Chapter 418: The Escape
Chapter 418: The Escape
"Sir, if we can't get close to the tank, can we cast detection spells from a distance?"
Kingsley approached Scrimgeour and asked in a low voice, "That might be the only place with noticeable traces. We need to conduct a thorough inspection."
Before Scrimgeour could respond, Bode shook his head, "No, no... Using spells will alert them."
Kingsley frowned, "But..."
"Kingsley," Scrimgeour interrupted, "Staying away from these things is also for your protection. Just inspect the area outside."
"Yes, sir," Kingsley replied.
He realized that although Scrimgeour had brought some of the best Aurors for the inspection, he didn't seem intent on having them find a result.
In reality, the scope of their search was extremely limited—only a small stretch from the Brain Hall to the circular room outside.
Both rooms were empty, and the intruders had erased any traces, so the search ended quickly.
As for the outside of the Department of Mysteries, that particular path led to the underground Courtroom Ten.
Recently, the Ministry had been reexamining some past cases with procedural irregularities, and with the constant capture of smugglers, thieves, and wizards who violated the International Statute of Secrecy, even the long-sealed Courtroom Ten had been reactivated.
On the day the Department of Mysteries was invaded, Courtroom Ten was hearing an old case involving two magical celebrities, and there was a constant flow of wizards coming and going.
So, although they knew the intruder had taken advantage of this opportunity to sneak into the Department of Mysteries, they couldn't identify the person based on the route and timing.
The Aurors quickly completed their work, and the final result was—nothing.
Bode didn't seem surprised. He furrowed his brows, looking troubled, and nodded absentmindedly before staring blankly at the brains floating in the tank.
"Ding!"
The elevator rang again, and a brown-haired man in plain clothes, holding a wooden box, hurried in. Seeing the crowd in the Brain Hall, he froze in his tracks.
Bode came to life, hurrying over and asking in a hushed tone, "Did you get it?"
The brown-haired man nodded.
Bode couldn't help but show a hint of joy. He turned to Scrimgeour and the others, saying, "Thank you, Mr. Scrimgeour. Since the investigation is over, you can leave now."
Scrimgeour's stern gaze lingered on the two of them for a moment.
"Let's go!"
He took the lead and left, with the Aurors following suit. As soon as they exited the circular hall, the black door behind them closed immediately.
"What's going on?" The young Auror wondered aloud, annoyed, "No wonder no one likes these guys. Are all the Silent Ones weird?"
"Alright, let's go."
The group took the elevator directly to the second floor of the Ministry, where the Auror Headquarters was located. Unlike the gloomy underground, this floor was bright and bustling.
The Aurors returned to their small cubicles, immersing themselves in their busy work. As for the previous investigation in the Department of Mysteries, they had all signed confidentiality agreements and were not allowed to disclose any information to anyone.
Kingsley lagged a little behind, and after the others had left, he asked Scrimgeour, "Sir, do you know the identity of the intruder?"
Scrimgeour narrowed his eyes at him, "Are you suspecting me?"
Kingsley smiled politely but remained silent.
Scrimgeour turned his gaze away and said, "When I first dealt with the Department of Mysteries, my superior told me something, which I will now pass on to you—"
"Regarding the Department of Mysteries, don't inquire, don't approach, and don't be greedy."
"Anyone who tries to use that place to further their own agenda will eventually suffer the consequences."
Scrimgeour left, and Kingsley remained silent, pondering those words.
No proverb comes into being without a reason. Behind every proverb lies countless bloody and painful lessons, which is why, apart from the Silent Ones dedicated to magic, other wizards in the magical world avoid the Department of Mysteries like the plague.
Kingsley was now curious—did the intruder know this?
If they did, why would they still break in?
...
Bode watched as the last Auror left the Department of Mysteries, then slammed the door shut and led his companion to the Brain Hall.
He reached for the wooden box but hesitated.
"You didn't open it, did you?" he asked again. "Have you looked inside?"
"I haven't," the brown-haired wizard replied. "I took it directly from Vault 716 and have been holding it ever since. I haven't opened it or let anyone else touch it."
"Good," Bode exhaled in relief.
The two carefully opened the wooden box and found several black seeds inside. As soon as they were exposed to the air, the seeds began to take on a faint reddish hue.
Working together, the two wizards pried up a few marble floor tiles and buried the seeds with their bare hands. By the time they filled the last handful of soil, the seeds had turned a glaring red.
After replacing the floor tiles, everything returned to its original state. Bode wiped the sweat from his forehead, which had formed due to the tension, and said, "Alright, that should do it."
The brown-haired wizard asked worriedly, "Will the intruder really come back?"
Bode sighed and said, "It's certain. Greed is an original sin... No matter what that guy obtained from here, he will definitely return."
...
Mabel, wrapped in her cloak, huddled in a corner, suppressing the urge to run away immediately. Her eyes constantly scanned the people on the street.
Earlier, she had secretly followed Ryan Trocar into Diagon Alley, knowing that he was there to purchase textbooks. She had hoped to catch a glimpse of the young wizard who had saved them before.
But Mabel never expected that Diagon Alley would be so crowded!
The place was packed, and as far as the eye could see, there was a sea of people.
Most of the wizards dressed similarly, favoring black wizarding robes with various embellishments. At first glance, they all seemed to be wearing identical outfits, blurring the distinctions of height and build.
Mabel, having grown up in a dungeon and always staying in secluded places after her escape, had never encountered such a crowded scene.
Even with her powerful and fearsome abilities, she felt apprehensive and overwhelmed by the bustling crowd. In her panic, she lost track of Ryan Trocar and became completely disoriented.
Mabel felt like a fledgling abandoned by its parents, trembling in the middle of the street. She only calmed down after leaning against a wall.
As she rested against the wall, she casually turned her head and saw her own black-and-white photograph on the brick wall.
It was a wanted poster.
"Hey, kid!" A shop assistant from the nearby store came out and kindly asked, "Are you sick? Is there anything I can do for you?"
Mabel was startled and quickly pulled down her hood to hide her face, then took off running without a word!
She ran for a while, and seeing that no one was chasing her, she gradually slowed down and hid in a corner to observe the outside.
The girl's physical condition was poor, and this bout of running made her chest hurt as if it were about to explode. She crouched on the ground, breathing heavily and struggling to alleviate the painful sensation.
A few wisps of black mist emanated from her body and spread along the floor for a short distance. Just as it was about to touch a passerby, it quickly retracted.
"Don't do anything bad!" Mabel muttered to herself, "If I'm discovered, I'm done for!"
She looked up at the sky, feeling that the weather had become even gloomier.
...
Voldemort wasn't hiding. He saw Lupin appear at the bookstore entrance, and after a brief introduction, they bid farewell to the professor they had just met and walked out together.
Michael noticed Lupin's odd expression and asked, "What's wrong? You look terrible."
"Who was that person just now?" Lupin asked sternly.
"He's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts," Harry replied. "He said his name is Ryan Trocar."
Lupin was taken aback. "The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor?"
Professor Lupin had a lot on his mind and couldn't simply retreat into the ivory tower of the school.
After his refusal, it seemed that Dumbledore had invited that person to be a professor... Despite his graceful demeanor, Lupin couldn't bring himself to like him.
Perhaps it was a mutual sense of danger between creatures, but he vaguely felt—that guy was a bit like a vampire.
Having been betrayed by that kind of creature before, Lupin had a poor impression of vampires.
But he couldn't be sure, because if he only judged by appearances... There had always been a rumor among the students of Hogwarts that Professor Snape, the Potions master, was actually a vampire.
And since it was Dumbledore's invitation...
"Is there a problem with him?"
Lupin hesitated for a moment after hearing Vold's question, then shook his head and said, "I just feel uncomfortable—Have you finished shopping?"
"Not yet, but we plan to buy the rest at a Muggle mall," Harry said with a smile.
"Oh..." Lupin's curiosity was piqued, and he said, "Then let's go, it's getting late."
"The weather today is terrible!" Michael looked up at the sky and said gloomily, "It's neither raining nor not raining, and it feels like even breathing is difficult."
As they walked towards the entrance of Diagon Alley, they saw many people who had already bought the newly released Communicating Pea, talking as they walked, appearing to be talking to themselves, and some even laughing out loud.
"So convenient." Michael said, "Maybe the Friend Account will soon be replaced by the Communicating Pea."
"Impossible." Harry shook his head, "The Friend Account is much cheaper, and it can send pictures too, which the Communicating Pea can't do."
"Speaking of this... Vold, are you going to give everyone a Communicating Pea as a Christmas gift this time?"
Michael raised his eyebrows and looked at Vold, saying, "Occasionally put some thought into it and prepare a special gift? I'd actually prefer some snacks made by your little puppet."
Vold glanced at him and noticed that Michael was speaking in a joking tone, but his eyes seemed very serious.
On the surface, he was asking for a gift, but he was actually telling Vold—not to send the Communicating Pea this time.
The puppets were already not cheap, but since Vold made them himself, the cost wasn't too high.
The Communicating Pea was even more expensive because it was in high demand, and Aslan Magic Workshop had to start rationing them. Selling them at a high price became a lucrative business, making it unsuitable as a gift for students to exchange.
"Mmm-hmm." Harry didn't think much of it and nodded vigorously, "They are indeed delicious... The ribs and chicken legs are also well-made, Vold. Your puppet must have a secret recipe, right?"
Vold laughed, "Alright, the gift will definitely include a snack pack, but I've also prepared something else..."
He looked at Michael and emphasized, "It's not the Communicating Pea."
"I'm looking forward to seeing the surprise you have for everyone."
Just as they passed by a pet shop, they heard a wizard not far away shouting, "What did you say? Is this true?"
Passersby turned to look at him, but the wizard didn't seem to mind. He pressed his left ear, his face turned pale, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
"This can't be... Are you joking?"
He said, trembling.
The curious onlookers didn't get an answer, but they all unconsciously stopped in their tracks.
Some people's newly purchased Communicating Peas started talking, others' Friend Accounts in their pockets began to heat up, and some were astonished to see their silvery Patronuses running towards them.
People on the street stopped one by one, responding to this sudden urgent communication.
A moment later, everyone's expressions synchronized in a strange way—pale, fearful, and incredulous.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Explosive sounds echoed one after another, and many wizards Apparated away from Diagon Alley, while others rushed towards the Floo Network control.
Vold looked on curiously, suddenly feeling like he had stepped into the world of 'The Truman Show', as if everyone around him had received the director's cue.
"What's happening?"
Before Lupin could finish his sentence, he suddenly raised his hand to his ear, and the three young wizards all looked at him anxiously.
After a moment, Lupin lifted his head. He swallowed, and his eyes revealed a hint of disbelief.
"Sirius said... There's news from Nurmengard... That person... has escaped!"
(End of Chapter)
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