A figure leaped forward with all their might, only to be caught mid-air by a spider that jumped up from behind.
He roared in fury, grabbed the two long legs that were pinning him and tore them apart. A sticky, foul-slling liquid splattered all over him.
The spiders sward in and fought over their injured comrade, and he seized the opportunity to flee. But before he could get far, his foot was suddenly caught.
A thick spider web entangled his ankle. The bearded man Donovan glanced down briefly before falling face-first to the ground, and then his entire body was dragged back.
He scread and flailed his arms wildly. His sharp nails managed to gouge out one of a spider's eyes, eliciting a squeal that sounded like a mouse.
But more spiders piled on, injecting venom into his legs and arms. Their pincers clattered as they closed in. The bearded man could almost hear the sound of his body being torn apart in despair.
Then, a clear and lodious bird cry rang out.
The spiders froze mid-action, paused for a mont, and began to retreat slowly.
Through one swollen eye, the bearded man barely managed to open his gaze and saw a fiery red figure.
—How beautiful!
That was his final thought before losing consciousness.
The Fiendfyre firebird, Mikael, stood perched atop the head of a massive eight-eyed spider. Though it had restrained the flas and heat radiating from its body, the dense black fur on the spider's head still bore a pair of adorable, bamboo-leaf-shaped scorch marks left by its claws.
Wade walked over, sighing.
"What a pity... I really wanted to capture that Dahl."
Among the four, the thick-browed Dahl likely held the most valuable intelligence—perhaps even the true identity and whereabouts of the mysterious "Alpha."
But the man had reacted quickly and used that unexpectedly troubleso Portkey. Despite Wade's preparations, he still failed to intercept him.
Still, with the Acromantula's venom injected straight into his forehead, it was unclear whether the Portkey had transported back a corpse or a living person.
Wade unfolded the wardrobe space, and the spiders dragged the bearded man inside. Though they were drooling over the massive chunk of flesh, Mikael's watchful presence kept them from acting rashly.
As for the two spiders injured earlier? They had long been devoured by their own kin.
Wade circled the area and singled out the two individuals who seed like leaders during the earlier negotiation. He hoped to extract more useful intelligence from them.
The effects of the Veritaserum were as reliable as ever, but Wade couldn't help feeling a tinge of disappointnt.
He had, of course, known it was overly optimistic to hope that Dahl and his team would remain completely oblivious while leading him to their destination.
Yet he hadn't expected the plan to unravel so soon—before the ship even reached the Arican port—and this forced him to adjust his strategy.
Many factions eyeing the alchemist had already gathered in the lower decks of the ship. Whether or not Wade chose to intervene, Dahl and his group were destined to fail in reaching their destination.
Rather than letting them create chaos of an unknown scale, Wade preferred to take control of the situation himself.
Unfortunately, Dahl had escaped.
Wade sighed and cast Muggle-Repelling Charms on several entrances to this deck to prevent interruptions. Although the spells were temporary, they would hold for about half an hour.
Next, Wade retrieved a vial of Veritaserum.
As a banned potion, his supply was limited, so he needed to use it sparingly. Thankfully, when used on Muggles, a single drop was sufficient.
The clear, transparent liquid dripped onto the sleeping individuals, rousing them. They awoke with dull eyes and stared blankly at the floor.
The Bearded Man Donovan : "No... I've never t that person... When I was in Norway, I killed soone during a full moon transformation and was on the run when those people found ."
"I never believed what they said... People who won't even show their faces—only fools would think they're selfless. This ti? I just wanted to make so money. With enough cash, I could go to another country and start a new life…"
"To hell with the werewolves' future! I was just a regular kid with a normal, happy family. Then I got bitten by a werewolf... and everything fell apart! I wish every werewolf would die! Including !"
Wade fell silent.
To most people, werewolves were creatures of legend, and many didn't believe they existed.
If their child was bitten by a werewolf and sohow survived, the parents' instinct wouldn't be to lock the child away as a dangerous monster. Instead, they would try to heal the child, support them, and help them overco their trauma.
But then, under the light of the full moon, tragedy would strike—werewolf claws and fangs would tear into the ones they love most.
Wade set the bearded man aside and moved on to question the others.
The Suit-Wearing Man: "My employer is very interested in magic... especially... the Philosopher's Stone, which is said to grant immortality…"
"I've heard the stone was destroyed, but... if an alchemist could make the first one, surely they can make another. That's why we need more alchemists…"
"The boss hopes to combine scientific experintation with magic to unlock the secrets of human life and extend its limits…"
The words tumbled out in a rush, as though carefully rehearsed beforehand.
Wade asked, "And the real reason behind all this?"
Suit-Wearing Man: "…The boss has cancer."
Wade: "How many people did you bring along?"
The man obediently pointed out his accomplices.
Wade frowned.
"This is all?"
And he added, "We received the information too late, and the bounty hunter selling the intel has a terrible reputation... We were ordered to board the ship to investigate. Once the information is confird, the boss will make arrangents at the dock."
Another faction, also operating under the guise of a "company," shared their motives.
The white-haired old man said with a slightly crazy look.
"Who wouldn't want magic? All-powerful abilities, the Philosopher's Stone, immortality…
Our company has been studying magic for a long ti, but we've never managed to turn ordinary people into 'gifted ones.' Perhaps magic itself holds a solution, like the rumored human transmutation."
This man had brought more personnel, clearly intending to gather as much intel as possible.
Interestingly, like the Suit-Wearing Man's faction, he suspected that the bearded man might be attempting to get sothing for nothing.
The bearded man seed to have so notoriety in the underworld, but unfortunately, it was all negative. His untrustworthiness not only significantly lowered the price he could charge for information but also bought Wade more ti.
Wade extracted the na of the white-haired old man's "company" and the identities of his subordinates. Additionally, the man admitted that he had sent out a ssage just before passing out.
According to his experience, the company's operatives from across the ocean could arrive on the ship within a few hours.
Seizing the opportunity, Wade questioned the others.
Henchman A: "I've participated in capturing wizards before… In Africa… That one caused a magical outburst, and I was the only survivor from the entire squad…"
Henchman B: "I've never captured underage wizards… No, I don't know if the company has. Each group operates independently…"
Lady C: "…These are the nas of my superior and colleagues. Beyond that, we're not allowed to know anything else…"
Henchman D: "If the magic automaton dolls fall into Arican hands, it will definitely beco a weapon to massacre the people of our country… That's why I will do whatever it takes to destroy them here…"
Oh... a double agent?
Wade: "How do you plan to eliminate so many people?"
Henchman D: "I've planted bombs on the ship... On the third day of the voyage, this ship will be destroyed…"
Wade: "...Draw a map of all the bomb locations!"
Judging by the timing, the bombs would likely detonate just as the Arican company's operatives arrive.
Wade couldn't help but pity the bearded man.
The supposedly groundbreaking intel he thought he had provided hadn't garnered much attention from buyers. Instead, one of their own henchn had taken the matter seriously and was preparing to send everyone to the afterlife.
Even the bearded man wouldn't be spared.
After all, becoming a werewolf didn't grant magical abilities—they were entirely separate systems. Without a Portkey or the ability to Apparate, the bearded man would go down with the ship if the bombs went off.
Amid all this, Wade suddenly received a ssage from Rita Skeeter:
[Rita: You used a Portkey? Did you leave behind and go back on your own?]
Wade frowned and replied:
[Wade: No, soone else used a Portkey—how do you know about this?]
[Rita: The Ministry of Magic prioritizes the Statute of Secrecy, but Portkey usage is also tightly regulated. When they're used, who uses them, and for what purpose, all require pre-approval.]
[Once an illegal Portkey is used, it will quickly be detected. Usually, the Ministry of Magic can't exert control over the seas, but don't forget—there are Ministry officials aboard this ship.]
[Umbridge just received word from the Ministry and is heading out to investigate. Leave quickly and avoid being discovered.]
[Also, I've just found the person you're looking for on the fourth floor.]
Skeeter's ssages were quick and concise, almost as if sent by soone else.
Wade waved his hand, and a few individuals in the crowd were dragged away by the Acromantulas.
During questioning, these individuals had truthfully confessed to past cris, so of which involved targeting children as young as a few years old. Wade had no intention of letting them live.
As for the others, Wade kept the bearded man in his cabinet space and left the rest for the Ministry of Magic to handle.
What would the Ministry's reaction be upon discovering so many Muggles coveting magical power? Would Fudge co crying to Dumbledore for help, or would he continue to bury his head in the sand?
Wade was quite curious.
…
"Thud, thud, thud..."
A series of hurried footsteps echoed in the stairwell as two Aurors, with wands in hand, burst into the parking area. They swept their gazes around and then raised their wands to send out a signal.
Soon, seven or eight others arrived. So carried silver devices resembling tal detectors and scanned the area thoroughly. Others traced patterns with their wands, leaving glowing silver marks on the floor, walls, and vehicles.
None of them paid any attention to the people lying unconscious on the ground.
Following them, a woman in a pink dress, dressed like a little girl, stepped in wearing high heels.
"What's the situation?" she asked. "Can we confirm the Portkey was used here?"
"Yes."
A plump girl with dull blonde hair and glasses replied softly:
"We've detected magical traces left by the Portkey's use. We also found signs of Muggle-Repelling Charms cast at the stairwell and elevator entrances. Additionally, we discovered large amounts of magical residue—sli, silk threads, and hairs—on a truck."
"Our initial guess is that there were more than ten Acromantulas loaded into the truck. The venom of these spiders is highly valuable…"
"So what?" Umbridge interrupted impatiently, her fake smile slipping. "What's the conclusion?"
The girl, relying on her experience, speculated:
"It seems soone was attempting to smuggle Acromantulas. Sohow, they were discovered and got into a conflict with Muggles on board…"
"Then they took the risk of using a Portkey to escape. But I still can't figure out how they managed to transport so many spiders at once. Acromantulas are notoriously vicious and wouldn't just follow orders..."
"What's so difficult about that?" Umbridge sneered. "Just chain them up, wouldn't you?"
Umbridge casually said, finally lowering her eyes to look at the people lying on the ground. She ordered, "Wake these Muggles up! Ask them who the person smuggling the Acromantulas is."
The awakened individuals didn't have ti to question anything before they faced a problem they couldn't comprehend. In confusion, one of them asked:
"Acromantulas? What are those?"
"Smuggling? I haven't smuggled anything! I've always obeyed the laws of the country!"
"Portkey? Is this what you want?"
The white-haired old man, realizing the situation was not good, pretended to be confused and pulled out a bunch of keys from his pocket.
After asking several others, the answers were all similarly vague and unclear. The fake smile on Umbridge's face disappeared.
"It seems the criminal is very cunning. These Muggles probably don't know anything."
The Senior Undersecretary, Umbridge, didn't press further. She didn't think it was worth wasting any potion on these "foolish" Muggles. Losing patience, she coldly ordered:
"Obliviate them! Erase their mories of everything before and after boarding the ship to prevent any major leaks in the magical community!"
Upon hearing "Obliviate" the white-haired old man's expression imdiately changed. Before he could weigh whether or not to reveal his identity, a wand was already pointed at him—
"Obliviate!"
The mont the spell hit, the white-haired old man's gaze went blank, and he fell backward again.
Umbridge straightened her small floral shawl and addressed the others:
"That guy has probably already fled to another country. There's no point in continuing the investigation."
"Clean this place up, I still need to accompany Vice Minister Gabon to visit the Muggle cinema—really, I don't see what's so special about this kind of thing! Mr. Greengrass, let's go."
She stepped up the stairs, her heels clicking.
"Don't forget about that truck." Greengrass turned and reminded them before heading upstairs with Umbridge.
The other Ministry staff looked at each other, shrugged, and casually began finishing up the remaining tasks—
Erasing the remaining Muggles' mories, and then tossing out the troubleso truck.
"Wait, wait!" The Suit-Wearing Man raised his hand and called out loudly, "I have important information to share with you! We—"
"Obliviate!"
Before the man could say anything significant, the Obliviate spell hit him.
Everyone turned to look at the person who had cast the spell carelessly.
The caster simply shrugged, unconcerned.
"We're on a paid vacation, brothers!" he said matter-of-factly. "Do you really want to work overti?"
The others thought about it and realized that made sense, so they all gave this wizard a thumbs up in approval while speeding up the process of cleaning up the scene.
Wade: "..."
He thought he would see Fudge agonizing over a decision, but it turned out Fudge didn't even have to struggle.
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⭐Harry Potter: Becoming a Study God (HP:BSG)- 235 Chapters
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