Chapter 114: Arc 4: Chapter 2: Merlin’s Disguise

"It'll take 6 hours to get to Isle de Mona from here."

In the cabin of the taken-off plane, Vivienne Graham served Merlin and Hill some tea while telling them:

"Professor Serizawa wanted me to explain to you about Monarch and Project Monarch. We've been in contact with the US' NSA before, and a lot of intel is confidential, so I hope that you two would not disclose this information."

The pretty lady says in a worried tone:

"There are many things that should be kept from the outside world. If the secrets we've discovered get out, it'll cause mass chaos and fear among the populous."

"We understand."

Merlin presses his glasses then says in a gentle and warm tone:

"We were warned by the agents of SHIELD when we received this evaluation mission from the WSC, that everything we see must be kept confidential...in fact, from an irregular biologist's point, I have more interest in the research targets of Monarch rather than its secrets."

He says earnestly:

"Please, believe me, I have zero interest in the secrets related to politics and security."

"That's good."

Vivienne seems to be relieved.

But Merlin knew it was not so simple.

An organization that has existed for almost 60 years would not trust two outsiders so easily.

Even if Merlin and Hill had the WSC's authorization, if they deem Merlin untrustworthy, then Merlin won't be able to see anything valuable on this times' assessment.

Vivienne hands Merlin and Hill some documents and began to give an account of Monarch.

Merlin looks at the document, on it was information on Monarch, but there was nothing new, maybe even less than the documents Fury gave him.

This disinterested Merlin.

The Hill beside him listened with relish, though it's unclear whether it's because her disguise is too great, or just that females are born to be interested in such things.

"A bunch of scientists who know how to hide, a group of old foxes."

Merlin comments on the Vivienne before him like so.

These people did not trust Merlin, the only reason they're still willing to dance around with Merlin is simply as they said, they wish to acquire more resources from the WSC to continue their research.

Monarch to the NSA, even to the WSC, is nothing but the simple relationship of researcher and investor.

Even though Monarch had been namely adopted into the NSA during the cold war, when facing complex scientific research, even the most elite agents of the NSA would have no means of interfering.

For a dozen years, while Monarch was namely a project under the NSA, these scientists still in fact hold a lot of independence.

Don't underestimate the wariness of scientists, whether it's to ensure the continuation of themselves or to keep secrets hidden from the wrong hands, these scientists have enough reason to hide the dangers of the truth.

And these scientists who specialize in biological research have enough methods to hide the truth. All they need to do is delicately fabricate some fake research results and it'll fool nearly all amateurs.

Knowledge, obscure yet precious knowledge is Monarch's true permit, as well as their best defensive disguise.

If Merlin wants to see the real results of Project Monarch to complete the evaluation mission Fury had given him, then he'll first have to earn the trust of these scientists and assimilate into the group.

This was quite difficult for a senior agent who was forced to wander the world after graduating high school.

But Merlin has his own ways.

He had made preparations before he set off.

A dozen minutes later, Vivienne finishes her recount, Merlin and Hill thank her earnestly; they began talking about some other things and slowly started to get familiar with each other.

Then Vivienne looks at Merlin and asks:

"Speaking of which, Professor Merlin, what organization did you research before? Why have we never heard of your name in the circle of biologists?"

Merlin's finger moves as he knows the real test has come.

He did not answer immediately, instead, he acted hesitantly. As Vivienne watched, he extends a finger and presses his glasses, he then looks at Vivienne seriously.

He says:

"Can I trust you?"

"?"

Vivienne's eyes went wide, she was sent by Professor Serizawa to check out these two evaluators.

But now it seems as if this young Professor Merlin was similar to them in terms of undisclosable secrets.

Vivienne had been working in Monarch ever since she was still a postgraduate, she's experienced in the line of security and confidentiality. So a few seconds later, she nods and says to Merlin:

"Of course, you can trust us, professor."

"Alright."

Merlin rubs his forehead and snaps his fingers at Hill:

"Dorris, give me my research data."

As excellent as Hill was trained, this was her first mission after all. She did not react when Merlin called Dorris, and this second of inactivity made Merlin glare at her.

Hill then realizes that she'd made a mistake.

She quickly lowers her head, picks up the suitcase by her feet, opens it, then hands Merlin one of the thicker notebooks.

Merlin takes the notebook, he somewhat sadly strokes on the notebook with his finger like this was something very important. A few seconds later, he hands the notebook to formal biologist Vivienne

The latter takes it, and after a glance, she raises her head with an odd expression. 

"No way? Professor Merlin...you're research is on vampires?"

"Not just vampires."

Merlin picks up the teacup and sips on it, then continues:

"It's every mythical creature that has existed in human legends; vampires, werewolves, pixies, elves, the mythical Pegasus, Phoenix, and even...dragons."

Merlin's speech not only surprised Vivienne but also caused Hill to widen her eyes.

Quite the buffer her superior was, in fact, his bluffs are beyond bounds.

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But can this really get by a real biologist?

Merlin did not care of the two's odd gazes, she leans against the sofa and raises her hand at Vivienne:

"I know you may think that I'm a fraud...but research results do not lie, Miss Vivienne. Monarch specializes in large creature research and has discovered at least 3 truly existent ancient titans, and since those impossible creatures live on Earth, why can't the legendary creatures also exist?"

Merlin smiles and says:

"Read it. We real researchers do not use sweet-talk to disguise ourselves, so the best way to see whether or not I'm a fraud is for you to use your vast biological knowledge to judge whether or not my research results are trustworthy."

Vivienne did not reply, as she was already attracted by the data in the notebook.

"Vampires - these are creatures born out of legend. But from my research, the birth of vampires is not as magical as legends rumor them to be, they can be explained through scientific means."

"Vampires are a special case of Hyperemia, they may possibly be exceptions of humanity's long evolution path; they are unable to generate their own hemoglobin due to some unforeseen circumstances, thus requiring them to absorb other's blood to supply their own lack of essential body proteins."

"And due to long periods of blood hunting, it caused vampires' genes to mutate once again; from my observation, the difference between their and our DNA sequences is less than 3%, this mutation causes them to have enhanced strength, agile movements, and dog-like bare fangs."

"Through my research on subjects 1-3, I notice that the vampire's pupils had also mutated, giving them frog-like dynamic vision. And the reason why vampires supposedly hate sunlight is also due to the frequency of their hyperemia, this has been scientifically proved."

 "The following are the characteristics and stage divisions of the vampire race that I've collected:"

In Merlin's notebook was about 4000 words in a solemn tone, it outlined to a real biologist like Vivienne a more direct and trustworthy reason of the system of vampire society and why they mutated.

Vivienne was soon fascinated.

With her visions as a biology professor, she knew that the notebook of professor Merlin in front of him was a conclusion made from truly complex research.

Even though her rationality was telling her that this thing was untrustworthy. But...the facts were in sight.

She could not overthrow these conclusions as the facts were self-consistent, if there were real vampires, then their secrets would surely be written in this notebook.

This was normal, as it was knowledge Merlin understood from the book <Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them>.

These were wizards' knowledge, just like the wizard Newton who wrote this book, his understandings and research towards Fantastic Beasts would've earned him several Nobel prizes in human society.

Vivienne finishes reading about the vampires, she flips another page and finds something more incredible, it was Professor Merlin's research on Norwegian Ridgebacks.

She wanted to keep reading, but she refrained from doing so.

She raises her head and politely returns the notebook to Merlin, she then says apologetically:

"I'm sorry, Professor Merlin. I apologize to you for my shallow knowledge...if these irregulars truly exist, then you..."

"They do exist!"

Merlin was like an actual researcher, showing his 'anger' as someone doubts his research.

He keeps his notebook with an indifferent expression and says to Vivienne:

"You can choose to not believe it, but they're right there!"

"London, New York, Paris, Romania...in places you don't know, they exist under the shadows. In fact, I'm suspicious of you too, Vivienne Graham, and your mentor Professor Serizawa."

"I suspect that you aren't researching on any large creatures at all, and this was just a scheme to acquire more funding! I've seen enough!"

Merlin looks at Vivienne and says coldly:

"If you're truly researching on these incredible creatures, then your knowledge would've also expanded to accept the existence of irregulars. If you still hold your doubts towards these magical creatures, this proves...that you're nothing but frauds! Frauds that have never seen the true secrets hiding beneath this world!"

"Dorris! Let's go!"

Merlin stands up and walks towards the cockpit angrily. Hill makes an apologetic expression at Vivienne, then picks up her suitcase and walks toward Merlin.

Professor Vivienne then sits on her seat helplessly.

She knows that her suspicions had deeply wounded the talented professor who was also here on behalf of the WSC on project assessment, this frightened Vivienne.

She screwed up.

As Merlin shouted to the pilot to take him back to Florida, a deep, slightly coarse and somewhat exhausted voice resounds behind Merlin:

"Professor Merlin, I apologize for my apprentice's impolite doubts to you."

This voice made Merlin raise an eyebrow, he knew that the real person in charge who was hiding in the cabin as they boarded the plane had appeared.

He pretends to turn back abruptly, in the cabin behind him, an Easterner with a suit and glasses was standing there while apologizing earnestly:

"I am Ishiro Serizawa, current supervisor of Monarch...please forgive our cautiousness, but there are some things we have to be cautious about."

He says to Merlin:

"Can I see your research results?"

Merlin snorts and acts as he refuses.

But Hill whispers to Merlin and his expression turns hesitant, moments later, he hands his notebook to Professor Serizawa.

He says:

"Let's hope you're as much of a genius as they say you are, and not as ignorant as your apprentice!"

These words were rude, but Vivienne was not angry, in fact, she kept apologizing to Merlin and Hill earnestly.

Seeing this, a light flashes in Merlin's eyes.

He knew...

He passed.

Hill beside him also realizes this, the newbie agent looked at his superior with admiration, for a second back there, she had honestly thought that Merlin could not keep acting.

Yet unimaginably, officer Merlin had used this way to earn the trust of this cunning organization Monarch.

This also causes Hill to wonder about something...

If two of the best biologists in the world believe what's on Merlin's notebook to be true, then does that mean...

Vampires, werewolves...

Do they in fact exist in this world?

 

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