"Spill it, what kinda tricks did they teach you at that school? Honestly, if Michael and Jimmy didn't swear by their family honor, I'd think the whole wizard thing was a load of bullshit. The Shelbys having a wizard, who'd have thought?
Freddy downed his wine in one go, stared at the now-empty glass, and fired away:
"So, Artel, spill the beans. You're really a wizard now?"
"It might sound like a fairy tale to a Muggle family, but it's the real deal. The world's a lot more complicated than it seems."
Artel caressed the ring of air on his right ring finger, then snapped his fingers and pulled off a Transfiguration.
"What the hell?"
Freddy's quiet gasp came from the other side. He gawked at his right hand. The crystal cup he held had morphed into a cobra, coiling around his hand and hissing at him.
"Is this for real?"
Freddy seized the cobra's head with one hand, scrutinized it, then grabbed a knife from the table, sliced open the snake's skin, and extracted the snake's heart.
"No way!"
Freddy sighed, opening his mouth to gulp down the snake's heart.
"I'd advise against that."
Artel halted him, and as he looked into Freddy's puzzled eyes, Artel explained:
"Even though I've temporarily changed it, it'll revert to its original form once my magic power runs out. This snake heart should turn back into a crystal shard. If it changes back inside your stomach..."
Freddy nodded thoughtfully and tossed the heart onto the table.
Artel snapped his fingers again, dispelled the Transfiguration, cast a mending spell, and the cobra and heart transformed back into the cracked crystal cup, then repaired just like before.
"It's a nice trick but nothing gets the blood pumping than a good hunt."
Freddy cast his gaze upon the meticulously restored crystal cup, but his eyes locked onto Artel once more, a dangerous glint gleaming within.
Artel carved a slice of steak, tasting it with a slight frown.
Freddy's reality exceeded his expectations. This steak, crafted from genuine Japanese Kobe beef, was a delicacy typically prohibited for export. While some found their way out through illicit means, the quantity that reached Europe was far from abundant.
Not to mention the risk of ending up in a Birmingham jail.
"Don't worry, the hunt will begin soon." Artel wiped his mouth, placing the knife and fork aside. He hadn't come for a meal; the steak was exquisite, but a mere sampling sufficed.
The smile vanished from Freddy's face, replaced by a moment of silence before a gloomy expression settled in.
"Hart Brothers?"
The Hart brothers were the chief orchestrators behind the plot to assassinate Artel. Leaders of an underground gang in Birmingham, they had clashed with the Shelby family over protection fees.
Following the initial incident, the Hart brothers had vanished.
Artel had vowed to personally take their lives.
"So, if you want it sooner, have your people track down where they're hiding as quickly as possible."
Artel rose, strolling to the door and donning his coat.
"Additionally, I've informed Uncle Jimmy to halt all dealings related to the wizarding world. But I'm unsure if the rest of the family will heed my words, so I need you to intervene."
Artel turned, and the two locked eyes.
"If you don't want the Shelby family to crumble, steer clear of wizards you don't know. They can mess with your head, turn you into a puppet, or worse, an imbecile who can't string two thoughts together."
"As for the future of the Shelby family, leave it to me," Artel declared with a steely gaze.
With those words hanging in the air, he swirled around, yanked the door open, and made his exit.
Inside the room, Freddy sat motionless in his chair. After a thoughtful pause, he poured himself a glass of wine and downed it.
"Hehe... Hahahaha..."
Laughter echoed through the confined space as Freddy erupted into fits of hysteria. Moments later, the phone outside the door rang.
The guard on duty answered, and Freddy's deep voice resonated from within:
"Find that gal named Monica for me. I heard she's in Birmingham. Tell her I fancy dinner and, well... make sure no one comes bothering me tonight."
"Got it, sir."
The guard grinned ear to ear as he hung up. Who wouldn't be thrilled to snag Freddy's yearly paycheck?
.....
After Artel exited the prison, he hopped into Jimmy's waiting car.
"Let's roll."
Their destination? Straight to the airport. The rest of the Shelby clan was ready, and this time, it was a family affair with a chartered plane.
Michael and Fiore, Jimmy and Nancy, Artel's cousins, and the loyal pals of the Shelby family – the seasoned veterans and their families were all part of the entourage. The Shelby gang was taking flight, and this journey was a family affair in every sense.
.....
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