Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 989 Dungeon Exploration (First Update)

The Immortal City's dungeon lies two hundred meters diagonally beneath the magnificent Gothic tower of the Ministry of the Interior. Originally built by the Brotherhood of the Shield at least five hundred years ago, it served as a confinement facility for dangerous prisoners and the storage of hazardous equipment. Thick vibranium and granite isolate the dungeon from the outside world, making the vaults of all the world's banks seem as fragile as a glass window that could be easily shattered with a knuckle.

After taking over, Salomon personally designed and transformed the place. He used powerful engineering machinery to further expand and reinforce it, turning it into a dungeon within a dungeon—though he was reluctant to admit it, Maya Hansen, the first official employee of the Immortal City, had the privilege of witnessing her superior wielding a shovel, casting a spell on a large rock wall, turning it into soil, and then digging extensively. At the time, Salomon had no resources and had to do many things himself. He even humorously claimed that this was "another feat after commanding the seventy-two demons to build the temple."

The modified dungeon is a labyrinthine web, requiring mastery of the correct navigability and navigating through layers of security checkpoints to navigate the rooms housing guards and find the platform leading to the dungeon's core without getting lost. However, reaching the core level doesn't mean the end. Every passage, regardless of length, is equipped with heavy bolt-action machine guns, controlled by independently operating rudimentary artificial intelligence. Anyone who shouldn't be here will face a terrifying metal storm.

In addition, alchemical war machines, restricted only by the Royal Guard and the Immortal City's monarch, patrol in concealed locations. Salomon has devoted considerable effort to developing these alchemical machines, which initially possessed only sharp blades and limbs, into their current form with powerful melee capabilities and firepower. One of his achievements is a small electromagnetic cannon capable of instantly accelerating to Mach 20. He has also personally cast and fixed magic within the alloy corridor to summon hunters from the unseen world, constantly roaming the invisible realm to hunt down enemies attempting to infiltrate. If Robbie Reyes were to leave his cell, he would face terrifying hounds from another world.

Only a select few in the world have the authority to enter this dungeon. After receiving temporary access, Wanda Maximov was led by an expressionless Ministry of the Interior official in a black uniform through a gold-inlaid obsidian door deep within the Ministry of the Interior tower, and descended into the earth's core along hundreds of spiraling steps in the dry, cold air.

The further she descended, the colder the air became. Her breath condensed into white mist, shimmering under the bright, cold lights. She rubbed her hands together as she walked down, through the passageway outside the staff level, and after genetic coding authentication, arrived at the steel platform spanning the center of the stairs. A tall figure in a deep red robe stood with his back to her, gripping the handrail and intently gazing down into the bottomless darkness. Cold air drifted upwards from the man-made abyss, and the cold lights embedded in the rough rock walls seemed endless, like a star-studded night sky.

"You didn't apply in advance," the man said.

“I know, but I think Robbie Reyes deserves to know something about himself. How much worse can his situation get?” Wanda Maximov walked over. She raised her head, her face defiant. “Do you really think it’s a blessing for him to be kept in the dark?”

Those eyes, capable of piercing the darkness, turned and gazed at her. Contrary to her expectations, Wanda didn't see cold reproach or anger in those eyes; only the usual gentleness. Wanda secretly breathed a sigh of relief—the deeper she became involved in the affairs of the Immortal City, the more she realized her teacher wasn't as gentle as she had imagined. That ultimate ideal was so heavy, the events he faced so cruel, and he had to harden his heart to confront those dark prospects. He was a man with a cold heart, but his occasional bursts of humor and jokes always managed to dispel those chilling shadows.

"You think I'm blaming you?" Salomon tied a red scarf around her neck. "This is what I've accomplished today. I always need to do something with my hands while I'm reading, so I knitted a scarf."

"Isn't that so?" She pressed her hand to the thick scarf at her chest, feeling the warmth it provided despite its lack of elegance. Wanda's tone gradually softened. "I see an increasingly heavy darkness in Constantine. His ways are completely different from yours. Although I can't read his mind, I don't believe he would disobey your orders. He would only do so because of your will."

"If possible, please consider him as a human being with an independent personality. He's just evolved a bit too advanced." Salomon lowered his head, looking directly into Wanda's eyes. "Constantine's behavior patterns depend on his education. The education the Royal Guard received inevitably leaves psychological residue; after all, his brain was thoroughly cleansed. He needs time to gradually fill in his own personality. I have no intention of turning him into a cold-blooded robot. If I wanted him to do that, I might as well create autonomous combat robots to serve as Royal Guard members. Wouldn't that be better? I assure you, Constantine will eventually become a normal person capable of rational thought; all he needs is time."

"So, his actions weren't entirely under your orders?"

“Of course, I only give him the goals; how he achieves them is not my concern. He is capable of choosing the method he deems appropriate,” Salomon said. “But I suggest you pay attention to your own performance on the mission. Your mistake was that three-hour standoff on the Los Angeles highway; you could have done much better instead of letting Constantine clean up your mission. Immortal City’s public confrontation with S.H.I.E.L.D. violates my current strategy and will force Immortal City to face some additional pressure. Also, you arranged my meeting with Robbie Reyes without my consent, which greatly displeased the Witches. I promised to accompany them on vacation.”

Wanda took a deep breath, guilt churning in her heart like rolling blades.

"I'm so sorry," she said sincerely, "and about the repair shop too."

Salomon didn't answer immediately. He knew Wanda had already asked Victoria Hand to give her allowance to the repair shop owner in the name of the insurance company. While the allowance he gave Wanda wasn't as generous as that of the CEOs of internet companies or industrial groups, it was still much more than that of many senior bank executives.

"Apologize when you see Bayonetta and Joan of Arc. As for the person who helped you with the other matter, you can meet her on the top floor of the Interior Ministry tower. Stephanie had to use her connections and concede many benefits to barely cover up the lie that the Immortal City was a Congressional Black Ops squad. You'll understand how hard she's worked once you see her." After a while, the sorcerer said softly, "Don't waste time. Come with me to see Robbie Reyes. I'll let him know what he needs to know. There won't be a next time, Wanda. Next time you'll need to complete the mission alone; no one will help you this time."

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(End of this chapter)