Time flies so fast, and while busy rectifying the order of the Sulphur Port, a month passed in the blink of an eye.

As alien cities slowly recovered from the shadow of disaster and the improvement of the environment and order there, in early July 2003, Merlin finally waited for something he had been resisting.

About his promotion.

Well, it's actually a good thing.

"This is your new office, Chief Merlin, no, Director Merlin."

The bald Agent Hitville entered a huge office with a smile on his face and expressionlessly. The 6th-level Internal Affairs Agent Chief and Merlin were acquaintances. Therefore, the title of "Director" was full of congratulations and kindness.

But Merlin couldn't be happy.

He followed Hitville into his new office, pushing his glasses and saying:

"You should call me the title of Director Merlin Bar, weird, and I'm just the Deputy Director who is not involved in administrative affairs."

"No, no, no, we are good friends after get off work, but when we go to work, we still have to follow the rules and regulations of S.H.E.L.D.."

Hitville said seriously:

"In an official security organization, the distinction between superiors and subordinates is very important. Maybe it is a bit rigid, but at least I think that maintaining the necessary respect for high-level agents can make us more efficient in work and pay more attention to internal order."

He said to Merlin:

"It's like Director Fury, I never let us call him Fury."

"But I kept calling him Fury."

Merlin complained that he knew that the office's internal affairs agents generally valued these "workplace rules", so he did not correct the problem of Hitville's name. He stood in his new office and looked at the environment of the office.

To be honest, the office environment that Fury arranged for him was quite good. It is located on the top floor of the Trident Building, with excellent view and perfect lighting. The interior office facilities are all available, a comfortable sofa, a mahogany desk, several file cabinets that look quite serious, as well as an attached bathroom, and a lounge.

Probably to allow Merlin to rest in the office while working overtime.

“This place is pretty good.”

Merlin said:

"It's much better than my office in s.d.o.l.d.."

“This place has been vacant since the Trident Building was built.”

Hitville said behind Merlin:

"We are also happy to see that it finally welcomes a master. Also, Director Merlin, according to the title benefits of SHIELD, you can own a new official car and a new apartment. Director Fury has instructed you to select several special jobs from the Ministry of Internal Affairs as work assistants."

The Indian agent took out a tablet and swiped it on it while saying:

“There is also priority for business aircraft, and if necessary, you can designate a business aircraft as your private travel tool.”

"No."

Merlin leaned against his desk and said to Hitville:

"My home is very comfortable. I don't plan to move for the time being. My car is driving well, so there is no need to change the car. As for the assistant, I have a subordinate here. She will come to Trident Building this afternoon to perform her duties. Maybe I will bother you at that time, and finally it's a private jet?"

Merlin shook her head:

"Give it to people who need it more, I can't use that thing."

"Uh, OK."

Hitville also pushed his gold-rimmed glasses, he looked at Merlin, and suggested:

"If you don't want to change your car, then I suggest you send it to the Logistics Department. Our support agents will carry out a comprehensive safety transformation of your car."

"Best power system, total bulletproof function, self-defense weapon system, and a short-range flight system that has just recently entered the application stage, more comfortable seats, and more convenient built-in communications. I know, you may not be able to use these, but, there is better than not, right?"

"Yeah, okay."

Merlin took out the keys of his SUV from his pocket and threw them to Hitville, he said:

"Then I'll trouble you about this."

"OK."

The Internal Agent said to Merlin:

"I will do it, Mr. Director."

"It's the deputy director."

Merlin reminded:

"Don't call it wrong, Hitville, especially when Fury was there, I don't want him to think that I have the intention of robbing the shift."

"No, I'm not that scrupulous."

Just as Merlin finished speaking, Fury's voice rang at the door of his office. The real director leaned against Merlin's office with a hot drink. He winked at Silvet, who immediately quietly left the office.

“How does the new place feel?”

Fury took a hot drink and asked:

"Is it much better than the small underground house you used to be?"

"It's very good, so good that I feel a little disgusted."

Merlin sighed and sat on the sofa, he placed his feet on the black coffee table table in front of him, and he said to Fury:

"Has I trapped me in this exquisite bird cage, old man Pierce was finally satisfied?"

"Don't complain like that, Merlin."

Fury sat on Merlin's chair, and he turned around, as if he was helping Merlin test the performance of the office chair, he said:

"Pearce just wants you to shine in a more suitable position. He is the kind of old-school person who believes that doing good things must be rewarded, especially heroes who are willing to sacrifice for the stability of social order should get power and status that match their contributions."

"Okay, let's not talk about this."

Fury looked at Merlin's disapproval expression, and he decisively changed the topic. He put his hands on the table and said to Merlin:

"I came to you because I just finished the phone with Agent Dugan. He asked me to congratulate you on your second level 9 agent after him, and the first deputy director in charge of affairs at SHIELD, of course, I also want to tell you about your division of authority and scope of work."

"Look at me with your ears."

Merlin pulled out a cigarette and played with it on his fingertips, and he said:

"What else do you need me to do in addition to being directly responsible for s.d.o.l.d.?"

"A few shelter places, I mean the Isle Prison, the Ghost Base, and the 084 Base. There is also the 'Supernatural Affairs Big Database' currently being established, as well as the Shelter and Management Department of the Paranormal Event Contacts, which has now been in the prototype, and finally the Final Department specially prepared for heterogeneous affairs and supernatural events."

Fury said a lot of projects with knowledge, and he said to Merlin:

"It's all related to what you are good at. You can understand it. I stripped out all the departments related to the supernatural situation of SHIELD and handed them to you."

The director leaned on Merlin's chair and said slowly:

"From this Sulphur Port incident, I felt the embarrassment of being unable to start again. Merlin, especially when I watched the agents enter Sulphur Port defense and the invasion of blood, I was a little busy. This is a warning, which shows that I don't understand that world, at least not as much as I imagined."

"Professional things must be left to professionals. Now Sulphur Port has become a member of our order system, which is enough to prove your ability."

Fury took a sip of the hot drink, his one-eyed look at Merlin, and he said:

"After 11 years since joining S.H.I.E.L.D., you can already stand alone. And there are very few people who can reassure me. Merlin, you are one of them."

"This really flatters me."

Merlin put the cigarette in the corner of her mouth, and suddenly the flames jumped up ignited the cigarette. As the smoke rose, Merlin's face seemed to become blurred. He said to Fury:

"Since you trust me so much, I can't let you down. I will work hard to do it, but I have a requirement. I looked at your work schedule and I found that you spend almost two-thirds of your time attending various meetings every day. Fury, I don't want to waste time on these conversation projects, so I hope I can designate my assistant to attend these meetings on my behalf."

He said sincerely to Fury:

“I would rather do something more direct and more helpful to our organization.”

Faced with Merlin's request, Fury hesitated for a moment, then nodded:

"In addition to the Executive Meeting of the World Security Council, you can have Sharon go on your behalf. If you have to attend some meetings, I will ask Hill to notify you in advance."

"Very well, I know you're reliable, Fury."

Merlin's expression became a little relaxed, and he said to Fury:

"It just so happens that you are here, I will tell you my follow-up transactions on s.d.o.l.d., of course, I will submit a formal document to you later."

"Yeah, let's talk."

Fury looked at his watch and said:

"In 15 minutes, I have an internal security meeting to host, and time should be enough."

"I plan to adjust the internal structure of s.d.o.l.d. to let Colson take over my position, he is responsible for exploring the overall situation and managing ghost bases related to mutant affairs."

Merlin stroked the Cabai ring on his little finger and said to Fury:

“Melinda, as his assistant, is responsible for managing the affairs of the other three branches on the East Coast. As for the commanders of the three branches, I also have a candidate.”

"Agent Lincoln will be transferred to the Miami division, Agent Trip will go to Philadelphia, Agent Mike will go to Atlanta, Agent Barbie Miles will be responsible for the s.d.o.l.d. The current 10 field teams, Agent Jimmy will be responsible for the s.d.o.l.d. Logistics and Support Department."

"This is the arrangement of the commander. Of course, before these commanders perform their duties, their agent level needs to be upgraded. Colson and Melinda will be upgraded to level 7. Sharon, as my assistant, will also be upgraded to level 7, and others will be upgraded to level 5."

Merlin said in an orderly manner:

"In addition, they also need to return to the SHIELD Academy for short-term training in management and command capabilities. Next, I plan to establish a branch on the West Coast like the East Coast to include the slightly chaotic alien environment on the West Coast into our monitoring and management."

"Of course, this expansion action means that there will be a shortage of personnel in s.d.o.l.d., so in the preparation period in recent months, I will recruit a group of new agents from the Agent Academy to my department, uh, my subordinate department."

"It sounds like nothing wrong."

Fury said:

"But you have to learn to let go, Merlin, you have to trust your subordinates. For example, things like Huxin, I believe that Colson and Melinda, who were trained by you, can do it independently. You have to focus on more important things, such as the 'dressing' plan."

The director stood up and said:

"Whether it is expansion or monitoring, your own strength is the most important, especially when facing unruly aliens, it doesn't make sense to them. You understand this better than me."

"I have plans for this, too."

Merlin sent Fury to the door and he whispered:

"I plan to choose a group of people who can be reused from the prisoners in the Isle Prison and the Ghost Base."

"Your disciple, Fury, Amanda Waller, the operation commander of the Sky Eye Society, has a plan called "Suicide Squad". Although I don't agree with the way of forcibly controlling it, at this stage where manpower is urgently needed, I think maybe we can learn a little from it."

Fury's steps stopped, he looked back at Merlin, he said seriously and earnestly:

"If you feel it's necessary, you do it, but once something happens, you have to take responsibility. Merlin, I used to take the blame for you, but now you have to learn to take the blame for your subordinates. This is what a good leader must do."

Speaking of this, Fury patted Merlin on the shoulder with a strange expression, and he said:

"I believe you will soon be able to understand my original feelings. Haha, do your best in your new position. To be honest, when you come here, it really puts me under a lot of pressure."

"Is it because I don't have to take the blame anymore, so the pressure is much less?"

Merlin watched Fury leave with brisk steps, and he whispered, and then returned to his office.

Fury had told him that about his division of powers, Merlin had to spend some time thinking about how to carry out the next work.

"Mr. Merlin, there is a new call."

However, just as Merlin had just drawn a simple system diagram in his notebook, a communication request from Central Asia jumped out of Icarus' lens.

Merlin raised her head and connected the communication. The next moment, Gordon's eyesless face appeared in front of Merlin. The leader of the following life organization said to Merlin:

"The messengers of the Inhuman Dynasty came to Earth from Atiran."

"She is resting here, maybe you should take time to come here or send someone over."

"Well, I'll go there, the specific time will be about ten minutes later."

Merlin played with the new agent ID card in his hand. The Roman numeral 9 looked so conspicuous, and he said to Gordon:
Chapter completed!