Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 683 Sweet Memories (Second Update)

Romanov pushed aside her plate and let out a very unrefined burp, completely satisfied. She kicked off her fluffy slippers, squinted, and whispered something to Salomon sitting beside her. Then, quite naturally, she lay down on his lap and comfortably closed her eyes. She felt the newly sprouted, springy grass playfully wetting her hair; she smelled the fragrance of grass and earth; the warm sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting blurry shadows on her eyelids—it was as if she were on a quiet meadow by a stream in the afternoon, her head resting on soft grass, drifting off to sleep to the gentle breeze that caressed her eyelashes.

She couldn't help but smile. After receiving permission, she cautiously opened her eyes.

Instead of a haphazardly decorated, gloomy apartment and a monotonously colored sofa, what came into view was a shimmering stream. She saw her bicycle lying to one side, the dark green leaves of a black walnut tree rustling overhead. Looking down, she saw she was wearing shorts, a band-aid on her knee. "Is this your memory?" the sorcerer said softly. Romanov had never found his voice so pleasant; even the deep growls she felt when placing her hand on his chest during pleasurable moments paled in comparison to the gentle, sun-kissed words he spoke now. Salomon could see everything she looked at, for she had opened her mind to him without reservation, allowing him to cast spells upon her.

To her dismay, Salomon remained tight-lipped. He claimed this would only drive her mad, because he possessed something incomprehensible to ordinary people—the price of magic. Natasha tentatively accepted this excuse.

"Based on my knowledge of botany and zoology, this is probably Ohio..."

"Don't do that, Salomon, don't spoil the mood," Romanov said softly. She felt her cheeks burning from the sun, her skin covered in tiny beads of sweat. "You're going to have a hard time getting girls to like you like this."

"I don't think I need it, since you're here with me, aren't you?"

"Wow! You learn so quickly, little boy." She couldn't help but laugh, completely unaware that her voice was becoming high-pitched and youthful. She tried to move, raising her arms above her head and lying down on the grass, completely relaxed. Silence fell between them. Romanov quietly admired the scenery; although she couldn't see Salomon, she knew he was beside her, within reach of her fingers. After a long while, she spoke again, "Thank you, not only for the first time I've had such delicious meatball spaghetti, but also for this magic. Thank you, really. I'd like to add one condition."

"Hmm?" Salomon asked, his tone rising in surprise.

Fearing the sorcerer might refuse, she quickly added, "Compared to fancy restaurants or bustling cafeterias, I prefer sitting on the sofa watching TV while eating. So I'd like to add another condition. Salomon, could you cook for me every time you come? My cooking skills aren't as good as yours."

"I'll try my best to fulfill your wishes, Natasha." His voice tickled her ear. She closed her eyes, leaned back, and groped for another kiss. She smelled aftershave, peppermint toothpaste, and navy cigarettes. She could easily distinguish the brands of the aftershave and peppermint toothpaste because she had personally chosen them. After Salomon left last time, she couldn't wait to buy a lot of household items, then picked out the most suitable ones for a sorcerer, not even letting go of cigarettes. Overnight, the apartment was filled with the feel of life, and she didn't even want Salomon to clean the frying pan in the sink.

"And your answer?" She raised an eyebrow, exuding strong confidence.

"Yes."

"My dear boy," she said with a smile, "let's get some rest."

Agent Natasha Romanov returned to work in high spirits.

A smile graced her face, surprising even Agent Hill. Ever since Steve Rogers and Tony Stark returned to the Avengers' new base, the two had a heated argument behind closed doors. No one knew what they argued about, only that it was intense. Captain Rogers accused Tony Stark of merely indulging his own heroic fantasies, while Stark retorted by calling Rogers a cowardly old man. The two fought hand-to-hand, eventually reconciling temporarily with the help of Falcon using whiskey. Agents who knew part of the story could only speculate that the argument was related to their disappearance, as many members of the elite task force that had accompanied them on the mission had never returned. Many were speculating what had happened; almost everyone in the base was affected by their emotions, except for Natasha Romanoff.

"What happened?" Agent Hill asked as he stepped forward.

The white corridor exudes the simplicity of modern architecture, but it also makes those walking along it feel as if the overhead lights are a sharp sword dangling before their eyes, threatening to blind them at any moment. Agent Hill had already instructed the renovation team to remove the chandeliers, but the budget approval for this was stuck with Tony Stark's finance staff, because Stark was now barely doing any work and hadn't even communicated with Pepper Potts.

This greatly troubled Nick Fury, who hadn't expected that sending Stark back would actually make the situation worse.

"What?"

"You know what I'm asking, Natasha," Agent Hill said, following her into the locker room. Holding her tablet, she asked irritably, "I'm asking what else Salomon revealed. I'm not asking you as an agent, but as a friend. Do you want to see the Avengers fall apart?"

"They're going through a mindset shift, Maria." Agent Romanoff donned his uniform, preparing for a day of training. "They'll be fine. Every argument eventually ends; they're just reflecting on the past. Don't tell me the Stark Group has nothing to do with the Rockefellers, the Hiltons, or the Epstein scandal. You know everything."

"It's us." Agent Hill nodded. "That information was available to you, but you've never seen it. S.H.I.E.L.D. never interferes with the activities of the wealthy and politically active, even if they're illegal. S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't have the energy to deal with those trivial matters."

"I know," Agent Romanov replied. "I'm no longer a spy, Maria, no longer."

"What did he promise you?" Hilt blinked, then suddenly realized. Agent Romanov rarely saw Agent Hilt make this expression; perhaps it wasn't appropriate for her to open her mouth so wide, as it made her look somewhat comical. "You don't need to tell me, I can probably guess. If it's true, I can only wish you well, Natasha."

"It's not as simple as you think, Maria. This is technically very difficult." Although he said this, Agent Romanov still maintained a smile. "It's just a possibility, but I think it's good enough for now."

"Is he planning to come here?" Agent Hill changed the subject. "After all, he's the one who caused this trouble."

"He still has things to do. It's said that he recently received a very frightening prophecy and is now leading a group to verify it."

“Victoria Hand?” Agent Hill narrowed her eyes. Unlike the other agents, she knew everything that happened on the Skycarrier; Nick Fury wouldn't hide this information from her. “She didn't hold back when dealing with those agents. I don't know how Salomon recruited her; she's perfect for those ruthless missions, it's like a job made for her. Did Salomon mention anything about the prophecy?”

"No," Natasha shook her head. "I only know it involves magic."

"Then I must be prepared for thousands of people to sacrifice their lives, just like a few days ago."

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(End of this chapter)