Scourers
Outside Newt's house in Dorset.
Three Kneazle were lazily lying on the grass, their tails occasionally flicking.
Lucien sat on a low stool, holding a soft-bristled brush, patiently grooming one of the ginger Kneazle.
The Kneazle squinted its eyes, purring contentedly, and occasionally rolled over, exposing its belly for him to groom.
Newt crouched nearby, holding a cat toy, trying to get the other Kneazle to stretch their muscles.
The Kneazle merely glanced at him lazily, showing no intention of making a move.
While grooming the fur, Lucien casually asked, "Isn't Ms. Tina here? She's always the one who takes care of these three little guys whenever I come."
Newt put down the cat toy and brushed the grass clippings off his hands. "Recently, the Scourers have suddenly started operating in the US. Tina has been specifically asked to go back and guide their work."
Lucien paused slightly. Tina had been an elite Auror in the Magical Congress of the United States of America decades ago, and had also experienced the Wizarding Wars of Grindelwald's era. She was knowledgeable and capable, a true veteran of the Magical Congress of the United States of America, and it was perfectly normal for her to be specially invited to provide guidance. But the Scourers...
"Scourers" is a unique group in the United States.
Before North America gained independence and unification, its coastline was occupied by several countries as colonies. Among the Europe who came there were some exiled criminals, including Muggle and wizards.
Some wizards chose to start a new life, but many more—who were themselves dark wizards who had committed serious crimes in Europe and were on the run from their home countries' magical governments—fled to North America, changed their identities, and continued to commit evil.
Because North America did not yet have a unified magical government and law enforcement agencies at that time, those evil wizards gained "freedom" and became the precursors to the Scourers.
They would stop at nothing to make money, not only hunting down dark wizards but also framing ordinary wizards and even capturing innocent Muggle to impersonate wizards and sell them to church witch hunters for a reward.
In the infamous Salem witch hunt, a large number of Scourers infiltrated the Muggle courts, deliberately betraying the identities of their fellow wizards and even fabricating evidence to frame innocent people.
Most of the wizards and Muggle who died in that tragedy were directly related to the Scourers ' instigation.
The Salem incident directly led to the creation of the Magical Congress of the United States of America of the United States. Upon taking office, the first president immediately launched a full-scale purge of the Scourers, executing the vast majority of core members and completely dismantling the organization.
A small number of Scourers escaped the purge integrated into Muggle society, intermarried with Muggle, and settled there. Most of their descendants inherited their extreme hatred of magic. The most typical example is the "Second Salem" anti-wizard organization, whose core members are direct descendants of the Scourers.
The Scourers's betrayal and the Salem massacre directly led to the United States enforcing the International Statute of Secrecy much more strictly than Britain: American wizards are forbidden from marrying Muggle, from displaying any magic in front of Muggle, and must strictly conceal their identities in daily life; the entire magical community maintains a high degree of vigilance and distrust towards Muggle.
"Those Scourers are absolute extremists, extremely dangerous." Lucien frowned. "Ms. Tina's safety—"
Although it's called "guidance work," given Tina's personality, she'll most likely still personally take to the field to arrest the Scourers; she's not the type to sit in the back and give orders.
Newt smiled, his tone reassuring, "Tina's magic and combat skills haven't declined at all; she's always complaining that she retired too early. Besides, I've given her all those alchemical amulets you gave me before."
Upon hearing this, Lucien took a small box out of his pocket and handed it to Newt: "I've had some new ideas about Alchemy lately, and I've made some new protective gear. Could you please give this to Ms. Tina for me?"
Before Newt reply, Lucien continued, "I'll add another feature to your and Ms. Tina's Instant Whisper: an automatic one-click SOS in case of danger. Once triggered, the location information will be instantly sent to the preset contact."
Newt took the box. "Thank you for your thoughtfulness."
"Lucien, the Zouwu you want to observe and study is a unique Magical Creatures from that great Eastern country. I've applied for it for you, but you still need to pass a breeding qualification exam. Are you all ready?"