With the last plane transporting prisoners landing on the runway of the "Ghost" base, the first phase of the "clean-up operation" conducted by S.H.I.E.L.D. in cooperation with the Department of Defense and the National Security Agency officially ended after 72 hours.

In Merlin's office, the S. The commander-in-chief of L.D. was standing in front of the window, looking out of the plane cabin at the radical prisoners below, with a preliminary report on the mission, which had so far captured more than 4,500 radical mutants.

The vast majority of them are the peripheral forces of the Mutant Brotherhood, and a small number belong to the backbone of that organization.

Most of these imprisoned prisoners were followers of Magneto's dangerous ideas, and many of them had planned and participated in more than one disruptive campaign against human society.

The arrest of this group of people represents the complete collapse of the organizational structure of the mutant brotherhood, a dangerous organization.

But it's not over yet, and it's not something that can be ended by simply arresting someone.

The operation did not end perfectly, because the smartest and most cunning of the radical mob sensed the danger after Magneto disappeared, hid in the shadows in advance, and continued to call on mutants and humans who did not know the truth under the banner of the Brotherhood.

"The collapse of the organization will make the remaining radicals who are not strong-willed turn to moderates, and some people who don't want to cause trouble will be forced to remain neutral, but not everyone will give up."

Merlin, who was standing in front of the window, retracted his gaze, turned his head, threw the mission report in his hand on the table, and then said to the commanders in front of him, who had been tired for three days:

"The complex social formation of mutants determines that there will always be extremists like Magneto among them, and Magneto is not even the first, he is only the most dangerous one. Until these modern nomads really find their place in the world, their so-called 'resistance' will not stop. ”

He played with the golden pocket watch in his hand and said to the agents in front of him:

"This arrest is just the beginning, and it is only part of our mission to combat the radical forces of nature, and we need to continue to crack down on the mutant radicals who are still active in the official push of the moderate leader Professor Charles to the forefront."

"It's not an easy task."

Merlin whispered:

"We've just done the easiest part of the task. What I want you to know is that after the defeat of the largest militant groups, the extremists who have narrowly escaped this raid will only act more carefully, they will go underground, they will try to become ghosts wandering in the shadows, they will become more cunning, more cruel, and the conflict between our sides will become more dangerous. ”

"But, I think that's a good thing."

Merlin spread out his hands and said to the commanders in front of him:

"After all, the shadows, but our territory. I don't think that in the fight on this battlefield, we will be defeated by a bunch of naïve thugs with their heads full of extreme ideas, you say? ”

Melinda and Sharon nodded, they agreed with Merlin, and Coulson, who hadn't slept for 72 hours, took off his glasses, and he rubbed his eyes and said worriedly:

"Sir, you have a point, but we still have to guard against the radicals who have fled and retaliated in the recent past."

"The Brotherhood of Mutants has a tradition of revenge, and while the loss of the organization would have deprived extremist lunatics of much help, lone wolf attacks would have been more difficult to guard against."

Coulson moved his fingers as he said to Merlin and the rest of his companions:

"Those mutants have all sorts of abilities, they don't even need guns, they don't need bombs, they're weapons. Once an innocent person is injured, then the pressure of public opinion only needs to be slightly directed, and then it will be transferred to us again. ”

"The media, who are afraid that the world will not be chaotic, will accuse us of provoking the war."

"People don't really care much about the truth, they've always been blind, especially in this day and age, they really believe everything... All it takes is a few fake photos and we'll be the target of public criticism. It's like the Ten Rings that have been trying to infiltrate North America... They are very good at reversing right and wrong. ”

Coulson's question silenced the other agents.

Thinking about the problem from the perspective proposed by Coulson, the current situation does not look optimistic.

The conflict between humans and mutants has been around for a long time, some people don't like mutants, but there are also people who will support them in their quest for the right to exist, although the official has begun to solve the problem of mutants at a higher level, but it will take time.

And before the problem is really solved, a period of labor pain is still necessary.

"Coulson's concerns are justified, sir, I mean, what if someone else, or some other force, tries to seize this opportunity to deliberately stir up tensions between mutants and civilians?"

Sharon says:

"All it takes is a demagogic stupid mutant, a slogan, or even a detonated bomb to make the contradiction between the two sharp again."

Merlin nodded, Coulson and Sharon's concerns were correct.

The mutant issue is placed within the framework of human society, and it will involve a series of very sensitive issues such as human rights, racial discrimination, democratic rights, etc., and once those wandering mutant thugs have a little more flexible brains, then a few bombs hidden in the crowd will completely detonate this big trouble.

"When you feel that the problem is getting more and more difficult, it means that the problem has entered the stage of solving."

Merlin didn't seem to care about the problem, he looked at the pocket watch in his hand, and said:

"It's a tough situation, but it's not a bad thing."

He said meaningfully:

"It's not just that they're going to manipulate public opinion, agents. Once Magneto's followers lose their banner of freedom and begin to indulge in planning dangerous terrorist acts, it means that they will truly become the public enemies of the people. ”

"Director Fury is better at thinking about this kind of social problem than us, and I believe that as long as those schizophrenic public opinion dares to jump out and try to muddy the waters, then Fury will let them have a good memory, as long as those bastards who are afraid that the world will not be chaotic will no longer be restrained..."

"At that point, I don't believe that S.H.I.E.L.D. will not be able to solve the problem of a group of naïve guerrillas."

"Besides, none of these are really things we need to care about, Coulson, and Sharon."

Merlin knocked on the table, and he said slowly:

"If moderate mutants can't even solve this little thing, I don't think it's the right thing for us to put them in power. Give Professor Charles a little confidence, I'm sure he's prepared for this. ”

"Okay, let's talk a little bit more about S. L.D. Tasks for the next period of time. ”

Merlin coughed lightly, and he flipped through the papers on the table and said to his subordinates:

"Trident HQ has approved our request to establish a "Mutant Affairs Monitoring and Management Team" within the department, codenamed "X", to be responsible for anything related to mutants. ”

"Barbie and Tripp, along with your squad, will be transferred to this group, and as for the commander..."

Merlin glanced at the three generals under him, and finally found that whether it was Coulson or Sharon, they all had other jobs, and Melinda, who was the only one who was more idle, was still serving as a long-term instructor in the martial arts course at S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy.

Once again, he felt the lack of manpower, and in the end, all he could say was:

"I'll do it for the time being."

"Over the next few months, Tripp and Barbie's two squads and X-Men will continue to hunt down the roving diehards of the Mutant Brotherhood, with the three divisions in Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Miami cooperating with their operations."

Merlin said in a cold tone:

"The focus of your work has shifted to the mutant side for a while, and I need you to keep a high-pressure posture and arrest everyone who dares to show their heads until they don't dare to act in a big way!"

"Sir, and those hidden guys, how are we going to find them?"

Merlin's assistant, Agent Barbie, asked with a frown:

"If we also have to take care of intelligence work, then we are a little short of manpower."

"No, we're only responsible for arrests. In addition to the sources of S.H.I.E.L.D. itself, we have special channels for gathering information. ”

As soon as Merlin finished speaking, the phone he had placed on the table rang softly, indicating the arrival of a text message.

Merlin picked up his phone and saw a list full of names and addresses, as well as various mutant traits.

At the bottom of the list of text messages, there is an arrow icon composed of sharp blades.

This is the symbol of the League of Assassins, and this list is a "gift" from Lady Thalia, who is far away in Europe and is regrouping, to Merlin.

"The information, names, characteristics, addresses, and even past experiences and family ties of the 284 radical mutants."

Merlin waved his phone to his subordinates, and he said in a relaxed tone:

"That's what you're going to do next week."

"According to the map, I believe that this should not be difficult, right?"

———————————————————

The time for busy work always flies quickly, and in the blink of an eye, Merlin has been in the 'ghost' base for almost half a month.

In the past six months, the thugs who have been caught have been brought here every day, and then they have been put to prison and censored, and the information of those who have participated in the crime and committed the most heinous crimes has been sorted out, and they will be sent to a special court for trial after one month.

It was a mutant law enforcement agency composed of the World Security Council, the North American government, and moderate mutants, and was equivalent to a "jury" of different directions.

The establishment of this mutant court also represents the return of the mutant group that was previously excluded from the social order to the scope of human society in legal theory.

Professor Charles was very supportive of the establishment of the tribunal, where he served as a consultant on mutant issues, and the good old man was very active in the discussion of the trial process, and he was very inclined to put a shackle on the rules of his own community at the legal level.

He's a really smart guy.

The professor is well aware that these shackles, which seem to be the opposite of freedom, these legal rules, are not a bad thing for mutants.

It's a framework, and it's only in this framework that mutants can achieve a freedom that is truly worth being championed.

Just as Merlin had said to Raven earlier.

In the larger framework of "humanity", all problems are internal problems that can be resolved through mutual contact and negotiated concessions.

Once out of the larger framework of "humanity", internal contradictions will transform into external antagonisms... When mutants recklessly cut themselves off from human society, the freedom they want to pursue will only be seen as the greatest threat by all the polities in this world.

At that point, the mutants will really be the enemy of the world.

Merlin kept an eye on this until something else came along that took him out of mutant affairs for the time being.

"Have you brought everything with you?"

In Hell's Kitchen, in the living room of the House of Blood at midnight, Merlin said to Elsa, who was packing her package:

"Have you figured out where you're going?"

"I may go to my father."

Elsa put her brown backpack away, she stood up, looked back at the night outside the window of the House of Blood, and said:

"But it's also possible to walk around, after all, my father must have a reason for not letting me get involved in Dracula's affairs."

"Hmm."

Merlin nodded, he seemed a little silent tonight, as if he had something to say in his heart, wanting to say it, but he couldn't.

He took something out of his pocket and placed it in Elsa's hand.

"Take this."

He said that the girl in front of him said:

"It protects you in my absence."

Elsa looked at the blue steel cube in her hand, and she said with some surprise:

"Isn't that your weapon? I remember, you told me, it was locked. ”

"Su Rui helped me unlock my identity."

Merlin said to Elsa:

"You put your finger on the surface of it, hold it for 10 seconds, and it re-identifies the user."

"Are you concerned about me? Merlin. ”

Elsa held the slightly heavy weapon, she stared at Merlin, and said in a relaxed tone:

"Why can't you just say it? It has to be so awkward. ”

Looking at Elsa's green eyes, Merlin tilted his head slightly, and after a few seconds, he said in a weak voice:

"Can you stay?"

"Do you want me to stay?"

Elsa looked at Merlin with a smile in her eyes, as if she was deliberately teasing him, and she asked:

"I want to hear the truth."

"Hmm."

Merlin nodded, and he whispered:

"I'm used to you being around, and I don't feel comfortable living without a piece."

"Nope."

Elsa opened her arms and gently hugged Merlin, who kissed her on the cheek and whispered in his ear:

"That's not the answer I want to hear, Merlin... But don't worry, I'll be back soon..."

"Just like you can't bear me, I can't bear you... But you always don't take the initiative. ”

"Let's go, let's go have a drink..."

"Go to my room..."

()

Sogou