Alex, disguised as Thunderbird, wasn't familiar with all the current member, but if a new branch had been created, the headquarters would've definitely informed him, one of their veteran members.
"It's not a new branch," Ashwinder explained. "This guy has a special status. He won't be working overseas in the future..." He hesitated for a moment before adding, "He's a Silver Wand developed directly by Golden Snidget. That's as much as I can tell you."
"Oh? That's interesting," Alex mused, a smirk playing on his lips. "So Golden Snidget, the one usually handling internal affairs, has started recruiting people now?"
He made a few mental calculations. If this Chimaera guy really was developed by Golden Snidget and has special clearance, then he was probably someone from the German Ministry of Magic.
Based on the intel Alex had gathered so far, the candidate could be a director from the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, the Beast Regulation and Control Department, or maybe even someone from the Department of Magical Transportation.
Could it be Minister Eisenberg himself? Maybe Golden Snidget specifically recruited him?
But something didn't sit right. If the Chimaera was Eisenberg, then why would he wear the Golden Snidget's mask?
Golden Snidget had no reason to hide his identity from someone he recruited directly. And earlier, Ashwinder mentioned that several new member were being promoted. Could it be that some Ministry directors were already absorbed into the Silver Wands?
Using the Elixir of Immortality as bait would definitely be enough to tempt high-ranking officials.
Alex couldn't shake the feeling that Golden Snidget had never actually explained the true cost of the elixir to those new recruits. Once they took the medicine in front of him, wasn't it likely that Golden, who clearly understood how their transformations worked, could control them as he pleased?
The more Alex thought about it, the more convinced he became. These newly promoted Silver Wands were probably just pawns, planted by the organization to create instability in Germany, just like how the headquarters once used Azalea's sister to manipulate her. Nothing had really changed.
Even within the Silver Wand ranks, there was a clear hierarchy. At the top sat the Horned Basilisk, holding the most authority, followed by the Thunderbird and the other four elders.
Then came figures like the Ashwinder and other mid-tier operatives with short spears. There were also those with saintly origins, like the Sphinx.
But for the rest, they were more like tools than people. Disposable assets.
The club never had any qualms about using them however they saw fit. If it helped them reach their goal of establishing a country entirely under Silver Wand control, they wouldn't hesitate to use even elixirs as bait.
'But was it really worth it? Could Horned Basilisk and Golden Snidget truly believe that this kind of manipulation wouldn't eventually backfire?' Alex smirked quietly to himself. His visit to the headquarters had uncovered more than he expected.
Just then, as he was lost in thought, the Ashwinder suddenly stopped in his tracks as if receiving some kind of message. He chuckled and said, "Speak of the devil, looks like that Chimaera just arrived at the front gate."
"Why would he show up now?" Thunderbird asked, remembering what Ashwinder had mentioned earlier. "Is he here for the Level-6 authority assessment?"
"Could be," Ashwinder replied with a smirk. "Golden Snidget already passed his loyalty test, so this might be the combat assessment. He's exchanged quite a few spells with headquarters recently. I wonder how much stronger he's gotten."
With that, Ashwinder stood up and gave a quick glance toward the wine cabinet nearby. "Alright, I'm heading out. Keep an eye on the place while I'm gone, and try not to drink all the liquor."
"Maybe you should just use the teleportation circle at the entrance and toss him into some deserted wasteland," Thunderbird suggested with a twisted grin.
"That might finally satisfy that grudge you've been holding onto for years." His tone dripped with malice, clearly enjoying the thought.
Ashwinder let out a low, amused chuckle at the idea. "Heh, in a way, you might be even more ruthless than I am," he said, his body trembling slightly with excitement.
For a brief moment, it seemed like he was seriously considering Thunderbird's cruel suggestion. But he quickly pushed the thought aside.
Chimaera still had a role to play in the club's next move. If he messed that up, Golden Snidget wouldn't let him off easy.
As Ashwinder stepped out of the room, Alex closed his eyes and focused. He drew on his magical energy and spiritual awareness, stretching his senses to scan the area.
"No signs of surveillance, no detection spells… looks like we're in the clear," he murmured after a moment of concentration, visibly more relaxed.
Just then, a few small metal spiders crawled down from his pant leg, landing softly on the floor. They scurried off in different directions, disappearing into the corners of the room.
Alex stood and carefully inspected each spider, making sure they were completely hidden, both visually and magically. These weren't ordinary devices; they were top-tier surveillance tools he had crafted specifically for the Silver Wand. Each one was embedded with rare materials like refined mithril to enhance their stealth and durability.
Taking advantage of the moment, Alex fine-tuned the protective magic circle etched into the living room. With precise adjustments, he linked the spiders' enchantments directly into the circle's structure.
Now, even if a highly skilled mage scanned the area, they'd only sense the presence of the protective magic, not the hidden surveillance. It was a clever trick: the spiders had become an indistinguishable part of the room's defensive system.
However, Alex was careful not to alter the original design too much. If someone familiar with the circle's layout examined it closely, they might notice the changes.
Finally, he tucked a small transmitter into a secure spot within the room, the last step in his setup. Now everything was in place.
This small device was able to bypass the protective wards in the area, allowing everything the surveillance spider saw and heard to be transmitted successfully. The entire Silver Wand headquarters was actually hidden deep underground, and its only connection to the outside world was through a space portal.
The headquarters itself was surrounded by layers of rune formations designed to block detection and suppress any magical energy from leaking out. Fortunately, before coming here, Alex had managed to get a partial blueprint of the facility from Sphinx. Even though it wasn't the full version, it was detailed enough to let him prepare in advance and plan his move carefully.