0848 The Meeting
Haruto Lee was a dark wizard bearing the burden of at least two, no, three crimes.
He was suspected of casting a malicious curse on MACUSA staff at the Immigration Control Office upon entering New York, allowing him to evade searches which constituted illegal entry.
The Security Department was already certain that the Nundu that caused multiple Muggle deaths that night had been brought into New York by this very wizard and this was illegal smuggling of rare magical creatures, and his actions had caused a major incident with extremely serious consequences. He had also used an Unforgivable Curse to control innocent Muggles.
With these three charges combined, there was no doubt that Haruto Lee would be sentenced to death.
In Amelia's view, MACUSA should immediately arrest this heinous criminal rather than developing any deeper connection with him.
In the presence of the world-renowned legendary wizard, this dark wizard appeared particularly restless and uneasy. His fists, hidden beneath the table, were clenched tightly, and his shifty gaze constantly observed Bryan's expression and the surrounding movements, ready to Disapparate at the first sign of trouble.
"I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Watson. Please forgive my earlier rudeness—"
Haruto Lee bowed respectfully to Bryan, and despite the enormous pressure, he raised a protest,
"But now that I've shown my sincerity, could you perhaps ask this MACUSA Auror to leave?"
Amelia immediately glared furiously at Haruto Lee, while Bryan replied calmly:
"Amelia is someone I trust. I don't see any problem with her being here. Moreover, with all due respect, I don't believe you're qualified to negotiate with me as an equal."
'Someone he trusted, did this mean Bryan Watson had planted a spy within MACUSA?'
Bryan's dismissive attitude didn't upset Haruto Lee in the slightest; in fact, he considered it perfectly normal. That Bryan Watson was willing to accept his invitation was already an enormous honor for him.
Instead, Lee was more concerned about Bryan's trust in this young female Auror. If his suspicions were correct...
Lee took several breaths and temporarily lowered his guard against Amelia.
"Well then, tell me the purpose of wanting to see me—"
The dark brown coffee in his cup had lost its warmth during the wait. Bryan's fingertip produced a fleeting spark that fell into the cup, causing wispy steam to rise. He leisurely sipped his coffee and gazed indifferently at Haruto Lee.
After a few moments of silence, Haruto Lee said heavily.
"I hope to borrow your power to help me leave New York."
The anger in Amelia's eyes instantly turned ice-cold.
It was absurd that a dark wizard who had committed so many crimes would still ridiculously hope to escape legal punishment.
Bryan remained silent, his gaze bearing down on Haruto Lee with oppressive weight.
Seemingly aware of how abrupt and far-fetched his request was, Lee nervously bit his lip.
"I can solve the trouble you're currently facing, Mr. Watson. I know you came to New York to promote that alchemical device called the Learning Machine, and this matter has been blocked by Security Department's Trask Graves.
As I mentioned in my letter to you, I know exactly who those poachers of magical creatures are. If you could help the Security Department solve this major problem based on the clues I provide, I believe Graves wouldn't mind making an exception for your business!"
Amelia's eyebrows immediately shot up, her expression becoming somewhat odd, and she even felt a trace of sympathy for this dark wizard.
"Mr. Watson?"
Bryan Watson didn't show the interest Lee had expected, causing his unease to surge again. He had basically come to Bryan Watson as a last resort, but after playing his biggest card, Bryan Watson remained so indifferent.
"You've been under constant pursuit?"
Bryan tilted his head, his sharp gaze penetrating through Haruto Lee's thick coat to see his true condition.
Lee hadn't expected to conceal his situation. His eyes turned sinister as he nodded slightly.
"No wonder—"
Bryan's expression remained calm.
"I imagine those pursuing you are the same people you traded the Nundu with. To avoid pursuit, you've probably been hiding in Muggle territory, leaving you so cut off from information that you haven't even had a chance to buy a newspaper and read today's headlines.
Unfortunately, Mr. Lee, I've already reached a preliminary agreement with MACUSA. The promotion of Learning Machines is no longer an issue."
The moment he heard these words, Haruto Lee's face changed intensely. He knew that MACUSA had organized a joint review committee regarding the Learning Machine promotion application, but he believed Watson wouldn't pass the review smoothly, since Graves had already blocked this matter for so long and had shown such obvious hostility toward Bryan Watson.
In the instant these thoughts flashed through his mind, Lee realized today's action was a complete and utter mistake.
His body immediately tensed, and his wand slid from his sleeve into his hand hidden beneath the table, but—
Thud!
Before he could act, Bryan's finger struck the table heavily. Where his finger landed, a subtle, dark curse-light flashed in Haruto Lee's alarmed eyes, and immediately he found himself unable to move!
Amelia, realizing belatedly that the dark wizard was trying to escape, prepared to stand up in alarm, but was held back by Bryan beside her.
"No need to panic. He can't leave—"
Bryan said calmly.
"Are you going to turn me over to MACUSA?"
Despair appeared in Haruto Lee's eyes.
At that moment, two new customers entered the restaurant—two tall young men in crisp suits who also seemed to have reservations. They dismissed the approaching waiter and walked toward the middle-aged couple on the other side of the ship model, bowing to exchange a few words before sitting down.
Bryan glanced at this table of customers, his gaze sharpening momentarily before returning to Haruto Lee.
"I'm willing to buy my freedom with gold galleons, Mr. Watson!"
His body was immobilized but still able to speak, Haruto Lee struggled to plead.
This request was undoubtedly even more ridiculous. The renowned Bryan Watson couldn't possibly provide cover for a criminal in exchange for galleons. Moreover, his controlled workshops had just entered the American wizarding world, and Learning Machines would generate unimaginable wealth for him. How much galleons could Haruto Lee possibly offer?
After pondering for a moment, Bryan asked in a gentler tone.
"There's an organization behind you, isn't there? The danger level of a Nundu isn't something a wizard like you could handle alone, unless you're an expert of magical creatures like Mr. Newt Scamander. But I don't think that's the case—otherwise, there wouldn't have been errors during your transaction."
A flash of obvious panic appeared in Haruto Lee's rigid eyes. He hadn't expected Watson to inquire about this.
"You can choose to remain silent—"
Seeing his continued silence, Bryan clasped his hands and rested them under his chin, his piercing gaze boring into Haruto Lee's eyes.
"But I think you may not be aware that I'm quite skilled at Legilimency, and my luggage even contains some of the most potent Veritaserum crafted by potion masters, if you'd like to try it."
This was against the law.
Listening to Bryan interrogate the criminal, Amelia's lips moved, but she ultimately didn't voice this objection.
Seemingly finally realizing he was just fish on a cutting board, at the mercy of Bryan Watson's will, Haruto Lee gave up resistance.
"You're absolutely right, Mr. Watson. I do indeed belong to an organization."
Haruto Lee said dully, but as if suddenly thinking of something, he immediately added anxiously:
"But we're not those Death Eaters conducting dangerous experiments on Muggles. We only engage in magical creature smuggling."
Looking at the terrified Haruto Lee, Amelia found it rather amusing. She knew he was afraid of Bryan's ruthless methods that he might eradicate his organization just as he had eliminated those scum wizards who experimented on Muggles. But his defense was quite ridiculous. Did he think smuggling magical creatures wasn't against the law, wasn't a heinous crime?
However, this debate would have to wait. What Amelia was most concerned about now was: who exactly were the people receiving these magical creatures, what was their purpose in doing so, and where were those dangerous magical creatures that had been sold?
Amelia glanced at Bryan, hoping he would ask these questions.
"This surely wasn't your first transaction?"
But for some reason, Bryan maintained a leisurely demeanor. He pondered thoughtfully, even leisurely sipping his coffee and eating some cake before continuing his slow questioning.
"You're absolutely right—"
Haruto Lee said with a somewhat disgraced tone.
"We... we've had many transactions over the years. At first, it was just some less dangerous magical creatures, but they demanded large quantities and were always our biggest clients.
In recent years, their appetite has become more refined. They began requesting that we provide some highly dangerous, rare magical creatures.
You know, dealing with these creatures is very risky, but they have good credit and pay promptly, so we agreed to this transaction request and went to East Africa to capture that Nundu for them.
This operation cost us dearly. Several members originally responsible for this line of business all perished at the hands of the Nundu, which is why I was sent over."
Bryan pondered for a few seconds.
"Haven't you wondered what these people need so many magical creatures for?"
Crash!
A table of customers knocked over their teapot and frantically began cleaning up.
Amelia instinctively glanced at that table, her brow furrowing almost faintly.
Something felt wrong, but for the moment, she couldn't pinpoint exactly what the problem was. In her distraction, she looked around and was surprised to discover that while Bryan was conversing with this self-delivering criminal, the café had filled with quite a few more customers—nearly a third of the seats were now occupied.
The girl who had been playing piano had returned from the break room to the performance platform and begun playing a new piece. However, even with Amelia's completely amateur appreciation skills, she could tell the girl's performance was far worse than before—her fingering was chaotic, and she hit many wrong notes.
Outside the spotlessly clean, crystal-clear glass windows, the night seemed to have grown deeper. An evil wind howled, and gradually, a cold atmosphere was spreading.
"We don't know."
After a few seconds of silence, Haruto Lee said.
"We don't need to inquire about their purpose for needing magical creatures, do we, Mr. Watson? We just need them to pay the galleons on time."
This wasn't a lie.
Bryan blinked in acknowledgment.
"Of course—"
After hesitating for a few seconds, Haruto Lee continued.
"We have had our suspicions... We believe these people buy these magically powerful creatures to drink their blood."
"Drink their blood?!"
Upon hearing this, Bryan remained expressionless, but Amelia's face immediately turned horrified. She cried out uncontrollably, her mind freezing for several seconds before a lightning bolt of realization struck her thoughts.
"Are you saying the people buying these magical creatures are a group of vampires?!"
"Attack!"
Just as Haruto Lee was about to answer, sudden chaos erupted.
A cold-faced young man who had been the last to enter the café near the door suddenly shouted, and more than twenty vampires who had silently surrounded Bryan and his companions sprang into action with dozens of wands pointing directly at Haruto Lee, who was immobilized by Bryan!
The girl playing piano screamed in terror and fled. Amid the almost ear-piercing screams, the remaining vampires pointed their wands at the electric lights suspended in mid-air throughout the café.
Bang, bang, bang!
A series of glass-shattering sounds and bone-chilling Killing Curse incantations rang out simultaneously. In the café that had suddenly plunged into menacing darkness, only streaks of sickly green curse-light carrying dense death aura shot toward Haruto Lee.
This sudden change left Amelia, still shocked by the revelation that the culprits were vampires, stunned into paralysis.
Even as the curse-light approached, she hadn't had time to draw her wand. Haruto Lee, after a moment of alarm, immediately came to his senses. In his pupils, which had contracted to extremes from terror, there was only the miserable green light falling toward him like meteors.
"I thought you would have more patience."
Amid the sharp whistling sounds, Bryan's quiet sigh caused every vampire launching the attack to change color in unison.
Whoosh!
Just when both Amelia and Haruto Lee thought death was certain, a milky-white light screen enveloped the three of them, blocking the Killing Curses shooting at them from all directions at the critical moment.
Boom!
The Killing Curses that struck the light screen were instantly reflected back. The massive ship model displayed on the platform was hit by several Killing Curses and immediately burst into bright flames before collapsing thunderously.
Scattered curse-light bounced everywhere, and in mere moments, the luxurious décor of this café was destroyed into complete chaos!
"This isn't your business, Watson!"
The storm of spells struck Bryan's magical barrier like dense spring rain hitting a lake surface, creating brilliant ripples.
"Not my business?"
Bryan slowly stood up, his calm voice tinged with a hint of cold menace.
"But now I know your true nature, don't I? Besides silencing us permanently, what other good options do you have?"
Bryan was right.
Amid the sharp whistling of curse-light, no one spoke anymore. More than twenty vampires completely surrounded the three of them, determined to kill them all here.
"We... we need to—"
In just over ten seconds, cold sweat had soaked through Amelia's clothes. She stared in terror at the thin magical barrier that seemed ready to shatter at any moment, her voice becoming unprecedentedly shrill,
"Leave quickly—Apparate! We need reinforcements!"
"This place has been sealed with Anti-Apparition charms, and the space outside has been isolated as well."
Bryan shook his head and said peacefully.
Crash!
Just as Bryan finished speaking, the café's windows suddenly exploded, and another group of vampires flew into the café. Among them, one whose aura was slightly stronger than the others waved his hand and casted a blood-red curse-light that struck Bryan's magical barrier like a battering ram, causing the barrier to shake violently.
"Hmph!"
Bryan's gaze sharpened slightly. With his heavy cold snort, the invisible air was suddenly thrown into turbulent waves. Every living being in the café felt as if the air in the space had been sucked away, falling into dizziness and suffocation!
The next instant, Amelia suddenly felt a dazzling sun rising beside her, its searing aura was making her feel as if even her soul was being scorched!
Bryan suddenly raised his palm, and the vampire closest to them was instantly consumed by golden flames. In agonizing screams, it turned to ash in just one breath. The flames that consumed it didn't extinguish but transformed into a strange serpent with flaming wings under many terrified gazes.
The strange serpent, only about the length of an arm, was incredibly fast. Like a golden lightning bolt, it swept through the darkened hall and in the blink of an eye turned the first batch of attacking vampires into torches!
This scene made Haruto Lee's heart pound with fear. If he could move now, he would want to slap himself hard and ask where he had found the courage to invite Bryan Watson to meet.
Looking at the vampires he had eliminated by half, Bryan's brow furrowed slightly.
This highly efficient slaughter hadn't moved the remaining vampires at all. These attacking dark creatures seemed to have been mentally prepared to die here.
The moment Bryan's attention wandered, the golden serpent rampaging through the café immediately slowed from its lightning-fast speed. This gave the vampires, whose physical abilities far exceeded those of wizards, an opportunity.
The vampire whose aura was slightly stronger than the others let out a piercing roar, his entire body suddenly burst into blood-red flames, and then he actually threw himself at Bryan's Fiendfyre serpent!
Whoosh, whoosh!
Scorching fire-wind immediately rose, sweeping away surrounding companions and furniture with devastating force.
Bryan's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze piercing the flying smoke and dust.
The suicidal vampire had been completely destroyed, and at the same time, his Fiendfyre serpent had also vanished without a trace.
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