Chapter 353: Vampire
Graynwhite picked up the photos and tossed them aside casually. Kariel reached out and took them, glancing at the images.
“I heard they said this guy named Will might already be dead. Why are we even looking for him?” Kariel asked.
“Who’s to say he actually is?” Graynwhite replied. “If he’s alive and fell into enemy hands, we’ll decide whether to rescue him or eliminate him based on the situation. But if Darl’s failure was caused by Will leaking information, then he’ll pay with blood.”
“So in any case, he has to die, right?” Kariel said, tossing the photos back down with a shrug. “Hope I get to meet him—this place is boring.”
“That’s not your mission,” Graynwhite said. “You need to get close to Wade Gray. And if the chance arises…”
“Got it, got it! You’ve said it a dozen times already!” Kariel snapped, growing impatient. Seeing no change in the Streaming Mirror’s display, he turned on the television in the room as well.
He sat cross-legged on the bed, barefoot, his posture that of a mischievous Bear Child. But with his good looks, it didn’t come off as unpleasant.
Graynwhite muttered under his breath and stopped paying attention. He picked up his quill and began writing on a sheet of paper.
From the handmade leather-bound notebook he was using, it was clear this was a Book of Friends.
Outside the window, Wade chewed on his lip.
That was the downside of technological advancement—no matter how brilliant the inventor, they couldn’t ensure their creation benefited only those they intended, especially not their enemies.
If it were a phone, he might’ve tried embedding a hidden Surveillance Camera.
But the Book of Friends was just paper.
Wade couldn’t hide a Surveillance Camera inside it without being detected—especially not with wizards like Dumbledore still around. No one knew just how many Spells the old man truly mastered.
Wade wasn’t foolish enough to challenge wizards who had spent their entire lives mastering magic with only a few years of personal experience.
So his Book of Friends remained pristine—no hidden cameras, no bombs.
That was also why Graynwhite had chosen to keep using it after entering the Muggle town: Muggle telephones could be easily tapped, but the Book of Friends could not.
Thus, Wade, the inventor himself, could only watch through the glass, utterly ignorant of what was written on the page.
—Maybe there’s no need to wait any longer.
Wade glanced at Kariel, then silently slipped away from the trio of birds, gliding on outstretched wings toward a narrow alley nearby.
He needed to shift back into human form to use magic or a potion and take down the two men inside the room.
Wade had no old friendship with Kariel. All he wanted was to give the boy a good beating—so his father could finally be reunited with his son, and then ask Dumbledore or a top Auror to investigate the truth behind the incident.
Kariel’s attack on Remus Lupin had been atrocious, but he was still under fourteen. Under Muggle law, he couldn’t be held criminally responsible.
Yet in the magical world, even thirteen- or fourteen-year-olds sometimes had to face consequences for their actions.
Wade was still considering what method to use to capture the two unguarded men when suddenly, a strange, fluttering sound echoed through the air.
He spun around—two large bats had dropped from the sky and slammed straight into the window glass.
“Who’s there?” Graynwhite snapped, instantly alert. He rushed to the window and stared at the creatures.
“Nile? Clami? You’re not still tailing them?”
“Yeah,” Clami replied.
The two bats reshaped into human forms—man and woman. The woman was unmistakably one of the couple he’d seen earlier. The man looked familiar.
Wade frowned, then remembered—this man had been at the inn before, though he’d been barely noticeable, half-hidden behind potted plants.
“Dumbledore’s arrived,” Clami explained. “But he’s been delayed by injured wizards. I doubt we’ll stay much longer without getting caught.”
Graynwhite frowned, then nodded. “You’re right… Where are the photos?”
“Here.” Nile gestured to the camera in his hand. “Still not developed.”
Graynwhite nodded. “Get them processed fast. Best if they make tomorrow’s front page.”
“Got it.” The man lowered his head and fiddled with the camera.
Graynwhite didn’t mind his attitude. He only smirked, eyes filled with cold malice.
“These wizards are weak. Werewolves and Vampires alike are pathetic. All because of that ridiculous rule—”
“The Treaty on Half-Humans Not Wizards,” Kariel suddenly interjected. “I think that’s what it’s called.”
Graynwhite paused, then shot back, “You didn’t even attend class!”
“Come on,” Kariel said, exasperated. “I’m not asleep every second. And sometimes, I actually read books.”
Graynwhite was momentarily silenced. He ignored him and turned to the others.
“Once this story hits the papers, it’ll cause a scandal. Werewolves will be in even worse shape. Then, when we reach out, they’ll finally understand who their real allies are.”
Kariel stifled a sigh, muttering under his breath.
Nile and Clami both nodded. Clami grinned wickedly. “I’m reporting that Clare’s a Werewolf! Let her taste betrayal from someone she trusted.”
“Too bad no one’s dead,” Nile suddenly said. “Otherwise, the outrage would be even greater.”
“Don’t need victims,” Graynwhite said. “Just find a good journalist. Like Rita Skeeter…”
“She’s gone quiet,” Clami replied. “Apparently, she exposed a high-ranking Ministry official. Now she’s been targeted—had to flee abroad.”
“Then go to Gufei. I think he’s the editor now.”
“Got it.”
Goo-goo.
Two voices spoke at once.
Nile spun sharply, eyes locked on the owl outside the window. After a long stare, he slowly pulled out his wand and slashed it toward the sky.
A black bolt of light struck the owl mid-flight. It fell straight down, limp.
Before the second owl could travel two meters, it too plummeted, joining its companion.
Wade crouched in the alley’s shadow, watching as the man retrieved the two owl bodies. After a cautious scan of the surroundings, he slipped back into the inn’s room.
“What was that? Why use magic all of a sudden?” Graynwhite snapped, annoyed. “You’re going to blow our cover!”
“You’re the ones who were careless!” Nile scowled. “There were owls outside. How could you not shoo them away? Don’t you know wizards can turn into animals?”
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
