However, the last three people to appear caught Alex off guard: Hagrid, Professor Kettleburn, and Azalea. "Hagrid, Professor Kettleburn, what are you two doing here?" Alex asked in surprise.
As a member of the Department of Magical Creature Management and Control, it made sense that Newt would ask Azalea to help care for the magical creatures, especially since she had grown close to Alex over recent months.
But seeing Hagrid and Professor Kettleburn was unexpected, especially since Hogwarts was still in session. Both were crucial staff members, Kettleburn as a professor specializing in magical creature protection, and Hagrid as a key administrator.
Kettleburn limped forward, leaning on his cane, dragging his prosthetic leg as he spoke. "Hey, Alex, you didn't tell me you were up to something behind my back! You don't really think of me as a friend, do you?" He smiled wryly.
"I heard you found hundreds of magical creatures from those smugglers. We can hold off here a bit; we came with Dumbledore's blessing, and the school's already prepared. It'll only delay things a few days, and we can always catch up with the lessons later."
Alex looked at Scamander in surprise. "Is that true?"
Newt nodded. "Yes. I asked Dumbledore for their help. With so many magical creatures needing transfer and proper care, I can't handle it all on my own.
So I specifically asked these three to assist. Kettleburn has extensive experience with magical creatures, and Hagrid has unique skills when dealing with high-risk ones."
"Don't worry, Alex," Hagrid added with a warm smile, his large frame gentle despite his size. "We won't cause you any trouble."
When Alex thought about all the adorable magical creatures being held captive by smugglers, he couldn't help but feel restless at night. He understood that having help to care for these animals wasn't a bad thing, but the situation still weighed heavily on him.
As he was exchanging greetings with the newcomers, sudden gusts of wind swept through the area. Everyone looked up to see Andre and a group of a dozen people arriving on broomsticks, hovering above them.
"Oh, I almost forgot about this," Alex muttered, quickly switching off the shielding jammer beside him. He had activated it earlier to prevent anyone from finding their location, so turning it off allowed Andre and his team to spot them immediately. Andre called his subordinates to land nearby as soon as they identified the group on the ground.
"Amelia, Newt, Moody, long time no see!" Andre greeted warmly as he touched down.
Amelia smiled back, "You too. After all these years, you're still as energetic as ever." Clearly old friends, Amelia and Andre shook hands enthusiastically.
"You haven't changed a bit, you're just as beautiful as when we were young," Andre teased, then looked around in surprise. "I didn't expect you to have so many people here. Are you the one in charge this time?"
"No, we're all following Alex's lead on this operation," Amelia replied, glancing at Andre before turning to Alex. "You've probably met before, so you should know him."
Andre gave them both a curious look. "Wait, he's in charge? I thought he was just here for the early stage investigation. Do you really have that many well-trained Aurors listening to him?"
It was no surprise that Andre doubted Alex's authority. He had met Alex once before and dismissed him as too young.
Over time, he stopped underestimating him, but now, organizing such a large-scale operation was no small feat. Was it really appropriate for someone so young to lead the team?
Was it necessary for the respected Director of the Department of Law Enforcement to take orders from someone so young?
After hearing the information, not only Andre but also the sixteen Aurors standing beside him couldn't hide their suspicious looks. Moody, leaning on his crutches, broke the silence with a teasing tone, "Hey, don't underestimate Alex. He's nothing like you, all brawn and no brain. This whole plan was his idea. If you don't want to listen to him, then listen to someone else."
Andre shot Moody a blank look after hearing the jab, but he noticed something important, Moody, usually so proud and stubborn, was actually going along with the plan. At the same time, the twenty or so Aurors behind them seemed to accept it without question. That made Andre uneasy, though he wasn't one to complain or pretend otherwise, so he kept his doubts to himself.
Meanwhile, Alex didn't bother explaining anything to Andre's suspicious gaze. Instead, he simply stated the facts and then called out to the group, "Since everyone's here, let's start the battle meeting. Please, follow me."
With that, he opened his space suitcase and gestured for them to enter. Andre hesitated. "Wait, didn't we start the operation right after gathering? Why do we need a meeting now?" Unsure about the details, he had assumed they'd head straight to the base.
Moody gave him a sharp look. "You fool, do you think you can fight with your eyes closed? Do you even understand tactics?"
Without waiting for an answer, Moody stepped inside Alex's suitcase. Andre grumbled under his breath, "Who are you to talk? Everyone knows you're the most reckless person in the UK, and now you're giving me lessons on tactics?"
But when he glanced around, he saw none of the British support team objecting. So, swallowing his doubts, he followed and led the Aurors into the suitcase as well.
Once inside, Andre immediately sensed something unusual. The space transformed into a temporary meeting room, large enough to hold at least a few dozen people.
In the center was a U-shaped conference table, made by connecting several rectangular tables, surrounded by chairs. It was clear this was meant for serious discussion, not just a quick briefing.
In the middle of the conference room stood a large sand table, partially covered by a heavy curtain. But what really caught everyone's attention was a dog wearing glasses, calmly sitting at the head of the long table. Andre and his colleagues exchanged confused glances, unsure of what to make of the unusual sight or what Alex planned to do next.
As Alex entered last, he noticed their bewilderment and quickly spoke up, "Director Andre, please don't just stand there, take your seat. We're pressed for time, and the agenda is pretty packed, so it's best to get straight to business."
With that, Alex settled into the seat in the middle of the table beside Fang, then gestured toward the empty chair next to him, inviting Andre to sit down. As the British Aurors settled into their seats , Andre couldn't help but feel like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world.
Wanting to fit in, he quickly moved forward and took his place at the conference table. Sitting in the front row, from left to right, were Andre, Alex, Fang, Amelia, Moody, Newt, and Kettleburn, with the German Aurors on one side and the British Aurors on the other.
Once everyone was seated, Alex tilted his head and said, "Fang, everyone's here. Let's get started when you're ready."