Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 619 Salomon's Blood Debt (Second Update)

Do you remember Sokovia?

"Yes, I watched it rise into the sky." His voice held a hint of awe. "I saw what artificial intelligence, beyond our control, would do. I think modern humans never imagined they would one day face an enemy like those in movies, and such a terrifying enemy at that. Banning artificial intelligence was the right choice; humans cannot control the thoughts that exist within machines at all times."

"So what measures did you take?"

He remained silent in the face of this question. After a long while, he spoke again, "No, nothing at all, just killing. It's just that this time, instead of blood, oil and sparks were gushing from the enemy's neck, but that didn't help. Your orders were for me to inflict as much damage as possible, but... I went to help, I admit it, but I failed."

"I didn't create you to be a puppet who only obeys orders, child. You are an independent individual, entitled to do what you believe is right, regardless of success or failure, including contemplating orders. That is the purpose for which you were created." The voice sounded pleased. Then, another long silence followed. "I've always been curious about how those in high positions feel guilty about the decisions they make. Like Stark, who created Ultron, but then deeply regretted it."

"My lord, are you really not talking about yourself?"

His expression was perfectly calm. "I'm prepared to bear the burden of sin, even now."

Sokovia, a small country almost invisible on a map, much like Donetsk. Due to its high altitude, mountainous terrain, and year-round snow cover, no country wanted to trade with this nation, which had virtually no natural resources or industrial base. However, its strategic location made it a target for various powers, including the Soviet Union and the United States. When the boy saw a television report about a green beast wreaking havoc in South Africa, causing immense destruction, Salomon led him through a portal to the snow-covered outskirts of Sokovia.

He deliberately turned off his phone, so that apart from a few specific people, no one else could find him.

"What are we waiting for?" the boy asked. He was already wearing the full set of equipment prepared for him by the Immortal City; the black bulletproof powered armor and full-coverage helmet would protect him from some potentially fatal attacks. Short swords, longswords, and explosive guns would allow him to kill enemies in the shortest amount of time.

He had already warmed up.

"Wait for this city to rise into the sky," Salomon said. "But before that, we need to see their lives, see the devastation years of war have inflicted on them. Before waging war, we'd better know the tragedies it will cause, and always keep our blood debts in mind. Everything you saw on television can be attributed to my negligence, but my blood debts go far beyond that… Humanity needs profound lessons, and no lesson is more profound than the loss of life. For example, be wary of aliens, be wary of artificial intelligence, be wary of indiscriminate genetic modification…"

The boy looked at the monarch's extremely cold face, and he knew that day would come sooner or later.

Salomon was present when Ultron broke free of his restraints.

However, he didn't unleash any particularly powerful magic; instead, he summoned a few straight bolts of lightning, leaving nothing damaged except for the glass and walls. Ultron seemed to treat their previous conversation as a private matter, not bothering to inform Salomon. Stark silently watched the wreckage of the Iron Legion until Thor, chasing Ultron, returned to Stark Tower in a fit of rage.

"This is a program you wrote yourself, so why is it so determined to kill us?" Dr. Helen Zhao asked the question that any intelligent person could think of, but it only drew laughter from Tony Stark.

"Is this funny, Tony? If it weren't for you fiddling with things you don't understand..." Thor couldn't comprehend Stark's motives. He couldn't grasp the fragility of Earth; a single alien pirate force was enough to wipe out an entire civilization, and the Chitauri pirates were merely one of countless races defeated by the Asgardian army. When others considered the issue from Stark's perspective, his thoughts would be readily understood.

"Does anyone remember how strange this world has become?" Tony Stark spread his hands. "An alien fleet has traveled through a wormhole to Earth, and we're standing right below it. What are we supposed to rely on? A hammer-wielding god? Super soldiers hidden in ice for seventy years? A mysterious sorcerer every day? Or a green monster that goes on a rampage?"

"Wow, Tony, this isn't a good time to talk about this," Dr. Banner stammered, stopping Stark from continuing his indiscretions.

If this continues, the Avengers will have to start a civil war here.

"Think about Project Insight. The Avengers should be different from S.H.I.E.L.D.," Captain Rogers said. "You can't protect the whole world with armor and cameras."

"We're standing three hundred feet below this wormhole right now. We barely won that time," Stark said. "What if it happened again? What if an alien fleet reached our solar system? How do you think we should handle that?"

"Unity is strength."

"Then we'll lose."

"Then we'll lose together," Steve Rogers said.

Salomon shook his head. "We can't afford to lose, Captain," he said softly. "Even a Venerable couldn't guarantee victory for the Material Plane in a protracted interdimensional war, let alone turn back time after humanity's defeat. There's no need to blame Stark; his methods may have been too naive, but we must find a future for humanity."

"I'm glad you're on my side, kid, but are you secretly calling me naive?" Stark clicked his tongue. "I apologize for what I said earlier, and this isn't the time for philosophical discussions. Okay, twenty! I'll remember that, my God! It's been so many years, we're even!"

"I knew you'd be here." In the barn where the tractors were parked, Salomon met his old friend. He arrived much faster than the Avengers and without alerting anyone. Nick Fury wasn't surprised to see Salomon here; he knew he couldn't defend against Salomon's prophetic magic, not even with an electromagnetic shielding cage—he'd tried.

"Barton's done a good job here." Salomon sat at the wooden table with hardware on it. Nick Fury was right next to him, but if it weren't for the light filtering through the walls, almost no one could see the man dressed in all black. "I believe Agent Hill has already reported the situation to you. If you don't show up soon, I'll be dragging you down from space."

"I'd like to ask you why you didn't go to South Africa," Nick Fury asked. "You should know you could have reduced casualties."

"I'm teaching a class! And do you really think I would break the laws of Kamar-Taj and recklessly demonstrate magic in front of a bunch of cameras?"

"New York."

“Back then I was a knight.” Salomon frowned. “Are we going to continue discussing this childish question, Nicholas? I thought the silly questions about ability and responsibility were over. I don’t know what’s wrong with American education; they don’t even teach the relationship between rights and obligations.”

"I'm not here to play word games, Salomon. What do you want?"

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)