"Looks like you know me?"

Merlin wasn't surprised to hear Talia call out her nickname.

In fact, if the famous League of Assassins didn't even find his name and information, he would feel surprised and disappointed. After all, judging from the information he had learned now, the Assassin League was a powerful organization that was hidden deeply.

He looked at Talia and asked:

"Collected information about me?"

"No, there isn't."

Talia calmly denied it, put down her glass, and said:

"Since we're already friends, there are some things I won't hide from you."

"There was a split in the League of Assassins a few years ago, just before Bruce joined us, our power on the east coast of North America was almost wiped out, we had almost no decent branches in that land, I just knew your name and what you did, I didn't know, you were my 'old friend' back then."

"Well, it seems that your current situation is indeed not optimistic."

Merlin Says:

"So the Batman attacked the gangs to regain control?"

"Yes. There is no need to hide these things from you. ”

Talia's expression became serious, and she said to Merlin:

"That was my father's plan, but I wasn't really in favor of using this kind of violence to solve the problem. It doesn't work out to always rely on those ruffian gangsters, and the failures of the past have proven that the methods of the previous era have failed in this era. ”

The cunning and attractive woman ruffled her long black hair, and she said to Merlin:

"Now that I'm out of the talk, I'll get straight to the point, Merlin."

"I need your help!"

"Help?"

Merlin asked rhetorically:

"What helps?"

"Help me become the leader of the League of Assassins!"

Talia's eyes shone with ambition, and she made no secret of her desire for the organization behind her, saying:

"My father lived for more than 700 years, and I admit that he was a great leader. But he can't keep up with the pace of the times, from forcing his successor with his own hands, to turning against Bruce, to planning the invasion of Gotham and getting a crushing defeat, and this time the attack on North America... It's a stunt of tricks. ”

Talia shook her head, a deep disappointment in her tone, and said:

"No matter how bright the sun is, there is a moment when it sets. It's time for the age of the head of the devil to end. ”

"I'm sorry, I can't help."

Merlin refused:

"I'm a public official, and I shouldn't be dealing with a killer organization like yours, it's not allowed."

"Killer organization?"

Talia sneered, and said in a playful tone:

"I don't know where you heard about us as a killer organization. But Merlin... You're underestimating us. Let me think about it, you live in New York and seem to be in Hell's Kitchen, right? ”

"Hmm."

Merlin nodded, and Talia chuckled, and she said:

"There's a church of St. Matthew?"

"Yes."

Merlin's expression became strange.

He had long noticed something strange about St. Matthew's Church, and Eric, who had been there for several years, had told him that St. Matthew's Church seemed to be protected by a mysterious force.

"That's your territory?"

Merlin asked.

"No, that's the Sisterhood of Divine Grace."

Talia replied in a serious manner:

"You've probably heard of the Sisterhood of Divine Grace, right? One of the largest religious forces in Europe. ”

"Well, I've heard that."

Merlin nodded and said:

"It is also said to be one of the largest charitable organizations in the world, with orphanages and monasteries belonging to them all over the world."

"Well, the Sisterhood of Divine Grace is one of the estates of the Assassin League."

Talia flicked her finger and said to Merlin:

"And it's not the most important one."

She looked at Merlin, who was a little surprised, and a smile appeared on her face, and she said:

"Merlin, we, the League of Assassins, may have the word Assassin in our name, but we have never... From the moment it was born, it was not a pure killer organization. ”

"We have lived through the Age of Discovery, and with the prestige of the Invincible Armada, we have spread our power all over the world!"

"We have witnessed the ups and downs of the French Revolution, in the Louvre, on the guillotine of Louis XIV, there is our imprint!"

"Our ancestors walked on the battlefield in the Civil War, using the double blades in their hands to maintain and fulfill the justice that belongs to us!"

"Hidden behind the scenes of the Second World War, we were the most important intelligence providers for the Allies in the European theater, and on the sands of the Normandy landings, it was our samurai who lit the fires for the Allied landings."

"Merlin, the League of Assassins was not founded by my father."

Talia whispered in Merlin's ear:

"Everything in the outside world is just rumors, only people in my family know that my father has just inherited an old belief. Let me tell you, where he found the pool of Seralus, he found many, many ancient accounts, our history, even going back to 400 B.C.! ”

"We have many, many names, the Order, the Guardian, the Assasin... We are not just a product of history, we make history! ”

"It's just that over the years, the League of Assassins has gone astray, but it doesn't matter, after I finish my father's banner, I will personally bring this organization back on track! But I need your help, Merlin, there is no good or evil in power, and do you want the League of Assassins to be used to maintain order? If you wish, then please help me! ”

"The power of S.H.I.E.L.D. is blank in many parts of the world, as long as we cooperate, you will be able to monitor the whole world very quickly, very soon."

Talia's body was almost attached to Merlin's shoulder, and this gesture made Merlin subconsciously swing outward, saying:

"Speak well... Don't get so close. ”

"Hehe, that's interesting."

Talia slowly returned to her chair, she looked at Merlin flirtatiously, and said:

"You remind me of Bruce, an ascetic who sat still. You really resemble him, and you all have pent-up anger roaring inside. ”

"Don't talk about that."

Merlin waved his hand, he didn't want to say too much on the subject.

He thought for a moment, then looked at Talia and said:

"I can't give you an answer, I don't have that permission. But I remember your proposal, if I have the chance... I'll submit it. ”

"Nope."

Talia shook her head and refused:

"I don't trust your organization, Merlin, and it's you that I trust! I'm asking for your help, not S.H.I.E.L.D. I've heard my father say that Hydra is hiding in the shadow of S.H.I.E.L.D., and I don't want to be involved with you until you get out of that shadow. ”

"Me?"

Merlin shook his head, and he said:

"Aside from being an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., I'm just an ordinary wizard, so how can I help you and your cause?"

"You have advanced the alien order in New York, and as far as I know, more than a dozen alien gathering places in New York are all managed by your department."

Talia's eyes flashed with a twinkle, and she said:

"In the next step, your power will expand to the entire East Coast, listen to me, Merlin, I don't need you to help me grab the territory with open fire, I just need you to lift your fingers when necessary... All I need is a crevice, a shadow to hide in, and that's enough. ”

"The rest of the things, the assassins under my command, will naturally take care of it."

"Looks like you've got your own power, Talia."

Merlin Says:

"You look pretty sure."

"If Bruce hadn't left, I'd be the Queen of Assassins by now."

Talia said with some dissatisfaction:

"But my father was in such a hurry, his strength, he managed to push Bruce against him... Really, the situation at that time, there was only one last step left before Bruce completely joined us, and if I had to persuade him, he would definitely be by my side and Damian. ”

"How? Merlin. ”

Thalia asked:

"Will you promise?"

"I need time to think about it."

Merlin said ambiguously:

"But if you can give me some news that I'm interested in, maybe I will hesitate a little less. For example, information about Hydra, who is Hydra hiding in S.H.I.E.L.D.? ”

"I don't know."

Talia said simply:

"All I know is that Hydra has several factions operating on the East Coast, and they're pretty good at hiding themselves. And a few months ago, a Hydra executive codenamed 'The Banker' suddenly died, which made the gang hide even deeper, relying on our weak forces in New York to find out more... It's too difficult. ”

"But if you're willing to help me reorganize the Assassin Alliance's forces on the East Coast, it may only take a month for me to bring you some good news."

Talia brushed her hair, and she said gently:

"You are a fan of the authorities, you are in the game, you can't jump out, how can you find the worm in your back? This kind of thing can be more efficient if it is left to a third party outside the bureau to observe. ”

"A month?"

Merlin's eyes narrowed, he looked at Talia, and after a moment, he held out two fingers:

"Brooklyn and Queens... I can allow you to move around in a few of the heterogeneous sanctuaries there. Think of this as a sign of your abilities, Talia, and in 20 days, give me a definite message, and we'll talk about the next step of cooperation. ”

"Deal!"

Talia happily stood up and held out her hand to Merlin, who also reached out to shake Talia's hand, indicating that the deal was complete.

"Calculate the time, we should be almost to South Darbat."

Talia and Merlin had come to an agreement, and she was in a good mood, and the shadow that had been hanging over her for a while seemed to be clearing. She leaned back in her chair, took her glass, took a sip of her wine, and said to Merlin:

"As soon as you get off the plane, I'll take you to my father."

"Speaking of which, I'm curious."

Merlin asked:

"What are you going to do with your relationship with your father? I don't think Lars. Al. Someone like Gul will willingly give his throne to you, even if you are his daughter. ”

"Of course he won't."

Talia's expression darkened a bit, and she said:

"Remember what I said to you 8 years ago when we separated?"

"Yes."

Merlin nodded:

"At that time, you told me that you have to prove that you can't be worse than a man."

"Yes."

Talia picked up the glass and put it in front of her, she looked at the liquid flowing from the glass, and she said with a hint of loss:

"As a result, I lost."

"I had already met Bruce when I met you, but at the time, I didn't like him, I just saw him as a competitor. My father taught Bruce himself, and he discovered Bruce's talent, and after his original heir was forced away, he intended to train Bruce to become the next demon leader. ”

"That should have been my place!"

Talia said in a deep tone:

"I spent several times more time training and sharpening myself than the man, but I still lost in the end. My father, his man, was very old-fashioned, and he loved me very much... I could feel it, but he stubbornly believed that women were inherently weak and couldn't control an organization like the League of Assassins, so he chose Bruce between me and Bruce. ”

"To this day, Merlin."

Talia looked at Merlin, and she said calmly:

"I swore to be the leader of the League of Assassins, and for a small reason, because of my unwillingness, I will prove that I am better suited to lead this organization than Bruce... Bruce is too upright, a part of his heart has been burned by justice, he walks in the shadows, but he will never belong in the shadows. ”

The woman laughed, and said to Merlin:

"If you've never been part of the Shadows, how are you going to command it?"

"I'm not like Bruce, I was born in the shadows, I grew up in the shadows, I know the rules in the dark, I follow those rules, and when necessary, I make new rules, and I will eventually become the queen of the shadows..."

"You're drunk."

Merlin said calmly:

"The Shadow will not have a queen, it will not be subordinate to anyone. Are you sure, Talia, that you don't have the influence of the Pool of Seralus yourself? In my opinion, your current mental state is also somewhat..."

"Chief!"

Before Merlin could finish his sentence, the door of the engine room was pushed open, and one of the pilots pointed anxiously out of the porthole and said to Talia:

"Nandarbat... Our city, under attack! ”

"It's burning."