Abstergo, the disguise of the Templars in modern society, is a group known as a pharmaceutical research company that is well-known in the industry and has a good reputation.

If it weren't for contact with Cassandra and these children who played Assassin games, Merlin would never have noticed that low-key company has such a big background.

However, according to Cassandra, when the Assassin Brotherhood was destroyed three years ago, the Templars had actually almost declined.

After all, this is no longer an era where faith is the most important. Although modern people have various thoughts, they are absolutely not stupid. Except for some madmen with extreme thinking and young people who are not well-informed and prone to impulsiveness, few people will take the initiative to leave everything behind and join an organization that needs faith support.

Even Hydra will not recruit new people from ordinary people

Times are changing, and the struggle between free will and absolute order is no longer mainstream, and it is no longer so easy for the Templars to control society.

So they chose a more extreme and indescribable way.

"They plan to launch a 'golden apple' into space."

In a hotel in Athens City, Layla said to Merlin in anger:

"The Abstergo people are all crazy people. They plan to control one-third of the world in that way and then form the 'ideal country' in their minds."

“That’s just a plan.”

Miles played with the dagger on the side, and he said:

"In the documents I stole, Abstergo's researchers are still looking for the 'golden apple'. They have not found any strange things hidden in history and can control human thinking."

"etc."

Merlin stretched out his hand and interrupted the complaints and complaints between the two guys, and he asked:

"Describe the 'golden apple' you have seen."

"What I saw was a scepter."

Layla said:

"I was a researcher in Abstergo at the time. While I was conducting research in Egypt, I accidentally activated the animus virtual device. In the memory of my ancestor Bayek, I saw a scepter."

"What I saw was a ball, golden, with weird scratches on the surface, and it looked like it was integrated."

Myers said:

“That was the ‘golden apple’ I saw in the memory of my ancestor Altaire.”

"There is also the 'shrub' in history."

Victoria, who sat aside and looked at Merlin with fear, whispered:

"That was the shroud of Jesus, and it was also one of the forms of the existence of the golden apple. The Templars crucified Jesus in the first century AD because of this golden apple. It is said that the betrayer Judas was a member of the Templars."

Merlin nodded, and on Icarus' lens, the data stream was beating. After a moment, the information of the item that matched the characteristics mentioned by these three guys appeared on Merlin's lens, and Icarus' gentle voice also sounded in Merlin's ears:

"The information on the scepter is unknown, and the shroud is currently stored in the Vatican, but it is likely to be a copy."

"In the SHIELD Base 084 warehouse, there is a golden spherical item marked 45084-13, which has the characteristics of controlling the induction of mind and spirit. It is an unknown object found and sealed from Hitler's Eagle Nest after the end of World War II, which is extremely similar to the description of the Golden Apple."

"Um."

Merlin nodded, and he looked at Miles again, and he said:

"Did you learn your skills from that machine called animus?"

"Yes!"

Myers proudly raised his head and said to Merlin:

"It was the skill I learned from my ancestors back to the memory of Altaïr, which allowed me to survive the pursuit of those soldiers in Abstergo and rescue Layla and Victoria."

“That’s just a bleeding effect.”

Victoria, who served as a physician in the trio, retorted:

"That is one of the possible sequelae of the animus virtual instrument. Such a precise instrument, every exploration of ancestor memory, is like a complex and uncontrollable operation for you and Layla's brain. You feel that you have learned something, but that is just a remnant of the memory in your mind. You do not have the body that matches your ancestor's skills. Forcibly imitating the movements of the Assassin Master will only cause you to have fractures and fractures."

"Say whatever you want."

Miles said a little dissatisfied:

“But I do feel like I’ve become stronger.”

"That's just an illusion!"

Merlin stood up and maintained the Axifer seal in his hand. These three guys were all very alert. Without using the Axifer seal, Merlin had no way to get information from them without hurting them.

"The real power comes from a strong body, keen perception, and unyielding will. I don't believe that an ordinary person can make himself stronger by wearing a virtual instrument. It is based on the power of false facts. It will easily kill you."

"So for the next few months, I ban you from using animus virtual instruments until your body and will reach the level of a warrior should be, and we will start the second stage of training."

"Okay, mentor!"

Under the influence of Axifen, the three of them nodded in unison and obediently handed over their own animus virtual instrument to Merlin.

"Hold this!"

Merlin handed over his VIP card from his mainland hotel to Layla, he said:

"Tomorrow morning, you three will go to the mainland hotel in Athens, and someone will arrange for you to enter the training camp. If you really have talent, then I am looking forward to seeing you fade away from your cowardice and ordinaryness."

Merlin pulled the brim of his hood, and his figure dissipated in the smoke, he said:

"My disciples, I will help you erase the traces. I don't need to worry about Abstergo's pursuit anymore, but I will not help you eliminate them. That is your own mission. See you in five months."

"Swish"

After Merlin disappeared, the effect of the Axifer seal applied to the three people disappeared, and Layla and Miles woke up first. They looked at the VIP card of the mainland hotel in front of them, and the memories just now remained in their minds.

"Are we insulted?"

Myers asked in a serious tone:

"Why do we trust that stranger so much? He didn't even tell us his name, and Animus, we just gave it to him."

"Maybe it's because he deserves to believe."

Layla said with some uncertainty:

"Maybe he was really an assassin master who escaped Abstergo's strangle and found us, and he was helping us. Anyway, he gave us a safe hiding point and we'll be gone early tomorrow morning!"

"But why do I have to follow you two to train?"

Victoria, who was curled up beside the bed, said in a complicated tone:

"I'm just a doctor, I don't have an ancestor of a legendary assassin."

"You'll become a well-trained doctor, Victoria."

Leila comforted her friend, and she frivolously stretched out her fingers to lift Victoria's chin, she said:

"Don't be afraid, we will take care of you."

—

After leaving the hotel, Merlin followed the address given to him by Ms. Casandra and headed towards an inconspicuous hill outside Athens. Icarus called Talia, and soon the phone was connected.

"Talia, have you slept?"

Merlin said:

"I have something to ask you for help."

"I was on a plane from New York to Gotham, and the damn Bruce didn't allow my Damian to come to see me, so I had to go see him."

Talia's tone was filled with a strong dissatisfaction, she said:

"Maybe I should have obtained custody of Demian at the beginning, Merlin, what else do you have to call me in person?"

"There are three young people who will hold my ID card tomorrow morning and register at the mainland hotel in Athens. I need you to put them in the best training camp of the Assassin League."

Merlin said:

"Train them into real warriors at the shortest speed!"

"OK."

Talia didn't even ask about the identities of the three people, she simply replied:

"South Darbat Training Camp is 4-6 months, but if they unfortunately die there, don't blame me."

"If they die, it proves that the master's bloodline is nothing more than that."

Merlin said casually:

"And, there is a group of people chasing them."

“I will do it.”

Talia said:

"Don't worry, my VIP client, Mr. Merlin."

"Well, I won't disturb your trip, Talia."

Merlin said:

"Stay early and have a good dream."
To be continued...