At 221B Baker Street in London, inside the Ark Agency office on the second floor, Noah lounged casually on a sofa.
Constantine had already left with Logan, and their subordinates had gone with them.
Only Erik, Raven, and a few others remained.
Although 221B Baker Street was still considered the headquarters, ordinary members rarely came here anymore.
Those who frequented the place were usually core members of the Ark Exorcist Agency, or young wizards from Hogwarts who had joined the Mage Alliance and were gaining experience during their holidays.
Occasionally, other high-ranking Ark members would also appear.
Gradually, this place had become something of a sacred site in the minds of ordinary exorcists.
Tony was no stranger to it.
Before, he used to come here once every six months before going off to film movies.
Because of filming, he had not been here for a long time.
Tony actually liked this place.
It was simple. Even crude.
But he could genuinely relax here.
At least, that was how it felt to him.
Of course, he still did not like Erik.
In front of that guy, Tony could never hold his head up. He was completely suppressed, with no room to maneuver.
"Erik, long time no see." Noah stretched lazily. "And Raven. It's been a while. Honestly, you look much better now."
Raven-also known as Mystique-was a woman who could change into any form.
She had now fixed her appearance as that of an ordinary woman.
Noah was slightly surprised.
This appearance looked very similar to the woman he remembered named Jennifer Lawrence.
"Thank you, Lord Finnell." Raven smiled and nodded. "If you'll forgive my presumption, Charles has arrived. I was thinking of greeting him and making some tea for everyone. Would that be alright?"
"Thank you, Raven." Noah nodded, watching her leave.
Not long after, Charles entered.
With his arrival, almost all of Ark's high-ranking members were present-except for Constantine, who was still on a mission.
Noah found himself missing this feeling.
He had not held a gathering like this in at least two years.
"Everyone's here, so I'll start." Noah nodded to Charles, then looked straight at Erik. "Do you remember what I told you a few years ago?"
"A few years ago?" Erik frowned, then quickly reacted. "Is it time?"
He remembered.
Years ago, Noah had told him that in the future, during a certain year, he would find his two long-lost children.
Noah had never specified the exact year.
But Erik had never forgotten.
Although he sometimes resented Noah internally-for example, about the scripts, or various other matters-
Erik, like most mutants, felt deep gratitude toward him.
If it were not for Noah, just look at the mutants in the movies.
That would likely have been their future.
That gratitude, combined with Noah and the British Ministry of Magic helping mutants integrate into the magical world, had steadily increased Erik's trust in him.
If someone asked Erik who he trusted most, he would answer without hesitation.
Charles.
Raven.
And Noah.
"Yes," Noah said calmly. "The time has come."
He smiled and raised his hand.
A green light shimmered into existence.
Under its glow, the entire room felt strange.
As if time had slowed.
Yet also as if it had sped up.
"This is the Time Stone," Noah said, retracting the light. His tone was indifferent. "I remember telling you about the Infinity Stones."
"Of course," Erik replied immediately. "You mean... you can use it to-"
"Mhm." Noah shrugged. "See fragments of the future."
He paused.
"Your children are safe. But they're not living well. They're under HYDRA's control and are being used for experiments."
"Experiments?"
Erik's expression darkened instantly.
He had lived through that era.
He despised such things.
So-called experiments were immoral, inhumane, and illegal.
Whether they succeeded or failed, the subjects were always "disposed of" in the end.
"Yes. Experiments."
Noah noticed Erik's clenched expression.
He also noticed that Charles and Tony did not look good either.
Noah continued calmly.
"However, I think you should thank them."
"Thank them?" Erik was confused, but he did not get angry. "What do you mean?"
"HYDRA is experimenting with the Mind Stone," Noah said with a faint smile. "They're trying to see if it can activate special abilities in ordinary people."
He spread his hands.
"But they found your children. As mutants, they already have abilities. It's just that-"
"It's just that?" Tony raised an eyebrow.
"It's just that their abilities were dormant. They were ordinary until now." Noah shrugged. "The Mind Stone activated them and gave HYDRA some incorrect data. So I think..."
"Then we should prepare a grand welcome." Erik laughed. "A very grand gift."
No one present was unfamiliar with HYDRA.
Aside from differences in how much they knew, everyone shared the same conclusion.
This organization needed to be erased.
No one would object.
If necessary, they would gladly help.
Especially Charles.
Leaving aside the "secret" topics Noah had already discussed with him, just the fact that those two were Erik's children was reason enough.
And Charles was also curious about the legendary Mind Stone.
"Indeed, a grand gift," Tony said. He looked surprised-but pleased.
In simple terms, his reason for coming to Noah was to seek outside assistance.
Not because he thought he could not handle HYDRA himself.
S.H.I.E.L.D. might have been practically dismantled, but the Avengers were still active.
There was also the newly established S.W.O.R.D.
With those forces, Tony did not think HYDRA was beyond him.
Still, having someone like Noah-a mage-on their side made things much easier.
Tony's impression of Noah was still stuck at seventh or eighth rank.
Even so, that was more than enough to wipe out HYDRA.
If Tony knew that Noah could now erase an entire city, his reaction would be... memorable.
He might even hesitate to let Noah participate at all.
Who knew what would happen if Noah's magic got out of hand?
Of course, that was just Noah's thought.
In truth, the people going this time could probably all destroy a city.
None of Ark's core members were weak.
Charles went without saying.
Erik had also stepped into the seventh rank.
A seventh-rank mutant who controlled magnetism and had learned magic.
That combination was terrifying.
"When do we leave?" Erik stood up. "I'm getting impatient."
"Don't rush." Noah pointed at Tony. "They're the main force this time. If we act directly, don't you think that's a bit much?"
Erik glanced at Tony, then nodded reluctantly.
It was excessive.
They were mages. They lived within the magical world.
If they acted openly in the ordinary world, who knew what kind of mess would follow?
If innocents were hurt, Erik would end up in court.
And the mages' court was no joke.
Especially with Noah involved.
Erik had no illusions about escaping punishment.
Entering the magical world meant obeying its laws.
He was used to that.
And he did not want to end up with nowhere to stay over something trivial.
With that in mind, Erik turned to Tony, clearly displeased.
"So. When are you moving?"
"We'll notify you," Tony replied, raising an eyebrow. "Of course, if your attitude stays like this, we'll need to assess whether you're suitable for the operation. If not, we won't take you."
"Do you believe I'll tear down your new base?" Erik's voice was cold. "Don't come crying to Noah when you're homeless."
"You want to try?" Tony stood up reflexively, then immediately sat back down. "Looks like I'll have to ask Victor for help. There's a lunatic trying to demolish a house. I'm sure he'll be happy to assist."
Victor was an Archmage.
A legitimate one.
Erik curled his lip.
He knew Victor.
They had met during the New York battle.
He also knew Tony was close to him.
That fact annoyed Erik more than he cared to admit.
Offending an Archmage-especially one from Kamar-Taj-was not worth it.
"Enough." Noah rubbed his brow. "Both of you."
Tony and Erik were always like this.
It gave him a headache.
"Tony, go back and prepare with your people."
He turned to Erik.
"You prepare as well."
Noah stood up.
"We're leaving now."
"Now?" Tony and Erik exchanged a glance, then looked away at the same time.
"No problem," they said in unison.
"We're ready anytime."
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