Chapter 154: Arc 4: Chapter 41: Call of the Wizarding World

And as Merlin successfully summons his Patronus, in a research base belonging to SHIELD in Nevada, Nick Fury, who had arrived after receiving certain news, was currently looking at the things inside the cultivation bins in front of him.

It was a cubic cultivation bin about half the size of a normal human, some special things were being kept in the higher temperature environment within the bin.

Those were some egg-like things, but they were the same size as a human head; the exterior was like cement, looking to be rather rough, on the surface of each egg were weird hooks, looking like some kind of rare fruit.

Fury looked at them attentively, something was flashing in his right eye.

Anticipation, curiosity, and wariness.

Behind Fury was a researcher wearing a white coat and gold-framed glasses, he looked to be gentle, and on the chest of his coat was a SHIELD researcher's ID card, on it was the Arabic symbol of 4.

This meant that this was a level-4 researcher, there weren't many such researchers in the newly reformed SHIELD.

"Professor Richard."

Fury strokes on the exterior of the cultivation bin with his fingers and says softly:

"Is this, what I think it is?"

"Mmm."

The researcher keeps both hands in his pockets and says in a researcher's serious tone:

"Though I have no evidence to prove the reproduction process of this creature, I'm certain that these 5 eggs in front of you are legendary dragon eggs. We extracted them from the belly of the dead Hungarian Horntail."

"Only 5?"

Fury looks back at the researcher named Richard, the latter points at the larger cultivation bins on the other side of the lab with pity, in it were several cracked eggs and some odd juvenile creatures that have yet to fully develop.

"Not just."

Richard says:

"But so far these 5 eggs are the only few that are fully intact."

"And no one knows how Horntails reproduce, we can only follow some traces we discovered as well as the physiological habits of other lizards and place those yet-to-develop eggs in a dry yet hot environment."

The professor looks down at his watch, presses his glasses, and says:

"So far it's been 12 hours since the transplant, the conditions of these dragon eggs didn't turn good, but they didn't turn bad either; this means that we've found a way, though an incomplete one."

"So, it looks like we need some help."

Fury squints his eyes and rubs his chin, moments later, he says seriously to the researcher:

"Professor Richard, it looks like you'll have to be working extra aside from researching on biological gene enhancement. This won't affect your life now right?"

"No, it won't."

The professor shakes his head and says:

"I'm quite interested in these magical creatures, and my wife also supports my work. But I cannot do this work alone, Director Fury, I'll need some assistants."

"Mmm, I'll arrange for it."

Fury nods and says:

"Not just knowledgeable and experienced, but also be good in personality and have a decorated resume, such people are hard to find, so you may have to wait for a while longer, Professor Richard."

"It's alright."

The professor says while smiling:

"As soon as possible."

As the two conversed, Fury's phone suddenly rings, the director smiles apologetically to the professor, he then walks to the side, picks up the phone, and says:

"Merlin, why are you calling at this time? Aren't you on vacation?"

On the other side of the phone, Merlin, who was tidying up his basement, replies:

"The Magical Congress just delivered me a letter, the President of the North American Wizarding World has invited us to visit the Magical Congress headquarters this afternoon to discuss their cooperation with SHIELD, surely you did not forget about this, Fury?"

"Err, no!"

Fury had truly forgotten about this, mainly because so much had happened over the past few days and it gave him quite the headache.

But Fury did not want to reveal his weakness in front of Merlin, so he says powerfully:

"I've been waiting for this meeting! I can move anytime, afternoon, right? What's the location?"

"New York, Woolworth Building."

Merlin says:

"3-pm in the afternoon, don't be late."

Fury snorts and says dissatisfiedly:

"How could I be late?"

He hangs up and quickly dials a different number, he then says to his assistant on the other side:

"Hill, send a plane to Nevada to pick me up as soon as you can, and prepare me an official suit, you prepare one for yourself too. You'll be coming with me to the Magical Congress in the afternoon as the recorder.

---

"Reparo!"

Merlin who had rolled up his sleeves was waving his wand around while casting Reparo, the glass utensils that had been shattered by the mana impact quickly transforms and returns to normal.

"Scourgify!"

He then throws some Scouring Charms on the floor, cleaning the stain marks on the ground.

Using magic for cleaning was much more efficient than cleaning manually, in a short few minutes, the originally messy basement soon becomes neat and clean, and the reformed utensils even gave off a faint sparkling shine.

Merlin crosses his arms on his waist and stands at the entrance of the warehouse, he looks at the fruit of his labor and nods with satisfaction.

"Mmm, if I stop working as an agent, I could probably become New York's King of Cleaners if I work as one."

"Caw!"

As Merlin closes the basement door, a sharp caw resounds atop his head, as crimson red mana swirled about, a bird appears on the railing of the second floor, staring at Merlin with its red eyes.

It was a raven.

This somewhat unreal raven was larger than typical ravens, it was about a meter long with a sharp yet slightly curved beak, it had fluffy feathers and a clear layer on its wedge-tail.

At first glance, it looked like a miniature eagle.

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This was the Patronus Merlin had just conjured, it was the same energy creature as Harry's stag.

Though its appearance was much worse than Harry's stag.

Okay, it could not even compare.

Merlin knows not what error there was, as the Patronus was not the same silver-blue color as Harry's stag, but was of the same crimson red color as Merlin's mana.

And due to Merlin's mana pool being larger than Harry's, the Patronus could sustain a longer period of manifestation; it was linked with Merlin's will, and Merlin could feel that the energy creature was like an extension of his spirit.

Yet it had its own will, it was faint like a newly born lifeform, like a blank piece of paper.

Merlin did not dislike this ugly Patronus, though it was not perfect, and was not as good-looking as Merlin had thought.

He extends his hand and the raven on the second floor spreads its wings, it gently swirls around the living room before landing on Merlin's arm.

Merlin reaches out and strokes its feathers, he walks forward and opens the window, letting the raven soar out into the shining sky.

It was an energy creature formed from mana, Merlin needn't worry about it causing panic amongst normal people as they couldn't see it.

He stands by the window and links his spirit with the flying raven, then, the scene of the city from above appears in Merlin's eyes, it was as if he had become that flying raven, quickly flying across the sky of the city and seeing everything in Hell's Kitchen.

Plus, it even inherited Merlin's dark senses, it had excellent vision, and could even see the faces of the pedestrians walking below from a few hundred meters in the air.

Under Merlin's manipulation, the raven spreads its wings and quickly flies across the sky, passing through Hell's Kitchen into Brooklynn,  flying past Brooklynn into Queens, and eventually, it stops outside the window of his cousin May's house; though, he could see that his cousin was changing her clothes.

Merlin abruptly closes his eyes and cancels the raven's senses.

The raven quickly dissipates from May's window and reappears on Merlin's arm.

The raven lets out a caw, Merlin reaches out and strokes its feathers, this thing's appearance not only gave him an effective way of dealing against dark creatures like Dementors, but it also gave him the ability to do long-distance recon and monitoring.

As ugly as it looks, it was quite useful.

Merlin tells his raven Patronus:

"I have to give you a name...hmm, I'll call you Victor."

"Caw"

The raven spirit Victor flaps its wings and lets out a caw, it then dissipates into glowing bits and disappears from Merlin's arm.

Merlin was in a good mood after completing the summon of his Patronus, he hums a song, returns to his lab, takes out a wooden box from his magic pocket, and places it on the table.

In that box were 5 crystal clear stones that emitted a pale glow.

They were the things left by the 5 Dementors he had defeated.

Merlin has to figure out a way to dispose of these things, as time passed, these stones would absorb what little positive emotion Merlin had and would eventually reawaken those nasty Dementors.

"How should I deal with it? Hand it over to the Magical Congress? Or sell it on the black market?"

Merlin looked at the troubling things in front of him.

The fact that Dementors could not be killed was a headache, and namely, they were prison wardens of the British Ministry of Magic and were considered 'public officials', it would draw a lot of unwanted hate if he just took it out like so.

He sets his sights on the table, on it was a black leather glove, it was what Merlin planned on using to create a long-term door key.

He looks at the glove and looks at the stones in the box.

Soon, a rudimentary idea forms in Merlin's mind.

---

3 p.m., in front of the Woolworth Building in New York City, Merlin in his causal grey suit, frameless glasses, and magic handbag which Harry had gifted him greets Fury's arrival.

The guy who always wore a coat, tactical pants, and boots, was wearing a suit with a tie; he had taken off his eye patch and replaced it with a pair of worn-out sunglasses.

Mmm, the one Merlin gifted him.

Behind Fury was Maria Hill, she wore a professional business skirt with light makeup, she held some documents in her hand and wore a pair of wine red glasses, looking like an urban beauty.

"Aren't your clothes too informal?"

Fury glances at Merlin's casual wear and tells Merlin:

"I got some clothes in the car, go get yourself changed."

"No need."

Merlin glances at the watch on his wrist and tells Fury:

"I forgot to mention this, but wizards have a different sense of style than ours, they commend clothing from the last generation yet are disdainful towards the suits of the modern era. To be real, you look odd right now, your old coat and eye patch looked much better."

"Why didn't you say so?"

Fury took off the tie on his neck with discomfort and unbuckled the first button, he glares at Merlin before heading back into the car; a few minutes later, the original Fury reappears.

Fury moves his shoulders and wrists, he looks at the building that had been built in 1913 and says to Merlin:

"Come on, how do we get in? By elevator? Or through the front door? I assume that their stronghold is located in the basement of this building?"

"No."

Merlin raises his head and looks at the white skyscraper in front of him, he takes out his wand from his waist and knocks it rhythmically on the streetlight three times.

Like how one would open the pathway at London's Leaky Cauldron.

Then, as Fury and Hill watched in surprise, with the center of this 792-inches building as the dividing point, the bricks begin to swirl about in a complex yet mysterious way, it was like a piece of delicate machinery had just been activated.

The scene was as if there were countless Rubik's cubes spinning at the same time, Fury couldn't help but close his eyes after watching for a few seconds while Hill turned her eyes aside with a pale complexion.

The American Magical Congress was hidden at the center of this building, a powerful illusion had been cast on the exterior that causes a great psychological impact on normal people, so it's wise to not look at the opening process.

A dozen seconds later, the complex transformation process finishes, and a staircase leading upwards appears at the center of the building; at the end of the staircase was a Gothic door, and on the door was a large yet realistic owl statue.

And in front of the door, Merlin's friend, the senior Auror Essinus, was already waiting for them.

Merlin extends his hand and makes a 'please' gesture to Fury, saying:

"Come in, sir."

"You and Hill may be one of the few muggles invited into the Magical Congress since 1892."

"Trust me, this is a rare honor; also, I must remind you to not be surprised by whatever you see inside."

 

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