Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 396 If you don't want to live, then die (First Update)

"What is life to you, Salomon? What good does to toying with life do you?"

Agent Coulson posed a question with philosophical and religious undertones, but his target showed no intention of answering. Instead, Salomon started the car and locked the doors. This tactic was somewhat difficult for an agent with a mystical style to handle. Usually, targets would be eager for agents to leave as soon as they knew they were in their car, but Salomon did the opposite; he seemed unwilling to let Agent Coulson get out.

The car's Bluetooth player automatically starts the moment the car is started, and a rough, melodious male voice comes from the speakers.

This is a barcarolle. Agent Coulson was surprised that Salomon's peculiar musical taste hadn't been recorded by intelligence personnel—a glaring oversight. Music is one of the most direct ways to reveal a target's personality, especially music played on a car stereo.

However, he had no intention of reporting this intelligence to S.H.I.E.L.D., because he came alone and his car was parked at the corner of the street behind him.

This contact was completely contrary to the requirements of the espionage code of conduct. Contact with a target must be carried out in pairs, and in the event of an emergency by one agent, the other must take appropriate action. Whether calling for backup or engaging in combat, agents must never act recklessly without a backup plan.

These are regular agents; Agent Coulson's team is not included.

Agent Coulson had no support, which was very unusual for a seasoned agent. When he faced Salomon, he was mentally prepared to get to the bottom of things at all costs. As for Agent Maria Hill's conversation about Salomon's mental state, Agent Coulson planned to deal with it later, as those conversations would be documented, and he didn't want anyone to know what he and Salomon discussed at the moment.

"You're not a zombie or a skeleton, what's there to complain about?" Salomon raised an eyebrow, glancing at Coulson in the rearview mirror. "Anything else?"

"What's wrong?"

"By Vishanti, Coulson!" The sorcerer shook his head, looking at the agent like a clueless rookie. The problem was right in front of him, yet he just couldn't see it, which infuriated Salomon. He slapped the steering wheel. "I don't think getting the answer to this question will do you any good. You know I'm a person who values ​​privacy, and you're here. What do you think I should do?"

"Are you serious! Another time?" Agent Coulson raised an eyebrow. He already knew about his team's unusual memories of Salomon. In his opinion, Salomon was being overly sensitive; it was normal communication within S.H.I.E.L.D., and there was no need to make a fuss.

Of course, he still chose to appease Salomon, because Salomon was too valuable. As long as Salomon's emotions were stable, everything could be resolved.

"Don't worry, very few people know about this place. Within S.H.I.E.L.D., only the Director, Agent Hill, and Agent Romanoff know anything about you. S.H.I.E.L.D. has always kept its agreement with you; information about you is physically protected, and unauthorized personnel cannot access it. If you don't want to answer this question, we can find another one."

Salomon glanced at the agent's face in the rearview mirror, his expression chillingly cold. "I can bring someone back to life, but only within a minute of death. After that, the soul goes where it belongs. Where do you think your soul will go? Heaven? You'll only go to hell, Coulson. How much do you think it will cost to pull your soul out of hell?"

"Then why pay such a price? Why do you think I can save the world in the future? Can you predict the future?" Agent Coulson cut to the chase. Based on his analysis of Salomon's character, he knew Salomon would have to answer this question.

"Don't act like a victim, Coulson!" Salomon sneered, emphasizing his words as if lecturing Coulson. "The resurrection that countless monarchs have dreamed of has happened to you. You're alive, and that's enough. You have nothing to complain about. If you're not satisfied, you can pull out a pistol and end it all right now. Don't want to? Then don't be so pretentious about doubting your resurrection. You're alive because you're useful. In this world, being alive is the greatest reward."

"As for what you call predicting the future, that's not prediction, it's just seeing."

As expected, after a lecture, Salomon began explaining to Agent Coulson what the so-called prophecy was all about.

"So-called prophecy is actually seeing—seeing the future, seeing the past, seeing secrets. From the illusions obtained by praying to gods in ancient times to divination using various tools and stars, these are all extensions of the act of 'seeing.' Kamar-Taj saw that you could save the world in the future, so it saved your life. In fact, this cause-and-effect relationship can be reversed; in the realm of time, cause and effect are not so clear."

Agent Coulson frowned. He hadn't expected his resurrection to have so many hidden secrets. Although he didn't know much about Salomon's organization, it seemed meeting with Salomon was the right thing to do; the arcane mage did indeed know a lot. He didn't intend to share this information with anyone else, including Nick Fury; he didn't want the director to know that his memories had returned.

"Do you know anyone else who can predict the future?" Agent Coulson had something even more infuriating to Salomon, but he didn't intend to say it.

"I don't know him." Salomon shook his head, his expression seemingly mocking Agent Coulson's ignorance. "Predicting the future isn't that simple; it's an extremely difficult thing. Even using the Cosmic Cauldron, one of the most powerful artifacts in Kamar-Taj, one can only see fragments of possible futures. The only person who can see both the future and the past is my teacher."

“As far as I know, there’s more than one person who can foresee the future.” Agent Coulson defiantly handed him a document. The manila envelope bore the black S.H.I.E.L.D. logo and a red classified seal, as if warning everyone of the document’s importance. “This is information about someone who can foresee the future,” Agent Coulson said confidently. “I don’t know if it falls under the category of magic, but I think you’d be interested in learning more about this clairvoyant.”

Salomon didn't take the documents. He swept his cold gaze across Agent Coulson's face, then silently unlocked the car door. He cared nothing for the telescopic vision; Coulson had come to the wrong person.

Agent Coulson didn't press the issue. He placed the file on the passenger seat, then opened the door and got out. "You know my number." Whether out of pride or curiosity, Agent Coulson believed Salomon would definitely open the folder, and he also believed Salomon would be interested in someone who could see the future.

"I recommend this song to you, Agent Coulson. That's my only advice," Salomon replied, gesturing to the stereo. At that moment, the crew members stood on the deck, bottles in hand, singing. The sea breeze and moonlight flowed along with the music, creating a surging effect in the summer night.

【Oh the wind was foul an the sea ran high, leave her, Johnny, leave her!】

A storm is brewing, the waves are rising, sailor boy, leave her embrace!

【She shipped it green an none went by, an its time for us to leave her!】

The waves are raging, and no one can escape. Seize this moment and leave her embrace!

"I'll listen to this song next time I have a beer, and remember to call me."

"There's no need for that, you won't remember it anyway."

"What?"

When Agent Coulson regained consciousness, he was sitting in his car, watching cat videos on YouTube and grinning foolishly on his phone. He couldn't remember why he was there; he only remembered the words of the doctor he had visited who had performed the resurrection procedure; he only remembered seeing a car drive by; he only remembered two lines of a boat song; and the horrific images of the Tahiti project became increasingly blurry with time.

He really wanted a beer.

Today's update will be a little late. I went to the hospital and made a huge blunder; it was so embarrassing.

(End of this chapter)