Chapter 46: Arc 2: Chapter 2: Merlin the New Guy

Blood.

Blood was everywhere, it even filled the air.

Merlin felt like he had returned to the Coulsons' farm, but his hands and body were stained with blood. In the room in front of him, horrifying screaming was echoing.

Merlin takes a step forward and rushes into the blood-soaked room, only to find a monster enshrouded in black fog lying on the ground gnawing on a corpse.

It was Phil...young Phil lied on the ground, his eyes of despair looking at Merlin, as if questioning why he came so late.

And the monster, the monster that was feasting away noticed Merlin's presence.

It lets out a sharp yet cold laugh, its strange yet horrifying head turned 180 degrees backwards and stared at Merlin who was at the door.

It was another him!

With a twisted face, dual horns on its head, its four eyes letting out a sinister light.

The completely demonized other-Merlin raises its hands...no, its claws, its sharp claw points towards Merlin.

"This is your future..."

"Stop struggling! You will...fall into the darkness!"

"Shwa"

Merlin opens his eyes, in his view was a blank ceiling. The alarm clock by his head was lightly ringing, and it was its noise that woke him up from the nightmare.

It was 5:55 am, as well as the time when he usually wakes up.

Merlin reaches out a finger and touches his nostrils, as usual, his fingers were stained with blood.

He was nose-bleeding again.

This meant that the dark corruption in his body was still continuing, like a never-ending nightmare.

Good enough, that his misfortune had almost completely vanished; according to what the Atlantean Vulko had said, this meant that the assimilation of his soul was about to finish. He wouldn't cause another major disaster even without wearing the shell pendant.

But he had already gotten used to wearing the pendant, just like how he had gotten used to drinking a cup of water every morning when he wakes up.

Merlin dresses himself up after taking a shower.

At 6:30-am, he stands in front of the mirror punctually, picks up the razor blade, and begins tidying up his appearance. In the closet behind him, a few sets of clothing he preferred have been taken out.

Today...was a special day.

Today, Merlin was going to go see his last blood relative, his cousin, May Reilly.

"Wonder what identity Fury made up for me."

As he finishes shaving, he looks at himself through the mirror while mumbling.

The body enhancement brought by the Super-Soldier serum made Merlin look healthier and muscular.

The muscles of his body looked chiseled, his gestures had a hint of sunshine to them, especially when Merlin smiled, it easily made people feel kind and close to him. 

But the abnormalities in his eyes could not be hidden from others, people tend to get fearful when they see his ash-like pupils.

But luckily there was a solution.

Merlin opened the drawer and took out a pair of rimless square glasses.

He places the glasses on his nose and look upward.

Now, as he looks through the mirror, the light reflected on his pupil through the glasses have turned normal dark grey.

Although one could still see his strange pupils from a different angle. But in most cases, these glasses are enough for him to disguise himself as a normal human. And the rimless glasses surprisingly add some sense of liberality to him.

"Mmm, Professor Hall's technology sure is good.

Merlin changes a few postures in front of the mirror, the glasses specialized for him by the scientists in the SSR Logistics Department is firmly stuck on his ears; when not in combat, this thing almost never falls off.

And just like other agents' equipment, the pair of glasses have some other functions. But for Merlin and his second sight, these additional functions are simply cosmetics.

The pair of glasses that are formed through the use of multiple advanced technology was nothing but a simple tool of disguise in his eyes.

Merlin turns around a chooses a set of grey leisure suit and a blue shirt. A few minutes later, a brand new Merlin spreads his hands and looks at himself through the mirror.

Mmm, if he adds a handbag accessory, he'll look like a qualified insurance salesman.

"Knock Knock Knock"

At 6:50-am, the sound of someone knocking on the door resounds. Merlin opens the door and sees Professor Hall, someone he knew well in the Academy, standing in front of his door.

"Merlin, there was a package for you downstairs so I helped bring it up."

This gentle 40-year old professor was called Franklin Hall, a Canadian American, and the engineering teacher for 2nd years in the Academy, responsible for teaching future technical agents cutting-edge scientific knowledge.

He also lives in this dorm, and he lives right next to Merlin.

He and Merlin have become very familiar with each other over the past 5 months, he always asks Merlin to help him make some mysterious things in his lab.

"Oh, thanks, Hall."

Merlin reaches out and takes the package, he smiles at Hall, points at his glasses and say:

"This thing is really great."

"Haha, I made it myself after all."

Professor Hall laughed proudly and told Merlin:

"For the sake of the glasses, you wouldn't mind helping me with some experiments in the next few days, right?"

"Of course I won't mind."

Merlin nods benignly:

"Just give me a call then."

"Right, I'll get off your skin now, I still have quite a few classes to prepare for."

As he finishes, Professor Hall bids Merlin goodbye and returns to his room.

Merlin closes the door and opens the package, there were a set of documents inside supposedly the new identity Fury had arranged for him. He picks up the papers, and on it were a few basic information.

"Merlin Reilly, 22 years old, born in Wisconsin Buffalo County."

"Parents died an early death, lived in an orphanage for 12 years before being sent to a foster family, followed his foster family to New York. Graduated from community college at 20, began working in MTA Bridges and Tunnels at the age of 21. Currently single, personal financial situation in good condition, normal sexual orientation, likes working out and traveling."

"Direct relatives: May Reilly, Erik Stevens."

"Current residence: New York, Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen 7th Street."

"The hell is with the normal sexual orientation? And...why the MTA Bridges and Tunnels? Is this the masquerading address of the SSR?"

Merlin puts his identification info to the side, at the very bottom of the package was a postal card, on it was an address:

You are reading story The Path of Shadow in American Comics at novel35.com

"Please head towards 21st Century Bell Telephone Company."

A dozen minutes later, Merlin drags a small traveling case exits the agent academy and sits in a specialized school bus.

After nearly 3 hours of travel, he enters New York's downtown area, switches to a taxi and comes to the entrance of the remotely located 21st Century Bell Telephone Company.

Merlin raises his head and looks at the dilapidated building, it resides in an old street, with a last century's shop sign; its external gave out a shabby vibe, yet in reality, the business here was unexpectedly busy.

Merlin enters the big hall along the crowd and sees someone waiting for him by the elevator.

Nick Fury.

He wore a black suit that made him look like an insurance salesman that's been promoted to a manager position.

"Mmm, you finally look like something."

Fury reaches out and pats on Merlin's shoulder, he tells him:

"Follow me. This is just a department we have in New York, specializing in dealing with human resources, our usual working spot isn't here. And after a while, the new office building will be put to use, and the place is much easier to find than here.

"Yes."

Merlin nods, he follows Fury into the elevator, and with a lack of emotion, tells his superior:

"New office location? Is it at MTA Bridges and Tunnels?"

"Oh don't mind that, it's just a masquerade."

Fury waves his hands, he takes out his identification card and brushes it against a hidden groove, he then presses the Close button in the elevator rhythmically 6 times. As he elevator descends, he tells Merlin:

"That place is where another government department is at, the security level of that department are even higher than the SSR; we don't have to worry about exposure using the place as a communication address. But how do I put it, until your authority increases, it's not a problem you should keep in mind."

"In fact, without a guide, you won't even be able to find where it is."

"Ding"

A light sound and the elevator door opens.

Merlin follows Fury out of the elevator, in front of him was a busy office area. The place looked like a massive underground basement, on the wall at the end of Merlin's sight, there was a grey eagle symbol, representing the organization this place is under.

Dozens of desks were placed in the basement, staff members with suits were working, and the place looked no different than other regular offices in New York; but Merlin notices that the computers being used by the staff here were lighter and more advanced than the personal PCs outside.

"Let's go through your entry procedures, I'll be waiting for you outside."

Fury takes Merlin to an office, he pats on Merlin's shoulder and leaves the underground basement. Merlin walks into the office and a few specialized staff members were waiting there.

"Come, stand here, look serious, right!"

Merlin purses his lips to make himself look more dignified.

"Katcha"

Following the light sound of the camera, Merlin's first ID photo is finished; and a dozen minutes later, he receives his agent ID card, and like Fury's, the ID card was put into a black leather wallet.

What was most awesome was that Merlin got a driver's license again, which means he can drive legally now.

"These are your belongings."

A lady carries a box and puts it down by Merlin. He opens the box, in it was a gun in a holster, a box of bullets, a black mobile phone that weighed 250 grams and felt like it could be used as a brick. Lastly are some bank cards for different uses, including Merlin's salary card and a credit card that can be used in emergencies.

For the last process, Merlin needs to sign a few documents, they were a few accident insurance and personal medical insurance, even dental insurance.

Merlin looks at the contract closely, there were even regulations that give me paid leaves every year, there's not much to say about the work benefits.

"Kak"

Finally, with a light sound, a red stamp stamps on Merlin's personal information; the old man responsible for stamping hands all the documents to Merlin and smiles at him:

"Well then, welcome to the SSR."

"Agent Merlin."

A few minutes later, Merlin drags his suitcase out of 21st Bell Telephone Company, and sees Fury's iconic Black Ford parked on the side of the road; seeing Merlin come out, Fury honks the horn.

When Merlin approaches, Fury opens the car door and throws something to him.

It was Fury's car keys.

"Take my car when you go see your family later. Your official car is undergoing its processing...but please don't leave scratches on my car, okay?"

Merlin did not act hypocritically, he places his suitcase in the trunk and waves at Fury:

"Thanks, sir. I'll drive it back to you when I'm done with it."

"No need."

Fury pats on the car window and tells Fury:

"Just park it in your home, I'll go fetch you tomorrow night...be prepared, you don't want to mess up your first mission now do you?"

Merlin turns around and looks at Fury, he blinks his eyes and ask:

"You just said that we're going to find someone in Europe, so I'm curious, what person would need a senior officer like you to roll out?"

"I can't tell you now, because a rookie like you may leak."

Fury says mysteriously:

"What I can tell you is one thing, our target is a woman, a lethal woman with blood-stained hands and a lot of secrets."

"So you're saying, we're going to catch her?"

Merlin asks again:

"Or just kill her?"

"No, don't be so bloodthirsty."

Fury stands up, moves his fingers and tells Merlin:

"We are to approach her, persuade her, and finally, just as I recruited you, we will recruit her as well."

"Is it really going to be that easy?"

Merlin was doubtful, and Fury was full of confidence, he tells Merlin:

"When you're in a truly dire situation, you'll grab onto any hand that reaches out to you."

"Trust me, it's not hard."

 

 

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