Chapter 329: Chocolate Bar
After spending a year in the United States, Phineas had not contacted anyone—neither his allies in America nor Sirius, Leah, or Hope in Europe, not even the Black family or house-elves like Puff.
Now, about to reunite with his former subordinates, Phineas felt strangely uneasy. He wasn't used to the idea of returning to familiar faces after so long in isolation.
Still, he had prepared himself mentally and stepped into the bar.
It was already evening, the bar's opening time. While there wasn't the loud music or frenzied dancing typical of late-night hours, several patrons were already seated in booths, quietly sipping their drinks and chatting.
Phineas made his way swiftly to the bar and sat down.
"Hello, what would you like to drink?" asked the bartender with a friendly smile, polishing a glass in his hand.
Phineas slipped the Black family ring from his finger and placed it on the bar in full view.
"Recommend something. I'm new here."
The bartender's eyes briefly widened at the sight of the ring, but he quickly composed himself and smiled.
"Your first time? Then I suggest the Tequila Sunrise. It's not too strong, has a citrusy sweetness—quite popular."
Phineas nodded. "That'll do."
The bartender began preparing the drink: a tall glass filled with ice, 45 milliliters of tequila, chilled orange juice, and finally, a swirl of pomegranate syrup. He garnished it with an orange peel and straw before sliding it over.
As the bartender left the counter and ascended the stairs, Phineas took a sip. The familiar agave base and fresh orange flavor made him smile. It was precisely to his taste—and that was no coincidence.
Stefan had always remembered that he liked orange juice. That this specific drink had been made confirmed it.
Moments later, the bartender returned, followed by a tall man with golden-brown hair slicked back to emphasize his strong features. His piercing lake-green eyes were sharp and unforgettable.
This was Stefan Salvatore, younger brother of Damon, the head of the European branch—and someone Phineas hadn't seen in years.
"Stefan!" Phineas stood and embraced him warmly.
"Phineas! It's been too long."
"Nearly ten years," Phineas said as they pulled apart.
"The last time was in England with Damon. Lisa was still around then…"
At the mention of Lisa, both men fell silent, nostalgic expressions softening their faces.
They took a booth in the corner. Drinks and a bottle of whiskey were brought over, and they spent some time reminiscing.
Eventually, when the other patrons were no longer paying attention, Phineas leaned in.
"Stefan, anything major happen in Europe—especially the UK—while I was away?"
Stefan hesitated.
Phineas smiled knowingly. "Just tell me."
Stefan sighed. It wasn't that he wanted to hide it—just that Phineas had gone into seclusion to advance to the Legendary tier, and no one wanted to distract him.
But now, Phineas had asked.
"Nothing much in the UK, but Europe? Quite a bit."
Phineas raised an eyebrow.
"What happened? If you're hesitating like this, it must be serious—and probably tied to the Black family."
Stefan leaned in.
"The Rich family pulled out of the Council of Elders. All the German families under them followed."
Phineas blinked. So Kuzan had made his move. When Phineas had infiltrated the U.S. last year, he'd suspected as much. The Rich family had backed Kuzan, refused to turn him over, and clashed with the Council's law enforcement. Still, Phineas hadn't expected a full withdrawal.
Though the word 'withdrawal' sounded clean, it was rebellion. And the Council wouldn't tolerate rebellion.
"Didn't the Council respond?" Phineas asked.
Phineas looked at Stefan in confusion. In this situation, the council of elders would definitely take action. After all, if the Richie family really withdrew from the council of elders, it would set a very bad precedent for other families that had opinions about the council of elders.
As long as nothing happens to the Richie family and everything is safe, there will be a lot of families that will withdraw from the council of elders. For example, the Greengrass family has always been harmed by the council of elders. There are many such neutral families in the council of elders. Although in name they are given special treatment by the council of elders because of their great contributions to the council of elders, aren't their own problems caused by the council of elders?
For example, there is the blood curse of the Greengrass family. There are many similar families, some that Phineas knows about and some that he doesn't.
Stefan nodded. "They wanted to. But their attention has been focused on bringing America under control. So, when they moved against the Rich family, I contacted the Native American wizarding tribes. They've long resented the white wizards of the Council. Once they heard, they rose up—and joined forces with the Rich family."
Phineas's eyes lit up.
"So, is the matter settled?"
Stefan shook his head.
"There are still skirmishes. Native wizards are attacking the Magical Congress and the white wizarding families. And thanks to the Rich family's leadership, the Council has no easy target in Germany."
Phineas nodded thoughtfully.
"With the Rich family and native tribes causing trouble, the Council must have abandoned plans to act against the Black, Selwyn, and Lestrange families."
"Exactly," Stefan confirmed. "All their combat forces are now focused on the German-American front. There's nothing left in Britain, France, or Greece."
Phineas smiled. That meant he could return to England now, unimpeded.
Next time he attempted to become a Legend, he would need a trusted person by his side—someone strong enough to intervene if something went wrong.
If Nicolas were still alive, Phineas would have chosen him without hesitation.
Now, only Dumbledore came to mind. Though they had disagreed before, Phineas believed Dumbledore would assist if it meant protecting a former student from danger.
"Is Hogwarts on holiday yet?" Phineas asked.
Stefan shook his head. "About a month to go. Are you planning to return?"
Phineas considered it, then shook his head.
"I'll stay in the U.S. a while longer. I want to see how this conflict plays out. And… I've got a feeling the native magic here might help in my advancement. Just a hunch, but magic has always been a kind of miracle, hasn't it?"
Stefan smiled. "Exactly. I'll arrange a place for you to stay—and gather some local magic knowledge."
Phineas raised his glass. "Let me enjoy this drink first—and meet your lovely guests."
Stefan gave him a knowing look.
"Most of our customers are well-mannered, fit young women. Clean reputations, nothing scandalous."
Phineas rolled his eyes. He'd heard from Damon that Stefan had attended more than a few 'special' parties in his youth.
Indeed, the bar mostly attracted women, thanks to its strong safety measures. Unsavory men quickly learned they'd get nowhere and stopped coming. The few men present were either accompanying someone or genuinely interested in the bar's atmosphere.
With his striking looks and aristocratic air, Phineas drew more than a few glances. Several women even approached him with flirtatious intentions, but he turned them all down—gently, of course.
Stefan arranged for him to stay in a room upstairs. It wasn't an insult—Stefan and most staff lived there too. It was, after all, their headquarters. It saved rent and came with regular pay. Even wizards had to watch their finances, especially in America, where Muggle money was essential in daily life.
Their bar used a flexible payment system, assigning monthly credit balances that employees could use or exchange for either wizarding or Muggle currency.
For the next month, Phineas immersed himself in the Native American magic Stefan had found.
Apparently, Stefan and Damon had once had a close female friend descended from native wizards, and she had shared an extensive magical heritage.
Many of the spells required communion with ancestral spirits—gaining strength and knowledge from the dead. It was unlike anything Phineas had studied, and he found it profoundly powerful and intriguing.