Talia, the only daughter of the Ninja Master, and the current interim leader of the Assassin League.
This woman with a perfect appearance is undoubtedly a natural beauty. But under that beautiful appearance, hidden is a soul full of ambition and desire.
Although Merlin had not had much contact with Talia, he could also notice that Talia's desire for power and identity was very stubborn, and even reached a pathological level.
This was revealed when Merlin first met Talia.
In order to gain the recognition of her father, the Assassin Master, Thalia, who was still very young at the time and was considered a rookie assassin, dared to sneak into the British Ministry of Magic at the risk of being killed and steal things.
When she and Merlin entered the attacked Nandarbat, facing the ninja master attacked by the death knives, Talia also asked Merlin to come forward for help after indifferently weighing the gains and losses of interests.
In other words, if it was more in Talia's interests to allow the Ninja Master to be killed by Death Knives at that time, this beauty would probably have prevented Merlin from intervening in that battle.
In this case, it is a kind of praise to say that she is scheming.
In Merlin's heart, Talia's perfect and seductive appearance has been linked to the word "cold-blooded".
However, this woman has a truly "selfless" relationship with her son.
This is also confirmed.
Before, when he was in Switzerland, Merlin didn't know Demian's identity. He used the child to threaten Talia, and the kind of care and protection that this woman showed for her son was also impossible to fake.
Damian was her weakness, there was no doubt about this.
Therefore, when Merlin proposed to ask Talia to send Demian to Gotham, Talia's expression immediately became cold, just like the deadly cold wind blowing in the snow-capped mountains.
"You're too much care, Merlin."
Talia said bluntly:
"What is the future of Damian? It's the business of our mother and son, and it has nothing to do with you! It has nothing to do with Bruce! He is my son, and his son is only my own!"
"I didn't mean to steal him."
Merlin did not refute Talia's unceremonious accusations. Instead, Merlin explained seriously:
"You have been entrusted by Master Ninja to re-establish the base camp of the Assassin League in Interlaken. Even if other commanders assist you, the process will be long. I have talked with Master Ninja. I know the fact that the Assassin League is now in decline. Do you really have the energy to take care of your children when you support the revival of the Assassin League?"
Talia subconsciously wanted to refute, but she was also a little confused when facing Merlin's explanation.
Indeed, it is not so easy for organizations like the Assassin Alliance to migrate, and it is definitely not something that can be accomplished overnight.
Moreover, she does not have the unquestionable prestige of her father. After her father passed away, it is unknown whether she can successfully take over the branches of the Assassin League around the world.
Once she doesn't handle it well and causes the organization to have another internal rupture, the road to revival by the Assassin Alliance under her leadership in Talia's heart will only become more difficult.
Merlin saw the entanglement in Talia's eyes, and he calmly added to his anger.
"What's more, you probably haven't forgotten the death knell yet?"
Merlin said:
"He was just repelled, rescued by his friends, and he did not die with his hatred of Lars Al Goul. If he decides to attack again, can you protect your young son under such a full-scale offensive as Deathkill on Nandalbat?"
"I'm really not sure."
Talia said:
"But do you think Bruce can protect Demian?"
"Of course he can."
Merlin said without doubt:
"I have never doubted Bruce's determination to protect his son, and most importantly, don't forget that Bruce has defeated your father. Although there is a component of luck in it, it is undeniable that Bruce is far stronger than you think."
"And Damian's age is a critical period of character growth. The child has been poisoned by the distorted thinking of the Ninja Master. It's time for him to learn from his father who is more in line with his heroic image."
"Be careful when speaking!"
Talia warned of dissatisfaction:
"You are questioning my father, in South Darbat, it's a very dangerous act."
"But you should also know that I'm right."
Merlin whispered:
"You are also dissatisfied with some of your father's styles, aren't you? Talia, we have had a long time ago, and at least you can't hide it from me in this regard."
"I"
Talia finally did not refute. She silently brought Merlin to Damian's room. She handed the key to Merlin. When she was escorted away by the warriors, Talia whispered:
"I will consider your suggestions."
"Well, believe me."
Merlin said:
"A child should be born to be with his father. If it is for the sake of Demien, you should give him a chance to choose freely. He has been with you for 7 years and should let him spend some time with his father. Maybe Bruce will bring you a surprise?"
"What kind of ecstasy did Bruce give you?"
Talia snorted dissatisfied:
"You have been talking to him since you entered Nandalbat! Even because he rejected me, Merlin, have you fallen in love with Bruce?"
"hehe."
Merlin smiled at Thalia's malicious speculation and said:
"About this, you can rest assured that I will never compete with you for men. To be honest, if I want to compete, Talia, you will never have a chance."
"Shut up."
Talia said hatefully, and then quickly left the heavily guarded place. She was very busy and had too much time to deal with.
Merlin walked forward, and under the silent gaze of the warriors responsible for defending the young master, he reached out to open the lock of the door in front of him, then pushed open the door, and walked into the fireplace burning, which seemed very warm.
Boy Demian was sitting alone in front of the fireplace.
He no longer had the indifferent temperament that was in Switzerland that was inconsistent with his age. Now, under the blow of the death of his most admired relative, he is more like a lonely and helpless, 7-year-old child.
Demian was wiping a black sleeve sword in his hand. It should be the relic handed over to him by Master Ninja before his death.
Merlin did not immediately walk forward to disturb the child's longing for his relatives.
He knew that now Damian needed comfort from others, but what this child needed was to get rid of the confusion in his heart.
When it comes to raising children, Merlin is no stranger to it.
He has been living with Eric Jr. since he was 21 years old, followed by Charlie, Peter Jr., Ava Jr., and Matt, who has recently joined his family.
He did not lack experience in communicating with his children, so Merlin leaned quietly against the wall of the warm room until several minutes later, when Demian finished wiping his sleeve sword, he said:
"You should know that no matter how bright you wipe the sword, your grandfather would not be resurrected because of this, right?"
"Get out."
Damien said in a desolate tone:
"I'm not in the mood to argue with you."
"What a coincidence."
Merlin was not angry, but instead, he said with a smile:
"I'm not in the mood to see a little brat pretending to be deep. If your mother hadn't asked me to take care of me, I wouldn't even look at you at Damian Wayne, looking at his heroic idol, quietly passing away in the same weakness as ordinary people, leaving quietly, this must be a very painful thing, right?"
"Bang"
Damien kicked the chair beside him, and he turned his head and looked fiercely at Merlin with his arms in his arms, and he said:
"Do you want to fight? Wizard!"
"No, I don't want to."
Merlin looked up and down at Damian and said seriously:
"I mean, I do want to move my muscles, but I don't want to bully a little guy who is about to cry. Look at the tears on your face. I secretly hid in the quilt and cried when I was resting last night, right? Little guy."
"Shut up!"
Merlin's malicious words almost instantly ignited the anger in his heart in Damien, who was in a bad mood now.
The 7-year-old screamed, clenched his fists with agility and fierce movement that was completely inconsistent with his age, and pounded hard towards Merlin's face.
But he is just a child after all.
Although he has the same strength and speed as an adult, and has been trained by his grandfather as a war machine since he was a child, Damian's military value is indeed slightly worse when facing a secret agent who has been through many battles.
"Bang"
The fist he smashed was easily buckled into his hand by Merlin's stretched out hand.
Merlin showed a hint of sarcasm on his face, and as his wrist flipped, Demian was thrown back to the spot.
Merlin patted the dust that did not exist on his body. He hooked his fingers and the black sleeve sword that Demian put aside fell into Merlin's hands under the invisible force.
He threw the Ninja Master's relics up and down. In the eyes of Demian's attempt to kill, Merlin said calmly:
"Damian, do you know what the Sword of the Sword means to the Assassin?"
Damian glared at Merlin, he did not answer.
Merlin also looked at the child in front of him, and sighed. He put the black sleeve sword into his pocket like a bottomless pit, and he said:
"Master Ninja is really like this. Such a dangerous thing is just handed over to your children as a toy. I will help you collect it first. Damian, when you deserve it, I will return it to you."
Oh, this sentence is vicious.
Merlin clearly means: boy, you are not worthy of it now!
This made it possible for the arrogant young master Damien to be cultivated as a pride of heaven since childhood. How could he tolerate the arrogant young master?
Coupled with Merlin's disrespect for his grandfather in his words, this completely ignited the last bit of calm in Demian's heart.
"Ah! Go and die!"
Damien screamed, like an angry wolf cub. He pulled out the one-handed blade placed by the fireplace as an ornament. Driven by anger, he held the blade and stabbed towards Merlin without hesitation.
Just before the sharp blade touched Merlin's body, Damian saw Merlin stretching out his fingers, and gently intertwined them, accompanied by a sound of fingers, a dazzling blue light completely swallowed Merlin and its figure.
"puff"
The next moment, when the light of the shape-shifting curse disappeared, Demian fell from the 3-meter-high sky in a free fall posture, and fell into the cold and thick snow.
He slapped the snowflakes on his body in a hurry, climbed up from the snow pit with the agile movements the warrior should have, and then held the sword vigilantly and looked around.
This is a vast white world, with heavy snow falling from the gray sky, and under his feet is cold snow several inches thick.
Demian exhaled a breath of coldness, and he felt a sense of coldness in his training suit. He shivered, turned around and saw the vague outline of Nandalbat under the cliff.
Damn Merlin teleported him to the snow-capped peak that was cold enough to freeze to death in more than ten minutes.
"Swish"
Meilin's figure also appeared in the cold snow and ice at this moment.
But compared to Demian's embarrassment, the plum forest, wearing a gray casual suit and the corners of the clothes are still gently floating in the cold wind, looks much more elegant.
He put his right hand in his pocket and his left hand hanging beside him, standing on the snow 5 meters away from Demian, leisurely like a lazy young man walking on the streets of New York.
The moment he saw Merlin appear, Damian let out another tender roar. He ran on the snow, swinging his knife, and slashed his sharp blade towards Merlin in the falling snow of the goose feathers.
"clang"
As Merlin raised his left arm, a silver blade poked out from his cuff was accurately blocked by Damien's sharp blade.
As the weapons were stumbled, Merlin waved his wrist outwards, and under the power, Demian swung twice in the air and then fell back into the snow.
Merlin placed his left hand in front of him, and the sharpness of the Holy Silver Snake shone in the snow. He looked at Damien's surprised face. In this ice and snow where only the two of them were, he whispered:
"Don't look at me knowing how to use magic, but in a sense, I'm barely considered an assassin master."
"I know that the death of Master Ninja is very painful, but the death of the legendary man should not be commemorated with mourning, you should remember it with more powerful actions. Damian, your grandfather's spirit in heaven is watching you."
"He always thought you were a natural warrior, not a cowardly child."
"so"
Chapter completed!