Chapter 1388: Trap? Instance Trial
Chapter 1388: Trap? Instance Trial
As night fell, large snowflakes began to drift down outside, showing no signs of stopping.
The usually bustling headquarters of the Defense Association was, for once, enveloped in a rare moment of tranquility.
With a creak, the wooden door to the living room was pushed open, and in walked Sana, carrying two cups of steaming coffee. Placing one of the cups in front of the young man who was seated on the sofa and engrossed in a book, she took a slight sip from her own cup before settling into the sofa on his right. Glancing at the magical clock hanging on the wall, she spoke, "I didn't expect you to actually stay behind."
"I'm not their babysitter. It's already good enough that I can stay here and provide them with a final layer of assurance." Albert closed the book after finishing his labeling, placing it on the table. He picked up the cup of steaming coffee and took a small sip, furrowing his brows slightly as he said, "People always need to rely on themselves, and I don't think they'll be in any danger tonight. It's just a small trial, and they'll face even greater challenges in the future."
"The final battle?"
Sana had often heard Albert mention this. All their efforts were in preparation for the ultimate showdown with the Death Eaters.
"At that time, we will also lose many companions, but that is war. War is always more cruel than we imagine." Albert put down his coffee cup and turned to look at the blizzard that had suddenly picked up outside the window. "Those who underestimate it will pay the price."
The topic was undoubtedly too heavy, weighing down on Sana and leaving her a little breathless. She knew that Albert didn't like to lie, but...this was war.
She wondered how many members of the association truly understood the cruelty of war.
"Our funds are running out!" She took a deep breath, trying to change the subject.
This was something she had intended to bring up with Albert.
"Our team is growing larger, and our daily expenses are increasing. I've estimated that the remaining galleons you left won't last until next month, and this is also related to the frequent celebration feasts we've been holding. I think..."
"You don't need to worry about the galleons. I'll talk to some other wealthy wizards about this matter. I believe there are still some who are willing to contribute to the peace of the wizarding world. Moreover, our team doesn't need to be maintained indefinitely. After this Wizarding War is over, the association will basically disband."
If it weren't for Sana's reminder, Albert might not have realized that the association's funds were running low.
In fact, it wouldn't have mattered even if they had run out.
The association's biggest expense was food, and most of it came from the Muggle world. Buying food in the Muggle world required pounds, not galleons. The pounds that had been spent actually came from the Muggle families who had been brutally killed by the Dark Wizards. After all, even Albert couldn't legally obtain a large sum of pounds in a short period of time. Using the wealth left behind by the Muggles who had been cruelly murdered, while also seeking revenge for them, was currently the simplest solution."
Of course, most of the people in the association didn't know about this, and Albert didn't plan on letting too many people know.
"I think the Christmas Eve dinner should be a little richer than usual. I've already ordered a batch of butterbeer, which should be enough for everyone." Noticing Sana's complex expression, Albert offered reassurance, "This war will be over soon, so there's no need to worry about expenses."
"It's hard to imagine that you're still planning to celebrate Christmas."
Sana had expected this, but she still couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion. As the chief housekeeper of the Defense Association, she knew more about the actual situation within the association than most wizards.
They were completely broke, and it was incredible that the Defense Association had not only managed to continue but also grow to such a large extent. It was worth noting that the Defense Association was not only supporting their own members but also providing aid to the wizards in the two shelters, even if it was just food. Nonetheless, the fact that the association was still holding on was nothing short of a miracle.
"I wonder how everyone is doing now!" Sana turned her head to look at the wind and snow outside the window, murmuring to herself.
"They're even better than you think," Albert said, taking another sip of his coffee. "They're probably trying to eliminate those Inferi hidden in the forest right now. They'll be back soon."
This drink was bitter! Albert's guess was correct. The members of the Defense Association were indeed attempting to eliminate the Inferi hidden in the forest. Those evil dark monsters were more numerous than they had anticipated, scattered randomly throughout the forest before them. It was unclear where the Death Eaters had gotten so many Muggle corpses to create the Inferi.
In any case, wandering through the forest filled with countless Inferi in the middle of the night was an extremely foolish endeavor. Those monsters could pop out from any corner and pounce on them, biting and tearing wildly.
The worst-case scenario was that there might also be Death Eaters hiding among the Inferi, ready to strike at any moment.
If they were to lose their lives because of this, it would truly be a case of the cure being worse than the disease.
However, none of these concerns could stop the members of the Defense Association, especially after Albert's guidance. The association members were well aware of what they needed to do.
Utilizing their tools effectively, the group created a ruckus to lure and annihilate any nearby Inferi.
Stepping into an enemy trap was undoubtedly foolish, and even with their Black Magic detectors, they still faced considerable risk. The best course of action was to throw out a scouting stone.
This was not a difficult task for the well-prepared Defense Association members. They had already set up cheap store mannequins to attract firepower and created a commotion to draw attention, while they hid behind and responded as needed.
Their true enemies were the Death Eaters and Dark Wizards, not the hidden Inferi.
However, they soon realized that there were likely no Death Eaters or Dark Wizards nearby. The only things attracted by the mannequins were some snow-covered Inferi.
These creatures were swiftly dealt with by the arriving association members, who turned their corpses into wood and disposed of them.
In essence, this was a trap set by the Death Eaters to cause trouble for them. It wasn't even a proper trap, more like a decoy to divert their attention. Clearing the entire forest of Inferi would take an unknown amount of time and was a tedious and unrewarding task.
It might even cost a few more lives, which was exactly what the Death Eaters wanted.
After all, the defenders' rate of eliminating Inferi was surely slower than the Death Eaters' rate of creating them.
However, the Death Eaters were unaware that the one who suggested this plan, Alecto Carrow, was actually one of Albert's people. This so-called trap was intentionally set up to provide the Defense Association members with a training ground. Undeniably, clearing the forest would take a lot of time, but it also offered them a valuable opportunity to gain practical combat experience relatively safely.
Of course, the Death Eaters didn't lose out either; at least, they wouldn't be bothered by the Defense Association for a while.
This simple trap succeeded in delaying Albert Anderson, buying the Death Eaters precious time to wait for the return of the Dark Lord and launch a counter-attack.
"If this is a trap, we're probably in deep trouble," Fred commented to the girl beside him as he struck down the last Inferius.
After speculating that there were no Dark Wizards nearby, the original team split into four smaller squads and spread out to clear the forest of the hidden Inferi from different directions.
"We could just set this forest on fire and burn everything, bodies included," someone suggested maliciously.
"Don't be stupid. Albert wouldn't want us to do that," came the reply.
They turned the corpses into wood and collected them before continuing deeper into the forest.
Once the number of wood pieces in their traceless bags increased, they would burn them to ashes.
Similar battles were still taking place in the forest, and it was unclear if it was due to the Inferi being hidden in the snow, but these creatures were slower and more rigid than expected. The only trouble was that they were well-hidden, requiring more time to lure and eliminate them.
It was a good thing they had used the mannequins to scout ahead; otherwise, the situation could have been much worse. Many members of the Defense Association were newcomers, and tonight's operation had given them valuable insights.
"Let's head back; it's getting late!"
The absence of distress signals was perhaps the most satisfying aspect of the night's operation for Cedric. Although his squad had only managed to take down thirty Inferi in an hour, the overall harvest was decent, with at least two or three Inferi per person.
Yes, that's right.
These damn things now needed to be shared among the group. At least for the first time, it was necessary to ensure that all members of the squad truly faced these undead creatures.
To be honest, Inferi were quite terrifying, especially in the midnight forest, in the silent snowy terrain. For some of the girls, it was indeed a challenge to their courage.
Perhaps, for some, tonight's operation seemed like a farce, but everyone had to admit that in such an environment, most members were able to gain valuable combat experience. Especially with some bragging rights from their achievements, the enthusiasm for eradicating Inferi began to soar.
The only slight hiccup was that a few unlucky individuals had gotten injured, but they had been properly treated.
While the Inferi's claws and teeth were non-toxic, they were certainly not clean, so emergency elimination was necessary. However, no one took the injuries seriously, and everyone returned to headquarters eagerly discussing the night's events under the urging of their squad leaders.
That night, many association members stayed up excitedly, reliving the evening's events.
(End of Chapter)
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