Sound Bird, still busy giving directions, turned around and chuckled at Thunderbird's surprised reaction.
"Yeah, this phoenix was personally obtained by the Black Dragon himself. Don't underestimate it just because it's small. It has a unique teleportation magic, so you can't just lock it up in any ordinary cage with anti-apparition spells. Trust me, dealing with it is a real headache."
When Soundbird ordered a group of American collaborators to unload all the magical creatures onto the shore, the Death Eaters and werewolves who had never traveled beyond their familiar surroundings stared in amazement.
Iron cages piled high like small hills were stacked into three groups, each loaded onto large flying carpets.
"Wow, the number of creatures you're smuggling this time is unbelievable. Isn't it too risky to transport so many at once?" Otis blurted out, eyes wide as he took in the impressive sight.
"Otherwise, why do you think we paid you so much to handle this?" Augurey replied with a blank stare, but then looked somberly at the three towering piles of cages.
Otis wasn't wrong; the sheer scale of this shipment was staggering.
Normally, moving this many magical animals would take at least a dozen trips.
If the club weren't in such a tight spot, would they really risk such a bold move?
Fortunately, there was significant backup.
Along with the animals, the Black Dragon had brought over 37 allied wizards from America to assist, and Augurey had called in 16 mercenaries.
In total, 53 people were guarding the transport.
Add in the three silver wands, Augurey, Sound Bird, and Thunderbird, and the operation seemed solid enough to proceed without incident.
Maybe.
Despite her worries, Augurey tried to reassure herself.
Nearby, Thunderbird stood beside Sound Bird, curiously examining an elegant birdcage in his hand.
Perched atop the iron frame was a stunning, bright red bird about the size of a swan, with a long golden tail and sharp claws, shining with a golden glow.
It was the very phoenix Alex had once seen in Dumbledore's office!
Though a bit smaller and not quite as majestic as Dumbledore's Fawkes, this phoenix looked restless and irritable.
Its two claws were tightly shackled with dark golden chains, and the cage was sealed so thoroughly there wasn't even a door or opening; it seemed to be made from a single piece of metal.
"What do you think? I've never seen one like this before. The first time I saw her, I was completely captivated. She's not easy to capture," Sound Bird said quietly.
"We specially designed a magical shackle that continuously blocks the flow of magic from an American alchemist. Along with this nearly space-isolating cage, escape is impossible."
"You have no idea how much this birdcage alone cost us," Sound Bird proudly told Thunderbird.
"I'll personally handle the phoenix during the transfer to make sure it doesn't get away. The value of the phoenix alone could cover at least a third of the entire cargo. It's truly rare."
"I've heard phoenix tears have powerful healing properties. Have you ever tried them?" Thunderbird asked casually, admiring the creature inside the cage.
Soundbird frowned and replied,
"I've heard those rumors too, but this phoenix has a terrible temper. It hasn't even she'd a tear, or called out more than a few times."
He sighed.
"I still want to see the phoenix's nirvana someday."
"How do you usually feed it? This cage doesn't even have a feeding port. Do you have to open it every time?" Thunderbird's curiosity shifted to the cage itself.
Soundbird shook his head.
"Opening this cage isn't an option. It's enchanted like a miniature barrier; if you remove it, things get complicated. Instead of feeding the phoenix directly, we feed it flames."
He demonstrated by pulling out his wand, flicking a small flame into the cage.
The phoenix, which had seemed stunned, immediately opened its beak and inhaled the fire, drawing it deep inside.
He chuckled,
"See? As long as we feed it flames regularly, it stays healthy. It can eat other food too, but for now, this is the safest way."
Despite his grand name, Soundbird sounded surprisingly low-key and practical.
"It's very convenient." Thunderbird nodded after watching the phoenix for a bit.
Then, turning his gaze around, he noticed that most of their collaborators had already finished transferring the magical beasts.
The goods were all gathered, and Thunderbird said,
"You should leave quickly. I'll take care of this phoenix to make sure nothing goes wrong on the way."
Without waiting for a response, Thunderbird snatched the cage from Juanyinniao's hands.
"Hey, wait! Why are you taking it from me?" Sound Bird protested, clearly worried.
"Master Black Dragon ordered me to escort the phoenix all the way, just in case anything happens..."
"Then have Black Dragon come find me," Thunderbird replied firmly, gripping the cage tightly and giving Sound Bird no chance to grab it back.
"Thunderbird, why are you acting like this? You're usually so bossy, but now you're even trying to snatch a bird?" Sound Bird grumbled, feeling like a child who'd just lost a favorite toy.
"Enough nonsense. Valuable cargo like this should be in the hands of the strongest to avoid any losses," Thunderbird sneered.
Then, pulling out a broomstick, he hopped on.
"From now on, the transport will be up to you and the Augurey. I'm not following you anymore. If you run into trouble, make sure to warn me."
With that, Thunderbird took off into the night sky without looking back, disappearing into the darkness.
Sound Bird stomped his foot in frustration.
"Those guys always act like that. They send us out front every time while they hide and have fun behind the scenes."
Suddenly, the Augurey approached Sound Bird and gave him a cold glare.
"Hey, watch what you say, or I'll tell Black Dragon everything."
Sound Bird scoffed.
"I'm talking about you all, the gods and dragons who only think about themselves, including Thunderbird and Black Dragon. If anything goes wrong, were the ones who get blamed."
He didn't hold much respect for anyone in the group, not even his direct superiors.
The Augurey just sneered quietly, thinking:
'One day, when you become a warding yourself, you'll understand why they keep things hidden.'
They greeted the Soundless Bird and prepared to set off, knowing they had to be careful on this journey.
Not only did they need to look after the magical creatures along the way without letting any of them get hurt, but they also had to stay alert at all times.