Author's Note:
I enjoyed writing this chapter, especially the middle part; I felt a genuine sense of joy. Then, my mother ruined the moment. Anyway, I had fun writing this chapter.
It also gave me the idea for a one-shot.
XXX
Story Arc: Welcome to Hogwarts
Episode 1: A teacher for the DADA class (II)
Chapter 2: The B&L Detective Agency
Plot: Dumbledore and Zelretch have arrived at their destination, Boston, in the Blackport neighborhood. The Hogwarts Headmaster will have part of a nice list of surprises.
XXX
August 13 Boston, USA, 2030, Earth-2126
In the great city of Boston, not far from the South End area, famous for its red brick row houses and artistic atmosphere, lies the Blackport neighborhood.
The place is a mid-level neighborhood with the famous Three-Deckers and home to a number of small shops and various businesses.
But in the last decade, the Blackport neighborhood has gained some new attractions, all connected to the most famous, eccentric, and infamous individual in all of Boston, or even Massachusetts.
The most noticeable of all is a fifty-meter-tall structure made of dark stone with a huge clock face illuminated in a ghostly white, a clock tower, located in the northern part of the neighborhood.
The building is tall enough to dominate the neighborhood landscape and serve as a visual landmark, but not so huge as to appear like an out-of-place skyscraper.
XXX
In the center of the Blackport neighborhood there is a road intersection, where there is one of the most important and iconic places
To the south is a Pawn Shop, to the east is a D&D shop, to the west is an old movie theater, and to the north is the B&L Detective Agency Office.
The office is made of brown sandstone bricks, decorated with metal marine gargoyles recalling the city's maritime history.
The building is nine stories tall, being the second tallest building in the Blackport neighborhood.
Its basic shape resembles an "iron" clearly inspired by the Beaver Building or the Flatiron style, or more likely the Continental Hotel from John Wick.
Looking from below, the building becomes a veritable "blade" of bricks cutting across the intersection.
Above the front door is a sign that reads: B&L Detective Agency.
There are two very expensive cars parked in front of the office, but for different reasons.
On the left is a red muscle car, specifically a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, a 60-year-old collector's item worth $65,000.
On the right is a blue hypercar, a Bugatti La Voiture Noire X, bought for $20,000,000.
At this crossroads, Zelretch and Dumbledore materialized, right in front of the D&D shop.
"You could have given me some warning before we Disapparated." Dumbledore said, placing a hand on his forehead so that it partially covered his eyes.
The change of scenery was little more than a mild annoyance to Dumbledore, but the transition from night to day was an attack on his eyes.
"Can Great Dumbledore no longer tolerate instantaneous long-range movement?" asks Zelretch, his voice teasing.
Blinking rapidly, Dumbledore slowly adjusts to the sudden light.
"Where are we?" asks the Headmaster of Hogwarts, starting to look around.
Dumbledore immediately realizes that he is somewhere in the Muggle world, but there is something unusual that he cannot explain... perhaps the air is dirtier and drier?
"Dumbledore hasn't noticed that we're in a completely different alternate world. But he seems to be able to sense some changes." Zelretch muses, knowing the differences between Earth-1965 and Earth-2126.
(Author's Note: These will be explained at the end of the chapter.)
"Boston, in the exact center of the Blackport neighborhood." Zelretch said, obviously not mentioning that they're in another dimension.
The Wizard Marshal knows that certain information must not be said, the more people know about the existence of alternative or completely different worlds, the greater the probability of dimensional incursions, i.e. disasters of cosmic proportions.
"I'm always amazed at how you can perform an Apparition that takes us to the other side of the world," said Dumbledore, impressed by his old friend's skill.
"Traveling is my specialty," Zelretch replies modestly.
"But wouldn't it be better to have us appear somewhere less public?" said Dumbledore, not wanting to get into trouble with the American wizarding government.
Relations between the United States and the United Kingdom have not been the best in decades, and the history of Lord Voldemort and rumors of his return paint a grim picture of the British wizarding community.
"People in this neighborhood are used to seeing much stranger things than two old men in retro clothes," Zelretch said with a smile as he brushed off his cloak.
As if the world wanted to confirm the Wizard Marshal's words, three individuals emerged from the D&D store: a petite girl in a Viking costume; an effeminate boy dressed as a Maid with fake bunny ears; and a curvaceous girl with green patent leather dressed as a sea creature.
"Gentlemen, you have some excellent ancient wizard costumes." said the girl dressed as a Viking, believing that Zelretch and Dumbledore are as fanatical about fantasy as she and her friends.
"Thanks, your costumes are cute too." Zelretch said, being friendly with the trio of nerds.
The trio went their way talking to each other about catacombs, swords, maids, princesses, and mermaids.
'I think I'll have to ask Professor Charity Burbage to update her Muggle Studies syllabus,' Dumbledore thinks, having never interacted with this kind of Muggle.
"You see, if you're in the right place, people like us don't stand out." Zelretch said, knowing what he was doing.
"Where is Mr. Belmont?" asks Dumbledore, not knowing where to look for the candidate for the position of DADA Professor.
But the intuition of the old Headmaster of Hogwarts told him that the great building with the gargoyles was the right place.
Zelretch points the finger at the B&L Detective Agency.
"We're lucky, his car is parked right in front of his Agency, he's almost certainly inside." Zelretch said, knowing Belmont's love for his red car, he doesn't go anywhere without it.
'Strange car, must be a new American brand, they always want new and shiny things.' Dumbledore thinks, looking at the blue sports car.
The two elderly wizards cross the street, arriving in front of the nine-story building.
Dumbledore looks at the building and cannot help but feel that he is standing before something much larger and more imposing.
"Those gargoyles aren't meant to look dark, they're meant to come to life and attack invaders." Dumbledore said, able to understand, no, feel that the stonework of this building is magical.
"You have a keen eye, Dumbledore, but you're only looking at the surface," Zelretch said, speaking as if his old friend were a young Hogwarts student again.
"This building is a fortress in all but name, probably one of the most heavily guarded buildings on the East Coast of the United States." Zelretch said, placing a hand under his chin, carefully examining the nine-story building.
"I've reached the point where the excitement of unexpected entrances to his office no longer makes up for the effort. If he continues to improve, in fifty years I'll only be able to enter if I use my magic seriously," Zelretch mutters, seeing an improvement with each subsequent visit.
"Are you suggesting that this newly constructed building is better defended than my school?" asks Dumbledore, knowing that Zelretch can come and go from Hogwarts at will, thanks to his unparalleled talent for Apparition and Disapparation.
"It depends on your perspective, but the Belmont building's barrier is superior to Hogwarts's in preventing people from magically appearing inside." Zelretch said, confident that only a True Magic User, a Greater Deity, or someone with the equivalent power of an Archangel could successfully teleport from outside to inside that building.
"My interest in meeting this Belmont has grown," said Dumbledore, wanting to know the individual who erected such a barrier.
Before the two elderly wizards take a step towards the front door of the nine-story building, someone has come out.
A mature, distinguished man, with dark hair with distinctive gray streaks and a neat goatee.
He wears a layered blue tunic, cinched at the waist with a sash, a red cloak with a high, flamboyant collar, a golden amulet worn around his neck, which serves as a cloak brooch, yellow gloves, and black boots.
The man in the red cloak notices the presence of the two elderly wizards, descends the short staircase and stops in front of Zelretch.
"Doctor Strange," Zelretch said, greeting the older man, who is one of his close acquaintances from the past few decades.
More for work than for personal interest.
"Kaleidoscope." The man in the red cloak replies, his voice calm but serious.
"Is there a problem?" asks Doctor Strange, glancing quickly at Dumbledore, as if he were the odd one out.
"Nothing that would interest you, Strange." Zelretch said, waving his hand in pure disinterest.
"My old friend here needs someone to fill the teaching position for the Defense Against the Dark Arts subject. I suggested giving the position to Belmont and took him to meet him in person." Zelretch explains his presence at the entrance to the B&L Detective Agency.
"May I ask why you visited our mutual friend?" asks Zelretch, curious about Strange's presence.
"Last month, the Detective helped me with a small job, and only today was I able to give him proper payment for his services back then," Strange said, not wanting to discuss exactly what happened.
"Is Belmont inside or did you talk to one of his subordinates about paying him?" Zelretch asks, wanting to know what the atmosphere is like inside the Detective Agency.
"Today must be your lucky day, Kaleidoscope. The Detective is in his office and in a great mood," Strange said, as he conjured up a knuckle-duster-like trinket in his hands.
"Did Belmont finally get a son, or is his pseudo-mother-in-law, Odalia, dead?" asks Zelretch, listing two likely reasons for the detective's good mood.
"His private life is none of my business. I must return to Sanctum Sanctorum." Doctor Strange said, drawing a circle with his trinket, then disappeared in a flash.
"Who was he?" asks Dumbledore, not knowing the man in the red cloak.
"Doctor Strange, a wizard from New York City, I was a friend of his late master. I meet him every now and then to lend a hand when I can, but he often manages alone. And when he can't, he knows people who can help him." Zelretch said, looking at the front door of the nine-story building.
'There was something special about that Doctor Strange.' Dumbledore thinks, wishing he could have chatted with him a little.
Climbing the stairs, Zelretch and Dumbledore come to an elegant double-leaf front door, both doors featuring frosted glass with scriptures.
On the stained glass window to the left is written in cursive gold paint in Cloister Black font: "There is a last refuge for the desperate, for the persecuted. There is a last court of appeal for all. When life becomes too strange, too impossible, too frightening, there is always one last hope. When all else fails, there is, and always will be, us, the B&L Detective Agency."
On the right stained glass window is written in gold paint and in block letters in Cloister Black type:
XXX Stained Glass Exhibition XXX
BRUCE BEL BAHAMUT BELMONT - OCCULT DETECTIVE
Chief Investigator of the Boston Office
Standard qualifications: forensic medicine, criminology, mechanical engineering, accredited teacher, investigation, private business consulting, negotiation, expert piloting, carrying large-caliber weapons, finding missing objects and persons, security and protection, painting, writing, and crafts.
Special qualifications: Black Mage, Demologist, Forgemaster, Quicksmithing, Artificer, Alchemist, Puppeteer, Potioneer, Paranormal Investigation, Curse Breaker, Monster Hunter, Magical Swordsman, Training of apprentices with abnormal talents.
Phone number: ■■■
Email: ■■■
Blog: ■■■
Discounts: Children, Widows, Hybrids or Descendants of Special Blood, Mutants and Superheroes.
Warning: No reading of the future, no love potions, no magic healing, no spiritism, no resurrection (it's impossible) or time travel (risk of destroying the timeline).
Service denied: Gossip journalists Vampires, Skrulls, Nazis, Homophobes, Telepaths, Priests and Nuns of the Orthodox Apostolic Church.
XXX
As he finishes reading what's written on the window, Dumbledore can't help but look slightly incredulous.
"How did this man avoid being arrested by the Aurors? Isn't he in danger of ruining the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy?" asks Dumbledore, looking towards Zelretch.
"You're right, Dumbledore. It's clearly written on the door of his Agency that he's a magic user and what he's capable of. No one just believes the truth," Zelretch said, his expression amused.
There are people who simply refuse to believe in the extraordinary, even when it is right in front of them.
"Many believe Belmont is simply an eccentric genius who enjoys playing the part of Occult Detective," Zelretch said, proud that there is someone else who knows how to use his public image to his advantage.
Zelretch himself pretends to be a prankster and a bit crazy, so many people in the Mage's Association don't try to bother him with their political intrigues.
"Belmont's had its office across the street from a D&D shop for nine years, next to an old movie theater that plays horror movies, and nearby there's an antique store that sells all sorts of things," Zelretch said, pointing to the two nearby locations.
In the first store, there are about ten teenagers and young adults who are cosplaying while playing D&D and stuff like that.
Outside the cinema, there's a queue of people wearing t-shirts with pictures of movie monsters or weirder things on them.
A normal man emerged from the antique shop holding a huge South American tribal mask in his hands.
"Being an Occult Detective in this place doesn't attract attention. I wonder what the neighborhood gatherings are like?" Zelretch said, imagining a huge crowd of strange people with a minority of boring ones.
"It seems a somewhat risky course, despite the favorable surroundings," said Dumbledore, beginning to believe that American Muggles are of an entirely different breed from European Muggles.
"If a Muggle needs help, they find it here. If a Wizard or Witch needs help, they can easily find it here. Belmont has found a way to help people in both worlds, even though he gets strange looks and a fair amount of people accusing him of being a fraud," Zelretch said, endorsing the individual's unique style, which is considered Plan Z or Nuclear Option for solving problems.
"I think you're right, Zelretch. If the Ministry of Magic doesn't have a problem with him, why should I?" Dumbledore said, choosing not to shoulder the burden; he has enough responsibility already.
Happy that they both agree, Zelretch opens the door and motions for Dumbledore to enter.
XXX
The lobby is a special place, a reflection of its builder and owner.
The space is large and majestic, characterised by tall columns, decorated ceilings and a fine marble floor.
This lobby serves as the "heart" of the Agency where the elevators, reception, a bar and a kiosk converge.
The place is designed in a combination of Gothic-Industrial and Victorian Renaissance, designed to convey an idea of decadent luxury, dark Gothic and intellectual melancholy.
For a place that prohibits Vampires, this would be perfect for them.
This style is inspired by ancient European universities (Oxford, Cambridge) and Gothic libraries. It conveys authority, study, and intellectual melancholy.
The wall colors are a "nocturnal" palette: forest gray, burnt purple, smoky black and antique gold.
The goal is to make the customer feel protected by the "unique class" of the place, but aware of being in a center of power and occult knowledge.
In the center of the coffered ceiling, above the bar, hangs an enormous brass and black crystal chandelier. It's not static: its parts slowly rotate like an astronomical astrolabe.
It casts shadows on walls and paintings that resemble moving constellations or protective runes. The light it emits is warm, amber-colored, similar to that of a candle but constant.
Along the edges of the marble floor, there are thin strips of reinforced glass embedded in the ground.
They emit a dim purple glow. These lights point the way to the two elevators and the stairs. The one leading to the "broken" elevator pulses slightly, like a heartbeat.
As soon as you pass through the frosted glass double doors, you find yourself at the narrowest point of the building.
A long black carpet with gold embroidery starts from the entrance and guides the gaze towards the back of the room.
On either side of the entrance, there are two suits of armor, one that of a knight and the other that of a samurai, which stand guard like silent sentinels.
Retractable spotlights cast a cold, almost silvery light on the armor, highlighting the metal and the engravings on the swords.
As the walls widen inward, the space divides into two mirrored zones.
To the left is the bar/confectionery area, an L-shaped zinc and dark marble counter, with high stools in worn leather.
In front of the bar, beyond the stools, there are burgundy leather Chesterfield sofas and black marble tables. This is the area for those who want to drink or grab a bite to eat.
Under Parisian-style glass bells, there are warm croissants alongside a large number of snacks and sweets.
Behind the counter there is a coffee machine, a juicer, a citrus juicer, a milkshake machine and even an ice cream machine.
Next to the bottles containing everything except alcohol, kept on
a bottom-lit rack with colored vials, there are shelves with fine glass bottles containing potions and elixirs.
On the counter is a very subtle and classy neon sign: "Pick your Poison."
To the right, against the opposite wall, is a dark wood shelving unit that looks like a mix between a Times Square newsstand and a library.
This newsstand contains newspapers and magazines from all areas of interest to the priority, a section of the latest comics and manga releases, and finally, a section of books on the occult and instruction manuals for dealing with magical dangers.
In addition to books, the newsstand has a section of archaic objects such as: disposable protective amulets, lucky stones, runes engraved on worked stones, tarot decks, small statues, and cute trinkets.
In front of the newsstand are a pair of forest-grey velvet armchairs with banker's lamps, where customers browse the magazines they have purchased.
To make everything coherent, above the newsstand, there is a very subtle and classy neon sign: "Truth & Fiction".
On the wall behind the kiosk are paintings, framed in heavy baroque frames of oxidized gold.
The frames have small built-in LEDs that illuminate the hellish or space battle scenes from within, giving the impression that the flames or stars in the painting are actually moving.
Three paintings catch the eye.
A painting showing a dreamlike landscape with colors too bright to be real, a forest full of graceful fairies, surrounding a one-eyed black dragon.
A huge rectangular canvas, it shows an eerie image of a battle between two factions of creatures, a brigade of undead knights against legions of ghosts, in a modern city, perhaps Los Angeles?
A painting that seems to glow with its own light, depicting purple nebulae and a white spider-like creature sleeping among the stars.
Located approximately two-thirds of the way down the hall, where the building is now wide, is the Reception Desk.
An imposing curved counter in very dark ebony wood, with inserts in veined black marble.
The front features carved panels with subtle alchemical symbols. Behind the counter is an old-fashioned key cabinet, but instead of keys, there are amulets of all sorts.
In one corner of the reception area is a fantastic work of taxidermy, a two-headed, three-legged crow with red gems for eyes.
On the reception desk and on the bar tables are Banker-style lamps (Emeralite), but not in the common green color, but a deep amethyst glass that seems to contain a nebula.
Behind the reception, the room closes with a monumental wall, divided into three sections.
At the center is a monumental wrought iron spiral staircase that runs through all nine floors of the building.
On the left is a modern, fully functional elevator.
On the right is a broken elevator that looks run down.
While the first elevator is sleek and snappy, this one has slightly misaligned doors, a few deep scratches on the metal, and a sadly dangling yellow construction tape.
In front is a long-printed sign, stuck with now-dried tape.
The sign reads: "OUT OF SERVICE - Waiting for spare parts from 2022."
XXX
Zelretch and Dumbledore have entered the Detective Agency Building.
The Marshal Wizard is accustomed to the unique aesthetic of the building, but for Headmaster Dumbledore this is the first time he has set foot in a place with a Gothic-Industrial aesthetic.
'Modern art is something I will never understand,' thinks Dumbledore, much preferring the magical, solemn aesthetic of Hogwarts.
Before Dumbledore could finish his thought, he staggered, as if dizzy. Zelretch helped him to his feet, taking his arm.
"What just happened?" asks Dumbledore, placing a hand over his heart.
"The building's esoteric defenses—if you're not invited or don't promise to abide by the house rules, any magical being who enters here leaves some of their magical power outside the front door. It's only temporary; you'll regain it upon leaving the building, but right now you're at 20% of your magical abilities," Zelretch explains, knowing these types of defenses very well; they're quite common in this world, though their quality varies from place to place and by intent.
"Such wards have only been mentioned in the oldest Hogwarts books. Who do you wish me to meet?" asks Dumbledore, feeling a sense of surprise and interest he hasn't felt in a long time.
"A mad and eccentric genius, who traveled and met people from all over the world in search of ancient magic, modern magic, and his own path to the magic of the future." Zelretch explains, but in a way that provides only superficial information.
"My old friend, you always find a way to surprise me," said Dumbledore, knowing that Zelretch wants to do much more than just help him.
The two older men step forward and see that there are three agency employees present, all beautiful women.
Dumbledore looked with interest at the women tending the bar and kiosk, not for normal reasons, but out of academic curiosity.
Both women have snow-white skin, red eyes, white hair, share an unparalleled beauty and are almost identical.
The woman behind the bar wears a very fitted black velvet vest with brass buttons. At the back, a series of black silk laces recall a Victorian corset, but more functional.
A cream-colored silk shirt, with slightly puffed sleeves, and a collar decorated with a black velvet ribbon.
Over the dress, a half apron in treated black leather, tailored black cigarette trousers combined with Victorian-style lace-up ankle boots.
The woman manning the newsstand wears a hip-length vest in deep forest gray velvet, a smoky black silk shirt with a high collar fastened with a crescent-shaped pin, tight-fitting sleeves, and white silk gloves.
A short apron in black heavy cotton canvas, pencil skirt with a side slit that reveals opaque stockings with a thin gold stitching at the back.
A normal person would say they're beautiful twin sisters who work at the same place. But Dumbledore manages to identify their true nature.
"Homunculus, I haven't seen them since I was young. These days you can count on one hand the alchemists capable of creating them." Dumbledore said, looking at the women as if they were the last specimens of an endangered species.
"You'll have to use an extra finger next time you count. It says alchemist on the front door for a reason." Zelretch said, giving Belmont a bit of publicity.
"If I didn't need a professor for DADA, I'd ask this Belmont to come to Hogwarts to teach alchemy. It would be wonderful to see that art reappear among the younger generations." said Dumbledore, finding it sad that the art of alchemy is dying out.
Walking straight forward, Zelretch and Dumbledore arrived at the reception of the B&L Detective Agency.
Behind the counter is a beautiful 28-year-old woman, 165 centimeters tall, with an athletic body, large breasts, fair skin, long, loose blonde hair with a fringe that covers her forehead, large light green eyes, and a mole under her left eye.
She's dressed in corporate goth style: a sleek black suit, but with silver bird skull jewelry instead of buttons, and a gray cape. On her chest, she wears a gold name tag with her name on it: Esther Rosenthal.
"Welcome to the B&L Detective Agency. To proceed, I need to know: are you looking for an investigator to solve the mysteries beneath the Boston sunshine? Or are you Night Walkers, hidden behind cloaks and masks who require a blade, a spell, or silence?" Esther asks, trying to figure out if she's dealing with ordinary people or special ones.
Normal people think Esther is just acting out a script to maintain the Agency atmosphere, while gifted people get the message.
"Esther, I'm Zelretch, we've known each other for years." Said the Wizard Marshal, finding it strange to receive this kind of prepared greeting.
"Rules are rules, and I am no exception, Lord Zelretch. You have brought a new face, and it will be treated according to the Protocol established by my Master," Esther said, respecting the Agency's rules.
"We are magical." Zelretch said, making a small fireball appear in his hand, then vanish.
Dumbledore realizes he has a little demonstration to do. He pulls out his wand and casts a simple levitating spell on the strange stuffed raven.
"Thank you so much for your confirmation. The Agency will provide you with the services and treatment appropriate for those who are part of Moonlit World." Esther said politely, appreciating the direct demonstration of their magical abilities.
'Moonlit World' is an interesting, almost poetic way of referring to the wizarding community.' Dumbledore thinks, finding the word appealing.
Esther takes two objects out of the balcony.
The first is a kind of high-tech tablet and a special penalty for writing on digital, a tool present in today's banks.
The second item is a huge ledger, as big as a dictionary, with a dragon and spider sigil on the cover.
"According to the rules, I have to ask new clients this question: Do you want a simple professional service or are you aiming for sponsorship?" asks Esther, having prepared the materials for each option.
Zelretch smiles at this word, knowing that sooner or later he would be amused.
"What do you propose, this Sponsorship?" asks Dumbledore, choosing to play along and follow the procedure, not wanting to make a bad impression on the Head of this Agency.
Esther opens the ledger to a specific section, turns it towards Dumbledore and offers her a pen.
"By signing, you agree to abide by the House Rules. Our walls will become your shield, you will have access to our sister facilities and various benefits. But in exchange, your honor will be bound by our laws. Do you accept the burden of this agreement?" Esther asks, handing the penalty to the Headmaster of Hogwarts.
"What are the House Rules?" asks Dumbledore, wanting to know before signing a pact.
"The Rule is simple, our territory is a neutral ground, a
"A safe haven for our clients and protected. No conflict of any kind is permitted; no one's blood will be shed." Esther replies, emphasizing the importance of the last part.
"Dumbledore, you may never set foot here again, but I strongly advise you to accept the Patronage. It costs you nothing, you have only to gain, if you behave in a civil manner, you have nothing to fear." Zelretch said, advising Dumbledore to sign.
The Headmaster of Hogwarts decides to trust Zelretch, takes the penalty and signs where Esther indicates.
"Your signature has been accepted." Esther said, as if congratulating Dumbledore on making this choice.
The blonde-haired woman puts the ledger away, at the same time Dumbledore suddenly feels better than before.
"By accepting the Patronage and signing the Wards' ledger, the barrier no longer considers you a risk to the Agency, your magical power has returned to its full capacity." Zelretch explains, seeing the change in Dumbledore's body language.
"From this moment, you are no longer a stranger to Blackport. You have gained absolute protection within our walls and access to the pillars of our association." Esther said, pulling out a large black briefcase, reinforced with Kevlar and runes.
"Here is your welcome pack, offered free of charge to anyone who has chosen our patronage." Esther said, handing the briefcase to Dumbledore, who graciously accepted.
As they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
"You now have access to the special sections of our Bookstores, the reserved shelves of our Emporiums, and the secret rooms of the Black Hotels. There are many more advantages you will discover over time," Esther said, introducing the newcomers.
'I feel like I've checked into Gringotts Wizarding Bank for the second time, but the goblins have been replaced by Homunculus and a witch is in charge.' Dumbledore thinks, experiencing a kind of deja vu.
"But listen carefully: if you break the House Rules, you will be Excommunicated for Life. You will lose all privileges, your shadow will no longer have refuge, and the consequences will be... final." Esther said, her voice deadly serious, at odds with her gentle aura.
"As we finish talking about privileges and punishments, I bid you welcome to the Kingdom of the Dragon and the Spider," Esther declares, with a huge, friendly smile.
"This is what happens when a future Scion of multiple noble, wealthy, and influential houses is partially raised by Muggle and then watches all the John Wick movies, then reads books about secret agencies and crime syndicates," Zelretch mutters, knowing where Belmont got the inspiration for all this.
"Now, do you need to speak to the Chief Investigator or one of our Senior Investigators?" Esther asks, finally talking business.
"Actually, Esther, my male friend Dumbledore, is the Headmaster of Hogwarts, a prestigious school of magic, and she's looking for someone to fill the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher. I suggested to him that Belmont would be perfect for the role." Zelretch explains his reason for being here, at the B&L Detective Agency.
Esther, having been trained to handle customers of all kinds, maintains a calm expression, worthy of a professional poker player.
"Lord Zelretch, when I first met Master, you sent him to work as a music teacher at Tokiwadai Middle School, and five years ago you sent him to be the sole Sensei of Kivotos. Now you want to send him again to another Academy of Adventure?" Esther asks, knowing of similar cases.
"Belmont is quite good at teaching, I chose him when the situation suited his abilities," Zelretch said, using the Occult Detective's services only when required.
"The Master is in good spirits; he's finally completed one of the projects he's been working on for years. If you make him a good offer, he might take the job. But make sure it's a good one. Mash, he's thinking of convincing him to take a vacation somewhere far away, where no one can find them." Esther said, offering advice to the Wizard Marshal.
"Don't worry, Dumbledore, I'm very good at negotiating with Belmont, he's always accepted my business proposals, even if I often have to give up some valuable items from my collection." said Zelretch, aware that the services of the best Occult Detective cost him an arm and a leg, but the cost is worth it for all the laughs he'll have.
Esther presses a button under the reception desk, and in an instant the seemingly broken elevator starts working, its doors opening to reveal a well-maintained interior.
"Lancer and Archer will lead you to the office of the Chief Investigator of the Boston Office." Esther said, gesturing for the two elderly wizards to go to the elevator.
When Esther mentioned Lancer and Archer, two attractive young men magically appeared on either side of the elevator.
On the left is Lancer (Karna), a young man, 178cm tall, characterized by an almost ethereal appearance and extremely pale complexion.
He has thick, unkempt white hair that contrasts with his intense blue eyes.
His most iconic feature is his golden armor, which seems almost fused with his body. It is composed of ornate golden plates and includes the legendary Kundala earrings, also made of gold.
A red gemstone, set in the center of his armor, shines on his chest, symbolizing his connection to the sun god Surya. His body is lean yet muscular, giving him an air of elegance and lethal power.
On the right is Archer (Arjuna), a young man, 177cm tall, with a look that reflects his royalty and nature as a "Perfect Hero".
He has neat black hair with dark eyes that convey an almost eerie calm.
She wears a regal white tunic with gold and blue details, reminiscent of the robes of ancient Indian nobility, but with a modern, stylized twist.
"The blue sports car outside and Arjuna's presence mean that Adeline, Belmont's Twin Sister, is here. If I play my cards right, I can get two DADA teachers for the price of one." Zelretch thinks, unable to contain his excitement.
Belmont often keeps Lancer (Karna) close to him, as he is one of his Servants he holds in the highest regard.
Adeline has a single Servant by her side, Archer (Arjuna).
The universe's pranks that it offers to its main characters, the two twins, brother and sister, have Karna and Arjuna as their "favorite" Servants and with whom they have a high compatibility.
"Where did you take me, Zelretch?" Dumbledore asks quietly, keeping his gaze on Lancer and Archer.
"Dumbledore, don't you know? Only superpowers possess atomic bombs." Zelretch said, before entering the elevator.
'What I won't do for the sake of Hogwarts and my students.' Dumbledore thinks, following Zelretch into the elevator.
Lancer and Archer entered the elevator silently, ready to escort the two elderly wizards to their Masters.
The elevator doors closed, and I began to descend toward the secret, underground floors of the B&L Detective Agency.
Dumbledore is about to enter the heart of the lair, where the dragon and the serpent are talking to each other.
Continues ...
XXX
Author's Note:
I'm surprised I managed to write this in just three or four days. I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter.
XXX
Codex of Zelretch: Differences between Earth-1965 and Earth-2126.
Earth-1965, Dumbledore's home world in antiquity, was not attacked by Sefar and received no visits from other aliens or unique foreigners who had their own plans for humanity.
The Age of Gods ended much more slowly, the degradation of magic is occurring at a snail's pace, the amount of magic present in the atmosphere, in terms of quantity and quality, is sufficient to keep most medium and low-level magical creatures alive and on the surface of the Earth.
The Wizards and Witches are much more numerous, to the point of having their own society parallel to the Muggle society, their Witchcraft and Wizardry is much more standardized and accessible.
The wizarding world has a much more united, peaceful, closed, archaic, bureaucratic, bigoted and ignorant mentality in the more esoteric aspects and more futuristic potential of magic.
The Muggle world has nothing worth mentioning.
In Zelretch's opinion, Dumbledore's world is rather mediocre, even boring; two or three notable people like Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald appear once every five hundred years or more. The only magical objects worth mentioning are the Deathly Hallows.
Earth-2126, the world where Zelretch currently lives, has been desecrated in every way imaginable, by every kind of alien being in the broadest sense of the word, from ancient times to modern times.
The Age of Gods ended long before then, and then came the Age of Man, where magic suffered a terrifying decline, greatly reducing the amount of magical energy in the atmosphere and the earth.
But that changed in the Battle of 1999, aka Demon Castle War, when the forces of "good" consisting of the Mage's Association and the Holy Church joined forces to face the forces of evil, consisting of a handful of The Twenty-seven Dead Apostle Ancestors, The Order of the Blackened Denarius, The Demon Lords of Bel, and the Dark Lord, Count Dracula.
At the end of that battle, something inexplicable happened, subtly altering the texture of the world, ushering in the Age of Miracles.
The effects would have started to appear noticeably in 2008, but the quality of magic users born from 1999 onwards would have skyrocketed, even young children of that period would have experienced the effects of an extremely favorable "magical puberty."
Magus, or magic users or practitioners of the art, are a very small number. They live in human society but are not fully part of it.
Their Magecraft or magical art is extremely vast and diverse, each House or Clan favoring its own style and customs. Highly individualistic individuals.
The Moonlit is a world with a ruthless, amoral, and conflict-ridden mentality, with traditional and modern factions vying for power and prestige, always seeking to uncover ancient magic and invent new ones. There are experts for every imaginable subject, even the most absurd or dangerous.
The sunlit world is just as crazy and interesting as the moonlit world, filled with advanced technologies, unique characters, and all sorts of interesting conflicts.
In Zelretch's opinion, the world of Belmont is worth remembering, full of interesting things.
Each decade offers a dozen new individuals who can be considered protagonists of their own series.
The amount of Supreme Mystic Code,
Spiritual Items, Artifacts, Ancient Relics, Grimoire, out there, or hidden somewhere, are so vast that you could fill a library with catalogs about them.