Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 990 Anti-American Warrior and the Gifted Mind Reader (Second Update)

Although Salomon calmly summarized her mission's mistakes, consequences, and remedial measures, Wanda knew that beneath that calm tone lay a level of social maneuvering unimaginable to most. To expedite the secret talks and agreements, the Immortal City poured in a tremendous amount of resources.

All of this stemmed from her recklessness and her half-hearted attempt to complete the retrieval mission.

Even though Salomon didn't blame her, she still felt incredibly guilty, let alone the prospect of facing Stephanie Malik, the head of the Interior Department, later. She had little to do with this Hydra daughter to begin with, and the thought of apologizing made her even more awkward. As she followed Salomon towards her cell, she was preoccupied with figuring out how to start a conversation, completely ignoring the alchemical robots in the corridor and the shadow hounds visible only through second-person vision, and failing to notice the armed drones huddled like roosting ravens in the corner ceiling.

If Salomon hadn't been holding her sleeve and guiding her along a safe path, she would likely have been caught off guard by an attack. Salomon noticed that she didn't have a single trigger spell on her, which was quite unusual—though it could also be due to her extremely relaxed state around Salomon, leading to her neglect. Salomon frowned and thought for a moment, finally deciding to subtly remind her without hurting her pride when leaving.

Every spellcaster entering a dangerous area must be prepared to retaliate, regardless of who is around them. After all, casting spells is not as simple as picking up a gun and pulling the trigger; each spellcasting begins with assembling parts. Instantly casting a counter-spell is still somewhat difficult for Wanda; she is not yet skilled enough to assemble the weapon she needs with her eyes closed. Moreover, a spellcaster's mind is never associated with the word "relaxation." Even on vacation, Salomon maintains his mental defenses—this is another major reason why, besides his improved mental fortitude, Salomon's emotional fluctuations have become less frequent with age. He is used to those around him maintaining a calm attitude; only apprentices at Kamar-Taj headquarters and immature individuals would exhibit such a boisterous behavior.

In his eyes, Wanda Maximov was still some distance from achieving spiritual maturity. Even so, her progress was astonishing, far surpassing the learning pace of the two future candidates who would join Kamar-Taj. Salomon wouldn't blame her; she still had much to learn, and all the mistakes she had made before were nourishment. Just as Constantine needed social experiences with ordinary people to perfect his personality, Wanda Maximov also needed the nourishment of mistakes to grow, just as Salomon himself had made in the past.

However, his claim to Wanda that he had no time to waste was not an empty boast. On the very day he picked up little Lorna from her private high school in New York, he went to the Avengers headquarters for a long talk with Steve Rogers—although he had never been a big fan of the Avengers, Captain Rogers was, besides Natasha Romanoff, the person Salomon was most closely connected with. First, he gave her books, then they discussed ideals, all in an attempt to recruit this World War II soldier.

As a staunch anti-fascist fighter, Salomon persuades Steve Rogers to delve into the Immortal City's long-standing operations across Eastern Europe, hoping to dispel his misunderstandings about the Immortal City following the East Coast earthquake. An assault transport will take him to eastern Ukraine, where he will join the Sisterhood's Assault and Heavy Weapons Squad, the Sisterhood's Heavy Armored Regiment, and the First Secret Special Operations Squad of the Fimbulwinter. Intelligence will reveal to him the truth behind those horrific genocide events and the flow of funds.

As long as Steve Rogers witnesses things he thought could never happen again, Captain America will become Captain Anti-America. After the Avengers are shattered, Immortal City will gain a like-minded partner, a champion of humanity. Salomon wants Steve Rogers to be that "dissenting voice" beside him, a reminder to himself and the code of conduct of Immortal City not to be too cruel and callous.

Salomon placed his hand on the electronic lock outside the cell door, and the highest level of access immediately overrides the lower-level commands.

When he opened the alloy door, Robbie Reyes was already standing in the center of the cell waiting for him. Compared to the man in the mission footage, Robbie Reyes looked much more haggard. Perhaps due to his astonishing height or some other reason, Salomon noticed that the new Ghost Rider appeared quite tense both in expression and body language upon first meeting him. He only relaxed slightly when he saw Wanda Maximoff following behind Salomon.

"I've come to see you, Robbie Reyes. What would you like to know?"

Lorna Dayne sat in her seat, staring wide-eyed as the little girl beside her reached out her greasy hand and took the crispy bacon from her plate. She knew her brother had left the manor in the early hours of the morning and wouldn't return until breakfast. She had assumed Salomon had gone to the Immortal City on some business and would bring her a gift as usual—but now it seemed the gift was beyond her expectations; little did she know that today's gift was a bacon thief in a skirt.

The girl looked to be no more than five or six years old. According to her bodyguard, Dina, Salomon had carried her off an assault transport ship. In other words, she was a child from the Immortal City, most likely a war orphan or the child of a prostitute—the Immortal City's refugees were mostly of these kinds of origin. Little Lorna glanced at the two calm witches, who slowly instructed the sorority maids to serve the child with her enormous appetite another breakfast, saying nothing else, their indifference like that of masters looking at slaves.

This attitude aroused little Lorna's suspicion. "Is this really not my brother's illegitimate child?"

"Of course not!" Joan of Arc scoffed at little Lorna. "Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to walk into this manor alive!"

"Her mother was a Catholic nun and her father was a priest," Salomon said in Latin.

He changed his clothes and sat down next to the girl, expertly cutting the slice of smoked brisket from her plate to prevent her from eating it with her bare hands. Of everyone present, only the girl didn't understand Latin, but she seemed to grasp Salomon's meaning—especially after glancing at little Lorna, she seemed to understand something. Salomon put down his knife and fork, gently tapping the girl's head with his knuckles before turning her to eat quietly according to etiquette. All his actions were practiced, and little Lorna saw in him the shadow of his past care for the children in the orphanage.

In the entire Immortal City, Salomon is undoubtedly the man with the most experience in caring for children.

"The child of a Catholic nun possessed by a demon and a priest with demon blood," he said. "After the Ghost Rider problem was resolved, I went to visit those children. I originally placed her in a convent under Tita's care, intending for her to join the Sorority directly in the future, but this child is growing too fast and too intelligent; the Sorority was caught off guard. Taking care of her isn't too difficult; the only downside is that her talent is too astonishing. Dear Lorna, don't you feel she's reading your mind?"

"So you brought this kitten back," Bayonetta said, pointing her knife at the girl. "Her only redeeming quality is that she's not a crybaby."

"Darling, you were a crybaby when you were little," Salomon said. "I remember it all very clearly."

"Hmm, Ceresia, he's got your tail," Joan of Arc said in a voice barely audible to others.

She noticeably quickened her eating pace, seemingly intending to immediately leave the battlefield and find a good spot to observe the entire battle. However, Bayonetta merely smiled and shook her head, giving Salomon a threatening look out of the corner of her eye. Joan of Arc's gaze lingered between the two, and she immediately realized that they were hiding something from her.

"Dina, from now on this child will be your apprentice. She will live under our watchful eyes from now on," Salomon said to his personal maid. "Teach her everything she needs to learn. Remember, everything."

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(End of this chapter)