London, United Kingdom.

"Hon, what time did you say they were arriving?"

"Around noon, Michael. It should be morning over there now. They'll be here any time."

Inside the Caesar family house in London, Maverick's parents were making final preparations, ready to welcome guests into their home.

"So, he's finished with his studies there?" Ariel asked, carefully adjusting a vase on the table.

"Hmm... that's what Ed told me," Michael replied, casting a quick glance at the clock. "But he won't stay long. I don't think... Something about visiting other magical countries."

Just then, their fireplace flared to life with green flames, causing Michael and Ariel to turn their heads quickly.

A moment later, Edward stepped out first, wearing his usual bright expression. "Mike, Arie..." he greeted.

Following him, three more figures emerged—first Maverick, then Isabella and her mother.

They were all dressed casually, but appropriately for London's weather. Maverick wore a classic black woolen long coat over a sleek black shirt and pants, a sharp yet casual look that suited him perfectly.

Michael and Ariel greeted Edward first, then turned to the three behind him.

"Son... welcome home," Ariel said, stepping forward to hug Maverick, while Michael gave him a nod. "Welcome back, son."

Ariel then turned to Silvia, her arms outstretched. "Silvy..." she called, and the two women embraced.

"It's been a while... yeah," Silvia replied, smiling warmly.

They then looked at the last person. Isabella stood a little apart, looking nervous with her head down.

"Honey, are you okay?" Ariel asked, walking over and gently placing a hand on Isabella's shoulder.

Isabella quickly tried to shake off her awkwardness. "I... I'm fine. Good. Aunt... thank you..." she stuttered, her words coming out anxiously.

Ariel gave Isabella a concerned look, then turned to Silvia, silently asking if everything was okay.

Silvia smiled reassuringly. "She's fine. Probably just a little shy after so long," she said with a playful wink at her daughter.

Isabella flushed slightly but quickly gathered herself. "I'm okay, Auntie. Just excited to be back in the UK after such a long time."

Ariel raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. She shot Isabella a skeptical glance but chose not to press the issue, since Silvia didn't seem worried.

"Let's go," Ariel said, addressing the room. "I know it's early in New York, so I've combined breakfast and lunch together." She gestured for everyone to follow her toward the dining room.

It was just past noon, and both families sat around the dining table, enjoying Ariel's delicious spread.

At first, the conversation was light, filled with small talk. But soon, it shifted to Maverick and his studies. Maverick shared stories about his time in America, his teachers, and his exam results, which brought pleased smiles to his parents' faces.

The conversation then turned to Maverick's plans for the next two years. This was the first time he was sharing them directly with his parents.

At first, they hesitated and advised against it, expressing concerns that he was still too young and that the journey might be dangerous. But when Edward spoke up, vouching for Maverick and assuring them he was more than ready, his mother and father eventually agreed—though reluctantly.

Finally, the conversation shifted to meeting the Queen. Edward mentioned to Michael that he'd like to join, offering to help cover any gaps in the conversation that might arise.

Michael agreed and arranged the meeting. To their surprise, the Queen requested to meet them immediately if it was convenient. Michael shared this with Edward and Maverick, and they both agreed. So, after lunch, the three of them discreetly left for Buckingham Palace.

They hadn't come by motorcade but in Michael's private car, and with a subtle Muggle-repelling charm, they reached their destination without any interruptions in just under an hour.

This was meant to be a very private meeting, so the Queen hadn't arranged any elaborate reception. To greet Maverick's party, there was only one person waiting—and to Maverick's surprise, he was a wizard. Not just any wizard, but a Great Magus. Michael quietly explained to his son that the Queen had two Great-Magus under her direct command, aside from the witches and wizards working in their government's special department for magicals.

The car came to a stop, and with the repellent spell still active, only the wizard waiting for them took notice of their arrival.

Maverick studied the man with interest. He looked very old—gray hair, deeply lined face, and an aura of experience that suggested he might be centuries old. As a Great Magus, he could easily have lived for over 300 years. Maverick, however, kept his questions to himself.

"Greetings, Speaker Garling," the wizard addressed Edward first, showing the respect due to someone of Edward's rank in the magical world.

Edward nodded, extending his hand. "Jacob Rivers. I've heard of you—a No-Maj born, hero from World War II. You disappeared after the duel with the Rosier witch." Edward's brow lifted, intrigued.

Jacob offered a small, modest smile. "You flatter me, Mr. Speaker. I didn't fight her alone. And now, I'm proud to serve Her Majesty—protecting her has become my mission."

Edward nodded, recognizing that Jacob preferred not to discuss it further.

Jacob then turned to Michael. "Prime Minister," he greeted with a respectful bow.

"Jacob, good to see you," Michael replied, his tone friendly and familiar.

"And you must be Maverick," Jacob finally turned to him, extending his hand. Maverick returned the greeting with a respectful smile and a nod.

Jacob led Maverick, Michael, and Edward through several doors until they finally arrived in a room with a square table, a chair at each side, and a fruit basket resting in the center.

At one chair sat a woman, facing the door through which they entered. Maverick recognized her immediately as the Queen, and Michael greeted her as soon as he laid eyes on her.

"Your Majesty," he said, presenting the proper etiquette.

"Come, gentlemen, please sit," she responded with a nod to Michael.

Edward walked over first and sat down at the table, directly across from her, while Maverick and Michael took the remaining sides.

The queen gave the Arch-Magus a nod. "Speaker Garling," she addressed him.

"Your Majesty," he replied, returning the gesture. "I've heard you're interested in my pupil."

"Yes…" she replied in her refined, royal accent, glancing from Michael to Maverick. "You've grown up, young man."

Maverick nodded politely. "Your Majesty, it's good to see you again."

This wasn't the first time he had been to Buckingham Palace. When he was younger, he had visited with his father and even met the queen herself.

The queen turned her gaze back to Edward. "Tell me, Speaker Garling. You took one of my subjects as your disciple when he was only six, yet you never thought to inform me?"

Edward didn't flinch. In fact, Maverick was even more impressed by the queen. She spoke so calmly, as if she were equals with a man who could level London without much effort. Maverick's respect for her grew as he saw her in a new light.

"Respectfully, Your Majesty, I'm not required to inform you," Edward replied calmly. "He is a wizard. I used my authority as Speaker to take him in as my apprentice and to conceal his identity while I trained him."

It was the first time Maverick had seen his teacher speak like this.

"Yes… those blasted laws made by fools after the war," Queen Elizabeth retorted.

Edward raised an eyebrow. "They were necessary. Many good people died for them—yours and mine alike."

"Oh, don't misunderstand," the queen replied, with a hint of condescension. "I respect the agreements. I just find some points unfair—like how you, or some ancient house, can simply snatch away any magical child born to us ordinary humans. Especially those from foreign lands."

"Ahem."

Michael cleared his throat, feeling the tension building in the room. The monarch and the Arch-Magus gave him a brief sideways glance before continuing.

"Tell me, Mr. Speaker," the queen said, "do you plan for him to join MACUSA? If so, I must protest. His father is the head of my government, and I can't have him working for a foreign country."

Edward met her gaze and finally understood why she had insisted on meeting Maverick.

"No. I never had such intentions, and I never will." He cast a quick glance at Maverick before turning back to her. "He is my student, and that is all. You should know he completed his No-Maj schooling here in the UK. I took him as my apprentice only because of his talent and because his father was one of my closest friends."

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

He paused before continuing, "In fact, one reason for my visit this time is to register him under the British Ministry of Magic, as a British wizard."

The queen looked at Maverick for a few quiet moments before speaking.

"You're an unusual one, aren't you, young man? Finished school, then university, all while learning magic. I hear you did quite well on your magical exams, too," she said, as if inviting Maverick to explain.

Maverick gave a sheepish smile, scratching his head. "Thank you for the praise, Your Majesty. It's all thanks to my teacher," he said, nodding to Edward before continuing. "He'd visit home regularly to mentor me in magic, even with his own responsibilities. And, well, normal school wasn't too challenging for me. I don't mean to brag, but I'd say I'm pretty smart," he added with a grin.

The queen gave him a look, then chuckled. "Yes, I saw your university grades. Impressive, learning from both worlds."

She turned to Michael with a smirk. "How on earth did that girl Ariel produce such a prodigy?"

Michael coughed. "Your Majesty, he's my son too..."

The queen chuckled, then turned back to Edward. "Well, I must thank you. Maverick may be a magical, but he's of the land I rule. You've taken wonderful care of him."

Edward nodded, playing along. "May I ask what you intend to request of my pupil? Surely you didn't summon him just to congratulate him..."

At last, the conversation turned to the real reason for the meeting.

The queen gave Edward a long, steady look, which he returned.

"I'd normally say it's none of your business, but since it's you, I don't mind sharing my proposal with young Maverick while you're here," she said, before looking directly at Maverick.

"I'd like you to work for me—for my government," she stated bluntly.

Maverick was speechless. He'd expected something like this but hadn't imagined it would be so direct.

Edward remained silent, clearly leaving the decision to his student.

Maverick glanced at his teacher, and seeing he wasn't going to intervene, took a deep breath.

"Ahem."

"Your Highn—Your Majesty," he began, stumbling slightly. "I'm still young, and I just finished school. I was hoping to travel for a couple of years first. After that… I'd like to work as a teacher at Hogwarts, so… I…" He trailed off, struggling to find a polite way to say no.

The queen kept her gaze fixed on Maverick—a bit of a power move, perhaps. Though he fidgeted slightly under her stare, he stood by his decision. His future wouldn't be as someone who just followed orders. No, he intended to be the one giving them.

Maverick hesitated at first, but in the end, his expression was firm. The queen saw that her plan hadn't worked and sighed.

Across from them, Edward held back a smirk, giving his student a silent thumbs-up. On the outside, though, he kept his face blank.

The queen decided to go with her backup plan. With Edward here, she couldn't simply make demands. Besides, by law, the witch or wizard had the final say on joining non-magical government.

The queen was determined to get Maverick on her side. Ever since learning that the head of her government had a magical son who was an apprentice to a Speaker, she had made up her mind to recruit him, no matter what.

First, Speakers didn't usually take on students; they had far more important duties. Second, if they did take one, it had to be someone truly exceptional. And finally, having an apprentice of an Arch-Magus meant an indirect link to the Arch-Magus himself.

She flexed the conditions and laid the details out for Maverick again.

"Whether you travel to the moon or teach at some school, that doesn't matter to me. I only need you to represent me," she explained. "I don't need you guarding me or going on missions every day."

"I'd only call on you as a last resort," she added. "If my family faced an extraordinary danger, or if the country were to go to war."

Maverick listened carefully, as did his father and teacher. The two adults, however, stayed silent and allowed him to make the decision on his own.

To be honest, he was tempted. He'd have the chance to work alongside his father, and she had promised him a lot of freedom. But in the end, he chose to decline.

The idea of going to war for the country wasn't appealing to him.

It wasn't that he didn't love his country; he did. But he was a wizard and, in time, would become a powerhouse. His system alone gave him confidence.

He simply didn't want to be forced to kill for political disputes led by people behind desks. After all, he was from 2024, and he knew that most future wars were little more than politically driven conflicts.

"I—I apologize, Your Majesty. I'll have to decline your offer. I don't want to fight other countries over politics," Maverick said, making his decision clear.

Rather than looking disappointed, the queen seemed puzzled. She stared at Maverick for a moment, then turned her gaze to Edward.

Edward looked at his apprentice as if he were a fool, and Michael, wearing a similar expression, did the same.

Maverick quickly sensed that something was off, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it—and didn't realize it was because of what he'd just said.

"Mr. Speaker," the queen called, her voice a bit heavier. "I must question the education you've provided to young Maverick here."

"Don't look at me—that's all him," Edward replied quickly, hands raised in defense.

Maverick looked from the queen to his teacher, then to his father, and back to the queen.

After giving Edward a hard look, the queen turned back to Maverick.

"What makes you think I'd ask you to fight other countries, young man?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Maverick's face grew puzzled. "But… you said I'd have to fight wars…"

"Yes, but not with other countries, you donut. Do you think wars only happen between nations?" the queen shot back.

Maverick's mouth opened, but he couldn't find the words. He now realized how foolish his response had sounded. His face flushed with embarrassment—not for himself, but for his teacher, whom he had unintentionally made look bad in front of the queen.

Politics and knowledge of global organizations were all part of what Edward had taught him, and he'd momentarily forgotten, completely misunderstanding the queen's words.

He first shot an apologetic look at his teacher, then turned to the queen.

"Apologies, my queen. I misunderstood."

The queen lifted the corner of her lips in a small, knowing smile. "Let me explain further. You'd only be asked to fight for Great Britain against terrorist organizations... wars against them, if any arise. More importantly, only if those organizations involve supernatural elements like witches or wizards," she clarified. Before Maverick could respond, she continued, "Allow me to sweeten the deal. You'd become part of my Double Zero squad. We have nine spots, and fortunately, there are three vacant at the moment."

She paused, watching Maverick. "You'll find the benefits quite convenient, especially since you have this grand plan to travel the world."

As soon as she mentioned the Zero Squad, Maverick's father straightened up. He couldn't help but blurt out as soon as she finished, "Your Majesty, isn't that a little—"

"Nonsense, Prime Minister," the queen interrupted sternly. "This is my decision, and as the supreme authority of this country, I can add or remove my subjects from government posts as I deem fit."

Maverick's mouth hung open, not because of what the others might think, but because he had a vague idea of what this Double Zero squad entailed.

When the queen mentioned it, his mind immediately flashed to memories from his previous life—a certain action movie franchise, incredibly popular worldwide. The infamous introduction echoed in his thoughts: Bond. James Bond.

Caeser. Maverick Caes—

Cough Cough Cough.

The attention in the room shifted to Maverick as he suddenly started coughing, his face flushed with embarrassment.

Maverick quickly swore that his thoughts were completely unintentional.

He tried to shake off the awkwardness, meeting the queen's gaze. "That… Your Majesty, may I ask what the benefits are that you just mentioned?"

——————————

Author's Note:

Just a quick update — up to Chapter 66 is already available on P AT r30n!

PAT r30n [.] com / RyanFic