After a brief wave of dizziness from the space transfer, the two finally arrived at the Silver Wand headquarters. Contrary to what one might expect from a secretive organization, the place wasn't eerie or dark at all.
Instead, the first thing that stood out was a grand and dazzling hall. The walls were made of dark stone, and tall stone pillars stood proudly, all glowing with a magical, elegant shimmer.
The entire space was lit by enchanted torches known as Bryant's Torch, the Eternal Fire, which gave off a steady, unending flame, perfectly matching the mysterious yet refined style of the Silver Wand.
Looking around, the hall had a symmetrical layout with a door on each side, forming a square if viewed from above. The door behind them was the one they had just entered through, and besides that, there were three others, one directly across and two on either side. But this hall wasn't just for show.
Alex knew this space served a real purpose: it was the organization's dueling ground. While regular members didn't need to spar here, higher-ranking members used it for internal assessments, especially when applying for rare resources or aiming for a promotion.
In the Silver Wand, reward exchanges were divided into three tiers. If a member wanted to access rare spells, special potions, or rare materials, they had to pass a qualifying assessment.
Anything beyond those three tiers fell under the category of "elixirs," and being able to access them was also the standard for being promoted. So, while the space might look open and serene, the walls and floor were reinforced with powerful enchantments, ordinary spells wouldn't even scratch them.
To the left and right of the hall were two doors leading to the organization's database and material storage. When a member wanted to redeem a reward, a Ashwinder would retrieve the requested item from one of these warehouses. Normal reward redemptions didn't allow members to enter the headquarters directly, keeping things secure and secretive.
Finally, the door directly opposite the entrance led to a lounge, where members usually went to pick up or turn in missions. Sometimes, it was used for meetings as well. While the Spears were often cautious around each other, trust wasn't exactly abundant, they did gather from time to time.
In fact, the first day of every month was known as the "safe period," a time when everyone could meet without conflict. It was a rare moment of unity in an otherwise tense and competitive environment.
At the same time, the living room was connected to an area called the "Port Circle," which was used to craft Portkey. It also served as the dwelling of the Ashwinder.
According to Thunderbird himself, this creature had been stationed at headquarters year-round, with constant access to the powerful spells stored in their magical database. That meant its strength was nothing to take lightly, probably on par with most of the Silver Wands, if not stronger.
Because of this, Alex had been especially cautious when dealing with the Silver Wand organization. He'd already had to pull out all the stops just to beat Thunderbird, and now, in Germany, there were three Silver Wands present.
Even a phoenix might not be stronger than a thunderbird, so there was no room for reckless moves here. He knew he had to tread carefully.
After glancing briefly around the large hall, Alex walked straight toward the door ahead of him. His quick survey confirmed his suspicions, the hall was far too open and spacious to conceal any kind of surveillance equipment.
Installing anything out there would be useless, so he'd have to find a workaround from inside the living room. Thankfully, he'd come prepared. Before arriving, he'd managed to get his hands on part of the headquarters' blueprints from an informant known as "Sphinx."
That intel gave him some insight into the magical protections in place, and as long as he stayed alert and careful, he could sneak in some monitoring tools without drawing attention.
As for the Ashwinder, it didn't seem bothered at all when Thunderbird walked straight into the living room. It merely followed silently behind, showing no signs of aggression or suspicion.
The reception room's atmosphere was a complete contrast to the grand, low-key luxury of the outer hall. Inside, the space felt much cozier and more welcoming. The floor was covered in thick, soft carpets, and even at a glance, Alex could tell the material was no ordinary rug, it was made from several full pieces of Chimera fur. And this wasn't a small area either; the room stretched across hundreds of square meters.
The walls were covered with warm-colored wallpaper, and every piece of furniture, sofas, chairs, coffee tables, and cabinets, was wrapped in the furs of rare, magical beasts. Mounted on the walls were several full heads of magical creatures, arranged like hunting trophies, just as noble families might display their kills in grand estates.
Just from the decor alone, Alex could feel the brutal and bloody nature of the Silver Wand organization, it was a vivid display of both their immense wealth and their ruthless power.
Alex muttered to himself as he felt the soft texture of the magical animal hide beneath his feet, his eyes drifting to the mounted griffin head on the wall. One day, all of this will be mine, he thought with determination.
While a part of him was deeply moved by the sight, he quickly steeled his resolve. No, this wasn't just about claiming wealth. It was about protecting magical creatures from exploitation.
To do that, he had to completely wipe out the Silver Wand. Smugglers and criminals like them were his enemy, and he wouldn't rest until they were brought down.
Despite the storm of thoughts in his mind, Alex kept a calm exterior. He casually walked over to a sofa and took a seat, not letting his emotions slip.
The Ashwinder, noticing his arrival, couldn't resist stirring trouble again. With a smirk, he strolled over to the wine cabinet, poured himself a drink like it was second nature, and glanced at Alex, known to him as Thunderbird.
"Been a while," he said playfully, "How about a drink to catch up?"
Alex, still wearing his mask, looked at the Ashwinder through narrowed eyes. Offering him a drink while both of them were masked? Was he trying to provoke him?
But instead of snapping back, Alex just raised a hand to touch the edge of his mask and replied with a smirk, "Sure, but drinking alone's no fun. If we're drinking, let's both take off our masks."
"Whoa, whoa, hold on! I was just messing with you, no need to take it seriously!" the Ashwinder quickly said, clearly nervous as Alex made a move toward his mask.
If Alex really took his off, he'd be in a tough spot. Damn it, this guy has zero sense of humor, he cursed inwardly. Grumbling to himself, he set down the wine glass and slumped onto the sofa across from Alex, still feeling a bit sour.
"So, it's only been four months and you're back already. What's the urgency this time?" he asked, his tone still carrying that familiar playful edge, though anyone who knew him would realize that behind the teasing, he was far older and more calculating, nearly a century old under that youthful disguise.
Alex raised two fingers calmly. "Two things," he stated. "First, I need an elixir, and second, I want a set of portkeys that can take me between America and Europe."