Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 171 The Vanished Knight (First Update!)

The private conversations among mature women often turn out to be surprisingly risqué for men, especially among close acquaintances, as Vanessa exemplified. After confirming with every detail that Salomon and Athena didn't have any unspeakable relationship, Vanessa opened up about herself, including her encounter with a prince in a white suit and wide tie at an art exhibition and her subsequent romantic escapades, leaving Salomon visibly embarrassed. After recounting her own experiences, Vanessa then shifted the conversation to Athena.

"Where's the gentleman who usually comes with you?" she asked. "I haven't seen him in a long time. Arthur, right? If I remember his name correctly."

The sorcerer's eyes sharpened instantly. He connected Athena's earlier words with the Sorcerer Supreme's true identity and legends. He understood. The Sorcerer Supreme had once again displayed Camelot's traditional skill, appearing at the art exhibition in men's clothing with Athena—it seemed the Supreme's evolution into a reclusive person who would steal his snacks was only a matter of time. The former Sorcerer Supreme was indeed a man of taste. No wonder Athena had approached him so quickly when he was at the British Museum; she already knew Salomon would be there to search for the ring.

It's possible that as soon as he set off, the Venerable One informed Athena that the Sorcerer Supreme's connections with these Old Gods were far greater than he had imagined.

Athena noticed Salomon's gaze and immediately knew he had figured out the situation. She subtly rolled her eyes, cleverly diverting Vanessa's attention and asking about her plans. However, Salomon wasn't interested in listening; he walked aside and began searching for his favorite food at the buffet table.

Perhaps it was because of the courses Athena set for him, or perhaps it was because of the art courses at Eton College, but for various reasons, Salomon was unable to appreciate most abstract oil paintings, or rather, he disliked such overly subjective works of art, which also made him lose interest in Vanessa.

All the oil paintings he appreciated belonged to the classical school, and his favorite was Lavinia Fontana's painting of Athena—although Athena herself always said it didn't resemble her, she still bought that Baroque painting at a high price and kept it in her collection, leaving only the forgery on display. As for Athena's own favorite painting, it would be Rembrandt's "Athena the Warrior," a portrait of a valiant woman in armor that Athena herself deeply admired.

"You shouldn't be here alone, and you shouldn't be idly eating sandwiches. This is an art exchange fair." After an unknown amount of time, just as Salomon was about to eat his second slice of Spanish ham, his hand was grabbed, and then an irresistible force pulled him further and further away from the ham.

Athena had finished the conversation and finally remembered that she hadn't come to the art exhibition alone. "I've already discussed it with Vanessa," she said. "I'll sponsor her to open a gallery in New York, but not all of her paintings have arrived yet, so it'll have to wait a while."

"Very well, now you're her investor." Salomon glanced longingly at the buffet, sighed, and shrugged. "What can I say? I don't appreciate abstract art, except for Cubism. I think anyone who funds abstract painters is a sucker, and funding a painter like Vanessa, a fluid abstract artist, is even more pointless. Although the contrast between white paint and white canvas can create a sense of dynamism, it's meaningless. Such painters are too unstable; your investment will only result in a loss. Maybe next time I should just use tape to stick a banana to the wall. After all, whatever an artist does is art, isn't it?"

“That’s not a one-size-fits-all situation, Salomon. I’m not here to make money, but I’m not going to give any long speeches here.” Athena gripped Salomon’s arm tightly and dragged him toward the exhibition area. “Over the years, I’ve found some interesting things to do, and socializing is one of them. I love watching those foolish nobles talk so much; what they say is truly laughable. Although there are fewer nobles and more merchants now, humanity hasn’t changed; fools still make up the majority.”

“You’re right, my dear single mother Minerva. Fools are the majority, otherwise populism wouldn’t be so rampant on this land.” Salomon, with his arm around Athena’s waist, watched the noisy crowd talking listlessly. Then, he spotted a familiar figure. “Remember the Salem story I told you about three hundred years ago?” he asked Athena, “the one with the weird and terrifying tales.”

"The one related to the Eye Demon?" Athena blinked. "And the beautiful red-haired spy."

"Please don't mention the latter one, I promise it has nothing to do with the female spy. It's been so long and you still remember Natasha," Salomon said. "I'm talking about that excellent investigator who faced the evil god without completely succumbing to madness. Although his temporary madness caused him to lose a little memory, I don't think it's a big deal; he even brought his girlfriend to the art exhibition. Hello, Coulson, I didn't expect you to be on vacation after only a few days. Nick Fury is really good to you."

"Hi!" Coulson's forehead wrinkles were practically touching his hairline. He never expected Salomon to be in New York, at the Four Seasons Hotel's art exhibition. In fact, if he were still at work, he would have known about Salomon's presence in New York.

"You…" He glanced at his female companion, behaving somewhat like a caveman bumping into an acquaintance outdoors, "What are you doing here?"

"I have a very high aesthetic sense, Coulson." Salomon greeted Coulson's female companion, "Hello, ma'am, I am Salomon Damonette, and this is my foster mother, Minerva."

"Audrey." Coulson's girlfriend glanced at him, smiled, and shook hands with Salomon and Athena. "I just came from Portland yesterday. You're... Phil, right? You're Coulson's friends?"

"I am not, he is." Athena took the sorcerer's arm. "I've heard that my son and Coulson have had many adventures."

"Wow? I'd love to hear your stories as an agent. Phil is always so secretive." Audrey raised an eyebrow. "But I must say, you're very well-preserved and look very young."

“It seems the gentlemen have something to say. Ms. Audrey, if you don’t mind, I can introduce you to some talented artists.” Athena released Salomon’s arm and stepped forward to take Audrey’s arm. She had given the sorcerer a stern look as they passed. “I’ll settle accounts with you later!” she said to Salomon in a low voice, “including for calling a female spy by her first name, and for the witch—my memory is excellent!”

"Really? Thank you so much!" Audrey was pleasantly surprised, because neither Coulson nor she were very familiar with New York, and they had only come to the art exhibition as a suitable place for a date.

"Come with me, you'll find it worthwhile." Athena turned her face, as if all her anger from before had vanished.

Coulson and Salomon watched Athena and Audrey disappear into the depths of the exhibition hall.

"I had no idea you had an adoptive mother, and such a young and beautiful one at that. Does she know who you are?" Coulson looked at Salomon and asked curiously, "What do you want with me? Don't tell me you just came to say hello."

"I'm here to ask you about Johnny Blaze," Salomon said. "Don't worry about anything else."

"I'm just happy that you have a complete family. As for Ghost Rider, that's top secret, and I can't reveal it casually."

"Stop joking. I know far more than you do. If I wanted to know where he is, I wouldn't bother using divination to find out his location." Salomon scoffed dismissively. "And his girlfriend, Roxanne—we sent her back and she disappeared just a day later. You must have done that, right?"

"She's perfectly safe right now. We have dedicated personnel to protect her." Coulson's expression was somewhat awkward, and the underlying meaning behind his polite words was clear to everyone. Because Roxanne didn't need anyone's protection, and Johnny Blaze's enemies weren't ordinary humans; S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn't stop them at all.

This behavior was less about protection and more about an attempt to monitor and control Johnny Blaze through Rosanne.

"How adorable." The sorcerer immediately grasped the point, and even indulged in a conspiracy theory, "Does Nick Fury think Ghost Rider can defeat the sorcerer?"

"The director absolutely did not mean that; we have a friendly cooperative relationship with you."

"Forget about him. I need you to tell Nick Fury that I need to speak with Johnny Blazer. It's been infuriating that I can't get through to your chief these past few days; he can text me whenever he wants, but I can't reach him when I try to call back!"

"Chief Fury couldn't agree to this either, because... because Ghost Rider is missing, and even Roxanne can't contact him."

"What the hell are you talking about?!"

Please vote for me!

Honey whiskey and mango Monster milk tea is really delicious, the ratio is 1:2.

(End of this chapter)