Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 329 The Philosopher's Stone (Second Update)

Five hours of sleep, combined with the effects of the potion, left Salomon refreshed as he strolled with the wind goddess Gaina towards the healing clinic. Whether or not he'd eat breakfast was another matter entirely. Gaina explained that the Queen of the Gods had sent Salomon to check on things, saying that the Allfather was also heading there.

The Goddess of Wind also said some other things; it seemed she couldn't keep a secret no matter what.

According to her, no one in Asgard had eaten breakfast, not even the infirmaries. They had people who had gotten drunk and fought the night before and needed treatment; they hadn't rested all night. Salomon hadn't participated in the fight, but Volstagg had, and he had won decisively. As a result, Thor arrived early the next morning with a mortal. They couldn't refuse the future King of Asgard, and naturally, they couldn't refuse the mortal either. It was said that the goddess of medicine, El, had been notified and was to personally conduct the diagnosis.

"What are you doing here?" Jane Foster's eyes nearly popped out of her head when she saw Salomon. No one expected this mortal to speak so suddenly; she even interrupted the wind goddess Gaina's rambling. The speechless wind goddess hadn't even reacted before Jane Foster rattled off a string of words. "I thought you were on Earth," she asked, pointing at Salomon. "Darcy wanted to find you to celebrate your acceptance into university, but she couldn't get in touch with you! She thought you'd disappeared!"

"This is official business, Mentor." Salomon smiled at Thor. "Official business at Kamar-Taj cannot be disclosed to you."

"But you lied to me, saying you can't just come to Asgard!"

"I'm not lying to you, I came here via the Rainbow Bridge. Magic comes at a price, but the Rainbow Bridge doesn't."

"You two actually know each other?" The Wind Goddess, nearly choking on her own words, said sullenly. "I was going to introduce you. By the way, what's her name?"

"Jane Foster, madam," Saul said.

"I think I can handle this, Ms. Gaina." Salomon shoved a vial of potion into the Wind Goddess's hand. "Thank you for your help." The Wind Goddess walked away sullenly, perhaps feeling disappointed at losing her conversation partner. In any case, now only the doctor from the asylum and Jane Foster were left staring at each other.

"You lied to me too, Salomon," Thor finally seized the opportunity to speak. "You didn't tell me the truth about her."

"I think Heimdall has satisfied your voyeuristic desires, Thor," Salomon said, unusually firm. "Jane Foster is a subject of Kamar-Taj, and I cannot reveal any subject's information to anyone in Asgard without His Majesty's permission. You are no exception, Thor. Heimdall's surveillance of Midgard must be within permitted limits, or Kamar-Taj reserves the right to retaliate appropriately."

"Wait, when did I get a king? I only have a queen..."

"It has always existed, Master, you simply are unaware of it. You have been ruled by the Sorcerer Supreme since birth, and Midgard has always been Kamar-Taj territory. But we also accept challenges to this sovereignty, and anyone who seeks to seize it will be met with force." Salomon spoke while keeping his eyes fixed on Thor, reminding him not to interfere in Earth's internal affairs—Earth's independence and sovereignty were won at great cost by the Sorcerer Supreme, and Salomon would not allow this human dignity to be tarnished. He warned Thor that if he wanted to deny sovereignty, he would become Salomon's enemy.

As the future king of Asgard, you should think this through.

The arrival of the goddess of medicine broke the deadlock, and Saul, who had been waiting for a long time, urged Jane Foster to receive treatment immediately. However, the atmosphere in the treatment center remained tense, and when the Allfather arrived, his orders made the atmosphere even more rigid.

"Are you not taking my words to heart?"

"She's sick," Saul argued slightly.

"She's a mortal!" The Allfather shut down the Soul Forge with annoyance, and the healers in the Healing Hall quickly stepped aside. "She doesn't belong to Asgard, like a goat that can't be served at a banquet. Have Heimdall send her back, Salomon Damonet. She's a mortal; you have the authority to deal with her."

"He actually... Who do you think you are?"

Salomon was worried about Jane Foster's ignorance and recklessness.

"I am Odin, King of Asgard, Protector of the Nine Kingdoms."

"Oh," Jane Foster seemed choked up, "I am..."

"I know who you are, Jane Foster." The Father of Gods walked away impatiently from beside the Soul Forge.

"You mentioned me to your father?" Her expression seemed to indicate she had heard some good news, and Salomon quickly moved closer to urge her to be serious. But Jane Foster seemed to have suddenly rediscovered her teacher's touch, threatening to assign Salomon an extremely difficult topic and then make her revise the paper twenty times.

"I'm still an undergraduate, and my advisor's graduate thesis won't be for at least a few years. And don't forget, I'm majoring in magic," Salomon said helplessly. "It's best to be careful what you say in Asgard; this is Earth's sovereign state."

"Father, there's something inside her, a substance I've never seen before," Thor tried to plead, but was met with a cold rebuke from the Allfather. "Her world has healers too, they're called 'Doctors,' let them handle it," Odin said. "Guards, take her back to Midgard. Salomon Damonet, please make sure she's settled. Heimdall will bring you back."

"Don't move, I suggest..."

When the guards touched Jane Foster, a burst of crimson energy erupted. Salomon, who was already prepared, blocked the attack; the energy struck his shield and knocked down two soldiers who had come into contact with Jane Foster.

"...Don't touch her." Saul quickly checked on Jane Foster, who had briefly lost consciousness during the energy burst. "Jane, are you alright?"

The Father of Gods strode to the Soul Forge and brushed his hand over Jane Foster. "This is impossible," the Father of Gods murmured, seeing the crimson substance flowing in her veins. "This is impossible."

"This is the substance that infected her, and it's protecting her," commented the medical goddess El.

"No...it's protecting itself."

The Allfather raised his head, his single eye fixed on Salomon. He knew then that the Sorcerer Supreme's actions were not so simple. Agamotto, as the All-Knowing One, must know of the existence of this substance; Agamotto's knowledge meant the Sorcerer Supreme knew, and therefore Salomon Damonet, as the Sorcerer Supreme's disciple, was not entirely ignorant of this matter either.

"This is the Philosopher's Stone, the fifth element, ether, a miracle of creation from nothing, of breaking the balance. Water cannot dissolve it, fire cannot destroy it; its power and subtlety belong to the mind. In terms of strength and solidity, it belongs to metal," Salomon told Thor, while also defending himself. "I have only read about this thing in the library of Kamar-Taj, something that alchemists on Earth have spent their entire lives trying to imitate and create. Allfather, I assure you, Kamar-Taj has absolutely no intention of coveting the Philosopher's Stone, and His Holiness would not allow it to remain on Earth."

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(End of this chapter)