A young intelligence officer submitted an intercepted message to the central intelligence coordination unit, which in turn raised its priority level and sent it to the command center of the Sky Aircraft Carrier, along with the identity of a mortal cultist recently arrested by the Sisterhood. The intercepted message originated from the Avengers and the FBI. The degree of mutual infiltration among American intelligence agencies was extremely severe, with the FBI having been penetrated like a sieve—especially after Solomon took over the legacy of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra, he had significantly increased investment in this area. Those intelligence-selling agents had no idea whom they were actually working for. They only knew what kind of intelligence they were supposed to intercept, and nothing more.
Agent Victoria Hand, calm and composed, immediately issued orders upon receiving this intelligence.
"Space Combat Division, connect to the armed satellite of the Immortal City." Her order was relayed via synchronized satellites back to the Immortal City. "Shoot down the Stark Group's Veronica satellite, and send the following message to the Avengers. Message reads: This is a warning, Tony Stark. If you interfere again, it will be considered an act of war. The Immortal City will use all its power to eliminate the Avengers. End of message. Send it."
Under the Immortal City's orders, a sub-synchronous satellite equipped with a nuclear reactor activated its thrusters and detached from the satellite chain, heading straight toward the defenseless Avengers' satellite. These satellites were designed to protect communication satellites and were outfitted with weapons prohibited by international treaties, including electromagnetic pulse weapons specifically built for space combat. Under the stunned gazes of staff at the Avengers' base, the crucial Veronica-series satellites began to lose contact one after another, followed shortly by the communication satellites. Whether Tony Stark was still an Avenger or not, he was, after all, the CEO of a publicly listed company, and those satellites were recent products of Stark Industries, many of them being company assets. The large-scale loss of communication satellites severely impacted Stark Industries' telecommunications business, including the space exploration program Pepper Potts had submitted to Congress.
But according to the reports submitted by the Immortal City's space navy reservists, this was classified as collateral damage, the result of inexperience and unfamiliarity with the fire control systems. As punishment, they would be subjected to whipping.
"We've lost twenty percent of our satellites… here's a message from the Sky Aircraft Carrier Punisher…"
Victoria Hand's warning caused Tony Stark's blood to boil, but Steve Rogers remained composed.
"The Immortal City has nuclear weapons, correct?" he asked Natasha Romanoff. The female spy nodded affirmatively and stated that Solomon had even more terrifying weapons at his disposal, though she didn't know what exactly they were.
"I suspect Solomon let me acquire those pieces of intel on purpose, just so the Avengers would understand his deterrent power," Natasha Romanoff said. "One thing I am certain of: nuclear weapons are not a particularly difficult feat for Solomon and his Immortal City."
"Can you pinpoint the location of the Immortal City?"
"No. Every time I go there, it's through a magical portal," Natasha replied, glancing at the furious Stark and then at the solemn Steve Rogers. She shook her head. "If I had to explain it, it would be like passing through a wormhole. The positioning system can't function at all. And within the Immortal City, all information communication with the outside world is strictly controlled, including radio signals. I'm very sorry."
"You've done enough already."
"If you don't mind, I'd like to… this is a lady's matter." Natasha Romanoff had originally intended to say she wanted to grab something from the kitchen, but when she saw Pietro, she instinctively changed her words. She closed the bathroom door and took out her phone to send a message.
"Thanks for the help." Solomon put away his phone after sending the message.
He looked at the dilapidated church and the fallen golden inverted cross. Though the filthy magical aura and venomous curses had dissipated considerably, they were still unbearable for normal humans. The malicious artifacts and instruments were not suitable for leaving this small town. He had no doubt that whoever took them would die an unnatural death. "Burn it down," he told Wanda. "Only fire can cleanse such a horrifying place."
"Just the church?" Wanda pulled out her wand. Solomon shook his head.
"No, everything. This is a declaration. If the ones behind this are truly the Boone family—either James Boone or the missing Philip Boone—they'll definitely hear of Jerusalem Town being burned to the ground. They'll either speed up their plans or come to try and destroy us. Either way, it'll force them to reveal themselves faster and allow the Eye of Agamotto to locate them." The arcanist also drew a wand identical to the one he had given Wanda, adorned with a priceless ruby.
He and Wanda walked out of the church, and after a few short incantations, violent explosions and billowing flames consumed the damp wooden boards, filling the air with dense smoke. The moldy wooden structures, dried out by spells fueled with magical energy, eventually charred and crumbled. With magical assistance, the fire began to spread, leaping from the burning church to the fur shop and blacksmith shop. Whether it was oak, blackthorn, or ash wood, mold, fungus, or cobwebs—the smell after combustion was a terrifying blend of mildew. Previously intact glass shattered from the uneven heat. They sat in their car, watching the abandoned town go up in flames. Rot festered beneath the land. Atop the church spire, the blackened bronze bell finally came loose. After over two hundred years of waiting, the bell, imbued with hatred, crashed violently through the church ceiling and smashed through the smoldering wooden floor.
A deafening explosion erupted as marsh gas burst forth. The frenzied flames and massive clouds of dust surged skyward, soaring even higher than the church steeple. Perhaps someone had buried horse manure beneath the church, or perhaps, as Wanda's illusions had shown, there truly was something hidden below. Whatever the case, he would have to wait until the flames died down to investigate.
"I hope it's the latter. I want them to come for us directly." The arcanist's obsidian eyes reflected the firelight, as though the fury within him was ready to burst forth uncontrollably. Wanda knew why—this fire had been ignited the moment he saw those human corpses. "We need to be the bait. Let them think we're just a bunch of clueless mortals. I'm more interested in stuffing those vampires into wicker man cages and burning them alive. That's a technique I learned from the druids. Wanda, interested in going camping?"
"Only one tent?" Wanda recalled Natasha Romanoff's guidance.
"Yes, after all, we're FBI agents on a tight budget—if they even know what FBI agents are," the arcanist said. "I'll also rent a cheap car. This Aston Martin stands out too much."
"If there's outdoor barbecue involved, I suppose I can reluctantly join you."
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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