Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 886 Hallelujah (Second Update)

Kraft awoke from his dream, immediately sitting up on the carpeted steel floor. The ventilation ducts blasted cold air, but this offered no reassurance. Even though this was one of his rare peaceful sleeps, he was gripped by panic; his black, curly hair, stained with gunpowder and dust, clung to his forehead with cold sweat. Around him were many children of similar age, both boys and girls, unaware of their surroundings. The glaring white lights overhead and the still air created an atmosphere of terror.

Without exception, almost everyone waited anxiously for the final outcome. As a child living in a war zone, he had long heard about the actions of those foreign soldiers.

A piece of chocolate could buy the virginity of the village's most beautiful girl, and farmers had to grow poppies for meager rations. Every child was kept away from foreign soldiers, who could kill any local at any moment simply on "reasonable suspicion"—foreign soldiers would tie people to cannon barrels and kill them alive, indiscriminately fire on villages, and strip civilians naked and beat them. When Kaf and his companions were forced onto the plane's ramp at gunpoint, he thought this was his fate, but inside the plane stood only a few women in black armor and red robes, expressionlessly scrutinizing them, the lambs.

They were saying these things to them in a language that Kraft couldn't understand.

After the plane landed, Kaf was shoved and herded off the aircraft, escorted by soldiers down the ramp and into a vast space. Many planes were parked there, but the two women in black armor wouldn't let them stay, continuing to herd them until they were crammed into a huge room. The room had no windows, no furniture, and the bare steel floor was covered with bedding. There was no beating, no threat of death, but the people in white robes who entered the room afterward were even more unsettling. They drew blood from everyone, then distributed food, water, and candy. Kaf curled up, his arms tightly wrapped around his head. Fear gripped the hearts of all the children; without exception, they remembered the old man's words—that foreign soldiers would experiment on local children. In Kaf's mind, he would fall into a situation worse than being shot.

He didn't know how long he had slept, but he felt both hungry and thirsty. Just then, accompanied by the sound of grinding gears, the two terrifying women came in again.

“We were terrified just like that,” Tatiana whispered to her companion, her gaze sweeping over the children who were quietly pushing their way back. “But what’s worse is that we have to teach them Latin from scratch.”

“No, we need to get rid of their lice and fleas first,” the android said lazily. She tilted her head, as if sifting through the vast amount of knowledge she had been given. Kaf heard her begin to speak in the language of the neighboring village, then the language shifted and changed, finally settling on a tone Kaf heard most often. “Everyone, stand up,” the android said in off-key Persian. “That’s an order.”

The children got up from the ground in surprise and doubt, and many of them still feel weak in the knees.

"Girl, come this way."

Kaf heard the woman say that. He had originally intended to stand in front of the girl from his village, but the devilish gaze from that woman sent chills down his spine, and all the courage he had mustered vanished instantly. The beautiful Farah gave him a grateful look, then squeezed past him. The crowd began to churn, girls in various outfits were vomited out, and the android stood with his hands on his hips, satisfied with his spoils.

"You're a boy." She caught sight of a small figure in the line of girls. "I want a girl."

"I know," Kraft gritted his teeth, clenching his fists to keep from succumbing to fear. He didn't even know how he'd ended up among the girls. "What do you want to do to them!"

Kaf felt the air freeze after that. As the woman fell silent, a visible terror began to press down on his shoulders, almost crushing him, making him regret his impulsive decision. "Of course, we'll take them to bathe, clean them of their filth, and then change them into nice clothes." The android's lips curled into a smile. "You'll go through that process too, because my master doesn't like too many parasites entering his city."

Kraft didn't relax at that answer. "What do you want to do to us?"

"Nothing, because you are worthless to my master." The homunculus lowered its head, looking into Kaff's black eyes. "Perhaps you have witnessed the brutality of the soldiers we have killed, but the truth is we are different from them. We do not take pleasure in taking life. Your lives are worthless until you complete the education my master has given you. Some of you will become scholars, warriors, or clerks, and the girls are even qualified to be among us. But that is for the future. You still have much to learn. The only thing I am certain of right now is that you will get a good night's sleep every night and will not have to worry about hunger in the morning. Girls, come with me. My master does not like people wearing heretical clothing."

The sky carrier slowly sank into the huge whirlpool on the sea surface, and the giant steel gate slowly closed above the sky carrier, shutting out the seawater.

Hundreds of pre-arranged transport vehicles immediately began resupply operations, and Kraft and the children were herded off the sky carrier as part of the cargo. They reeked of soap, their previously filthy clothes replaced with simple white long-sleeved shirts, trousers, and disposable cloth shoes; their faces, once covered in dust and tears, were now clean. Only then did they realize where they had been, and the sight of standing directly beneath the massive sky war machine terrified many of the children, turning them pale.

"Come here." The android stretched out its arm to guide the children on their journey, and Kraft saw the long silver carriage waiting in the distance.

The children huddled together, as if hoping to gain courage. They slowly made their way into the undecorated carriage. Unsurprisingly, as the woman in black armor entered last, the carriage doors slammed shut, followed by the slow closing of the glass doors outside. A whooshing sound, like a giant beast inhaling, swept through the carriage. A highly mechanical, synthesized female voice instructed passengers to take their seats. This announcement was repeated dozens of times, and after confirming everyone was seated, the silver-white carriage slowly began to move.

Just ten seconds later, the train crashed into the pitch-black tunnel. The lights shining into the carriage from outside the tunnel flickered faster and faster, and the train's speed increased accordingly. The frequent flashing lights were dizzying, and the shrill announcements continued to blare incomprehensible words. The train was moving at an unbearable speed; if everyone hadn't been tightly strapped into their seats, they would likely have been seriously injured. Even with seatbelts, many children still experienced nausea and vomiting. Kaf didn't know how long the train had been traveling, because his mind was already reeling from the flashing lights. He felt as if he wasn't in the real world, but rather had fallen into hell.

"Five, four, three, two, one"

As the countdown began over the loudspeaker, the train slowly slowed down, and the vacuum train carried the children into a sea of ​​brilliant light. Through the thick, armored glass tunnel, Kaf saw tall, luminous buildings standing in a world as dark as if submerged in the deep sea. Bright searchlights pierced the towering rock domes that seemed to reach the sky. Even though Kaf had never taken any art classes, he could sense that every brick and stone here was filled with solemnity and elegance.

"Welcome to the Immortal City," the broadcast announced. "Hallelujah!"

Please vote! Can anyone figure out what reference this is?

(End of this chapter)