Harry Potter and the Candy Factory

“I apologize, Mr. Black. You know how it is, old people always like to reminisce…”

After he finished speaking, Muller seemed to realize he had said too much. He hurriedly reached out and symbolically patted his mouth, smiling apologetically.

“It’s alright… Actually, I feel like what you said has given me a lot to think about.”

Charlie smiled faintly and shook his head. However, in his mind, he couldn't help but start to ponder, thinking about Muller's last words…

And so, even the play that had initially excited him seemed to lose its appeal.

Over the next while, Charlie rarely looked towards the stage, instead lowering his head, his gaze flickering as he pondered the possibility of some sudden inspiration.

“Dark magic, in the end, is no match for love!! A closed heart can break through its original confined prison!!!” Accompanying the leading actor's final line on stage… the performance ended.

All the actors walked out from behind the curtain, standing in an orderly row, and deeply bowed to the audience.

“Clap clap clap clap” Enthusiastic applause like thunder quickly filled the entire venue. Among the applause, Muller seemed the most excited.

His face flushed red, and he smiled like a child. He stood up, clapping his hands until they were red…

When everything ended, the actors went backstage again, and the candles floating at the top all relit, illuminating the dim hall, signaling that it was time for the audience to leave.

Charlie then returned to reality from his original thoughts. He slowly stood up and, together with Muller, walked out of the Magic Broadway hall along the path they had come, heading outside.

The door key to Magic Broadway was an old, discarded exhibition board with circus performance lettering, lying in a small alley. Whenever a show ended, wizards would file out along it, squeezing into this secluded alley, and then leave in their own different ways.

A ray of light flashed, and Charlie and Old Muller walked out of Magic Broadway and into the alley.

However, just as they came out, before they could leave, two people in trench coats standing on the side of the alley “swished” forward, blocking their path.

The leader, wearing black sunglasses, didn't look too young, about thirty or forty years old. He reached out his arm, blocking the two men's path, and then said,

“Mr. Charlie Black?”

Charlie and Old Muller exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of bewilderment in each other's eyes. ♦ ♦     ♦ ♦

When his gaze returned to the person in front of him, Charlie naturally nodded, acknowledging,

“Yes, I am Charlie Black. May I ask who you are?”

Hearing Charlie's words, the man didn't waste any time. He reached into his pocket and calmly pulled out a badge, displaying it to the two of them, while saying as he showed the information inside.

“Magical Congress of the United States of America, Auror from the Office of Serious Crime Investigation, my name is Delano Piodeau.”

After he finished speaking, another Auror with the same attire following behind him also took out a relevant document and displayed it to Charlie and Muller.

However, compared to the former, when the Auror behind him stood in front of him, Charlie vaguely had an impression—this was the girl he had met at the Blind Pig bar yesterday… If he remembered correctly, her name should be Serra.

Serra didn't know what Charlie was thinking at the moment. She looked directly at Charlie, her gaze solemn and serious, and said,

“We currently suspect that you may be involved in a serious case that violates the Magical Congress of the United States of America. Please come with us and cooperate with the investigation.”

As soon as these words came out, before Charlie could react, Muller behind him shouted out first.

“Are you kidding me!?”

Muller's brows furrowed together, no longer displaying his original joy and kindness, but a dignity that Charlie had never seen before.

He took a step forward, blocking Charlie from the two Aurors in front of him without explanation, his voice filled with anger as he continued to say to the two men,

“Mr. Black is my honored guest! He only just arrived in America yesterday! Do you know what you are doing?! I warn you, you better leave immediately, or I will send a complaint letter directly to the desk of the Director of your Serious Crime Investigation Division!”

After saying these words, as if not enough to express his feelings, Muller heavily snorted, blowing the mustache below his nose until it trembled three times.

Serra expressionlessly folded the relevant documents and put them away, seemingly not frightened by Muller's words at all.

“Rest assured, we are Aurors, and we won't wrongly accuse any good person. But… we also won't allow any criminals to escape their due punishment.”

Speaking of this, Serra paused, looking at Muller, who still had no intention of stepping aside, like a meat shield firmly blocking Charlie, and continued to say,

“Old man, please move aside, otherwise I will have to charge you with resis…”

However, this time, before she could finish her words, Delano quickly reached out and pressed her shoulder, interrupting the words she was about to say.

Subsequently, Delano quickly picked up the conversation. He reached out and took off the sunglasses he was originally wearing. Underneath the sunglasses were a pair of smiling eyes, with downturned corners and gentle eyebrows. There was no hint of deterrence.

“Mr. Muller! I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I only saw Mr. Black just now, I didn’t see you… Please forgive this child’s offense. I believe you can also see that this child is new here and doesn’t know how to speak properly…”

Serra's brows furrowed slightly. She looked at Delano beside her, wrinkling her pretty nose, seemingly expressing her dissatisfaction, but she also knew the limits, understanding that the old man in front of her most likely had some deep “relationship” with the Serious Crime Investigation Division, so she didn't continue to say anything.

“…Since he is your guest, we naturally won’t make things difficult. But after all, the mission from above has been issued, and the matter has become quite big… Now, not only our Serious Crime Investigation Division, but even the Wand Registration Department has been implicated, so some things are not something we executors can explain.”

“But rest assured, it’s just simple cooperation with the investigation. We won’t take too long. As long as we confirm that Mr. Black is not involved, we will release him immediately. I hope you can also give us some convenience, right?”

Compared to Serra, this Delano was clearly an old fox who had been around for many years. His words were gentle, preventing any anger from arising, yet every sentence was airtight, leaving no room for error…

He spoke with great sincerity, even opening his smiling eyes a little, seemingly wanting Muller to see the genuineness he was conveying.

Muller's brow remained furrowed as he pondered for a moment. Just as he was about to say something, Charlie stopped him from behind.

Charlie stepped out from behind Muller, standing beside him, and continued, “It’s nothing, just cooperating with an investigation. There’s no need to make the Aurors uncomfortable… After all, safeguarding the security of the vast American magical community is not an easy task… Although I’m not a wizard of the American magical community, I can’t make things difficult for the two of you over such a small matter, causing unnecessary trouble. What should be cooperated with will naturally be done to the best of my ability.”

These words were spoken beautifully. Even Serra, who was serious beside him, couldn't help but straighten her back, her serious face softening slightly.

If a 'favorability rating' could be displayed above her head at this moment, it would definitely be a big [+5].

“Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Black,” Delano said, visibly relieved. He put his sunglasses back on and bowed slightly to Charlie, expressing his gratitude.

After all, although this is the magical world, it still belongs to America… The people in the American magical community who are the most difficult to deal with are not Aurors like them who belong to the Magical Congress, but precisely people like Old Muller and Charlie, wealthy businessmen who control vast assets…

When facing these people, any Auror is powerless…

Just like now, if Charlie really didn't want to leave with them, could they take Charlie away?

Theoretically, they could… But after taking him away, the next day, Muller's complaint letter would definitely appear on the desks of the Director of the Serious Crime Investigation Division, or even several Council members. At that time, they would at best apologize, compensate, and have their salaries reduced, and at worst, they would be directly fired!

Would his superiors and leaders withstand the pressure to speak for him? There was absolutely no possibility… Because no one would be willing to offend those wealthy people who could stir up waves in the American magical community with just a wag of their tails for an unrelated subordinate.

“Then please come with us for a while, Mr. Black. Don’t worry, I believe things will be resolved quickly…” Having breathed a sigh of relief, Delano’s tone became even gentler.

It didn't sound like he was there to arrest a suspect… It sounded more like inviting the other party to a party or gathering.

Seeing that Charlie had already said so, Muller, who had been worried that the other party would be angry, also relaxed his expression. He nodded and said to Charlie,

“In that case… then alright. Mr. Black, please rest assured, since it's said to be an interrogation, then it will definitely be an interrogation!”

Muller looked away meaningfully, his gaze fixed directly on Delano.

“If they take any action against you other than questioning…”

The words were not finished, but the threat was undisguised.

After all, he was an old man who had lived in the American magical community for more than sixty years, and he often dealt with officials of the Magical Congress… He probably knew more about the hidden twists and turns in the Auror office than Serra, who was standing there.

Facing Muller's almost threatening gaze, Delano didn't feel embarrassed, but just smiled and nodded in response,

“Please rest assured, Mr. Muller, it really is just a normal interrogation… Moreover, in my opinion, with Mr. Black's temperament and demeanor, it's impossible to associate him with criminals… It's just a formality.”

With everything ready and no more problems, Delano turned his head again and said to Charlie,

“Then… please hand over your wand to me for safekeeping for the time being… Don’t worry, it’s only temporary, and it will be returned to you quickly after the interrogation.”

These were normal procedures, and Charlie naturally cooperated very well. He nodded, reached out and opened his coat, took out his real wand from the inside pocket of his coat, and handed it to Delano.

Charlie seemed to have anticipated the other party's arrival, so he deliberately didn't put the thing in the ring. Instead, he chose this method that all wizards would use, so as not to cause any unexpected clues.

“What a fine wand…”

Taking the wand, Delano subconsciously weighed it in his hand, feeling its texture and surface texture. The eyes under his sunglasses lit up, and he couldn't help but exclaim.

“It’s from the wand-making master, Mr. Garrick.”

Charlie's smile grew a bit. Although he also understood that the other party was mostly flattering him, he was still very happy to hear others praise his old partner.

“Is that Garrick Ollivander, one of the three great wandmakers in Europe? Indeed, it is said that his wands will choose their own masters… I didn’t quite believe it before, but now, I think I have verified the truth of these words…”

… … … … … … … …

After saying a few casual words, seeing that the atmosphere was about right, Delano carefully put the wand away, put it in his pocket, then looked around, his eyes specifically falling on Mr. Muller, and continued,

“In that case… well, Mr. Muller, shall we leave with Mr. Black first?”

Seeing that the other party didn't speak, but nodded slightly, Delano finally secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Thinking that he had finally finished dealing with this troublesome task…

Beside him, Silas Stuart reached out and grabbed Charlie's left forearm.

Immediately afterwards, accompanied by the two of them shouting “Apparate!” in unison

The light flashed suddenly, and in the next second, the three disappeared from Muller's eyes, leaving only a few falling sparks…

Muller's eyes flickered with a few gleams, he shook his head, the expression on his face returned to the initial smile, and he murmured

“Amazing… Magic is really a magical thing.”

After saying that, he sighed again from his mouth. He put his hands behind his back and walked unhurriedly alone towards the exit of the alley that was already empty.