"I'm not going to ride in your car next time."

Bombarded all the way by bad music, Merlin opened the car door, handed a few bills to the hippie-faced Du Pende, and said in a stiff tone:

"You've lost a guest forever, Dupponde, and I hope this teaches you a lesson."

"Stop making a fuss, Mr. Merlin."

Du Pende did not count the money, took the money and put it in his pocket, he winked at Merlin, and said:

"We're friends, aren't we?"

"I'm sure you'll be in my car with a smile on your face next time. Speaking of which, I have one more thing I need your help with, Mr. Merlin. ”

Under Merlin's gaze, the driver's brother said quickly:

"My friend Chases has been weird these days, he's always wandering around some haunted places, and I've heard that he used to live with a charlatan, and I suspect he might have been tricked, or worse, joined some horrible cult."

Du Pende said to Merlin with some concern:

"Can you help him? Mr. Merlin. ”

"Why are you looking for me?"

Merlin moved his fingers and manipulated Raven out of the taxi, and said to Dupende:

"How can you be sure I can help? You see, I'm just an ordinary person working in a government structure. ”

After the power seed sublimated to the half-demon stage, Merlin became more comfortable with the manipulation of the black fog, and the use of puppetry became very easy and skillful.

"The first thought that popped into my mind when I learned about Chas was that Mr. Merlin could help."

Du Pende honestly said to Merlin:

"Growing up, I always felt right, and as a kid I relied on my senses to find my grandfather's lost wallet. All in all, I trust my feelings. ”

"You're going to be able to help."

The driver's brother said firmly:

"And, I have a sense, you will help Chas, for you are a very decent and kind man, Mr. Merlin."

"Well, your compliment is pretty plain."

Merlin rubbed his forehead, and he said to Dupende:

"Okay, I'll help, but I have a request."

"Next time, when I'm in your car, don't play music! If you promise me, I'll help. It's not that hard, is it? ”

Merlin said seductively to the frowning driver's brother:

"You just need to suppress your slightly perverted... Well, if you share your desire for music, you can save your friends... You see, he's fallen into some really bad things right now, and seriously, wouldn't you want to help him? ”

"Du Pengde, ask yourself, are you really that kind of cold-blooded person? Will you let your friends fall into the abyss because you stubbornly keep your habits? ”

"Promise, Dupend, promise me, it's easy."

Before he knew it, Merlin had used the spirit of the Seal of Axif.

In the case of will interference, Du Pengde frowned, and in the end, he nodded with great difficulty and reluctance:

"Well, Mr. Merlin, I promise you."

"That's good."

Merlin flicked his fingers with a happy face, and he said to Dubonde:

"You're a good Samaritan, too, Dupende."

"Don't worry, I'll go see Chas when I'm done with my own business, he's also my friend... Okay, let's go, I won't bother you to make money. ”

Watching Du Pende drive away, Merlin glanced back at the Witch who was standing beside him like a puppet, and said:

"Why have you been so silent along the way? You've been so silent... Uh, I forgot, sorry, you can't speak. ”

Merlin snapped her fingers apologetically, and the invisible smoke on Raven's cheek dissipated.

Her expression became vivid at this moment, she glared at Merlin, and she said:

"Wicked wizard! Let me go! ”

"A woman who almost killed hundreds of people has the face to say that I am evil? You should be glad I'm not a real dark wizard... Otherwise, hehe, a woman like you, who can change her appearance at will, would be a great research material. ”

Merlin sneered and walked towards the gate of the academy behind him, Raven followed him stiffly, and said:

"Charles has been emphasizing to me before that Raven is a neutral who is not a threat, and obviously, he is here to protect you. But as far as I've seen, Raven, what you're doing has nothing to do with neutrality. It seems to me that you are neither as tough as Magneto, nor as wise as Charles... You're just a coward with no position. ”

"I didn't, I just made the right choice."

Raven replied with a cold face as she struggled against the power that manipulated her body:

"Those mutants have been mistreated by humans, you have seen it with your own eyes, they have a mixture of hatred and pent-up anger in their hearts, they are not suitable to join Charles's side, they will only cause problems for Charles... Charles is a good person, but he is too soft-hearted. ”

Raven watched Merlin in front of her release the lock-picking spell and open the closed gate of the manor, she looked at Xavier Castle at night with a little nostalgia, and she said in a calm tone:

"He and his academy will be dragged into the maelstrom by those hateful mutants, and I'm protecting him, that's all. What's more, no ordinary person is injured because of this, is it? ”

"It's just that no one is hurt for the time being! What's more, what about Lorna's affairs? ”

Merlin stepped into the manor, and he looked at the lawns that still showed signs of the attack, and the large holes that had been filled, like unsightly specks all over the beautiful manor, and he asked:

"Little Lorna doesn't have any resentment in her heart, she's just a child, and you can't bear to hand her over to the dangerous Magneto? Don't you know how crazy you will be when Magnit's extremist ideas ruin her? Would you treat a child like this? ”

"Lorna was originally Eric's daughter!"

Raven Says:

"Shouldn't a daughter stay with her father? Eric promised me that he wouldn't spread his thoughts to that kid, in fact, Eric has a tender side that you don't know about, and he is very protective of all his children... Especially after Anya's tragedy, he would rather be alone in his heart than destroy the peaceful life of his children. ”

The Shapeling sneered, and she said mockingly to Merlin:

"You don't know anything, Lord Merlin, you're just relying on your senses to define others. In my eyes, Eric is not a bad person, everything he does is motivated by his love for his fellow citizens... You can't understand that sacrifice if you haven't experienced what he went through. ”

"I have no intention of discussing these good and evil rights and wrongs with you."

Merlin Says:

"His hero, I still understand the truth of my thief, but there is a good reason to cover up, so I go crazy and do bad things that hurt other people, I don't think a good person would do this... Do you know how many ordinary people and mutants have died because of Magnit over the years? ”

"In my opinion, he should have gone to hell a long time ago!"

Merlin said in an indifferent voice:

"The extreme antagonism he represents is the source of the turmoil that you mutants can't integrate into human society... But he's protected the world, so we won't kill him. We are different from you mutants who always rely on emotions to make decisions, we have a system, and we have a clear distinction between good and bad things. ”

"Why should we fit into your society?"

Raven retorted:

"Your desire to control is disgusting, Mr. Merlin, but I can understand that you're a government agent and you're always thinking from an official point of view. But trust me, it's wiser to look at things from a different perspective once in a while, and when you learn to look at it from a mutant perspective, I don't think you'll be so stubborn. ”

"Well said! But I also have a question... Why should I think about it from a mutant perspective? ”

Merlin looked back at Raven, and there was an undisguised sarcasm on his face:

"After all, I'm not a mutant!"

"So, you ordinary people who talk about equality and freedom..."

Raven also smiled contemptuously:

"Hypocrisy is disgusting!"

"No, no, no, Raven, you haven't understood."

Merlin stood where he was, he turned around and pointed at the city behind him, and under his manipulation, Raven was also forced to turn around and look at the city behind him.

Merlin Says:

"Tell me, Raven, look there, what do you see?"

"A city."

Raven replied:

"A city full of hypocrisy and evil."

"You're so shallow!"

Merlin stood beside Raven, and he whispered in an indifferent tone:

"When I look there, I see order! I see the rules... It is not visible to everyone, but it is the foundation of the city, the civilization, without which there would be no this. ”

"It's a framework, a system, Raven."

Merlin reached out and grabbed Raven's waist, and he whispered in Raven's ear:

"You want to be free? Want equality? Want your power? ”

"Yes!"

"But you have to get into this framework first, and not just reject it, or even try to destroy it... Do you think you mutants can fight against the world's framework? Don't be stupid..."

"The professor is the wise of you, he, like me, sees the basic rules that make up civilization, and he tries to push you people into the framework, yes, it will make you bonded, but with bondage comes the freedom you want..."

Merlin smiled, and said meaningfully:

"There is no absolute freedom in this world... You don't understand this, do you? ”

"That's your rule."

Raven said stubbornly:

"Not ours."

"Then find a way to shape one for you."

Merlin let go of his hand and patted Raven on the shoulder, and said:

"If you don't like the system, make one you like... The premise is, don't try to fight, don't try to destroy, that won't do us any good. ”

"Raven... Rules can coexist, but I doubt that a paranoid person like you will understand this truth. ”

Merlin seemed to be impatient with the subject, and with a wave of his hand, he continued towards the castle in front of him, and said:

"Mutants have no culture, no heritage, no system, no rules, and that's your most fatal weakness. The professor has been trying to make a rule for you, but Magnit has been breaking it... Who's right? Who is at fault again? ”

A sarcastic smile tugged at Merlin's face, and he said:

"Think about it yourself, after all, it's your mutant's own problem, and it has nothing to do with me. Let's change the subject, Ms. Raven, I heard that this was once your home. You've spent the best ten years of your life in this castle, right? ”

"Hmm."

Raven followed Merlin, who had given up on fighting the energy attached to her body.

As a well-informed mutant, Raven knows that this is an effect similar to magic, where only magic can fight magic, and only energy can destroy energy... Unfortunately, she's very skilled in hand-to-hand combat, and she's not necessarily weaker than Merlin in melee combat, but she's not very good at magic.

"Let's talk about it."

Merlin took Raven across the lawn in the night, and he said:

"I'm curious about the stories between you, the professor, and Magnit. I've heard, you're still in a weird love triangle relationship? The parting of ways between the professor and Magnit is also said to have something to do with you? ”

"Who the hell are you listening to?"

A hint of unhappiness flashed across Raven's face, and she said:

"It's all."

"The break between Charles and Eric is purely a philosophical disagreement and has nothing to do with me. As for the relationship between me and Charles... Indeed, it's complicated. ”

Raven sighed, and she said:

"Honestly, I don't even know what kind of feelings it is. Perhaps, there may indeed be love. ”

"Tell me about it."

Merlin slowed down, and said:

"It's about 5-10 minutes before we enter the castle, enough to tell a story, right?"

"Why should I tell you?"

Raven Says:

"Does snooping on someone else's privacy excite you? You pervert! ”

"I just want to hear stories."

Merlin said calmly:

"Don't look at the smirk on my face right now, that doesn't mean I won't forcibly check your memory, and it doesn't mean that I won't make you a fool, seriously, I'm in a bad mood right now... You'd better not mess with me, Ms. Raven. ”

"If your story is good enough, maybe, I'll consider reducing your sentence... After all, you didn't hurt anyone, you just stole something you shouldn't have stolen. ”

"Say, don't give yourself a hard time."

Raven sensed the impatience in Merlin's words, she breathed a sigh of relief, and whispered:

"I came to Charles's house when I was 10 years old, it was a night, I was cold and hungry, I was left on the side of the road by my parents, and it was natural. After all, no one likes a blue-skinned, freak. ”

Her tone was calm, as if she was telling someone else's story.

"I ran into Charles's house... I had never seen such a beautiful house before, and the first time I came in, I felt ashamed that this was not the place for someone like me. Anyway, I snuck into the kitchen of Charles's house, I found a few pieces of hard bread, and I hid in the corner to eat. ”

Raven looked at the castle in front of her, and she said:

"I was about Lorna's age, and I was afraid of what I looked like, and I hated my abilities like a lot of mutants. But Charles is not one of those people who would hate me. ”

"I finished my bread and wanted to leave the warm castle, but when I turned around, I saw Charles, about my age, in his pajamas and holding a baseball bat taller than him."

Speaking of this, Raven seemed to remember the past, she smiled, and she said:

"He was cute, with blonde hair, like a doll. He just held the bat and looked at me, and we were all terrified, and I tried to run away, but was stopped by Charles. ”

"He took me to the dining room and had the servant make me a warm dinner."

Raven closed her eyes, and she whispered:

"It was the most delicious food I've ever eaten in my life... It was also the beginning of the story of Charles's lifelong struggle. ”

"Smack"

Just as Raven said this, before her and Merlin's eyes, the door of the castle was pushed open at this moment.

Wheelchair-sitting, the pajamas-clad professor stopped at the doorway, his old face filled with a warm smile in the dim light, the same smile that Raven remembers of the child who had taken her in decades ago.

The professor looked at Raven in the distance, and his voice rang in Raven's head the next moment.

It's mild and warm.

"Welcome home..."

"Raven."

Merlin felt the mood of the demon girl beside him change a little, and when he turned around, he saw uncontrollable tears flowing from Raven's eyes, like a wanderer who had been away from home for too long and finally returned to a warm home.

Oh...

Merlin nodded slightly.

It turns out that this female madwoman who almost ruined everything also has feelings...