"Excellent, excellent!" Lord Fitzwilliam's voice boomed, a satisfied smile gracing his lips as the last introduction concluded. "I must say, I am genuinely impressed. To see such a distinguished, and shall we say, perceptive group gathered here tonight, speaks volumes. Your willingness to confront the truly… extraordinary is commendable." He paused, letting his gaze sweep over each face.
"We are all here because our world, as we understood it, fractured at Blackwell," he continued, his tone shifting to one of serious purpose. "The news, the authorities, they offer platitudes and convenient lies. But we, the members of the A Association," he said, giving a slight, almost imperceptible nod to Laurance, "know the truth. We witnessed… magic. And with it, the unsettling revelation that there are forces at play, hidden beneath the veneer of our civilization, that defy all known logic."
He leaned forward, his hands clasped on the polished table. "Our agenda, then, is simple, yet profound: to collectively unravel this mystery. To understand these hidden powers, these clandestine organizations, and the true nature of what transpired. With our combined resources, our unparalleled connections across finance, art, intelligence, and even... less conventional circles," he cast a knowing glance at StreetLaw, "we possess an unparalleled capacity to get to the bottom of this. To find a piece of the truth, however unsettling it may be."
As he spoke, the lights in the chamber subtly dimmed. The far wall, which had appeared solid, began to retract with a soft, mechanical hum, revealing a vast, high-definition display screen. It glowed to life, showing various fragmented footage.
"What we have here," Lord Fitzwilliam announced, gesturing to the screen, "are various angles and recordings from that chaotic night. Observe." The screen cycled through grainy security feeds, shaky phone recordings from attendees, and even some aerial shots. "We have multiple parties of interest. The so-called 'wizard,' whose spellcasting suggests ties to ancient European mystical orders. The 'knight,' whose archaic attire and immense power hint at religious or historical affiliations, perhaps even with the Vatican itself. And then, the highly coordinated, unusually effective 'Men in Black,' whose professional demeanor and advanced tactics strongly suggest state-level involvement, perhaps from the United States."
Just then, AluM7's cheerful synthesized voice cut in. "Mr. Fitzwilliam! Mr. Fitzwilliam! I apologize for interrupting, but I've found some interesting footage. May I have permission to display it?"
"Granted, AluM7," Lord Fitzwilliam replied without hesitation, as if his line was rehearsed and collaborated in advance.
Suddenly, the screen flickered, then the footage from Blackwell was replaced. The display now showed a live feed, seemingly hacked from an external surveillance network. It zoomed in, focusing on a dark alleyway near the auction house. A figure, clad in what appeared to be dark suit, was seen moving swiftly, clutching a long-cloaked object. Even on the grainy footage, the unmistakable supernatural gleam of Durandal's unique hilt was briefly visible as the figure adjusted their grip.
"Analysis confirms that is one of the 'Men in Black' agents," AluM7's voice stated, a note of triumph in its digitized tone, "and they are in possession of the primary target. Given their trajectory, there is a high probability they remain within the Greater London area."
"My men have noticed something too," StreetLaw interjected, his voice a low rumble. "Suspicious figures roaming the streets and alleyways. A lot of new faces, not from around here. And security at all major and minor entry and exit points for London has tightened considerably since yesterday. It's like the city itself is holding its breath."
Palette Princess also piped up, "Yeah, things are absolutely happening. My connection mention high-level classified meetings, unusual movement of 'special assets'. It sounds like the UK government is definitely on the move."
The room buzzed with chatter, the members exchanging theories and observations.
"So, these 'Men in Black' agents… are they working with the wizard, or the knight?" FXUnicorn_Cat asked nervously, wringing her hands. "It just feels... big. Like, too big for us."
"Perhaps they're a third party entirely," John Curator mused, stroking his chin. "Another hidden organization, equally interested in Durandal."
"Or they're all connected! A vast, global conspiracy!" Baroness von K exclaimed, clapping her hands together, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Oh, this just gets better and better!"
"Better for whom?" Bookworm_Reg whimpered, pushing his glasses up his nose. "This sounds like we're getting involved in something incredibly dangerous. Are we really sure we want to poke this bear?"
"Precisely, Reg," SkyHigh Roller stated, cutting him off. "And if this is the new global paradigm, if magic is real, then the old rules of power and wealth are about to be rewritten. My immediate analysis suggests a significant increase in investment into the military-industrial complex would be a prudent move. Someone's going to profit from this chaos."
Lord Fitzwilliam raised a hand, his voice firm, quelling the rising murmur. "Gentlemen, ladies, let us maintain a semblance of order. Your concerns are valid, Reg, but our shared experience has irrevocably altered our understanding of the world. To ignore it would be foolish, to embrace it, potentially revolutionary."
He turned back to the screen. "Our first order of business is clear: we must narrow down the search area for this agent and Durandal. AluM7, I want you to hack into every security camera feed in the direction our agent fled. Look for anything unusual, abnormal foot traffic, odd behavior, anything that deviates from the mundane."
"You got it Bossman!" AluM7 return a salute.
"StreetLaw," he continued, "continue to have your men discreetly observe the movement of these suspicious figures you've noted. Use long-distance method. Do not, under any circumstances, alert them. These individuals might possess a 'sixth sense,' or other capabilities we do not yet comprehend."
"I see what I can do." StreetLaw replied.
"Palette Princess," he turned, "maintain contact with your connections in the Ministry. Any whisper, any unusual directive from the British government regarding this incident, is crucial intelligence."
"I will try to keep you guy updated." She nodded.
He swept his gaze over the remaining members. "SkyHigh Roller, FXUnicorn_Cat, and Bookworm_Reg, see where money is flowing in and out of London's less transparent accounts, insider trading within the top brass might reveal something. John Curator and G_Hawthorne, I want you to re-analyze every frame of the auction footage. Look for symbols, hidden gestures, anything that might give us a clue about the origin of these factions, or the true nature of Durandal. The rest of you, utilize your unique skills and connection to finds clue. Every detail matters."
"If direct action is required," Cipher's voice continued, "I can provide resources. Private military contractors with… specialized training. They operate outside conventional constraints."
Lord Fitzwilliam contemplating addressed the masked figure. "Your offer of... specialized resources are noted. We may yet need them."
"I believe we've made solid progress today," Lord Fitzwilliam said as he rose from his seat. "With that, I suggest we bring our first meeting of the A Association to a close. Now then, shall we celebrate this momentous occasion with a proper feast?"