Chapter 906: Rolf's Animagus
Chapter 906: Rolf's Animagus
Ivan's mind flickered, and he suddenly remembered the two Wizards who had been arrested earlier. He couldn't help but ask, "Do you think it's someone attacking the Thunderbird?"
"Who knows? Maybe it's a group of morally corrupt poachers. After all, a fully grown Thunderbird's corpse can fetch thousands of Galleons on the Black Market. It's hard to believe no one would be tempted!" Rolf sighed deeply, having seen similar incidents many times while traveling the world with his father. These scoundrels had nearly driven some rare magical creatures to extinction.
However, Ivan wasn't entirely convinced by Rolf's theory. First, there was the Thunderbird that had been transported to France, and then there were Grindelwald's minions lurking around. He found it hard to believe this was all just a coincidence.
But if it was related to Grindelwald, it didn't quite add up. What could Grindelwald possibly want with a Thunderbird?
Surely, it couldn't be to collect Thunderbird blood for a bloodline fusion like himself?
The thought barely crossed his mind before Ivan dismissed it. Given Grindelwald's magical prowess, he wouldn't need to wait until now to fuse a bloodline to enhance his power. Unlike Ivan, Grindelwald didn't have a System to resolve the conflicts between multiple bloodlines.
"Anyway, this quest could be very dangerous. Besides the Thunderbird, we might run into those poachers. So, take this half-day of rest to reconsider. This is a real battle, not a game!" Rolf warned him seriously.
While he had read in the European Times about Ivan defeating three Aurors, he now suspected it was mostly for show.
After all, Ivan Hals looked far too young. Even if his magical abilities were impressive, his combat experience must be severely lacking.
In a real battle, it's not just about who casts the most powerful spell. Your opponent won't be foolish enough to wait for you to get ready before dueling.
"No need, Scamander. I can protect myself, and I'm fully prepared for the battle", Ivan said calmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Alright, if you insist..." Rolf nodded, deciding not to press the issue. He just made a mental note to keep a closer eye on Ivan to ensure he didn't run into any danger.
After settling on a plan to capture the Thunderbird, Ivan and Rolf booked two rooms at the inn and began their preparations.
Rolf took charge of making the Thunderbird-attracting attribute spice, while Ivan took on the task of brewing potions.
They would be spending at least half a day in the wild, and to avoid being covered in bites, they needed potions to repel insects and conceal their presence.
Considering the potential for unexpected situations, Ivan also prepared an improved Bloodline Fusion Potion in advance. All they would need to do is collect some Thunderbird blood to perform the Bloodline Fusion Ritual.
The next morning, Ivan carried the completed potions out of the inn, and Rolf was already waiting at the door, leading a half-grown kid goat.
The goat, likely under the influence of a Confundus Charm, was unusually docile. It followed Rolf obediently without a leash.
"Here are the potions you asked for!" Ivan reached back and tossed two bottles of reagent over.
Rolf caught them and immediately uncorked one to sniff it, confirming the efficacy before putting it away.
The Niffler, about the size of a guinea pig, yawned and poked its head out of Rolf's chest pocket, as if sensing the presence of treasure. It looked around dazedly, and upon seeing Ivan, let out a sharp scream and quickly retreated back into the pocket, leaving only its tail and half of its hindquarters exposed.
Ivan touched his nose, wondering if he really looked that terrifying.
Rolf, finding the situation both amusing and exasperating, pushed the Niffler's tail back into the pocket and then pulled Ivan along, driving a rented Muggle car toward the towering forest on the western side of town.
"I never thought you could drive?" Ivan said, surprised.
"Sometimes using Muggle transportation can save a lot of unnecessary trouble..." Rolf shrugged and explained.
While Apparition was convenient for Wizards, it usually required them to have been to the destination before to ensure accuracy. Therefore, these practical modes of transportation often came in handy.
The two of them chatted idly as Rolf drove up the mountain road, eventually finding a relatively flat clearing to park.
"I've cast a Muggle Repelling Charm at the foot of the mountain, so we won't be disturbed by any uninvolved people during this time", Rolf explained as he got out of the car and pulled Goat out of the trunk, applying a special spice to its fur.
Ivan tried to smell it but detected no scent, likely only identifiable by a Thunderbird.
"Need any help?" Ivan rolled up his sleeves and offered.
"Of course, having two people will save a lot of time!" Rolf accepted Ivan's help, asking him to hold down Goat to prevent it from moving around.
It took about five minutes for Rolf to finish everything, and he then waved his wand to lift the Confundus Charm he had cast earlier.
The poor Goat woke up to find two Wizards staring at it menacingly, and it immediately bolted, dashing into the woods and quickly disappearing from sight.
"Next, we need to follow it, but not too closely and not too far behind. We just need to be patient and wait for the Thunderbird to appear", Rolf said, gulping down the two potions he had brought. His body then contorted and transformed.
Yellow fur sprouted all over his body, and his fingernails grew into long, sharp claws. In no time, a robust Leopard stood on the hillside.
The Niffler, which had fallen out of the pocket, quickly climbed up the Leopard's fur and clung to its head, gripping a few strands of hair tightly.
"By the way, how is your stealth ability, Hals?" Rolf, having adapted to his transformed body, turned his head and asked.
However, when he looked behind him, Rolf was surprised to find that Ivan had already vanished. Just as he was about to wonder where Ivan had gone, a voice came from above.
"I think it's pretty good!"
Rolf looked up sharply to see an Owl leisurely flying down from the sky and hovering in front of him.
(End of Chapter)
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