Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 632 Blood of the Innocent (First Update)

No intact glass remained in the entire city; all the glass had shattered into tens of thousands of fragments during the terrifying tremors of its ascent. As Sokovia slowly rose and broke through the thick clouds, for a fleeting moment, the shattered glass on the streets simultaneously reflected sunlight, making it appear like a city covered in crystal from a fairy tale.

"You won't die here, because an empty sky carrier, big enough to hold everyone, is approaching. The Immortal City's engineering team has repaired it and brought back all those S.H.I.E.L.D. employees from around the world." The android commander listened with satisfaction to the Avengers' exclamations. She stood on the bridge, looking down through reinforced glass at the sun-bleached clouds. "Nick Fury isn't capable of starting that badly damaged sky carrier right now; only the Immortal City could repair the engines in such a short time. He'll be here to say hello soon... He's here faster than I expected! That bastard, he didn't pay a cent!"

The clouds were swept into an unseen vortex, and a sky carrier, clearly technologically inferior to the Sisterhood's sky battleships, rose into the sky. Propelling this carrier into the sky were four propellers, not the electric propulsion engines of the Immortal City. The Avengers were very familiar with this carrier, as they had boarded it before. "Why aren't you all surprised?" Nick Fury asked with a laugh as he connected to the communication. "I do owe Salomon a sum of money; that guy doesn't charge cheap fees. I had no idea when he developed such a force."

"While you're busy maintaining your self-righteous peace and ignoring the real crisis," Tita relentlessly pressed Nick Fury. She couldn't understand why the Monarch would waste the Immortal City's scarce resources on these worthless humans. "Theoretically, the temperature should be close to -20 degrees Celsius right now, so you have time to chat a bit more. Although the Monarch forbids me from doing so, I wouldn't mind seeing you and those unfortunate souls frozen solid. And you, Tony Stark, I know what you're planning—you can make your move once the Immortal City's ships leave. But I have to tell you a cruel truth: there are far more Sokovians left on the surface than here. They fled the city as soon as they realized something was wrong. Guess who gave them that experience?"

The humiliation inflicted by the androids left the Avengers speechless, even Stark couldn't retaliate, especially after learning that the Sokovian reactionaries' equipment came from Stark Industries. They all knew how unpopular Americans were with the Sokovians, even Thor. While the Avengers weren't the root cause of the political turmoil in Sokovia, in the eyes of the common people, Americans were Americans, and that wouldn't change based on whether they were Avengers or not.

Aside from this incident, the Avengers still showed glimpses of humanity when dealing with the trouble they themselves had caused. Even if the people of Sokovia were unwilling, they accepted the Avengers' help.

"As long as they don't know that Ultron was also Stark's doing," Tita sneered. "Nick Fury, are you still waiting to eat human blood ice cream?"

"Madam, there's no need to be so angry," Nick Fury said.

Agent Hill's calm voice came through the communications channel, "Rescue ship deployed safely. Dive from preparation. Three, two... Drop."

Wanda and Pietro rushed to Steve Rogers' side, watching as eight massive rescue ships, equipped with thrusters, detached from the open sides of the Sky Carrier and dispersed to the edge of the city. These rescue ships, though simple in design, were technologically advanced, especially with their crude jet engines—a single misstep could cause them to capsize. The Sorority and the Immortal City's markings were clearly visible on the sides of the rescue ships, and the Immortal City's engineering team had diligently covered them with paint.

Seeing the civilians about to leave the airborne city, Ultron immediately deployed its reserve robot army. At the same time, it also had to divert some of its forces to halt the Sorority's advance. These crudely made robots were nothing like the girls in power armor wielding chainsaws and explosive guns; Ultron could only use sheer numbers to buy itself time. Just as a squadron of robots flew towards the unarmed S.H.I.E.L.D. airship, ten fully loaded assault transport ships also took off from the landing pads of the USS Cross Rose and USS Retribution, unleashing a torrent of firepower that utterly crushed all the robots attempting to escape.

Even if some are missed, the Sky Carrier's super guns and secondary cannons can accurately hit the escaping robots.

This airspace has been taken over by the Sisters of Sokovia, and no unauthorized aircraft can leave Sokovia.

Colonel Rhodes, the war machine, was speechless at the sight of the wreckage falling from the sky. "This was supposed to be mine," he said, having just taken off. "How am I supposed to brag about this at the party?"

"Catherine," Tita said, connecting with the combat team, "Report on the mission progress."

"We've completed the magic array setup and are retreating to the city's outskirts." The female swordsman's voice sounded cheerful. The heavy weapons team's true purpose was to clear obstacles and shorten the setup time of the prefabricated magic array; quickly eliminating Ultron's army was merely a secondary function.

"I think we can use Steel Wings to jump directly onto the helipad, what do you think?"

"If Zero's physical condition allows," Tita switched to the Avengers' communication channel, "Stark, after the evacuation is complete, if you don't intend to take action, then the Immortal City will handle Sokovia. Everyone must evacuate. Wanda Maximov, Pietro Maximov, the portal on the ship is ready for you; you can proceed now. The Sovereign has instructed me to ensure your safety, and I believe the Sovereign has instructed you on how to enter the portal."

"What do you intend to do?" Stark asked. "We can't abandon that vibranium spiral. Do you want to see this city crashing downwards? With the help of the anti-gravity engines, the acceleration of this meteorite will be far more terrifying than the one that destroyed the dinosaurs! Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions... all of Europe will become a pool of lava!"

"The monarch has a way to solve this problem."

Where is he?

"This is the secret of the Immortal City." Tita looked at the parchment Salomon had given her. Elegant ink had slowly appeared a minute ago; this was the source of the Sisterhood's order. This order came directly from Salomon, and only Tita could accept it; even Stephanie only knew the general outline. Only now did Tita finally understand why Salomon had asked the Sisterhood to carry spellcasting materials, and the blood of some innocent people.

What we have no shortage of right now is innocent people dying; the Avengers can't save that many people.

"The monarch has made a promise." She sneered. "He will not abandon the lives of those Sokovians below, because you are not qualified to decide their fate, because in the monarch's eyes, their lives are far more valuable than yours."

"I've had enough of secrets!"

"One more request: do not damage the copper rails placed next to the Orthodox chapel in the city center. Unless you want to see everyone consumed by the flames of hell. Thor, do you hear me?"

"I heard...you goat dung!" Thor's face flushed red as he struggled to utter a few words. Ultron gripped his throat tightly with his vibranium-forged hand, and even the automated machine gun turrets left by the Sisterhood couldn't help. "I am Thor, son of Odin. As long as I breathe...I'm running out of words. Are you ready?"

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)