Shadow trail of the beautiful world

Chapter 75 32. Going Home--The Countdown to Hundred Watches【12】

Time is a wonderful thing. Those things that happened, originally thought to be deep-rooted and unforgettable memories, will gradually fade with the passage of time, and eventually become an ordinary experience.

Occasionally, it feels like it happened yesterday, but more often, the alienation brought by that kind of time makes people feel that it happened more like a million years ago.

Memory is also a wonderful thing.

In a blink of an eye, the Spring Festival of 1994 has arrived, and Meilin is sitting in his office in Paris, quietly writing a report.He is summarizing and counting the work of the European branch's instigation and absorption of intelligence personnel from the former Soviet Union during the past year.

After completing the Norwegian expedition, Merlin spent the next half a year helping Gatler complete the task of instigating hostile agents. Collapsed and with nowhere to hide, the desperate intelligence workers took them back to their organizations.

Just like when Merlin, Barton and Fury recruited Natasha in Sokovia in 1992.

During this year, Merlin almost witnessed the cruel and ruthless "transformation" of several large intelligence organizations left over from the former Soviet Union.

According to the information collected by the European branch, the "Red House", the organization that trained top agents like Natasha, has been attacked and cannibalized by other intelligence organizations.

It has declined rapidly during this year, and until now there are only two or three kittens left. One of the biggest opponents of the Strategic Science Corps during the Cold War has completely disappeared.

On the other side of the ocean, the Strategic Science Corps also encountered the same situation, but its members were still struggling.

Recently, things have changed.

According to the information Merlin received from Fury, Kohler, the incompetent who is currently in charge of the Strategic Crisis Intervention and Espionage Logistics Department, is currently being suppressed miserably. His poor working ability made him not only unsuccessful in this year Suppressing Nick Fury, with the secret help of Pierce, Fury, who became more and more confident, started to fight back instead.

Currently, in the organization, there are fewer and fewer agents who are willing to obey Kohler. The authority of the incompetent man to whitewash himself is gradually collapsing, but Nick Fury, who is nominally a level 3 civilian agent, is recovering his strength day by day.

The attempts of other organizations hidden in the dark to cannibalize the original Strategic Science Corps have basically been shattered. Now it seems that the incompetent Kohler has been regarded as an abandoned child, and it is difficult for him to get help and support from the upper forces. .

Only one opportunity is needed now, and Fury is sure that he can completely drive Kohler from the throne of the director.

The most intuitive manifestation of Fury's dominance is:

In the last month, Merlin's agent level, which had been deliberately suppressed, was finally raised from level 1 to level 2.This represents that Kohler's control over the personnel system of the Strategic Danger Intervention and Espionage Logistics Department has also been completely broken.

In addition, Merlin's own situation has undergone many changes in the past year.

As Merlin's own magic level became higher and higher, the dark magic power in his body became more and more gentle and obedient, and it was no longer a fatal problem.

On the other hand, Merlin finally finished the introductory magic textbook "Standard Spells. Elementary" two months ago, and began to move towards a more complicated magic stage.

He also began to teach himself Potions, which is equivalent to the medicine and treatment methods in the wizarding world. Since Merlin was very interested in medicine and had some basic medical skills, his progress in this area was not bad.

But potion science involves a lot of messy and weird materials, which made Merlin have to go back and forth between Paris and London once a month in the second half of 93. Just like other wizards, he has become the opposite. He is a frequent visitor to the Lane, and occasionally asks little Hermione to find some rare items for him.

All in all, whether it is an agent or a wizard, in these two professions, Merlin has almost passed the entry stage.

"Didi, Didi"

The sudden ringing of the mobile phone interrupted Merlin who was writing furiously.

At the moment just after the Spring Festival in 1994, another thing that made Merlin happy was that he could finally get rid of the brick-like communication tools before.

Earlier this year, Stark Industries released a more convenient and thinner communication device. It is said that it was designed by the talented designer Tony Stark himself. Its appearance is unexpectedly similar to the mobile phone that Old Alfred sent to Merlin. .

After this press conference, Merlin could finally take out his small cell phone openly and use it.

He picked up the phone, pressed the answer button, and put it to his ear:

"Hello, Fury? Calling overseas at this time, is there anything important?"

"Your secondment is officially over, Merlin, go back to New York."

Fury's voice sounded a little tired and a bit dignified, he said:

"Konstantin disappeared a week ago, and the Hitwell agent who was in charge of assisting him mysteriously disappeared 1 day ago...Merlin, 2 hours ago, your house in Hell's Kitchen burned down along with my car. "

"Snapped"

The pen in Merlin's hand made a light click under the heavy pressure. The level 2 agent narrowed his eyes, he seemed to be thinking, after a moment, he asked:

"Are little Eric and May all right?"

"I'm in Queens right now."

Fury replied:

"At present, they are still safe. I have also deployed people at St. Matthew's Church. But the attacker is very mysterious. I have checked all the monitoring equipment on the streets of Hell's Kitchen, but I have not found any useful information. The fire in your house burned a little too bizarrely."

"Okay, I see."

Merlin stood up, picked up his coat, opened the door, and said to Fury:

"I'll go back as fast as I can to protect my family, please."

"Ah."

Merlin hung up the phone, and he returned to his hotel room as quickly as possible. Ten minutes later, Merlin, wearing a gray casual suit, dragging a trolley case and carrying a backpack, got into a taxi and headed to the airport.

He didn't forget to call Gartler, and he roughly told Gartler what happened in New York. The latter didn't stop Merlin, but used his relationship to arrange him on the latest non-stop flight to New York.

Nearly nine hours later, at dawn, Merlin dragged the box and stood on the street in Hell's Kitchen.

In front of his eyes was his former house, but now, only a piece of ruins remained after the house was burned.

Merlin walked into the ruins that still exuded a burning smell. He knelt down and touched the burnt wreckage with his gloved fingers.The fire was so complete that there was almost nothing left in the ruins.

But it was not the case in Merlin's eyes.

He reached out and took off his rimless glasses. With his spiritual vision turned on, he could clearly see a mark left on the ruins of the sea of ​​fire.In those ashes, there is a faint smell of sulfur, which ordinary people can't catch at all.

It is actually not real brimstone, but a residue of demonic power, a form of magical energy.

Merlin grabbed a handful of hot ashes, and he opened his hand, allowing the ashes to scatter from his fingertips.He carefully discerned the trace of sulfur in the ashes, and after a few seconds, Merlin put on his glasses again.

That smell is very familiar.

He is also loyal to know who the mysterious murderer is.

Morris...

Mad Dog Morris, the "son" of Sangongmo, the guy who once formed a cult in Hell's Kitchen.Before Merlin went to Europe, he met him once.Under Fury's impetus, Kohler joined forces with the New York Police Department to eradicate Morris's cult in one sentence, and Rabid Dog also disappeared at that time.

More than a year was enough for Merlin to forget this person, but now, it appeared again.

And this time, its goal was very clear, it was aimed at Merlin.

In the dark night, Merlin picked up his mobile phone and called Fury. He said to Fury:

"I know who the attacker is, Fury. Can you get in touch with Master Ulysses Bloodstone?"

"I haven't had contact with Ulysses for 4 months."

Fury replied in a low tone:

"Master Bloodstone will not communicate with the outside world when performing tasks, but this time, I doubt that the master is in trouble. According to you, it is those dark creatures who are attacking this time?"

"Yes, a head and a half devil."

Merlin says:

"Do you still remember the hell mad dog that was destroyed by Kohler a year ago? The missing cult leader is back again. And you are right, he is coming for me, can you please..."

"boom"

Before Merlin's request was finished, a strange explosion sounded in the darkness not far away, as if a bomb had been detonated.

Merlin raised his head, and saw a dark red and white intertwined arc of light lit up in the night sky, like a lightning that tore through the darkness. That direction...is St. Matthew's Church!

"Protect my cousin, Fury! That half-demon appeared, I'll die first!"

Merlin turned off his phone, pulled out his wand, and turned into a billowing black smoke, rolled up his salute, and rushed towards St. Matthew's Church a few blocks away.

In less than a minute, Merlin's figure appeared in front of St. Matthew's Church. In front of his eyes, the gate of the quaint church with a history of more than 1 years had been torn apart, and clusters of flames were burning in the church, and there were voices calling for help .

Merlin held his wand and rushed into the church. He looked at the raging flames in front of him, and the nuns who hurriedly avoided in the flames.

"Aguamenti! (Water Summoning Curse)"

With a twist of Merlin's wrist, a slightly complicated incantation was combined with the release of magic power. At Merlin's fingertips, the top of the wand Lola shone with the brilliance of magic power. Wherever it pointed, there were sparks gushing out like passive water. Like a small rainstorm in a church.

Summon water spell.

The auxiliary magic of summoning a clear spring, combined with the meal making technique that can make food, can complete a not-so-rich, but definitely filling lunch in an instant.

Under the constant washing of the cool raindrops, the burning flames in the church were extinguished little by little, and there was a strong demonic aura in the church, but in Merlin's dark perception, there was no trace of any demons.

He put Lola back into the wooden box at his waist, and then walked into the messy church, where the terrified nuns gathered together to pray silently, and under the pulpit of the church, Merlin saw an old acquaintance, Father Paul.

The latter seemed to be terrified. He collapsed on the steps of the pulpit. His black robe was scorched. He held the rosary tightly, lowered his head, and quickly recited the sacred scriptures.But his body is trembling, which represents the situation of ordinary people after experiencing supernatural events.

"Father, are you all right?"

Merlin squatted in front of Father Paul, he patted the priest on the shoulder, and said softly:

"What happened just now? Can you tell me?"

Hearing the call, the praying priest opened his eyes, and he saw Merlin, he was a little surprised:

"Merlin? You haven't shown up for more than a year, Eric said you went on a business trip to Europe..."

"Yes, I just came back."

Merlin said softly:

"As soon as I got out of the car, I saw the church on fire. I came to help. What happened just now? I heard a loud noise, and a light in the sky, the intertwined, dark red and White light. What the hell is going on?"

"That's...that's..."

The priest recalled what happened just now, his body trembled more violently, he clenched his rosary, closed his eyes, and said like a dream:

"It's a demon! I saw it... a distorted, ferocious, and ugly demon broke into the church. It brutally smashed our gate, and it spewed out hellfire, trying to burn us to death. But... ..but it must have been the grace of the gods, a white light appeared in the church, it wounded the demon, and the demon escaped..."

"My God! Christ is above, there are really demons in this world."

Having said that, the priest stood up hurriedly, walked under the icon on the wall, and stood there more sincerely than before. While crossing his chest, he thanked his god with a grateful voice.

Those dazed nuns also prayed with the priest, and for a moment, this messy church seemed to become holy.

Merlin didn't bother them, he took a few steps back and searched among the burnt ruins of the church. Finally, on the ground near the church gate, Merlin found a mass of blood as thick as cooling magma.

He half-kneeled in front of the bloodstain, took off his gloves, wiped it with his fingers, and sniffed it under his nostrils.

The pungent sulfur smell made Merlin frowned tightly.

Father Paul didn't lie, it was indeed the blood of a demon, or a half-devil. Sure enough, a demon came to the church, but was expelled by a mysterious force.If it was indeed Morris, the half-demon, then it must have come here for little Eric.

Merlin felt a sense of urgency, the half-demon obviously knew all the news about him.It is trying to hurt friends around Merlin, according to its actions, the next step...

It should be Mei.

His cousin, the only remaining relative in his blood.

"Damn!"

Merlin stood up, put on his gloves, looked back at the priests and nuns who were praying, shook his head, dragged his luggage, and left the church.

In the extremely cold night, which was almost Christmas Eve, a deadly cold light flashed in Merlin's eyes. He picked up the phone, dialed it, and put it next to his ear.He said softly:

"Hello? Tucker?"

"I'm Merlin... I need some weapons! Yes, real weapons!"

It will be released at 12 noon tomorrow, that is to say, there will be a free chapter tomorrow morning~ah, I am a little nervous.

(End of this chapter)