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"Mm, I'm a good person."
Black Boiled Egg's gaze drifted. Expression somewhat unnatural.
Even he got goosebumps saying that.
However, he didn't dwell on it. Instead asked directly: "Miss Witch, how many wizards like you exist in this world?"
Nick Fury asked his most pressing question.
"I'm not too sure. But Hogwarts alone has roughly a thousand students. Add Durmstrang in Northern Europe, Beauxbatons in France, Ilvermorny in America… Ah, so many magic schools—how could I know? This question's too hard!"
Hermione pouted. Looked a bit hurt that she couldn't answer.
Nick Fury, Natasha, and Coulson exchanged glances. All saw deep shock in each other's eyes.
Magic schools—more than one!
Hogwarts, Durmstrang, Beauxbatons, Ilvermorny—sounded like different school names.
Wait… Nick Fury suddenly realized something.
What did the witch just say? America's Ilvermorny?
America also had a magic school!
Forcibly suppressing his turbulent emotions, Nick Fury continued: "Then what about the Ministry of Magic? What's the organizational structure of wizarding society?"
Natasha frowned slightly. Nick's being too hasty. Should've built more rapport before gradually approaching these topics.
But she understood his feelings.
Previously, Nick Fury had repeatedly analyzed the two's conversation. Already had certain speculations.
After all, the information inadvertently revealed last time was too shocking.
He urgently needed to find Hermione to verify his guesses.
Only after Hermione left last time, she never appeared again. Even mobilizing all of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s resources couldn't find any trace of her.
Until today when she reappeared on surveillance. Nick immediately dispatched Coulson to pick her up.
Fortunately, Hermione wasn't particularly resistant.
"The Ministry of Magic… should be like your Muggle government departments. Maintains order in the wizarding world. Different countries call their Ministries different things. Your American Ministry is called MACUSA—the Magical Congress."
"As for organizational structure and such—I don't know. I'm just a student. Probably similar to yours though. Ask Dumbledore about this stuff! How would I know!"
Natasha suddenly said: "You said 'your America.' Hermione, aren't you American?"
Hermione was shocked. With my authentic London accent, what makes you think I'm American?
"I'm a Hogwarts student. Of course I'm English."
Hermione looked puzzled.
Natasha smiled awkwardly. These days, focus had been on the mysterious magical world and Hermione's miraculous magic. She'd really overlooked this obvious detail.
Hermione explained more basic magical world common knowledge.
Nick Fury narrowed his eye.
Pretty much as he'd guessed.
"Muggle"—wizards' term for ordinary people.
Wizards needed casting tools called "wands" to cast spells. Combined with incantations, they could use magic with various effects.
The wizarding world had existed for thousands of years. Just always hidden by magic. Undetectable by ordinary people and technological means.
This roughly explained why wizards had never been discovered all these years.
Though many things still didn't make sense—whenever asked, Hermione's answer was just "that's magic." Left Nick Fury speechless.
And when asked how to reach wizarding society, Hermione's answer was simpler.
Can't.
Under magic's influence, even if ordinary people knew the entrance's exact location—upon arrival, they'd just walk in circles.
"Since you attend Hogwarts, why do you always appear here?" Black Boiled Egg spotted the key point.
"Because the Ministry restricted my movement. Forbids me from leaving Hogwarts. But here falls under MACUSA jurisdiction, not Ministry monitoring. Dumbledore secretly gave me a backdoor. Leaving Hogwarts directly transports me to New York."
"Why?"
Nick Fury already knew—Dumbledore was Hogwarts' headmaster. But he didn't understand why the Ministry would restrict a child's movement.
Like he couldn't fathom under what circumstances S.H.I.E.L.D. would conduct 24/7 surveillance on an ordinary child and restrict their freedom.
Moreover, he remembered—when first contacting Black Widow, Hermione had asked a question.
Whether the Ministry sent them to monitor her.
He'd found it strange then. Now it seemed something secret lay behind it.
"Because…" Hermione was about to say something. Suddenly fell silent.
After a long while, said expressionlessly: "I don't want to say."
Nick Fury and the others were shocked.
This was the first time they'd seen Hermione so clearly refuse.
Sensing the oppressive atmosphere, all three were certain—though the girl before them was just a student, her status in the wizarding world was definitely significant. A big secret lay behind her.
Nick Fury thought. Decided not to press further.
Today was already a huge harvest. No need to antagonize Hermione. Plus S.H.I.E.L.D.'s priority wasn't exploring wizards' secrets—but figuring out their capabilities and threat level.
Foreshadowing planted. Hermione chuckled internally.
Only one wizard in the Marvel world—her. She could spin whatever she wanted. Plus the wizarding world was real. She wasn't afraid of holes in her story. Countless evidence could corroborate her words later.
"Actually, inviting Miss Witch today—communication was secondary. Mainly there's something we'd like your help with."
Nick Fury changed topics.
"Mm, what?"
This Hermione hadn't expected.
Nick Fury waved his hand. A large screen on the wall lit up. A photo appeared.
"This man's name is Tony Stark. Heir to Stark Industries. Two months ago, went to Afghanistan for business and suddenly disappeared. All escort personnel dead. We suspect he was kidnapped. But so far no news."
Nick Fury said: "So I'd like to ask Miss Witch for help. See if there's any way to find his location."
Hermione looked at the familiar photo on screen. Mind full of question marks.
Why would you think to ask me to help find Tony Stark?
You think I'm some intelligence organization?
Even if I know he was kidnapped by terrorists—who knows which cave he's in right now?
But next second, Hermione realized something.
I see.
This guy had a "might as well try" mentality from the start. Testing me. Even if I can't find him, no problem. If I can—not only solves the kidnapping, but makes me reveal new abilities.
Old fox Black Boiled Egg. Classic you.
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