Shadow of the Beautiful World

Yes, it was suggested by Pierce.

In Fury's office, Chief Potato looked at Merlin with a serious face, and he replied:

At the beginning, it was just a rough draft plan, and then after constant revisions, it became what it is now.

Fury stared at Merlin, and after a few seconds, he said:

Your feeling is correct. One of the initial design ideas of this thing is that it can be used to suppress super criminals if necessary.

But just like the question you just raised, I also have doubts. It's okay to use the firepower of the mothership to deal with ordinary crimes. If it's used to deal with super criminals, it's not good enough.

But if we think about it in a different way, it is actually very suitable for dealing with omnics...

Merlin stretched out his fingers and stroked the documents of the Insight Project. He whispered to Fury:

I'm referring to monitoring the omnic center on Numbani, as well as the free omnics entrenched in Wakanda. Once they lose control on a large scale, relying on the firepower projection and accuracy of the insight mothership, we can It can solve the trouble in a short time.

You are really talented, Merlin.

Fury's eyes lit up, he rubbed his chin, and said:

It's a good idea. We can deploy it in East Africa first, as a supplement to the omnic plan.

It's fine for omnics.

Merlin nodded and said:

But it's not good for human beings. I still have the same point of view just now. Compared with the social problems brought about by superheroes, the troubles caused by the vision plan once it gets out of control are obviously more terrible.

Frey, you know me, and I'm not a perfectionist. I know sometimes we have to cut through the mess. The reason I don't like superheroes is because they always judge good and evil according to their own ideas, ignoring The arbitrariness of the rules.

Merlin took a step back. He leaned against the window and let the sun shine on him. He said to Fury:

But if we launch these flawed ships into the air to decide the life and death of a large group of people according to the ideas of a small number of people, then what is the difference between us and those childish heroes?

More importantly, how can you ensure that this thing will not be abused? What if it is used as a bargaining chip to intervene in the confrontation between countries?

I trust Pierce, but the other members of the World Security Council are also human beings, they represent their countries, they fight for the rights of their countries, they have passions and desires ... that means in extreme cases, they also have weaknesses.

So unfortunately, Fury, I won't endorse it, and I won't join it.

Merlin says:

I would rather use my own way, use my own means to restrain those superheroes, to screen them, to cultivate them. It may take a lot of time, and it may fail, but at least it will not cause mass casualties, nor will it Start a war.

Don't be sorry, at least you don't have to say sorry to me.

Fury was very free and easy. After he walked back to the desk with his hands behind his back, the director turned around. He blinked at Merlin, and then said in a low voice:

Because, actually, I'm not a big fan of Project Insight either...

Pierce is very interested in it, but I... maybe I am too paranoid, I always feel that until the hydra inside us is confirmed to be cleaned, it is better for us not to send the spacecraft to the sky.

Um?

Merlin asked in surprise:

After the death of 'Speaker', you still think there is Hydra in S.H.I.E.L.D.?

no way.

Fury sat on the chair, stretched himself, and said to Merlin:

They're so good at hiding, so good at hiding, I really can't be relieved... So let's wait a while, after a while, I will have a good discussion with Pierce.

Merlin, the insight plan will never be the ultimate solution to our problems. In fact, even if you agree with it, I only regard it as a supplementary means. After all, the insight plan is only prepared for ordinary people, but see Look at the world around us, Merlin, we are witnessing the emergence of new humans one after another, some people can fly, tear apart buildings with their bare hands, and run faster than racing cars...

Their power, once directed to crime, can in a split second render meaningless the order we have worked so hard to maintain.

Fury reached out and touched his eyes covered by blindfolds. He said:

Even I am one of them. I know what kind of result this kind of power will evolve if it is not restrained. Maybe the times have really changed, and it has made me occasionally feel at a loss and at a loss...

He leaned back in his chair, glanced at Merlin, and said:

Merlin... sit down, let's chat, it's rare to have time.

Merlin looked at Fury. He rarely saw such a tired expression on Fury's face. In his impression, Fury had always been that kind of cold-faced, iron-blooded tough guy.

This guy has been engaged in secret work since he was a military spy when he was young, and he is now in his 60s. He is the king of secret agents in the true sense.

The King of Spies gets old too, though.

Merlin knows that Fury has recently started to secretly inject the sss serum that can maintain youth, vigor and energy. According to Dumbo. Agent Dugan said that the serum has terrible sequelae, and I don’t know if Fury can endure it .

People, no matter how strong and cold they are when they are young, once they get old, they will naturally become gentle and sensitive.

This is probably why Fury invited Merlin to chat.

Merlin sat on the chair. He didn't sit upright as before, but changed to a more comfortable posture. He stretched out his hand and shook it, throwing a magic that can isolate the sound from escaping into the office.

He took out two cigars and threw one to Fury, who took it in his hand, looked at the cigars, and said:

Agents shouldn't be indulging in this kind of enjoyment, the smell of tobacco will give away the direction, especially when lurking for investigation, a wisp of sparks will make the mission fail...

You're not on the battlefield right now, maybe you learn to be nice to yourself.

Merlin flicked his fingers, and two flames floated in front of his and Fury's eyes. The latter put the cigar next to the fire unskillfully, took a puff, and puffed out the smoke again.

The two guys were smoking like that, and after a few minutes, Fury suddenly asked:

Merlin, what does s.h.i.e.d. mean?

Homeland Strategic Defense Offensive and Logistics Support Agency.

Merlin opened his mouth and uttered a series of awkward words. He glanced at Fury and said:

You have a good name, and now you call it S.H.I.E.L.D.

No no no, I mean, Merlin.

Fury put his head on his hands, looked at Merlin, and said:

What does it mean to you?

Your question...

Merlin frowned. He didn't know how to answer Fury's question for a while, mainly because he didn't know what Fury wanted to ask.

He hesitated for a few seconds, then said:

Well, it means a line.

Between the real world and the weirder world means that we, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., we have to keep people from knowing things they're not ready to know, we're all keepers of secrets, the difference is How many secrets do you know?

If we don't keep secrets that should be kept secret, that means we have to keep them safe before those secrets hurt people, and people hurt themselves and the world.

Merlin snapped his fingers, and he said to Fury:

In summary, s.h.i.e.d. means maintaining order and shaping a better order.

Also, if you still ask, I'll tell you that S.H.I.E.L.D. is still my home...

A fleeting smile appeared on Merlin's face, and he said to Fury:

Are you satisfied with this answer?

What does this have to do with whether I'm satisfied or not? We're just chatting, Merlin, you bastard, you must be too careful.

Fury raised his head and spit the smoke ring into the air. He asked again:

But you just said that we maintain order, Merlin, do you understand, and what is the order we maintain?

Your questions today are weird, Fury.

Merlin frowned, looked at Fury, and said:

Why do you ask? Do you know something? Or feel something?

Nothing, just a sudden whim.

Fury shrugged and said:

You know, when people get old, they always think about a lot of things, especially at this moment...

I always feel that maybe a new era has arrived before we know it, and those superheroes, omnics, etc., may be the signs of this era. And that is something we have never faced before... The new situation requires new ideas and new methods.”

So, tell me, let me hear the difference between your understanding of order and mine. As far as I can remember, we never seem to discuss this...

All right.

Merlin nodded and said:

I think order is something beautiful, everything that makes people feel warm and makes people want to cry. I like those things, and I like the feeling of being surrounded by order.

Your understanding is too subjective.

Fury smoked a cigar, and amidst the rising smoke, he said:

But it doesn't sound unreasonable. After all, there is no correct answer to this concept. Merlin, after all these years, have you ever doubted the duties you have performed?

Merlin hesitated for a few seconds, he looked at Fury, and he said:

Do you want to hear the truth?

Of course, I've heard enough lies.

Fury leaned back in his chair and said:

Speak, tell me everything.

Yes, and more than once.

Merlin said frankly:

When Mary and Richard died, when I learned that there was Hydra in S.H.I.E.L.D., when I discovered that we secretly monitored the entire country, and even half the world, many times...

Oh, then it seems that you are not the fearless hero that the rookies say.

Fury laughed and said:

It turns out that you are also an ordinary person.

Yes, I'm not a hero, but considering our current situation, you can only make do with me.

Merlin laughed, looked at Fury, and said:

I long for order to come, but I also know that there are always people who are committing crimes, and there are always people who are hurting others. We try our best to save most people, but sometimes, we can't save all of them. We must accept this cruel reality, otherwise , next time, none of us will be able to save them.

Life should be like this, a family, yours and mine, it should be loving each other, and, a safe haven. Yes, our work is shameful, dishonorable, and will make people bear sins, But other people besides us can have this life, and so can we.

Merlin snapped his fingers and said:

It's fair to sacrifice for something in return.

You are really like me when I was young.

Fury shook his head, with a low smile on his face, he said:

Of course, I didn't have your weird abilities at that time. I still remember when I was the same age as you, during the Cold War, I did a lot of unsightly people, those dark ones, they changed me , I remember at the time, the most I wished was that the things I was doing were actually useful.

I also occasionally wish that someone would say 'thank you' to me for the things I did.

Anyone who needs a decent 'thank you' for doing something is a bitch.

Merlin blinked, as if he deliberately provoked Fury, he said:

Are you really here to do this job just for the thanks of others?

No, but I feel like I deserve it.

Fury also laughed, and he said:

That's what you deserve.

Thank you, Merlin, for everything you have done for this world.

Fury's thank you made Merlin frown. He looked at Fury's face carefully. After a few seconds, he said:

You are not normal today. To be honest, I seriously doubt that you have taken drugs.

Uh, maybe it's the sequelae of receiving the sss serum at the beginning.

Fury rubbed his forehead, he said:

I've been thinking about these emotional issues lately...well, let's talk about the previous issue, your Superhero Registration Act, the implementation of the large-scale implementation at the beginning will definitely encounter the expected resistance, so we You have to take it slow, step by step.”

I think it might be better to start with a semi-official civic organization for this kind of initiative.

Fury looked at Merlin and said:

Superheroes are born from ordinary people, so if we want to control them, maybe we should start with the thinking of ordinary people. I mean, if most people feel that superheroes need to be controlled, then we intervene in the situation. It's going to be easier.

If heroes claim to protect ordinary people, they should learn to listen to those they protect. Do you know what I mean?

understood.

Merlin nodded and said:

Subtle influence, conventions, guidance of public opinion, and division and wooing are still the same old ways, but they are very effective.

Yes, it is like that.

Fury looked at the Superhero Registration Act in front of him, and he said:

The world, the order, the good things we guard, because these new factors have entered the node of order and chaos, we can't stand by, we need to help it.

Just like we've done countless times before.