Chapter 905: Rolf Scamander
Chapter 905: Rolf Scamander
Ivan didn't feel the need to burden these Muggles with the truth, no matter how much he might lament it.
Sometimes, knowing too much only adds to one's worries...
After the commotion, the subsequent meeting went more smoothly than Ivan had anticipated. Just after one o'clock, the person he was waiting for appeared at the inn's door on time.
Rolf entered and glanced around the room. Upon seeing the napkin Ivan had placed at the corner of the table, he walked over.
"Hello, Master Scamander... I'm Ivan Hals", Ivan stood up, extended his right hand, and greeted him. His eyes curiously sized up the nineteen-year-old male wizard, noting that his appearance and demeanor were unlike any wizard he had met before.
Perhaps due to his frequent excursions in forests and wilderness, Rolf had a robust build. His brown hair was unkempt and messy, his skin tanned to a deep brown, and his pants and shirt were speckled with bits of clay. To the uninitiated, he might have appeared to be a homeless scavenger...
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hals..." Rolf shook Ivan's hand and sat down across from him. "I read about your exploits in the European Times. It said you are Britain's most talented wizard, even defeating several Aurors during your exams..."
"Flattery, I assure you. I wouldn't say I'm the most talented; I just used the time others spent playing around for studying", Ivan said modestly.
Rolf felt an urge to comment but held back, clearing his throat instead. "If I may ask, why did you suddenly decide to become my assistant?"
Rolf was puzzled. A wizard of Ivan's caliber should have pursued a career as an Auror or sought a clerical position at the Ministry of Magic to advance. Why would he whimsically come to France to be his apprentice?
More importantly, Rolf had not requested any support from Britain or the International Wizards' Federation. Pierce had simply thrust Ivan upon him, a fresh graduate and a minor, which left Rolf somewhat disgruntled.
Their target, a Thunderbird, was an especially alert magical creature. The mission to track and capture it required utmost caution. Bringing along an inexperienced person could only complicate matters.
Ivan, of course, noticed Rolf's concerns and quickly explained, "Master Scamander, I have always been fascinated by magical creatures and have studied a lot about them. When I heard a Thunderbird had appeared in France, I volunteered to join the mission. I apologize for not seeking your approval in advance..."
As he spoke, Ivan suddenly paused. He reached into his right sleeve with his left hand and pulled out a small, black, guinea pig-like creature with a duck's bill.
This plump magical creature, once caught by Ivan, showed no fear. Instead, it blinked its large, black eyes at him with an innocent look.
"Is this your test for me, Master Scamander?" Ivan asked, holding the "black guinea pig" by its tail, teasingly.
Rolf looked at the Niffler in Ivan's hand and his face turned awkward. He awkwardly took the Niffler, tapping its head with his index finger in annoyance, then looked at Ivan with a guilty expression.
"Ah... right, I was just testing your alertness to see if you’re cut out for this line of work, Hals..."
"Looks like I passed the test, then." Ivan didn’t call Rolf out but instead used this as an opportunity to point at the "large black guinea pig with a duck's bill" and said, "Niffler, scientifically known as Niffler, is a magical creature that loves to dig and collect treasures. It’s classified as Class 3X by the Ministry of Magic. They typically inhabit Britain, are gentle by nature, and can sense the presence of gold or valuables from a distance. They have a spatial pouch on their chest, and their black fur is excellent material for making Elongation Bags..."
Ivan spoke at length about the Niffler’s habits, habitat, and abilities, even including the value of its fur and blood. As he mentioned these magical materials, Ivan gave the Niffler a meaningful glance.
Under Ivan’s “kind” gaze, the Niffler, which had been trying to escape blame by being cute, shivered and clung tightly to Rolf’s thumb with all four paws.
Rolf, speechless, stuffed the Niffler into his front pocket. It was too late to be afraid now...
However, Ivan’s detailed knowledge about the Niffler’s characteristics did make Rolf change his opinion of him slightly. This at least proved that Ivan wasn’t a complete novice but at least an amateur who had done his homework. If he could follow orders, having an additional assistant wouldn’t be a bad thing...
There was just one thing Rolf couldn’t understand: how did his pet end up with Ivan? While Nifflers have a habit of collecting treasures, years of training had helped it suppress this instinct, and such incidents hadn’t occurred in the past couple of years.
Could it be that Ivan possessed some unimaginable treasure that made the Niffler ignore his commands?
Several thoughts flashed through Rolf’s mind, but despite his curiosity, he didn’t press the issue. Instead, he began to explain the details of the quest.
He had arrived in the town three days ago and, after a few days of investigation, had determined the general area where the Thunderbird was active. He had also devised a bait plan.
"I bought a live lamb from a nearby village. Tomorrow morning, I’ll coat its fur with a special spice that can attract the Thunderbird. Then, I’ll release it on a nearby hill. This spice will draw the Thunderbird’s attention, and our job is to wait for it to finish hunting and follow it to its nest", Rolf explained succinctly.
"Why not use a stronger anesthetic potion to knock it out? That would save a lot of trouble, wouldn’t it?" Ivan asked, puzzled.
"It’s not that simple. The Thunderbird will only be lured if the prey is alive and moving", Rolf shook his head and then turned to look out the window at the dark, stormy clouds, his expression grave. "Also, I suspect this Thunderbird might be injured, causing its emotional fluctuations to be more intense. This is the only explanation for the strange weather over the past week... but it also means it will be more cautious than any of its kind."
Ivan nodded. He had been wondering about this before coming. Normally, Thunderbirds aren’t so agitated, and the severe weather around their territory usually clears up in a day or two. This time, it had persisted for a full week, which was indeed very strange...
(End of Chapter)
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