I think you need the exercise

"Bode, move a little further to the left."

"Please... go to my left, not yours..."

"Bata!"

A wooden beam fell squarely on a house that had not been completely repaired.

Bode was exhausted, sweat pouring down his face. He dropped his wand, sat on the ground, and took several large gulps from his water bottle.

Agatha observed his thin arms and legs. "I heard there are some really strong wizards in the Ministry of Magic... and among the Silent People, there are even some exceptionally powerful ones."

Bode waved a hand dismissively. "I know what you're trying to say, Agatha, but... I'm just a researcher."

"Do you expect me to be both civil and military?"

Agatha licked her dry lips. "I know you're not... so, what a pity. I thought I'd found someone I could spar with."

Bode shuddered. "Are bounty hunters always this combative? Anyway, I'm done for today, and Agnes can't beat you. How about you try Old Rep?"

Agatha curled her lips. "He went out with Blake; otherwise, I'd have asked him to test my skills. I haven't used magic in years—I feel like I'm getting rusty."

She waved her wand forcefully. A large pile of thick wooden beams soared into the air, precisely landing where they were needed.

Bode was startled. That was a massive number of beams, incredibly heavy, all moved in an instant. That kind of power required not only immense magical ability but also extraordinary skill.

Obviously, Agatha's combat abilities weren't as rusty as she claimed.

Then, Bode had a sudden realization. "Wait a minute—you can do in a second what you had me struggle to do all day?"

Agatha smirked. "Because I think you need the exercise, Bode."

"Please! I was just using magic!"

"And yet, you're already exhausted, aren't you?"

Bode had no retort.

Suddenly, a circle of sparks appeared before them.

Everyone perked up.

Blake was back.

Bode stared at the shimmering circle, his eyes alight with curiosity. He longed to understand how this strange magic worked.

With a whoosh, the portal fully formed.

Through the glowing ring, a raging snowstorm was visible. A group of people stepped directly through the dimensional gateway. When it closed behind them, snowflakes scattered onto the ground.

"Phew!" Blake shook the snow from his robes. "Didn't expect Tibet to be this cold."

Old Rep exhaled into his hands, rubbing them together. "It's winter, Blake. What did you expect?"

Blake retrieved a peculiar-looking sunflower from his coat. It radiated a warm glow, bathing the group in comforting heat.

He looked around and grinned. "Agatha, you've outdone yourself. This place is amazing."

Bode scoffed. "The scenery is nice, sure, but this is a mountain. Other than plunderers, who's going to live up here? It's inconvenient to go down for anything."

Agatha shot him a sharp look. "You don't understand. It's safe here. This place is surrounded by cliffs—unless someone can fly, no one's getting up. Besides, I hid the entire mountain with magic today."

Bode muttered, "Still inconvenient..."

Agatha raised a brow. "Inconvenient? You're a wizard. Don't tell me you don't know how to Apparate? If you don't, I've got a broom for you."

Maybe it was because Agatha was so strong that she had little patience for weaker wizards. Bode always ended up on the receiving end of her criticism.

Aggrieved, he mumbled, "I... I'm a researcher..."

Blake clapped Bode on the shoulder. "Alright, Agatha, Bode's good at research. Not everyone needs to be aduellingg expert. It's fine. I have a way to make this place more accessible."

The location Agatha had chosen was remarkable. The mountain's peak had been flattened into a broad plateau, large enough to fit a football field. Sheer cliffs surrounded the summit, making it impossible to climb.

Blake looked around and remarked, "I didn't know the UK had mountains this high."

Agatha smirked. "It didn't. My family—my father, mostly—kept reinforcing it with magic over the years. He liked high places. The mountain just... grew."

Blake was speechless. "Your family just casually raised a whole mountain?"

Agatha's expression darkened at the mention of her family.

Blake realized his misstep. "Oh, sorry."

"It's fine," Agatha said after a pause. "He left me a good place."

Changing the subject, she turned to the newcomers behind Blake. "Why don't you introduce them?"

Blake had left with three people. Now, he had four more with him.

He gestured to a thin, sallow-faced man with brown hair and a stern expression. "This is Ackerman Allen. He was the focus of 'Walking with Ghouls.'"

"Hello," Allen said in a weak voice.

Agatha's eyes gleamed with interest. She could tell—this guy was stronger than Agnes.

Next, Blake pulled forward a short, stout man with a perpetual grin. "This is Church Wright, the main figure in 'Walking with Trolls.'"

"Hello, everyone!" Church beamed. "Just call me Church."

Agatha studied him carefully. People who looked harmless often turned out to be the deadliest.

Blake then indicated a hooded figure. "This is Winsty. You might remember her from 'Voyage with the Vampire.'"

Winsty lowered her hood, revealing a pale, young face. She looked no older than fifteen or sixteen.

Agatha and Agnes exchanged glances, surprised.

"How old was she when Lockhart attacked her?" Agnes asked, calculating.

"Twelve or thirteen," Winsty said matter-of-factly. "I was the daughter of the vampire in the book. He wanted to turn me into one of them."

Agatha keenly noted that at the mention of Lockhart, Winsty's pupils flashed red.

Finally, Blake introduced the last newcomer—a blonde, quiet middle-aged man. "This is Barry, from 'A Year with the Tibetan Snowman.'"

Barry hesitated before speaking. "My story... wasn't real. That snowman was just something I made using magic. I was lonely, hiding in Tibet. Lockhart took my story and made it his own."

His voice grew bitter. "I wouldn't have minded if he had just taken the story. But then he used the Obliviate curse on me... I lived in solitude! Who would want to hurt me?!"

His frustration made the ground beneath them slick with water. Agatha sensed his immense, pent-up magical energy.

After everyone had gotten acquainted, Blake turned to Old Rep. "Would you come with me somewhere?"

"Of course! Where to?"

"Knockturn Alley. I need to buy a few things to make this place more convenient."

Agatha smirked. "Buy things? In Knockturn Alley? Who actually pays for anything there?"

Blake and the others stared at her.

"What?" she asked. "Their money is dirty. Whenever I shop there, I never pay—because they can't beat me. If they report me, I'll return the items. But do they dare?"

Blake could only give a thumbs-up. "You're something else, Agatha."

"Not me," she said. "They're just cowards. So, let's go."

Old Rep shrugged, "I have no objection..."

Minutes later, they arrived at Borgin and Burkes.

The shopkeeper froze at the sight of Agatha. "You... you're not supposed to be here..."

Agatha grinned. "Oh? Do you mean to ask why a crazy woman like me is here?"

"Oh! No no no!"

Blake noticed that Bock's voice was trembling!

Obviously, the former Agatha must have brought many "pleasant" encounters to Borgin.

"Why would I think so? You know me..."

Borgin showed a smile that was uglier than crying.

"It's just that you haven't been here for a while. So I was a little surprised for a while..."

"I don't know...what do you want at this time?"

He looked at Agatha warily.

Agatha turned her gaze to Blake.

Blake pointed to an oddly shaped cabinet in the store.

"I want this cabinet!"

Borgin nodded and said, "Of course, of course! You have such a good sense!"

"This cabinet is uniquely made and not expensive. It only requires..."

Then Borgin saw Agatha's teasing eyes.

..".It's just that I like to make friends. Since this is the first time I have met you, then... I will give you this cabinet.

At this moment, Borgin's heart was bleeding.

=============

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