Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 613 Long-Term Plan (Second Update)

"Tony, this isn't the time for this," Steve said, getting Thor and Salomon out of the predicament and preventing them from being dragged into looking at some flashy but impractical mechanical designs by Stark. "We should talk about the scepter now, Thor. Jarvis, give me a world map," Captain Rogers said, "and the locations of the Hydra bases we've cleared out before... actually, they were all S.H.I.E.L.D. bases too."

"Old man, don't be such a spoilsport!" Stark clicked his tongue, but then realized his behavior was somewhat inappropriate. He looked at the arcane mage, then stroked his chin. "Magic boy, did you foresee something again? And then decide to join this party?"

"Why do you say that?" Salomon asked curiously.

"You're on a plane," Stark said. "I think your portal might be faster."

Natasha Romanov abruptly turned to look at the arcane mage. This mysterious fellow always came and went as he pleased; if he had specifically come to participate in the mission Thor had mentioned, it meant there was something unexpected about it. Clearly, she wasn't the only one thinking this; several pairs of eyes were fixed on the arcane mage, seemingly eagerly awaiting his answer.

"Uh...no, I just smelled the cheeseburger from the airplane cooler." Salomon's answer elicited a muffled groan of dissatisfaction from Thor. He was really hoping for a lively battle to dispel his frustration. Salomon said, "What's so surprising about that? Casting magic takes energy too. Look at me, I crossed halfway around the world to open a portal, can't I at least get something good to eat?"

The others were still engaged in a heated discussion with Thor about the mission, combining existing intelligence with information provided by Agent Hill to speculate on the whereabouts of Loki's Scepter. The arcane mage, unable to get a word in edgewise, naturally drifted away from the discussion, pacing back and forth casually. The modified Quinjet wasn't very spacious; Salomon walked a few steps to the rear hatch and found a place to sit down.

"See? Your time to leave is almost up." He took a big bite of a hamburger wrapped in tin foil and magically heated, then mumbled indistinctly. One of his eyes gleamed crimson. "I fully support you in carrying out your plans, my dear student."

Wanda's voice trembled with excitement. Her vision was linked to Salomon's through an arcane connection; she could see inside the Quinjet through Salomon's eyes, and Salomon could see the people coming and going in the castle through hers. "I'll tell Pietro the good news right away," she said, waving in front of him as a greeting. "When are you planning to come? Or are you planning to join us in fighting the Avengers?"

"You can handle these people yourself. But remember, black magic can't be used for now. This is revenge, a practical test, not suicide." The sorcerer swallowed the food in his mouth. "See this hamburger? Tell Pietro that I'll take you to eat something even better after you get out."

"He'll get too excited, teacher."

"You're the older sister, go and deal with him." The sorcerer crossed his legs and cut off the communication.

The Maximov siblings weren't inherently bad people; they couldn't accept that their actions had led to the deaths of innocent people. But when they realized who their true target of revenge was, they needed the ability to undo their past mistakes, and Salomon granted them that ability.

The sorcerer never spoke out for Stark's past; on the contrary, he believed it was only right for Stark to face scrutiny from his past. The Stark Industries of the past was a military-industrial complex; every penny he enjoyed was stained with blood. How could anyone who had enjoyed such dirty money not be haunted by the nightmares of the past? Whatever torment he suffered was deserved.

But whether it's Stark or the Maximov siblings, they're minor matters to the arcane mage's next plan. His real purpose is to test artificial intelligence—can artificial intelligence truly become a tool for the future without betraying him? This is a fatal question for the Mars Foundry project. Wariness of artificial intelligence has filled many literary works, and even the two powerful artificial intelligences under his control have been unable to maximize their capabilities due to this concern.

If he can uncover the truth behind this incident and understand the mechanism of AI betrayal, then he can make a decision: either fully utilize AI or completely reject it. Once he makes this decision, the long-planned Mars Foundry project can immediately commence, beginning the production of standard weapons and equipment for the Immortal City.

This is the most important thing, far more important than Ultron.

"Prepare to close the net." After ending his communication with Wanda, Salomon sent a message to Stephanie on his phone. The net against Baron Strucker had been cast, and now was the perfect time to close it. Stephanie was open to anything, including technology, intelligence, and resources. This was the last bit of benefit the Immortal City could gain from Baron Strucker. If they didn't cut ties now, they'd be waiting for the conservative Hydra to be brought to their door by the Avengers.

Stephanie replied to the message.

"Prepare to award medals to the intelligence agents who deceived Baron Strucker and amassed significant profits and intelligence for the Immortal City," the arcane mage said. "Prepare the Order of the Aquila Cuirass, Third Class, for their contributions."

"But... Your Majesty, they are Hydra themselves." Stephanie hesitated for a long time before sending this message to Salomon. She knew this news was somewhat awkward, because apart from the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents brought by Victoria Hand, the Immortal City's intelligence department was a network of ordinary people recruited through illegal means. In addition, there were many Hydra agents who had defected to the Immortal City after its recapture of Hydra, and these people had also joined the work after rigorous screening.

The spies who helped the Immortal City obtain intelligence and technology from Baron Strucker were originally his men. Aside from a few true Hydra high-ranking officials and a small combat force, many of the lower-ranking personnel in the castle were young men recruited locally. These men weren't skilled in combat, but they were adept at making a living. Hydra, having allied with the Immortal City, secretly recruited these young men to work in the castle because they wouldn't arouse suspicion wherever they went; even Salomon had encountered them.

"And we're not the only buyers of that intelligence; I suspect Maria Hill is one of them too." Salomon was speechless upon receiving Stephanie's message. No wonder Baron Strucker could raise such a useless son; his ability to manage his subordinates was truly worrying. Who knows how many Hydra agents have been bribed in that castle, and Baron Strucker seems completely unaware—"Perhaps he knows," Salomon thought, "Perhaps this is his pledge of allegiance to some power?"

"What are you looking at?" Natasha crept closer silently, trying to catch a glimpse of the message on Salomon's phone screen out of the corner of her eye. However, the arcane mage nimbly put the phone away, leaving Agent Natasha Romanoff empty-handed.

"Well, is dinner ready?" Salomon asked. His calf was lightly kicked by the female spy.

"If you don't come to the discussion, Rogers is going to kick you off the plane."

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)