Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 780 The Aftermath of the Bar Brawl (Second Update)

"I'm sorry, Fitz, the clue you requested has been dissolved by the seawater." Daisy dried her wet hair with a towel. She and Fitz spoke through thick tempered glass, supposedly to prevent the spread of parasites through the air; all the air in the room had to be filtered and heated before being exchanged.

Because she had recently been in the icy seawater, Daisy wasn't wearing her usual black tank top; instead, she was wrapped tightly in a thick blanket. Daisy looked somewhat remorseful. "As for Joseph Haddad, I'm sorry, he's sunk into the sea."

"It's fine, one picture is enough." Fitz pointed to his tablet, completely unconcerned about Joseph Haddad's fate. According to the original quarantine procedures, he wasn't allowed to use electronic devices, but Agent Coulson argued that Fitz could work from within the isolation ward. Salomon said he didn't care; as long as the quarantine regulations were followed, he didn't care about anything else.

“I once saw a book in the Bodleian Library, and I think I can still borrow it now,” Fitz said. “That monolith has a very long history, leaving many traces in human history. From Germanic tribes to the Hundred Years’ War, from the Napoleonic Wars to England, that parchment can only prove that the monolith originated in the Middle East. As for how the monolith arrived in Europe, I have no way of speculating without any historical evidence.”

"Could you...could you point out which book it is so we can find a clue?" Daisy spread her hands and shrugged. "At least we'll have to wait until the bathroom is free. I'll take a hot shower before we leave."

"I can't do that. I just looked up some information when I was bored in school," Fitz said, indicating that he couldn't help. "I'm not a professional historian, and Simmons has never been involved in any subject outside of biology."

"A historian? I just remembered someone!" Daisy jumped up with a laugh. "Damn! I should have known! Do you remember that Asgardian, Professor Randolph, the one with the berserker's staff? I'm sure he knows something!"

Norway boasts arguably the world's best and most humane prisons. Harden Prison, for example, features woodlands, a chapel, a gym, activity rooms, a clinic, a library, and a greenhouse. It's fully equipped with sofas and appliances, and the mattresses in the cells are as soft as feathers. Professor Randolph was incredibly envious; he desperately wanted to be imprisoned in such a place. When the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents found him, he was in a cell far removed from his expectations. There were no soft mattresses, no gym or television, no bathtub or hot springs. The guards could only bring him a large number of books to pass the time—for a simple reason: Professor Randolph's offenses were merely drunken disorderly conduct, unfit for a five-star prison for serious offenders.

Professor Randolph didn't want anyone to find him. He repeatedly stated that he wanted to spend the rest of his life in a higher-security prison and never come out again. He also told the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents this, and no matter how Daisy and Coulson tried to persuade him, Professor Randolph refused to leave his cell.

"You've only had a few drinks, maybe even assaulted a police officer, and you'll be out in a few months," Coulson said. "Why do you want to stay in jail?"

"To be precise, I drank all the wine." Randolph's head ached at the thought of what had happened, and he wanted to have a couple more sips to try and forget what had transpired. "Even if the Asgardians have a high tolerance for alcohol, it's no use; all the wine I've stored for a hundred years has been drunk up."

"Why?" Daisy asked. "Why did you suddenly drink all the wine?"

"I just got into a fight at a bar. I had a bit too much to drink that day," Professor Randolph said, pointing to his swollen eye socket, where the SHIELD agents could see the broken skin. According to the files, the bar brawl had occurred at least a week prior. This surprised Coulson; he didn't know who had beaten Professor Randolph so badly in close combat, nor why the small wound around his eye was taking so long to heal. Before Coulson could even ask, Professor Randolph, being an Asgardian, immediately began boasting about his fight—a common trait among Asgardians—after a fight, they had to brag.

"I got into a fight with a one-eyed old man."

"That's it?" Daisy asked. "You've never fought before, have you? Aren't you Asgardian?"

"Yes, but the other party is... never mind, never mind. Anyway, I drank too much that day, and then I drank all the wine in my collection." Professor Randolph visibly slumped in frustration. "I will absolutely not step out of prison, and you can forget about it."

Seeing that Professor Randolph's attitude was becoming increasingly resolute, Agent Coulson finally decided to resolve the issue.

"I remember you were on the run, Professor Randolph," he said. "Unfortunately, I have some connections with you Asgardians."

"if……"

"This little iron fence won't stop you, Professor Randolph. Unless you're willing to help us, we'll find a portal to send you back to Asgard." Agent Coulson raised an eyebrow, looking very confident. "I can guess with my toes what the Asgardians think of deserters, especially a deserter like you who's been on the run for over a hundred years."

Professor Randolph grinned, his expression full of mockery. "That threat won't work on me, Coulson. I think they already knew I was on Earth."

"I promise I didn't, otherwise Ms. Sif would have taken you away months ago."

“I mean, they found out after that bar brawl,” Professor Randolph said. “I’m done for. You’d better get out of here and bring me some more drinks. I’m going to die. My heart will be pierced by a spear, and you’ll see my head chopped off and impaled on a spear. I’m a deserter, and my soul will never return to Valhalla; it will only suffer in Helheim. This is my end, Coulson. Don’t bother me; let me face death in peace.”

"Who could do this to you?" Coulson asked. "This is Earth; nothing can hurt you here."

"Your human regimes are weak and feeble, mere vassals of Asgard. My king has the right to exercise all the powers he was born with here, and he will bring me punishment. Go now, I have summoned some friends and students to see them one last time. Do not disturb me, Coulson, if you have any compassion left."

The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were filled with despair, especially Coulson. He knew how to resolve the issue, but he also knew that the trouble it would bring might be beyond what S.H.I.E.L.D. could currently handle.

"I know someone who can help you solve this problem," he sighed. He first comforted the dejected Professor Randolph, then turned to Daisy Jensen and Melinda May.

"Don't even think about it." Melinda May, who had remained silent since entering the prison, suddenly spoke up. "If you insist on going your own way, I will absolutely not help you solve your problems anymore. You saw what happened to S.H.I.E.L.D. after he came once; we're out of manpower."

Coulson gave an awkward laugh.

"What do you mean?" Daisy looked around. She slowly gleaned something from Coulson's expression, and understanding everything, she immediately expressed strong resistance. "Seriously? Do we really have to find that arrogant megalomaniac?"

"It seems that only he and Professor Randolph can help us solve this problem right now," Coulson said. "It won't be like last time, Daisy. We're just asking him to help write an official letter; we won't let him interfere in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s internal affairs."

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(End of this chapter)