Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 757 Competitive Spirit (First Update)

The cost of a South American rebel officer and her attached army is far less than that of an alien rescue mission.

“I don’t know why you’re looking for Camilla Reyes, but I can only tell you that Camilla was released from prison after negotiations with the Peruvian government. She returned to Peru, and intelligence received by S.H.I.E.L.D. indicates that she has been missing since her escape. I don’t know her current situation, I only know that the Peruvian rebel group ‘Advance’ has grown stronger and stronger, and even the killing of its leader, Alessandro Torre, has not affected its strength.” Agent Coulson spread out his only remaining hand. “I don’t want to lie to you, Salomon. But I really need your help, and I’m willing to pay any price.”

"Give me Camilla Reyes's contact information, and I'll provide your assistance." The arcane mage considered several possibilities. Agent Coulson had already revealed enough information. Perhaps out of trust in him, or perhaps due to the pressure of the situation, Coulson had to preemptively offer his bargaining chips, completely disregarding the dogma of negotiating to maintain the initiative—or perhaps, feigning weakness was also part of gaining the upper hand, especially when the other party's initiative was unshakeable. Agent Coulson believed he knew the arcane mage well enough, and although Salomon's behavior in recent years had exceeded his expectations, he was still willing to take the gamble.

"Considering we've known each other for so many years, I agree to this deal."

Agent Coulson immediately smiled, because of everyone he knew, only Salomon could solve this problem. From the very beginning, Agent Coulson had intended to contact Salomon for help, but both Melinda May and Skye tried to avoid this, considering Salomon a major villain in their eyes. Melinda May, in particular, couldn't reveal the details of the Demonic War due to secrecy regulations, but that didn't stop her from expressing her disgust for Salomon.

"Give me the intelligence you have, and then give me an address. We'll meet there. In about two hours, in a secluded place."

"The Christmas holidays are almost here, Salomon!"

"I know, I know, but this is about my studies. Besides, Whitehall has already started recruiting, and I'm planning to enter politics!"

After a few minutes of casual conversation, Salomon ended the video call and left the conference room, leaving Agent Coulson deeply worried about his absurd ambition to enter politics—and it was true, Sir Arnold had long advised him against pursuing postgraduate studies, or that after finishing his studies, he should join Whitehall before he died of old age, becoming a glorious civil servant of the British Empire and wresting the power of appointing and dismissing civil servants back from the hands of shameless politicians. The Sorority guard responsible for security followed silently, her steel high heels making no sound on the thick wool carpet, like a ghost in black armor. She wasn't wearing a helmet, and the sorcerer could tell just how dissatisfied she was from her expression.

"I knew the soundproofing of the conference room door wasn't very good," Salomon complained. "Catherine, it's a small matter, not worth using the chainsaw sword for. It's because Tita always has you guys around that I can't use my true form to go to class."

"Don't try to find fault with the lady, my lord. That's not why I'm unhappy."

Tell me about it.

"You're spoiling Zero too much!" Catherine rushed forward, placing the top of her head under Salomon's shoulder. Her personality, like her sword, was something the arcane mage couldn't tell if it was innate in the incubation chamber or acquired later. If it was the former, he felt he needed to check the equipment in the chamber. "He hasn't completed his trial yet!" she said. "Right now, Zero isn't a usable tool."

"I don't see Zero as a tool, Catherine. You're not a tool to be squandered, but my daughter."

"I can barely manage a smile." Though she said this, Catherine's lips couldn't help but curl upwards. She tossed her slightly messy white hair and followed Salomon with light steps, like a duckling following its mother. Unlike Tita, she wasn't reserved; instead, she offered him her services with boundless enthusiasm. Salomon had used Aether particles to create her and her homunculus sisters, and his connection with Catherine wasn't as strong as his with Dinah, yet they still chose to be loyal to him without hesitation. Salomon speculated that this could be attributed to "eagled fetishism"?

"I'm going to practice swordsmanship too. I need to let that little boy know that he's not yet up to the skill level required for his future job." Her tone brightened, like a white migratory bird taking flight from a shimmering stream. Salomon couldn't help but pat her head; the atmosphere was as warm and harmonious as a family Christmas dinner.

He planned to host a Christmas dinner at his estate in Oxfordshire, inviting members of the sorority, primarily the androids and girls responsible for security (Tita assigned all combat-experienced androids to this task) and key personnel from various departments. Catherine, as a squad leader, was certain to be on the invitation list. Agent Coulson and his squad, however, received no such treatment; they hadn't even received Christmas gifts this year.

Salomon had anticipated that they would dislike his scathing and vulgar jokes at the party, so he removed them from the invitation list beforehand.

"Really? I'm not getting a Christmas present this year?"

"Of course, you definitely won't believe that a guy 'accidentally slipped and ended up stuffing an anti-tank shell into his ASS.' It's absurd, but it's true, and you certainly won't like that joke. S.H.I.E.L.D. is an intelligence organization; how could they not know about this kind of news?" If Stephanie, in her power armor, hadn't stopped him from continuing, Salomon would have kept going on about this topic until his conversation with Agent Coulson completely veered off to the other side of the galaxy. This was a sign of Salomon's relaxed state; whenever he was in this state, his tendency to ramble on and on was almost unstoppable.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't deal with ridiculous things like someone's ass exploding." Daisy Jensen, dressed in a sharp Secret Service uniform, spoke with hostility. While the torture inflicted on Jia Ying by the Immortal City couldn't compare to what Whitehall had done, the Immortal City had still caused irreparable psychological damage in order to extract information from her. Salomon didn't mind the Inhuman girl's hatred, but for safety, he still cast a protective spell on Stephanie and himself—[Protective Sonic Waves]. Since sound waves are essentially vibrations, this spell would still be effective. He couldn't afford to lose a head of the Department of the Interior.

"Calm down, girl." Agent Coulson gently patted her shoulder. "Come with us, Salomon, we'll transport you and your friends to the base."

"We'll be using our own transport plane," Stephanie interjected. "No need for you to trouble yourselves."

"You'd better not argue," Daisy said smugly, pointing to the sky. "The Wind One is not something your little transport planes can compare to."

"Pause the stealth deck below," Stephanie commanded through her headset. Daisy Jensen's expression immediately changed as she saw the lower deck of a Sky Carrier, with countless bombing cannons and anti-aircraft automatic guns aimed at their port area.

"I'm sorry, but it's necessary." Salomon shrugged at Agent Coulson, fully expressing his helplessness.

Stephanie insisted on bringing a sky carrier along, unwilling to lose face to the old and infirm members of S.H.I.E.L.D. Especially when Salomon approached her, wanting to take her to witness the end of the Hydra gods, Stephanie, fueled by the fanaticism of her converts, became even more enthusiastic.

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)