Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 906 Recruitment Process (Second Update)

"An underground city?" Nick Fury raised an eyebrow, using his remaining eye to examine the towering rock dome.

Through the Brotherhood of the Shield's unparalleled mystical craftsmanship, the rocky dome is etched with a dazzling star map, driven by intricate machinery and synchronized with the cosmos in real time. Below, magnificent Gothic buildings rise, visible to Nick Fury and the other S.W.O.R.D. prisoners as they are transported out of the station. The largest structures in the underground city are the Department of the Interior, the Sisterhood Abbey, and the Tower of Kings, their complex occupying a quarter of the city's area. As they gaze upon this unprecedented underground city, the high-speed vacuum freight trains behind them continue to churn through cargo and personnel, delivering raw materials for manufacturing ammunition and weapons to the surrounding complexes.

"This city was originally meant for you, but you've disappointed me." Salomon unlocked Nick Fury's handcuffs, simultaneously ordering agents to escort the other S.W.O.R.D. prisoners to the dungeon. "This place was originally inhabited by the Brotherhood of the Shield, the precursor to S.H.I.E.L.D. Howard Stark was a member of this organization, along with other unparalleled sages in history such as Isaac Newton, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Zhang Heng." The sorcerer extended his hand, gesturing for Nick Fury to join him as they descended the steps. "They decided to form an organization, relying on their wisdom to protect humanity and guide it towards a brighter future."

"What happened?"

"They failed." Salomon's demeanor made it hard to believe that he had orchestrated a massacre just hours before. He now appeared remarkably mild-mannered, even somewhat docile, like a shy young university professor. Many Interior Ministry administrators in their red and black robes hurried past him, carrying their office supplies. They were heading to the hangar by train, and then, with the aid of the Sky Carrier and assault transport ships, to work at a space station. With Salomon deliberately concealed, ordinary people would completely ignore his and Nick Fury's presence.

"Limited by their own ambitions, vision, lifespan, and knowledge, they ended their own future to prevent the destruction of humanity," he said. "As you might imagine, Howard Stark established S.H.I.E.L.D. after the Brotherhood of the Shield's destruction in an attempt to continue the mission, but he failed again. S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn't survive the Hydra rebellion, so I decided to take over the Brotherhood of the Shield myself."

"I doubt Stark provided this technology. He probably wouldn't like steam technology," Nick Fury said, pointing to the airship hovering below the rocky dome. The airship possessed technology out of step with its time; high-pressure steam was transported to its engines through brass pipes, and Nick Fury could even see the propellers. A golden eagle emblem adorned the airship's black canvas, and six anti-aircraft guns and two missile bays on either side of the hull were always pointed towards the city below.

"That's a relic of the Brotherhood of the Shield. This airship crashed during the final battle, and after I repaired it, I put it on patrol duty," Salomon laughed smugly. That airship was the first one he discovered, and it was the large toy he worked on repairing in his spare time. He tried to preserve the airship's appearance as much as possible, but since it was ultimately used as a patrol vehicle, its interior was already filled with modern technology. He donated this large toy to the Royal Guard, and Constantine would spend his free time on it, along with his anti-gravity hover jet motorcycle and hundreds of reconnaissance drones.

This is also why the airship was able to get above the Ministry of the Interior building; people living in the Immortal City often see swarms of drones flying around.

"I'll show you around the city and authorize you to see some secrets, to see the true face of the Skrulls and who our enemies really are. After that, you'll be locked up with them," Salomon said. "But don't worry, the Immortal City's prison is more humane than private prisons in America, and it's paradise compared to Guantanamo. Also, I'm glad you didn't use that pager, otherwise this wouldn't have been so easy to resolve."

After a moment, Salomon added, "I look forward to working with Nick Fury."

Victoria Hand's expression was rather unpleasant; anyone would have the same look when facing their former boss.

"I'm glad you're still alive, Agent Hand," Nick Fury said, taking the file. "I know a lot of agents have died."

"I died too, but I was brought back to life." Victoria Hand rolled her eyes. As the head of intelligence, she was responsible for showing her former superior some of the classified documents she was allowed to view, including the London sewer vampire extermination operation, the New York sewer magical black market, the extermination of extradimensional creatures in Hell's Kitchen, and the first half of the Finnblende campaign. Even with access to the files, Victoria Hand still didn't unlock her former superior's handcuffs, no matter how much Nick Fury hinted—two members of the Sixth Assault Team of the First Secret Regiment of Finnblende stood behind Nick Fury with guns drawn, and the files the former director of S.H.I.E.L.D. was seeing were from the battles they had experienced.

"The monarch has prepared a single cell for you." Agent Victoria Hand poured herself and Nick Fury a glass of sherry. "There's a television, books, and a certain amount of freedom of movement. Those... aliens who came with you, their fate wasn't so good."

"You guys really have super soldiers here? I remember seeing a three-meter-tall guy in golden armor, could that be Salomon's research?" Nick Fury said. "And why are you calling him Lord?"

"The existence of super soldiers is absolutely necessary to cope with the increasingly brutal battlefields. After stripping away personal emotions, they will devote themselves entirely to the mission." Agent Hand took a sip of sherry. "You haven't seen his power, Nick Fury. The power he displayed during the Battle of New York was just the tip of the iceberg. A man like him... is practically a god walking among men."

"I didn't know you still had superstitious beliefs."

“I know that since the Asgardians appeared, the word ‘god’ has lost its value. But if you saw what I saw, you would think the same thing.” Victoria Hand glanced at her watch. “You have half an hour left. Hurry up. There are no human relationships in this city, only rules. As long as you follow the rules, you can survive. I know you’re restless, but your cell isn’t just imprisoned in the physical world; the measures in the intangible world are just as powerful. Don’t try anything funny; only then can you come out alive and work with us.”

"So, even if I surrender and join you, I'll still be subject to supervision?"

Victoria Hand didn't want to answer that stupid question. Just as she finished her fourth glass of sherry, it was time for Nick Fury to review the files. Almost instantly, the First Class Team of Fimbulb Winter ruthlessly dragged the former Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. from his chair and presented him to Agent Hand. Victoria Hand didn't stop him; instead, she poured herself her fifth glass of sherry.

"I don't remember you ever having such a high alcohol tolerance."

"Because my power requires me to work, I've been given a makeover." She stood up. "Let me show you your new room."

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)