Harry Potter and the Old Ones

"You don't want to believe me." Tiera sighed softly, "Of course, I can understand it, but in this way, you will encounter many unexplained dangers. Sigh."

"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Lockhart." Jonathan Hadley seemed to be a little impatient. "We are all professional scientists. This scientific expedition team is composed of Australia's top geology, astronomy, Made up of experts in climatology and biology, please trust our professional capabilities.”

In the opinion of Jonathan Hadley, although Tiera's concern for their safety was entirely out of good intentions, this good intention made him feel a little offended by his professionalism, so he It was rare that he spoke a little more forcefully.

"Okay, okay, now that you have thought about it, I won't interrupt anymore. After all, I just need to know that the money I spent will be put into practice." Tiera smiled and nodded.

There was an awkward and lengthy silence after that, with Jonathan Hadley trying to avoid making any sound except to answer messages from other vehicles through the intercom.

And Tiera

He closed his eyes slightly again and began to fall asleep.

The convoy continued to move forward in silence.

There seemed to be only the chattering of walkie-talkies in the raging wind and sand.

After driving for about another hour and a half, Jonathan Hadley gently shook Tiera.

"Mr. Lockhart, Mr. Lockhart," Jonathan Hadley called softly, "We are here."

"Are you here?" Tiera opened her eyes.

"Yes, we have arrived at the low-lying area on the west side of the George Crater. Our car cannot pass here. We need to rely on human power to climb through the passage on the side rock wall to enter the inner area of ​​the George Crater. You are waiting in the car. Let’s take a look, or”

"Of course I'll be waiting for you in the car." Tiera smiled, "I'm not you, I'm not a professional scientific expedition team member, and I don't have the physical strength to walk into the crater area on foot in this kind of weather."

"Very well, Mr. Lockhart," replied Jonathan Hadley. "We may be here for a day or two, you see."

"No problem." Tiera nodded, "I said, I am only responsible for monitoring with the team whether my money is actually spent. How to implement it, how to operate it, and how to produce results are decided by you professionals. "

"Okay! Thank you, Mr. Lockhart!" Jonathan Hadley's impression of Tiera improved again.

After all, who doesn’t like investors who don’t mess around or get involved?

"It's a bit late today. Let's take a short break here and see if the wind and sand will get smaller every morning. Then we can take action again. Do you think it's okay?" Jonathan Hadley asked again.

"I said that everything related to the scientific examination is up to you," Tiera said, "I will obey the arrangement."

"Okay, then I'll notify you." Jonathan Hadley picked up the walkie-talkie and began to make arrangements for setting up camp.

They certainly couldn't spend the night in the car.

There is a huge temperature difference between day and night in the desert. It is very easy to get cold if you stay in an iron shell like an off-road jeep overnight. Therefore, you must use a tent made of heavy wool felt to spend the night.

But the wind and sand outside were raging again.

Therefore, Jonathan Hadley issued an order to the drivers of other vehicles to have more than thirty vehicles in the convoy form a circle around Tiera's car to form a temporary protective barrier.

Tiera looked out of the window and could see the figures of the scientific expedition team members blurred and distorted in the wind and sand.

Sand and dust kept beating against the car windows, making a whistling sound mixed with fine sand. Although this sandstorm brought great difficulties to the scientific expedition team's operations, the team members' actions did not slow down for a moment.

They are as efficient and familiar as machines.

Jonathan Hadley also took part in the construction of the camp, deftly manipulating the ropes and tent supports, completing each knot with almost undisturbed skill.

Soon, one tent after another popped up like mushrooms in the protective circle of the convoy.

In the cold wind, the figures of the team members finally disappeared temporarily into the afterglow of the sunset after the tents were set up.

Now, they can finally take a break and prepare for tomorrow's exploration work.

Night has completely fallen, and the crackling sound of wind and sand is gradually isolated outside the thick wool felt.

At this time, bonfires were already burning in the newly built camp, lighting up everyone's face.

The desert is not like other places. The temperature difference between day and night is huge here. The cold at night is in sharp contrast with the heat during the day. However, the thick wool felt tents and the bonfires raised in the camp brought necessary benefits to the members of the scientific expedition team. of warmth.

"Mr. Lockhart." As soon as the camp was set up, he knocked on the door of Tiera's off-road vehicle. "The camp is set up. Do you need to get out of the car to say a few words? Or do you need to get out of the car and walk?" Are you leaving? Dinner has just started cooking, it might take a while."

Logically speaking, for this kind of outdoor scientific expedition team, no matter you are a young master or a princess at home, as long as you don't lose your hands and feet when you go to the wild, you have to work. There is no situation where anyone can be idle, but -

Who told Tiera to be the sponsor?

When Jonathan Hadley directed everyone to set up the camp, he deliberately ignored Tiera.

As for the other members of the scientific expedition team, they are not so short-sighted and assume that the sponsor Tiela does not need to work.

That's why after finishing the work, Jonathan Hadley asked Tiera if she needed to go out for a walk and get some fresh air.

"It's my pleasure, if it's not too much trouble." Tiera thought for a while and said politely.

These people are all preparatory members of their own secret society in the future.

There should be more contact.

"No trouble, no trouble!" Jonathan Hadley hurriedly opened the door for Tiera.

"Mr. Lockhart, please go this way. Although the wind and sand are blocked, you still have to be careful." He led Tiera towards the nearest bonfire in a flattering manner.

There were about ten people sitting around the bonfire, most of them young people.

There are only two girls, the others are boys.

"Mr. Lockhart, please come this way." Jonathan Hadley pulled Tiera to sit down.

"This is my student, a doctoral student, Fabien Kahn," said Jonathan Hadley, pointing to a tall boy with wheat-colored skin and slightly curly hair. "He has already published three core articles. , and has already received an offer from the Dutch Space Agency. He has now finished handling the matters at hand and will be able to take up the position as soon as he graduates at the end of this year!”

"Hello, Mr. Lockhart, I am a big fan of your novels." Fabien Kahn stretched out his hand without being humble and shook hands with Tiera——

He knew his mentor's intentions very well, and introducing this financial sponsor to him was a disguised form of building connections for himself.