At night, Merlin returned to his modified shop. Thanks to the shop's electronic security system and its remote location, everything was well-preserved.
Clang... The rolling shutter door slowly lifted, revealing Arcee parked quietly at the workstation. The moment Arcee saw Merlin, she excitedly transformed into her human form.
"Merlin, are you okay?" she asked, concerned.
After the battle, Optimus Prime had taken them away to hide in Merlin's shop. Optimus was severely injured, and they had been waiting for Merlin's return to assess his condition.
"I'm fine. Let's go check on Prime," Merlin said, though he paused to stare thoughtfully at Arcee, already beginning to plan her transformation upgrades in his mind.
"Um... are you sure you're okay?" Arcee asked, a little shy under Merlin's intense gaze.
"Of course, I'm fine. I'm just thinking about how we can integrate better," he replied absentmindedly.
"Ah!?" Arcee exclaimed, blushing as Merlin kept staring. She quickly transformed back into her motorcycle form.
Just as Merlin was about to head to the backyard to check on Optimus Prime, the rolling shutter door opened again. A middle-aged man with a receding hairline, dressed in a formal suit, walked in.
"Hello! I'm Coulson. My full name is a bit long, but you probably know it," he said, holding up his ID and introducing himself warmly.
"Yeah, I know. Please, come in," Merlin said, inviting him inside.
Coulson glanced briefly at the modified Ducati on the workstation, then walked over to the sofa and sat down politely.
"Would you like some Coke?" Merlin offered.
"No, thank you. That stuff affects the growth of my scalp hair follicles," Coulson replied with a slight smile.
Merlin chuckled. "You're pretty funny. So, what's the matter?"
"I've been waiting for you. First off, congratulations on your recovery."
"Thank you! But it wasn't a serious injury. I could have been discharged from the hospital in two weeks, but Ms. Pepper kept insisting I stay longer," Merlin explained, shaking his head.
Colson exchanged pleasantries for a while before getting down to business. "I came here to invite you to join a team of superheroes. Mr. Stark has agreed, and you are on the candidate list."
"Superhero?" Merlin thought for a moment and then picked up the file, glancing at it. The Avengers...
"Just as I thought..." When he saw the English label on the document, he raised his eyebrows in understanding.
"Becoming a candidate member won't have a big impact on your life. It's more about being available if you're needed. Of course, you'll also enjoy various privileges, such as having all your violations written off."
Most of the things Merlin did were technically illegal, including weapon and vehicle modifications, and his partnership with the platform. Given the ongoing instability in Apple City, once things calmed down, Merlin could face serious consequences. If he couldn't secure a platform backer or block the platform itself, the crackdown could extend to his offline operations. Natasha had also mentioned that they were secretly developing armed helicopters and frequently hacking into police systems and surveillance.
"What you offer, District 7 can offer as well, and it's not very appealing," Merlin said nonchalantly as he returned the plan to Coulson.
Coulson wasn't surprised and smiled calmly. "You might not know, but District 7 has been disbanded this month. Agent Simmons, who was in contact with you, has also been terminated for dereliction of duty."
"Fired?" Merlin was surprised. He hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.
"You probably wouldn't want George to know about your situation, so I've made sure to handle this discreetly. That's why I came directly to you," Coulson said, pushing the plan back toward Merlin.
Merlin stared at Coulson, considering his options.
---
"Let me think about it. The president of Hammer Industries also invited me today. Rather than joining the secret service organization, I prefer to focus on my studies," Merlin said, shaking his head as he pushed the plan back.
"I believe Hammer Industries should be able to solve these problems for me as well."
"This... okay, we respect your wishes." Coulson was taken aback for a moment, but didn't press further. He calmly withdrew the plan and handed Merlin his contact information.
"If you ever change your mind, feel free to contact me. I'm always here."
Merlin nodded. "Thanks. Is there anything else?"
As Coulson glanced at Arcee, who was at the workstation, a sudden ringing interrupted him.
"Sorry..." Coulson answered the call. After a short conversation, he hung up the phone with a regretful look.
"You're welcome to join the team anytime. I'm in a rush, so I'll leave now," Coulson said, shaking Merlin's hand before quickly exiting the shop.
Shortly after, a news broadcast reported: *"A mysterious meteorite landed in New Mexico last night, leaving behind a strange hammer in the crater. Is it mere coincidence or evidence of extraterrestrial activity?"*
Merlin looked at the screen
Merlin's expression shifted as he watched the news. He immediately understood why Coulson left in such a hurry. An abnormal event like a meteorite landing with a mysterious hammer is exactly the type of situation SHIELD deals with. Supernatural and extraterrestrial occurrences are under their jurisdiction, so it made sense that Coulson needed to respond quickly to the scene in New Mexico. Merlin pondered the implications,.
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