Shadow trail of the beautiful world

Chapter 48 6. Mission Begins

Near midnight, on the car heading to the departure point, Nick Fury raised his head, looked at Merlin in the rear seat in the rearview mirror, and said:

"You look a little tired, what's the matter?"

Merlin rubbed his forehead and replied in a low voice:

"It's nothing, I just did something bad, and then I had nightmares."

"Do bad things?"

A trace of doubt flashed in Fury's eyes:

"What's wrong?"

Merlin turned his head to look out the car window, and after a while, he said:

"Take a wife from her husband, take a mother from her children. I hurt a man deeply last night."

"Are you familiar with him?"

"No, never seen it before."

"Then do you regret it?"

"No, I saved the girl's life."

"Then what's bothering you?"

"..."

Merlin was a little annoyed by Fury's continuous questions. He raised his head and said to the officer in front of him:

"To be honest, I don't know. It may also be nervous. After all, we are going to cross the sea to find a murderous female devil on the other side of the world. I think I should be nervous. What do you think?"

"Well, that makes sense."

Fury nodded approvingly. He drove the car into a remote and hidden airport, turned off the engine, and then looked back at Merlin. He said:

"But I don't have time to listen to your young people's sorrows now! Pull yourself together, rookie. If you mess up this mission, you can pack your bags and continue wandering."

"Now, get out of the car!"

Under Fury's scolding, Merlin put on a baseball cap, carried a travel bag, and walked out of Fury's car like a tourist.

In the darkness in front of his eyes, a small plane was parked a few hundred meters away, and some ground crews were checking the plane before takeoff.In the darkness, Merlin could clearly see a tall and thin person waiting at the entrance of the small plane.

Well, that should be the last member of this operation.

Fury, who was also dressed like a tourist, threw the car key to the agent next to him.He said a few words to the agent in suit and leather shoes, then took a black suitcase from the man, and walked towards Merlin.

"who's that person?"

Merlin followed behind Fury, and he pouted in the direction of the plane. Fury looked up, but he didn't have Merlin's night vision ability, so he could only see a blur in front of him.

Therefore, he didn't answer Merlin, but with the cold attitude that a commander should have, he led Merlin up the ladder of the small plane in silence all the way.

"Mr. Fury, long time no see."

When Fury entered the plane door, a slightly hoarse voice sounded in the cabin, and the next moment, the cabin lights were turned on.

A tall, thin guy with short hair, thin cheeks, long limbs, and grim gray eyes was standing up from his seat.

He was wearing a black sleeveless combat uniform, with a combat dagger stuck in his waist, and he looked shrewd and capable.

And there was a box at his feet, and Merlin could feel that the box contained some kind of cold weapon made of metal.

"Barton, long time no see."

Fury took a step forward and shook the guy's hand.He turned around, exposing Merlin following behind him to the cabin, and he said to the person in front of him:

"This is Merlin, an excellent new agent who joined us. This time he will act with us. Merlin, this is Clint Barton, the most powerful operation expert of the Strategic Science Corps, nicknamed 'Eagle Eye', and also my favorite agent. Trusted agent, also one of my best friends."

"Hello, Merlin."

Agent Barton stretched out his hand to Merlin expressionlessly, and Merlin was keenly aware of the cold scrutiny in the agent's eyes.

He looked at the hand in front of him, he responded with a smile, stretched out his hand to hold Barton's left hand, and said:

"Hello, Clint."

The next moment, the two hands that were held together in a friendly manner exerted force at the same time.

"click"

Accompanied by a light sound from the bones of his hand, Hawkeye Barton's face changed slightly, and even his smile became a little stiff.He looked at Merlin who squinted his eyes and smiled. This guy... has great hands!

"Come on, sit down!"

Fury took out two bottles of water from the small refrigerator in the cabin, and said something to the two subordinates in front of him.

Merlin and Button withdrew each other's hands. Merlin moved his five fingers, while Button put his left hand behind his back and shook it vigorously.

"buzzing"

After the three people sat down, the propellers of the small plane began to rotate rapidly, and the plane slowly turned to the runway, ready to take off.In the cabin, Fury picked up a map of Europe and put it on the table.He glanced at the two people beside him, and said in a serious tone:

"You should all know the mission of this operation. We are going to Europe to persuade a 'colleague' to surrender."

"The location is here, a small city in Eastern Europe, Sokovia."

Fury's finger clicked on the map, he took out a photo from his pocket, put it on the map, and continued:

"The target person is named Natasha Romanov. This may be her pseudonym. In the past few decades, she was one of the most active top agents in the former Soviet intelligence agency 'Red House'. She His footsteps are almost all over the world, and he has disrupted many secret agent operations carefully planned by the CIA."

"Especially during the early period of the Cold War, Natasha even sneaked into North America several times, instigating several scientists related to the Manhattan Project for the former Soviet Union. It is said that in the 70s, she took some scientists from Langley Confidential information, but this statement has never been positively confirmed by the CIA.”

"Wait, I have a question."

At the moment when the small plane took off with bumps, Merlin picked up the water glass and took a sip of water.

He picked up the photo on the map. In the black and white photo, there was a lady wearing sunglasses, a coat, and high heels walking.Judging from the appearance alone, this temperamental lady looks like a supermodel, and it is impossible to see that she will be a dangerous agent.

Merlin turned the photo upside down, and he looked at Fury:

"When was this photo taken?"

"About three years ago, in a small town in Crimea."

After Fury said something, Merlin frowned and asked again:

"But you said just now that Natasha has been active since the early days of the Cold War. Even if she has served the former Soviet Union since she was a teenager, if I am not mistaken, she must be at least 40 years old this year, right?"

Merlin shook the photo in his hand, he said:

"Are you sure you took the right photo?"

"That's right, that's Natasha."

Pointing to the photo in Merlin's hand, Fury explained:

"We learned from some agents who defected from the former Soviet Union that in the spy agency 'Red House', there is a special drug that can delay aging. Super agents like Natasha must have injected this drug. Of course, there is also a saying that , Natasha is actually a mutant...but this speculation is not supported by evidence."

"Ah."

Merlin nodded, looking at the photo in his hand, he said:

"It seems that our opponent is an immortal witch."

"Don't be fooled by her appearance, she is dangerous."

Hawkeye Barton, who had been silent all this time, also interjected at this time:

"Three years ago, I just joined the Strategic Science Corps. When I was performing field missions in Eastern Europe, I encountered Natasha. She must have accidentally broken into the trap we set up in advance. As a result, she alone, Playing our entire operation team to applause. If we are not lucky enough, we will end up in that city."

"That's why I transferred you to this mission, Barton."

Fury said seriously:

"You have fought against Natasha, and you know her methods very well. And I have received news that Natasha is now being hunted down by her own people, and the last place she was active is in Sokovia. This is our opportunity."

"Being hunted down by your own people?"

Merlin asked curiously:

"Did she betray her organization?"

"No."

Fury shook his head, he looked at Merlin, a strange light flashed in his eyes, and he said:

"Not only did Natasha not betray the 'Red House', on the contrary, when many of her companions defected, she still stubbornly refused our recruitment several times. She is still very loyal to her country and organization, but unfortunately, she Loyalty has become a burden."

"Then why was she..."

"Because she knows too many secrets that should not be revealed, and she is unwilling to forget those secrets, and she is stubbornly unwilling to change. For her organization that has deteriorated, the more loyal she is to her previous beliefs, the more threats she has. The bigger it gets, the more it's like a ticking time bomb."

With his eyes closed, Barton gave the answer straight to the point.

This slightly cruel truth made Merlin silent for a moment.The job of being an agent has always been tied to secrets, and Natasha's story also gave Merlin a deeper understanding of agents.

It seems that knowing too many secrets is really not a good thing.

"Button is right."

Fury added:

"Because of the sudden collapse of the former Soviet Union, the end of the Cold War, and changes in the world pattern, the intricate and extremely large intelligence agencies in that country lost their missions and resources. In order to survive, they had to make plans for the future. At a loss, seeking a dangerous 'transformation'."

"Including the Red House, the Red Scorpion, and even the mysterious 'Leviathan', etc., they are all changing their positions and starting to break away from the stereotype of a state machine. These intelligence organizations that originally served the country began to have their own ideas, which is Whether it is good or bad is still hard to say. But what is certain is that this is an excellent opportunity for us.”

A smile flashed across Fury's dark face, and he said:

"The solicitation of Natasha is just an attempt. In the next few years, there will be many such actions. Just like the 'paperclip' operation led by Ms. Peggy Carter at the end of World War II, our predecessors Use the power of Germany to strengthen ourselves. Now, what we have to do is to do it again in their way!"

Nick Fury stood up, and he said to Button beside him:

"Barton, I have another matter for you."

"Merlin is an out-and-out rookie. He has some special powers, and he can be of great help. But he is a rookie, impulsive, reckless, and has all the characteristics that a rookie should have. He has all the knowledge about the secret agent profession. , all from six months of training as a special agent, he still has a lot to learn."

"I'm not as bad as you say, Fury."

Merlin retorted with some dissatisfaction:

"You're embarrassing me in front of my new friends."

Fury ignored Merlin's complaints, he looked at Merlin seriously, and said:

"Barton, I personally recruited an agent, and he is also the best agent I have ever seen. Merlin, I hope you can obey Barton's teachings and work together to complete this recruitment mission."

While talking, Fury looked at the time and said to the two people in front of him:

"After 30 minutes, the plane will arrive at the designated location. The situation in Sokovia has been chaotic recently. All flights have been grounded and are under air control. We can't just enter there so swaggeringly."

"Then how do we get there?"

Merlin asked, Fury pointed to his feet, a strange smile flashed across his face, and he said:

"By boat! There is a freighter waiting for you on the high seas. We will meet up in Sokovia in 3 days."

"Aren't you going with us?"

Merlin asked again, Fury took out an ID from his pocket, waved it in front of Merlin, and said:

"My identity is the military attache of the US embassy in Sokovia. I enjoy diplomatic immunity. There is a special plane that will take me to the embassy. Merlin, have you forgotten what you have learned just after leaving the secret service school? Article 7 of the Agent Code!"

"There must be a hole card at all times..."

Merlin replied subconsciously, while Fury shrugged:

"I will use official channels to contact Natasha again. It would be best if I can persuade her to join us, but if I fail, then you who are hiding in the dark..."

"It's my trump card!"

Merlin suddenly realized, he said:

"Just like fishing..."

Fury chuckled, and patted Merlin on the shoulder:

"You're right, one light and one dark, both hands ready, it's the same as fishing."

Thirty minutes later, the small plane hovered over the open sea in the night. The door of the plane's cabin had been opened. Merlin was standing at the entrance of the cabin with a parachute on his back, looking at the vast sea below.

The cold wind was blowing on his face, and he looked back at Fury, who had changed into a military officer uniform, and was waving goodbye to him friendly.Hawkeye Button, who was also carrying a parachute, looked at him calmly.

A hunting game among the same kind is about to begin, and this will be the first "hunting" of the cub Merlin.

He was a little nervous, but also a little excited.The memories of the past were still disturbing him, but Merlin knew that he should move on.From here, enter your new life, maybe the road ahead is dark, but it must be wonderful.

The next second, he took a deep breath, took a step forward, and jumped off the plane.

Like, a raven spreading its wings.

Tonight...Merlin Riley!

Join the hunt!

(End of this chapter)