Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 567 Undercover Agents Everywhere (Second Update)

All the Triune army that came to hunt down the Prophet perished. Their scrolls suggested the Prophet truly possessed prophetic abilities, always setting out when he was only a day's journey from his pursuers, narrowly missing them. A Triune hunter who had once been by Lake Svitoloa requested lodging, but the villagers, having witnessed the Prophet's sermons, refused. Even that night, while the hunter slept by the lake, a young man wearing a rudimentary Prophet's mark attempted to kill him. However, not all of the Prophet's followers escaped the pursuit. Inscriptions on local stone tablets testify that many of the followers recruited by the Prophet in the area were also killed by the Triune.

Laura had reason to believe that the Prophet's followers had lived here for a long time, because even the Soviets used the ancient reservoirs built by these followers to regulate the water level and prevent the prison from being flooded by melting snow when temperatures rose. The man who originally built the structure was also a follower of the Prophet, and a local. Many people died in the Trinity's pursuit, including this engineer's family. Laura also found letters this engineer had written to his wife, in which he still dreamed of one day reuniting with his family.

It seemed that Trinity's exploration of this area had come to an end, until Laura confirmed that the Divine Source was located in the legendary lost city, Grande Gijeri, at which point Trinity resumed its previous explorations. Due to their earlier exploration, Trinity's progress was much faster than Laura's. However, Trinity's armed forces consisted entirely of hired contractors, including but not limited to weapons, equipment, and logistical supplies. Furthermore, the leader of this operation, Constantine, delivered a passionate speech to all the contractors. To a normal person, Constantine seemed almost insane, and his soldiers resembled a cult. There was absolutely no coordination between departments; even small matters were delayed for a long time, exhibiting typical British civil servant behavior. Considering Trinity's origins and current state, it's possible that some Trinity members actually hold positions in Downing Street or the House of Commons.

However, this absurd idea didn't amuse Laura, because she was caught while trying to infiltrate the Trinity headquarters. Her stepmother, Anna, was also captured. Anna, also bound to a chair, was unable to move and seemed completely bewildered. Since the attack on the manor, Laura had been preoccupied with finding the Divine Source, completely forgetting about her family's safety. Seeing Anna again now filled her with immense guilt. "I'm so sorry, Anna. I didn't expect them to target you; it's all my fault," Laura apologized repeatedly. She struggled desperately, trying to break free of the restraints imposed on her by Trinity.

"Who? Who are they? What do they want?"

"This is exactly what my father wanted."

"Oh my god, Laura! I told you not to do this! You can't be like Richard!" Anna looked pained. "Give them what they want!"

"It's not that simple, Anna." As she struggled, the edges of the handcuffs, digging into her flesh, constantly rubbed against her skin. She felt an excruciating pain in her wrists, and her palms became wet, likely from broken skin. Mental and physical pain struck simultaneously, repeatedly tormenting her mind. "Hold on, I'll find a way to escape this place… I promise, Anna, I promise."

No matter how much she struggled, the leader of the Holy Trinity wouldn't stop. The man named Constantine held a noose, and he swiftly tightened it around Anna's neck. "Speak," he said, his scarred face looking grotesque, "Where is the Divine Source?"

Laura saw Anna's expression turn to extreme pain. "Let go! You bastard!" Laura roared like a lioness, ignoring the excruciating pain in her wrist, struggling with all her might. "Let go!"

"Where is the Divine Source?" Anna coughed hysterically, her face turning purple. Constantine, however, showed no sign of letting go; it seemed he would strangle Anna if Laura didn't tell him what he wanted to hear. The fear of losing her family again drove Laura to struggle desperately, the rage in her eyes almost burning Constantine to ashes.

"Alright." Anna's coughing stopped. "It seems she really doesn't know anything."

Constantine loosened the noose. He knelt down and unlocked Anna's handcuffs. Laura felt as if she were in an icy river again; she stared at Anna in disbelief, yet her mind instantly processed everything that had happened. Who would have known she had returned to the manor? Who would have known her next move? Only her only family member, her stepmother Anna.

She was betrayed by her own family. "I can't believe it, you bitch..."

Constantine slapped her hard, completely igniting Laura's anger. "You just won't give up, will you?" Anna said calmly. "I knew you'd find this place eventually."

"What exactly do you want?"

"You don't need to be angry, because we're looking for the same thing. People like you are useful to us. If you want your life to have meaning, then you should join us, Laura."

"Like my father?" Laura's voice rose involuntarily; a more terrifying possibility had taken hold. "When did you join Trinity? Before or after?"

“I loved Richard,” Anna stood up. “But he was blinded by his ideals, and you know how those ideals destroyed him. And you, Laura? What will you do with this sacred source? Reveal it to the world and win back honor for your father? You’re still so naive, just a little girl fantasizing about being as great as your father, yet filled with fear.”

Laura spat at Anna. Constantine strode forward and kicked Laura to the ground. The pain in her shoulder and wrist made her cry out, the impact almost catching her breath. Her eyes were nearly blinded by the room's glaring lights, layers of light crowding her vision. Constantine pointed his pistol at Laura. "Then there's nothing more to say."

"No, not yet." Anna pressed down on Constantine's shoulder. Perhaps it was the years they'd spent together that made her unable to bear seeing Laura die here; she stopped Constantine's actions. She said to Laura, "We can still be on the same side. Think it over, Laura."

The guard standing at the door quietly withdrew his hand from the pistol he had been reaching for.

His codename was C-A1, an incredibly concise codename. The Immortal City's intelligence department had created a new identity for him, placing him in the mercenary force recruited by Trinity. He watched Constantine escort Laura towards the cell. When he tried to follow Constantine and take over the mission, he was unsurprisingly refused. Constantine gave him only a cold look, then continued walking forward with Laura.

C-A1 shrugged and slowly left the passageway.

"Agent Hand, Laura Crawford is alright," he reported quietly. "Should I get her out?"

“No need,” Victoria Hand said. Right before her eyes, the number from the Immortal City was lighting up. That number belonged only to her superior. The aircraft carrier fleet, patrolling the Pacific Ocean, changed course and headed towards a remote island in international waters. “Someone will take over this job.”

"Who?"

"Big Boss!"

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(End of this chapter)