Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 1440 The Selfish Fool (Second Update)

If General Hale had any complaints, it was only about the increasingly assertive attitude of the Malik family.

A week ago, after encountering Stephanie Malik at the White House—who was supposed to be in the Balkans—and being directly informed that her daughter Ruby had been taken away for so-called training, General Hale maintained a forced smile. Now, meeting Stephanie again at the White House, she wanted to loudly proclaim Stephanie Malik's identity, but she suppressed her anger, forcing a smile and tentatively expressing her dissatisfaction with Stephanie Malik's domineering attitude.

"I didn't know you were on vacation, Stephanie," she said with a laugh. "I thought you were busy dealing with those heretics."

"You have a master, General Hale," Stephanie Malik said softly, her face cool, unperturbed by General Hale's words. She didn't understand the Emperor's reasons for doing this, yet she would faithfully fulfill her duty. "I am responsible for conveying the Lord's will. He believes Ruby needs to take on more responsibility and receive more training, because you and Ruby both hold extremely important positions in the Lord's future plans."

"Perhaps."

General Hale nodded noncommittally, his eyes glancing out of the corner of his eye at the warm-colored wall lamps in the White House corridor. This was the east porch; it was afternoon, and the rose garden outside the window was bathed in a pale sunlight, like a supine, bloodless corpse. Neatly dressed officials hurried past, heads bowed, whispering to their companions. Many conspiracies were brewing here; countless alliances and betrayals were constantly unfolding, money and power being the eternal themes.

With the Democratic president nearing the end of his term, and given the Latvian emperor's attack on Wall Street earlier this year, many National Security Council members are frequently seen here. However, not everyone attending these meetings is there for national security; many are likely there to clean up the mess left from their terms and prevent rivals from discovering any information that could lead to prosecution. This applies to everyone from the president down to the deputy legal counsel for national security—Stephanie Malik recalled her father's words: those who hold power fear losing it most because they know what they've done.

General Hale herself was one of the participants in the meeting, but she didn't know why Stephanie Malik was there. If it was to prepare for her father, Gideon Malik, to take over the CIA, that would be too hasty, especially since the final election hadn't even started yet.

When will I be able to see Ruby?

“If you wish, General Hale. Ruby isn’t a hostage, and you’re not some coerced tool. You just need a reminder,” Stephanie Malik sighed. She had approached General Hale here because every cell phone signal in the building was monitored, but after passing through the conference room security, all communication devices were placed in Faraday bags, completely cutting off radio signals. “My lord promises you benefits at the right time, provided you offer loyalty. Don’t think that shooting an instructor will control your destiny; none of us can.”

"Perhaps," General Hale didn't refute. Hydra feeds on secrets, the Malik family has its own secrets, and so does she. General Hale felt boundless contempt for the Malik family's shortsightedness, their inability to recognize the existence of a far greater force in this universe, a force that had chosen her as Earth's representative. She was saving Earth, not engaging in the mundane power struggles of her position—General Hale ignored how similar her own deep-seated religious sentiment was to the martyrdom complex of conservative Hydra, and denied any resemblance to those extraterrestrial cults. She firmly believed that the organization she had joined was far more effective than Hydra's ancient superstitions.

"I hope 'our master' can bring me some good news."

"The development of the sixth-generation fighter jet is enough to keep you active for the next few presidential terms. Don't worry about the previous project leader; he's been working for over two decades. It's time to choose a responsible successor to ensure the development process isn't hindered."

Stephanie Malik didn't say it explicitly, but General Hale understood her subtext, which she found quite amusing. New weapons development was always one of the most lucrative areas at the Pentagon; even the M1 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle had supported several generals, and the development of the sixth-generation fighter jet could propel her to the rank of general for decades, then elevate the companies and committees she would serve in after retirement several notches. General Hale once again expressed her contempt for her mediocre, greedy, and corrupt colleagues at the Pentagon. Every year, the defense budget and R&D funds would turn into publicly traded company shares, luxury cars, mansions, and all sorts of luxuries, but would never become a single cog in the machine of R&D work—something that General Hale, who considered herself a savior of humanity, found utterly distasteful.

"Before you take over, our Lord will invite you to participate in a space trip. You can participate whenever you wish."

Although Stephanie didn't know what General Hale was thinking, she could deduce from the information she had gathered that General Hale's contact with the aliens in the Coboy Belt's star fortress hadn't escaped the Emperor's notice. Stephanie had even witnessed the Emperor's diviners using technology to steal General Hale's conversations with those creatures. She didn't mind letting General Hale be even more arrogant. Both General Hale and Ruby were merely stepping stones for the Coboy Belt's defense plan. Compared to the silly girl Ruby, Stephanie preferred General Hale, who was always trying to break free of his constraints. She believed that General Hale was essentially a power-hungry Hydra, whose self-proclaimed role as humanity's savior was merely a means to gain a higher position, which was why she was foolish enough to believe in aliens.

General Hale's smile vanished.

The news is now full of reports of journalists, astronauts, and researchers landing on the Latvian space station, but the United States is excluded, having not sent a delegation. The fact that Latvian never signed the Outer Space Agreement is being repeatedly sensationalized. If there weren't a presidential election, the State Department should have already sent a delegation and the Monsanto chairman to Latvian to discuss the Outer Space Agreement and food trade. General Hale knows that she won't participate in an official capacity then, but rather as a Hydra agent. At that time, she will once again face Hydra's new master, the Emperor of Latvian, the one who stormed the UN headquarters and breached the US air defense system.

"I don't want Ruby to get hurt in any way."

"Ruby is training there, and she'll definitely want you to see the results. The Royal Guard will be her mentors, providing her with comprehensive guidance. She can interrupt her training and return to Earth at any time if she wants." Seemingly sensing a familiar sense of oppression, General Hale's emotional shift didn't escape Stephanie's notice. She knew perfectly well why General Hale loathed Hydra's management, yet General Hale couldn't leave Hydra, thus forced to live a reluctant existence. However, General Hale's emphasis on Ruby still surprised Stephanie Malik somewhat; she didn't mind letting General Hale expend more energy on his rebellious daughter.

"If you don't mind, I think there's still some work for me to do in the Budget Office," Stephanie said meaningfully. "We all have a lot of work to do before the new president takes office, don't we?"

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)