Kai Adler and Hermione followed Otto Weiss through the crowded office, eventually stopping before an unmarked door.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Enter."
Otto pushed the door open, ushering them inside.
The moment Kai stepped in, his expression shifted subtly. A faint ripple of Black Magic washed over him—no aggression, just a probing presence.
The cramped office space was drowning in clutter. Stacks of paper, enchanted files, and magical artifacts covered nearly every surface. Smoke from a half-burnt cigar curled lazily through the air, blurring the soft glow of enchanted lamps.
Behind the desk, slouched in a battered leather chair, sat a bearded, middle-aged man with reading glasses perched low on his nose. A magazine rested in his hands—the cover adorned with a blonde model in a swimsuit, smiling coyly at the camera.
Hermione wrinkled her nose in disgust, waving her hand to clear the smoke. Kai fought the urge to sigh. So much for professionalism.
Otto, by contrast, seemed entirely unfazed.
"Director, I'm back."
The man didn't lift his eyes from the magazine, chuckling under his breath.
"Good to see you, Otto."
"I've brought two British Wizards—claimed tourists, found near the slums."
The director's eyes finally lifted at that, his gaze landing squarely on Hermione.
"Such a lovely girl," he remarked smoothly, voice thick with a German accent.
Hermione didn't understand the language, but the look was universal. She instinctively stepped back. Kai, ever calm, moved sideways, subtly shielding her while replying in precise German.
"Appreciate the compliment, Director."
What is it with powerful figures and this attitude? First the Old Man, now this one.
But the director's eyes shifted to Kai—and froze.
His stare sharpened, lingering uncomfortably long, making Kai's shoulders tense. A flicker of recognition danced behind those glass lenses.
Surely not another one like the Old Man…
"Where in Britain did you say they were from?" the director asked, gaze still fixed on Kai.
"They're Hogwarts students," Otto confirmed, expression stiff.
The director's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"Hogwarts…"
He rubbed his chin, lowering the magazine at last. His accent shifted to polished English.
"Names?"
Hermione answered brightly, relieved to understand again. "Hermione Granger."
Kai, eyes unreadable, offered his alias smoothly. "Kai Adler."
A spark of realization lit the director's face.
"Kai Adler… of course."
Kai's mind sharpened. This was no coincidence.
Truthfully, he'd wanted this meeting. He could've burned those Werewolves to nothing—left no trace. But he didn't. He wanted the local magical authorities to find them, to bring him here.
If his parents were as extraordinary as he suspected, there had to be records, allies—or enemies—in Germany's magical community. And this director clearly knew more than he was saying.
"You found them near the abandoned house?" the director asked Otto, eyes never leaving Kai.
"Yes," Otto confirmed. "There were signs of a magical altercation, ashes—likely Werewolves. That pack's been hiding in the city for months. We've lacked the manpower to track them properly. But when I arrived… they were all gone."
Otto's eyes darted toward Kai and Hermione. "I believe they had backup—a powerful Wizard traveling with them."
The director waved him off, voice dismissive. "This has nothing to do with that situation. Go verify their identities."
"But, Director—"
"Go."
Otto shot one last suspicious glance before turning on his heel and exiting, leaving the room thick with silence.
The director finally leaned forward, studying Kai intently.
"You…" His voice faltered, uncharacteristically unsure.
Kai, unfazed, smiled coolly. "You seem to know me, Director?"
From his coat, Kai retrieved the worn photo album he'd carried across countries. Flipping it open, he laid it on the cluttered desk.
"Or rather, do you know them?"
The director's breath caught.
The photograph showed three figures—his parents, radiant with youth, and a much younger Kai nestled between them. His father's sharp eyes, his mother's bright smile… the image spoke of a life Kai only half-remembered.
For a long moment, the director simply stared, his expression softening with something close to nostalgia.
Finally, he exhaled heavily. "I took this photograph."
Hermione's eyes widened, exchanging a startled glance with Kai.
They'd been scouring cities for this exact lead—and stumbled straight into it?
Kai's expression stayed composed, but inside, surprise flickered. He'd hoped for breadcrumbs, not the man behind the camera himself.
"Director," Kai pressed gently. "I want to know about my parents."
The older man ran a hand through his graying beard.
"You wouldn't remember much. You were barely four when…" He trailed off, passing the photo album back to Kai.
His posture eased as he added with a faint smile, "Don't call me Director—it's too formal. I'm Leon Krause. You can call me Uncle Leon."
"Uncle Leon," Kai acknowledged, his tone neutral but curious.
Leon lit a cigarette absentmindedly, but Hermione's frown deepened at the smoke. Catching her expression, Kai smiled wryly.
"Uncle Leon, we're still children, remember?"
"Ah, right." Leon hastily snuffed out the cigarette, looking mildly embarrassed.
A quick gesture of his hand summoned a gust of controlled air magic, clearing the smoke from the room. The air instantly freshened.
"Old habits die hard," Leon muttered. "Smoked for decades—bad habit, I know."
Kai and Hermione exchanged amused glances. The European magical style differed so starkly from the rigid British system—it was almost refreshing.
Leon noticed their curiosity and chuckled.
"Magic's the same everywhere. Wands, rituals, incantations—we all follow the same threads, just in different patterns."
His expression sobered as he turned back to Kai.
"Your father… you look so much like him."
Kai's eyes sharpened. "You knew my father well?"
Leon nodded, his gaze distant, full of memory.
"We were colleagues—a long time ago. Partners, really, for over a decade."
Hermione, piecing the clues together, spoke up. "Kai's father… was a Wizard?"
Leon glanced at her, his eyes questioning. Kai answered in German.
"It's alright. Hermione's the person closest to me. There are no secrets between us."
Leon smiled knowingly, switching languages without hesitation.
"Just like your old man—always drawn to foreign girls."
Kai coughed lightly, avoiding Hermione's confused expression.
"He says you're very beautiful," Kai translated innocently.
Hermione flushed slightly, but smiled sweetly. "Thank you."
Leon's amusement deepened, the air between them lightening.
"Your father kept secrets—even from you, it seems."
Kai's eyes narrowed subtly, instincts bracing for the worst.
Leon sighed, his expression hardening. "Your father's name was Matthias Adler—a powerful, respected Magician ."
"Magician?" Kai repeated quietly, tasting the name, weighing its implications.
Leon leaned back, voice grave.
"Decades ago, Berlin's Magical Authority sent your father and me to establish the Magician branch here in Munich—to unite the scattered practitioners, the magically gifted beyond Wizarding bloodlines. We built this network brick by brick."
"Then, your father was sent away… a critical mission. One that changed everything."
"What mission?" Kai asked, eyes cold but burning with curiosity.
Leon hesitated, building the tension with practiced ease.
Finally, with a long exhale, he set down his lighter and met Kai's gaze.
"It was a global operation—diplomatic at first glance, but underneath… one of the most dangerous undertakings of our time."
He paused for effect, watching their wide-eyed anticipation.
"The mission was the coordinated strike to suppress the most dangerous Dark Lord the magical world had ever seen."
Hermione's eyes widened, her head snapping toward Kai. His expression shifted, faint shock breaking through his usual calm.
Leon's voice dropped, heavy with significance.
"The mission… was the hunt for Grindelwald."