Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 444 Hmm? (First Update)

Tony Stark looked at Colonel Rhodes lying on the hospital bed with a worried expression. The Langley Air Force Base attack was not a big secret to him, and his relationship with the military was not as bad as outsiders imagined.

After the previous Extremis virus incident, Stark improved Colonel Rhodes' War Machine armor, enhancing its heat resistance and impact resistance. As a result, Colonel Rhodes was very lucky to escape unscathed and became the least injured person at Langley Air Force Base.

Tony Stark didn't want to recall the fates of the others. He had seen photos of the scene, scenes of carnage he had never witnessed before—severed limbs and entrails splattered in pools of blackened blood, making even someone like Stark, who had experienced the chaos of the Middle East, vomit.

Even now, the joint investigators from the official intelligence agencies do not know who the attackers are. All evidence suggests that the attackers used weapons that were not large-caliber firearms that ordinary people could use, and that the attackers preferred close combat. Many soldiers were killed by the enemy after they got close and were slashed with longswords.

Investigators also found numerous claw marks and sulfides from giant reptiles at the attack site, leading some to a bold hypothesis—a dragon had attacked the area. Others couldn't even rule out the possibility, given that anything is possible in this world. Furthermore, the sole survivor, Colonel Rhodes, couldn't clearly explain what happened, seemingly having forgotten what occurred after suffering a concussion.

The doctors don't know when his memory will return.

To a professional, it's absolutely impossible. This isn't some casual, low-level spell. A scroll of a memory-altering enchantment spell is incredibly expensive, and its effects justify the price. Furthermore, with all the surveillance footage within the base deleted, intelligence agencies believe the attackers targeted Langley Air Force Base, responsible for White House security, to gather intelligence on patrols in the airspace near the White House, while simultaneously planning to bomb the White House with a nuclear weapon.

This is an extremely serious security vulnerability!

The FBI seized the opportunity to launch an attack on the U.S. Air Combat Command, while also demanding more funding.

The CIA claims this was a espionage operation disguised as a terrorist attack launched by foreign forces against the U.S. mainland, and they are demanding more funding.

The Department of Homeland Security criticized the FBI and CIA for wasting funds and demanded that S.H.I.E.L.D.'s budget be cut for the next quarter and the money be added to the Department of Homeland Security, because S.H.I.E.L.D. had demonstrated the organization's incompetence in preventing international terrorist attacks.

The Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence demanded a pay rise from the Treasury Department and the removal of FBI functions from its own department. Even the Department of Defense jumped in demanding increased military spending, turning the investigation into a major debate about finances.

This little scheme was easily seen through. After a series of wrangling, the White House joined forces with many intelligence agencies responsible for domestic security to conduct a joint investigation, preventing any single intelligence agency from controlling all investigative steps and ensuring the White House had control over all investigators and case details.

At the same time, the White House also made a request to S.H.I.E.L.D., demanding that S.H.I.E.L.D. provide intelligence, equipment, and personnel assistance for the investigation of this incident, as it may involve supernatural beings.

Agent Victoria Hand, leading a team of technicians, participated in the incident on behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D., with the aim of preventing the White House from using it as an excuse to cut S.H.I.E.L.D.'s funding. This was a political mission assigned by Director Fury, but personally, Agent Hand also took the matter very seriously; she was even curious as to why S.H.I.E.L.D. was unusually indifferent to it. However, Nick Fury had already identified his target, though he hadn't told anyone.

The loss of a nuclear warhead could almost immediately declare a national emergency in the United States, at least that's what Agent Victoria Hand requested. However, her request was denied, for a simple reason—the White House refused to disclose the incident, and even the idea of ​​involving civilians like Tony Stark was rejected.

The United States has already demonstrated its incompetence in the face of extraterrestrials. If it shows any sign of nervousness over a terrorist who tried to steal a nuclear warhead, the president will be labeled a coward by the public. Even those politically correct idiots in the Democratic Party know that in this situation, the government must take a tough stance, or it can forget about re-election.

The public doesn't need to know about the missing nuclear warheads; it's enough for politicians and capitalists. Politics is the only thing these beasts in the White House zoo need to care about.

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"Here you go." Salomon handed the woman the takeout tea he had just bought to her, the cardboard backing slowing the scalding liquid down her fingers. "Only sugar." He turned and stood next to her, slowly taking a sip of his own tea. "Please forgive me, I don't like milk, and I don't know what you like to drink."

"I forgive you," the woman said in a slightly hoarse voice, her voice hooded.

She stood beside the old brick building typical of the Bodleian Library, completely enveloped by the shadow cast by the newly glazed skybridge. Only her playful, short, bright orange hair peeking out from under her hood brought a touch of liveliness to her. The orange streetlights slowly crept up her clothes, and the rain-stained old buildings exuded an air of age and tranquility in the dim twilight. When she spoke, the unspoken understanding between them, like the corners of her mouth, quickly turned up in a smile, and the air felt as warm as the red tea in her hand.

"I already knew your taste," she said cheerfully. "I also really like black tea without milk."

"I'm glad you liked it. Your investigative skills are impressive; you managed to find me in Bodleian."

Salomon looked at Natasha Romanoff's face. She looked up at him with a smile, meeting his eyes without fear. "Why have you come to me?" the sorcerer asked casually, as if he were a law-abiding citizen. "Is it because I recently killed a few vampires in Oxfordshire? I suppose human laws don't protect vampires, nor do they protect human women who date vampires—I'm truly astonished by the sheer number of such ridiculous literary works lately. I should just throw vampires into those writers' houses and let them deal with those human ticks."

"Vampires in Oxfordshire?" Agent Romanoff looked surprised. "I really didn't know that."

"So?" Salomon raised his glass to hide his expression. "There's nothing surprising about this. It's my daily job. Pest control, that's right, pest control for the Earth."

"That's not why I came, my dear little boy," she said. "I have to go on a mission, so I came to say goodbye."

"What does this have to do with me?" The sorcerer blinked. "Is this mission so dangerous that you might die?"

“Every mission is a possibility. I’m used to it because I’m an agent.” Agent Romanov curled his lip. “And aren’t you going to listen to what I have to say next? You’re so cold-hearted, Salomon.”

The sorcerer sincerely apologized.

"I have to tell you, someone attacked an air force base in the continental United States, and a nuclear warhead was stolen." Agent Romanov carefully observed the muscle groups on Salomon's face, trying to find something unusual. "All intelligence agencies are on high alert now. All secrets have been uncovered, and Director Fury may no longer be able to keep your identity a secret."

"Really?" Salomon narrowed his eyes, as if trying to pierce through the true thoughts hidden deep within Agent Romanov's mind. "Is this true? Also, is it legal for you and me to contact each other privately? I remember that agents must follow basic confidentiality rules."

"It's true, and you are a special case who needs special treatment."

Even mind-reading wouldn't work on her, because she had already deceived her own mental fragments. Even those who knew her to some extent couldn't detect her true thoughts. S.H.I.E.L.D. had deduced the principle behind Salomon's mind-reading ability, and Agent Romanoff knew this, which was why he dared to speak with him without worrying about his secrets being exposed.

She said nonchalantly, "You can use your magic to see if I'm lying. I won't lie to you, Salomon, you still don't trust me."

"I apologize again." Salomon looked away. "You could have just called me about this. Is there anything else?"

"This is a private matter... I want to ask about your past promises." Agent Romanov took a deep breath. "Can you get me pregnant?"

"puff!"

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)