Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 691 Rotten Fish and Shrimp (Second Update)

"I'm glad you could join this conversation, Salomon."

Agent Coulson sat on a bench typical of Oxford's many pubs, dressed in an old suit and looking exhausted. Wrinkles lined his once-soft eyes, suggesting he had aged considerably in recent years. He wasn't alone; Salomon sat opposite him. Agent Coulson pushed a burrito towards him, the pub's signature dish. Salomon took it, glancing around—Agent Coulson hadn't come alone; his team awaited orders in a nearby jeep.

Salomon didn't need to read their open, unguarded minds to know what they were thinking. Agent Coulson had certainly suggested a private meeting, but they had already identified him as the most dangerous target and insisted on following him. He knew someone else was nearby when he sensed a mixture of hatred and apprehension. Agent Coulson didn't seem inclined to give orders; instead, he asked, "How long has it been since we had a conversation like this? Many years, perhaps?"

"Is there any need to discuss this? I'll hand Jiaying over to you; she's no longer of any use to me." Salomon ate the food Coulson offered, completely unconcerned about the agents possibly tampering with it.

"Okay, I heard Captain America contacted you?"

"I did this not because of anyone's advice, Agent Coulson, but simply because Jia Ying has lost her intelligence value, and my rare compassion is still at work." The sorcerer smiled. "Perhaps you should have Skye sit next to me and let her hear my reasons. I'm not a cruel person, so I'll give her an explanation. Don't worry, she can't hurt me."

But I'm worried you'll hurt her. Agent Coulson hesitated for a moment, but still didn't voice his true feelings.

"I won't hurt her, I promise," Salomon assured Agent Coulson, meeting his suspicious gaze. He knew Coulson was again accusing him of mind-reading. But it was unnecessary. The human brain was defenseless; he didn't even need magic to read emotions beyond superficial thoughts. "Whatever accusations she makes against me, I don't care about her petty offense. It's quite something that you managed to find me during my break. If you hadn't found me at this time, I wouldn't have bothered with you, because I have far more to worry about than the ramblings of a little girl in a fit of anger."

"You're only twenty. You should know that Skye is older than you, right?"

"I'm referring to psychological age; I'm very tolerant of minors."

"You've humiliated her again without any attempt at concealment," Agent Coulson sighed.

Not long after, a female hacker with a look of grief and indignation emerged from around the street corner. Dressed in a clean and sharp black outfit, she strode towards them, stopping only in front of the expressionless arcane mage. A holster was tucked into her leg, but the pistol that had been inside was gone. This was Coulson's instruction; Skye had to leave the pistol in the car before meeting Salomon, though it was pointless. Undeniably, Skye's face had become rounder, and her Asian heritage made her appear far more refined than most Europeans.

At that moment, she was glaring angrily at Salomon.

"What did you do to her...?"

“Before you make your accusations, I have a question for you.” Salomon gestured to the empty seat beside him, inviting the girl to sit down. She looked at Coulson and reluctantly complied after receiving the instruction. Compared to the towering sorcerer, she was like a delicate, petite doll. “There is only one question, but it is a crucial force that cannot be ignored on the battlefield of reason and emotion.” The sorcerer’s voice was incredibly captivating; even Skye, who disliked him intensely, couldn’t help but listen. She felt that Salomon had used some unknown magic. “Someone’s actions will lead to the deaths of many. Do you have the resolve to kill that person? If that person were your family, could you still bring yourself to do it?”

Skye hesitated for a moment, but Coulson immediately assured her that he would keep a close eye on Jia Ying and completely resolve the Inhuman problem in the [Afterlife]. Melinda May, in the jeep at the street corner, reminded Skye through her earpiece to be wary of Salomon's cunning and to watch out for traps set by the arcane mage. Salomon overheard their entire conversation and secretly rolled his eyes.

"Let me give you my answer first." He pretended not to hear their slander and continued, "I would, because that's how I was raised. I was taught from a young age that we have no right to cause more deaths because of momentary sympathy—life certainly can't be measured by numbers, but one death is better than two, two deaths are better than three. What right do we have to pronounce a death sentence on someone who shouldn't have died? If Jia Ying causes the deaths of hundreds or thousands, or even more people, would you still have the resolve to kill her? When you call yourselves the last SHIELD, the last shield between humanity and the supernatural, have you considered the burden that comes with saying those words? This world isn't some cheesy TV drama where handsome men and beautiful women can solve problems by falling in love. We have to choose between life and death."

"I..." Skye hesitated for a moment, "If she really does that, I will kill her."

"See? This is actually quite easy to solve." Salomon nodded. "No matter what happened in the past, it's never too late for you to make up your mind now."

"Is this some kind of prophecy...? Did you hand Jiaying over to us now just to fulfill that prophecy?" Agent Coulson keenly sensed some crucial information. "What exactly did Jiaying do that warrants such methods?" Skye also raised a question that a rookie like her shouldn't have asked, though her eagerness revealed her inexperience in leading questions. Normally, she should be blaming the sorcerer, but she didn't.

Clearly, they had already planned ahead before meeting Salomon, intending to extract information from him.

"If I told you, you would hate me, because no matter how much I hint, you can't change your indecisive nature. So I'm not going to continue." Salomon snapped his fingers and called over a waiter. "Onion rings, crispy squid, and an ice-cold beer."

"You might not believe it, but I haven't eaten a single bite since I got here!" Salomon complained sarcastically to Skye as he ate after the food arrived. "Because I'm like those villains in fairy tales, I have to torture ordinary people and force them to work as soon as I wake up, only able to eat when I hear their screams. Isn't that what they tell you, so your little brain can see me as the enemy? I just can't understand how stupid you are, Skye. You should read more books. I also can't understand your definition of evil, let alone someone like Melinda May... I almost died laughing when I heard her say she was fighting for a democratic world. What kind of background do you think her parents have to get her approved by S.H.I.E.L.D.? At least S.H.I.E.L.D. under Nick Fury doesn't openly export any ideology, but in your hands, the so-called S.H.I.E.L.D. is just a bunch of rotten fish, living trash, good for nothing but causing trouble."

Salomon took a deep breath, calming his rage. He smiled at Skye, who was almost paralyzed with fear. "But they are right about one thing: I did kill someone this morning, personally, with my longsword, decapitating him. That man used to be my subordinate, but he betrayed me. The Immortal City has no imprisonment, no tolerance for betrayal. See? Doesn't that sound like a villain?"

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)