Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 470 Noble Tricks (First Update)

While ordinary American students happily enjoyed the relaxed pace of being dismissed from school promptly at 3 PM, Stephanie struggled in the sea of ​​elite education. As the heiress of the Malik family, she naturally received the best education, but compared to those nouveau riche children, Stephanie was much more low-key and pragmatic, rarely seeking the limelight at school. Even after she was admitted to an Ivy League university, she didn't act arrogantly towards other classmates like those nouveau riche children, because she knew that none of that mattered.

Stephanie showed Salomon photos of herself from college; the blonde girl with glasses and thick bangs was a completely different person from the powerful businesswoman in a business suit she was now. This hard work had earned her an indispensable position in Salomon's life.

She was the best accountant in the Immortal City, capable of handling actuarial work independently. She could accurately categorize all documents and submit them to Salomon at the appropriate time. After the arcane mage made his approval, she could also provide feedback. In a sense, Stephanie clarified the rampant political system and administrative structure within the Immortal City, helping Salomon to effectively counterbalance Wakanda and artificial intelligence, allowing Salomon to find time for his own work amidst his busy schedule.

With the Immortal City's military capabilities being improved and plans to increase production capacity in the future, Stephanie will have a force she can command to some extent. Stephanie is unaware of this, but Salomon has already hinted at it in a conversation with her father. An overjoyed Gideon Malik has already begun preparing for this recruitment, intending to recruit the most elite operatives from Hydra to join the Immortal City.

This old smuggler had certainly tried to infiltrate this group; it was almost instinctive for him. Moreover, Gideon Malik was also worried about his daughter staying with Salomon every day.

This practice is similar to what medieval nobles did when marrying their daughters off to distant lands, and the Malik family has preserved this tradition well. Even though the situation is somewhat different now, Gideon Malik has arranged things in the same way as before.

Marriages between nobles were quite complicated; to give a common example at the time.

If a noble family has a son and a daughter, the daughter can marry after the son is confirmed to be a worthy heir (or is their biological son). However, among those who accompany the daughter to her husband's castle will always be the most loyal knights. These armed men will only obey the daughter's orders; the husband's family has no right to command them. The purpose of these knights is to protect the daughter, preventing her from being mistreated in her husband's family, or from the husband's family refusing to consummate the marriage or produce an heir with blood from both families.

The knights had more than just that; they also had an important mission: to prevent their husbands' families from "losing their beloved wives" and having their family territories and titles fall into the hands of others if their heirs died unexpectedly. Sometimes, the reason their heirs died unexpectedly was because their husbands' families had already planned to "lose their beloved wives," so protecting their only heir was extremely important.

This usually happens when a higher-ranking nobleman marries his daughter to a lower-ranking or equal nobleman.

If she marries a feudal lord, then it's a completely different story.

Generally, the process involves waiting for the lord and daughter to produce a legitimate heir, then inviting elected representatives, followed by a dramatic "loss of husband," and finally electing that child as the lord. Then, using the pretext of the lord's youth and inability to govern, the lord seizes control of the lord's territory and even the lord himself for personal gain. The politically controlled lord has no one he can trust; both courtiers and petty officials are manipulated by his wife's family.

Of course, there are a series of necessary measures involved, such as exiling or assassinating other heirs in the husband's family, and winning over minor lords to annex major lords. The specific methods to be used depend on the circumstances.

The Malik family is an old noble family, and this kind of trick is ingrained in their DNA. Even if Malik didn't intend to infiltrate the Immortal City, it had almost become an unconscious, instinctive behavior.

Salomon had also studied this subject and even applied it to a map coloring game. He didn't know how others did it, but His Holiness was satisfied with his results and gave him a good beating—because he had unified Great Britain using only marriage and assassination, which was the most unbearable joke to His Holiness.

Stephanie was the sole heir to the Malik family, and her security measures hadn't been redone since the Sorority wiped her out. Gideon Malik was extremely uneasy about her staying with Salomon; he couldn't rest easy without his own people around. Some of the researchers sent earlier were also undercover agents, but when they found Stephanie, she didn't hesitate to report their names to Salomon.

After glancing at the list, the sorcerer made no move, instead locking it in a cabinet. He didn't know what Gideon Malik was thinking, but he intended to leave the decision to Stephanie.

However, it was precisely because of this honesty, coupled with his outstanding abilities, that Salomon spared no expense in lavishing money and time on Stephanie every day. Even the most expensive alchemical potion ingredients were not spared by Salomon.

Stephanie takes three vials of potions made by Salomon every day, including potions from the Amber witches of the Sorority that enhance physical abilities. These potions improve intelligence, perception, charm, and physique, respectively. The witch potions, in particular, only work on women, and Salomon went to great lengths to ingratiate himself with the two remaining witches in the Sorority in order to obtain the formula.

Salomon needs a healthy and intelligent Stephanie; this is crucial for the Immortal City. As she integrates herself into the administrative system, Stephanie's importance to Salomon naturally increases. To Salomon, Stephanie's value even surpasses that of the Malik family.

What he lacks is not armed personnel, but administrative personnel.

So when Stephanie casually mentioned going to dinner with Salomon, the sorcerer agreed after calculating the time difference.

"Maybe we can go swimming!"

The wealthy certainly have the luxury of indulging in whimsical ideas. While it's winter in the Northern Hemisphere, it's not the case in the Southern Hemisphere, where you can even wear a swimsuit and sunbathe. Stephanie says the Malik family travels to the other side of the world to enjoy life during the sweltering heat and freezing winter, and she's even started planning this spontaneous trip.

"You forgot about the portal."

Stephanie gave a sly smile. "I know," she said cheerfully, "but I just want to fly on a private jet."

"Very good. Call me when you arrive, and I'll make time to visit you." The sorcerer nodded, stood up from behind his desk, and began tidying up the files on his desk. "Oh, and remember to mark your attendance sheet; you have a week off."

"Are you serious?" Stephanie's eyes widened; she couldn't believe Salomon's sudden display of emotional intelligence. The elegant secretary, realizing what was happening, immediately became furious. "You did this on purpose!"

"I'm busy, Stephanie. I'm not some petty bourgeois young woman in bright-colored leggings; I have a lot to do." Salomon winked. He fully understood Stephanie's little scheme, but her methods in this regard were far inferior to Lorelei's, who was currently locked in the basement receiving "discipline" (or rather, "training"), let alone those of a witch.

"The tan lines from the bikini are very sexy, and I hope to have a surprise effect."

"Really? Which one do you want to see?"

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)