New York.
"Darcy, where have you been?"
After a long night of drinking, Darcy woke up with a pounding headache, only to remember he had to work. Smelling of stale liquor, he yawned as he arrived at the office. The Foreign Ministry was rarely busy on weekdays, mostly handling mundane entry applications and investigating illegal magical entries. That was why Darcy had felt confident enough to skip out and help a friend.
He never expected to be mysteriously pulled aside by a colleague the moment he returned.
Darcy scratched his head, offering a sheepish smile. "What's wrong?"
"You still don't know?" Seeing his carefree attitude, his colleague's expression turned dead serious. "The people from the Circuit Court are here."
The mere mention of the Circuit Court instantly sobered Darcy up. He widened his eyes. "The Circuit Court? Have there been any wizarding crimes recently that required them to intervene?"
The Circuit Court was reserved for handling cases where wizards violated the most serious laws. Minor infractions, like unauthorized use of magic, were typically handled internally by the Ministry of Magic. But severe violations were tried by the Wizarding Supreme Court, which dispatched the Circuit Court to investigate and bring criminals to justice.
Darcy racked his brain. Recently, there hadn't been any major cases in America that warranted the Circuit Court's personal involvement.
"I don't know, but the inspector and the Aurors from Auror Headquarters are both here. It seems this isn't a small matter."
"Aurors from Auror Headquarters are here too?" Darcy gasped.
That was the Auror Headquarters, the elite of the elite, where the most powerful Aurors from around the world were gathered. High-ranking Aurors usually undertook missions to guide regional offices and handle special operations. They were the sword that protected the Wizard City itself.
To deploy them... Was this a directive from Wizard City?
The thought made Darcy even more alarmed. Could it be that some powerful dark wizard had come to America? Hadn't a dark wizard organization just been dismantled in London not long ago? He had heard the wanted list was almost cleared by that legendary Auror.
The two whispered to each other in hushed tones.
Darcy, belatedly realizing he was late for work, looked at his colleague, who was about to go change the color of the shop window display. He slapped his forehead in frustration. "I still have to work."
He rushed toward his office. In his hurry, he didn't notice the strange looks his other colleagues were giving him.
Running to the Foreign Ministry office, he was panting and sweating profusely. He deeply regretted not taking the iced coffee the house-elf had offered him earlier.
Opening the door to his office, he froze.
In his office, sitting in his chair, was Inspector Wilkertess, wearing the badge of crossed wands and a gavel. Two Aurors in large black coats turned their heads, their gazes meeting Darcy's as he barged in.
Seeing this situation, Darcy offered a sheepish smile. "Wrong room, sorry."
He took a step back, but two more Aurors appeared behind him, blocking his escape route. Darcy's unease reached its peak.
Wilkertess stood up, straightened his clothes, and took out his credentials from his pocket to show his identity. "Wizarding Circuit Court Inspector, Wilkertess Edward."
Hearing this name, Darcy's heart sank. Other colleagues from the department came out, carefully looking this way as if watching a show. Darcy never thought he would one day be the subject of gossip, much less that the gossip he had just been listening to was about himself.
He stammered, "Mr. Edward, are you sure you have the right person? I haven't done anything illegal."
He tried to explain.
Wilkertess said with a smile, "Perhaps you're just a bit forgetful." With a light wave of his wand, a report on the abnormal opening of the temporary Floo Network fell into Darcy's hands.
Seeing this report, Darcy said awkwardly, "I admit to opening the temporary Floo Network without authorization and skipping work, but that doesn't warrant arrest, does it?"
"If that were all," Wilkertess's smile didn't change as he added, "but is that all, Darcy?"
Darcy felt a sense of foreboding.
"You have violated the laws of the Magical Kingdom by bringing a Muggle into the magical world through the Floo Network."
Wilkertess walked out and stopped in front of Darcy. He wasn't much taller than Darcy, but the aura he exuded made Darcy fearful. His narrowed eyes opened, allowing Darcy to see himself reflected in those yellow pupils.
Wilkertess said, word by word, "You will be sent to the Wizarding Supreme Court on charges of treason."
The Wizarding Supreme Court.
Darcy could no longer stand firmly. His body went limp, and he collapsed. His lips trembled, unable to make a sound.
Even the onlookers couldn't help but get goosebumps upon hearing the name of the Wizarding Supreme Court. That was the symbol of the highest court for wizards.
"Darcy seemed like such an honest person. I never thought he would commit treason."
"By the Wizard King, I've worked with him for three years. I hope I don't get implicated."
"No wonder the Aurors from Auror Headquarters are here. This is a serious matter."
Some looked at Darcy with sympathy, while others couldn't help but spit. Treason. Whether in the ordinary world or the magical world, this was one of the most serious crimes.
Darcy had no chance to defend himself. The Aurors from the Auror Headquarters acted, seizing his wand and handcuffing him. The handcuffs were made of a special material that could suppress the magical power within Darcy, preventing him from using magic.
And Darcy had never imagined that helping Fury just once would cost him everything. The worst outcome he had imagined was just a warning from the Foreign Ministry. After all, this matter wasn't particularly big or small. Assisting Fury in entering the magical world essentially hadn't caused any harm to the magical world. His job at the Foreign Ministry was to deal with those who couldn't use magic.
But Darcy never thought that with the dissolution of S.H.I.E.L.D., among the many secrets revealed, there would be projects targeting wizards. The Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. was supposed to be a position that protected the world, but there were plans targeting wizards inside, and they were customized by Fury.
Such a person entering the magical world and seeing some of its secrets... this had already violated the law.
Darcy wasn't at fault; he just miscalculated Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. His previously leisurely position disappeared, and his future would very likely be spent in Azkaban. If he had another chance to do it over, he definitely wouldn't have helped Fury.
He thought he had set a trap for someone, but who would have thought he was the one who fell into a much worse trap?
Martha finally got her takeout, but it was already cold and hard. Unable to resist her hunger, Martha bit into the pizza with a pained expression, swallowing with difficulty as if eating cardboard.
"Although I'm not throwing up anymore, I don't really like eating these things."
It was strange. Martha used to love pizza the most. In this country with scarce food options, only these foods could bring her some satisfaction. But now, as she ate, she had a craving for rich, sticky foods. Ultimately, turning back into a human from a vampire not only brought changes in her abilities but also a change in her taste.
"You're not going back?"
John was still very curious why Martha didn't leave.
Martha swallowed the pizza in her mouth and quickly said, "I think I need to get used to my abilities first." Using her body's blood, all she could do for now was turn it into threads. She was afraid her ability would hurt others. This ability wasn't very stable yet. Sometimes, due to excessive force, blood would splatter uncontrollably. What happened in the afternoon was a good example.
John stroked his chin and looked at Martha. "If you want to develop your abilities, I do have a good place to recommend to you."
Miracle Children should still be short on people. Martha's ability to control her own blood could also be used in unexpected ways. Mycroft was short on personnel now and wouldn't refuse such talent. It was also natural to develop her abilities at the same time.
But after hearing this, Martha weakly raised her hand and asked, "Can't I stay by your side?"
"Stay with me?" John narrowed his eyes. "You're not a vampire anymore. There's no need to linger here."
"No," Martha said anxiously, "You said those bloods would counter your magic. My ability won't be countered. I can also protect you by your side."
"Protect me? You're really unexpectedly bold."
John laughed at her claim of protecting the Wizard King. He wasn't sure whether to say she was bold or admirable. But this suggestion wasn't without merit. Martha's ability wasn't magic but more of a superpower. The magic-inhibiting blood wouldn't be effective against it, which could be useful in certain situations.
Seeing Martha's expectant expression, John agreed. Anyway, he also wanted to see how powerful the superpower created by his own blood could be.
From the next day on, they officially began training. With Martha's addition, this manor, besides the Wizard King, rarely had such a lively atmosphere.
Staring at Martha letting out blood, John touched his heart. There was no beating there.
"A heart?"
John recalled Alexander's words, "HYDRA and wizards."
"In the Magical Kingdom, some people don't welcome my return." His right hand was covered in silver as he stared at the gems on it. "Without a heart, then let's create one."
Himalayas. An ancient city.
Wizards and Mages had one thing in common. They both believed that magic originated from this snowy place.
Within the ancient city, following the stone-paved road, an ancient castle appeared. Sitting above the clouds, it seemed like an ancient city in the sky.
Further inside, a solemn and dignified court convened a trial. Above the position of the Chief Adjudicator, there was an empty, suspended seat.
The wizards present wore red and white wizard robes, sitting in high positions, judging the evil below.
Darcy was dragged in. His legs were too weak to walk. On the circular ground in the middle, a black chair stood coldly.
Darcy sat on it. A heavy gavel fell, making his heart tremble.
"The Wizarding Supreme Judiciary, the Wizarding Court of Justice, the Wizarding Supreme Court." The Chief Adjudicator, with a serious face, spoke with a majestic voice. "The Wizengamot Jury, the twelve representatives of the Magical Kingdom's council, are confirmed to be in place. According to the Wizarding Law, the case of the wizard who committed treason is now in session."
Another gavel fell, and Darcy was drenched in sweat. Under the announcement of the inscrutable Chief Adjudicator, the trial officially began.