Shadow of the Beautiful World

Time entered May 2001, and the affairs of the entire S.H.I.E.L.D. Bureau became more and more busy.

After several years of hard work, this security organization directly under the World Security Council has successfully established its own branches in various regions of the world.

With the expansion of the territory, more and more complicated work content followed.

As the director, Fury spent almost every day on the plane, and he finally had a huge team of assistants to help him sort out intelligence and information from all over the world.

As Merlin described, Fury is like a black spider lying in the center of an increasingly large spider web, using his innate keen perception to sense the dangers that have occurred or are about to occur .

It is not enough to be able to perceive danger alone, he also needs fighters who can deal with and prevent crises.

A year ago, SHIELD had 5 special response teams, and a year later, this number has reached 12.

One year ago, there were 57 departments in the Trident Building, and everyone had plenty of workplaces. Now, a year later, even though the entire Trident Building has activated underground facilities, it still cannot satisfy the increasingly large office population.

And friends Clint and Natasha, who used to be able to act together occasionally, also have their own team and exclusive functions, performing various tasks in various hotspots around the world all day long.

Chatting on the phone has become a luxury.

Even Merlin, who has always been very leisurely, under Fury's instructions, began to gradually spread the supervision scope of s.d.o.l.d. from New York City to the entire East Coast starting from 2 months.

But the best news for s.d.o.l.d. is that, for the sake of confidentiality, their department does not need to compete for office resources with those new departments that are constantly emerging in the increasingly crowded Trident Building.

Below the 21st Century Bell Telephone Company in the old town, the entire 6 floors of underground equipment can be freely used by s.d.o.l.d. agents. Merlin even built a shooting range and He even planned to build an indoor swimming pool for the alien combat training ground if his superiors hadn't intervened.

Under Fury's repeated warnings, Merlin had to give up his plan for an indoor swimming pool, but he still stubbornly added large fish tanks to each office.

Well, anyway, s.d.o.l.d. has a surplus of work funds every quarter. Before the appropriation period arrives, the heads of the main departments such as Merlin, Coulson, Melinda and Sharon will have a headache. Use your brains to carry out a wave of assaults to spend money.

This has almost become a tradition in this department.

Even Miss Bloodstone, who is a consultant, has her own spacious office. Except for the poor lighting, everything in this office makes Miss Bloodstone very satisfied, especially the big desk that can be used to play Gwent cards. .

But today, the entire s.d.o.l.d. office area is very quiet.

Every internal affairs agent put on a neat uniform and put on a majestic look, while the field agents who needed to go out on duty showed a chill between actions, trying hard to make themselves look deterrent force.

As the commander, Coulson put on hair oil again, and the other two female commanders also put the guns and documents that they rarely use in the most conspicuous positions.

It was as if a superior inspection was about to be ushered in.

But it is not.

At 10 o'clock in the morning, Merlin, carrying a handbag, wearing formal clothes, and glasses, walked into the office area on the basement floor with a serious face. He raised his hand, looked at the time, and then said to the trustworthy subordinates in front of him: :

They're coming soon, are you better prepared?

No problem, sir!

Sharon, who put on light makeup today, was wearing a blue and black uniform skirt. She folded her arms and said indifferently:

We have arranged it in advance, and it will definitely make them remember deeply!

I enlisted the best field agents in the squad to help me.

Melinda with short hair also said coldly:

Those rookies don't want to get away with it, but anyone who fails the test will be kicked out directly!

I think it's a bit of a fuss.

Coulson flicked his shiny hair a little uncomfortable. He hasn't used hair oil since he started losing his hair several years ago. If it wasn't for today's special occasion, he wouldn't use the culprit that caused his hairline to grow higher.

He said hesitantly to his superior and colleagues:

It's just a group of rookie agents who have just joined the department. We are holding an orientation meeting, not screening spies. Such a battle is a bit too exaggerated.

You don't understand, Coulson.

Merlin looked at the spotless office, and he said to several others:

This is the first large-scale recruitment operation of s.d.o.l.d. since its establishment several years ago. Our department has special work content, so the newcomers we need are different from other departments. Even civilians and internal affairs agents need extremely high learning ability And adaptability, I don't want to have a bunch of jerks and doozies in the department.

Especially the few of you who will soon be transferred from the headquarters to other areas on the east coast to perform new positions as regional commanders.

Merlin sighed and said:

In the past few years, I have finally cultivated a group of trustworthy alien hunters, but now I have to spill them out.

He shook his head and said softly, but unquestionably:

In this case, I must ensure that the newcomers enter the working state in the shortest possible time, otherwise the situation in New York has just stabilized for less than a year, and there will be waves again.

So, you must ensure the quality of the newcomers. We only want the best and the best!

Okay, now go to work.

Merlin clapped his hands and said to the others:

These two days will be very hard. I will personally interview a few newcomers recommended by Fury, and I will leave the rest of the rookies to you.

Soon, as several black buses from the headquarters stopped in the parking lot of the 21st Century Bell Telephone Company, the recruiting work of s.d.o.l.d. officially started.

As for Merlin, as the department's supreme commander, he didn't need to come forward immediately.

After the recruitment of new recruits was completed, his department would have a large gathering, and only then would Merlin speak out.

He didn't like to show his face in public, but his temporary assistant, Hill, must have prepared a manuscript for him, and he could just read it according to the manuscript.

Merlin was sitting in his office. On his desk, there were several personnel files transferred from the director's office. These were several new agents who had just graduated from SHIELD Academy personally recommended by Fury. The seed contestants in the batch of newcomers.

He leaned back on the chair, picked up the first file, and opened it.

Antoine Triplett, a 2000 outstanding graduate of SHIELD Academy, has 2 years of experience in the military. He was born in a family of secret agents. His grandfather was a member of the 'Roaring Commandos' led by Steve Rogers. He is proficient in light weapon shooting and airborne , fighting and reconnaissance, won the Purple Heart Medal

Merlin looked at the young black man with a bright smile on the photo. He looked at this line of glorious resumes. After a moment of thinking, he picked up the seal on the table and stamped it lightly on the file.

Well, this guy, was selected.

Merlin picked up the second file, and the photo in this file was of a pretty blonde.

Barbara 'Barbie' Morse, born in a family of secret agents, her parents are both logistics agents of the Strategic Science Corps, a 2000-class outstanding graduate of the Aegis Academy, and the only one who has obtained the title of Professor Natasha's camouflage and detection subjects Students with full marks

Well, there are quite a few girls in the department.

Merlin rubbed his chin, he looked at the file, he said:

It's very similar to Melinda's template, maybe she can take over the vacancy left by Melinda.

Snapped

Another stamp on the file.

And then the third.

Zheng Shangqi? Fighting consultant?

Merlin frowned, looking at the honest photo, he shook his head.

The name is weird, and the face is also unlikable. When fighting against aliens, stepping up and punching is simply courting death for ordinary agents. There is no suitable position for him here.

Fail!

Snapped

The file was thrown in the trash.

And then the fourth.

Alfonso McKinsey, a 2000 outstanding graduate of SHIELD Academy, proficient in engineering and data

Bang, bang

Just as Merlin was reading the fourth personnel file, two knocks sounded on the door. He put down the document in his hand, looked at the door of the office, and said:

Come in.

The next moment, a handsome boy in a blue denim jacket with short blond hair and a soft complexion pushed open the door, poked his head out, and looked into the office. When he saw Merlin, his handsome face immediately froze. There was a smile.

Hi, Mr. Merlin, long time no see.

Lincoln!

Merlin didn't expect that the person who knocked on the door was actually a young man who had met once in Afghanistan. With a surprised expression, he waved to Lincoln who was carrying a big bag. After Lincoln sat on the chair opposite him, He asked:

What are you doing here? Your alien transformation is complete?

It was completed 1 year ago.

Lincoln had a leisurely expression on his face. Compared with 2 years ago, the gloom in this young man's eyes was much less, replaced by a genuine peace from the heart.

He said to Merlin:

After separating from you, I have been receiving ability control training in the 'afterlife'. Three days ago, Instructor Gordon told me that I have a new mission.

He lowered his head, searched in the big backpack he was carrying with him, then took out a resume and handed it to Merlin, he said:

Commander Merlin, I, Lincoln Campbell, will work in your department as a representative of the Inhuman organization 'Afterlife' and as a new agent for the next three years. Mainly to assist s.d.o.l.d. in North America Find aliens, and according to their choice, send them to the 'afterlife', or remove their alien instincts, and make them return to ordinary people.

Merlin didn't answer right away. He took Lincoln's resume, and after opening it, he saw that under the resume, there was already a seal from Fury's director's office and Fury's signature, which meant that this matter was decided by Fury. of.

Probably some time ago, after Fury met Jiaying, the leader of the afterlife, they agreed on some things.

Regarding this matter, Merlin did not express any objection. If SHIELD wants to establish a cooperative relationship with the Inhuman Organization, it must make initial contact. In Merlin's department, it's all suitable.

Well, the director actually spoke in person, so I have no objection.

Merlin picked up his seal and was about to stamp Lincoln's resume, but at this moment, he suddenly hesitated.

He raised his head, put down the seal, propped his chin with both hands, looked at the gentle and handsome young man in front of him, and said:

But do you have the confidence to do this job well? Lincoln, you should already know what our department does?

I know, and I'm ready.

Lincoln took a deep breath, and said to Merlin like it was an interview:

I will do my best to complete every task assigned to me!

'Do your best' and 'finish' are two different things, Agent Lincoln.

Merlin said slowly:

Maybe you think you're ready, but time will tell. If I don't think you're suitable for the job, then I'll ignore our personal friendship and let you pack up and go 'afterlife.' 'Go, it will be you who will be ashamed then.

I am willing to accept the test!

Lincoln shrugged and said:

I'm a graduate student in medicine, maybe I can't do it, but I think, in terms of the nature of s.d.o.l.d.'s work, we rarely encounter the need to kill people with our own hands, right?

Well, it can be said that. But from the appearance point of view, many aliens are no different from humans.

Merlin says:

They hurt, they bleed, and killing them doesn't feel any different than killing someone.

But physiologically, those are two species.

Lincoln replied:

I also dissected frogs in the lab, and it was really bad at first, but then it got better. So I think I will probably get used to it soon.

very good!

Merlin nodded, picked up the seal, stamped it on the personnel file, and said:

This mentality is good. Take your resume to find Agent Coulson, and then prepare to receive half a month of alien knowledge and combat training. I am looking forward to your integration into my department, first-level agent Lincoln Campbell.

Yes! Sir Merlin.

Lincoln seemed to quickly enter the role. He stood up, straightened his clothes, picked up his bag, and planned to leave Merlin's office, but when he walked to the door, he suddenly remembered something, and took out a folded bag from his pocket. The envelope was placed on Merlin's desk, and he said to his superior:

Sir, this is the information that Instructor Gordon asked me to bring you.

All the information about the obelisk is on it. He asked me to tell you to destroy it after reading it. This thing is one of the biggest secrets of the Inhuman Race, and it must not be passed on.

Merlin picked up the faith, he pulled out three pages of letter paper, he waved to Lincoln:

Go and do your business.

I'm good at keeping secrets.