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Chapter 307: Rita Skeeter's Notes
Rita Skeeter’s Quick-Write Feather Quill was truly special. It could automatically transform simple scenes and conversations into lush, over-the-top text—overflowing with exaggerated phrasing and wildly unrealistic metaphors. That’s why Wade didn’t see just a few pages of intel when she pulled it out. Instead, she produced a thick, leather-bound notebook, its pages densely filled with elegant, flowing script from the ever-active quill.
Wade flipped open a random page and read:
> “Poor Darl had no idea that, as he joyfully believed his mission would succeed, his so-called comrades—those he considered family—were already eagerly anticipating the moment they would drive a blade into his back.”
>
> “His silhouette stood lonely and desolate, the salty wind whipping across the sea—tears he was forbidden to shed, now flowing silently in the depths of his despair. Yet even in utter hopelessness, Darl did not fall. He remained the last line of defense, steadfast and unyielding.”
>
> “This admirable man had not abandoned hope… but even if he escaped this traitorous vessel, the scars within him would remain forever—eternal shadows haunting the rest of his life. Who could he possibly write to now? No one. He could no longer write to anyone.”
Wade looked up, eyes meeting the satisfied gaze of the witch flipping through her own masterpiece. He took a deep breath, then swiftly flipped through the entire notebook, skipping past the excessive embellishments.
Rita Skeeter had a habit Wade wasn’t sure whether to praise or condemn: despite her articles being rife with hyperbolic descriptions and speculative falsehoods, they were always rooted in some real facts. For instance, when she wanted to slander Hermione, she didn’t fabricate rumors from thin air. Instead, she chased down people who disliked Hermione—like Parkinson—and then applied her signature “Skeeter-style” flair to their words.
So after stripping away the flourishes, Wade finally understood what had happened.
Darl—the man with the thick brows—had been appointed temporary leader. He appeared fiercely loyal to the mission’s commander, pushing himself and others relentlessly, never allowing anyone to slack off.
But among the three subordinates he’d brought aboard, two harbored secret intentions.
Garo the Mustached Man had fought with Lars the Freckled Driver earlier. After the fight, while Lars slept, Garo quietly retrieved a hidden phone from his person and sent a message. The Skeeter Beetle, perched on the car window’s edge, hadn’t seen the message’s content—but the way Garo furtively glanced around, shifting his weight and whispering into the device, was more than enough to confirm he’d done something foul.
Later, when the two went to eat, Darl and Donovan the Bearded Man stayed behind to guard the vehicle.
Donovan claimed he needed to use the restroom. But instead of returning, he ducked into the horn’s shadow and made several phone calls.
This time, the Beetle had followed him into the restroom, crouching silently atop the stall partition, catching every word.
In short, Donovan had realized the alchemist they’d captured was a valuable prize. He’d sent messages to multiple interested parties—selling the information to several buyers, profiting handsomely. He’d even encouraged them to compete against one another.
That meant the man—or the faction he was connected to—was likely already aboard the ship.
“I came here to collect intelligence, not to loaf around,” Rita defended. “I heard the voice from the massage side. That’s why I’m here.”
“Did you identify who he was contacting?” Wade asked.
Rita shook her head regretfully. “No… or maybe whoever he was talking to already left by the time I got here.”
Wade paused, then said, “I just saw the Greengrass family…”
“Oh, they came with Umbridge—Ministry of Magic funded this little tour. Everyone who could afford it came. About a dozen people total!”
Rita sniffed with a mix of contempt and envy, then bit her nail thoughtfully.
“Right, I can use that—‘Shocking Secrets Revealed: How Ministry Officials Are Siphoning Public Funds! What Hidden Scandals Lie Beneath the Surface?’”
She tucked the tip of the Quick-Write Feather Quill between her lips, sucking on it with relish. The emerald-green feather instantly snapped upright, darting across the parchment like a live thing, scribbling rapid lines that filled half the page in moments.
Wade glanced at the time. “The truck’s still guarded by the thick-browed man and the bearded one?”
The quill paused mid-motion, poised like a sentinel.
“Yeah,” Rita confirmed.
“I’ll take the truck. You find the other two. If it’s convenient, check who else is watching the lower-level parking garage. Be careful.”
“Got it.”
Rita waved dismissively, watching the middle-aged wizard—looking perhaps in his thirties or forties—depart.
The quill began to slide silently across the page:
> “Wade Gray is a terrifying young man—unnervingly skilled beyond his years. When he chooses to impersonate someone, no one inside can see through it.”
>
> “Of course, physical resemblance is nothing special. Anyone who can afford Polyjuice Potion can mimic any face. But after Wade Gray transforms, no one can guess—beneath that adult form—lurks the soul of a thirteen-year-old.”
>
> “I witnessed the transformation myself. When he ‘became’ an adult, his eyes instantly carried the depth of lived experience—the wisdom only time can grant. It was uncanny.”
>
> “I felt both fascination and dread. Can such a master of disguise truly be just a student? How many times has he worn another’s face, performed unthinkable acts, all under a borrowed identity?”
>
> “I have determined to go deeper. I will observe the dark side of a boy celebrated by the public as a prodigy. I will listen for the truths buried beneath the heroic narratives of so-called ‘saviors.’ I know the danger. I know the difficulty. But I am determined to uncover the truth—no matter the cost.”
“Snap!” The notebook closed with a sharp sound and was shoved deep into her handbag.
Rita checked her reflection in a mirror, gently stroking the shiny gemstone ring on her finger with affection, then set off to hunt down the people Wade needed to find.
To uncover secrets, you first had to earn trust.
This time, her target wasn’t some easily broken fool—someone who’d spill everything after a single cup of Veritaserum-laced black tea. But that made her even more fired up.
—I am a patient seeker, she thought smugly to herself.
…
The figure of Wizard Wenar vanished into thin air shortly after stepping out of the elevator.
Thankfully, the ship’s surveillance cameras were far fewer than Wade had expected.
But the deeper he went, the heavier his mood became.
The lower hull held crew dormitories, cargo holds, the parking garage, and utility zones like power distribution, climate control, and maintenance.
Normally, tourists only lingered in the upper decks. The lower levels were rarely visited—mostly reserved for crew.
But now, as Wade descended, he found the corridors crowded with people in mismatched outfits—tourists, seemingly everywhere, making the space feel uncomfortably packed.
(End of Chapter)
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