Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, New York
In the principal's office, Luca, the headmaster of Ilvermorny, waved the wand in his hand with practiced precision.
Dots of fluorescence appeared in the air before him.
These luminous points floated gracefully, moving in response to the subtle movements of his wand.
The fluorescent lights intersected and collided with one another, apparently demonstrating some arcane principle.
Luca's face remained serious as the wand in his hand continued its intricate motions.
Hiss!
As if he had touched something forbidden, he let out a sharp intake of breath. Suddenly, a milky white flame erupted in the air.
In less than a second, all the floating light points were consumed by the flame.
Simultaneously, Principal Luca's face turned ashen. He quickly retrieved several vials of potion from his robes and drained them in rapid succession.
"Why?" he gasped after a moment, having seemingly recovered. He sighed deeply and sank back into his chair.
"What troubled times!"
"What troubled times indeed!"
The few words of emotion conveyed unwillingness, fear, and profound loneliness.
The peaceful life that had remained stable for nearly thirty years had been completely shattered in an instant.
What followed was a war whose outcome no one could predict.
What in Merlin's name did they mean by "invaders from another world"?
What had once existed only in goblin tales and imagination had somehow become reality.
The impact of this revelation continued to reverberate.
He still doubted whether the claims were true.
After all, he was familiar with Kamar-Taj and had even met Lockhart in person.
How could they possibly be connected to invaders from another world? It couldn't be a baseless accusation.
But when he considered the scale of the current mobilization, such doubts were instantly dismissed.
With His Majesty's current power, there was no need to fabricate charges.
More significantly, elite mages from every continent had been mobilized to form an association of otherworldly hunters, pursuing the alleged invaders with unprecedented resources.
Such expenditure of energy would never be wasted on a mere pretense.
The very thought gave him a splitting headache.
And it wasn't his fault.
Who could have predicted that Kamar-Taj, now labeled a dark wizard organization, had been most active in the United States?
Naturally, this hunter-killer association had gravitated toward America.
When he considered that elite wizards from across the Federation were converging on America, his toes curled involuntarily.
The future would definitely not be peaceful.
Not only was he concerned, but the governors of the Americas also suffered severe headaches.
They could tolerate one or two foreign wizards, but not groups arriving to establish permanent residence.
Destroy them quickly—this was the unspoken wish.
He had already anticipated the level of chaos that would soon engulf America.
Conflicts between wizards—especially powerful ones—could not be easily resolved.
He felt a high probability that the situation would spiral beyond his control.
As the principal of Ilvermorny, he represented one of the most powerful figures in the American wizarding world.
Naturally, he was reluctant to yield. He couldn't allow others to enter his territory and stand unchallenged above him.
Just as his headache intensified—
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A loud knocking sound came from outside the principal's office.
"Come in!" Luca called calmly.
The door opened to admit a witch wearing dark green robes.
"Principal Luca, Governor Weir, Director Draco, and the other department directors have arrived," she announced respectfully.
Luca nodded slightly, waving his hand dismissively. "Have them gather in the banquet hall. I'll join shortly."
"Understood." The witch nodded and turned to leave.
With a soft click, the office door closed securely.
A smile briefly flickered across Luca's otherwise somber expression before quickly vanishing.
Having finally ascended to the position of principal, he had become a power broker in America.
He refused to accept that after years of struggle, he might be relegated to serving as another's subordinate.
America was vast and quite distant from London.
Consequently, control from the capital was less stringent.
For many wizards, America represented a remote but free frontier.
The counterpart to such freedom was, inevitably, chaos.
Luca, who had managed to establish himself in such an environment and even rise to its pinnacle, was certainly no fool.
As principal of a prestigious magic school, he commanded numerous talented wizards and controlled substantial resources.
To a significant extent, his power rivaled that of the American Minister of Magic.
Officially, of course, the school operated under the Ministry's authority.
He walked to the mirror, examining his reflection.
Out of habit, he adjusted his sleeves and touched his wand.
The next moment—
Buzz!
With a wave of his wand, shadows flickered, and he disapparated.
Moments later, Luca materialized in a spacious, brilliantly lit banquet hall.
Present were Governor Weir of the Americas, responsible for Muggle affairs; Draco, the Director of Aurors; Kroll, Director of the Department of Magical Accidents and Disasters; Bryn, Director of the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures; and various other Ministry officials.
As the black light of his apparition faded, all eyes turned toward Principal Luca.
"Principal Luca, your energy remains impressive!"
"Haha, I appreciate the compliment. How have you been?"
"Principal, don't forget the cooperation we discussed previously."
"Don't worry, I've already made the necessary arrangements."
"Principal, I came immediately upon receiving your summons. What's the situation?"
"We'll discuss that shortly..."
When everyone saw Luca's arrival, they hurried forward to greet him, engaging in pleasantries.
None of the powers represented here were inconsequential, though their spheres of influence varied, creating numerous opportunities for mutual cooperation.
Luca, who held the highest status among them, was also their host.
He had specifically invited them; how could they not show proper respect?
As the lowest-ranking attendee, Director of the Auror Office Draco did not rush to offer flattery.
Although his superior was present, Draco felt no need to ingratiate himself. A simple greeting and blending into the gathering would suffice.
After all, when your father serves as Finance Minister for the entire Federation, a certain pride is justified.
However, recent events had somewhat elevated his enthusiasm.
Coming from a pure-blood family, Draco possessed solid etiquette and social skills.
"Director Draco, it's been quite some time," Luca said gently. "I believe we last met three months ago at the Law Enforcement Department banquet."
Luca's manner betrayed no excessive warmth.
Though Draco's position was relatively minor, his connections were formidable.
Lucius served directly under His Majesty Riddle, controlling the Federation's entire financial apparatus.
Anyone aware of this would hardly dismiss the junior Auror Director.
Throughout America, Draco enjoyed a somewhat transcendent status.
No one would deliberately obstruct him.
Of course, this didn't warrant Luca's fawning attention.
At this level, appearances must be maintained.
He was merely Lucius's son, not Lucius himself.
"Yes, unfortunately, we couldn't speak at length then," Draco replied with matching enthusiasm.
"My father specifically mentioned that I should learn from you whenever possible," he added, skillfully referencing his father.
"Indeed? Minister Lucius said that?" Luca laughed. "Then we must certainly communicate more frequently."
"I've noticed the Auror division has suffered significant losses recently and requires replenishment."
"I'll speak with Terrence about recruiting more talented individuals. After all, Aurors stand on the front lines and need only the elite."
Luca thus expressed his goodwill.
Establishing oneself in America required not only personal strength but also powerful connections.
Lucius, like Draco, operated at the center of Federal politics.
This was relationship-building.
Of course, Luca hadn't reached his position without his own influential backing.
But Lucius's assistance wasn't unwelcome.
Hearing this, Draco's face brightened with a smile.
Both men were seasoned operators; neither engaged in pointless games.
Recognizing Luca's overture, Draco expressed his gratitude: "Indeed, the Principal has been most helpful."
"The situation has grown tense recently. Aurors urgently need to recruit additional wizards."
Draco added meaningfully: "I trust the Headmaster will train more exceptional wizards, providing Aurors with superior candidates."
Training wizards required financial resources.
Exceptional wizards demanded even greater investment.
When the Finance Minister's son made such a statement, it required little imagination to understand he was offering monetary support.
Recognizing this, Luca's smile widened appreciably.
Intelligent conversation was truly refreshing.
He then approached his actual objective, asking casually: "By the way, Draco, what do you know about the Alien Hunters Association?"
"Naturally, how could news of such magnitude escape our attention?" The smile faded from Draco's face.
"I've received reports that several top Aurors are being transferred to join the Hunter-Slayer Association."
Hearing this, Luca inquired softly: "I wonder if Director Draco received an invitation?"
Luca's question visibly darkened Draco's expression.
Indeed, he had received no invitation.
Evidently, certain individuals had intervened to exclude him.
But he dared not elaborate, as the matter involved His Majesty's direct orders.
Before he could respond, Luca quickly added: "I believe the Alien Hunters Association would benefit significantly from Director Draco's guidance."
"With your familiarity with the dark wizards of Kamar-Taj..."
"You would surely excel in fulfilling His Majesty's directives."
Luca emphasized Draco's experience rather than his magical strength.
But that distinction hardly mattered.
Draco understood Luca's implied offer—not only membership in the Hunter Association but a leadership position.
This proposition...
It was almost too perfect.
The wizards recruited for the Otherworld Hunters Association would all be elite practitioners.
Magical prowess represented the non-negotiable standard.
The implications were obvious. The Hunting Association would inevitably become the core of future military power.
Simply put: whoever controlled the Hunter Association controlled Federal force.
With a father serving as Federal Finance Minister, why had Draco accepted the Auror position?
Precisely because his family had already reached the pinnacle in finance and now required force to maintain their position.
Of course, these circumstances explained why he remained merely Director of the Auror Office.
The overt and covert suppression of his advancement required no elaboration.
After all, no one appreciates an individual holding both financial power and martial authority.
Therefore, while somewhat resentful, Draco had maintained relative peace with his situation.
Now, however, Luca's words ignited the ambition smoldering deep within his heart.
He harbored no doubts regarding Luca's capacity to deliver on this promise.
In America, Luca's influence had reached its zenith.
If the hunting association operated in Europe or Asia, Luca's effectiveness might prove limited.
But here in America, Luca could fully leverage his power and connections.
In this regard, Draco remained confident.
"I must express my gratitude, Principal Luca," Draco said, his eagerness mingled with anticipation.
"We all serve His Majesty's interests. Helping His Majesty eliminate otherworldly invaders represents our highest priority," Luca replied with a diplomatic smile.
Draco returned the smile, pleased with this exchange.
Then—
"Director Draco, I understand you encountered an intruder in London recently."
"What impressions did you form regarding these intruders' capabilities?"
Luca's question caused Draco's expression to freeze.
He couldn't help recalling those traumatic memories.
"Strong... extraordinarily strong," he eventually replied, his voice heavy.
Luca listened intently.
Draco's invitation to this banquet served multiple purposes beyond courting Lucius's favor.
Most critically, Luca sought detailed information about these dark wizards and otherworldly invaders through Draco's firsthand experience.
After all, "Know your enemy and know yourself, and you need not fear the result of a hundred battles."
This wisdom applied universally.
To ascend within the Hunter Association, results would prove paramount.
"At that time, not only did these invaders appear, but His Majesty himself was present," Draco continued.
His statement immediately captured Luca's complete attention.
When discussing His Majesty Tom Riddle, even seemingly minor details carried immense significance.
"These invaders naturally proved no match for His Majesty, yet they managed to escape His Majesty's presence..."
New York
At that moment, the street presented an unusual sight. Most surrounding shops had closed.
Numerous trucks and massive construction equipment operated slowly, producing creaking sounds.
Strangely, the machines moved without human operators.
Moreover, they simply ran without performing any actual work.
The originally tall apartment building had been reduced to half its height.
It appeared to be continuously shrinking.
Had a wizard arrived and penetrated the magical veil concealing reality, they would have witnessed the truth.
The high-rise apartment had completely vanished, leaving only a vast flat space with piles of stone materials nearby.
Ian, Vera, and two others led a group of wizards, waving their wands to apply transformation spells to the surrounding environment.
They created solid ground and established a sturdy foundation.
Magic spells polished the stones and transported them to the center of the cleared area.
Various stones assembled continuously, forming walls, structures, and staircases.
With magic's assistance, what would normally require six months or even a year to build would be completed in just two or three days.