https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-308-The-Maintenance-Worker-of-the-Parking-Garage/13685247/
Chapter 309: Intelligence Never Acquired [Double Chapter]
A shadow shot forward, only to be seized from behind by a Spider. Roaring in fury, he clawed at the two long legs pinning his body, wrenching them apart with a violent pull—thick, foul-smelling fluid splattered across his chest and arms.
The Spiders surged forward, devouring their fallen kin. Seizing the moment, he broke free and ran—only a few meters before his feet suddenly locked. Sticky Spider silk had wrapped around his ankles. Glancing down, he stumbled forward, collapsing as the entire body was dragged backward into the dark.
He screamed, arms flailing wildly. His sharp nails gouged the eye of one Spider, eliciting a high-pitched squeal like a dying rat. But more Spiders piled on, their venom injecting into his legs and arms. The snapping of their pincers echoed like bones cracking. In his mind, he could almost hear the sound of his own body being torn apart.
Then—clear and sharp—a bird’s cry pierced the air.
The Spiders froze mid-feast, stiffened for a heartbeat, then slowly backed away.
Bearded Man blinked one swollen eye open, barely able to focus. A crimson figure stood before him—fiery, radiant, impossibly beautiful.
So beautiful…
The thought faded as consciousness slipped away.
Firebird Mihal stood atop an Acromantula’s head, its body still radiating heat and flame despite its efforts to suppress them. Yet even so, the dense black fur atop its head bore two delicate, love-shaped claw marks—like bamboo leaves burned into the skin.
Wade approached, sighing. “Too bad… I wanted to catch that Darl.”
Among the four, the man with the thick brows—Darl—had likely gathered the most intelligence. He might even know the true identity and whereabouts of the so-called “Alpha.” But the man had reacted fast, with a Portkey so unpredictable that even Wade’s careful preparations hadn’t been enough to stop him.
Still, the Acromantula’s bite had injected a heavy dose of venom—directly into the brain’s door. Whether the one taken by Portkey was still alive or merely a corpse, no one could say.
Wade opened his Closet Space. The Spiders dragged the Bearded Man inside, drooling over the giant’s flesh. Though eager, they dared not move—Mihal’s watchful gaze held them in check.
As for the two injured Spiders earlier? They’d already been consumed entirely by their own kind.
Wade circled the area again, pulling out two men who’d been part of the earlier negotiations—those who’d seemed like leaders. Maybe he could squeeze a little more useful information from them.
The Life-and-Death Elixir worked as reliably as ever. Yet Wade still felt a pang of disappointment.
He knew it was naive to expect the group to remain clueless all the way to the American dock. But he hadn’t expected the plan to collapse so soon—before the ship even reached port.
The Alchemist was no longer just a target. Now, every faction that coveted its power had gathered in the lower hull. Whether Wade intervened or not, Darl and his crew were doomed to fail.
Better, he thought, to keep control of the situation himself than let them spark a chaos of unknown scale.
But Darl had escaped.
Wade exhaled, then cast a Muggle-Repelling Charm on each of the level’s access points—temporary, yes, but it would hold for about half an hour.
Then he brought out Veritaserum.
A forbidden potion. He didn’t have much, so he’d have to be careful. Fortunately, one drop on a Muggle was enough.
The clear liquid fell. The sleeping man stirred, eyes opening—empty, unseeing, fixed on the floor.
Bearded Man: “No… I never saw that man… When I was in Norway, the Full Moon Transformation killed someone. I escaped… and that group found me.”
“I never trusted their words… A man who hides his face? Only a fool would believe he’s noble. This time? I just wanted to make money. With money, I could leave, start over somewhere else…”
“Damn the future of Werewolves! I was just an ordinary kid, with a normal, happy family… until a Werewolf bit me. They’re all dead now. I’d kill every last one of them—including myself!”
Wade said nothing.
To ordinary people, Werewolves were myths. Most didn’t believe they truly existed. If a child were bitten and survived, parents wouldn’t lock him away out of fear—he’d be loved, cared for, helped through his trauma.
Then, on a moonlit night… tragedy struck. The claws, the fangs—snapping at the ones closest to them.
Wade moved the man aside and turned to interrogate the others.
Suit Man: “My employer is deeply interested in Magic… especially the Philosopher’s Stone. The one said to grant Immortality.”
“They say it was destroyed. But if the Alchemist created the first, surely they could make another. That’s why we need more Alchemists.”
“My employer wants to combine science and Magic—unlock the limits of human life.”
The words came out like rehearsed lines.
Wade asked: “And the real reason?”
Suit Man: “…My employer has cancer.”
Wade: “How many people did you bring?”
The man answered truthfully, naming his companions.
Wade: “Just these?”
“Yes. We got the message too late. And the bounty hunters we hired? Terrible reputation. We were sent to investigate the ship. Once confirmed, the employer would handle arrangements at the dock.”
Another faction operated under a corporate guise.
“Who wouldn’t want Magic? Unlimited power, Transmutation of Metals, Immortality… Our company’s studied Magic for years. But we’ve never been able to become ‘naturally gifted.’ Maybe Magic itself holds the answer—like the legendary Human Alchemy.”
The white-haired man spoke with wild intensity. He had more men—clearly, he’d come to gather intelligence first.
And like the Suit Man’s group, he too doubted the Bearded Man’s story.
Bearded Man was a known name in the underworld—but only for his shady reputation. His history of broken promises and betrayal had driven down the value of any intel he offered. But it also gave Wade more time.
Wade pressed the old man for the name of his company, the identities of his subordinates—and the message he’d sent just before collapsing.
Based on his experience, the man from across the ocean could arrive within hours.
With time still on his side, Wade asked the others.
A: “I once helped capture a Wizard… in Africa. The magic went berserk. My entire team died—only I survived.”
B: “I’ve never caught a Minor Wizard… Not that I know. I don’t even know if our company does. Each team operates independently.”
C: “These are my superior’s and colleagues’ names. The rest? We’re not allowed to know.”
D: “If the Americans get hold of Magic Puppet, they’ll turn it into a weapon to slaughter our people. I’ll stop them—no matter the cost.”
Ah… a double agent?
Wade: “How do you plan to kill so many?”
D: “I planted bombs on the ship. On the third day of sailing, it will explode.”
Wade: “Draw me the locations of all the bombs!”
Timing it right, the explosion would coincide with the arrival of the American company’s team.
Wade felt a pang of pity for the Bearded Man.
He’d thought his message would cause a stir. But the buyers hadn’t cared. Instead, one of their own had taken it seriously—and prepared to destroy everyone inside.
And the Bearded Man? He’d be dead too.
After all, becoming a Werewolf didn’t mean he could use Magic. The two systems were separate. He had no Portkey, couldn’t Apparate. If the ship blew, he’d go down with everyone else.
Just as Wade was lost in thought, a message arrived—Rita Skeeter’s.
> [Rita: You used a Portkey? You just threw me back?]
Wade frowned. He replied:
> [No. Someone else used it. How did you know?]
> [Rita: The Ministry of Magic takes Confidentiality Act seriously. But Portkey use is strictly monitored—when, by whom, and with prior approval. Illegal use is quickly detected.]
> [Normally, the Ministry doesn’t interfere at sea. But remember—there are Ministry agents aboard. Umbridge just got a message. She’s gathering people to investigate. Get out. Fast. Don’t let them catch you.]
> [Also, I found the person you’re looking for—on the fourth floor.]
The message was swift, sharp—almost as if sent by someone else.
Wade waved. The remaining suspects were dragged away by the Acromantula.
They’d confessed freely during interrogation—some had even attacked children. Wade had no intention of letting them live.
The rest—except the Bearded Man, who’d been stuffed into the Closet Space—were left for the Ministry of Magic.
What would they do if they learned so many Muggles coveted Magic’s power? Would Fudge panic, run to Dumbledore for help? Or would he keep pretending nothing was wrong?
Wade was curious.
…
Thud… thud… thud…
Rapid footsteps echoed through the stairwell. Two Aurors burst into the parking garage, wands drawn, scanning the area. They raised their wands, signaling.
Then eight more arrived—some carrying silver, mine-detection devices, sweeping them over the floor, walls, and vehicles. Others traced glowing silver circles in the air with their wands. The marks appeared instantly—on walls, floors, cars.
They ignored the bodies on the ground.
Then, a woman in a pink long dress—dressed like a child—strutted in on high heels.
“Well?” she asked. “Confirmed—Portkey use happened here?”
“Yes,” a pale, bespectacled girl whispered. “We detected residual Magic traces from the Portkey. Stairwell and elevator entrances both show signs of Muggle-Repelling Charms. And on the truck—massive amounts of Mucus, Thread, and Hair from Magic Creatures.”
“Based on that, at least ten Acromantula were likely transported in the truck. Their venom is extremely valuable…”
“So?” Umbridge snapped, cutting her off. “What’s the conclusion?”
“The suspect was smuggling Acromantula. We don’t know how they were discovered, but they clashed with the Muggles on board.”
“The suspect used a Portkey to escape. But how? Acromantula are violent, aggressive. They wouldn’t follow someone willingly.”
“Simple,” Umbridge said casually. “Chain them up.”
She finally looked down at the sprawled Muggles. “Wake them up. Find out who smuggled the spiders.”
The first man stirred. Before he could speak, he was hit with a question he couldn’t comprehend.
“Acromantula? What’s that?”
“Smuggling? I’ve never done that! I obey the law!”
“Portkey? You mean this?” The white-haired man fumbled in his pocket, pulling out a ring of keys.
One after another, the answers were the same—confused, baffled. Umbridge’s smile vanished.
“Clearly, the criminal is clever. These Muggles know nothing.”
She didn’t press further. She had no patience for wasting Veritaserum on such fools.
“Obliviate them all,” she ordered coldly. “Erase every memory—before and after boarding. No risk of a major magical leak.”
Hearing “Obliviate,” the old man’s face paled. Before he could decide whether to reveal himself, a wand was thrust into his face.
“Obliviate!”
The old man’s eyes went blank. He fell back, unconscious.
Umbridge adjusted her frilly shawl. “He’s likely escaped abroad by now. No point chasing him.”
“Clean up the scene. I’m accompanying Deputy Minister Gaben to tour the Muggle cinema. Honestly, I don’t see the appeal.”
She clicked her heels up the stairs.
“Don’t forget the truck,” Greengrass called after her, following.
The rest of the Ministry agents exchanged glances, shrugged, and got to work—Obliviating the remaining Muggles, then launching the cursed truck into the sea.
“Wait! Wait!” The suit man raised his hand. “I can give you vital information—we—”
“Obliviate!”
The man never finished. His words vanished into silence.
The others stared.
The wizard just shrugged. “We’re on paid vacation, guys. Seriously—should we really be working?”
The others paused. Then nodded. It made sense.
They gave him a thumbs-up, then redoubled their pace—cleaning up the battlefield.
Wade stared.
He’d expected to see Fudge agonizing over a choice.
But he hadn’t even had the chance to hesitate.
(End of Chapter)
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