Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 923 The First Phase of the Secret War (First Update)

The initial starting point of what later became known as the "Secret War" came from a dungeon interrogation room in this underground Roman city.

After finding what they wanted, the interrogators, using their authority, re-interrogated the Skrulls imprisoned in the dungeon and, unsurprisingly, discovered something significant. The secretary, even as she was being led to the entrance of the Immortal City's dungeon, still didn't understand what was happening. However, she followed procedure and handed the report, its manila cover stamped with a deep red security classification seal, to a high-ranking intelligence analyst and an intelligence officer from the First Secret Service of Fimbulwinter. Immediately afterward, lights began to illuminate the windows of the intelligence building, which had previously only had staff on duty. Communication satellites relayed call requests to the communicators of officials at all levels within the intelligence department, and a group of sleepy-eyed intelligence officers in black uniforms emerged from the residential building.

Then the secretary was sent out of the intelligence department, her expression still one of utter confusion and bewilderment.

She carried the documents into the Ministry of the Interior building, where lights flickered on after a moment of silence, and calls were made to phones at all levels. The network of communications finally ended when Constantine of the Guard answered the phone. Constantine stood silently in the darkened office building, holding a tablet and browsing electronic interrogation reports. One report came from the First Secret Regiment of Fimbulwinter, one from the intelligence department, and one from the interrogation department; only when all three reports were completely consistent could they be considered credible—this report helped the Immortal City clarify what had happened after Carol Danvers led the Skrulls away from Earth. As had been predicted, no advanced alien civilization was willing to accept the Skrulls, not even those civilizations that could only colonize within their own star systems had heard of the Skrulls.

So at a rather awkward juncture, Carol Danvers returned the Kree orbital space station carrying the Skrulls, promising to help them find a new home. By then, the Skrull children on the orbital space station had all grown up, and the younger generation's desire to find a new home was far less intense than that of the older generation.

Nick Fury, then director of S.H.I.E.L.D., immediately grasped Carol Danvers's subtext. It was around that time that he conceived the idea of ​​establishing S.W.O.R.D. with Skrulls as its core staff. He judged that the Skrulls' search for a new home would not be smooth sailing, and that proved to be true.

Given Carol Danvers's experience on her first return to Earth, Nick Fury believed a certain degree of cooperation could be established with the Skrulls. However, just as he was a habitual secret-keeper, the Skrulls also harbored secrets—some of the newly formed Skrulls believed there was no need to search far for a new home; both ancient myths and reality indicated that this unassuming planet was the best colony for them. This dangerous sentiment spread widely after Carol Danvers's failure, but Nick Fury's old friends were still in charge of managing the Skrull population, thus regulating the actions of the younger Skrulls; a little populist sentiment wasn't a major issue.

It wasn't until years ago, when the Skrull who replaced Nick Fury was killed by Salomon, that the entire Skrull community reacted. Ideas including revenge and colonization gradually gained momentum. Furthermore, since Nick Fury hadn't actually integrated into Skrull management, many new-generation Skrulls used long-term missions as an excuse to remain on Earth. Some even abandoned their stated missions altogether, freely integrating into human society. To avoid arousing Nick Fury's suspicion and causing him to lose trust in the Skrulls, those responsible for managing them had to cover up the activities of these young Skrulls.

According to the intelligence compiled by Victoria Hand, Nick Fury was aware of this, but he underestimated the power and scale of the new generation of Skrulls. Just as he underestimated the anomalies within S.H.I.E.L.D., if things continued to develop this way, a Skrull rebellion similar to the Hydra rebellion was inevitable. After receiving the intelligence, Victoria Hand communicated with the Imperial Guard to determine the next course of action.

This is a life-or-death, clandestine war, and the Immortal City must emerge victorious.

"Intensify the interrogation and get to the bottom of everything." The Imperial Guard gave the interrogators the order directly. "Don't worry about casualties; these alien creatures are here to provide intelligence. Gouge out their eyes, sever their limbs, and let them taste the horrors of humanity."

"What is my lord's opinion?" Victoria Hand asked.

"I am the Hand of the Sovereign, and my authority comes from Him," Constantine said calmly. "Execute the order, mobilize all available personnel of the First Secret Regiment of Fimbulwinter, and I will personally lead the mission."

Secret War Phase One: The First Twenty Days

Nick Fury was urgently pulled from the dungeon. Instead of trying to persuade her old boss with words as usual, Victoria Hand slammed the intelligence report onto the interrogation table.

"The bitter fruit you've sown isn't just Hydra." Agent Hand glanced at Nick Fury, whose face was growing increasingly grim. "Deal with it, or we'll all die."

Secret War Phase One: The First Eighteen Days

The First Secret Service of Fimbulb Winter, disguised as New York SWAT, is breaking into an apartment building.

Prior to the operation, the Immortal City had already taken control of the surrounding network, rendering both telephone and internet access unusable. Furthermore, the artificial intelligence buried deep beneath the Immortal City controlled all nearby cameras, and patrolling police officers, guided by falsified radio messages, distanced themselves from the area to ensure that no unauthorized personnel obtained any intelligence regarding the operation.

The unsuspecting woman screamed in protest against the police's brutality before being dragged away by soldiers. The homeowner, however, was forced to his knees by two soldiers in black bulletproof armor. The lead soldier spoke to the man, and after obtaining the information he wanted, pulled out a pistol slung over his thigh and pulled the trigger on the man's head. This act, which could be described as an execution, completely exposed the man's true nature: his human skin began to shrink, his hair slowly receded, and greasy green skin with pale red stripes began to appear on his bald head. His ears also began to point, like those of an elf from a story. The soldiers immediately carried the body back to the armored vehicle and then poured acid on the Skrull's blood; the entire process took no more than three minutes.

This is the fifth Skrull hiding in New York that they executed today.

Meanwhile, another group of soldiers, having received the information, drove to a warehouse in the suburbs of New York City. They carried explosives and demolition equipment, intending to break down the warehouse's concrete floor. Several hours later, a complete human skeleton was discovered. A rapid forensic examination at the scene, along with other physical evidence, confirmed it to be the remains of a male, presumably the disguised male homeowner. After the soldiers left, the AI ​​anonymously contacted the New York City Police Department, informing them of the presence of remains in the warehouse. Police officers who were comforting the female homeowner also received the report and immediately took her to the Eighth Precinct, requesting her assistance in identifying the evidence.

"Only five Skrulls in New York?" Salomon stroked his chin. "Fewer than I thought. I assumed most Skrulls preferred to live in big cities."

Victoria Hand ignored the monarch's digression. "We've tracked down more Skrulls through their communications records disguised as humans," the intelligence chief said gravely. "But our operations are far too inefficient. The timing of our actions is extremely critical to ensure the aliens don't abduct humans as hostages."

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(End of this chapter)