Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 434 Prison (First Update)

As one of Athena's "collections," she was exceptionally strict about Salomon's appearance, which explains why she would nitpick at the casually dressed sorcerer. From shampoo to nail polish, everything had to meet Athena's preferences. The apartment contained an entire wardrobe for Salomon, filled with expensive clothes and accessories chosen for him by Athena, such as a custom-made gold laurel wreath brooch and a silver pocket watch chain.

The goddess of wisdom dressed Salomon up as she pleased, like a little girl dressing up a doll. Salomon changed into a sharp, wide-striped suit at Athena's place, and then, at the goddess's urging, cast a spell to fix his hair back.

"Too fierce." Athena shook her head after putting the glasses on Salomon, rejecting the outfit she had spent half an hour choosing. "I originally wanted you to be more refined. Try a gray suit, or a looser black suit with a black tie?" She tugged at the gold laurel wreath pin on her tie. "Too formal. You can't wear this when you're negotiating with people."

"I think my next step should be negotiation rather than bargaining," Salomon kissed Athena's cheek. "I need others to fear me."

"Who told you you could leave? Did you think I'd let you off so easily after I brought you here? Do you know how worried I am about your health that I can only afford Panda Express? You have to make it up to me!" Athena waved her hand impatiently, as if she really couldn't eat because she was worried about Salomon. But she couldn't help but laugh. "Let those mortals wait, and let your maid wait here too. You have to come with me to get something to eat first—I recently saw a Japanese barbecue restaurant in New York, and little Lorna happens to be in class, so you'll have to come with me. Just the two of us, you can have some drinks."

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"You went to a Japanese restaurant? I think I know where you went."

"As I've said before, I value my privacy."

"I smelled charcoal and teriyaki sauce on you. I think anyone can guess where you've been." Harold Finch stiffly craned his neck, glancing left and right, looking for an opportunity to turn the car left. After a moment, he craned his neck forward and turned the steering wheel to the left. "You might be wondering where I'm taking you… I want to be honest with you, Salomon, you're in big trouble. There's a new round of competition among the New York mobsters, and you've gotten involved. Now many mobsters think you've joined the fray. Although they don't know your name yet, this can't be kept a secret for long."

"Why do you say that?" Salomon, dressed in a wide-striped suit, sat in the back seat, listlessly looking at his phone. Bayonetta and Joan of Arc were still on the desert island, and Salomon, having eaten his fill, had lost interest in everything, including Harold Finch's incredibly serious tone.

"Don't you know all the gang leaders around your place are dead?" Mr. Finch glanced at Salomon's sleepy eyes in the rearview mirror. "Do you need to sober up?"

"How would I know? I don't care whether a mob boss lives or dies." Salomon looked up, and their eyes met in the rearview mirror. Suddenly, Harold Finch felt a wave of dizziness, as if he wasn't seeing human eyes. But the feeling quickly vanished, Salomon looked away, and his listless mood returned.

He already knew what the android army had done to ensure his safety, and Salomon had no intention of blaming them. They were loyal and good girls, just a little too enthusiastic, and Salomon genuinely didn't care about the lives of those gangster scum; a dead cat on the street would affect him more than those scoundrels.

The car had already left New York City and was approaching the small town of Osining, about 40 kilometers north of the city. That town was home to the infamous Star Prison, which housed serious offenders. The prison had more than three times the security of a regular prison, and all guards had undergone rigorous training. The electrified nine-meter-high walls further eliminated any possibility of escape.

The person Mr. Finch wanted to visit with Salomon was imprisoned in that jail.

"I initially thought you wanted to see me because of that machine," Salomon said in a deep voice. "Don't you care about that machine anymore? I handed over some industrial facilities to it, and now it can produce weapons and equipment on its own."

Mr. Finch was startled by the sudden news. He took a deep breath. "I believe it. The machine is still operating according to the underlying logic I set," he said. "Perhaps you, like Miss Groves, are trusted by the machine, but unlike her, you don't understand how it works. Besides, this matter has nothing to do with the machine; your problem urgently needs to be solved."

"Where's Mr. Reese? Isn't he your Batman?" he asked, glancing at his phone. "And don't try to hack into my phone, Mr. Finch. You can close the app now. I value privacy highly."

"I'm helping you solve your problem." Mr. Finch parked the car in the parking lot and turned off the engine. "Someone wants you dead," he said. "You can't hide forever, and you don't know who your enemy is."

"Since we're already in Osinin, I don't mind going in with you. Don't use such a lame excuse to meet me next time, Mr. Finch." Salomon got out of the car and looked up at the blindingly bright sky. To the average person, they were just two tiny black dots almost invisible in the sunlight, but Salomon knew they were two fully armed members of the Sorority, and he also knew just how hot it was inside that power armor.

After Salomon and Athena returned from the Japanese barbecue restaurant (he brought the two girls two boxes of grilled chicken skewers), the two androids followed him. When Salomon got into Harold Finch's car, they were jumping on the rooftops until they left the city and there were no tall buildings to use as footholds or cover, at which point they activated the Steel Wings module and took to the sky.

He straightened his suit and followed Mr. Finch through the guards. He was somewhat disappointed not to see Root or Samun Shaw; both were key personnel marked by the AI. Especially Root, or Ms. Groves—Salomon truly valued her talent. His promise to protect Root's life was made in the hope of recruiting her.

But now she's been locked up in the library by Harold Finch, and it's very difficult to get her out without resorting to violence.

The reason artificial intelligence is quiet is because it has fallen into the trap of human ethics and morality. This calculation consumes a lot of its computing power—it sees Harold Finch as a creator, and it absolutely does not want Harold Finch to be violently harmed.

"Who are we supposed to see?" Salomon asked, taking his coat from the guard after being checked. "I don't know anyone in prison," he said. "And I don't think anyone in prison would know anything about me."

"I don't think he didn't know your name; his name is Elijah."

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(End of this chapter)