Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 284 The Price of Growth (First Update!)

Anna Helstrom wore a fine grey wool spring coat, its belt tightly fastened at the waist. But now, she looked as if she wanted to throw the coat to the ground and jump up to punch Salomon. "What do you know?" she asked icyly. "Tell me everything you know. And where is this? I know we're not on the sidewalk, is that your magic?"

"Hmm." The sorcerer raised an eyebrow at the woman. He had finally piqued her interest; the source of all her suffering stemmed from her father, including her mother who had been driven mad by his torment. Salomon was not entirely clear on the specifics of what had happened, but that did not prevent him from blaming Mardour for Anna Helstrom and her brother's tragic childhood (which was also true).

"This is a world of magic, and the magic within you constantly reminds you not to forget your past. This is something you cannot escape, for your soul is not human, and your body is not human." Salomon extended his hand, inviting Anna Helstrom to step out of the portal. "Step out of this door, and you will have a choice—to pretend your past was that of an ordinary person, that supernatural phenomena were all nonsense, or to join me in fighting your evil father? Ha! Your expression has already told me the answer. Madam, please come with me; we need a quiet place to talk."

"You said we'd find a quiet place," Anna Helstrom said, narrowing her fox-like eyes. She stepped out of the portal and found herself at a spot with only a few empty tables and chairs. A group of people speaking a somewhat unfamiliar language were gathered around the bar, the aroma of coffee filling the warm-colored space. No one paid them any attention, as people constantly came and went, their focus solely on the freshly brewed coffee; they had no time to acknowledge anyone else.

"Is this magic? This is completely different from what I've used before!" Anna looked suspiciously at the short-haired stranger standing next to Salomon. "Where is this? And who is this?"

"I'm glad you can remain composed after experiencing something so unprecedented. It's clear you're well-educated," Salomon said with a smile, introducing Anna to her. "This is my subordinate, Ms. Maya Hansen. She just finished purchasing equipment and also recommended a nice café. Don't worry, most locals only stay for a minute, waiting for the hottest, freshest coffee. Only tourists like us linger for more than ten minutes. I hope you enjoy Italian coffee. As for me, I'm psychologically allergic to coffee; a juice will do. Please have a seat; we don't need to conform."

Maya Hansen wrinkled her nose. She knew the taste of coffee all too well; it was what kept her going during her research. "That familiar taste," she sighed. "We should get a coffee machine in the lab, boss. Without it, nothing else works. Appliances need electricity, and I need coffee—the good kind, not instant."

"You own your own company?" Anna asked curiously. "You look like you're still a minor!"

"No, it's just a private magical research institution affiliated with Kamar-Taj. There aren't many people there, and apart from Ms. Hansen, the other employees aren't particularly outstanding." Salomon didn't intend to steer the conversation toward the Immortal City. "Let's get down to business, madam. I think you're eager to know about your 'father.'"

"Achoo!" Dave ignored Salomon's advice to turn his used car into a sports car, thinking it was too flashy. But Salomon didn't return, and he parked the car downwind. The spring wind seeped in through every crack in the car, and his thin hoodie offered no protection against the cold. Dave shivered in the driver's seat, finally sticking his head out to look around.

"Who cares!" he muttered under his breath, putting his hands on the steering wheel. "I want a car with air conditioning and no drafts! Shit, not a sports car! Get another one, get another one!"

"Don't you know how conspicuous your car is? Half sedan and half sports car, and it actually starts! I'm really curious about its transmission." A moment later, Salomon appeared next to Dave's car window and handed him a cup of hot coffee. This wasn't from that coffee shop; they don't deliver coffee in Italy.

"You've caused trouble the moment I step away," he said.

"Please, leave me alone. Precise spellcasting requires a lot of concentration, and I have a terrible headache right now. I've been focusing all my attention on class." Dave held his coffee, his other hand covering his face in pain. This wasn't the first time he'd messed up his spell; it had happened when he first started learning magic. However, Balthazar never blamed him; he just thought Dave still needed to learn, so Dave, as the person involved, didn't pay much attention to it.

“I can help you conceal it with illusion. Don’t count on my shapeshifting; I’m not an expert in that kind of magic.” Salomon began casting a spell after getting into the passenger seat. “But you really need to study hard,” he said. “The magical effects on Balthazar have worn off. Even without Merlin’s magic, for a druid, a wizard, his life is nearing its end. Give him some time to enjoy love. We spellcasters of this generation must become independent as soon as possible and take over the responsibilities of the previous generation.”

"Why are you suddenly saying these things?" Dave lowered his hands from his face and asked the sorcerer with a puzzled look. "Did something go wrong during the negotiations?"

"No, the negotiations went smoothly." Anna Helstrom, or rather Satana, rejected most of the arcane mage's offers. She merely accepted the invitation to maintain communication with Salomon, deeming it too unrealistic to discuss his other conditions—Salomon's condition being that Anna, as his vassal after Marduk's defeat, would rule the former territory that had belonged to Marduk—a plan that was indeed somewhat impractical at the moment, and Salomon hadn't insisted on it too much.

The prerequisite for maintaining communication was that Salomon could exorcise the demon possessing her mother. This demon was also the one possessing her biological father, Marduk. Salomon agreed to this request; Marduk didn't have much power in the human world, so it wouldn't take him much effort to accomplish this.

The sorcerer had a premonition. He always felt that once he went to war with Marduk, the Sorcerer Supreme's work would be done. He didn't know where this premonition came from; perhaps it was a hint from Agamotto in private, perhaps it was a judgment given by his stigmata, or perhaps it was merely conjecture and experience. In any case, Salomon's desire for increased power grew ever more urgent—he knew this thought was terrible, and moderation was his first lesson. But the pressure from Marduk, a lord of hell, a devil who called himself Satan, was still considerable.

The Sorcerer Supreme didn't care about such things, because Belial's contract represented an alliance spanning Hell and the Abyss, an attack on the Seventh Throne. There were countless beings in the lower planes who hated Salomon, so one more Marduk really didn't matter.

Dave frowned, and asked hesitantly, "Baalthazar...how much time does he have left?"

"I don't know, probably within ten years. Unless Merlin takes him to Avalon, the eternal paradise, but you know, you can't rely on Merlin for anything." The sorcerer sighed. "Right now, we can only strive to improve ourselves. After the previous generation grows old, we'll have to face those terrible things alone."

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)