"I've stolen these jammers back as you instructed. Take them and use them. With these protective devices, we won't be caught so easily during our next operation," Aseria said, piling the metal rods in front of him.
The mysterious wizard, however, glanced at the items with considerable disdain. "I'm not interested in such alchemical creations. Over-reliance on tools only erodes one's resolve. I advise you to use them less as well. Just like those leather boots you brought back last time—though they temporarily increased your speed, that wasn't truly your own strength. Don't get lost in the temptation."
"What do you mean? You told me to steal these, and now that I've brought them back, you're not going to use them? What if we are caught by the Ministry again during the next operation? You can't let your stubbornness override the Club's needs!" Aseria felt that Thunderbird was being truly unreasonable. If he looked down on alchemy so much, why was he still wearing that mask? Why didn't he just throw that away, too?
"My not using them doesn't mean I won't give them to those who cooperate with the Club. Keep this trash for now. When the next operation comes, I'll return to pick them up." The mysterious wizard's voice rumbled, echoing through Aseria's home.
*Calling everything trash... who's the real trash?* Aseria's disgust for the man almost solidified, especially when he showed such contempt for the spoils she had spent an entire night acquiring. She truly regretted joining such an organization; she hadn't met a single normal person here. They were all like stubborn, ancient relics.
*Alas, if it weren't for… How did I fall into such a quagmire?* Aseria resented him inwardly, but outwardly, she had no choice but to obey.
"I can't stand you repeatedly trespassing into my home. If it's really not possible to take them now, store these jammers in your safe house. Besides, when I'm working at the Ministry, I can't even monitor my own house." Aseria was very annoyed by others casually entering her private space.
"Heh, you have no right to bargain." Thunderbird completely ignored her protest. "What you need to do is complete the tasks I assign you. Who knows if this junk made by some alchemist will suddenly malfunction? What if it ruins my safe house?"
*And you're not worried at all if it ruins my home?* Aseria grumbled indignantly. She knew she couldn't persuade this arrogant man, so she just snorted coldly to show her displeasure.
"Oh, right." Thunderbird glanced at the items, then looked up at her. "That Silver Lightning company you mentioned—its boss is that young alchemist, isn't he? I remember you brought him up once."
"That's right. His name is Alan Wilson. Although he's still young, his products have already been recognized by the Ministry. All sorts of alchemical equipment with very impressive functions. Because of him, the overall strength of the Ministry has greatly increased." Aseria couldn't help but recall tonight's encounter. Beyond the gear, Alan's ridiculously strong home security had also left a deep impression on her.
"Wastes who only know how to rely on external objects won't get much stronger no matter what." Thunderbird snorted. "However, these items are a bit troublesome. Although we've acquired some now, if they continue to exist, they will interfere with subsequent operations."
"What do you want?" Aseria heard the hidden meaning in his words.
"This alchemist, Alan... can we find a way to get rid of him? It's not good to have him constantly causing trouble for us." Thunderbird's tone was filled with a cold ruthlessness.
"What?" Aseria even suspected she had misheard. "He's still just an underage wizard; you actually want to lay hands on a child? And his equipment is already supplied to the Ministry now, so what good would it do to kill him?"
"It's precisely because he's still young!" Thunderbird's voice grew even sharper. "Being able to independently develop so much equipment at such a age means his talent must be extraordinary. If we leave him alone and let him continue to cooperate with the British Ministry, how can that be allowed? Don't forget, Ireland is a crucial part of the Club's operations. We're not here for minor skirmishes. In the future, we're going to establish this place as a vital transit hub for the Club."
"As for the existing items, it's simple: find an opportunity to destroy them when encountering Aurors. Anyway, the most troublesome ones are those jammers, and these so-called alchemy items have an expiration date, don't they? That's also why I look down on this trash. Relying on temporary things only makes people lose their judgment. When the equipment eventually loses its effectiveness, they will become even more pathetic than before."
Listening to Thunderbird's emotionless words, Aseria felt as if she had fallen into an ice cavern. *Can these people just casually trample on others' lives for their own benefit?*
"I advise you to abandon such thoughts. I forgot to tell you earlier—besides being a talented alchemist, Alan is also a combat hero honored by the Ministry. His strength is not weak; don't capsize in the gutter." Although Aseria knew such a title was unlikely to scare him, she couldn't help but warn him.
"Hahahahaha!" Thunderbird burst into laughter, as if he had heard something hilarious. "A com-com-bat hero." He seemed to choke on his own laughter, repeating the words through his throat. He muttering them again and laughed out loud once more.
"Are you sure you're not joking with me?" The unseen face behind Thunderbird's mask revealed undisguised mockery. "Everyone's energy is limited. Do you think a teenage wizard, with such alchemical talent, can be that strong himself? Not to mention that combat hero title; who knows what political purpose the Ministry had for awarding it? Even if he is a genuine hero, he's probably just defeated a few low-level Dark Wizards. I can't believe you would say such a thing. Actually, compared to facing a mere show-off, I'd prefer to encounter a formidable opponent."
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