Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 785 Doing Everything Personally (First Update)

Stephanie rang the doorbell and waited. She was no stranger to New York penthouses, but this was her first time visiting Salomon's New York residence; last time, she had only entered Salomon's walk-in closet through a portal. His previous decision meant he would have to attend fewer university classes, but that didn't mean he could detach himself from his official duties in the Immortal City. Stephanie brought many documents he had requested, all necessary for his work from home.

Dina, dressed in a short dress, opened the door for her. Stephanie silently observed the physique and clothing of the first android created, rather than the paintings hanging in the hallway or the seemingly casually placed marble sculptures, trying to fathom Salomon's true taste. Dina didn't say a word, leading her straight through the hallway—she glimpsed two scantily clad, beautiful women in an open room, vinyl records playing music from the 1950s, while another room was filled with equipment typically found in chemistry labs. Some rooms were even larger than the entire apartment, while others, even with their curtains open, remained dark, and chilling screams could be faintly heard from the shadows. Stephanie quickly followed the maid, and after passing several closed doors and stepping over a fat gray cat lying arrogantly in the middle of the hallway, Dina led her to the study, where Stephanie met the sorcerer in his pajamas.

Stephanie took a deep breath quietly.

"Perfect timing, dear Stephanie." Salomon twirled his pen, his energetic eyes crinkling with amusement. "I spent the whole morning studying finance and then I completely discovered how fascinating this numbers game is." Even as he spoke, his peripheral vision didn't leave the computer screen, where the fluctuating numbers and curves represented the wealth of billions. "The likelihood of a Fed rate hike is increasing. Continuing to inject liquidity will only lead to another economic crisis, causing the assets of the wealthy to shrink. This is absolutely unacceptable. Therefore, we should short the stock market and convert the money into the goods we truly need," he said. "I believe we can buy up commodities next year, including oil, food, precious metals, and industrial metals."

"That's the role of hiring agents—to make money for you instead of doing it yourself."

"I know, I know, micromanaging isn't a good thing, but I just want to have some fun." Salomon smiled at Stephanie's accusations. "The thought of taking down those Jewish tycoons like Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase just gets my hands itchy. I know these companies are American investors, and they could even get the SEC to investigate me, but so what? By the time they realize what's happening, I'll already be back to wreaking havoc in the stock market under a different identity!"

"You'll make things quite awkward for me when I take you to the banquet at Columbia University, my lord. Those Jews from the Frankfurt School are representatives of the financial magnates. The various theories they propose are all designed to help the magnates make more money. Even the Malik family has to maintain good relations with them." Stephanie frowned, handing the documents to the sorcerer and covering the parchment covered with geometric patterns and complex runes that were dizzying to look at. "Our infiltration plan is progressing far too slowly. The assets that the Immortal City has seized are simply not enough to shake the magnates' control over the world."

"Eighty percent of Immortal City's budget goes to military spending, Stephanie." Salomon's gaze puzzled the Hydra's daughter. "While those tycoons convert their wealth into stocks, mansions, yachts, jewelry, and lavish parties, Immortal City converts it into airplanes, tanks, firearms, ammunition, training its army, and all sorts of high-tech weaponry. No matter how tightly the tycoons and military-industrial complexes are bound together, they can never truly possess an army. The crackdown on the Clinton family's private army proves that Immortal City is worlds apart from the tycoons. They are tycoons, and we are warlords. If we put a gun to their heads, then we're in charge."

“That’s too harsh and inappropriate. Have you forgotten how Kennedy died?” Stephanie said. “We already have controlling stakes in several banks and investment firms, and we need to maintain at least a facade of cooperation for the benefit of the Immortal City.”

After considering all the variables, Stephanie ruled out the Avengers. Unless they were caught red-handed, the Avengers had no reason to attack Immortal City, and part of the intelligence department's job was to erase evidence, including any information about Salomon—even if they were caught, Natasha Romanoff, as an informant within the Avengers, could provide assistance. However, Stephanie didn't like that unreliable double agent; she preferred the methods used by Hydra agents: assassination, bribery—whatever worked, efficiency was paramount.

"It's indeed inappropriate; we haven't publicly declared war yet." Salomon nodded. "I'm just reminding you to think about it differently. Our previous actions have prevented the US intelligence agencies from acting as watchdogs for the tycoons. Perhaps some Middle Eastern terrorist organization will admit to it, and then the US will launch another war to stimulate the economy. But that's a matter for the future. Even before the war starts, we can prepare and then consume the US military funding and supplies. After all, we can't let those tycoons eat the meat while we only get the fat that hasn't even been cooked yet. Sit next to me and let me see what happened after I got off work yesterday."

"After you finish reading this, you have to tell me why you had someone forge a battle axe."

"Well... I can't go to Europe right now, but that doesn't mean I can't participate in some activities for the local people in New York or on other planets. The new blood of the Sorority needs training, Zero needs training, and the other candidates for the Royal Guard also need training after their surgery and the nurturing of the Time Stone," he said. "I sent them to other planets to use time dilation to give them time to train, which is knowledge that teaching machines can't teach. When it comes to chopping people up, nothing is simpler and more direct than an axe, and I need to relax a bit too."

"Then what are those?"

"Oh, those are sweaters I knitted myself!" Salomon proudly raised his chin. Although the color scheme of the furs was somewhat ugly, he didn't care, instead calling it art. He found the term "postmodern art" quite useful, and it was no wonder that a group of technically inept painters could use it to justify themselves.

"I'm also planning to give you one! Pick a color yourself, and I'll knit you a glove."

"Please don't do that, my lord," Stephanie sighed. "Take a good look at the finances. Funding Laura Crawford will cost a fortune, and could even lead to charges of vandalism. If you want to preserve history, this money alone could build a small museum. I don't understand what's so important about her. Is it her figure?"

"Don't be angry, my dear secretary, money has never been an issue. Laura Crawford certainly has her important qualities, but now is not the time," Salomon said. "Once the mining ships on Mars are built, we can go mining in the asteroid belt. If you can't wait, then I'll hand over a portion of Kamar-Taj's secular assets to you to manage right now."

"Alright, let's talk about General Hale. Tomorrow is the day of negotiations, so we should think about how to make the most of her."

Damn it, the writers of The Witcher Season 2 blocked me.

(End of this chapter)