Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 999 The New Imperial Guard (First Update)

This is a problem he needs to solve with his own sword, not missiles and warships.

The Imperial Guard was his sword.

As Constantine descended the ramp of the assault transport ship and stepped off the helipad, he encountered once again the heavily armed androids, born from test tubes and closely connected to the monarch's soul, who proclaimed themselves his daughters. Constantine reviewed the authentication codes they sent through the monitor in his helmet, browsing messages from the automated defense systems throughout the estate. After ensuring everything was functioning correctly, he silently assumed control, becoming the de facto controller of all anti-aircraft missile turrets and automated weapon platforms—perhaps they were as loyal as he was, but that didn't mean Constantine would always share the responsibility of protecting the monarch, for his body and mind were far superior to theirs; the power of genetic alchemy flowed through his veins, and the technology, mastered by only a select few, had created this indestructible powered armor.

Constantine blinked and closed the window. "Where is Ms. Diana?"

"Lady Dina has just returned to the manor. She needs to go out to purchase supplies according to our Lord's orders." The lead android placed her hand on the hilt of her longsword at her waist, maintaining maximum vigilance. Constantine turned his head and glanced at her. This android wore black force-feedback armor, and the white iris insignia on her knee armor was faintly visible beneath her crimson robe. Her arm and gauntlets were decorated with gold. Her muscles were tense, and she took a half step back with her left leg to maintain her balance and explosive power, looking ready to attack at any moment. The atmosphere was tense. Twenty meters away, the heavy firepower support team was waiting. The electric triggers of their heavy explosive guns were ready to ignite the primers of the explosive shells at any moment. The slightly raised muzzles of the guns, having undergone tens of thousands of shots, were filled with the pungent smell of chemical fuel propellants. Perhaps ordinary people would find this smell hard to detect, but for the Royal Guard, the smell of chemical fuel was very noticeable even from a distance.

Only after Constantine sent the authentication code back and it was verified did the stubborn ladies quietly lower their guns. However, the leading android still didn't release her sword hilt. Even though she couldn't even reach the guards' chests, she didn't care that this three-meter-tall genetically modified human could kill everyone here in the blink of an eye—not many people could maintain courage in front of the guards, but the monarch's creations possessed the resolve to die. If they didn't have this courage, Constantine wouldn't have allowed them to protect the monarch during his absence.

The Royal Guard is currently in its early stages of formation and is significantly outnumbered, forcing Constantine to make compromises. This has somewhat alleviated the conflict between the Royal Guard and the Sorority. However, as candidates are selected and promoted, the conflict between the Sorority and the Royal Guard is bound to erupt sooner or later. Constantine already foresaw what would happen on that day; everything would proceed in an orderly fashion, without regard to the opinions of anyone other than the monarch.

The Imperial Guard nodded amicably, removed his blood-red goggles, and strode toward the manor, halberd in hand.

More than twenty fully armed androids followed closely behind him. Passing the tanks and anti-aircraft guns beside the helipad, they had to take two steps at a time to keep up with his movements, their combat boots making a rhythmic, slightly hurried sound on the concrete walkway. They had no authority to stop Constantine from proceeding; they could only watch him enter the mansion through a side door, where an android dressed only as a maid would take over. There were few things in this world that would warrant Constantine ending his mission, returning from Latvinia to the Immortal City, and then detouring to Oxfordshire Manor, unless the monarch absolutely needed to know. But due to the high level of secrecy, leaving no trace even on any encrypted communication channels, the only remaining member of the Royal Guard had to act as a messenger, ensuring the information remained unknown to others using the most primitive methods.

"Both candidates passed the test?" Salomon lifted the girl from his lap and handed her to little Lorna. He gestured for Lorna to leave the study, saying he had private matters to discuss with Constantine. Lorna gave him a disgruntled look, then pulled the girl's hand and left the study. The android standing outside closed the door, ensuring no one could break in—the knowledge of creating the Royal Guard was known only to Constantine and Salomon, and even the high-ranking members of the bio-genetic laboratory led by Maya Hansen and the gene-alchemists led by the Sora Redlin Druid Order only knew half of it. All the high-tech equipment used for gene-alchemy was strictly controlled as the Immortal City's top secret; no one except those permitted could access any of it.

"Yes, the highest genetic match rates with the two candidates were with the Old Babylonian Kingdom and the Hittite Empire. Matches with the Achaemenid, Ptolemaic, and Byzantine Empires failed; the candidates' genes were unlikely to match," Constantine said. Even indoors, Constantine didn't put down his halberd, one hand always on the trigger, ready for battle at any moment. When the manor was purchased and renovated, all the passageways and gates were redesigned to match the height of the genetically modified warriors. To ordinary people, the exquisite art displayed throughout the mansion, the soaring ceilings with intricate murals, and the massive thresholds all indicated that this was a palace. Even the oversized furniture exuded a Baroque splendor, making it impossible for the average person to realize who these modifications were intended for.

The royal guards saw no surprise on the monarch's face, as if he had known about it all along.

In fact, this ratio is quite abnormal. Out of ten thousand boys, only a handful meet both the age requirement and are compatible with genetic alchemy. Even among those boys who meet both criteria, most die because their bodies and minds cannot withstand the genetic mutation modeled after human heroes and the monarch himself—the Royal Guard's genetic code is a meticulously designed work of art. Each base pair is a product of science and technology designed by the monarch, containing edits to all aspects of the Royal Guard candidates' personalities. Previously, only Constantine had successfully advanced; he didn't know how many had failed before him, but this time, two out of one hundred and twenty-three boys passed the test, an astonishingly high success rate, as if the monarch knew in advance where the genetically compatible individuals were. Even so, Constantine wasn't surprised; with the monarch's abilities, finding the location of genetically compatible individuals through prophecy was effortless. According to the original plan, the Royal Guard, as an extension of the monarch's iron will, would number in the tens of thousands. Only in this way could they help the monarch accomplish great deeds, delivering a decisive blow on battlefields where ordinary people could not fulfill their duties.

"I will arrange their training," Salomon said calmly. "First, take them to the arena for closed training so they can familiarize themselves with their weapons and armor as quickly as possible."

"My lord, the day of the Latvian invasion is drawing ever closer. Do we still have time to do this?"

"We'll have time, Constantine. Lift your guard. You have two hours until your next mission starts, plenty of time to get there. Sit down and read with me for a while; your next mission is too bloody, it's not good for your mental state."

Only then did Constantine remove his finger from the trigger.

"I finished reading The Lord of the Rings trilogy on the assault transport ship," Constantine said, removing his helmet with a hint of delight in his voice. "Although I can't understand why Aragorn would be attracted to females of other species, I still intend to finish reading the rest, especially The Silmarillion."

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(End of this chapter)