[TWD x Resident Evil] — Chapter 275 - Archbishop of Sin

The financial system was under attack by an anonymous entity, sending stock markets in several countries into freefall. Defense networks across multiple nations suffered back-to-back "accidents," nearly sparking international conflicts. In regions that were already tense, small-scale armed clashes erupted, throwing fuel on an open flame. Behind all of it ran the faint, unmistakable signature of intelligent manipulation.

Tony and the Avengers were drowning. They worked without sleep, chasing the source around the clock.

Every thread led back to Ultron.

It moved like a ghost through the vast ocean of data, leveraging the network to manufacture chaos and stoke conflict, keeping the Avengers perpetually on the move, stretched thin across the globe. Strangely, though, it stopped there. For an entity capable of triggering a genuine global crisis, it seemed almost content to cause inconvenience. That restraint left everyone baffled.

None of which was Hermione's problem.

Right now, she was standing with Agatha and Wanda in a barren wasteland, far from anywhere inhabited by anyone who might care.

This was the first time Agatha had reached out to her through the Witch's Mark of her own accord.

"The Book of Cagliostro truly lives up to its name." Agatha stroked the ancient tome, her eyes gleaming with undisguised greed and excitement. "Little Wanda's power has stabilized nicely. She's picked up quite a few techniques for controlling it just from this period of study. The Scarlet Witch's potential..." She clicked her tongue. "Truly bottomless."

Wanda stood a short distance away, crimson Chaos Magic flickering at her fingertips.

She was a different person from the one who'd faced Agatha with open fear and wariness. That tension had faded. Without any direct conflict of interest between them, after weeks of studying magic side by side, Wanda had found something unexpected: this witch who'd been alive for centuries was, eccentricities aside, genuinely decent company. They'd both arrived at the quiet feeling that they could have used each other sooner.

Hermione gave a small nod, her gaze settling on Wanda.

She could feel it, the chaotic magical power inside Wanda was several times larger than before, and far more concentrated.

"It seems you've made real progress."

"Please test me, Lady Witch." Wanda bowed slightly.

Hermione didn't bother with formality. She raised one hand, and a pure torrent of magical force coalesced in an instant.

Red light flared in Wanda's eyes. Chaos Magic surged outward like a wave and crashed into it.

The collision roared. Sand and gravel exploded outward. The ground fractured beneath them.

They traded several rounds. Wanda's offense was fierce and savage, her Chaos Magic's destructive output staggering, each strike carrying the weight of something that wanted to unmake whatever it touched. Even the Hulk would have had a rough time.

But every attack dissolved against Hermione without resistance. That seemingly unstoppable chaos energy, no matter how hard it pressed, could never quite breach the final line.

"Not bad." Hermione let her magic dissipate and nodded approvingly. "You've fully reached the top tier of the Avengers. Maybe past it."

She paused. Her expression went serious.

"Agatha Harkness. Your hunger for knowledge, your relentless pursuit of it, and your obsession with power, these fit the name of Greed. Today, as the Supreme Witch of the Witch Cult, I appoint you as the Archbishop of Greed, one of the Seven Archbishops of Sin."

Agatha set the book down and straightened. "I humbly obey the decree of the Lady Witch."

Hermione turned to Wanda.

"Wanda Maximoff. The fury that burns at your core is both the source of your power and the force that drives you forward. Today, I appoint you as the Archbishop of Wrath, one of the Seven Archbishops of Sin."

Wanda drew a slow breath and dropped to one knee. "I humbly obey the decree of the Lady Witch."

Five of the Seven Archbishops of Sin were now filled.

Greed: Agatha Harkness.

Wrath: Wanda Maximoff.

Gluttony: Kaecilius, Uncle Hannibal.

Sloth: Luna Lovegood.

Pride: Tom Marvolo Riddle, Brother Tom.

Envy and Lust remained open.

For Envy, Hermione already had someone in mind. She just needed to wait for the right moment to extend an invitation to Loki.

Lust had no obvious candidate yet. She wasn't in a hurry.

The ceremony concluded. The air loosened a little.

Wanda got to her feet. She hesitated, then reached out and tugged at Hermione's sleeve.

"Little Hermione," she said quietly, "what has Brother Tom been up to lately?"

Her cheeks had gone slightly pink. Her eyes drifted sideways as she spoke.

Titles during business, names during everything else. After this much time together, the total awe and fear she'd initially felt toward this Supreme Witch, who was, somewhat embarrassingly, younger than herself, had softened into something more comfortable. Hermione didn't put on airs. She didn't govern by terror. The Witch Cult, for all its ominous reputation, had given Wanda something she hadn't felt in a long time: a place to belong. It was a better life, by a considerable margin, than the constant uncertainty and wandering they'd known before.

The teasing on Hermione's face was already rising before Wanda finished the sentence.

"Oh?" She looked at Wanda with open mischief. "Taken a liking to the only male core member of the Witch Cult? Can't blame you. Brother Tom's face does tend to have that effect on people."

Wanda's cheeks went red immediately. Her eyes darted away and her hands came up in rapid denial.

"No — no, that's not — I was just asking! He's definitely busy with important things, I just — I was curious. About what he's been doing. That's all."

"Ah. Just curious."

Hermione drew the words out, smiling with every implication intact. "If you miss him that much, I can call him over right now. Give him some time off so he can keep you company."

"No, no, please don't!" Wanda was nearly jumping. She reached out as if to clap a hand over Hermione's mouth, thought better of it, and settled for shaking her head frantically instead. "That's not what I meant! Really! Don't pull him away from his work on my account!"

Hermione laughed, a bright, involuntary sound, and let her off the hook.

She turned to Agatha, who had been watching the whole exchange with visible enjoyment. "Alright. Let's talk business. You didn't reach out through the Mark just to watch us banter. What is it?"

Agatha's smile dialed back.

"Right. I nearly forgot." She paused, seeming to collect her thoughts. "A few days ago, HYDRA found me. I don't know how. They came looking to recruit me."

Hermione's eyebrow lifted. "HYDRA."

"Yes." Agatha nodded, a flicker of genuine confusion crossing her face. "I've been hidden for years. My activity has picked up lately because of you, but I've kept most of my movements covered with magic. By any reasonable measure, no one outside our own people should even know I exist, let alone know exactly where to find me. And yet HYDRA walked right up to my door." She held Hermione's gaze. "Something is wrong about this."

Hermione said nothing.

She stood there, thinking.

➤ Next: Make Hydra Great Again!