. After a while, he checked his watch, then unrolled the scroll and cast spells on himself. He cast Great Stride, Cat's Grace, Bull's Strength, and various protective spells to ensure he had sufficient resistance to any possible attacks. Once prepared, Salomon activated the stigmata that could be safely released, put on his slingshot, and cast a spell to open a portal.

His destination was a dark alleyway in the town of Salem, not far from Matthew Hopkins's residence, and a place rarely frequented by passersby. No one would see Salomon open the portal—information Natasha had provided him. The arcane mage swiftly made his way to Matthew Hopkins's temporary residence, registered under Cotton Mather's name. The judge had lent it to Matthew Hopkins to accommodate the interrogator appointed by the governor.

It would be too embarrassing to have the interrogator stay in an inn and mingle with merchants who are not noble at all.

The sorcerer raced forward, showing no sign of stopping even at the gates of the residence. He brandished his longsword, slicing open the heavy, bronze-inlaid oak door diagonally from left to right, as easily as tearing a sheet of paper. Salomon didn't pause; he rushed into the hall, ignoring the butler and servants who rushed in panic at the crashing door. Instead, he leaped up the softly carpeted stairs, then jumped again, heading towards the master bedroom.

Natasha truly lived up to her reputation as a Level 10 agent; she bribed a maid in the Mather household to obtain the location of Matthew Hopkins' bedroom. Without this information, Salomon wouldn't have launched this raid so easily. He crashed into the corridor like a speeding jeep, slashing open the master bedroom door with his longsword, and strode inside amidst the sounds of the door collapsing and walls cracking.

Candles were lit in the master bedroom. Matthew Hopkins was not asleep; he was still fully dressed. This eerie atmosphere made Salomon stop in his tracks, gripping his sword more cautiously. "I was wondering when you would come," he said, a disturbing smile playing on his lips, as if he had anticipated Salomon's arrival. "A man who should have died in 1647 appeared in 1692—what an obvious bait, and you took it. Now, perhaps I've overestimated you?"

"You are not Nyarlathotep." A deep unease rose within Salomon; he felt he had fallen into an unseen trap. The wizard frowned and pointed his sword at Matthew Hopkins. "Who are you!"

"I am Nyarlathotep, and yet I am not Nyarlathotep," Matteo Hopkins said, raising one eyebrow. "Who do you think is speaking to you, my dear?"

"you……"

"My little sweetheart!" Matt Hopkins pounded his chest and burst into laughter, his jaw stretching to its maximum width. Then, to Salomon's horrified gaze, he tore his own cheeks open with his hands to free his jawbone. But Matt Hopkins seemed to feel no pain; instead of blood, foul-smelling yellow pus flowed from his skin. With his movements, the pus dripped to the ground, and plump white maggots crawled out of his muscles. His eyes quickly clouded over, but he could still speak, though his voice grew increasingly hoarse, as if the moisture in his body was slowly draining away.

"Oh, poor thing, my little sweetheart, you're so pathetic." He burst into extremely maniacal laughter, saying, "Why can't Matt Hopkins be a dead man right now? Where do you think I am now? Hahahaha, hahahahaha!"

Please vote for me! QAQ

(End of this chapter)