Adjusting his Omnioculars to maximum magnification, Tony focused on the hawk-like figure of Madam Hooch as she strode across the pitch with military precision. Her Quidditch robes billowed behind her while she carried a regulation case in one weathered hand and her personal broomstick in the other. The circling players converged on her position like planets drawn to their sun.
The Chinese team members reluctantly stowed their magnificent flying swords, replacing them with standard-issue broomsticks that looked positively mundane by comparison. Several spectators audibly groaned at the aesthetic downgrade.
Everything was ready. Madam Hooch opened the official case with ceremonial gravity. Her whistle blast pierced the stadium like a battle cry, and fourteen players mounted their broomsticks in perfect synchronization, rising to hover exactly two meters above the emerald turf.
Madam Hooch kicked open the case at her feet—two Bludgers exploded outward like cannonballs seeking targets. She opened the Golden Snitch's container, and everyone caught only a fleeting glimpse of molten gold before the legendary orb vanished into invisible flight.
The match hadn't officially begun, so players maintained their positions with disciplined patience. Madam Hooch didn't prolong the suspense—she grasped the scarlet Quaffle, mounted her broomstick with practiced ease, and ascended to referee position. Her final whistle launched the Quaffle skyward while fourteen athletes exploded into motion.
Immediately, human eyes became obsolete. Players transformed into streaking phantoms, moving at speeds that challenged visual processing. The Quaffle changed hands so rapidly that only the commentator's rapid-fire narration provided any comprehension of events.
Tony pressed his Omnioculars against his skull with enough force to leave permanent indentations, refusing to lower them for even milliseconds. "YES! THAT'S HIM! INTERCEPT! BRILLIANT EXECUTION!"
Pepper swept her enhanced binoculars across the aerial battlefield, desperately seeking visual confirmation of anything comprehensible. Tony's enthusiastic commentary provided no useful information. "WHERE IS THE BALL? WHO HAS POSSESSION? WHAT'S THE SCORE?!"
"LIU YUMEI! Our match's only female competitor has secured the Quaffle! She's approaching the goal posts! The Bludger's been deflected! PERFECT POSITIONING! SHE SHOOTS—SHE SCORES!" The commentator's voice cracked with excitement as it thundered through magical amplification.
Crimson waves erupted throughout the stadium like visual tsunamis. Even their VIP box succumbed to collective euphoria—Banner found himself pumping his fists with uncharacteristic enthusiasm.
"China leads ten-zero! The Japanese team shows no signs of discouragement! Their Beaters are launching aggressive counterattacks, but China's defensive players are proving equally formidable!" The commentary continued at breakneck pace.
The pitch remained a blur of impossible speed and aerial acrobatics. Nothing had changed visually—still only phantom streaks defying human perception.
"Wait..." Tony frowned, studying a shadowed corner of the stadium through his enhanced lenses. "What exactly is happening over there? Let me increase magnification."
After several moments of careful adjustment, Tony reached over and tugged Gemini's sleeve with growing urgency. Gemini shook him off irritably. "Stop interrupting! This is the best part!"
Tony tugged again, more insistently. Gemini lowered her Omnioculars with visible annoyance and spun toward him. "WHAT?! Why aren't you watching the match?! We're witnessing history!"
"Look at that corner section. I need your opinion—is this standard Quidditch protocol?" Tony pointed with barely contained excitement.
Gemini raised her binoculars and followed his direction. The area was partially concealed by heavy curtains—obviously a player rest zone designed for privacy. Neither aerial nor ground-level spectators should have visual access, but a single gap in the fabric provided a narrow window visible only from their specific angle.
Gemini rotated the magnification dial with methodical precision. The image expanded progressively until she could clearly observe the concealed activities.
"BLOODY HELL!" Gemini gasped, nearly dropping her Omnioculars in shock. "Those Japanese bastards are CHEATING!"
The enhanced image revealed several figures in traditional black-and-white robes seated in a perfect circle around an intricate magical formation. Specific details remained obscured, but one element was crystal clear—the Golden Snitch trapped above them, struggling frantically against invisible bonds.
Golden Snitches were highly magical creatures that remembered the first person to touch them. Magical containment using formations or similar techniques was theoretically possible, but previous teams had never attempted such methods. Western wizards' magic was too similar—magical fluctuations would be immediately detectable. But Japan's Ministry of Magic and China's Central Land Daoist Sect both belonged to the mysterious East, ancient traditions that had only recently entered international magical awareness. They definitely possessed unknown techniques for sophisticated cheating.
Gemini pressed the recording button on her Omnioculars, capturing the damning evidence, then grabbed the device and headed straight for the exit.
Seeing the service staff outside, Gemini hesitated. She couldn't determine which side these people represented—what if they were enemy agents?
"Is there anything I can assist you with?" The young woman who had guided them earlier noticed Gemini's emergence and approached immediately.
"Um... do you know Elder Sun Aihua? I believe that's correct. You're all Chinese—are you familiar with her?" Gemini asked with careful hesitation.
The young woman smiled instantly. "Of course! You know Elder Sun as well? Is there some matter I can help with? I can relay messages since Elder Sun doesn't speak English."
Gemini felt some relief. "I'm the heir of the Black family from Britain. I have urgent business requiring Elder Sun's immediate attention. Could you contact her to come to our box?"
The young woman's expression showed professional concern. "Well... if it's not critically important, perhaps we should wait until after the match? Elder Sun is with the enforcement team and cannot leave the stadium during competition."
Gemini's face creased with desperate urgency. "It IS critically important—it concerns your country and this match! I'm not Chinese, so I could simply ignore this, but I cannot tolerate such behavior. Please, you MUST bring Elder Sun immediately. Any delay will be catastrophic!"
Hearing Gemini mention national concerns, the young woman immediately adopted serious professionalism. She extracted a piece of white paper from her sleeve, folded it with casual expertise, and it transformed into a delicate paper crane. She cupped the origami bird, whispered instructions, then breathed gently upon it. The crane flapped its wings and took flight, disappearing instantly.
"Elder Sun has been notified. Miss Black, please wait momentarily. I'm Sun Xiaoxiao. Thank you for your willingness to defend our country's honor." Sun Xiaoxiao spoke with formal gravity, raising both hands above her head and executing a proper bow that startled Gemini. She smiled awkwardly. "It's nothing, really. Let's wait for Elder Sun's arrival. You share her surname—is she...?"
Sun Xiaoxiao smiled warmly. "She's my family's great-aunt, my grandfather's elder sister."
Gemini grew more puzzled. How strange was Chinese culture? Logically, why would a sect elder's relative be working as a service guide? And that Seeker—she clearly remembered that the volunteer from their arrival day was him. Reasonably speaking, Seekers were celebrity athletes—performing such mundane duties seemed completely unnecessary.
Unable to contain her curiosity, Gemini voiced her questions.
Sun Xiaoxiao smiled modestly. "In our country, although capable elders can provide some protection for younger generations, it's quite limited. Those with ability prefer not to rely on family connections. No matter how prestigious your background, ultimately your personal capability determines everything. So within our Central Land Daoist Sect, regardless of family status, achievement requires individual effort. These positions may seem tedious, but they provide invaluable learning opportunities. Don't underestimate them—we competed intensely for these assignments."
Her explanation revealed a cultural philosophy that prioritized personal merit over inherited privilege—something that impressed Gemini despite her current crisis.
Meanwhile, the match continued at impossible speeds, players streaking through three-dimensional aerial combat while hidden beneath the stadium, evidence of international cheating waited for justice.
Tony continued monitoring the concealed corner through his Omnioculars, documenting every detail of the Japanese team's magical manipulation. Soon, Elder Sun would arrive, and the real confrontation would begin.
This World Cup was about to become much more interesting than simple athletic competition.
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