Shadow of the Beautiful World

Elliott Randolph is undoubtedly a crafty fellow.

He saw Merlin's situation accurately, and after he was angry with the spear, he threw another bait to Merlin to encourage Merlin to fulfill his entrustment more actively.

According to him, the mysterious thing that was left in the Nordic region in the 8th century AD was related to Thor, the god of thunder in Nordic mythology. That represents a higher level of existential power than the Spear of Wrath.

Of course, Merlin could completely refuse this temptation, but Randolph would have nothing to lose.

He could have used this information to hire someone else.

If Merlin wants to fulfill Randolph's entrustment, he must first find a way to contact Asgard. As long as this problem is solved, the rest will be very simple.

It's just a message, nothing more than a little distance, nothing more than Asgard is hard to find.

Merlin soon stopped thinking about this issue, because it was useless to think about it. In his opinion, this matter was completely a matter of chance, and his luck, to be honest, had never been very good.

After finding the treasure, Merlin did not use the transfer spell to leave Spain. Instead, he leisurely drove a rented car along the Seville-Lyon highway for 2 days, just like a real Like a vacation traveler, he returned to Lyon and from there flew to Paris.

This is the last day of his vacation.

He was going to have dinner and chat with old friends in Paris, and then he was going back to New York to get ready for work.

In the afternoon, Merlin walked into a restaurant in Paris, not far from the office area of ​​the European branch of S.H.I.E.L.D. A few years ago, when Merlin was seconded to the European branch, he often solved his problems here. For dinner, he is quite familiar with this area.

And when Merlin walked into the restaurant, he saw his old friend Gartler at a glance.

The guy was sitting at a table in the corner, holding a menu, speaking fluent French, talking to the waiter next to him.

Merlin walked over, and Gartler also noticed the friend behind him. The old cowboy who looked much younger smiled and stood up, giving Merlin a hug.

Haven't seen you in years, Merlin boy.

Garrett let go of Merlin, he looked Merlin up and down, and said critically:

Well, I have grown a little taller than in the past few years, and I seem to have relaxed a lot. Look at your smile, it seems that you have encountered some happy things. Yes, you just need to smile more, this is what young people should have. attitude.

young?

Merlin shook his head. He sat on the chair opposite Gatler. He picked up the water glass and said to the old cowboy:

I'm 30 and I'm not young at all.

You're only 30, and the days are still long.

Although they haven't seen each other for a few years, there seems to be no strange feeling between the two of them. Garrett said to Merlin in front of him in a tone of someone who has experienced it:

You have to hurry up and find a wife while you still have energy. Look at you. Ever since I met you, you have been alone. Up to now, you have become a commander like me, but you are still It's not good to be alone, Merlin, it's true that we work undercover, but we also need lives of our own.

You have a home. No matter how crazy a sailor is, he won't be adrift forever.

You're annoying, Gartler.

Merlin seemed unwilling to discuss this issue. While drinking water, he said:

It's the same as those chattering old men. When did you start caring about my life? Speaking of which, didn't you tell me last time that you were going after that mixed-race Veela female nurse? What's her name?

Liv.

A strange smile appeared on Gartler's face, he stretched out his fingers shyly, and waved at Merlin.

It was only then that Merlin noticed that Gatler was wearing a golden ring on his left hand.

No way, are you really playing with her?

Merlin turned pale with shock and said:

You'll be sucked dry by her!

Don't make trouble, do you think I'm always indulging in carnal desires like a young man like you?

Gartler said dissatisfiedly:

Liv and I are spiritual partners. If you are not my age, you will not understand. Of course, we will not get married. After all, I am just an ordinary person. I will become an old man if I live another 30 years at most, and Liv Fu will always be young, and I'm just a passer-by in her life.

So, enjoying the moment is the most important thing.

Actually, it's not impossible.

Merlin put down the water glass, he looked at Gartler, he said:

Remember what I told you on the phone? The mutation experiment that my wizard friend researched. If you participate in that project and the experiment is successful, you will not only be able to completely get rid of the terrible life support in your body. , and have a longer lifespan than ordinary people, I mean, enough for you to accompany your Veela wife for a lifetime.

You can enjoy life together, grow old together, and even have your own children and watch them grow up.

are you serious?

After listening to Merlin's words, Gatler's expression was a bit strange. He pondered for a moment, then looked at Merlin:

I thought you were joking before, but before I make a decision, I want to ask, why did you choose me? I mean, if it's a wizard's experiment, then he should have no shortage of experimental products.

Because of the people I know, you have an urgent need and your will is strong enough.

Merlin said frankly to Gartler:

My friend told me that the experimental subject required for this experiment must have a firm will, Gartler, you can't imagine how painful the experiment process is, I once watched it from the sidelines, in my opinion, it is simply a torture like torture.

For a week, you will suffer a pain that is more terrible than being hacked. Those mutated substances will first destroy your body, and then use alien inducers to reshape the extraordinary body. You will be destroyed, And then reborn in pain.

It is impossible for a weak person to survive the experiment, and it is difficult for a person without urgent needs to make up his mind to lie on the wizard's experimental table.

Merlin picked up the water glass and drank the last sip of water. He looked at the waiter who came over with a big meal not far away. He said to Gartler:

You helped me, Gartler, and I want to help you too. But I'm not sure if this is the help you need. I'm most likely going to send you into a tortured hell with my own hands, so I have to ask you Views.

Let's eat first.

Garrett didn't answer Merlin's question right away, he picked up the knife and fork, and smiled at Merlin:

I can understand your kindness, but I need to think about it.

It's natural.

Merlin nodded and said:

You have enough time to think about it, and I will wait for your news.

The food in this restaurant is pretty good, and the fish soup served at the end is even more exciting. Merlin and Gartler chatted while eating, and seemed to be completely unaffected by what happened just now.

At the end of this enjoyable lunch, Merlin asked while enjoying the last dessert:

When you called before, you said that you also found some news about the inner ghost?

Yes, there are some.

Gartler cut the dessert a little rudely, and said without raising his head while cutting:

A few months ago, I led agents to destroy a Ten Rings stronghold in Marseille, and I found some information. Do you know that the Ten Rings tried to form an alliance with the traitors inside us?

This, I really don't know.

Merlin frowned and put down the knife and fork, he said:

Tell me in detail.

Well, that was after you were sent back to New York.

Gartler said:

The Ten Rings gang sent a representative to lobby some 'friends', but seemed to be turned down. After the upheaval within the cia, they stepped up their infiltration of North America, but failed. I mean, it's not just Ver Ray is sniping at them, and the traitors within us seem to be happy to see the Ten Rings kept out of North America's borders.

At least when it comes to dealing with the Ten Rings, those guys seem to be on the same front as us.

They are just worried that the arrival of the Ten Rings will hinder their plans.

Merlin said disdainfully:

Hitting a bad guy doesn't make them a good guy. It's just dog eat dog.

really.

Gartler narrowed his eyes and said:

That's true. But Merlin, although I don't know much, I can also feel that those hidden guys are dangerous. I mean, you don't need to participate in these things at all, just let Fury do it , don't you believe in his ability?

I believe in Fury, but this thing, I can't let go.

Merlin looked at the dessert on the plate, and said softly:

They killed my family, they meddled in all kinds of things, they made waves I'm in the middle of this storm, and I'm not going to get out until it dies down. Actually, I enjoyed hunting 'em Feel.

Oh my family.

Gartler sighed, and said:

Indeed, you have no reason to withdraw. You are not the kind of person who would run away, but Merlin, I still want to persuade you that SHIELD gave you and me a job. You must understand that your life is your own. Yes, sometimes a job doesn’t mean we risk our lives.”

You know what you mean, Gartler.

Merlin shrugged and said:

I'll protect myself.

Having said that, Merlin raised his wrist, looked at the time, and said to Gartler:

It was a pleasant meal, Gartler, but I must go.

In such a hurry?

Gartler stood up and said to Merlin:

I'm planning to invite you to my house. Maybe you should meet Liv.

Forget it this time.

Merlin says:

I will definitely visit next time. The main reason is that I have some personal matters to deal with. I just touched a snake nest. I have to kill all the poisonous snakes before they escape.

Oh, is that so?

There was a gleam in Gartler's eyes, and he said with a smile:

Since I have business to do, I won't keep you. You kid, next time you come to Europe, you must tell me in advance.

Well, definitely!

Merlin and Gartler waved goodbye, and the latter watched Merlin walk out of the restaurant and turned into an alley.

The old cowboy himself did not leave immediately. Instead, he sat on a chair in the dining room, took out his mobile phone, and dialed a number.

After a while, the phone was connected, and a calm, hoarse voice came from the microphone:

What's matter?

There was no address, no pleasantries, and the person on the opposite side directly asked something wrong. And Gartler seems to be used to this kind of endless words, he said indifferently:

No big deal, I just want to ask, how is the 'Death Warrior Project' progressing? How long will it take for me to see the finished product?

It will take time, please be patient.

You use that phrase to prevaricate me every time.

Gartler said blankly:

I've always been patient, but I'm not going to be lied to casually. I need a time, a specific time.

According to the current progress, it may take five years.

The man replied:

The outer metal armor has encountered a technical bottleneck, and the progress of the body strengthening project is very slow. This is not something we can decide. The incubation and development of technology takes time, and you can only wait patiently.

5 years?

Gartler chuckled, and said:

I'm going to be 50 years old in 5 years. You say I'm a 50-year-old man. Why are you pursuing those? I've been waiting for you for 10 years and then you tell me that I have to wait another 5 years, or even longer to be honest. , I don't want to wait any longer.

So, what do you mean by this call? To put pressure on me?

No, I was just asking, I wanted an answer, and all I got was the usual disappointment.

Gartler sighed, and said:

Sorry to bother you.

After finishing speaking, he pressed the hang up button, but did not tell the person on the other side of the phone the terrible news he had received.

That seemingly powerful organization keeps letting him down

Maybe, let them taste the feeling of disappointment too.

I really got on a broken ship, it's time to prepare myself a way out.

Gartler leaned back on the chair, closed his eyes, and reached out to stroke his lower back, where there was still a bit of cold touch brought by metal.

Merlin, good friend, will you let me down?

Can you pull me out of this quagmire?

Maybe maybe I should give you a little help, but not now, the time has not yet come.

Oh, tough decision.