"When was this statistical report produced?" Reese Sean asked, his voice brisk and impatient. He was a short, wiry man, a BOI investigator with a sharp gaze, and a 3D-level wizard. There was a quiet intensity about him that suggested he didn't tolerate evasions.
The "Brahmin" Jason Schman, sat at his desk, feeling the weight of the silver collar around his neck. The intricate designs etched into the metal weren't for decoration; they were for control. The collar dampened his abilities, rendering him harmless in the presence of these investigators. He glanced from Reese to Wilson Cruise, the senior agent sitting silently beside him, and swallowed his pride.
"It was prepared five days ago," Jason replied, his voice controlled. "But a lot has changed since then. Wizard hunting has surged these last few days. The actual situation in Bridgewick's wizarding circles is far from what that report suggests."
Cruise and Reese exchanged a knowing look, each understanding the implications. Wizards hunting each other meant instability, and in their line of work, instability often led to discovery and intervention.
"Do you know who these wizards were? The ones who were killed?" Reese pressed.
Jason gave a stiff nod. He couldn't resist, even if he wanted to. He was outnumbered and outclassed, and besides, there was no point in putting up a fight. These agents were well-prepared and far more practiced in using their abilities than his own gang members. "I know their names. But as for who hunted them down… that's harder to say."
Cruise leaned forward, folding his hands on the table. "That's already more information than most would share with us, Mr. Schman. Now, please, tell us the names."
Jason hesitated, running through the list mentally before speaking. "Gil Victor, Nice Solomon, Tamir Stark, Meris Rubio…"
As he listed each name, Reese marked them off on his copy of Bridgewick's wizard registry. His pencil moved swiftly, crossing out names with a practiced hand. Most of them were D-level wizards, with a couple of E-levels mixed in; a sobering tally of casualties from the chaos that had erupted in Bridgewick's hidden world.
When he finished, Reese folded the list, slipping it back into a manila folder with the other documents. He raised it and waved it in front of Jason's face. "We're confiscating this," he said curtly.
Jason nodded, his shoulders tense. He knew better than to protest.
Cruise, who had been watching in silence, finally broke in, his tone more conversational but carrying a hint of menace. "Mr. Schman, do you understand why we're here?"
Jason's mind raced, weighing possibilities, each more troubling than the last. He shook his head, feigning ignorance. "Honestly… I didn't even know an organization like yours existed in the United States."
Cruise gave him a tight smile. "Let me be clear, then. You crossed the line."
He leaned forward, his eyes fixed on Jason. "We tolerate the existence of wizards. We turn a blind eye to your little turf wars, your hunting sprees. We even allow you to organize yourselves, to a degree. But there is one line you don't cross, you do not interfere in the non-wizarding world."
Cruise's tone sharpened. "For five years, your organization grew, quietly, carefully, and we had no issue with that. But when you started actively trying to recruit and transform ordinary citizens into wizards, you became a problem we couldn't ignore."
Jason felt a chill creep down his spine. He had suspected this was the reason for their visit, but hearing it stated so plainly made it all too real.
"Recently," Cruise continued, "we've noticed significant increases in Oriel radiation levels in Bridgewick, something that didn't go unnoticed by the NSA. That radiation spike points to wizarding activities on a scale not seen before, and we traced it back to you."
He let the weight of his words settle before delivering the final blow. "Consider yourself lucky, Mr. Schman. No major incident has broken out; yet. Otherwise, we wouldn't be here with words and paperwork. We'd be here with bullets. But for now, you're under arrest. And that collar around your neck? It's designed to neutralize your abilities. So don't even think about resisting. There's no escape from this."
Jason's gaze dropped, his mind spinning. He understood now that his usual defenses; bribery, legal maneuvering, influence, were useless here. He was beyond the reach of any ordinary lawyer, any politician he could call on. "I assume no lawyer can help me here," he murmured, half to himself.
Cruise's mouth twisted into a small smile. "Correct. We answer directly to the Department of Justice. Unless you can somehow sway half the Senate to support you, you're out of options."
Jason scoffed. The absurdity of the suggestion was almost laughable. "So, what happens to me?"
Cruise leaned back, crossing his arms. "Under federal law, any wizard above C-level who poses a threat to public safety can be charged with the equivalent of five counts of first-degree murder. That's you, Mr. Schman."
Jason's expression hardened, a spark of defiance igniting in his eyes. "You can't hold us in prison. C-level wizards, once they can use their powers; have countless ways to escape, even from the most secure facilities. Those collars won't hold forever, and I doubt you have enough of them for every wizard."
Cruise's smile remained, cold and unbothered. "We're aware of the limitations, Mr. Schman. But that's not for you to worry about. Our job is to neutralize threats, and you've officially made yourself one. If a collar fails, well…" He let the implication hang in the air. "We have… other measures."
Jason fell silent, feeling the walls close in. He was trapped, surrounded by people who understood his world far too well and had contingencies for every escape he could imagine. His empire, his power, his influence; none of it mattered now. He was nothing more than a criminal in their eyes, a dangerous anomaly that needed to be contained.
Reese stepped forward, his tone final. "You will come with us now, quietly and without resistance. Further investigation and trial await, and any attempt to resist will only make things worse."
Jason's shoulders slumped, and he glanced once more at the two men who had, with quiet efficiency, dismantled his defenses. There was no bargaining, no pleading. Only a somber acceptance of his fate.
Without a word, he rose from his seat, feeling the collar weigh heavily against his skin.
Cruz didn't deny it, just smiled with a hint of calculation. "That's not something you need to worry about right now. You'd do better to consider giving up the names of other members who encouraged ordinary people to become wizards. That might get you a reduced sentence."
The "Brahmin" glanced up, an idea sparking in his eyes. "Actually… I might have something else that could interest you."
Cruz raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what might that be?"
"A B-class wizard," the Brahmin replied, leaning forward. "Calls himself the 'Potter.' He took down my best men without breaking a sweat. And he mentioned something strange… said he was collecting wizards from the Delusional Department."
Cruz's gaze sharpened. The BOI rarely intervened in wizard conflicts, preferring to let them battle it out as long as they stayed within certain boundaries. Their resources and personnel were limited, so they only intervened under specific conditions. The first was "crossing the line," involving wizards in non-magical matters. The second was if a wizarding group posed a direct threat to national security.
This sounded like it might qualify as both.
After wrapping up the interrogation, Cruz left the room, heading downstairs just as the local police arrived. The Bridgewick Police Department had been briefed and was now under orders from the state government to cooperate fully with the BOI.
The sheriff, a burly man with a no-nonsense air, shook Cruz's hand firmly. Cruz held up an official-looking paper. "Mr. Schman has confessed to multiple charges, including first-degree murder and endangering national security. Here's the arrest warrant, jointly signed by the Department of Justice and the state court."
The sheriff nodded after a quick scan. "Understood. Anything specific you need us to handle?"
"Escort him to the Lakewood prison," Cruz instructed. "Reese Sean will accompany you."
The sheriff nodded again and began issuing orders to his team. A few moments later, the "Brahmin" was hooded and led out by two armed officers, with Reese flanking him to ensure compliance. Cruz watched the scene unfold from his second-floor office window, the tip of his cigar glowing as he inhaled, then exhaled a thin stream of smoke.
"What did he give up?" a voice asked from behind him. It was Field, the young female agent with the BOI, her sharp eyes a striking shade of dark red. Dressed in a trench coat and slacks, she had an air of calm intensity.
Cruz didn't turn. "An unexpected lead, actually. He mentioned a clue about the α-04 incident; a confirmed Class B wizard, the 'Potter' Jose Juan Diego."
Field's eyebrows rose slightly. "That's a significant find. Are we going to pursue it?"
Cruz shook his head. "No, not yet. Alpha-04 is extensive, with members scattered across the Federation. We can't move without proper intel. Let Team 001 handle this for now. We'll compile a briefing and pass it along."
He paused, frowning as he replayed the Brahmin's words in his mind. "But something puzzles me. Schman said they were 'collecting' delusional wizards. It's an odd choice of words. If they were just looking to recruit, he would've said 'recruiting' or 'scouting.' But 'collecting'… that implies something else."
Field considered this, her gaze distant as she turned it over. "Maybe they're using wizards as sacrifices? Like ancient rituals. A resource, rather than an ally."
Cruz shook his head with a slight smirk. "There are no gods, Field. We've proven that. Wizard power is just another form of energy: physics explains it all. Even if they sacrifice wizards, they're not receiving gifts from some divine being."
Field remained silent for a moment, then spoke softly. "Alpha-04 isn't full of fools. If they're truly treating wizards as materials, there's a hidden purpose. Something we haven't uncovered yet."
Cruz took a long draw on his cigar, staring out the window at the darkening cityscape, his mind turning over these fragments of information. He finally exhaled, the smoke swirling around his head as he murmured to himself, "I suppose that's the old detective in me, still curious about what's hiding beneath the surface."
Field tilted her head. "Are you planning to investigate?"
Cruz's eyes narrowed, a glint of purpose forming in them. "I just remembered something. A year ago, Team 007 noted a suspected α-04 member sighting during a routine sweep in California, in a small town called Lausanne. We dismissed it at the time, thought he was just passing through. But now, it feels relevant."
Field gave him an approving nod. "Want me to apply for clearance to pursue the lead?"
"Yes," Cruz replied. "Request permission for us to follow up in California. And while we're at it… let's hunt down 'Butcher Ely.' He's been active in the area and might be connected."
Field's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Understood. I'll get the paperwork going."
As she left, Cruz watched the last of the police cars pull away, the Brahmin hidden in the backseat. He took another slow drag of his cigar, his mind already racing with possibilities. The hunt had begun, and he wasn't about to let this trail go cold.