Shadow of the Beautiful World

France, Paris, Merlin walking in the hall of the European branch of S.H.I.E.L.D., this place brought back memories of his past.

In 1993, Merlin, the current top executives of S.H.I.E.L.D., including Fury, were desperately suppressed by other colleagues because of the disbandment of the Strategic Science Corps, and had to keep a low profile.

For a while, in order to avoid being troubled by the enemy, Fury transferred Merlin to the European branch.

He stayed here as an internal affairs agent for more than a year, accepted the asylum of Agent John Gartler, and finally survived the Kree invasion in 1994, and then successfully fought with Fury. Turn around.

At that time, Merlin was only a level 2 agent, and Gartler was already the director of the European branch.

The world has changed, and 12 years later, Merlin became the deputy director of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Gartler was promoted all the way to level 9 special agent. The old man is still guarding the European side, but in fact, he has been in charge since a few years ago. Retiring to the second line, maybe in a few years, he will retire.

Although he is still healthy, even healthier and more energetic than the average young man, he has been an agent all his life, and he also wants a peaceful life of his own.

This is human nature.

Crack, crack

Merlin reached out and knocked on the door of the base director's office. After a while, Gartler's deep voice sounded:

Come in.

Merlin took a deep breath, pushed open the door in front of him, and walked into the office.

Gartler, who was dressed like an old cowboy, was not working. In fact, he was wearing a black thing that looked like a tactical goggle, leaning on the office chair, as if he was resting.

Merlin looked at the little black gadget that Gartler was wearing. On the shell of that thing, there was a cartoon logo that looked like a potato. It was a new type of game console that had only become popular in the last month.

It claims to be a cross-age game console, adopting virtual reality technology that few people have heard of in this era, allowing gamers to immerse themselves in an epic game story spanning 2,400 years with a more realistic experience.

Well, the name of this game is Assassin's Creed, and you can tell from the name that it is a game related to assassins.

It was developed by an unknown game studio, and it is only a small internal test. It may take a while until it is actually launched.

Well, are you playing this too?

Merlin was sitting on a chair in the office. He looked at Gartler who took off the game equipment. After the old cowboy was transformed into a witcher, his appearance returned to his appearance in his 30s. Not only did he not look old, but On the contrary, he was younger.

However, he still maintains his previous image, just like people from the previous era, who always likes to comb his hair into a big back and apply pomade. Coupled with his clothes, it is full of an indescribable sense of the times.

Yeah, this thing is quite fun, but it's a waste of time, and it's over after a day of playing.

Gartler put the black game console on the table, opened the drawer, took out two cigars, and threw one to Merlin.

Now that he was a witcher, he could go to Diagon Alley to buy this magically treated cigar, which was his favorite treat.

You play games, doesn't your wife talk about you?

Merlin snapped his fingers, and the two dancing flames helped the two old men light their cigars. Amid the mellow smoke rising, Merlin said in a relaxed tone:

I heard that Liv wants to have a baby, but you haven't heard anything yet...

Uh, I seriously suspect that you are questioning some of my abilities.

Gartler was smoking a cigar, and he said triumphantly:

In a while, you will prepare a gift, Merlin, and my child will be born at that time. But pregnant women will indeed lose their temper. I was kicked out by her when I was playing games at home yesterday. I You can only bring the game console to the office.

But that's the good thing about being a leader. I'm playing games at work and no one reprimands me. Especially at this point in time when I'm about to retire, everyone has been very tolerant of me, which is great.

Ah, then I would really like to congratulate you.

Merlin winked at Gartler and said:

You are over 50 years old this year, and the sword is not old.

Hehe, let's not talk about this.

With an undisguised smile on Gartler's face, he said to Merlin:

Why do you have time to come here today? Is the leader here to inspect the work?

yes.

Merlin replied solemnly:

Someone reported that some secret agents had neglected their duties. I came to have a look. Unfortunately, you were caught and caught. Your next month's salary is gone, and your child's milk powder money is gone. Hurry up and beg me, maybe I can pretend I didn't see it.

Just buckle it up.

Gartler said nonchalantly:

S.H.I.E.L.D. pays me a month's salary, which is more than I can win by playing cards in a tavern. Speaking of which, do you want to play a game of cards? We haven't played cards for a long time.

OK.

Merlin pulled the chair to the desk, and Gartler threw the things on the desk onto the sofa. The two took out their respective Gwent cards, and played cards blatantly during working hours.

This time, Merlin didn't cheat, and in just a few minutes, he was defeated by Gartler.

Your card skills have regressed.

Gartler threw down a monster card, and he said to Merlin:

Haven't you played cards recently?

Well, I've been very busy recently, and there are things everywhere.

Merlin frowned while looking at the cards in his hand and replied:

Omnics, aliens, remnants of Hydra, and more and more street heroes... They are just like mice, they just jumped out of nowhere and caused trouble everywhere under the banner of justice, making every The whole city is full of smog, like dog pee moss that grows wildly after the rain. In just a few months, they are everywhere, which is really annoying.

It's the same here in Europe.

Gartler said:

Some wizards in the UK have set up a sacred relic association, digging up ancient relics all over Europe. I met with your wizard kids last week. They told me that those wizards seem to have found some kind of summoned spirit. The method... I don't know where they got it from, it's very suspicious.

There is also Eastern Europe, you may not know it, a small country had a rebellion some time ago, the original government was overthrown, and a guy named Victor von Doom formed a puppet government there. The guy is kind of a wizard, but also kind of a scientist. We're trying to get in touch with him, but he's, how to put it, quite xenophobic.

The last is the Ten Commandments Gang. You know, that group of terrorists who can't be killed. After a few years of dormancy, they started to move again. I heard that some kind of saint appeared and killed the Ten Commandments Gang. The power has gathered again.

Gatler sighed. He watched Merlin throw a terrain card, and then threw down a sunshine card to dispel the negative effect of Merlin's terrain card.

He said to Merlin:

I don't know if it's an illusion, Merlin, I always feel that the world has become unstable...

It's not an illusion, it's heading in a chaotic direction, but that's not our problem.

Merlin looked at the cards in his hand and said:

The armistice agreement, the confluence of the celestial sphere, and other things, these troublesome things seem to have gathered together. The shock of the situation at this time is just a sign, and the real trouble has not yet come. And I doubt it. In recent years The ever-explosive growth of supernatural phenomena, as well as the endless emergence of superhumans, is also a sign.

A time of chaos is coming, whether we want it or not, and whether we are ready or not.

Snapped

Merlin looked at the terrible game in front of him, and he dropped the lore card in his hand, the 15-point Geralt of Rivia.

Shrugging his shoulders, Gartler chose to skip the rendezvous and admit defeat.

But this was only the first round, Merlin threw away his hole cards, and in the next two rounds, Gartler was sure to win.

And just at the beginning of the second game, Merlin suddenly said:

John, I see.

Um?

While sorting out the cards in his hand, Gartler asked:

What do you know?

Merlin raised his head and looked at him:

clairvoyance...

Gartler's movements immediately froze in place, as if he had been struck by a bolt of lightning. He raised his head stiffly, and looked at Merlin with those yellow snake pupils, the pupils dilated slightly.

In his eyes, there was shock, hesitation, and fear.

It was as if the biggest secret in his heart had been exposed, and this moment came so suddenly that Dougatler was unable to cope at all.

You... how did you...

I'm disappointed, John.

Merlin looked at the Gwent cards in his hand, his mind was not on playing cards at all, otherwise, his performance today would not be so bad.

I'm disappointed that you've kept these things from me, John. I consider you a true friend, and we've had a life-and-death friendship... more than once.

But when I saw your past in the memory of that young man in Ward...I really...

Merlin put the cards in his hand on the table, he took off his glasses, a flame-like light flashed in his dark red eyes, and he said:

Do you know? For a moment, I really wanted to kill you!

A look of bewilderment flashed across Gartler's face. He tried to say something, but looking into Merlin's eyes, he finally didn't try to deny it.

At this time, facing a wizard, denying it will only make things worse.

I can guess, and I can understand your anger. You have every reason to be angry.

John Gatler said bitterly:

After all, after all, I did participate in things that I shouldn't be involved in.

Richard and Mary...sorry, I shouldn't have been involved, I...

Don't mention their names.

Merlin reached out and interrupted Gartler, and he said softly:

That just makes you look even more hideous to me.

Okay, let's talk about something else.

Gartler took a deep puff of the cigar, and in the smoke rising from the corner of his mouth, he put down the Gwent card in his hand, and said to Merlin frankly:

After you cured my terminal illness, Merlin, I really had the urge to tell you everything...

Really, I swear, I regard you as a friend. I have made a clean break with that organization. They have been sending killers to try to kill me, but I don't regret this decision. I also have a conscience...

Gartler pointed to his chest and said:

I joined them just to beg for a living, and you know what I was like. I was not on the same path as them. I don't have those crazy beliefs, I just want to live! I just want to live, just like a wild beggar. Dog, I myself feel humbled! At that time, I felt that I could sell anyone without guilt...

But, but when you gain a good friend, those secrets, those pasts, they become shackles.

Gatler looked at Merlin, and he whispered:

I... dare not tell you, not only because I'm afraid you'll kill me with your knife, but also because I'm afraid I'll lose a true friend, a friend who brought me a new life. But that's a sin, my After all, the hands are also stained with blood.

He closed his eyes and let out a long breath.

I had planned to retire, take Liv away from home, and completely disappear from your lives. I wanted to use this as a farewell, so that we don't have to go to where we are now, but...

What should come will always come. If you make a mistake, you will be punished.

The old cowboy's breathing became a little heavier, he gritted his teeth, and said to Merlin in a calm but regretful tone:

I'm not naive enough to try to convince you, I know your principles of doing things, trust is betrayed, you have to pay with blood, I'm willing to pay the price... kill me, and then attend my funeral as a friend, Raising my kids as a brother, I know I can trust you, I know you can do better than me...Come on, do it, I owe it to you.

Come on, Gartler, John...

Merlin stared at his old friend like a statue, until several minutes later, he shook his head, put away his gwent card, and said:

You have unborn children, you have a wife waiting for you to come home, I have met Liv, she is also my friend, I have very few friends...so each one is important.

Level 9 Agent John Gartler.

Merlin stood up and threw a document in front of Gartler's eyes. He said:

Today, you retired. Let's go, get out of here.

He turned and walked towards the office door. The moment he opened the door, Merlin looked back at Gartler and said in a gentle voice:

Sorry, John.

You, are no longer my friend... Never appear in my hunting grounds.

Merlin left, and Gartler stayed in the office alone. He looked at the scattered Gwent cards on the table, and at the document waiting to be signed, and he stood there blankly.

Merlin didn't take his life, but that's not something to be thankful for...

A precious friendship ended because of the sins he committed in the past to beg for a living.

well...

Like a really late old man, Gartler took out a signature pen and wrote his name neatly on the document.

It's your fault...

———————————————

Crack, crack

A heavy knock on the door sounded in the apartment in Queens. Mei, who was making lunch and still wearing an apron, walked quickly to the door, opened the door, and saw her younger brother.

Merlin stood at the door with a gloomy expression. His mental state looked terrible. After Richard and Mary's funeral, Mei had almost never seen Merlin like this.

What's the matter? Brother.

Mei hastily put down the shovel in her hand and wiped her hands on the apron. She stretched out her hand worriedly and touched Merlin's forehead. She asked:

Are you feeling unwell? Are you sick?

No, sister.

Merlin was afraid to face Mei's gaze, he lowered his head, like a child who has done something wrong, and said softly:

I...I found out who killed Richard and Mary, but...

I can't do it. Sister, I let him go because he was my friend too.

Merlin clenched his fists. In front of his family, he no longer concealed himself, and there was strong self-blame and pain in his voice.

Sorry, I really can't do it.

May's expression also changed. The tragedy of Richard and Mary will always be a pain that cannot be forgotten in this family, but compared to those who have passed away, May is more willing to see those who are still alive live well.

She sighed, and stretched out her hand to embrace Merlin in her arms as before.

She patted Merlin on the back lightly, and she said:

It's okay, brother, it's okay.

Those things are in the past. The departure of Richard and Mary made us understand that we should cherish the relatives who are still alive. Compared with killing your enemies with bloody hands, I would rather see you with a smile on your side. Little Peter and our side, that's what matters.

Listen, brother, don't blame yourself, we don't need pain and hatred to live... No one will blame you.

It's all over... Be good, it's all over.

Merlin heaved a sigh of relief, he hugged his sister tenderly, and said softly:

I won't lose you again, sister, everyone, never again.

Uncle! Uncle Merlin!

Probably hearing the sound coming from the door, the 8-year-old little Peter rushed out of the room. He looked at Uncle Merlin standing beside Aunt May. He stretched out his hands happily and shouted:

I'm going to the park to play!

Okay! You can go wherever you want today!

Merlin stretched out his hand and hugged little Peter in his arms. He stroked the child's hair and said softly:

Call your sister Ruiwen and Lorna, as well as sister Daisy and brother Matt, and let's go play together, okay?

OK.

Little Peter clapped his hands, hugged Merlin's neck and shouted:

Uncle Merlin is the best!