Shadow trail of the beautiful world

Chapter 477 1. An Interview Doomed to Be Forgotten—Adding more details to Brother Allen, the Great Arcanist [27]

It was almost Christmas in 2002, and Merlin was still working on his work.

At the weapons proving ground at the ghost base, Merlin is assisting the gorilla Winston to test SDOLD's latest equipment.

"Isn't this thing too pocket-sized?"

Merlin looked at the metal box in front of him. Inside was a pair of climbing shoes. They were made of metal, like a pair of iron boots worn by knights in the Middle Ages. There were several jets under the boots. A circular hole like a device.

This is Winston's personal flying device, inspired by his jetpack.

Merlin asked Winston to simplify the thing and make it into combat equipment that can be used by ordinary agents, but he didn't expect that Winston would simplify it to what it is now.

"The original design would have been bigger."

Wearing a researcher uniform and glasses, Winston explained to Merlin:

"In addition to the boot design, there should be a matching flight power pack, but I checked the S.H.I.E.L.D. design database and I found a primitive, anti-gravity engine design from decades ago Although the picture is a project abandoned by Mr. Howard, it still gives me a lot of inspiration."

Pointing to the pair of silver steel boots in front of him, the intelligent orangutan said to Merlin:

"I modified its energy source. With George's help, we specially designed an efficient energy module for it and set up a very advanced energy control system. It now relies on charging to replenish energy. When the energy is saturated , which allows the operator to fly between ground and air for 15-30 minutes, depending on the speed of flight."

"Well, it looks pretty nice."

Merlin raised his foot and put his left foot into the iron boot in front of him. After his foot was completely put in it, with the rotation of the gears, the open shell of the boot closed quickly, and finally got stuck on Merlin's calf.

Merlin tried to lift his feet. These iron boots were a bit heavy, and ordinary agents could no longer move freely after wearing them.

However, as a special equipment for reconnaissance infiltration and high-altitude airborne operations, the agents will untie their boots after arriving at the destination, and after the mission is completed, they will put them back on and leave the scene.

No one would be foolish enough to run and chase enemies in this.

"This is the controller."

Winston handed Merlin a palm-sized thing that looked like a remote control. It had several keys for controlling the general direction and a flexible joystick.

"Try it, sir."

Winston turned on the computer at hand, and while observing the operation of the flying boots, he said to Merlin:

"You are the best test pilot I can find. For the safety of the agents, please be sure to test every possible situation."

"Ah."

Merlin pressed the controller, and with the start of the micro-engine in the boots, a reverse thrust burst out from under his feet, and Merlin's body quickly rose into space. Keep going around the circle, the speed is getting faster and faster.

After trying to simulate various extreme situations such as sudden rise and fall, cutting off energy in the air, and restarting the ignition when falling, Merlin heard Winston shouting on the ground:

"Now test the most important function, sir, don't fog, to simulate the scene when ordinary agents fall."

"click"

The next moment, the flying boots on Merlin's feet were unbound in the air. Merlin and the pair of boots separated, and both sides began to fall towards the ground.

"Long press the start button!"

Winston yelled, and Merlin pressed his finger on the red button of the controller in his hand. After 2 seconds, the flight boots that were shut down suddenly started up again, and they flew around in the air, drawing various patterns. The trajectory finally locked on to Merlin, and quickly buckled into Merlin's feet again in the air. Under the continuous jetting of the propulsion engine, Merlin finally landed firmly on the ground.

"click"

The shell of the flying boots opened outwards, and Merlin threw the controller in his hand to Winston, and he said:

"Very good stuff, what's the last function?"

"It's a crisis rescue function."

While checking the condition of the pair of flying boots, Winston said to Merlin:

"Used in a real crisis situation, but that feature is not perfect, and when matching locks, the boots will occasionally be fixed in the wrong position, more fixed on the user's hands instead of their feet."

"This feature is very useful, improve it as soon as possible."

Merlin says:

"I will submit a patent application to the headquarters. The thing you designed will definitely satisfy the field agents."

"It's my job, sir."

Winston pushed back his spectacles, which said:

"Isn't that what you hired me to do? I also like this job very much, especially when my wisdom is used on the right occasion, to fight crime and maintain order. I also feel very honored .”

"What you said made me feel a little ashamed."

Merlin and Winston joked:

"You're far more decent than those who call themselves 'superheroes.'"

"Didi"

Winston wanted to say something, but the communicator in Merlin's hand rang. Merlin put it to his ear, and he asked:

"Barbie, what's the matter?"

"We caught a reporter sneaking into the base, sir."

Babbitt worker reported:

"He disguised himself as a chef's assistant, drove a car full of ingredients into the restaurant, then changed into the uniform of a base agent, and took a video camera to take pictures inside the base."

"Currently he and several chefs are under control, what should we do with him?"

Hearing this, Merlin suddenly felt a little headache, he said:

"What day of the month is this?"

"The fifth one, sir. The other four were discovered outside the base. This guy's disguise is perfect. If he hadn't accidentally met Tripp when he was trying to enter the underground prison, he probably would have Get out of the way."

Babbitt said:

"I suspect that this guy may have received professional infiltration training, and his identity may not be a mere reporter."

"Send him to my office."

Merlin says:

"Let me talk to him."

"Okay, sir."

Barbie hung up the communicator, and Merlin gave Winston an apologetic smile, saying:

"That's all for today's test, I have to deal with some things."

"Well, yes, sir."

A few minutes later, Merlin returned to his office, where Agent Babbit and the reporter whose hands were tied were already waiting for him.

Merlin glanced at the guy who sneaked into the ghost base. He looked very young, only in his early 20s. He was not very tall, his hair was a little messy, and his eyes were piercing. He looked like a very keen guy.

He was still wearing the uniform of the base agents, and even the information on the identity card was disguised vividly.

It seems that this guy has done all kinds of preparations before sneaking in.

"Barbie, get me a cup of coffee."

Merlin was sitting on his chair. He put his hands on the table and his chin. He looked at the caught guy in front of him. The two looked at each other. After a few seconds, Merlin's lens appeared All the information that can be found on this person.

"Eddie Brook."

Merlin whispered:

"21 years old, born in San Francisco, joined the army 2 years ago, but was dismissed because of repeated violations of military regulations. I worked as a vagrant for 1 year, and joined the news department of Global Daily in San Francisco in July last year."

"You have done a good job. You always have your own unique views on social issues. You are an investigative reporter who has gained a reputation. Although you have only been in the industry for a short time, you have already achieved a career that many predecessors could not do... "

Merlin read out the information about this reporter word by word. After he finished reading, the young reporter sitting on the chair in front of him had undisguised astonishment in his eyes.

"What I mean is, Eddie."

Merlin reached out to take the coffee handed by Barbie. While stirring the hot coffee, he said slowly:

"You have a bright future, but why do you want to do such a dangerous thing, why do you want to destroy your future?"

“Isn’t the job of a reporter to answer citizens’ questions?”

Eddie Brook, the young, gifted journalist, retorted:

"Citizens are very concerned about the development of the mutants in the past year, and the officials are unwilling to disclose the specific solutions to the public. Professor Charles' wonderful speeches did not mention too much about the whereabouts of the radical mutants who have disappeared. ...someone has doubts, and it is our duty to answer such doubts.”

He was not afraid of the gaze of Merlin, the head of the secret service, and he had the aura of a newborn calf not afraid of tigers.

He said to Merlin:

"Those radical mutants, although they are hated by others, and although they are a group of lunatics who fear the world will not be chaotic, they also have their own human rights. Recently, many mutants have disappeared for no reason. I think their disappearance is related to this base. "

"It's a good guess, but unfortunately you have no proof, don't you?"

Merlin looked at Eddie, and he said:

"But before you come, maybe you should notify us in advance and apply for access to the External Press Office of S.H.I.E.L.D. instead of making a fuss like this, you see, you are sitting here, you are wasting my time, this is really very bad."

"The proof is here! And we applied!"

The young reporter Eddie said angrily:

"Not only us, but also many newspaper reporters who also pay attention to mutant affairs have applied, but none of them have received official interview permission."

"That's none of my business, Mr. Eddie."

Merlin spread his hands and said innocently:

"My colleagues don't allow you to interview me. Naturally, they have their reasons. Maybe you should have a good communication with them. I believe that any problem can be solved through communication and communication."

"Well said, Mr. Agent."

Eddie Brock keenly grasped the loophole in Merlin's words, and he asked:

"I also believe that any matter and misunderstanding can be obtained through sincere communication. So, are you willing to accept my interview?"

"Ok?"

Merlin and Barbie looked at each other, and he realized that he had met a stunned young man with his own persistence and code of conduct. Under the current situation, any normal person would want to get out quickly, but This guy...

He was actually interested in the truth even when he couldn't protect himself.

But Merlin didn't immediately reject him.

Since the ghost base was established and put into use, almost every once in a while, there will be some uninvited guests like Eddie Brook. Some of them are for the truth, and some are purely for fame. Although it is not difficult to expel these guys , but it is not cost-effective to occupy the resources of the base for these guys.

In fact, Merlin has also been looking for an opportunity to answer the doubts in the hearts of the people about the whereabouts of those dangerous radical mutants.

They yearn for the truth, and Merlin will give them the truth, but this matter cannot be handled by the authorities.

In today's society, people will believe everything except official rumors.

Probably because the credibility of the government has been greatly reduced. Therefore, it is better for this kind of truth-related description to be published by a professional news organization with some reputation.

For example, the first-hand information given by an investigative reporter who has become famous like Eddie Brook and works for a major newspaper, the credibility is relatively high.

"Of course, I am willing to accept your interview."

After Merlin thought for a moment, he raised his head and said to Eddie:

"You have 30 minutes. You'd better organize the questions you want to ask in advance. I can also give you permission to shoot in the base, but I want to remind you, Eddie."

Merlin pushed his glasses, and he said to the young reporter in front of him:

"After all, we are a secret organization here. I allow you to keep the photos you took in person, but as a part of confidentiality, when you leave the base, your memory of this interview will be deleted."

A trace of surprise flashed in Eddie Brook's eyes. Before he could ask a question, Merlin waved his hand and said:

"Don't ask us how to delete your memory, we can do it."

"How's it going, Eddie."

Merlin asked in a playful tone:

“You profess to be the champion of the truth, and the truth you long to know is there, you pay a small price to get it, publish it, and once again earn the acclaim of your citizens.”

"Are you willing to accept it?"

(End of this chapter)