"Aunt May, can you tell me how you met Mr. Stark today?" Peter asked eagerly as they sat at the dinner table.
May looked up, seeing the expectant look on Peter's face. She smiled and began, "I was really surprised to see Tony Stark today. I was at work in the bookstore café when I saw him get out of a car and walk toward our shop. I couldn't believe it. He was actually looking for Lockhart."
Peter interrupted, curiosity piqued. "Are Mr. Lockhart and Mr. Stark friends? Why else would Iron Man be looking for him?"
May shook her head. "No, they don't know each other at all."
Then, in a mysterious tone, she added, "Guess what Lockhart's attitude was towards him?"
Peter started guessing, "He should be very happy. After all, Iron Man came to his store."
May shook her head incredulously. "No, he found it annoying! He was actually annoyed that Iron Man came to his store!"
"Really?" Peter couldn't believe it.
May nodded. "Indeed, when I called him, his tone was annoyed."
Seeing Peter's surprised expression, May continued in a whisper, "Do you know what shocked me even more?"
"What is it?" Peter asked, curiosity mounting. "Did your boss refuse to see Stark?"
May shook her head again. "Tony Stark wanted to meet him today, but Lockhart said he wasn't free and suggested tomorrow or the day after. I told Tony Stark, and he actually agreed."
Even as she finished the story, May still found it unbelievable. In her eyes, billionaires were usually very arrogant, and an ordinary bookstore owner daring to refuse them seemed incredible. Especially someone as famous for his arrogance as Tony Stark. It made her wonder if Lockhart's identity was more complex than it seemed.
Peter, however, was focused on something else. "You mean Tony Stark will come to your bookstore tomorrow?" He didn't wait for May to reply before pleading, "Aunt May, I have a holiday tomorrow. Can I come to your bookstore and read some books?"
May looked at him hesitantly. "No, I don't want you doing anything stupid."
"Please, Aunt May! You know he's my idol," Peter begged, raising his hands in a pleading gesture and pretending to be pitiful.
Seeing Peter's pitiful and expectant eyes, May hesitated but then slowly said, "Okay, okay. But you can only watch. Don't run up and do anything stupid. You have to promise me this, or I'll be in trouble."
Peter nodded quickly, excitement in his voice. "Okay, Aunt May. I promise. I won't cause any trouble. If someone does, I'll help stop them."
He began waving his arms, showing off his muscles. He wasn't joking this time. As Spider-Man, Peter Parker was confident he could protect his Aunt May and ensure her job was safe.
Lockhart's Home at Night
Lockhart stood in his study, reviewing the knowledge that had emerged in his mind. Holding the Sling Ring, he drew slow circles in the air, visualizing complex patterns and associating his mind with the image of the bookstore.
As his right hand slid, a sparkling circular portal gradually appeared. Although the speed was slow, it was steady. Lockhart looked at the dark bookstore café on the other side, the tables and wooden chairs vaguely arranged, and smiled slightly before stepping through the portal.
Inside the Vientiane Book Café, Lockhart waved his wand, and a bright light emerged from the tip, illuminating the whole bookstore instantly. Then, realizing he was in a public place with glass windows, he sighed, waved his wand again, and the lights disappeared, leaving only the ambient lighting.
Although he sensed no Muggles nearby, the thought of being seen made him uncomfortable. He realized he needed to renovate the space to create a dedicated area for mages, shielding it from Muggle sight.
Casting a Confundus Charm on the surveillance cameras ensured no one would notice anything unusual. After a brief look around, Lockhart focused his spiritual power into the Sling Ring. Visualizing complex runes, he drew the Sling Ring slowly and pushed it forward.
A clicking sound, like a mirror breaking, surrounded him. As if passing through a mirror, Lockhart found himself in a silent world—mirror space.
Lockhart looked around with great interest. The scene was highly similar to his bookstore. Feeling a close connection with the mirror space, he raised his right hand. The bookstore seemed controlled by an unknown force, rising from the ground and transforming, its roof shrinking around it until the whole structure resembled the Eiffel Tower. Standing on a high platform at the top, Lockhart looked down at the brightly lit New York City, feeling excited.
Mirror space had always fascinated him. The control just now was limited, but he knew he needed more practice to reach the level of Doctor Strange in the movies. Still, he wasn't in a hurry.
Later, Lockhart manipulated the mirror space, transforming various shapes and practicing Kamar-Taj and Hogwarts magic. After a few hours, he opened a portal leading back to his study, needing a good rest before his appointment with Tony Stark the next day.
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[More Chapter available at p@treon.com/goldengaruda]
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