Shadow of the Beautiful World

Merlin returned home almost on a pinch, and when he entered the living room, he smelled a fragrance.

The dining table was full of food. In addition to the pizza delivered by the takeaway, there were also some freshly prepared dishes. There were clanging sounds in the kitchen. Merlin turned around and saw a little fat man wearing an apron. Busy in the kitchen.

He was wearing a suit and dressed himself up very energetically, his eyes were always smiling, and Lorna was standing beside him to help, as if he was learning how to cook.

His name was Fudge, and he lived not far from Josie's Bar in Hell's Kitchen, and his family ran the best deli on the block, where Merlin and the kids used to go for some meat.

He's also Matt's, well, only friend.

Little Fuji, you have finally come to our house as a guest.

Merlin took off his windbreaker, threw it away, and hung the clothes on the hanger by the door with precision. He greeted the little fat man, and said:

I also have to thank you for helping me take care of my family's Matt, you know, he doesn't like to make friends very much as a kid, which bothers me a lot.

Oh, Mr. Merlin.

That cute little fat young man turned his head and said to Merlin while he was frying the ham in the pot:

Don't say that, Matt and I always help each other, well, on another note, your cat and dog are so cute, they are the smartest pets I have ever met.

Well, sure. Of course they're smart.

Merlin glanced at Frank who was squatting at Fuji's feet, and the silly dog ​​turned around and showed a flattering smile to Merlin.

And Gu Gu was lying on the sofa, sitting with Rocket Raccoon and Treant who had been given magical illusions. Those two guys were drinking beer, looking a little carefree.

Riven and Laura sit on the other side of the table, and the lonely little wolf girl seems to have made her first friend in her new home.

Where's Matt?

Merlin stretched out his hand and unbuttoned his cuffs, and he said to Raven:

Why don't you see him come down for dinner? His friend is here, won't he entertain him?

Matt is waiting for you in the study.

Raven helped Laura lay the napkin. She pushed the round glasses and said to Merlin:

He has something to tell you, well, he doesn't seem very happy.

All right.

Merlin's expression changed slightly, and he turned back to Fuji and said:

You can eat first, Fuji, don't wait for me and Matt, we may have to chat for a while. Lorna, don't pester Brother Fuji, let him cook properly.

it's okay no problem.

Fu Ji took the plate from Lorna with a smile, and threw a piece of ham to the silly dog ​​Frank at his feet. He waved the shovel and said to Merlin:

Go ahead, Mr. Merlin, I have to cook a few more dishes.

Um.

Merlin nodded, reached out to hug the lazy Gu Gu, and walked up to the second floor while stroking Gu Gu's fur. He pushed open the door of the study, and saw Matt sitting on a chair, leaning on a guide stick, with a calm expression on his face.

His and Fudge's college acceptance letters were placed on the table.

Merlin looked at Matt's expression, then reached out and closed the door, he sighed, and said:

You found out?

Well. I overheard the conversation among the professors who thought I couldn't hear.

Matt nodded, and he said what he had heard before with a wooden face.

I didn't do it, some of my friends helped.

Merlin put Goo Goo aside, he reached out to open the wine cabinet, took out a bottle of wine, took out two glasses, then looked at Matt, and put back another glass.

Minors are not allowed to drink alcohol.

Friends will help each other, and I can't refuse their kindness. I know you will feel that I have cheated you, and you will feel that I don't trust you. You are always so sensitive, independent, and have your own ideas. It’s been like this since I was a kid.”

Merlin poured himself a glass of wine, and he whispered:

Among all the children in the family, you are the most worry-free for me, so, as if nothing happened, you and Fuji go to school obediently, and then become a good lawyer in the future... how about it?

this is not right.

Matt reached out to take off his sunglasses, his dull eyes turned to Merlin, and he said stubbornly:

The two of us don't need extra help, Merlin, I appreciate your attention to my studies, my life, but I don't like this way of meddling... It makes me feel that I don't deserve it, I Going to give up early admission with Fuji, and then go to take the test.

If I want to be a lawyer, if I want to use the power of the law to help others, I have to abide by it first.

Pointing to the acceptance letter on the table, Matt said:

Instead of my guardian's connections and power... What's the difference between that and those criminals who steal?

The difference is...

Merlin took a sip of his wine, walked up to Matt, reached out and patted the two admission notices, and he replied seriously:

You have the ability to get it, I just made sure that this process will not be interfered by other forces. Matt, not everyone thinks like you, and not everyone will follow the rules like you.

Merlin explained:

If my friends don't intervene, you and Fuji, two poor boys from Hell's Kitchen with no background, will be overthrown by the children of rich people who donate to the school. If you need, I can even show you the evidence , the parents of those two ignorant guys donated a lot of money...

Listen, Matt, my friend is just making sure this process is a little more 'fair' for the two of you.

He put the glass on the table, he pushed the two notices in front of Matt, and said:

You took the test and you did well, so you deserve it.

I am a public official, I am responsible for maintaining social order, protecting the innocent from being harmed, protecting the rules from being challenged, protecting other people's lives, and protecting you from being treated differently, which is not illegal in theory , so don't have any psychological pressure.

Merlin said to Matt:

After a while, I will go to school honestly, and after graduation, like Eric, find a decent job, and find a good woman like Charlie to marry and have children. This will make me feel relieved, and it will also make Jack Feel relieved. After I spent so much time explaining it to you, do you have any questions?

And, Matt, is my impression in your heart so bad?

Merlin took a sip of wine, he pretended to be sad and said:

The distrust from the kids, it really breaks my heart.

I just want to be clear, Merlin, I don't mistrust you.

Matt stretched out his hand, touched the notice, and said:

I thought you used your connections to ensure our admission, I...

Okay, no need to explain, have some confidence in yourself, son, your grades are all real, you can check it out.

Merlin patted Matt on the shoulder, and he said:

Go down and eat, Fuji and the others are waiting for you, I'll go down soon.

Matt didn't say anything else. He left the study with his guide stick. After watching Matt leave, Icarus' voice sounded in Merlin's ears, and she said:

Not to mention Matt, his grades are dozens of points higher than the admission cutoff, but Fuji...he just crossed the admission cutoff right?

But Fudge is eligible for admission, Icarus.

Merlin looked at the admission notice in his hand, and said:

Although the chance of losing the election is quite high, it seems that the little fat man is lucky. Matt and his good friend can go to school together again. It always makes me feel more at ease to have someone to take care of him for me.

You are really kind to them.

Merlin shrugged, said Icarus, as he drank the last of his drink, and said:

Isn't this what a guardian should do? Jack's last wish is to hope that Matt will become a decent person and not have to struggle in the quagmire of Hell's Kitchen all his life. Matt has done a good job, and Jack will definitely be very satisfied.

Okay, we should go down to eat... Where's Logan?

Merlin asked again:

Can he make it tonight? If it's too late, let yourself sleep outside and come back tomorrow morning.

Logan's plane landed five minutes ago.

Icarus projected a timetable in front of Merlin's eyes, and marked the coordinates of Logan's movement in New York City. She said:

He should be here in 30 minutes, and you can get Laura ready in advance.

There is nothing to prepare.

Merlin says:

It's just a meeting, and I won't let Logan take her away. That guy's own life is a mess. I don't believe he can take good care of a little girl with communication problems.

Then why do you want to make trouble out of it?

Icarus asked suspiciously:

Whether Logan knows about Laura's existence will not have any impact on his or Laura's life.

I just prepare ahead of time.

Merlin put the wine glass on the table, and he said softly:

In case I suddenly disappear one day, Logan will help me take care of Laura, and the child will not have nowhere to go.

...

Icarus was silent for a moment, then she said again:

So, you let Lorna and Miss Wanda get in touch, made sure that little fat Fuji and Matt went to college together, drove Eric and Charlie out early to live alone, and didn't use the three magic weapons for a long time, and kept hiding The relationship between you and little Peter even made me hide little Peter's background information... Are these the ways you prepared for the children at home?

Merlin, tell me, are you aware of something?

No, the signs haven't appeared yet.

Merlin pushed his glasses, he said:

But it's not a bad thing to prepare early. Children are always the weak point of adults. I try to protect them. Their presence can relax my mind. If... if I disappear one day, then I should make sure my children I can move on with my life.”

And you, Icarus.

Merlin opened the door of the study, he jokingly said:

If it's time to say goodbye, I will definitely choose a good host for you.

I don't need it.

Icarus whispered:

The glasses are just a carrier. I don't need them to still exist in the data network world. If you die, Merlin, in a sense, it means I'm free.

But what's the use of being free to me?

Don't be so pessimistic, Icarus.

Merlin says:

You will always find the meaning of your existence. You have to believe that your birth is definitely not just to help me deal with those complicated things. Well, the children should wait, let's go eat.

Merlin walked down the stairs, and Rocket and Groot, who were wearing magic illusions, were yelling and trying to persuade the little fatty Fuji to drink with them. Although Groot repeated that sentence over and over again, Rocket was very eloquent. When he walked to the dining table, the little fat man had already had several drinks, and he was a little bit drunk.

You bastard!

Merlin said to Rocket sitting beside him:

In this world, minors are not allowed to drink alcohol.

Wow, Merlin, you're such a disappointment.

The rocket seems to be somewhat unsuitable for the magic phantom of the human form. It holds the spoon and fork awkwardly, forks a large piece of meat onto the plate, and then cuts it roughly. While eating, it holds the little fat man's shoulder, it says :

You just said what university you got into? It sounds like a good thing. Come, have another drink.

I made this, Merlin, you can try it.

Lorna Xianbao seemed to put a plate of food with unclear raw materials in front of Merlin. She looked at Merlin expectantly. The latter hesitated, and then put a piece of black stuff into his mouth. A few seconds later, Merlin showed a hypocritical smile to Lorna:

Well, the taste...is very unique, and it can't be considered unpalatable.

Hey, if you don't like it, just say it.

Lorna rolled her eyes. She deliberately squeezed between Merlin and Laura, which made Laura very dissatisfied, but the little wolf girl didn't say anything, but ate her food seriously.

She seemed quiet, withdrawn, somewhat out of gregarious.

Eat more vegetables, it's good for your health.

Merlin used chopsticks to set up the vegetables and put them on Laura's plate. The little wolf girl raised her head and gave Merlin an awkward smile, but it was fleeting.

Bang, bang

After more than 20 minutes, there was a knock on the door. Merlin wiped his mouth with a tablecloth. He stood up, walked to the door, opened the door, and saw the Wolverine Logan, whom he hadn't seen for a long time, leaning against the door. side.

His hair was as personal as ever, unshaven, and he wore a black leather jacket and jeans, with his hips akimbo and a cigar dangling from his mouth.

Oh, and this guy also knows that you need to bring a gift when you come to visit, so he has two bottles of wine in his hand.

What's wrong?

Merlin looked at Logan's gloomy expression, and he asked:

In a bad mood? Something bad happened?

Bad, bad kind.

Logan said:

Oh, it's hard to say.

Then come in and eat first.

Merlin beckoned Logan into the house, saying:

Put out the cigarette, there are children here.

When Logan entered the door, he saw a lot of people around the dining table. His eyes quickly fell on Rocket and Groot, who were wearing magic illusions. He took off the cigar, pressed it out in his hand, and looked down to eat , Laura, who seemed very lonely in the crowd, seemed to be drawn by blood, he put the wine in his hand on the table, and then said to Merlin:

That is...

Yes, she is your 'daughter'.

Merlin says:

It can also be understood as your sister, her name is Laura, but let's eat first.