"Where is Stephanie?" Tita frowned, clearly displeased.
It was currently new recruit training time, and Stephanie was supposed to have already approved the necessary supplies for the process. Some of the expensive surgical materials and medicines could only be produced by the pharmaceutical companies she controlled. Wakanda's low production capacity couldn't possibly meet the full needs of the Eternal City.
She wasn't wearing her power armor today, but a black and gray robe with the Sisterhood's emblem as a belt clasp. Although she appeared delicate, in reality, she could kill two fully armed adult men in close combat within a second and twist their heads off effortlessly—thanks to her bionic muscles and magically reinforced metal bones. Her artificial soul and ceaseless magical energy powered her every move. Homunculi were Solomon's most refined alchemical creations apart from genetic alchemy. Without borrowing the power of aether particles—i.e., the Philosopher's Stone—it would have been impossible to mass-produce such constructs.
"She went to Moscow with the witches. I acquired a French restaurant there—from an actor," the archmage replied as he took the documents from Tita's hands. After a seemingly casual flip through them, he signed his name and forwarded the approvals to the next department. "Anything else? I have a class in an hour. I don't want to be reviewing paperwork while teaching."
Tita hesitated. "My lord, the Mars Foundry operation you assigned to me and Stephanie…"
"What did Marbas do?" Solomon tapped his pentagram signet ring.
This was his contract with the 72 pillars of demon gods. Though he hadn't yet used their grand spells, as long as he wore the ring, he held binding authority over them. That's why he trusted Tita and Stephanie to manage a demon like Marbas. The fifth pillar of demon lords, who loved all things mechanical, had shown no signs of restraint. Though he was provided with a forge, the current output and equipment weren't enough to satisfy his needs. Only Solomon and a few top officials knew Marbas's true identity. To others, he was just another technical expert Solomon had brought in. Suri, for instance, was eager to study under Marbas, unaware that the demon was a true recluse who met no one and buried himself in research.
"He's become obsessed with improving existing machinery, though the results are impressive," Tita admitted with a sigh. "He's already outfitted the underground warehouse's power armor with a neural-linked system and developed a surgery procedure to connect nervous systems to the suits. But we still lack some crucial materials. At the same time, he's increased the stability of our plasma weapons and revised the Sisterhood's armor designs several times. I've seen the blueprints—his designs are superior, but we can't produce them right now."
"Why?" Solomon asked curiously. "Shouldn't we be striving for the most advanced technology?"
"All the forges are running at maximum capacity just to meet the Foundry's initial demands. The seawater near the exhaust vents has boiled into bubbles, and salt crystals blanket the ocean floor like snow. We need more forges—even temporary ones. If we build them in Siberia, I'm sure Sophia and her kin won't object. Also, I need training centers where the girls can learn mechanical maintenance. They must know how to service their own weapons and armor."
"Why hasn't anyone told me about this?" Solomon's expression turned grave.
From the mountain of paperwork, he had discovered an insignificant-looking detail. It might have seemed like dust in the grand machinery of the Eternal City's operations, but it could just as easily be the grain of sand that jammed its gears. With someone as capable as Stephanie, this issue should never have reached his desk—it should have been resolved long ago.
"I mean, when the R\&D department encounters technical obstacles, and you can't resolve them yourselves—why am I the last to know? You know how much we value efficiency. So why, when problems arise, am I the last to be informed?"
Tita looked like she'd just been struck by a hammer. Her previously fluid thoughts crashed to a halt. Her tan artificial skin flushed, and her refined features contorted, looking on the verge of tears. She had always been indomitable—but the man before her could shatter her so easily.
"I just…" she stammered, feeling the very air she inhaled grow dry and scorching, as if his gaze had evaporated all moisture around her. "I just… I knew you were busy…"
"There will be no punishment this time, because I know your loyalty. But this is the last time."
His voice was cold as steel, sharp and emotionless. Tita trembled.
"Don't assume what I do or don't want. Your actions were borderline insubordination. No matter how much I favor you, there will be consequences. Stephanie is no exception, but I won't punish her directly." Solomon rested his hand atop the stack of documents.
Tita's instinctive obedience, woven into her flesh and soul—both created by the man before her—left her powerless to rebel. A deep love she couldn't express made her dizzy with shame. She couldn't believe what a foolish mistake she had made.
Solomon pulled out his phone and sent a message to Bayonetta, then turned back to Tita.
"Now we deal with the consequences of your mistake. As for Stephanie—let her rest a while. Go summon the civil office clerks and accountants. We're going to do a full sweep of internal affairs. Also—"
He locked eyes with her, piercing her soul.
His gaze was clinical, as if analyzing the logic of a broken machine. Under such scrutiny, Tita felt herself being dissected layer by layer. All her most shameful flaws were laid bare before her creator. Solomon had sensed something more behind all this.
He didn't believe Tita would make such decisions alone—someone had influenced her, using her to undermine the Eternal City. It was classic espionage. Though Solomon was a powerful mage, he lacked Natasha Romanoff's expertise in the intelligence field. She had warned him of such signs when helping establish the Eternal City's counterintelligence network. This made him wary.
"—tell me, who gave you the idea?"
The Eternal City's influence was expanding rapidly. The civil office's workload was exploding as well. Due to confidentiality, the department was already understaffed, and overwork increased the chance of error.
Though the Eternal City was resilient, its growing population made it impossible to vet every new member with the same scrutiny as before. Counterintelligence efforts were now essential. Solomon issued new orders to the intelligence division, requiring regular internal audits.
To that end, he had even reactivated a portion of the still-under-construction AI system, granting Victoria Hand the authority to monitor all internal communications within the Eternal City.
He hoped the problem was internal.
He suspected the conservative faction within the Malik family—Hydra, specifically—was making moves again. He hoped it was just them.
"Or is it you, Dr. Whitehall?" Solomon murmured, standing before a stasis tank and tapping the glass gently with his finger. "If so, you've been quite naughty. Let me see what you're capable of. Show me how many others you've seduced to your cause. If it really is you—then I'll make sure to put your talents to use."
------------------
If you're enjoying this novel, please check out my new work: I Am Zeus, KING OF GODS ⚡
Your support means a lot! Reading, commenting, or voting with Power Stones helps the story grow and reach more readers. 🙌
------------------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get early access to chapters by joining my Patre@n!
Find me at: patre@n*com/Mutter
You can read each novel for $5 or get them all for just $15.
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)
[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]