Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 992 A Great Father (Second Update)

This wasn't the first time Salomon had been called "father."

When he traveled through war-torn regions like Iran, Syria, and Afghanistan in between official duties, he would often disguise himself as a teacher, doctor, or traveler, using methods befitting his current identity to fulfill the small wishes of those shattered by war. He delivered babies, treated infectious diseases and injuries, taught science and reason to teenagers, and was repeatedly driven away by superstitious local religious leaders (usually tribal elders). Yet, the next time he would return openly, bringing food, meat, vegetables, sweets, and books, forcing those who sold war scraps like shells and copper sheets to bow their heads in welcome.

Some of this food was used to buy children. Salomon would send children under ten years old, and even their mothers, to the Immortal City for education (where most of the able-bodied men had died). As for books, many of them were atheistic books that were not permitted by the tribal elders, so he could only secretly distribute them to his temporary students along with candy.

But not all the children were bought from those places. Some older children, regardless of gender, voluntarily left with him. Some only spoke the local dialect, some could understand a few English words, some had intact limbs, some were disabled, some suffered mental torment from witnessing the brutal deaths of their family members during the war, and some even suffered extremely cruel abuse themselves. Salomon once saw a twelve-year-old girl wandering with her disabled brother, carrying a child born of atrocities on her back, forced to make a living by dismantling landmines left by NATO and selling war debris such as shell casings.

He rarely gets angry unless he can't help it.

After Salomon speaks with his carefully selected youths and reveals his ideas, they invariably quickly come to agree with him. Then, Salomon drives these older children across war-torn regions to find those responsible for their plight. He dons armor, wields a longsword and a slingshot, and marches into the battlefield. He has the children follow behind him; shrapnel and bullets cannot harm them, allowing the young men and women to witness firsthand the revenge carried out in their name.

He told them that he would end the pointless wars between humans, and that they would realize this ideal with their own hands.

He told them that there was no god in this world, nor did it need one. They would become the saviors of themselves and others, and that a better future would be forged by their blood and sweat.

The children kissed his blood- and sand-stained gauntlets and swore allegiance.

He is Bav, he is Pader, he is Baba, yes, yes.

Regardless of the pronunciation or language, that's what the children called him. They called him their great father, and they were willing to give their lives for him, for that great ideal—children with missing limbs received prosthetics, a twelve-year-old girl with children learned bookkeeping, children who only spoke the local dialect were taught English, Latin, and mathematics, and children who had been tormented to the point of despair took up arms for war training. Ignorant and superstitious beliefs were replaced by reason and science, and they became part of the immortal city, cogs in the machine that builds the future.

Salomon chose to believe them, and he gave them a small pendant. It was a golden eagle with outstretched wings, and also the symbol of the Immortal City.

"What do you see when you look at me with your judgmental eyes?"

"I saw war, shells, dismembered limbs, death... and trees and flames."

Robbie Reyes took a deep breath, closing his eyes in agony, utterly unable to comprehend the meaning of what he was seeing. He regretted accepting the challenge—even with Wanda repeatedly reassuring him, fueled by her anger, that this man, who looked even younger than him, was her teacher, Robbie Reyes still found it hard to believe. Salomon sensed his emotions and calmly deactivated the runes binding the Spirit of Vengeance in the cell, inviting him to a contest—Salomon demanded that Robbie Reyes examine his soul with his Judgment Eye. For the Ghost Rider, nothing could judge a person better than the Judgment Eye, and Robbie Reyes readily agreed, repeatedly stating that this could potentially harm the arcane sorcerer. After confirming that Wanda's teacher was aware of the risks, Robbie Reyes commanded the Spirit of Vengeance to enter the real world.

Salomon nodded slightly, offering little further comment.

Robbie Reyes immediately regretted it, because it might not have been Salomon that was burned, but his soul.

In those few seconds, he saw many things he couldn't comprehend. The Spirit of Vengeance howled and withdrew from the veil of reality, returning to the Sea of ​​Souls with pain and fear. Robbie Reyes had no idea what had happened. When he awoke, he found himself leaning against a rough wall, drenched in sweat, his palms covered in scrapes, his broken fingernails filled with dried blood, and his remaining memories consisting of only fragmented images. Even so, he glimpsed some of Salomon's past experiences.

"You really did it?" He looked up, panting, staring at the ceiling etched with granite runes, as if his gaze could pierce through the thick layers of granite and alloy armor plates. "Are those children really there?"

"Of course, that's the purpose of the underground city above you—a dwelling place for justice and righteousness. What you see is what I did in those war zones; I gave them new lives, and you will receive the same gift."

Salomon squatted down in front of Robbie Reyes, completely unconcerned about the prisoner's stench.

The sorcerer remained composed, as if he had never faced the gaze and challenge of the Judgment Eye. "But I don't have time to deal with your troubles, Spirit of Vengeance, so I need you to handle them yourself. Don't worry, you're not alone. You have your car, the Immortal City's operational funds, and another Ghost Rider. I'm sure you'll be eager to see the one who transformed you into the Ghost Rider again, so Johnny Blaze will also be involved in this mission. He'll teach you how to become a true Ghost Rider. Don't utter any more stupid things like 'I sold my soul to the devil,' you didn't have a chance to refuse—"

Salomon's tone suddenly turned stern. "—Look at yourself, crying and wanting to go find your brother. You're still alive and well, and I've seen many people far worse off than you, who never complained but struggled to survive. Like your brother, he's much smarter than you, and he knows you can't be there for him. Do you think he can't live without you?"

"I……"

"I believe you've seen the plight of those children, because that's what I wanted you to see. Since you desire this power, whatever the price or hardship awaits you, shut up and take responsibility. All those corrupted by the Dark Book must die, even if only their souls remain. Kill them, protect the real world from their harm—that's your job. The only end of your duty is death, Robbie Reyes."

"That's so cool, brother!" Little Lorna exclaimed excitedly after listening to Salomon's detailed explanation. "When will I be able to say something so cool?!"

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)