Inside Buckingham Palace, Noah and Wong followed a tour group, walking through the halls at an unhurried pace.
They had both lived in London for nearly twenty years, yet this was their first time here.
Even Noah-born in England-was visiting for the first time.
If he hadn't suddenly decided to take Wong sightseeing, they might never have stepped foot inside.
It was the royal residence.
Unfortunately, neither of them had any particular respect for royalty.
Since Merlin's era, it had become rare for sorcerers to assist those in power within the ordinary world. And now, with the current age and the emergence of magical laws, it was even less feasible.
Most sorcerers preferred a different approach.
Like Noah.
They befriended people who held real power.
Of course, not everyone was as gentle as Noah.
Some chose direct control.
Quiet, meticulous control.
If sorcerers wanted to remain hidden from the ordinary world, precautions were inevitable. Exposure happened, but cleanup mattered more. And that was where people with authority proved useful.
"Could it be that all those Approaching Science shows I watched back then came from this?" Noah walked along casually.
For now, both of them were enjoying themselves.
Then Noah stopped.
The movement didn't draw attention from anyone else, but Wong noticed immediately.
"What's wrong?" Wong asked, sipping his milk tea. "Did news come in?"
He knew Noah's recent arrangements. As the true master of the London Sanctum and acting executive of Kamar-Taj, Noah's schedule mattered.
Major incidents didn't wait.
"Yes." Noah nodded. "Wick fired the bullet."
"That means Constantine handled it."
"They moved fast."
"You're just lazy," Wong laughed. "You knew John was finishing his mission and sent him over anyway."
"I'm surprised he didn't kill someone for you."
"Probably." Noah shrugged. "Want to go to Jerusalem with me?"
"Sure." Wong shrugged back. "Since we're already out."
Why overthink it?
Noah's words gave Wong an idea he didn't bother voicing. He followed Noah as they quietly left the tour group.
In a secluded corner, Noah opened a portal.
In the next instant, they arrived inside a tent in the Jerusalem desert.
Noah scanned the area.
There were quite a few people.
Constantine stood there with a grim expression. Serene was nearby-it looked like she and Constantine had already finished their mission before responding to Noah's call.
Wick stood silently, unharmed.
The representative of the High Table lay unconscious on the ground.
And then-
Noah noticed someone else.
"...Desmond?"
He froze.
He remembered this man.
Someone who had reviewed the lives of Altaïr and Ezio could never forget him.
After dealing with Juno, Noah had returned to Kamar-Taj too quickly to speak with him. He'd assumed Desmond had retired somewhere remote, started over, disappeared.
Seeing him here made Noah sigh.
Life was strange.
Judging by his condition, Constantine had knocked him out.
And judging by the surroundings, everyone else had probably already gone to heaven-or hell.
"You know him?" Constantine tilted his head, cigarette between his lips. "His techniques are ruthless."
"They're similar to those old assassins. I spared him so I could extract what he knows."
"His skills do come from ancient assassins," Noah nodded. "I know him."
"I met him when I dealt with Juno."
"Juno?" Constantine frowned, thinking. "The Isu god?"
"Wasn't she sealed by Poseidon?"
"I read about that."
"You actually found her?"
"I didn't." Noah replied flatly. "He did."
"I just went there, dealt with her, and took some things."
"That fits your style."
Noah's face darkened.
What did that mean?
Was he saying Noah just took whatever he wanted?
Slander.
Pure slander.
Noah believed in equivalent exchange.
As for Juno-she brought it on herself.
A doomed existence leaving behind benefits was fair game.
Not taking them would've made Noah an idiot.
And he wasn't one.
"Alright." Constantine yawned. "Since your business is done, I'm leaving."
"You could've handled this yourself."
"Remember to reimburse my flight."
"And open a portal. I'm not flying back."
"Wong," Noah said, shrugging, "open a portal for him."
"By the way, what's wrong with flying? I've done it. Feels fine."
"You try going through security with lighters," Constantine snapped. "They confiscate half of them."
"Zippo customized those for me."
"Do you know how annoying that is?"
"Then why not recruit a sorcerer from Kamar-Taj?"
Constantine rolled his eyes.
After greeting Serene and Wong, he left without another word.
Recruit a Kamar-Taj sorcerer?
As if.
Anyone graduating from there either entered the Ministry of Magic or returned to Hogwarts.
They were treasures.
No one would work with him as an exorcist.
After Constantine and Serene left, only Noah and Wong remained.
Along with Wick.
And the two unconscious men.
Noah rubbed his chin.
He hadn't expected Wick to move this fast.
Still, his preparations were done.
The Ancient One had received his information. She didn't need to reenter seclusion-only time to digest it.
That was enough.
With that assurance, Noah could go meet the one hidden in Atlantis.
To be honest, he was curious whether that ancestor of assassins was male or female.
He sent a message to the Ancient One.
Then he looked at Wick.
"Well done, Mr. Wick."
"Thank you, sir." Wick responded immediately.
He didn't dare remain silent in front of Noah.
This young sorcerer clearly held a high position. Wick didn't understand how-that image clashed badly with what he thought sorcerers were supposed to look like.
Gandalf had ruined expectations.
"I promised you regarding your future," Noah said, still focused on his phone. "So don't worry."
"From now on, you have a new identity."
"And three choices."
"Three?" Wick paused. "Please explain."
"First," Noah said calmly, "my friend-former director of SHIELD, Nick Fury-is forming a new department called S.W.O.R.D."
"He needs people."
"Your abilities guarantee you a position."
"Joining an official organization?"
"It's your choice." Noah didn't look up. "Second."
"You can take over the High Table."
"Their intelligence network and assassin system are excellent."
"It doesn't align with most people's values, but it effectively governs assassins."
"That makes it necessary."
"Take over... the High Table..."
Wick swallowed.
Either option meant a clean start.
A legal identity.
Or absolute control.
Both were tempting.
"As for the third," Noah glanced at his phone, smiled faintly, and put it away.
"Disappear."
"Live as an ordinary person."
"Start over."
"I-"
"Don't rush." Noah interrupted him. "Take your time."
"When you decide, go to 221B Baker Street in London."
"Find Constantine."
"..."
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