Shadow of the Beautiful World

After Master Ninja passed away, what was left to his daughter was indeed an out-and-out mess.

The rebellious disciple Deathstroke, united with the Hydra warriors, made a sudden attack on Nandarbat, which dealt a huge blow to the most elite forces of the Assassin Alliance. Coupled with the fact that the Assassin League itself has been in decline for more than ten years, this organization is now in a very dangerous state.

Thalia does not have the prestige of a ninja master, and it is difficult for her to make the branches of the League of Assassins around the world continue to obey her as they obey her father in a short period of time.

And those who can climb to high positions are ambitious. After the leader passes away, it is difficult to guarantee that the leaders of those branches will not have other thoughts.

What Thalia faced was a very difficult situation. If she didn't handle it well, the Assassin Alliance, which had been passed down for hundreds of years, would completely disintegrate here.

Of course, from Merlin's point of view, it might not be a bad thing for such a secret organization, which would undoubtedly threaten the existing order, to decline like this.

But the problem is, according to what Merlin has learned in the past few days, he knows that the forces left by the Assassin League in North America are currently in chaos. Evolved into an uncontrolled underground force.

That would be bad.

A group of strictly trained warriors lost their great goals, and under the temptation of reality, they will inevitably degenerate quickly, and they will become unstable factors in the eyes of S.H.I.E.L.D.

And now Merlin has been able to confirm that Deathstroke, Master Ninja's rebellious disciple, is entangled with Merlin's enemy Hydra. It's hard to say whether Hydra will take this opportunity to take advantage of this opportunity, waving money, playing tricks, and incorporating the League of Assassins Remaining forces in North America.

An enemy that became stronger again by devouring the fallen corpses of the Assassin Alliance was not what Merlin wanted to see.

It's hard.

Facing Merlin's inquiry, Thalia rubbed her brows wearily, and she whispered:

There are already signs of defection on the Southeast Asian side. The South American branch has been delaying my orders to them since the day my father died. The European side has Bain in command, which is fairly stable, but the most rebellious Russia The Mafia, has begun to break away from our system.

The flames of war are everywhere, leaving too little room for me to operate.

Need me to give you some advice?

While stirring the coffee with sugar cubes with a spoon, Merlin said:

You look like you need advice.

Say it.

Thalia looked at Merlin:

Also, have you made a decision? Do you want to cooperate with us?

If you can't control it, just let it go.

Merlin did not directly answer Thalia's cooperation matters, he said:

Give me information about your forces in Southeast Asia, Russia, and South America. I will submit them to the World Security Council, and there will naturally be official forces to deal with them. You are weak now, and there is no benefit in blindly being greedy. You are stable. Good European forces, when other factions are weakened by the official force, they will naturally come to ask for help.

You mean, let me betray my organization, betray my subordinates, and give you credit?

Thalia said in a calm tone:

You prove your ability to your organization, stepping on the bones of the Assassin's League step by step, our branches around the world are exposed, the weakened power of the Assassin's League is weakened again, and then it is reduced to a third-rate force. How do you see it? You're the only one who benefits, do you think I'll agree to this crazy proposal?

Heh, Master Ninja said that you have a small structure. Now it seems that his evaluation is indeed correct.

Merlin put down his coffee and said to Talia:

A traitor is more hateful than an enemy. My Miss Thalia, the current situation is that everyone is waiting to see if you have the ability to inherit the title of ninja master. If you are weak and humbly pray, you will only expose yourself weak.

Believe me, the 'new friends' over at Deathstroke will not miss this opportunity. Keeping those traitors who have already left their morals will only cause you trouble. Instead of waiting until they are ordered by the new master, If you want to bite you back, it is better to strike now.

How did your father do it?

Merlin persuaded with a gentle voice:

His majesty is not achieved by relying on a small conspiracy. He killed it one by one. For an organization like yours that has an ancient heritage and is facing a crisis, under the current situation, how can you not kill people? Demonstrate your strength? Without the blood of traitors, how can you make those rebellious warriors sincerely obey you?

What they need is not just a conspirator, Thalia, what they need is a leader who is strong enough to be awe-inspiring, just like your father.

No.

Thalia pondered for a moment, then shook her head, she said bluntly to Merlin:

Your suggestion contains your selfishness, and I can't make a hasty decision like this. I need some information, some ultimatums, so I want to go to Europe first, and then, you wait for my news.

Don't make me wait too long.

Merlin calmly picked up the coffee, and he said to Thalia:

The Hydra who has accepted the death knell will not give you too much time. You have to make a decision as soon as possible. I mean, if you want to choose a friend, you'd better keep your eyes open in advance.

Thalia didn't answer, she raised her head and stared at Merlin's face until Merlin felt a little uncomfortable, and he asked:

Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?

No, your face is clean, but your heart is not so clean.

Thalia says:

I just never knew that you are so talented as a conspirator. When I saw you last time, you were a very pure person. Who did you learn these insidious little thoughts from?

Oh, this one.

Merlin shrugged, he thought of a familiar braised egg head, he said:

I have a good teacher. He is full of bad water. He can come up with terrible plans in the blink of an eye. I am not a good student. I am not good enough or fast enough.

If I had his eloquence, maybe you would have given me all the information by now and left it at my mercy.

Hehe, do you really want me to be at your mercy?

Thalia brushed her long hair, she stuck out her tongue, licked her lips, and said playfully:

What do you want to do to me? Merlin, tell me, because of our past friendship, maybe I will cooperate.

Be serious, Thalia.

Merlin said without changing his face:

We're talking about something.

Cut, boring.

The beautiful snake of the Assassin League sneered, she no longer teased Merlin, but said to Merlin seriously:

Is this your invitation to cooperate? You've made up your mind, haven't you?

about there.

Merlin raised his coffee cup like a wine glass, and he said to Talia:

Just one last thing and I can wish us a happy working together.

What's up?

When Thalia asked, Merlin breathed a sigh of relief, and he said:

At the fastest speed, gather your forces in North America. If you can't win them over, please tell me. I will find a way to suppress them. In short, it is my last request not to let them gather in the hands of Hydra.

I try my best.

Thalia picked up her coffee cup too, and she said:

That's a good cooperation?

You have to do it! You can't let me down!

Merlin said seriously:

There is no 'best effort' option.

Well, happy cooperation.

—

A day later, at dusk, an international flight landed on the runway of Gotham City Airport amidst a roar.

This was probably the first time for Master Damian to fly with so many people. He was a little silent and curious along the way, often looking at other people on the plane.

Merlin didn't care.

As a secret agent, in many cases, he has to disguise himself as an ordinary person to blend himself into the crowd.

It's noisy.

When the plane came to a complete stop and the passengers got off the plane, Damian who followed Merlin was carrying his travel bag. He didn't like this noisy environment very much. He complained to Merlin:

Won't Bruce send a plane to pick us up?

He sent, Ah Fu will even go to Nepal to pick you up in person.

Merlin pushed his glasses and said to Damian:

But I rejected it. I think you should adapt to the life of living among the crowd. Ordinary people live like this every day. This is the real life.

It's boring and a waste of time.

Damian put a pair of sunglasses on his face expressionlessly, and he said to Merlin:

We should have been here hours earlier. You made me do something pointless, Merlin.

How boring your life would be if you had to think about whether or not there was any point in doing anything.

Merlin waved his hand indifferently, and said to Damian:

You are a child, I can guess how you lived the previous 7 years, but from now on, you have to adapt to who you are. A 7-year-old child should not be able to wield knives and guns, nor should he learn We risk our lives, you deserve a life of your own.

It's prejudice! Merlin.

Damian said dissatisfied:

Why can't children fight? You have also seen my martial arts. I am much better than most adults.

But you're still a child.

Merlin took down the suitcases of the two on the luggage tray, and he said to Damian, who had his hips on his hips and looked dissatisfied:

At least with me, it is impossible for me to go to the battlefield with a child.

After speaking, he stretched out his hand, and while Damian dodged subconsciously, he precisely grabbed Master Damian's shoulder, then lifted him up and put him on the suitcase.

Damian's current posture is like a bear child riding on a suitcase and being pushed by his parents.

This game that children often play makes Damian feel very ashamed.

This kid has the heart of a grown man, and he's overly precocious.

Especially when Merlin pushed him into the airport hall, he wanted to jump off, but was firmly pressed against the box by invisible magic power.

Sit well.

Merlin pushed the box and walked in the crowd with Damian, he smirked and said:

Look, the little girl over there has been watching you.

Damian turned around, and saw another little girl wearing a small skirt sitting on the suitcase, staring at him intently. When she saw Damian turning her head, the little girl shyly looked away. Said to his mother in a childish voice:

Mom, the little brother over there is so handsome.

The child's praise fell into the ears of Damian and Merlin. Merlin suppressed a smile, and said to the extremely embarrassed Damian solemnly:

Little brother, you are so handsome, hahaha.

Shut up! Merlin, don't laugh!

Half of Damian's face turned red, he gritted his teeth and shouted at Merlin, in order to prevent the kid from doing something agitated, Merlin put back his smile, and quickly pushed him out of the lobby, outside the airport, in the Among those taxis, a luxurious classic car was parked there, standing out from the crowd.

And the old Ah Fu, who was wearing a formal suit, was leaning on a cane and standing beside the cool car.

Bruce should be sitting in the car, but he also frequently looked in the direction of the airport exit through the rolled-down car glass.

Obviously, seeing his son whom he had never met, Bruce, the young master of Gotham, was not as calm as he appeared on the surface. Old Ah Fu, who has been worrying about the inheritance of the Wayne family, is even more happy.

The old butler did not hide his happiness and joy at all.

In his opinion, the inheritance of the Wayne family is more important than anything else.

Here he comes! Sir.

The moment he saw Merlin pushing Damian out of the aisle, Old Alfred turned his head subconsciously, and said to Bruce who was sitting in the car:

Master Damian is here, my God, he really looks like you when you were a child.

Stop messing around, Fu.

Pushing open the car door, Bruce buttoned his coat and said to his butler:

From such a long distance, you can't see his face at all. It's just a psychological effect.

Look! Bruce Wayne! It's Bruce Wayne!

Bruce's appearance, almost immediately outside the airport, caused a commotion. Amidst several screams, many people looked towards where Bruce was, and some even picked up their mobile phones to take pictures.

Although there were no reporters, the scene was shocking enough.

This is impossible. Bruce is the only heir to Wayne Industries. His family has been the richest man in Gotham City for several generations. All the high-class women have scandals and occupy the headlines of the tabloids in Gotham City all the year round. In this case, he is almost the idol of all the men in the city.

Well, maybe also every woman's dream girl.

When you chose to disguise your identity, you should have kept a low profile, sir.

Old Afu said in a low voice:

This will leave a bad impression on Master Damian. No child wants his father to be a philanderer.

I can't help it, Ah Fu.

Bruce answered hesitantly:

Who would have known at the time that I actually had a son, Thalia, who was hiding it too well.

swish

Just when the two were surrounded by the crowd, an invisible ray of light shrouded the busy people around them. Under the effect of the Muggle Repelling Curse released by Merlin, the onlookers who were excited just now all looked blank. Turn around and leave.

Merlin pushed the fidgeting Damian to the front of Bruce and Alfred. He waved his hand to remove the magic that restrained Damian, and then pushed the silent little boy to Bruce. He patted the expressionless Damian on the shoulder and said:

Bruce, this is your son. Damian, be good

Call Dad.