Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 778 Full of Confidence (Second Update)

Daisy Jensen sat drowsily in her seat, trying to pass the agonizing journey home. Melinda May also relaxed, setting the Quinjet to autopilot and sitting in the pilot's seat with her eyes half-closed, trying to recover from the exhaustion of the mission—to return to the S.H.I.E.L.D. base, the Quinjet had to cross the Atlantic, a journey that would take several hours even at its fastest speed. Melinda May had driven tirelessly from home back to base, and then piloted the plane from base to Morocco, without getting any proper rest. The Quinjet was eerily quiet, except for the occasional groans of pain from Joseph Haddad as he drifted in and out of sleep.

"What happened? May!" The plane jolted violently, slamming Daisy's head hard against the cushion behind her seat. The female hacker woke up with a scream. She immediately glanced at Melinda and saw that Melinda May was also awake, frantically adjusting the control panel.

"The engine's broken! Damn it, it's been neglected for ages!" May yelled. She glanced out the cockpit window and made a quick decision. "Daisy, protect Joseph Haddad. We might need some help."

"My lord, the assassins have forced Melinda May and Daisy Jensen's plane to make an emergency landing in the Atlantic Ocean." Stephanie received a briefing while en route back to the Immortal City aboard the Sky Carrier. She immediately took the briefing to the arcane mage at the command post and, without disrupting Salomon's other work, hand-wrote a summary. "The assassins have completely erased all possible leads to us and have now landed at safe house AE.10041.26," she said. "Joseph Haddad has also fallen into their hands and is requesting authorization to conduct an interrogation."

"Agreed." The sorcerer didn't even look up, pressing his electronic seal on the tablet in front of him. At the very moment he pressed the seal, the assassin was performing a simple operation on Joseph Haddad: sealing blood vessels, removing bone fragments, suturing muscles and skin, and so on. He wasn't a doctor, nor did he have a medical license, but the knowledge taught in the training machine was sufficient for him to perform the surgery, and the drugs and equipment in the safe house could support him in completing the task. Furthermore, the crash site he chose would allow Joseph Haddad to be transferred to the safe house before he bled to death.

An extremely complex dynamic pattern flashed through the assassin's helmet, with a massive stream of data used to compare an electronic signature.

Scanning the coded pattern on the seal and comparing it with the dynamic encryption key proves it's an order from Salomon and the Ministry of the Interior. Many in the Immortal City don't know Salomon's name or appearance; they rely on this complex encryption pattern to confirm commands. The parchment Stephanie handed over after reading the briefing also bore a similar seal—the order to capture Joseph Haddad was Stephanie's idea; she wanted to understand the origin of the megalith. This wasn't just because the megalith involved the Malik family, and tracing its origins would help them complete their research, but also because of Salomon's reminder.

If that boulder really is related to aliens, then they'd better figure out how to eliminate them first.

On the other hand, in Kamar-Taj, nestled in the Himalayas, some sorcerers began examining past records, attempting to uncover the secrets of the megaliths. This was a genocidal event, and Kamar-Taj could not afford to stand idly by. Even Salomon himself hadn't anticipated that, now, apart from the Sorcerer Supreme, few could question his prestige in Kamar-Taj.

After years of compilation and expansion, his magical writings in the Arcane Library became essential reading for apprentices, second only to the Book of Vishanti. Although they consisted of fundamental knowledge—such as dry, voluminous tomes like "On the Elements," "The Astral Sphere and the Aether," "The Causes of Dimensional Gap Formation," and "The Interaction of Illusions, Nerves, and Hormones"—with virtually no literary merit, the Sorcerer Supreme praised them highly. He lauded Salomon as the most knowledgeable arcane mage in the history of Kamar-Taj, comparable to Agamotto.

Even Baron Mordo or Kasirius wouldn't mind an order from Salomon, nor would the arcane families represented by the Archmage Hamil. The Sorcerer Supreme understood that this meant a future schism for Kamar-Taj, but she didn't care, believing her disciple was capable of resolving such a minor issue.

As long as the future Sorcerer Supreme isn't killed.

"To resolve this, I grant you access to Kamar-Taj communications." The sorcerer granted Stephanie another privilege. He placed immense trust in this young girl (referring to those under forty), for the Malik family had completely sided with him, with no turning back.

"Regardless of the cost."

Stephanie understood perfectly: "at any cost" meant that collateral damage could be disregarded.

“My lord, there is another matter that requires your decision,” she said. “General Haig, as a member of Hydra’s NAZI faction under Whitehall, wants to join our cause. She wants her daughter, Ruby, a product of Dr. Whitehall’s eugenics, to join the Immortal City—the girl you met at the Hydra training camp—to become one of us. She is no longer able to handle the investigations from all sides, and only we can help her now.”

Salomon looked up, staring intently into Stephanie's eyes. The Hydra's daughter recognized that expression and quickly said, "I personally believe the Hydra academy's philosophy is worth adopting. I suggest we emulate a similar approach to cultivate internal affairs talent. General Haig will certainly play a crucial role in this."

After a while, the sorcerer finally looked away.

Stephanie breathed a sigh of relief, feeling completely exposed to the monarch's gaze, as if she were naked.

“Ruby, Ruby, she can play a much bigger role. Dr. Whitehall’s eugenics research isn’t unfounded; Ruby’s physical qualities are indeed excellent. She just needs a little mental refinement.” Salomon didn’t hesitate for long. “As long as General Haig can adhere to our confidentiality procedures and help us place people in the U.S. Department of Defense, let her bring her girl over. I promise Ruby a position, but first I need to speak with her face to face.”

Stephanie nodded.

"Your schedule has been arranged. It'll be right after you pick up your cat from the vet in New York and have dinner with the witch (emphasis). Oh, and you don't know—" The secretary watched Salomon's expression shift from serious to astonishment, and finally to helplessness. She cheerfully continued, "A few hours ago, Ms. Bayonetta called, saying your cat had been taken to the vet because it vomited from overeating. Ms. Bayonetta needs you to pick up your cat from the vet because she's busy shopping for Christmas presents."

"Damn it."

"My lord, should I send someone to resolve this matter?"

"I'll go myself. And it'll be the same vet who spays the Cheshire cats, right?"

"Also, this is the gift list Ms. Bayonetta gave you. I personally think the witch has excellent taste; everything is fine except for not inviting me." Stephanie coughed twice, feigning seriousness. "If I may be so bold, you need to find a balance between family and life. My lord, my father faced this situation when he was young, and perhaps his experience can be helpful to you."

The esoteric master could not deny it.

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)