Marvel Magic Case Files.

Chapter 48 The Brotherhood of the Shield and Alchemy (Seeking Investment!)

"What is this?" Bayonetta asked, pointing to the sign.

"The Brotherhood of the Shield!" Salomon took a deep breath. He knew there were some strange things in this world, but he never expected the Brotherhood of the Shield to actually exist. This organization originated more than two thousand years BC. When alien creatures invaded Earth, Imhotep, the architect of the pyramids, stepped forward and led a large army to eliminate the alien creatures, becoming known as the first man of the Shield.

Kamar-Taj was founded by the second Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One, but the organization's history predates Kamar-Taj itself. Many famous historical figures were members of this organization, including Newton, Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, Nikola Tesla, Zhang Heng, and even... Howard Stark.

The secret of how the Franciscans possessed so many alchemical texts has also been revealed: the renowned alchemist Abu Musa Jaber ibn Hayan was a member of the Brotherhood of the Holy Shield, and Latin alchemy was heavily influenced by Middle Eastern alchemy. Paul's manuscripts are certainly preserved here.

Moreover, if Leonardo da Vinci's manuscripts are here, then it wouldn't be so surprising to find manuscripts of Abu Musa Jaber ibn Hayan at the same time.

Furthermore, Franciscan friar Roger Bacon's concerns about the "Antichrist" may not have been unfounded, and such concerns likely stemmed from documents of the Brotherhood of the Shield. The Gospels contain considerable passages recounting Jesus' prophecy to his disciples of the coming great tribulations and persecutions, and how, after these events, he would return to earth as the Son of Man in glory.

What exactly is the Antichrist? What is the impending catastrophe? The coming of the Holy Son?

Salomon looked at the stigmata on his hand, and dared not think any further after his birth. He still had a bellyful of questions. He believed that the Venerable One must know something, but whatever it was, he needed to be prepared.

He stood up, put the sling ring on his left hand, and drew a circle with his right hand. A circular portal, its edges sparkling, opened, leading to the Kamar-Taj training grounds. He needed a vast amount of documentation; the mysteries of history were unfolding before him. Although the clues to the Dark Book that Salomon needed were certainly here, those were now secondary. Salomon needed to know how much more chaos and uncertainty awaited him in this world.

"Hey, fellow monks," Salomon leaned over and said, "Could you help me move a few boxes? There are a lot of documents here, and I can't handle it all by myself. Oh, and could you also bring some chloroform? Our lovely grey-robed monk might wake up soon."

"So, we've turned into a robbery now?" Bayonetta watched with interest as the Kamar-Taj apprentices went in and out of the portal. The apprentices were very grateful to Salomon for "secretly" improving their meals, so everyone was happy to do the small favor of moving things.

"It's at most theft. Besides, there are no security cameras here." Salomon patted the witch's arm and said, "Relax, I think I'll find what I need here. Good afternoon, Mordo. I'm five hours behind you, just in time for lunch."

"What are you doing?" Mordo's eyes widened as he looked at Bayonetta standing beside Salomon. "Where did you get these things? What did the Venerable One send you to do? Who is she?"

"The Church of the Holy Cross..." Salomon shook his head frantically. "I was just hunting some extradimensional creatures. No, I swear, I absolutely didn't reveal any magic. This is my partner, an acquaintance of the Venerable One, a master at killing angels. Brother Mordo, I just wanted to find the documents I needed, but there are quite a few of them, and I'd like to take them back to read slowly. Could you arrange for them to move the files to my room, create a mirror dimension there, and put them there? Thank you."

Bayonetta impatiently pushed up her glasses with her pistol, her high heels clicking loudly on the ground.

Salomon quickly waved his hand, and all the manuscripts that hadn't been moved from the library floated up and disappeared into the portal. Even with the help of the Kamar-Taj apprentices, it took at least twenty minutes to move all the manuscripts. Salomon said to the other side of the portal, "Brother Mordo, I'm still very busy here! Remember! Make sure you move them to my room!"

"Well done, senior brother." Salomon patted the muscular arm of the last arcane apprentice who had slipped into the portal. "I'll treat you to lobster tonight."

Thanks to the magic, the library of the Church of the Holy Cross was looted in a short time. Salomon and Bayonetta were left with only empty bookshelves and the Franciscan monk still lying on the floor. Oh, and a towel soaked in chloroform—who knows who brought it? The poor monk will probably be unconscious for a long time.

"All done?" The witch's voice rose slightly at the end.

"It's done," Salomon said. "Now I need to get back to studying."

"Then let's go," Bayonetta said. "There are still many angels waiting for us to hunt down."

Salomon's quest for the Dark Book has temporarily come to an end, but Bayonetta still has many matters to resolve. Beyond Vigrid's problems, she also needs to regularly feed demons—a crucial part of her contract, one that cannot be broken. Only by feeding demons can she successfully summon powerful monsters to aid her in battle.

This will keep her busy for a while, but fortunately there are plenty of angels.

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"Bang!" Bayonetta casually fired a shot into the ground. The bullet pierced the head of the angel she had pinned down with her high heels, and crimson blood splattered out before the bullet and its body quickly turned into golden specks of light and floated into the air. She turned her head and saw Salomon smash an angel to his knees, golden light rising from the shroud covering the angel, making him look as holy as a divine child.

After a battle that wasn't too difficult, Bayonetta offered Salomon a suggestion. A suggestion that could greatly enhance Salomon's combat abilities, a fighting style perfectly suited to Salomon.

"In legend, King Solomon was able to summon seventy-two demons to aid him," Bayonetta said. "Make a pact with the demon lord Belial and command the seventy-two demons—that's your way of fighting. Just like me, use magic to bind demons and restrain their behavior. I can do it, and so can you. Unleash your powerful magic. Don't worry, you have more to replenish."

Bayonetta binds demons using her hair, which is where magic is stored. She can do this because the magic of the witch race has the property of binding demons. Salomon also possesses this magical property. The Venerable One once said that the stigmata on his hands is a type of "idol magic," possessing the same power as King Solomon.

Salomon still had some doubts about summoning demons; he had more faith in the magic he possessed. However, when facing angels, he often had to fight multiple opponents, and Bayonetta wasn't always able to help.

"I'm sure the Sorcerer Supreme saw this," the witch said, pursing her lips. "And your Kamar-Taj ways are so rigid. Sweetie, why don't you give it a try?"

"I cannot make a pact with a demon, Bayonetta. My soul belongs only to myself." Salomon would never summon a demon by making a pact, because doing so would result in his soul belonging to the demon lord, just like Bayonetta's. Solomon was no different; having learned from past mistakes, Salomon would naturally not fall into the same trap again.

He said, "But there must be other ways to summon demons. I'll try them, but I'll need your help with that."

"No problem, Boya~" Bayonetta blinked and said with satisfaction.

Good morning.

(End of this chapter)