Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 406 The Bitter Consequences (First Update)

His nostrils were filled with the smell of engine oil and dust rising from the dismantled ruins. The once magnificent mosaic tile paintings, along with the thick walls, were easily reduced to fragments by the roaring drills of construction machinery. Thanks to highly integrated technology, the post-war ruins were quickly ground into powder by the heavy machinery that followed, and then compressed into mottled square bricks after the addition of adhesives.

These are materials used to construct other buildings in the Immortal City.

This ruin, hidden a quarter mile underground, was almost as large as the entire city of Rome, yet it had never been discovered. T'Challa wasn't worried about the city being discovered; his concerns lay elsewhere. This place had once belonged to a human organization that considered itself gods, and regardless of their arrogance, they had indeed protected the world. In the process, they had discovered countless problems, and the confidential documents Salomon shared with him had repeatedly hammered at his mind like a heavy hammer, the ultimate question constantly haunting him, permeating his entire being like a disease.

T'Challa exhaled again, blowing away the stench of corruption and morbidity.

What will be the ultimate fate of humanity?

With greater science, silent mathematics, unspoken truths, hidden art, and secret alchemy, every question has an answer, every equation has a solution. These people firmly believe they can foresee humanity's end through their wisdom, and everything they do is for the same goal. Among them are many great figures who have left their mark on history, advancing and protecting humanity with their wisdom. They call themselves safety and refuge; their name is the Brotherhood of the Shield.

Just when T'Challa thought the men had their answers, Salomon interrupted him.

"No, there is no ending," T'Challa said coldly, as if he were stating an undeniable truth. He led T'Challa to a magnificently decorated gate, up a long staircase to the observatory atop the Immortal City, where stars from the outside world cast their light, and countless intricate lines depicted the constellations and the trajectories of the stars.

Only when gazing at the stars do humans realize their insignificance. But T'Challa saw Salomon standing beneath the starlight, head held high, as if he were as tall as the stars themselves. "We will not allow gods to rule over humanity. Humanity belongs to itself. Everything I have done is for this purpose." His voice echoed deafeningly through the observatory's circular walls. "Humanity is the destiny of this universe, and we will ultimately rule this galaxy. All alien races and gods will submit to us, or they will be crushed. This is humanity's fate, and Kamar-Taj's mission. Humanity has no end, T'Challa, I will not allow it."

T'Challa didn't know where his thoughts came from. Whether Salomon inherited the organization's ideals, felt a sense of responsibility as a member of that magical organization, or reflected on his experiences after reincarnation, Salomon's voice heralded the arrival of a new era, in which Wakanda would become a part.

For the sake of humanity, that's all.

T'Challa stood by the window, watching the construction machinery methodically clearing the rubble under the dim lights. He couldn't quite accept Salomon's idea; in his view, Salomon's was too radical, because he knew what sacrifices would be required to achieve that goal. However, Salomon told him that nothing was beyond sacrifice, including himself. Salomon told T'Challa that he could embrace his weakness, and could walk away after the contract was completed, but he absolutely could not stop Salomon's preparations.

Otherwise, Wakanda would become his enemy.

"You can enjoy your brainwashed by those white bastards, T'Challa. You can accept the 'nonviolent non-cooperation' ideology instilled in you by Europeans and Americans." Salomon's words were as sharp and sarcastic as ever. "The existing human system is useless in the face of the impending and already arriving alien invasions. Asgard is friendly to humanity because my teachers made them so. Humanity's future absolutely cannot depend on a small group like the Avengers."

"There is no peace in this universe. Both angels and demons covet this world. You can stay where you are and wait for the aliens' swords to fall on your head, but you cannot stand up and accuse me of tyranny and cruelty just because I sacrificed a few to save the majority."

"You might think I don't care about other people's lives, but I want to tell you, I care very much. In some situations, however, life is just a number, and I am one of those numbers. But I will make the right choice without hesitation—the one of the majority." Salomon's tone was full of sarcasm. "The upcoming experiments will be extremely cruel and bloody, and I hope you can tell your sister. As a researcher on this project, her hands will inevitably be stained with blood. But I want her to know why. If she can't accept it, she can go do other work."

T'Challa hadn't figured out how to explain this to his sister, Suri. He knew how naive she was; she had never been exposed to cruel human or even animal experiments, and she would tremble at the sight of human cries of agony. T'Challa wanted his sister to complete the theoretical work, out of a desire to protect the family, and he believed his father would agree.

"The consequences of misusing the Time Stone are extremely serious, and you yourself will be affected by it." The Venerable looked at Salomon, who was bowing his head at the table. "I cannot agree to what you are doing, especially since you are trying to use the Time Stone to influence a planet. This is an extremely heavy burden on the entire celestial system. Are you prepared to bear this responsibility?"

"Yes, Your Excellency." Salomon bowed respectfully. He hadn't changed his clothes yet; his crisp suit and pristine white shirt still exuded the youthful energy of a student. Yet, his words carried a weight unimaginable to most, as if the burden of millennia had weighed on his shoulders. "I need an army," he said. "S.H.I.E.L.D. possesses abundant resources. I must dedicate an army to plunder those weapons, equipment, and technologies, which will prove invaluable in future battles."

"You're in a hurry, Salomon."

Salomon remained unmoved in the face of His Holiness's accusations.

"I can't imagine how His Holiness dealt with such pressure, but after your plan was completed, I had to do everything I could to maintain the current situation," he said. "You also saw the challenges ahead through the Eye of Agamotto, and you have to admit that there were merits to my approach."

"This is the perfect way to deal with Thanos, child." The Venerable One bent down and gently placed his palm on Salomon's head. "I once told you that you were not a tool created to fulfill a certain mission; you are a living, breathing person. I also made mistakes, trying to educate you as if you were a tool, but I regret it. I tried to make you a person who lives for yourself."

"Now it seems that the consequences of my actions are evident. The more burdens you bear, the more serious my mistakes are. The more outstanding you are, the more guilty I feel. My child, you still have a choice."

“There is no other choice, Your Holiness. The earth cannot afford to lose half its population. If I only realize this by then, it will be too late,” Salomon said. “I will not wait for the gods to judge humanity. Neither Vishanti nor Eternity will do.”

"Your excellence surpasses my expectations, child. From this day forward, Messiah can truly be your middle name." The Venerable sighed, gently stroking Salomon's smooth, long black hair. "The question remains. Are you mentally prepared to bear all of this? Many forces will try to stop you; are you sure you can stick to your beliefs?"

"Yes, Your Excellency. So it is now, and so it will be in the future."

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)