Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 635 Accusations and Anger (Second Update)

"Would you rather see each other every day, or send each other postcards every week and then never see each other again?"

“Option A, darling. I know I’ve been gone a little too long this time.” Salomon tried to drown his sorrows in the soft pillows; he felt he still needed some help from the whiskey. He reached for the glass on the table with trembling hands, but the witch saw through his intention. She knew Salomon’s little tricks all too well; no matter how powerful the sorcerer was in public, his true nature was revealed in her presence. Bayonetta held his hand, leaning down to look into his eyes.

Her eyes were like leaden clouds before a storm, reminiscent of tall nettles whipped by a gale under the midnight moonlight, hinting at cold winds and lightning. Her long, jet-black hair, like raven feathers, gently tickled Salomon's nose. Like all lovers in the world, he and the witch had their arguments. Sometimes they were over trivial things, like what sauce to use for a steak, but all their problems were resolved in the way lovers do: with alcohol, cigarettes, and stockings.

Salomon sensed a trembling magical aura; the witch had used magic first. Although he couldn't see the witch's movements clearly, he deduced that the spell was likely "Witch Time," a spell that allowed Bayonetta to perform numerous actions in a very short time.

The witch had spun her own cocoon, and he had won the first round. But many more battles lay ahead in the next five hours. This antique Renaissance bed had suffered too much; hopefully, it would hold up. Reproduction was a key factor in humanity's conquest of the earth. If humans weren't as prolific as rabbits, it would be impossible to create such a magnificent civilization with surplus labor. Therefore, Salomon naturally followed the instincts brought by human genes. Ignoring the two slumped together on the sofa, Diana walked through the living room to the kitchen to prepare dinner. She knew that after such a battle, both the witch and Salomon needed to replenish their strength.

"My little stallion, don't think you've won today and that's it. I didn't let you pick up the little whip. Although I quite enjoy that kind of pain." The witch smiled slyly. "Tell me about what's going on outside. Reporting to your wife is a husband's duty."

"Really? Okay, actually you could see this on the news channel too..."

The Avengers are in deep trouble, very deep trouble. This is no longer just a matter for the United States; it's a major issue that needs to be discussed at the United Nations. While the UN may not be able to accomplish much, anything brought to the table needs to be treated with care. The issue of artificial intelligence requires discussion by secular governments, but some believe the matter hanging over the Avengers is more pressing—the Maximoff siblings are conflicted because they've discovered the Avengers aren't as despicable as they initially thought, yet Salomon's Immortal City has extended an olive branch. Steve Rogers, in particular, wants to speak with Salomon; he wants to know if the sorcerer knew about Ultron's birth. After unloading civilians on the three Sky Carriers, the Avengers landed in Quinjet fighters in the hangar of the Cross Rose.

"Welcome, my friend." Salomon sat upright on his throne, showing no intention of coming down to greet him. "I was just thinking about how to get the Sky Carrier into British airspace, since assault transport ships don't have stealth equipment. Now it seems you've handed the answer to me. I hope the Royal Air Force hasn't been laid off, otherwise I was planning to go to Buckingham Palace to see the Queen of Windsor."

"I'm here to get some things sorted out, Salomon," Steve Rogers addressed the arcane mage by his first name without any politeness. "Do you know what the consequences of Ultron's birth will be? I want to hear the truth."

"Yes, including Nick Fury's experiment with the Tesseract leading to the alien invasion," Salomon replied nonchalantly. "Humanity needs a warning. For example, extraterrestrial life has the ability to invade Earth, and current technology is insufficient to defend against them; another example is that artificial intelligence will eventually rebel, and humanity must find another path. Humans are creatures that cannot celebrate without sacrifice, and the Terminator series is not enough to make humanity realize the danger of artificial intelligence. Every word I said before was the truth, including what Dinah conveyed to me. 'Information demon,' that is the truth of artificial intelligence's rebellion, like cancer deep in the bone marrow, a foul tumor that can never be removed. Humanity is not the first race to suffer, but this lesson is profound enough, isn't it?"

Even at the cost of so many lives?

"You're the ones who caused this trouble, and I merely minimized the casualties. Steve Rogers, what right do the Avengers or S.H.I.E.L.D. have to criticize me? Did I think a warning would have prevented the disaster? No, you went ahead with your plans and will continue until the disaster strikes before blaming those with foresight. Even if the world changes, stupidity is still stupidity." Even without rising, Salomon's oppressive aura was undeniable. However, Captain Rogers was no ordinary man; his will was unwavering.

“I don’t blame you, Steve Rogers. I won’t expect everyone to look a thousand years into the future like I do, but I despise those who stand on moral high ground and point fingers,” Salomon said. “Today, some people would have died meaninglessly, worthlessly. I saved them from their inevitable fate, I rescued their souls from the deaths caused by your arrogance and hubris—the destruction of Europe alone is not enough to warrant Kamar-Taj’s intervention, the destruction of Europe is not enough to affect the entirety of human civilization. Avengers, this has been my plan from the beginning, solely to sound the alarm while minimizing casualties.”

"Wow! Magic boy, that's really hurtful!"

“I’m not blaming you, Salomon. I just wanted you to warn us before it happened,” Captain Rogers sighed. “You don’t trust us, but we trust you completely! That’s the difference between us! If you had told us the truth, not a single Sokovian would have died today. But I don’t understand why you’re so cold-hearted. Why didn’t you try to persuade us? After all, you didn’t know if we would listen, did you?”

"I warned Frye, but he just tightened his defenses and then did whatever he wanted."

"The Avengers aren't S.H.I.E.L.D., you know that."

"I don't care about you, Steve Rogers. And you, Tony Stark. Laziness, stupidity, arrogance—that's all you've shown." Salomon leaned back on his throne, his gaze coldly sweeping down. "This operation against the Immortal City was my personal decision," he said. "You have no idea what price I paid for this operation, for the lives of a few thousand. You cannot understand my pursuit, Avengers, your eyes are still fixed on Earth. Now, before I get angry, get off my carrier!"

Please vote! I've revised it multiple times, and I don't know what will be enough to get it approved.

(End of this chapter)