Chapter 394: Resolving Troubles
Chapter 394: Resolving Troubles
"Are you sure this is the place?"
Avery Carrow furrowed his brow, feeling that this Muggle village was utterly unremarkable and did not seem like the right location for their target.
Rodolphus Lestrange, who was leading the team for tonight's operation, glared at Avery, clearly irritated by the latter's challenge to his authority.
"Are you questioning my abilities, or doubting the Master's judgment?"
"Don't smear me like that!" Avery's voice was sharp, and there were some things that simply couldn't be said carelessly. "I would never doubt the Master's judgment. However, even if the Master is great, there will always be some useless people who can't perfectly serve him, carry out his orders, or contribute to him!"
Even though the Master wasn't present, Avery wouldn't miss any opportunity to flatter him.
What Rodolphus despised most was this aspect of Avery's character.
He always believed that the Carrow siblings were no different from the Malfoys, who were merely fence-sitters. They hadn't been imprisoned in Azkaban because of their loyalty and refusal to yield, but simply because they were foolish.
And now, this foolish person was buzzing around him like a fly, causing a disturbance.
Rodolphus was already in a foul mood, and he glared at Avery with a sinister look.
"If you have any grievances with me, you can go back to the Master now and tell him you want to replace me as the leader of this operation. But if you don't have the courage to do so, you'd better follow my orders obediently. Otherwise, even if I kill you here, the Master won't blame me. He despises useless people the most!"
Avery seemed to be intimidated by Rodolphus's words and glare. His face turned red, and he wanted to say something harsh, but ultimately lacked the courage and closed his mouth.
The Death Eaters team that had come here was not limited to just the two of them. There were three others with them.
However, these three were of lower status than Rodolphus and Avery and had no say in the matter.
Since the Death Eaters had successfully broken out of Azkaban and reunited with Voldemort, the internal structure of the Death Eaters had undergone a significant change.
After their defeat, Voldemort had a clearer understanding of who was truly loyal to him and who was merely putting on a show.
Those who had been in Azkaban for over a decade were undoubtedly his most loyal followers.
As for those who were merely putting on a show, some of them retained their positions due to their families' irreplaceable status in the Wizarding World, which made Voldemort turn a blind eye to their past actions.
These two groups formed the core of the Death Eaters, the highest-ranking servants below Voldemort, represented by Rodolphus's wife, Bellatrix, and Lucius.
The rest became lower-ranking members.
For example, Karkaroff, who had once betrayed Voldemort and had been of no use last year.
Although he had been rescued from Azkaban and spared his life, he was now at the bottom of the Death Eaters hierarchy, vulnerable to the abuses of anyone.
People like Bagman and Wormtail were in similar situations.
They had once provided Voldemort with considerable assistance, but now they had lost all value. It was a relief just to have their lives spared, and they could no longer expect any status within the Death Eaters.
"Does anyone have any other objections to the plan I've laid out?"
After subduing Amycus, Rodolphus swept his gaze over the three other Death Eaters behind him.
Each one of them lowered their heads as his eyes met theirs, indicating they had no intention of being difficult.
With his absolute dominance firmly established, Rodolphus began to assign the tasks.
"Our master has only told us that he is in this village, but not the exact location. We need to find him ourselves."
"There are only so many people in this Muggle village, and any newcomers in recent times would have been easily noticed. We will split up and each use the Imperius Curse on a Muggle to find out where any new residents have moved in. We'll regroup here in ten minutes. If anything goes wrong, send a signal into the sky."
"Any other questions?"
He had been clear in his instructions, and the other four, including Amycus, had no grounds for complaint.
The five of them nodded to each other and then dispersed into the darkness.
Their conversation, however, had been heard in its entirety by Sherlock, who had already expanded his control field.
Rodolphus was no stranger to him.
As the current head of the Lestrange family, Sherlock's vast fortune in the French Gringotts vaults had all been taken from the family vault.
Even though Rodolphus had escaped from Azkaban, he likely hadn't discovered this yet.
After all, Voldemort and his followers had only recently announced their return to the Wizarding World. The goblins at Gringotts, though still opportunistic, would not switch sides until the Death Eaters had a clear advantage.
So, as a fugitive, Rodolphus had probably not yet checked his family vault.
Regardless of whether he had or not, Sherlock knew this was not the time to dwell on such matters.
From Rodolphus's words, it was clear they had come here to find someone.
And the only person they could be looking for, other than Slughorn, was impossible to think of.
Voldemort had never forgotten the teacher who had taught him how to create a Horcrux. Now that his power was almost fully restored and his influence solidified, he would not overlook the need to eliminate this threat.
This was why Slughorn had been in hiding for years, always aware that his most brilliant student had never truly died.
If Voldemort returned, he would likely come for Slughorn, whether to silence him or imprison him—neither of which Slughorn could accept.
Sherlock would not let that happen.
Since meeting Slughorn, Sherlock had received many favors from him and had never had the chance to repay them.
Now was the time for him to help his esteemed elder.
Sherlock pulled a glass bottle from his pocket and handed it to Silke.
"Take this back to the school. It must not be compromised. I'll stay and deal with these people."
(End of Chapter)
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