Shadow of the Beautiful World

After the disbandment of s.d.o.l.d., the agents who remained in Raccoon City changed from official personnel to members of a private organization.

They still use the name s.d.o.l.d.

But they no longer deal with official forces. In fact, the supporters behind the current Raccoon City base are much more powerful than the official ones.

The Sons of Hell currently control the two hells, and this small group established by Merlin also has its own stronghold in this world.

Dimon's Black Light Investment Company is responsible for the money.

And Liana has a close relationship with the X-Men, and Raccoon City is now one of the places used by the students of the Mutant Academy for wild survival training.

Not to mention, s.d.o.l.d. is backed by big chaebols like Wayne Industries and Stark Industries.

And without the shackles of the official rules and regulations, the agents here, or the staff, can use a more flexible way to perform their work.

Under the leadership of Hill, s.d.o.l.d.'s current main work is to obtain samples of various viruses that are constantly mutating, and to develop targeted vaccines against different viruses.

On the Aegis Command Ship, the Hellside Laboratory and several other places in the world, there are also biological laboratories with very high gold content.

It is used to study viruses and try to produce various gene-enhanced serums that are more beneficial.

And with the downfall of the Ouroboros organization, which had inherited the research materials of the Umbrella Corporation, the bioenhancement project that had been suppressed had once again become a hot topic.

It's not just the s.d.o.l.d. doing research.

According to the information that Hill has received so far, the Sky Eye Society is also doing research in the name of the government, and some private companies that have flirted with Ouroboros seem to have established their own bio-augmentation departments.

But the real problem lies in the death of Alexander Pierce, the chairman of the World Security Council who strongly advocated the suppression of illegal biological experiments, and the downfall of SHIELD.

What used to be a strong crackdown on illegal research is dead in name only.

Even if the new Tianyan Society wanted to continue to suppress, it had already missed the best time.

It can be seen that in the next few years, all kinds of biological enhancement results, good and bad, will appear one after another.

Whether this is good or bad is too early to tell.

Carol Danvers has a job here at Raccoon City base, she is the lab assistant of Dr. Bruce Banner and Dr. Betty Ross.

Occasionally, she would use her fully controllable cosmic energy to help the doctor and his wife do some experiments.

But it's just a disguise.

Carol is s.d.o.l.d.'s greatest confidence to stay in the quarantine area, and he is also the most powerful security officer of this civil organization.

Carol doesn't come to work every day, though.

When other parts of the earth encounter some extremely high-intensity natural disasters, the mistress will also put on her battle clothes again, and save people from fire and water as Captain Marvel.

The high-level people in this base all know that Carol is willing to stay here not because of the good treatment they give.

Purely because of the incense left by Merlin.

At this time, Merlin stood in the central hall of the Aegis command ship, frowning.

He looked at the statue placed in the most conspicuous place on the wall in front of him.

That's his statue.

Made of metal, probably using advanced technology, this sculpture is made lifelike.

Below the sculpture, there is an introduction to Merlin's life, as well as a eulogy written by Commander Maria Hill herself.

This is in honor of Merlin Riley, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Level 10 Agent.

He only served as chief for four hours, but he saved tens of millions of people on the East Coast, and the entire world.

He is our best role model, the most steadfast companion, the best friend, the most perfect family, and he is a legend that cannot be surpassed.

Merlin finished reading the sentence.

He looked again at the stern statue.

It's too exaggerated, I just did some trivial work...

He shook his head.

Hill, there is nothing wrong with cult of personality...

The guy made a casual remark, then turned his head to look at the central hall behind him.

The command ship didn't have a mission today, so apart from those on duty, there weren't many staff members in the hall, which seemed a bit deserted.

Merlin was just standing there like a big living person.

People coming and going around turned a blind eye, as if there was nothing in front of the statue.

This wasn't done with Shadowblade Whip or some kind of magic.

Merlin didn't use any magic, nor did he have any fluctuations in magic power. When he came to the base himself, he had to keep a low profile as much as possible.

And this ability similar to invisibility comes from the King of Vanity.

The arrogant queen incarnated by Ruiwen bears the first sin, and she is so powerful that she can cause large-scale destruction with just a few gestures. ,

Whether it's physical or magical, the arrogant queen has almost been raised to the limit that her body can bear.

It's like a humanoid demolition machine.

But the king of vanity in the form of Merlin is not so domineering.

As the eighth sin hidden from the seven deadly sins, he has obtained various powers, such as listening to the soul, creating illusions, etc., but most of them are not suitable for frontal combat.

Such as the current situation.

Merlin's sense of existence was obscured by the power of vanity to almost zero, like a ghost that does not exist in the world, and will not be noticed at all.

Best of all, this ability comes from talent.

As long as Merlin is willing, he can maintain this state forever.

As for the cameras all over the command ship, they are not affected by this power of vanity.

But as the master of Icarus...

It's a ghost that these cameras can capture him.

He just walked around in the Aegis command ship like an outsider, observing the situation inside the mothership.

It can be seen that even though he has broken away from the official, Dang Hill is still using the previous guidelines to demand the staff on this ship.

And the serious temperament born out of S.H.I.E.L.D. is also affecting the newcomers recruited from the outside world.

It made them look not much different from the former agents under Merlin's command.

The environment is always the most capable of changing people.

While walking towards the bridge, Merlin passed by the restaurant and accidentally saw a scene in the corner of the restaurant.

Steve Rogers, who was wearing casual clothes and a baseball cap, sat with Sharon Carter. The two were having breakfast, talking face to face.

The two had unpretentious smiles on their faces.

In the sunlight shining through the glass outside the restaurant, the two people exude a sour smell of love.

tsk tut

Merlin, who was lying on the second floor of the restaurant, watched this scene with great interest.

As a friend, he looks forward to seeing Steve get out of the shadow of the past, and he also hopes to see Sharon reap happiness.

It seems that Steve and Sharon finally came together without the interference of his broom star.

Let me add fire...

With a mischievous grin, Merlin raised his finger, as he used to do puppetry.

With a flick of her fingers, Sharon suddenly stood up, and under Steve's surprised gaze, the girl grabbed his head and kissed him.

This action was unexpected, and the captain didn't dodge for a while.

Hahaha.

Seeing Steve's face of embarrassment and enjoyment, Merlin let out a series of hearty laughter.

With his hands behind his back, he hummed an out-of-toned song, and left the restaurant just like that.

Two minutes later, Sharon and the captain walked into the elevator with flushed cheeks. Steve looked at Sharon and asked in a low voice:

Just now you were...

I have no idea.

Sharon covered her face and made a cat-like sound, she said:

On impulse.

Sharon, who was being manipulated, didn't even feel her abnormality. It stands to reason that, as a witcher with keen senses, she shouldn't be so dull.

But the problem is that, with the understanding of Vanity's real name, Merlin's puppetry is no longer a mere formality.

He no longer simply manipulates the body, he can already manipulate the mind.

Morality can only restrain itself.

But vanity can play with others.

click

The hatch of the office by the bridge was opened to both sides, and a staff member held a breakfast and placed it by Commander Hill's hand.

Waking up early in the morning, the commander began to get busy in his office.

She smiled at the companion who brought the breakfast, and then ate breakfast while checking the projection of the recording work in front of her.

In front of Hill's desk, Merlin stood there.

He looked at Hill, observing her.

It's been seven months, but Hill has lost some weight.

She used to always have short, capable hair, but now she has long hair with a shawl. She doesn't wear makeup on her face, and there are dark circles under her eyes that cannot be concealed.

Definitely stay up all night.

Probably because the commander was busy with work, and she didn't have time to tidy up.

During these seven months, Hill's capable demeanor has transformed into a kind of poise without losing its sharpness.

It's becoming more and more like a qualified leader.

Merlin nodded slightly.

Hill didn't wallow in her personal pain, she came out, and she didn't forget her responsibilities.

A strong woman, a strong soul.

Now who dares to call you 'Vase' again?

Merlin said softly.

In the early years, Hill was promoted very quickly in S.H.I.E.L.D., and when he sat in the position of Assistant Director, there were many rumors spread.

What is the director's vase, what climbed on the deputy director's bed and so on.

Some borers are full of malicious speculation.

They hated Hill with jealous eyes, but completely ignored Hill's own ability.

What's even more commendable is that Hill never responds to these rumors, she will not be distracted by boring things, she just does her job better, and then turns the tide at critical moments.

A man stood in front of her, watching her quietly for several minutes.

He watched Hill finish his breakfast almost the whole time.

But Hill didn't notice.

Two people standing and sitting together are like being separated from two worlds.

The commander wiped his mouth with a paper towel, then picked up the dinner plate at hand, ready to clear the table and officially start today's work.

But as soon as he got up, a faint pain flashed across Hill's face.

She covered her stomach.

People who sit in the office all the year round, who has no stomach problems?

What about the medicine?

Hill sat back in the chair, rummaging through the desk for her stomach medicine, she clearly remembered that the medicine was kept by her hand.

She's not a slob.

Having worked as Nick Fury's secretary for many years, he has developed a good living habit, and everything is organized in an orderly manner.

But just can't find it.

Just when Hill frowned, a gentle voice sounded beside her:

This beautiful lady, did you lose this bottle of stomach medicine that tastes good but basically has no therapeutic effect? ​​Or this bottle of potion that tastes terrible but can heal the stomach?

swish

Hill raised his hand, along with his left hand.

In her hand, she was holding a silver pulse pistol. The safety was already on. Just pull the trigger, and the guy in front of her would have a free craniotomy.

In front of her eyes, Merlin spread out his hands, holding Hill's stomach medicine in his left hand, and a bottle containing green pills in his right hand.

The muzzle of the gun was pointed at him.

Probably in order to cooperate with Hill's movements, he deliberately showed a frightened expression.

Hill's gaze became dull and dazed.

After a moment, she frowned and put down the pistol, then reached out and pinched her face.

She muttered:

Dream again...

The dream this time is so real. But Merlin definitely wouldn't talk like that...Like a clown.

Hello.

Merlin said dissatisfied:

Even if you whisper, I can hear you.

as well as...

You always see me in your dreams, don't you?

Merlin bent down, and he threw the stomach medicine in his hand into the trash can, then twisted open the potion bottle, and smiled at Hill.

He said:

Hey, open your mouth and hold it... It's a bit bitter, but it works quickly.

Hill looked at the smiling, familiar face that would appear in almost every dream during these seven months.

The voice, the breath, those blue eyes.

He is back?

Is it so sudden?

Not at all prepared...

Oops, no makeup today, dark circles must be very...

I must be ugly right now...

Hill fell into a dreamy stupor.

Merlin looked at her, he frowned, looked at the medicine bottle in his hand, and said:

You want me to feed you...

All right.

He put the green pill in his mouth, then leaned down, and under Hill's dull gaze, their lips met.

The next moment, a very bitter thing was pushed into his mouth.

Tongue...

Her breathing became erratic and she leaned back in her office chair like a statue.

that tenderness...

She closed her eyes, relaxed her body, and fell into it.

Hill felt the bitterness in his mouth, and a kind of joy, like honey, flowing into the lonely heart and infiltrating the desperate heart.

then...

Rebirth.

She began to respond to that tenderness.

clumsy.

But firm.

Like a moth to a flame.

————————

click

The laboratory hatch slid open.

Carol, who was sitting on a chair, watching TV shows to pass the time, raised her head and looked at Merlin who was walking towards her.

She raised her wrist and looked at the time.

3 hours...not bad.

Don't think about it.

Merlin put his hands in his trouser pockets, and he said to the mistress:

We didn't do anything else, just met and talked about our experience during this period of time.

real?

Carol blinked, and her upturned nose moved, as if she was sniffing something.

After a while, she leaned back in her chair and said to Merlin:

You're still sensible, and you didn't mess around in front of my eyes.

Who do you take me for?

Merlin was a little dumbfounded.

He said to his wife:

It's an office after all, I'm not that bored yet.

Oh? Isn't that more exciting?

The corners of Carol's mouth curled up a bit, seeing Merlin frowning, she became serious again.

She waved her hand and said to Merlin solemnly:

Just find a place to play, I'm working. We are all in our 40s, don't cling to me like a young man, give me some space.

I've come to tell you that I'm leaving.

Merlin adjusted his clothes, looked at Carol, and said:

Go back to hell and get busy with some things. I may not be here in this world for a while.

Then go.

Carol grabbed the snack bag at hand, and she stared at the bloody love story on the screen, seemingly completely immersed in it.

she says:

I won't die without you...Oh, by the way, you can help me with something.

Help Rocket send a message to a succubus in Sulfur Harbor, her name is Mandy.