Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 599 Whispers (Second Update)

Sofia, her face grim, stood with her arms crossed. Beneath her black leather trench coat, thin bulletproof armor and an exoskeleton supported her spine, forcing her to stare directly at the increasingly impatient Stephanie. The magnificent silver vine-adorned ruby ​​headdress shone dazzlingly in the lamplight, and combined with the Immortal City's specially made internal affairs uniform, Stephanie resembled a magnificent dragon lurking in the shadows, ready to devour its prey.

"I am loyal to the monarch because my father was loyal to him." After a while, Sophia spoke again, breaking the silence in the office. "I will uphold the destiny my father gave to our people," she said, "but my father has already sacrificed too much to keep that secret, and even a monarch cannot ask for more."

Sophia snorted, a dull thud like the twang of a bowstring. "They've come to regard your monarch as a god. You should see the behavior of my people."

"You know this is not allowed, Sophia. The monarch abhors superstition, and he allowed your people to retain their faith not so that you would worship him as a god, but because of the prophet's request."

Stephanie irritably removed the bracelet from her wrist to avoid having the constantly displayed blood pressure and heart rate readings disrupt the data in her memory. This civilian technology from Wakanda monitored her physical condition to ensure her health and the efficient operation of the Immortal City and its vast industries. These past few days had been her ovulation period, and she was uncontrollably irritable; however, Stephanie took a deep breath and maintained a cool, professional demeanor towards Sofia.

Sometimes she would think of the little gifts Salomon would send her every month, and then, like a little girl, she would look forward to that month's gift.

"And also, our monarch—watch your words. You are not your father, nor are your people. You and your people should remember that your survival is built upon your father's sacrifices over a thousand years," she said. "You should be grateful for the monarch's leniency, for not purging you after knowing such a great secret. I don't know why the monarch trusted your father so much, but the facts prove his judgment was correct. They are all fighting for the same goal, all preparing for the same war."

"He hopes you can carry on your father's mission and not disappoint the monarch and your father, Sophia. There is no room for sentimentality in a cruel and dark future. The monarch does not want you to become sacrifices, and neither do I."

After Sophia left, the office returned to silence, with only the pleasant rustling of papers continuing.

"What do you think of all this, Mr. Whitehall?" Stephanie turned to look at the simulated face on the computer monitor. Dr. Whitehall's expression remained gentle and refined. Even without a physical body, Whitehall's brain was still functioning. He was not only a consultant for the biological laboratory but also an advisor to the Ministry of the Interior, where Stephanie worked. Aside from a select few, no one could contact Whitehall; he could only be awakened at specific times—the idea of ​​using a brain-computer interface to implant knowledge originated with him. It was a common brainwashing tactic used by Hydra and S.H.I.E.L.D., only now the same principles were being applied elsewhere.

As the surviving head of Hydra, Whitehall's methods are extremely inhuman, but his intelligence is undeniable. Stephanie also attempted to learn Hydra's past operational and management methods through Whitehall's mind. This was approved by Salomon, though he repeatedly warned Stephanie not to trust the mind too much and not to agree to any of his conditions. Compared to the devils of hell, Whitehall, as a human, was even more cunning.

"Why are you going to such lengths to help that person, Stephanie?" Dr. Whitehall asked gently in German-accented English. "I heard about the birth of Gideon's daughter in prison, and I've seen your picture. But I didn't know you were experiencing the emotions a woman can have. Don't you think you should adjust your hormone levels?"

"I did all this not out of love, Whitehall. What the monarch gave me was an ideal."

"Forgive my prejudice and stereotypes, madam. It's difficult to learn new things after death, something I know all too well, especially with my soul gone. I'm just a collection of consciousnesses, aren't I? It's quite an interesting experience," said the Hydra's brain. "Your hormone levels tell me you have deep feelings for him, and he has given you all his trust and power. The body doesn't lie. I don't know how he won over your father, but what I learned in the incubator tells me your monarch is a man with extremely ambitious goals. Such a man doesn't have emotions, Stephanie. Did he threaten you with death?"

"What do you want to say?" Stephanie stopped writing and looked at the computer screen. Her guard suddenly rose. The enhanced intellect from the exquisite tiara made Stephanie realize something was amiss, and she prepared to hear what Whitehall had to say.

Whitehall smiled. Or rather, his brain sent a signal to smile, which was then expressed through a specific program.

"You're a Hydra's daughter, aren't you?" he said with a laugh. "A typical Hydra."

"It used to be."

"Even now. You want to have his child, don't you?" Whitehall blinked. "He's a very charming gentleman, so it's perfectly normal for you to have that thought."

"What does it matter?"

"But you are Hydra, Stephanie, and your lust for power and lust are inseparable. You are Hydra, even if it is the Hydra of those conservatives who believe in ancient legends, you are still Hydra. Whenever you sit in this position, your mind is satisfied."

Stephanie remained silent. Whitehall was telling the truth; in all her fantasies, only this office, this upholstered chair, and Salomon would never change. It was her most secret, most shameful desire, quietly taking hold of her heart like a humid, sultry summer midnight.

"If you don't mind, I can offer my advice. Don't worry, your loyalty won't change, and you think so too, don't you?" Whitehall said softly. "Of course, you just need to listen. The choice is always yours. You always have the right to choose."

"Are you really that comfortable handing over your power to that Hydra girl, Boya?" Bayonetta, wearing oversized sunglasses, attracted many gazes, her stunning figure dazzling onlookers. However, the witch sitting in the audience wasn't paying attention to the wild bull and the elegantly dressed matador below, but rather to the face of the boy sitting next to her, who was just as tall as her. Salomon simply smiled at Bayonetta's question.

This is the Running of the Bulls, a traditional festival in Pamplona, ​​the capital of the Navarre region of Spain. Salomon specifically found tickets to the Madrid bullring so that his daughter could experience the passion of bullfighting. However, bullfighting isn't as interesting as it used to be; due to the interference of foolish animal rights activists, the actual sacrificial and bloody rituals have been cancelled.

For this festival, Bayonetta wore a red fishtail dress with lace trim. However, in this figure-hugging outfit, she looked even more captivating than the bullfight itself.

"Give Stephanie more trust," he said. "The Hydra family is real old money, and Stephanie is well-educated; she even has a business school degree. My subordinates are either research talents or combat talents; there aren't many people who can truly handle administration."

"Is that really all?" Before Salomon could answer, Bayonetta glanced at the frenzied bull charging towards the matador waving his cape in the bullring. Just as the matador in his red leotard was wondering why the bull had changed direction, the bull, accompanied by its incredibly fierce rider, charged towards her row.

The sorcerer shook his head helplessly.

He calmly stood up, stretched out his hands, grabbed the horns of the charging bull, and pinned the enraged bull firmly to the sand.

"Well done, Boya~" Bayonetta laughed heartily. Her long, beautiful legs, visible beneath her skirt, arched as she blew a kiss to Salomon. "Are you this energetic tonight?"

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(End of this chapter)