Chapter 178

London.

On the first floor of an ordinary building, at the centre of an otherwise empty room with only a red carpet, a small platform stood, surrounded by ten wizards. Suddenly, a green flash illuminated the space, and two figures materialised: a young man in a sharp black suit, his long dark hair brushing his shoulders, with aristocratic, chiselled features, and an enigmatic figure cloaked in dark robes.

The latter emanated a gray, oppressive aura that sent chills down the spines of the observers. Immediately, all eyes focused on the pair, though most of the guards couldn't tear their gazes from the second figure, as the first man was quickly recognized.

"Mister Prince, we are honored to welcome you to the headquarters of the Steel Department. But may I ask, who is accompanying you?" A man in a leather suit approached with a friendly demeanor, distinguished by an emblem on his chest—a yellow stripe.

"My bodyguard. Is there a problem?" Severus  raised an eyebrow, his tone puzzled, before a slight frown crossed his face.

"No! No problem at all, Mister Alegria is expecting you," the man in the yellow-striped suit replied quickly, a crooked smile on his lips. "However, your bodyguard will have to wait outside when we reach the leader's office."

"Understood," Severus  nodded, his face returning to its usual indifferent expression. The man in front of him visibly relaxed, calling over a subordinate and whispering something before sending him off. "Please, follow me," he said, leading the way toward a set of double doors.

Severus  and his mysterious companion followed, taking in their surroundings with mild curiosity.

What caught Severus 's attention was the nearly flawless method of transportation they had used to arrive, a system that was surprisingly advanced given their circumstances.

Only a month ago, they had relocated to this place, and they were known for moving every few weeks to avoid detection.

"They must have skilled rune masters or perhaps just one extraordinary individual..." Before exiting the room, he discreetly cast an analysis charm on the teleportation point, impressed by its craftsmanship. Studying it might help him improve his own portal designs, particularly for moving between Gloucestershire and the Forbidden Jungle seamlessly.

Though these runes were more "malleable" and required less magic than those from his world, Severus  was intrigued by the idea of combining them. He would sacrifice some power, but in return, he'd gain the ability to use them in this world without draining his magic reserves.

Of course, such a project would take years of research, gathering materials, and many failed experiments.

For now, he was content to gather information and learn more about the rune combinations and their practical applications here.

As they navigated the narrow corridors, where members of the organization were stationed at nearly every corner, Severus  sensed a piercing gaze directed at him. If not for his enhanced core, which had multiplied his perception abilities, he might not have noticed it.

The "Dispersion" charm used by the observer fragmented the feeling, making it come from all directions, making it nearly impossible to locate the source. Still, Severus  had his suspicions—either Vitold or the leader himself was watching. The intricacy of the magic made him lean toward the latter, as the mental fortitude required for such manipulation seemed beyond Vitold's capability.

After a brief ride in an ordinary Muggle elevator, they arrived on the fifth floor, where fewer, but far more powerful wizards guarded the area. "Mister Prince has arrived to meet with Mister Vitold," their escort announced.

The two "Black Star" members guarding the elevator scrutinized both Severus  and his bodyguard, frowning as they sensed the cold, unsettling aura surrounding the latter. However, they stepped aside, having already received orders to let them pass.

The group approached a pair of large wooden double doors, engraved with the organization's insignia. Two more guards, both at the peak of the "Master" rank, stood by, silently gripping the handles to open the doors.

Inside was a modest office—aside from the desk, where a green-haired man sat, there was a cabinet of files and a painting of a woman holding an apple. Alegria's attention was immediately drawn to the robed figure. His presence unsettled Alegria, as though the magic within him recoiled, trying to escape—a feeling he had never experienced before.

The oppressive gray aura reminded him of a dark wizard from the "Diamond" department, though this bodyguard's presence felt weaker in comparison. Still, there was no mistaking it—this figure was dangerous.

"Long time no see, Mister Vitold," Severus  greeted with a smile as he entered the room. Aside from the newly added painting, little had changed since he last observed the place.

"I'm glad you found time to visit us," Vitold nodded, returning the smile. "May I ask who your companion is?"

"Don't bother asking. I don't know either," Severus  shrugged, sounding almost bored.

"My teacher asked him to watch over me. Apparently, there's a debt involved…"

Vitold waved the explanation away, not too concerned. "I see. Still, it wasn't me who invited you here, it was the leader who wanted to ask you a few questions."

Severus 's expression shifted slightly in surprise. "Why? And what questions?"

"I don't know the specifics, but I'm sure you can guess one of them."

After a moment of feigned thought, Severus  replied, "Does this have to do with that incident on Grimmauld?"

"Yes," Vitold confirmed.

"And why would he ask about that?" Severus 's eyes narrowed. "I'm not about to betray my teacher."

"No one said anything of the sort," Vitold responded calmly. "They attacked a member of our organisation, and we need to address it. We can't let it slide."

"My teacher dealt with them already," Severus  replied coolly. "And if anyone else tries, he'll finish what he started."

Vitold nodded, then glanced toward the painting. The woman's eyes in the artwork glowed red, signalling that the leader was ready. "Follow me," he said.

Rising from his chair, Vitold approached the painting and waved his wand. It slid aside to reveal a hidden passage, leading to a small room.

 In the centre stood a familiar mirror, its surface rippling slightly before the image of a man in a white mask appeared, holding a folded fan. The moment Severus  saw the leader, his eyes gleamed with a brief, knowing smile.

'Let's see where you're hiding…' he thought.

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