"Your Majesty, may I ask what the bes are that you just mentioned?" Maverick asked.

  The queen sehat her persuasion was finally w. She straightened up, her gaze steady as she tinued.

  "The Double Zero Squad is ae and croup, under my direand. There only ever be nine agents, from 001 to 009. They handle missions of the highest stakes—missions directly tied to national security.

  "In this squad, there are three non-magical and three magical agents. The non-magical agents handle all matters ing the nation's safety, while the magical agents focus solely on national security when fag supernatural threats."

  "For you, Maverick, I'm prepared to make an exception. You would only be called upon in the most extraordinary circumstances—if the nation faced a threat beyond what MI5, MI6, or even Defeelligence could manage. Only then would I summon you to defend this nd."

  Maverick couldn't help but interrupt, saying, "But I'm only a magus. Five me, Your Majesty, but it's hard to believe you'd put such trust in me... I mean, this is the first real versation we've had. Your expectations of me seem unusually high."

  His doubts were uandable. After all, only his teacher, Edward, truly knew his potential.

  The queen didn't mind his interruption. In fact, she would have found it strange if Maverick hadn't raised the issue.

  "For now, no, you're no different from the other wizards w for my gover," she began, pausing briefly. "But I know this man," she tinued, pointing to Edward. "There is an unspoken uanding we leaders share—and really, everyone does. A Speaker of any nation is seen as equal to the nation itself... you interpret that however you like, young man."

  She looked from Maverick to Edward and back again. "Not only are you his direct apprentice, but he even took the time to attend this meeting for you... "That shows me just how high his expectations are of you." She paused, allowing Maverick a moment to think.

  "Think of it as a bet," she said. "I'm betting on you—for the future of my nation." Her voice was steady, letting her words sink in.

  Edward didn't refute or add anything to what she said. He knows exactly what his status meant.

  He was here only to make sure his apprentice wasn't taken advantage of. Beyond that, he would let Maverick make his own decisions and never interfere.

  It was the same with Michael. He agreed with everything the queen had said ahe matter to be settled by his son.

  Maverick took a moment to think and had to agree with the queen. Everything she said made sense. Holy, giveuation, he would bet on himself too.

  He met her gaze and nodded, signaling that he uood.

  The queen nodded iurn before tinuing her expnation. "Where were we? Ah, yes... So basically, the ditions are meant to ensure you that your movements won't be restricted in any way." She paused for a moment.

  "And as for the bes... Well... within Britain, you'll have a very high authority across gover facilities. If there's something you need done, doors will open, sparing you from unnecessary bureaucracy."

  She held his gaze with a pointed look. "This isn't an invitation for corruption. But for the most part, my gover would turn a blind eye and grant you authority—as long as it doesn't bring harm to the people in any way."

  She paused again, rexing slightly before she tinued. "Iionally, you'd gain substantial travel privileges. A free visa to 127 tries, including all of North and South America, all of Europe, parts of Asia, and the Middle East. Even a." She gave a small smirk. "Not Russia, though. But you're a wizard. I'm sure you have ways of getting in, which I don't o know.

  "Let's see… yes. You'd be lised to carry firearms, though I doubt you'd find it necessary. And finally," she narrowed her eyes, "you'd have the lise to kill any target deemed a threat to my nation."

  The queen watched Maverick's expression as he took this all in.

  "And again," she added firmly, "this doesn't mean you'll have free rein to kill anyone whenever you want, and I trust you wouldn't. It just means there will be fewer questions about your decisions, if and when you ever decide to take a life." She paused, giving a brief go Michael.

  "I have plete trust in the Prime Minister I've appoio lead my gover... and you are his son." She paused, then tinued.

  "Finally, I'm certain the man sitting here," she gestured to Edward, "wouldn't choose an apprehout carefully sidering their character."

  "So, you're free to travel as much as you like, to teach, to learn—hell, even py football... or bee a movie star if you want. You'd have plete freedom."

  "All I ask is that you represent me if extraordinary circumstances demand it. And o thing... aside from national security, if there were ever a threat to myself or my direct line, natural or supernatural, I would call on you then as well. But, as I said, these sarios are as unlikely as the nation going to war."

  Taking a breath, she delivered her final words.

  "So, young man, will you take on the responsibility to represent Great Britain? To represent me?"

  Maverick gulped, feeling the weight of the offer. The bes far outweighed the inveniences.

  He gnced over at his father, who looked back at him, a trace of in his eyes, though he held his words. It robably a worry for his safety.

  Then he looked to his teacher, and Edward met his gaze at the same time, his eyes expressing nothing but trust. Maveriew his teacher would support whatever choice he made.

  Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, letting the silen the room settle around him. After nearly half a minute, he opened his eyes ahe queen's steady gaze.

  "Your Majesty," he said firmly. "It would be my honor to serve you and this nation."

  The queen's expression softened slightly, but she maintained her posed demeanor, simply giving a nod. Theuro the room and called out, her voice steady.

  "Double-0 Eight, Double-0 Two!"

  Two figures stepped forward, g their Disillusio spells. One was a middle-aged woman standing to the queen's left, and the other was Jacob, whom Maverid Edward had met earlier.

  Maverick had seheir presehrough his Magical Sense, as had Edward, but her had mentio. They both khese were the queen's people, likely stationed here for more than just observation.

  Maverick felt a flicker of surprise, but he kept his posure, uanding now that these two weren't simply guards. They were his soon-to-be colleagues in the Zero Squad.

  Both figures gave a respectful gesture—a slight bow, almost like a salute—as they said, "Ma'am." The queen nodded in aowledgment before shifting her gaze to Edward.

  "You mentioned wanting tister him with the British Ministry of Magic?"

  Edward nodded. "His wizarding identity is currently just his name in Ilvermorny's records. It worked while he was studying, but now, for his future, he needs proper identification. We po go to the Ministry after this meeting."

  "Unnecessary," the queen replied with a hint of a smile. She raised an eyebrow. "Unless you'd like to see your fa tomorrow's front page," she added, implying she had another solution.

  Edward's face remained ral, though his tone carried a trace of i. "I'd like to avoid that, if possible. But I doubt we could pletely escape notiless you have a way to get him registered without us needing to step foot there?"

  The queen's lips curved slightly. "I do," she said, and leaned back slightly in her chair. It's not every day that you get to do a favor for a speaker. And she know what it weighed.

  "No fuss, no crowds. sider it a favor from the ." she expihe turht.

  "Double-O Eight. Please ask Minister Fudge to e to the pace. Tell him it's urgent," the queen instructed.

  The woman didn't hesitate. She simply nodded and walked out.

  The queeurned her attention back tuests. "Her name is Joanna," she said, gng at Edward to see if he reized her.

  "Hmm... Another No-Maj-born name from World War Two," Edward replied thoughtfully. "They saved many lives during the battle against Grindelwald and Schmidt's forces. I remember the heroes from the war, Your Majesty. Even though the Ministry of Magic at the time didn't highlight them much, because of their blood status..." Edaused, then added with a touch of curiosity, "I hear their det behavior hasn't ged much sihen..."

  The queen sighed, her frustration clear. "Idiots," she spat. "They're simply ignorant. Sometimes I wonder if Dumbledore had a hand in this." She raised an eyebrow at Edward. "After all, his... lover... started the war against sce. Maybe he thinks he's making up for it by maniputing things, keeping British wizards ignorant of the world's advas."

  Edward rubbed his , thinking. "If anything, he'd try to advise your try's o let go of their blood supremacy ideas ahe world for what it really is. Dumbledore, though annoying at times, wouldn't harm our kind on purpose."

  Edward wasn't embarrassed to speak his mind, even if it meant praising Dumbledore or critig the queen's people right in front of her. "Holy, your so-called pureblood families are just ignorant. That's all there is to it."

  Maverick watched in silence, his eyes wide. He silently gave his teacher an imaginary thumbs-up for being so bold.

  The queen gave Edward a long, scrutinizing look. "I hought you, of all people, would vouch for him."

  Edward raised a hand in defense. "Don't get me wrong. I don't have a pleasant impression of the bastard, ever since... well, you know..." He paused, g the queen, but didn't eborate. "But that doesn't mean I'm petty enough to speak falsely about him when I know better."

  The queen sighed, then brightened her eyes and looked at Maverick.

  "Young man... if you do end up teag at Hogwarts, try to put a little seo those brainwashed noble children there."

  Maverick scratched his head. "Well, that's a long way off..." he said.

  "If anyone do it, I'm sure it's my son who'll bring some seo this try's magical unity," Michael added, speaking up for the first time in a while.

  The noble wizarding families of Britain would never have imagihat the try's Muggle leaders cared more about their situation than they did about themselves.

  Mavericed at his father, giving him a look of appreciation.

  "Right then," the queen said, catg their attention. "Let's eat. I've had my best chefs prepare a sumptuous lunch."

  She gave a nod to her left, and Jaodded back before leaving to make arras.

  Though Maverick, Michael, and Edward had already had lunch back at home, they k would be rude to dee the queen's invitation, so they simply thanked her politely and joined in some small talk.

  Soon, a few butlers and maids entered, dressed in formal uniforms. They carried an array of dishes and drinks, arranging them ly oable.

  About ten minutes into their meal, a knock came from the door.

  At the queen's nod, Jacob celed his Disillusio spell, walked over, and opehe door.

  Joaered alone, approached the queen, and spoke quietly. "Minister Fudge is outside, ma'am."

  "Let him in," the queen instructed.

  Joanna stepped out agaiurning moments ter, followed by a chubby, middle-aged man dressed in fiailored, expensive-looking robes—fitting attire for a wizard of his stature.

  Minister Fudge approached the queen directly, his focus entirely on her, not sparing a gnce for anyone else in the room.

  He stopped a respectful distance from the queen and gave a polite nod. "Your Majesty. May I ask the reason for yent summons..." His tone was calm, as if speaking to an equal.

  The queen didn't seem bothered by his tone. She paused her meal, wiped her mouth delicately, and then responded, "Thank you for ing on such short notice, Minister."

  As the queen spoke, Fudge's gaze slowly shifted to the people sitting at the table. His eyes first nded on Michael, and he gave a polite nod. However, when he saw Edward, his calm expression instantly ged. A cold speared on his forehead, and his fident demeanor turned nervous.

  "Gold... Speaker Garling..." he stuttered.

  Uhe queen, Edward didn't stop eating. With a pieeat on his fork, he met Fudge's gaze and raised an eyebrow before taking a bite.

  The a seemed to make Fudge even more nervous, as beads of sweat quickly formed on his forehead.

  "That's strange... I've never seen him react this way to Dumbledore..." the queen remarked casually.

  When Fudge heard this, he seemed tain some of his fidence. He straightened his posture, puffed out his chest, trying to appear more posed.

  Despite his efforts, the slight shaking in his hands remained, but no one ented on it.

  Before Fudge's arrival, the seating arra had been adjusted. The queen sat at one end, with Edward opposite her. Michael and Maverick sat together oher side, leaving one side and a chair empty.

  "Take a seat, Minister... join us for lunch," the queen said, gesturing to the empty chair. Fudge nodded hurriedly and sat down.

  Taking a seat, Fudge quickly turo the queen. "Your Majesty, could you expin why you called me here and what the urgency is?" he asked, deliberately avoiding Edward's dire.

  "Yes," the queen began, taking another bite of her meal. "You've met Michael before, I'm sure..." she asked, gng at Fudge.

  Fudge nodded, gng at Michael and Maverick. "We've met a few times, during formal meetings between our sides..."

  The queen aking another delicate bite. She wiped her mouth and tinued, "And I'm sure you're familiar with Speaker Garling here."

  Fudge's gulped. He turned his head, giving Edward a polite nod before turning back to the queen. "Yes... I've seen him o the ICW ferend once during the World Security cil meeting."

  The queen noticed Fudge's nervousness around Edward, but she decided not to ask. This wasn't the right time or pce.

  "Good..." she said, pausing before tinuing. "The reason I summoned you actually has something to do with him." She gestured toward Maverick.

  Fudge turned and finally looked at Maverick, who was quietly him. He gave a small nod before looking back at the queen, awaiting an expnation.

  "This is Maverick," the queen tinued. "Maverick Caesar."

  "Caesar..." Fudge murmured, then g Michael.

  "Yes... he's my son," Michael firmed.

  Fudge's expression remained puzzled as he turo the queen. She didn't waste time, and got straight to the point.

  "Maverick here... is a wizard."

  Fudge finally turo Maverick, his curiosity piqued. He paused for a moment before asking, "I think the Prime Minister should have mentioned if his son was from our side." He g Michael.

  "I took him in as my apprentice. cealed his identity, and asked Mike here not to tell anyone," Edward replied, answering Fudge's unspokeion and catg him off guard.

  It took a few seds for Fudge to process what Edward had just said.

  ——————————

  Author's Note:

  Just a quick update — up to Chapter 67 is already avaible on P AT r30n!

  PAT r30n [.] / RyanFic