The Holy Son in Marvel

"Demons are nothing like the angels or devils you've faced. Mephisto, as Hell's ruler, is terrifyingly cunning. Even if his earthly avatar is powerless, his words alone can lead people astray, slowly guiding them to Hell and compelling them to sign a contract," the Sorcerer Supreme said. "The further you stay from Mephisto, the better. Belial was driven from Hell by Mephisto and can't help you here. And even Queen Sheba's Abyssal avatar… Well, suffice it to say, your position is far too crucial. Let the stewards at the New York Sanctum handle this."

"Alright… But, Master, are you sure those lower-plane creatures won't cause major trouble?"

"Wuxinmo is a fool. He doesn't understand why his father won't set foot on Earth. Maybe that's just youth—the tendency to mistake an elder's caution for cowardice or inaction. Or perhaps it's because he knows he'll never reach the throne as Hell's prince," she replied casually, unconcerned by the fact that Kamar-Taj mirrored Hell in many ways. The current Sorcerer Supreme had outlasted countless candidates. "Even Mephisto wouldn't dare do such a thing. After all, I'm still here. Just enjoy your weekend. Norwegian red-spotted trout is a rare delicacy."

With her clear instructions, Solomon relaxed and returned to his small cabin in the Norwegian countryside, though he still felt a bit disappointed. But he had to follow the Sorcerer Supreme's orders. He knew very well how dangerous Mephisto could be. Who knew how many intricate schemes the demon lord had laid out? For Solomon to confront Mephisto now would be like a lamb walking into a lion's den. Until the day he truly faced Mephisto, he would have to rely on his copy of The Capital to speculate on the demon's strategies. He figured Mephisto might even risk a confrontation with the Sorcerer Supreme to claim his soul.

After all, his soul was immensely valuable.

Solomon was convinced that his soul, by Nine Hells Investment Company's valuation, would yield a return of well over 300%. As such a high-potential "pending client," there would be hordes of demons vying to sign a contract with him, hoping to make him a "contractual volunteer" or "soul depositor." For now, Solomon's only option was to steer clear of Mephisto to avoid being ensnared. Who knew what kind of "Soul Investment Plus," "Life Savings Plan," or "Future Platinum Enhanced" soul-finance schemes Mephisto might pitch to him? And if he refused, the demon lord would likely resort to every trick possible to push Solomon into signing.

Until Solomon mastered the arts of contractual law and finance, he was determined to keep away from Mephisto.

His cabin, though rustic, was fully equipped with all the amenities he needed. Solomon and Bayonetta planned to use it as a weekend retreat. There was nothing more delightful than lounging by a warm fireplace, gazing at distant green fields, forests, and snow-capped mountains. And if anything could improve this idyllic setting, it would be a delicious dinner—like red-spotted trout. This cold-water fish had a rich flavor, and both Jeanne and Bayonetta enjoyed it. Solomon had experimented with various cooking methods for the trout—grilling, baking, frying—all receiving enthusiastic reviews. 

In addition, the rustic Nordic desserts had a certain chilly boldness to them. Syrups made from spruce buds and smoke-flavored tree sap made fantastic dessert bases.

Solomon even made plans with his neighbors to forage for wild chanterelles and berries once summer passed. Chanterelles were perfect for soups, and the berries could be turned into jams. This was a tradition in every Nordic household, and some kind neighbors even gifted the newly arrived mystic with a few bags of smoked mackerel balls and a cheese spread with a tang similar to yogurt—ideal accompaniments.

All in all, Solomon was thoroughly satisfied with his weekends in the Nordic countryside. To complete his perfect weekend, he had left his Cheshire cat in New York, under the care of the Scottish brownie. To avoid bruising the brownie's pride, Solomon pretended to leave the milk out accidentally, knowing that the brownie would only accept payment that way.

However, even Norway's poor cell reception couldn't stop Nick Fury. While trying out some smoked salmon, Solomon's phone rang with the unwelcome call. "Go fck yourself, Fury," Solomon answered, not giving Fury a chance to speak. "I'm busy, I don't know, don't care."

"I haven't even told you what it is yet!" Fury shouted from the other end. "How did you find out?"

"Find out what?"

"A flaming skull is rampaging through the city," he replied. "It's clearly connected to magic. I know you know something about it."

"I do." Solomon squinted through the smoke, adding a small piece of pinewood to his smoker.

"So you're just letting this dangerous threat run wild?" Fury sounded frustrated. "You have no idea how many people he's killed!"

"I'm not involved this time. Other mystics from Kamar-Taj will handle it," Solomon said dismissively. "As for why I'm not… That's the Sorcerer Supreme's directive. Feel free to file a complaint."

"Fine. Then tell me how Kamar-Taj plans to handle this."

"Oh, we'll just ignore it," Solomon replied, blinking. "Kidding, of course. This is a lower-plane incursion, so we're obviously going to hunt down the demon."

"Good. So the flaming skull is the demon, right?" Fury continued. "SWAT's bullets have no effect on Johnny Blaze. When are you going to put an end to this?"

"Technically, Ghost Rider isn't a demon; he's a kind of spirit-bound entity," Solomon explained, adjusting the heat on the smoking fish with a spell. "The Ghost Rider is actually hunting demons, which aligns with our mission."

"So you're just going to leave him to it, right?" Fury was exasperated. "Fine, I'll call Captain America. Hope he's up for it."

"Ghost Rider burns the souls of the guilty," Solomon said. "Captain America, sure; other people? Not so much. Not everyone has a soul as pure as Steve Rogers'."

"Thanks for the warning," Fury said, clearly displeased. "This was supposed to be your problem to deal with."

"Don't act like I don't know how thrilled you are—finally, a real glimpse into the magical world from Kamar-Taj!" Solomon pulled a face that, thankfully, Fury couldn't see. "Kamar-Taj's responsibility is to deal with interdimensional invasions. Ghost Riders are harmless to good people. Send Captain America to him—I'd love to watch that showdown."

"You're treating this like a show, Solomon Damonet?" Fury snapped. "People are dying every moment at Johnny Blaze's hands! Who does he think he is, with the right to judge anyone?"

"The spirit of vengeance hails from Heaven; he judges based on the Ten Commandments," Solomon shrugged. "In a way, he represents God's judgment. He's the true warrior of God, and America has nothing to do with God."

"Did you really have to drag America into this?"

"I just enjoy mocking fools."

_________________________

[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! Only $5 per novel or $15 for all!!] [[email protected]/Mutter]