Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 211 Stepping onto the First Staircase (First Update!)

P.S.: It is not recommended to read this chapter on your way to work, as the logic is complex and may make you dizzy.

Tony Stark from the future was somewhat distrustful of Salomon, as were his companions, all looking at the sorcerer on horseback with suspicion. Only the future Dr. Banner kindly reminded the others to hide in a corner out of the camera's view to avoid being discovered. The future Captain Rogers had originally wanted Dr. Banner to go on the mission, but Salomon stopped him. "Strange is still in surgery," the sorcerer said. "He's still a narcissist who hasn't learned manners, just as annoying as you, Stark. I really don't understand how someone like that can live to adulthood. Nature is truly amazing."

Captain Rogers nodded in agreement.

"You seem to know a lot." The now-aged Stark ignored Salomon's sarcastic remark. If it were the old Stark, he would have already been unable to contain his agitation—or perhaps it was because he was on an important mission and had to suppress his urge to retort. Stark glanced at the symbols and lines on the scroll and felt dizzy. He quickly moved the parchment aside. This might be some kind of code, but he didn't have time to decipher it now.

Stark looked up at the sorcerer and asked, "Are all sorcerers like Strange, acting all mysterious? I'd like to hear your explanation... but be quick and brief."

"I've made a deal." Salomon exhaled a breath of hot air and wagged his finger. "You'll borrow the Infinity Stones, but the loss of the Infinity Stones will cause problems in this universe, and my teacher will not agree to it. Note that the current Sorcerer Supreme is not Strange, and the future Sorcerer Supreme of this universe may not be Strange either; this is a difference in the multiverse."

"We understand your concerns," Captain Rogers tried to string together words to convince Salomon, "but we'll return the Infinity Stones within minutes of borrowing them. I don't know if you understand that… but judging from your expression, you're the one who understands. A few minutes won't cause any major problems, am I right, Tony?"

"That's right, the old man finally got it right for once." Stark nodded in agreement.

"Strange saw the possibility of your success using the Eye of Agamotto, and that possibility is unfolding according to plan. While I despise this idiot, I must admit his talent—the talent for courting death." Salomon looked at the four people who had traveled from a parallel universe to this place. "In fact, the Infinity Stones in your universe don't disappear; they simply exist somewhere in some form, and I doubt you've had time to search for them. Therefore, you need insurance—and that insurance is me. I must guarantee that, regardless of the outcome, the three Infinity Stones you borrowed from this time will return to this universe. Do you agree?"

Salomon's request was reasonable, and the travelers from the multiverse agreed with him.

"How do you know this information?" Stark had another question. "You're from this universe, and you've never been to ours. How do you know so much about what happens in our world?"

"Because this happened before you traveled through the worlds, and time is not linear; it's an extension of parallel worlds. You should be able to understand that," the sorcerer said. "As for why I know these things... I can only tell you that it's my subject of study."

"So, can you help us borrow the Time Stone?" Dr. Banner asked.

"You'll have to convince my teacher yourself." The sorcerer shook his head. "If I were to act as your insurance, I think my teacher might be willing to take a gamble and open up possibilities for the future."

"So how are you going to get back with us?" Stark winked at Captain Rogers. He suspected Salomon had some shady plan: perhaps leaving someone here until the mission was complete. But Stark didn't agree with the idea; he trusted his teammates more than Salomon, whom he'd only just met.

"Your battle armor." The arcane mage looked up at the colossal beast that cast a massive shadow on the ground. He was running out of time, so he quickened his pace: "The only time you can return the gems is at some point outside of the scenario you will be interfering with later, like now, which is an excellent opportunity. The returned gems can be placed in a location that is not easily discovered, and then after you leave now, you can notify the person who originally possessed the gems. This way, the disturbance to this universe will be minimal."

In other words, there are two of you at this moment, and one of you will simultaneously have three parallel universe counterparts. This person is the one who returns the gem. Whoever this person is, only I know, so as not to affect you in the present. Therefore, we need to agree on a time—after I finish saying this, you continue with your mission, and I will stay here for one minute.

The person who returned the stones arrived here. After handing me the extra suit, they continued returning the stones. The return time set on that suit was the same as yours. I will put on the suit sometime after this matter is resolved and appear in your universe with you to ensure the Infinity Stones are returned safely.

"But since we can return the jewels, why do we still need insurance?"

“Because this is the multiverse, Dr. Banner,” Salomon replied. “If someone does return the suit to me, then the mission that person takes to return the gem represents your potential success. But that doesn’t mean anything, because you could also experience the possibility of failure—as long as there’s a possibility of success, someone will return the gem, but that person won’t be from the same parallel universe, and the universes from which you borrowed the gem won’t be the same. So it’s a gamble, which is why I’m going with you to ensure that the continuity of all parallel universes isn’t disrupted because of you. Do you agree?”

Salomon's idea is quite simple. For example, the person who returns the Infinity Stones is Captain America, and at this point in time, Captain America is called Number 1. The Captain America who traveled from a parallel universe is Number 2, and the Captain America who returns the stones after the successful mission is Number 3. The Captain America Salomon is currently waiting for is Number 3, because this Captain hasn't appeared yet. He needs to wait one minute, take the Quantum Suit from Number 3, and then activate the suit at some point in the future, appearing alongside Number 2 in Captain 2's parallel universe.

3号美国队长就是2号美国队长未来成功的可能性，但这并不代表2号美国队长一定会成为3号美国队长，也有可能是作战失败的4号。

Salomon's mission is to bring back the Infinity Stones, whether their mission succeeds or fails, and whether Captain America becomes number 3, 4, 5, or even number 17 million, or to ensure that number 2 Captain America becomes number 3 Captain America.

First observe the results, then determine the cause.

"Agreed." Dr. Banner nodded thoughtfully.

"Agreed." Stark had no further objections after thinking for a while.

"Agreed." Captain Rogers decided to hand over this complex problem to the other two smart people in the team.

"Uh... I agree." Ant-Man was just there to make up the numbers; he felt it didn't matter whether he agreed or not.

"Very good. Now, let the mission begin." Salomon was glad they agreed; otherwise, he would have already turned on them. This was for the sake of caution. After all, the life and death of another parallel universe wasn't that important to the people living in this universe. Lending the Infinity Stones to a parallel universe without a certain degree of certainty would be extremely irresponsible. Salomon believed that the Venerable One would also agree with his idea.

"Set the time, begin the countdown. I await your future possibilities. Don't even think about running away; I know exactly when you'll get the gem."

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The lance pierced the behemoth's skull, and Pegasus flapped its wings again, sending the lance piercing through the thick metal plate and emerging from the other side of the behemoth's head. Its unparalleled power even pinned the behemoth to the building's wall. But soon, with the behemoth completely dead, the anti-gravity device supporting its levitation failed, and its heavy body was once again pulled downwards by gravity. Fortunately, Salomon withdrew his lance in time, avoiding the embarrassing situation of being dragged down with it.

This was Salomon's third slaying of a colossal beast. Meanwhile, in this timeline, Bruce Banner had already been transported to the battlefield by S.H.I.E.L.D. using a Quinjet. The arcane mage had to admit that the Hulk, this muscle-bound guy, was indeed formidable. Only by witnessing him stop a dragon's chariot with a single punch could one truly grasp the awe-inspiring power—it was said that with enough rage, the Hulk's strength had no limit.

Salomon didn't know if what he said was true or false, but now it seemed very likely to be true.

He just hoped Hulk wouldn't hold a grudge and wouldn't suddenly attack him, otherwise he wouldn't be able to defend himself. So far, he hadn't unlocked many of his stigmata, and his body hadn't fully matured. The excess magic his body absorbed couldn't give him the robust physique of an Asgardian—Salomon had seen Loki's condition; after being thrashed by Hulk, Loki seemed to have completely lost consciousness and hadn't recovered yet.

Phoenix was not with Salomon at this time, because the sorcerer had given it a task. Salomon wanted it to take something very important to the Kamar-Taj headquarters—it would be the gateway to a parallel world, the first step of the ultimate task.

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)