Shadow of the Beautiful World

You don't know, the alien's hammer almost smashed my head.

In this dimly lit mansion in Las Vegas, the two bottles of wine were already half empty. In an increasingly familiar atmosphere, Merlin gestured with his fingers, and he said:

Really, just a little bit.

Then you are really lucky. When I face this situation, those weapons will often fall on me.

Lingdie pouted:

That's painful. Speaking of which, when your life is hanging by a thread, don't you have any feelings?

Yes, I have.

Merlin put down his wine glass, leaned back on the chair, and recalled:

At that moment, many images flashed back in my mind, my family, relatives, adopted son, friends, oh yes, I still remember you, no matter how many times the image of crimson energy forming wings behind you, They all look so gorgeous.”

He paused, opened his eyes, looked at Psylocke, and said:

Want some music?

What is this doing?

Lingdie put the cup on the table, with a strange smile on her face, she winked at Merlin, and said:

This is more and more like a date. Tell me, Merlin, are you planning something? Like getting me drunk or something.

Uh, no, no. You drink a lot better than I do.

Merlin replied frankly:

It's just that some people say that I'm too lonely, and more than one person said that. I want to make myself no longer lonely, but after thinking about it, I seem to have only a few friends. Well, I really live quite lonely.

You men.

Lingdie propped her chin with her hand, under the dim light, her beautiful face had a halo, she looked at Merlin, she said with a teasing smile:

I always think of us poor weak women when I need it. But seriously, Merlin, what do you think of me? A high-class whore? Why don't you go to bed now and let me do it for you' Serve me?

No, I don't mean that.

Although there was no anger in Lingdie's voice, Merlin still explained seriously:

I'm just looking for a chat with an old friend, to relieve my inner depression. In fact, I'm still cooking a pot of potion at home, and I don't have much time to stay here. After about 25 minutes, I have to go back gone.

Okay, no need to explain, simple little boy.

Lingdie picked up the wine glass and took a sip of the wine. After a while, she stretched out her fingers and stroked the edge of the glass. She said to Merlin in a gentle tone:

I can see what you're thinking, but unfortunately, I'm enjoying being single now. I mean, when you live long enough, the relationship stuff becomes a drag. I haven't done it yet Get ready to start a new relationship. Although I don't know much about you, I have heard about what happened in New York. You may not know it. For a while, I was employed by the Ten Rings Gang

I've heard about the things you did in Afghanistan. You're a nice guy and I don't hate you, I just

I can understand.

Merlin also picked up his wine glass, raised his hand to Lingdie, and said:

Actually, it was just some sudden accident that prompted me to come here so impulsively. I can understand. Don't talk about these things, let me have a good drink.

To be honest, you don't know me at all, and we are not suitable, at least not right now.

Lingdie raised her wine glass, drank all the wine in the glass, and then said to Merlin with a hint of drunkenness:

You deserve better, like that girl who saved you several times, what's her name? Carol?

Carol is gone.

Merlin breathed a sigh of relief, and said with a hint of disappointment:

She went among the stars to find her own life. It was a long distance, so long that even missing her was a burden.

Oh I see.

Lingdie folded her arms and said clearly:

Carol dumped you, so you came to me, you're a bad boy with a heart.

She stuck out her tongue, licked her lips, and suddenly said to Merlin:

To be honest, if you think about me, you don't really resist.

forget it.

Merlin is an adult, he can understand the meaning of the lady in front of him, but at this moment, he seems a little hesitant. He looked at his watch and said:

It's getting late, my potion should be ready, I'm leaving first, I had a good chat today, and I will transfer the money to your bank account. See you next time.

After speaking, he stood up and was about to transfer back to New York.

And just when the light around him began to flicker, behind him, Lingdie suddenly asked:

Merlin.

Um?

Merlin turned around and looked at Lingdie. The latter picked up the wine glass and stood up. She asked:

I have to make sure, we're still friends, right? You're not going to blacklist me for a failed pursuit like those stupid young people, are you?

Well, we're still friends.

Merlin said seriously:

As long as you need me, I will come to you.

Goodbye, stay safe at work.

swish

Under the distortion of the light, Merlin's figure disappeared into the room of Spirit Butterfly just like when he came.

The female mercenary drank all the wine in the glass. In the darkness, she brushed her hair and let out a chuckle.

Oh, what a silly man.

She touched her cheek, looked back at the candle that was still burning on the table, exuding the aroma of roses, and whispered contentedly:

Ah, Elizabeth, Elizabeth, it seems that you are still full of charm. There are still people who pursue you so romantically. You are not old yet.

hum

Merlin's figure reappeared in his living room. He touched his heart, regretting being so impulsive.

If Lingdie hadn't been generous enough, there might have been an embarrassing scene this time.

Sure enough, it's still inappropriate.

Merlin shrugged his shoulders. His feelings towards Spirit Butterfly were also very complicated. It was a kind of memory of life-saving grace mixed with a moment of surprise. Anyway, Spirit Butterfly was the first supernatural lady to appear in his life.

Men have deep memories of their first time.

But when getting along with Lingdie is very relaxed, but there is no such kind of love. He admired the strong and independent female mercenary, but obviously, as Lingdie said, they were not suitable.

well

Merlin sighed, and while hanging the suit coat on the hanger, he unbuttoned the cuffs and walked into the basement.

Some ingredients of the Animagus potion should have been brewed.

However, the moment he walked into the basement, Merlin saw the extinguished crucible, and beside the crucible, several bottles of raw material potions that were sorted into potion bottles, and more importantly, a white-haired potion. The ponytailed guy was busy on Merlin's alchemy table wearing white experiment gloves.

Like a professional alchemist, he handled Merlin's materials in a very professional way.

He acted very naturally, as if this was his home.

cough cough

Merlin drew his wand, and coughed a few times.

This gentleman, who are you? Why did you appear in my house?

Well?

The sound that Merlin made with the sound generator made the busy white-haired man suddenly turn his head. It was an uncle with a smile on his face.

He looks about 40 to 50 years old, with two strands of white hair hanging by his ears, a white beard around his mouth, and a pair of toad mirrors on his eyes, blocking half of his face. Of course, the most important thing is, On his face, on his left eye, there was a hideous wound, spreading from his forehead to his left cheek.

It should be an old wound, the wound has healed, but it still left a hideous scar.

Just from this scar, it can be seen that the familiar man in front of him should be a person with a story.

Ah, children nowadays are really careless.

Facing Merlin's vigilant gaze, the uncle took off the gloves in his hand and said to Merlin:

I was still cooking the potion, so I ran away first. If I hadn't arrived in time, your potion of potion would have been ruined. However, these ingredients look familiar. Are you going to make a transformation potion?

You helped me dispose of the potion?

Merlin glanced at the clean cauldron, and nodded to the white-haired man in front of him:

Then I have to thank you, but the problem is, you haven't told me, who are you?

Me? I'm a messenger.

The uncle took off his sunglasses, he looked at Merlin:

I'll send you a letter for someone.

You're a witcher!

When Merlin saw those yellow cat-like pupils, he almost immediately recognized the identity of the uncle in front of him. He had seen such eyes once in the old Whistler's place. To be honest, such an obvious feature was hard to forget after seeing it once.

Yes, I am a witcher.

The white-haired uncle shrugged. He took out a crumpled letter from his waist pocket and handed it to Merlin. He said:

I met little Ulysses last month, and he asked me to help him take care of his precious daughter, but I found that his daughter seems to be with you now, so he wrote a letter and asked me to forward it to you.

Ulysses?

Merlin looked at the unsigned letter, and looked suspiciously at the white-haired, gentle but vicissitudes old man in front of him, and said:

Ulysses. Master Bloodstone?

Well, yes, that's him.

The white-haired uncle sighed and said:

Ah, time flies so fast. In a blink of an eye, the little kid back then is now called a master.

Where is Master Ulysses? Since he is still alive, why didn't he come back to see his daughter? Elsa has always been worried about him.

Merlin says:

There has been no news for several years. Isn't such a father too irresponsible?

Well, how should I say it?

The white-haired uncle hesitated and said:

Ulysses is also forced to do so. He has some important things to do. Anyway, you will know it after reading the letter.

After finishing speaking, the uncle ignored Merlin. He put on his gloves again and began to help Merlin handle the alchemy materials. Judging from his skillful movements and techniques, this uncle is definitely a master alchemist.

Merlin sat on the side, reaching out to open the crumpled letter.

It could be seen that this letter was written in a very urgent situation, and there was still a trace of blood on the letter paper.

Mr. Merlin:

I'm sorry to trouble you in this way, but I'm hunting Dracula right now, and I really don't have the time, and I can't visit my Elsa.

Dracula is the eternal enemy of the Bloodstone family. It is a very dangerous legendary vampire. Once it knows that Elsa has left the Bloodstone Manor, it will definitely attack my daughter. I hope you can protect me instead. Elsa, most importantly, don't let her know what I'm doing, and don't let her get involved with Dracula.

We have never met, but I know that you are also a soldier who served in the former Strategic Science Corps. Peggy has a high opinion of you, so I am very relieved to entrust this matter to you.

Of course, I won't let you do these things for nothing. I asked Mr. Geralt to bring you my thank you gift, which should satisfy you.

Finally, as a reward for helping me take care of my daughter, I would like to remind you.

As early as the period of the Strategic Science Corps, there were some dangerous elements active in your organization. Peggy had been trying to suppress them before retiring, but the rapid expansion of S.H.I.E.L.D. gave them the opportunity to re-emerge. Chance.

According to the information I have collected during this period of time, those who hide have reached an agreement called the 'Ultimate Solution' with the American vampires. They are no longer satisfied with being invisible in the dark, they are actively seeking external forces Intervention, I mean, their next step is probably to disrupt your organization.

Be careful.

Finally, thank you again for your help, Mr. Merlin. If there is a chance in the future, I will thank you in person.

- Ulysses. Bloodstone, in July 2000.

After Merlin finished reading the letter, he didn't doubt the authenticity of the contents of the letter. At the bottom of the letter, there was not only the badge of the Bloodstone family, but also Ulysses' personal seal. Merlin saw it once at Elsa's place. It cannot be faked.

And in this letter, Ulysses has already pointed out the identity of the white-haired uncle in front of him.

You are Geralt? Geralt of Rivia?

Merlin put down the letter in his hand, he looked at the busy uncle in front of him, and said:

Legendary witcher white wolf? Are you really alive?

Yes, for a while, they did call me White Wolf.

The uncle said without looking back:

But then no one called it that anymore, and the people who knew me, the people I knew, died

How did you live so long?

Merlin asked:

It's been more than 1,000 years?

Well, to be precise, 1373.

The uncle said in a relaxed tone:

Looks like a long time to you, doesn't it? It's actually just ordinary to me. I also know a beautiful lady who lived from 400 BC to the present

No, I mean, how did you live so long?

Merlin changed the question, he said:

The lifespan of a demon hunter is not so long, is it?

Oh, this one.

Geralt turned, looked at Merlin, shrugged, and said:

Because I have a warlock wife who is very good at alchemy, and the witchers of my age don't have it, so they are old and dead, but I am still alive.

Speaking of which, Geralt grinned, smiled, and said to Merlin in a tone of someone who had experienced it:

So, little boy, when you look for a wife in the future, you must keep your eyes open.

This is a matter of life and death. By the way, you seem to be very smart. Do you want to play Gwent?