Shadow trail of the beautiful world

Chapter 196 43. Merlin. Far From Home

"A change of clothes."

"Bring it."

"wallet."

"Bring it."

"What about personal toiletry?"

"I brought it too."

"Then the lucky charm I gave you?"

"Don't be silly, I'm a wizard, I don't need that stuff."

"I think you'd better take it."

"..."

At Merlin's home, in the evening, Eric was helping Merlin to check the things he had brought on this trip for the last time.Although Merlin often travels for work reasons, this time is different after all.

This time, what he was going to was not a place where people could feel at ease.

Eric and Merlin have lived together for more than 6 years, nearly 7 years, and Merlin has watched the child grow up with his own eyes, and now he is almost an adult.And Eric also witnessed Merlin's transformation from a rookie agent to the current supervisor.

The relationship between the two of them is special.

In name, it is a guardian and a ward, but in fact it is more like an elder brother and a younger brother.During the years when the two were strong, they took care of each other, kept each other's secrets, and encouraged each other to live their own lives.

They have no blood relationship, but in the passage of time, there are considerable feelings between them.

In the living room, Eric was chattering, which caused Merlin some headaches. He hadn't realized before that the boy he adopted was actually one of such mother-in-law.

He looked at the high school student who was about to go to college in front of him, and said:

"By the time I get back, you're almost due to get your acceptance letter. Hopefully that'll be good news."

"Don't you still think it's bad news?"

Eric replied:

"Have I ever let you down in terms of learning?"

"Hey, what's with that proud tone?"

Merlin tapped Eric on the head, and he said:

"I was a good student back then. Although I didn't go to college, I had the opportunity to live your life. How should I put it, my thoughts and opinions don't matter, just don't let yourself down. "

"I have a plan for my life."

Eric helped Merlin pull up the trolley case, and he said:

"I know exactly what I'm going to do, but you, I think you're just following the crowd and living day by day."

"Who said that? I'm busy every day, okay?"

Merlin took the trolley case and said to Eric:

"What do you know kid? I do a noble job and I don't want to come back with an empty house and a missing person report."

Having said that, Merlin paused, and he said to Eric:

"I mean, about Wakanda, I know you've been looking for it. But you're almost an adult, and there are some things you should judge for yourself."

他 说:

"About your father, about your bloodline, about that mysterious country. This is a choice, Eric, and it will determine your future life. I have made similar choices. I am a person who has experienced it. What I can give you My suggestion is, don't be so anxious, think about what you want?"

"Is it an ordinary and peaceful life, or plunge into a world that I don't understand at all."

"What happened to you today?"

Eric sent Merlin to the door with a strange expression on his face. The young man who had begun to get rid of his youthfulness said:

"It's just a business trip. Why does it feel like entrusting the funeral? I have said that I have a plan for my life. Merlin, don't get involved. At least I won't do it until I graduate from university. Make some risky moves."

"That's good."

Merlin glanced at Eric, and he pointed to the sofa in the living room:

"Then put that tube back where it belongs. Do you think your petty thoughts can get past me? I'm a secret service chief anyway."

Eric's complexion changed, and Merlin looked at the time on his watch, and he said to Eric:

"I have to go now."

"Whatever you want to do, just wait until I get back. OK?"

"Ah."

Eric was silent for a moment, then nodded.

He watched as Merlin got into the classic red sports car at the door, and was driven out of the block by his colleagues.

The 17-year-old young man closed the door, walked to the sofa, and took something out from under the sofa.

That was the biggest secret of Eric's young life.

That is the liquid vibrating gold that has been hidden for almost 7 years.

This thing should have been placed in Eric's "treasure place", but now he has taken it out. Obviously, Eric seems to be planning to use it for something.

Maybe it was a bait, maybe he was ready to go to Africa alone, his mysterious hometown, while Merlin was on a business trip.Maybe it was just a spur of the moment, maybe it was tired of waiting for several years, in short, what Merlin said tonight was not groundless, he discovered Eric's actions.

He gave his opinion.

It is no longer persuasion between adults and children, but discussions between adults and adults.

Eric believed that Merlin would not stop him if he insisted on taking risks.The person with a cold and trusting face will probably choose to abandon his responsibilities and go to Africa with him.

But, that's not what Eric wants to see.

He knew that this adventure was full of crises, and he didn't want another person whom he cared about to be drawn into this crisis.

Merlin had enough trouble.

As a family member and friend, he shouldn't add any more trouble to Merlin.

Under the not-so-bright light in the living room, in the glass tube in Eric's hand, the liquid vibrating gold shone with blue light.He looked at the glass jar, and in the reflection of the glass, he saw clearly his own face, his hesitant eyes.

After a few seconds, the young man sighed. He put the vibration gold in a black pocket and wrapped it with tape several times.Under the night, he took the vibrating gold and walked towards St. Agnes Orphanage.

Three years ago, when he was in high school, he no longer lived there, but it was still where he hid his secrets.

In the wind of the night, Eric put a black hood on his head, and he said to himself:

"Okay...okay. Not yet."

"Wakanda, father..."

"Please wait a little longer."

—————————————————————————————————-

"Oh, the problem of puberty is really troublesome."

Sitting on the passenger seat of the speeding Lola, Merlin rubbed his forehead with some headaches, and complained to Coulson who was driving:

"Young people in our time don't have these problems... Also, can you not wear sunglasses when you drive at night?"

Merlin looked at the sunglasses on Coulson's face, and then at the road illuminated by dim street lights. He said:

"It made me very insecure."

"Uh, sir. You gave me the sunglasses."

Coulson said:

"You should know that it allows me to see the road clearly at night, right?"

"I know."

Merlin waved his hand a little irritably. He leaned on the seat and said softly:

"But I just don't feel safe..."

Merlin's complaint made Coulson shrug his shoulders, the latter obediently took off his sunglasses, and turned on the headlights again, making the road shrouded in darkness before Merlin's eyes clear, even somewhat dazzling.

"Colson, tell me, why do people have secrets? Why do people hide secrets from others to see? Secrets follow suspicion, and doubts destroy precious friendships and cause suspicion and confusion. .”

"Tell me, how wonderful it would be if there were no secrets in this world."

Merlin no longer looked at the road in front of him, he raised his head, looked at the dark sky, and said with emotion:

"I'm starting to hate the secrets that hang around me, and the people who keep them."

"Oh, for our profession. That's a dangerous idea of ​​yours, sir."

Coulson seemed to feel the repressed irritability in Merlin's heart. He thought for a while and replied:

"We are agents, and it's our job to find secrets."

"Ok."

Merlin nodded, and after a few seconds, he suddenly said to Coulson:

"Phil, I know a secret, a secret about the high-level SHIELD. A dangerous secret that is closely related to you, me, Melinda, and everyone."

"Oh?"

Agent Coulson subconsciously turned his head and looked at his officer.His face was full of curiosity and exploration.

Merlin didn't even look at him, but he sensed Coulson's curiosity. The corner of his mouth twitched, revealing a weird smile. He said slowly to Coulson:

"But unfortunately, I can't tell you. Because your security level is not enough."

"Oh."

Coulson turned his attention back to the steering wheel and the road in front of him with a deadpan face. Obviously, this was a slightly nasty joke.

His mood also became bad.

"Look..."

Merlin noticed the change in Coulson's mood. In the darkness he was galloping past, he smiled strangely, and said:

"These secrets that can only be kept in the bottom of my heart are such annoying things."

For the next ten minutes, the two of them did not speak again.

Coulson sent Merlin to a remote small airport, where a postal plane inside S.H.I.E.L.D. was waiting for him.Because Merlin was on a special mission this time, his whereabouts were kept completely secret.

By the time the Ministry of National Defense discovered that Merlin had disappeared, he was already in remote Central Asia.

And just as Merlin opened Lola's trunk and took out his trolley case, he suddenly reached out and pressed Coulson's shoulder, and he whispered in Coulson's ear:

"From now on... when you're working, be careful."

"Ok?"

Coulson looked at his officer suspiciously, Merlin shook his head at him, and said:

"Don't trust any strangers..."

Merlin looked into Coulson's eyes, and he said seriously:

"Believe in yourself is enough."

"Sir, is something wrong?"

Coulson asked back, but Merlin didn't answer.He reached out and patted Coulson on the shoulder, as if saying goodbye. In the dark night, Merlin pulled the trolley case and walked towards the plane in front of him. He said softly without looking back:

"Don't ask."

"Your security level is not enough."

A few minutes later, the postal plane that was all ready, carrying Merlin, a unique passenger, rushed into the dark night sky amidst the howling sound.

In the darkness at the edge of the airport, Coulson put on his sunglasses again. He watched the plane disappear into the night sky. He shook his head, restarted his car, and headed back to where he lived.

Coulson could sense that what Merlin said was not groundless.

Something must have happened.

Perhaps, the reason for Chief Merlin's departure this time is not that simple.

Maybe, he should find a way to investigate?

Merlin didn't know what Coulson was thinking. After the plane took off, he quickly fell into a long-lost sleep.

He will follow the plane and land in Paris after several hours of flight.

From there, I changed planes, crossed half of Europe, and landed in Dubai.

Finally, from the desert city, through the Arab world by other means of transportation, enter Asia, and finally reach your destination.

This is not a comfortable journey at all, but crossing half of the world to a country in turmoil, looking for some secret clues, this kind of crazy life, only agents who walk in the dark and on the tip of the knife in order to understand.

Their lives are so "wonderful".

Three days later, Merlin was sitting in an old, rickety bus full of people.

His attire at this time is no longer the gray suit that has not changed for ten thousand years, but a very ordinary attire.A half-worn and half-new suit, matched with the somewhat worn-out handbag Harry gave him, a pair of rimless glasses, and messy hair.

It looks no different from those foreigners who live in Afghanistan.

Amidst the sounds that are full of exotic features and life, Merlin closed his eyes and leaned on the sweat-stained seat. He was playing with a badge in his hand, and felt the badge with his fingers. A mark of ten rings nested together.

After a moment, he looked out the window.

On both sides of the street, there are rows of two-story shops, and the mosque located in the street can be seen from a distance.As far as he could see, a few lonely high-rise buildings stood out from the crowd in this slightly backward city.

Most of those houses are white, there are few trees on the streets, and the sky above is very clear, at least much bluer than the sky in New York.

The sun was very hot. At this point, there were few people on the street. Those pedestrians walked in the shadow of the building to avoid the sun. Some wore blue waistcoats, some wore white gowns, and the women on the street wore The oppressive black robe covered the face, revealing only the eyes.

They are in a hurry, and in these ordinary days, they live their own ordinary lives.

There were quite a few cars on this street, but it didn't feel like the heavy traffic that Merlin was used to, and it even made Merlin feel a kind of tranquility.Among the hustle and bustle of this strange place, this place made Merlin feel strange.

Here, Kandahar...

A place away from home.

(End of this chapter)