Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 598 Selection of Imperial Guards (First Update)

"Okay!" Tony Stark rolled his eyes.

With things so clearly stated, Stark couldn't force Salomon to join the Avengers' operations. Neither side avoided Maria Hill, and they signed a technology exchange agreement right in front of her. With this, the Wakanda's technological blockade of the Immortal City became effectively null and void. Salomon could finally transform alien and futuristic technologies into tangible technological products, no longer needing to worry about Wakanda's restrictions on science and technology. Stephanie would handle the follow-up work. Once she selected suitable candidates for the Mars Foundry mission, the entire project would be transferred to the Immortal City, establishing its own research department to study high-tech and mystical technologies.

Mechano-biochemical surgeries, common throughout the galaxy and even performed in the streets and alleys of some lawless zones, were directly entrusted by Salomon to Princess Shuri for localization. Those who would be responsible for scientific research and construction in the future would undergo this surgery, using mechanical and electronic devices to enhance their intelligence and practical abilities. This part of the plan could directly utilize a series of construction plans in Stephanie's desk drawer to establish a complete administrative system for the science and technology department.

As agreed, the vibranium mines in Antarctica belonged to Wakanda, while the Celestial's corpse, partially excavated from the glacier, belonged to Salomon. Even King T'Chaka of Wakanda dared not break the agreement with Salomon on such a significant matter. However, he still issued an official letter through Princess Shuri, granting a few Wakandan scientists the opportunity to study the Celestial's corpse by opening up some technology previously unseen by the Immortal City—exactly what Salomon wanted. The Immortal City currently lacked the capability to analyze the Celestial's corpse, and since the Wakandans were willing to share technology, there was nothing wrong with that. He was extremely lenient towards his dying king. Although Salomon hadn't met T'Challa for some time, he still paid close attention to the movements of this Wakandan heir, as this would determine the future cooperative relationship between the Immortal City and Wakanda.

According to the agreement between Bastet and Salomon, Salomon would be required to help Bastet's chosen one ascend the throne if necessary. But that was a matter for the future; there was still room for manipulation. Salomon hadn't considered his friendship with T'Challa, his Oxford senior. If necessary, T'Challa wasn't necessarily forbidden from dying, as long as he could fulfill his purpose. As for Bastet's attitude, it was merely a statement Salomon had to make to acquire the technology. If things truly turned sour, Salomon, with the Holy Sword in hand, had no fear of the Black Panther God taking any extreme actions.

Stephanie sighed heavily, feeling that she should undergo the mechanical and biochemical modification surgery.

Although the first batch of older civilian staff for the Sorority had already joined, Stephanie increasingly felt that her current staff was insufficient as research projects in the Immortal City continued to be launched and external investments appreciated dramatically. Especially given the requirement to maintain a stable and streamlined administrative structure, even halting existing operations and bringing in the conservative Hydra staff who had passed the vetting process would be a drop in the ocean.

Her fingers unconsciously traced the silver crown she wore, an exquisite headdress adorned with vine patterns and a large, deep red gemstone, with graceful silver branches tucked above her ears. She hadn't originally intended to wear this adornment, which seemed utterly unrelated to modern aesthetics, but it was a magical item personally gifted to her by Salomon to enhance her mental efficiency. In other words, it was a magical accessory that could improve intelligence; currently, only a handful of people in the Immortal City possessed treasures bestowed by their monarch.

This includes Sofia, who is standing right in front of us.

Because of Jacob's loyalty, Sophia and her people from the lost city received the greatest favors.

Even after donning the high-tech combat suit and lightweight exoskeleton armor provided by the Immortal City for mortal armies, the daughter of the immortal prophet still wore her long red hair in a thick braid, resembling a wilderness hunter. Besides her standard .50 caliber pistol, her equipment included a pair of high-tech boots that allowed her to traverse obstacles that even ordinary people, and even those equipped with lightweight exoskeletons, could not overcome. The amulet around her neck further reduced her susceptibility to bullets.

"This is the medical examination form." Sophia placed a thick stack of test reports on Stephanie's desk.

Her voice was young, sharp, and direct, like a shot arrow.

The report, stamped by Maya Hansen, the head of the biological laboratory, stated that the boy chosen by Sophia was a perfect match for genetic modification in the laboratory. Based on the genetic tracing report and the DNA from the royal remains collected by Salomon, the boy coincidentally possessed Byzantine blood, which was very likely the reason the Byzantine emperor supported Jacob—Jacob promised to preserve the lineage of Constantine to this day. No one knows whether he did this intentionally, and given Salomon's promise not to disturb Jacob's peace, the answers to all questions vanished with Jacob's death.

“He won’t remember anything after the surgery. Don’t think you can influence the monarch’s decisions through this boy. He will only be loyal to the monarch; it’s an emotion written in his genes.” Stephanie picked up the report and locked it in a heavy, black iron cabinet. She slammed the cabinet door shut, the metal clanging with a piercing scream. Stephanie’s tone carried a hint of warning. “Currently, his genetic match is the highest, but that doesn’t mean anything. The future Royal Guard will only be composed of the best, and that boy is just one of them. And…”

She turned around and looked at the hunter with her straight back.

“Your father also said that he was not God’s spokesperson; that’s something humans cannot do.” Stephanie was referring to an ancient document recently unearthed by Laura Crawford, Jonah, and the engineering team. Written by Decius, Jacob’s first disciple, the document details events that occurred after Jacob arrived in Byzantium in 970 AD, continuing until 977 AD when Jacob was killed by the Holy Trinity and believers went to Syria to build the prophet’s tomb.

The document was sent to the Immortal City for emergency repairs, and then, with Sophia's consent, it was temporarily lent to Laura for her to study 10th-century Byzantine history.

James's words also explain why the cross of the Lost City is completely different from those of the Orthodox and Catholic churches, because he himself knew long ago that he did not believe in God. However, it is regrettable that anything can change over time, and the more than a thousand years that passed caused subtle changes in the beliefs of his followers.

Although Salomon allowed them to retain their faith and veneration of Jacob, with the death of the immortal prophet, the overly fanatical tribesmen could find no object of worship, yet refused to relinquish their useless faith. Forced into a corner, Sophia had no choice but to pack up the young people among her tribesmen who could be reformed and educated and send them to the Immortal City's military camp for education and medical examinations, while sending the stubborn tribesmen back to the Lost City to work for engineering squads.

Only that one boy passed the genetic test.

He will receive a comprehensive education in the Immortal City, studying science, art, politics, and military affairs, becoming the first candidate on the future biological laboratory's guard. Once he dons the armor prepared for him, he will be qualified to fight alongside the monarch.

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)