Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 941 Lizardman Conspiracy Theory (First Update)

The clearing of the Skrull settlements in North America was a partial victory in the first phase of the secret war, followed by a search for Skrull influence across Eurasia. This was not an evenly matched contest; the Immortal City deployed a powerful war machine, implementing stringent counter-espionage measures, with reconnaissance satellites and even space stations operating at full capacity for execution and destruction. In Victoria Hand's initial plans, launching an offensive against the Skrull settlements in North America was strongly discouraged, as it would alert Skrulls in other countries who had infiltrated high-level governments or corporate leadership.

There's a well-known conspiracy theory in the United States that politicians and tycoons are all reptilian beings, cold-blooded creatures with green skin. The origins of this conspiracy theory are lost to history and are considered absurd, but it's not entirely unfounded. Many years ago, a Skrull who infiltrated high-ranking government officials was indeed witnessed removing his disguise. This Skrull eventually disappeared from the media spotlight completely, using an office sex scandal as an opportunity, and went into hiding in Skrull communities in North America.

Then this urban legend began to spread through misinformation and became more and more widespread.

From a certain perspective, the lizard man conspiracy theory isn't entirely wrong. The Skrulls do possess reptilian genes, so calling them lizards wouldn't be entirely wrong. The reason it has become a conspiracy theory on par with the flat Earth theory and the Finnish hypothesis is purely due to people's habit of embellishing things, conflating lizard men with concepts like the deep state government, coupled with years of indoctrination, which has caused the truth to be submerged in the vast ocean of information.

Other individuals and organizations may still have questions about the inexplicable wildfires in Southern California, but any Skrull living on Earth, even without intelligence exchange among their own kind, would immediately understand what this meant simply by seeing the news—it meant that an Earthly force had discovered them and was carrying out a large-scale massacre of the Skrulls, and was very well prepared. At this point, the Skrulls posing as high-ranking government officials and financial executives would undoubtedly use all available resources to investigate the true culprit behind this incident, while simultaneously using their media outlets to release fabricated wildfire investigation results.

They will be the creatures most eager for the truth, so the hooks of the Immortal City await their prey.

"I have to go to a meeting in Washington, so I'll keep it short. Thank you, Diana, but I don't need to take off my coat; I'll be leaving soon." After dinner, the Witch's Apartment welcomed an unexpected guest. Stephanie, escorted by the sorority, entered the apartment. As soon as she entered, she saw the witch and the sorceress curled up on the living room sofa watching a TV series. A warm atmosphere enveloped her, and she could even smell the witch's perfume.

This made her a little nervous.

She was dressed in a pure white women's suit, looking neat and efficient. She raised the folder in her hand with the excitement of someone who had gripped the throat of an enemy.

"Military-industrial complexes, pharmaceutical companies, banks, and other conglomerate families hold shares in each other and form intermarriages, creating an extremely stable symbiotic relationship. If you're trying to find the Skrulls on the European continent through the forces that are pushing the State Department, the military, and the intelligence agencies to investigate the Southern California wildfires, it will take a very long time to unravel their relationships. But—"

"I like the word 'but,' but everything before that word is bullshit."

"—I know these people's rules, so the Malik family found a lead, someone who shouldn't be curious about the Southern California wildfires. This lead traced back to Saudi Arabia. We don't have any agents available in the Middle East, so we have to rely on the internet to track them. It might be a coincidence, or it might just be concerns about investments, but we have reason to suspect that the Skrulls have infiltrated the Saudi royal family and are regularly traveling between the Saudi Arabian Peninsula and Washington. I'll be meeting the suspect during this meeting to discuss shale gas investments. I need two plainclothes bodyguards to assist me, my lord."

Stephanie was clever; instead of mobilizing the Malik family's armed forces or using her authority to mobilize the forces of the Immortal City, she requested Salomon to build defensive measures for her. Constantine gave her a deep look and raised her assessment level slightly.

“Sure, the Sorority can mobilize.” Salomon could see Stephanie without even peeking out of the sofa. Constantine Basil, clad in power armor, shrugged, indicating that Stephanie indeed had a heavy responsibility. Salomon turned to Stephanie, who was standing in the entryway, and added, “Besides that, there’s a black-armored interrogator and an assassin. If the black-armored interrogator confirms that the other party is indeed a Skrull, then the assassin will infiltrate the private jet of an Arab prince whose whereabouts are unknown. If necessary, we can capture him directly.”

"You're planning to kidnap the prince?" Stephanie exclaimed in surprise. "I was just going to question him a bit."

“Yes, hijack him directly from the plane and send assault transport ships to pick him up. If he is a Skrull in disguise, then we must take action,” Salomon said. “There are probably more princes than dogs on the peninsula. A plane crash won’t cause any diplomatic conflict, and besides, such trash contributes nothing to human society; their existence only increases carbon emissions. Whether the Skrulls want to escape or fight back, we have ways to find their funding chains, which will give us more clues. I want to remind you that you are my assistant, and your life is no longer your own. Take the brooch I gave you; I fear our adversaries are prepared and won’t engage in direct confrontation.”

Stephanie hurriedly left, taking the two Sorority operatives from the next room to board the assault transport boat. The armored interrogator had already arrived in New York via the teleportation portal, and Stephanie's car would take her to the safe house to meet him. The assassin's location was top secret; Stephanie only knew that one assassin had been awakened. Although strict security checks would be conducted upon entering the White House, and the Sorority operatives in power armor certainly wouldn't be able to get in, even the Sorority androids in pencil skirts and unarmed could take down many armed adult men, so Stephanie's safety would be quite assured.

"She's very happy." Bayonetta toyed with Salomon's fingers, a dangerous smirk playing on her lips. Jeanne also took a fork from the cake, ready to stab him in the thigh at any moment. Even the Cheshire Cat jumped off the sofa, its fluffy tail trailing behind it, and darted off to another room, as if it didn't want to stay in the living room for even a second longer.

"A brooch? A gift?"

Constantine quietly left the apartment and closed the door, the servo motors in the power armor's joints making no sound. Sometimes Constantine wondered if the reason the Royal Guard's power armor used silent vibranium alloy servo motors wasn't for stealth assassinations, but rather to avoid disturbing the monarch's family life. He had to admit, he quite liked seeing the monarch in the apartment; only there did he experience the emotions a human being should have.

He was not at all worried about the monarch's personal safety; such things happened every day.

"Security measures. The Immortal City is short of manpower, and Hydra is an important ally."

"Relax, I'm not that unreasonable. But do you remember when you last gave us a gift, hmm?" The witch's grip was surprisingly strong, even a magically enhanced body couldn't withstand it. Faint red finger marks gradually appeared on Salomon's palm. "Answer carefully, little boy, it concerns where you'll sleep tonight."

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)