Shadow trail of the beautiful world

Chapter 37. 36. Kindness

Merlin finally relaxed and sat on the train, and at this time, it was the quiet midnight.

He was wearing a light windbreaker, gloves, and a cowboy hat to cover his face. He was leaning against the window, as if he was resting.

There was a travel bag by his feet, and by his hand was a small kettle filled with water.He looked like an ordinary tourist, exhausted from a long journey.

The entire carriage was silent, most of the passengers were resting, and one or two people who were still awake did not make a sound.

The car was bound for the middle of the United States, and its destination was Madison, Wisconsin.

After traveling all over the land, Merlin finally decided to go back to where it all started.

He hasn't figured out what to do in the future, and he doesn't know what stories are waiting for him in the future, but after experiencing so many things, Merlin finally decided to face the emotions hidden deep in his heart, and he wants to go back and see .

Look at Dad, Mom, and his brother Phil, though, they don't remember him anymore.

"click"

The door of the train car opened, and a man with a suitcase walked into the car.

With steady steps, he approached Merlin step by step.As the man got closer, Merlin, who seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep, moved his left hand, silently holding the handle of the knife inserted into his boot.

He was the target of the coming... It was easy to feel.

But to Merlin's surprise, the man did not launch an attack.

Instead, he just sat down on the chair opposite Merlin, put the suitcase at his feet, took off his hat, and took off his toad mirror, then stretched out his hand and knocked on the table.

It's like saying hello.

Merlin took off the cowboy hat that blocked his face. He sat up straight and looked at the person sitting opposite him.

A muscular black man with short hair and sharp eyes. He looked like he had been a soldier, and he exuded a cold aura that should not be approached by strangers.And on his forehead, there was still a hemostatic bandage, and the wound seemed to be left recently, as if it had just been stitched up.

This wound, which shouldn't have appeared, seriously damaged the indifferent temperament of the guy in front of him, making him look a little funny.

He looked at Merlin, and Merlin looked at him.

"Do I know you, sir?"

Merlin asked.

"No, you don't know."

The man shrugged and said to Merlin:

"But I know you. I knew you two years ago."

He took something out of his pocket and put it in front of Merlin's eyes.

It was a cut down newspaper, already somewhat yellowed, and it contained news about the Chicago bombing.

That was indeed what happened 2 years ago, the accident caused by Merlin.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Nick Fury. A senior agent of the Strategic Science Corps. Since 2 years ago, I have been following news related to you, Mr. 89084, or... should I call you, Merlin? "

Nick Fury glanced at Merlin's posture, he shook his head, and said to Merlin patiently and calmly:

"Take your hand off the hilt, Merlin. I've come here alone to show my sincerity."

"The battle between you and the Winter Soldier outside Oakland can't be hidden from us. In fact, my injury was left that night. I went to help you, and I lost 7 of my best fighters. Even I I almost died in that explosion."

"You've been chasing me?"

Merlin let go of the hand holding the handle of the knife. He leaned on the seat, looked at Fury in front of him, and said:

"Why? At that time, I should still be a nobody shrouded in bad luck."

"Because it is our duty, Mr. Merlin."

Fury explained:

"Strategic Science Corps is a security organization. The prototype of this organization was established during World War II. It once helped Captain America Steve Rogers to defeat Japan. After the end of World War II, we collected many dangerous things from Japan. Those things should not flow into the people."

"Since then, in addition to continuing the mission of defending the people, the Strategic Science Corps has also searched for various dangerous objects around the world and contained them."

"This includes some dangerous supernatural items and scientific artifacts that should not be spread, such as the bell you met in Chicago. Or the blueprint for the 'implosion' bomb that the Winter Soldier used in combat, etc. .”

"Of course it also includes some dangerous creatures."

Agent Fury glanced at Merlin, and he said meaningfully:

"This world is not what ordinary people see. Under the appearance of order, this world hides many unknown forces. Mutants, aliens and other special creatures, ghosts, devils, demons, and even evil spirits Aliens and so on, you've seen a part of this real world, you've even participated in it, become one of them."

"That's why I paid attention to you from the very beginning, Mr. Merlin. Don't you think that letting a character like you walk around the city is something that the authorities don't need to worry about?"

Fury's explanation made Merlin nod, he could understand the logic.

It is impossible for any government to allow uncontrollable factors to blend into the people. After knowing that there are supernatural creatures in the world, it is reasonable for the government to set up an agency to deal with these factors.

The only thing that makes Merlin still have doubts is the purpose of this organization.

He asked bluntly:

"So what are you going to do with me, a freak, Mr. Fury?"

"Catch me and throw me in prison? Or find some way to wipe me out completely? Or simply, treat me as a test product for a mad scientist?"

Merlin's question was malicious, but Fury responded with ease. He knocked on the table and said to Merlin:

"neither!"

"We will offer you a job, a job away from the people, and absorb you into us. If you don't want to accept it, then we will give you a new identity and prepare you a house in some safe area. , a new life, provided that you accept our supervision. This is a... well, prudent safeguard."

He looked at Merlin, and he said:

"Of course, that's for the future. Since you just helped us get rid of the most dangerous and notorious lunatic killer in the last era, I think we should be able to talk peacefully, right? "

Merlin didn't answer right away, he made a "please" gesture.

Fury leaned forward, he lay on the table, he looked at Merlin:

"What did you see on the night of December 1991, 12?"

"I saw the whole process of the Howards being killed."

Merlin said without any concealment:

"Their car brakes failed and they crashed into a tree on the side of the road. I wanted to help, but Mr. Howard, who was seriously injured at the time, asked me to leave with his wife and some things in the trunk. But the Winter Soldier came too late. Soon, I want to take them away, but I can't. The Winter Soldier hit Mr. Howard, and in my struggle with him, those things, too, broke."

"What it is?"

Fury asked in a serious tone, Merlin glanced at him, and asked in surprise:

"Don't you know what that is?"

"I can not confirm."

Fury said:

"Mr. Howard has a detached position in the Strategic Science Corps. He is one of the founders of the institution. He has extremely high autonomy. It is difficult for others to know what he wants to study and what he has researched. But I I don't think it's some kind of messy thing that could bring Mr. Howard's death... super soldier serum, right?"

"Um"

Merlin nodded and said to Fury:

"There are 5 bags of serum in total. In the explosion I caused, most of the liquid was evaporated. In the end, only a small bag was left, just a little residue. When Mr. Howard was dying, he told me to put the thing directly drink it..."

"Did you drink?"

Fury narrowed his eyes immediately, while Merlin shook his head:

"I didn't drink directly."

"I injected it..."

Under Fury's gaze, Merlin reached out and took Fury's sunglasses on the table. With five fingers tightened, the sunglasses made a low clicking sound. A moment later, a pile of glass powder appeared on the table On the top, and the frame of the toad mirror has been kneaded into a small metal ball by Merlin with two fingers.

"it's a pity."

Fury looked at the powder and said with some regret:

"Those are my favorite glasses..."

"Well, I'll pay you back."

Merlin was slightly embarrassed, he apologized to Fury, then looked at him calmly, he said:

"I don't want to do this. In fact, I have been considering whether to return it to you. But unfortunately, the Winter Soldier has been chasing me, and I have nowhere to go. I can only take a risk."

"No, we didn't mean to blame you, Mr. Merlin. It's much better for the serum to be injected by you than to fall into the hands of someone like the Winter Soldier."

Fury stood up. He seemed to have finished asking. He picked up his suitcase and subconsciously wanted to grab his sunglasses in his pocket, but he couldn't.

Fury looked at the powder on the table belatedly. He shrugged and said to Merlin:

"But since you've got the serum injected, come with me."

"I shouldn't talk to you about the next conversation. There is a respectable person waiting for you. I guess you should have heard her name."

"What if I don't want to go?"

Merlin sat in his seat and didn't get up. He looked at Fury and said:

"Maybe I think I shouldn't have anything to do with you?"

Hearing Merlin's words, Fury's progress stopped, and he looked back at Merlin, his sharp eyes shining with a winning smile, and he said:

"You have to know, Mr. Merlin, scientific research is a very complicated thing. Although things like super soldier serum appeared decades ago, its structure and ingredients are still a mystery today. "

"That kind of thing, it's not just an injection and it's over... If you want to safely pass through the upcoming transformation period, then I believe that you will make the right choice. After all, you have to meet, but back then The person who helped Captain America complete his transformation training..."

"She is probably the person who knows the super soldier serum best in the world."

"So, are you sure, you want to refuse?"

------------

Although Merlin really wanted to reject Fury, after more than ten minutes, he followed Fury obediently and returned to a high-end hotel in downtown Oakland.

And the big man in Fury's mouth was waiting for him in a certain room of the hotel.

It was a lady in a wheelchair, wearing a black floral dress, her black hair mixed with white was coiled up, her face was slightly wrinkled, but when she smiled, she still had a kind of charm.

Just like a weather-beaten old man.

But outside her room, the dozen or so fierce-looking guards wearing weapons, as well as the completely emptied hotel, all represent her identity and power.

"Hello, Merlin. My name is Peggy Carter, the director of the Strategic Science Corps. Of course, you children may be more familiar with my other identity..."

The lady smiled and said calmly:

"I am indeed the girlfriend of Captain America Steve Rogers, but that was more than 40 years ago."

"Sit down, Merlin, don't be nervous. Let's have a good chat about the serum on your body, about your past, and, about your future."

Merlin sat obediently on the sofa opposite the lady. Although Ms. Carter spoke very kindly, as a powerful figure who had led the Strategic Science Corps for more than 40 years and had experienced the baptism of war, her kind voice was filled with A hint of irresistibility.

When facing such a lady, no matter what she said, Merlin would subconsciously obey.

Perhaps, this is the personality charm that people often say.

"I've heard your story from Fury, Merlin, and they say you're a dangerous man, but I don't see it that way."

Ms. Carter looked at Merlin and said:

"I saw your life-saving deeds, in Central City, Grace Port, and this time in Oakland. Yes, many people were injured and even died because of you, but you also saved many people, which is even more commendable Yes, no one asked you to do that..."

"It's your decision to do it."

"Being forced to do good deeds and voluntarily doing good deeds may have the same result, but for the rescuer themselves, they are two completely different concepts. When I see you, I can't help but I think of Steve...although you and him may be two completely different people."

Ms. Carter, with her hands folded on her stomach, said to Merlin:

"Take off your glasses, Merlin, and let me see your face."

This request made Merlin hesitate, and he said:

"Ms. Carter, my eyes may scare you..."

"scaring me?"

Peggy Carter let out a burst of laughter, she looked at Merlin, and she said:

"Boy, I've been through too many weird, bad, disgusting, or sad things in my life, and I've seen so many things, and nothing that scares me...Look, how A pair of beautiful eyes, like the most beautiful embers after a flame burns out."

Ms. Carter rotated the wheelchair and came to Merlin's side. She stretched out her hand, gently touched Merlin's cheek, and observed his eyes, as if looking at the most beautiful gems in the world.

In Ms. Carter's eyes, Merlin didn't feel any disgust or resistance. This was the first time he was treated so kindly by a stranger.

He was a little overwhelmed, not knowing how to respond to this sincere kindness.

After several minutes, Ms. Carter's wheelchair receded a little, she narrowed her eyes, and with a soft smile, she said to Merlin:

"Merlin, do you want to be a hero? Just like Steve."

"I..."

It is no exaggeration to say that every child in this land grew up listening to the legendary stories of Captain America. Facing Carter's question, he was at a loss for words.

Ms. Carter smiled and said to Merlin:

"I know, I know, there may only be one perfect person like Steve."

"But what he has, you have. You have all seen the dark, you have all longed for the light, you have both been willing to help others, you have compassion for the victims, and even the source of strength is exactly the same... .”

Ms. Carter stretched out her hand and gently held Merlin's slightly cold hands. She said softly and with a hint of encouragement:

"Merlin, give yourself a chance and give it a try."

(End of this chapter)