Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 622 Multiple Choices, Multiple Endings (First Update)

If the Eye of Agamotto is the supreme treasure belonging to the Sorcerer Supreme and indeed to all of Kamar-Taj, then the Silver Key is Salomon's personal Time Stone. Using the Silver Key to observe the future and even the possibilities of parallel universes places an immense burden on him, but it also allows him to control as many choices as possible, ensuring that events do not stray too far from his plan. The alchemical body buried in the X-111 underground vault is a choice Salomon made based on his observations of future possibilities, and this plan has been continuously iterated as Salomon's spellcasting abilities have increased.

From the very beginning of creating androids, this project has always been his backup plan. The information exchange network built using technology from Mi-Go has also grown increasingly larger.

Chaotic code can only be screened manually, a task that is extremely labor-intensive and still doesn't guarantee finding the cause. Therefore, Ultron's original code is running in a makeshift virtual machine. The Immortal City has invested a significant amount of manpower to find the reason for Ultron's betrayal. Harold Finch and Ms. Groves, who were working nearby, noticed several staff members who were screening the code suddenly stand up and leave the server room without a word.

"What are they going to do?" Mr. Finch asked.

"I don't know either." Su Rui shook his head.

She wasn't sure how many projects Salomon was simultaneously executing, nor did she understand their details. She didn't have time to think about these things, because if Ultron's world-ending plan succeeded, Wakanda would cease to exist. She intended to mobilize Wakanda's military forces to resolve the situation, but this order was rejected by King T'Chaka in the Wakanda capital. He believed that now was not the time to announce Wakanda's advanced technology to the world. Exposing Wakanda to the world unprepared and without corresponding policies would only make Wakanda a target for greedy eyes.

This is a perfectly reasonable reason, and any responsible ruler would make the same choice. Consider Sierra Nevada: the African diamond trade is rife with bloodshed. Even though the news that "all of Wakanda's vibranium has been sold" has been circulating for decades, border theft continues unabated. Vibranium, far more valuable than diamonds, will only attract more greedy and bloodthirsty wolves, and Wakanda will face war. T'Chaka was a competent ruler, but Shuri was not. She was merely a spoiled princess.

Several hours later, the staff still hadn't returned. A chilling atmosphere filled the server room, and everyone instinctively sensed unease. Suddenly, ROOT's eyes widened, and she jumped up from her chair, startled. Samun Shaw, who was constantly stuffing snacks into his mouth beside her, coughed in shock. ROOT and Harold Finch stared in disbelief at what they witnessed—the parallel-operating AI Samaritan suddenly stopped without any instructions. Segments of obsolete code and background programs filled all the servers until even that machine ceased operation. Then, the obsolete code began to be cleared away, and then computing power mysteriously surged in an incomprehensible way, but no one saw any new servers come online. It was as if a ghost wandering among the servers had silently integrated and optimized all of them with a flick of its finger.

The new project was launched, taking over the work that had been carried out previously.

What was originally a matter of manual sifting of Ultron's code began to be analyzed. A sample file, later known as "Demonic Code," was created, and portions of the original code were selected and stored there, then sealed inside a specially encrypted storage device. This storage device was surrounded by rings of runes incomprehensible to ordinary people, abruptly leaping from the realm of modern information into the realm of magic. "An electronic ghost, is that what they say?" Salomon smiled wearily. "From a certain perspective, that's not wrong. Electronic systems can be parasitized by demons. Ultron's code was directly impacted by the Mind Stone, and a nascent, neutral information demon was born. This is the first time I've seen this thing with my own eyes. Before this, I always thought it was a legend from another dimension. Damn cosmic secrets, or rather, astral energy."

"Will what we're doing work, my lord?" Stephanie asked. Before her lay several small culture tanks, each containing a complete human brain in a deep green solution. A dense network of thin optical cables wrapped in rubber and magical runes connected all the brains. In the largest culture chamber at the very center, a mechanical alchemical body, crafted by Salomon himself and made of gems and metal, opened its eyes. Countless lines of code flowed through its genetically enhanced cloned brain, a complex network linking the brain to the alchemical body inscribed with dense runes. A thick optical fiber connected the server room to the culture chamber, filtering information from the server room.

The summoned staff, clad in robes, chanted incantations written by Salomon into the server in an adjacent, incense-filled room, attempting to protect the newly constructed system from the corruption of electronic demons. These individuals were conservative Hydra members belonging to Stephanie, members involved in the construction of the Martian foundry. With each incantation, their alchemical bodies, immersed in a deep green culture medium, echoed it. The resonance generated between the dark magic incantations was unbearable for ordinary people; the Hydra members were currently enduring an unimaginable surge of information.

"Artificial intelligence cannot resist Ultron's corruption; only a special arcane computer can eliminate that electronic ghost," Salomon said. "This is the first time humanity has encountered an information demon, and the weakest of them all, but this won't be the last. If humanity continues to develop artificial intelligence, this will happen again... Don't forget what I told you about the extradimensional world's ambitions for the material plane; extradimensional beings are essentially energy."

"What are you planning to do?"

"Eliminate Ultron gradually from the internet level." Salomon paused, "But not now, because our objective has not yet been achieved." For some reason, Stephanie sensed that the monarch's mood had suddenly turned sour. "Have Mr. Finch and Ms. Groves speed things up, and don't stop chanting the prayers," he said coldly. "We only have one chance to attack, and I need to be ready to deliver the fatal blow at the right moment."

"What are you going to do?" Stephanie asked. "You're tired, you need to rest."

"I'll take a break, but not now. I'm going back to Kamar-Taj, through a portal to a certain place. I'll be back before the final battle," Salomon said. "If these negotiations go smoothly enough, we'll resolve future development issues and artificial intelligence. Tell Shuri to evacuate the personnel at the Antarctic research station's first research unit, move the valuables away, and leave the body there; I need it."

"I do not understand."

"I don't understand it either. It was the worst choice, but I had to do it. Ultron's actions in Sokovia weren't the root of the world's destruction; the Infinity Stones were. Before going to Kamar-Taj, I also have to check on the Avengers and make sure the Stones don't fall into Ultron's hands again." Salomon sighed. "I'm just too busy. I might even have to go and go pluck the eyes out of that guy on the moon who's looking this way!"

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)