"Don't jump to conclusions so quickly," Nathan said, frowning.
"Let's wait and see. I don't think it's as simple as it looks. That 'loyalty test' probably isn't going to be as easy as everyone thinks."
As Nathan and Jimmy whispered, a group of cooperating wizards selected by Shimi was brought before Moody.
"Master, please tell us what we need to do to pass the test," Sykes said excitedly.
"Do you want us to kill someone right here to prove our loyalty? I'm ready."
Sykes gave a fierce smile and glanced deliberately at Nathan and the others in the adjacent cell.
Moody smiled coldly inside; he knew these men would suffer soon enough.
Still, he said with disdain, "Are you idiots? Everyone in this prison is valuable to the club.
If you kill one of you, who will I have left? Get up!"
After Moody's sharp reprimand, the cooperating wizards quickly composed themselves and lined up respectfully in front of him.
"The so-called 'loyalty test' is actually pretty simple," Moody said with a teasing smile.
"There are traitors among you, but we don't have time to root them out individually. So, just make sure your minds are full of loyalty. If you're loyal to the club, you pass the test."
The others exchanged confused glances at this strange explanation.
'Loyalty filling their brains?'
Moody didn't seem to care about their puzzlement.
He pulled out his wand and pointed it at Sykes, who had been trying to win his favor.
"Forget everything else!" Moody commanded.
Under the stunned looks of everyone in the prison, a pale blue beam shot from Moody's wand straight to Sykes's head.
As the light hit him, Moody spoke in a hypnotic tone, "The Silver Wand Club is your master. Your life belongs to the club, and you are its property from birth.
You must never doubt or question any orders from your master."
He repeated the spell several times, increasing its power each time to make sure it stuck.
After the curse, Sykes's face went blank and dazed.
He muttered repeatedly, "The Silver Wand Club is my master… my life is dedicated to the club…"
Seeing this, Moody nodded in satisfaction.
Then he ordered, "From now on, you're No. 1. No. 1, squat for me.
Yes, now stand up."
Like a puppet on strings, Sykes obeyed every command without hesitation or resistance.
Watching this, the other cooperating wizards and prisoners all felt a cold chill run down their spines.
"Is this really the 'loyalty test'?" someone whispered.
"This isn't a test, it's brainwashing."
The wizard standing next to Sykes was trembling, his face pale as he stared at Moody.
"Sykes..." he stammered.
Moody let out a wild laugh, as if some dark side had taken over him.
"Isn't the whole point of the loyalty test to guarantee absolute loyalty? Do you really think I'd believe that? Just look at how loyal Number One is to the club now, he'll be working hard for us from here on out. Seems like this experiment is working perfectly. Next!" Moody said, slowly pointing his wand at the wizard beside Sykes.
The man instantly turned pale, dropped to his knees, and begged pitifully, "Master, please don't! Even if you make me sign the strictest contract, don't turn me into a walking dead..."
"Enough nonsense," Moody snapped coldly.
"Do you think it's not a waste of money to sign contracts with so many people? Don't struggle, you won't feel the pain after a while. Forget about it!"
With that, he cast the same spell on the wizard that he had used on Sykes, creating another obedient tool, this time called Number Two.
Seeing Moody determined to brainwash them one by one and turn them into puppets who only follow orders, the other wizards nearby collapsed in shock.
"No!"
"Please, I don't want to become a ghost like that!"
"Silver Wands, you're so ungrateful! After all I've done for you over the years, is this how you repay me?"
They cried out, some falling to the ground trembling, some so terrified they lost control of themselves, others begging for mercy, and a few cursing loudly.
These ten wizards had been chosen precisely because they were the most loyal members with the longest service to the club.
What Moody was doing now was a cruel mockery of their dedication and sacrifice over the years.
Unable to accept such a fate, two of the wizards tried to run away in horror.
But the place felt more terrifying than hell itself.
Before they could even take two steps, a silver wand suddenly appeared, casting a spell that knocked them to the ground.
They were dragged back to Moody without a chance to escape.
Immediately afterward, more than 500 people imprisoned together watched the tragedy unfold before them, their howls echoing through the air.
The leader's silver wand fired steadily every minute, and the wizards, once known by name, were now reduced to mere numbers, 1-1, 1-2, and so on.
Moody, looking exhausted, muttered, "Phew... It's tiring to keep this kind of precision all the time.
Let's call it a day here and continue tomorrow."
As he spoke, whether on purpose or by chance, he glanced at Bob, who had earlier spoken back to him.
Seeing this through the silver wand's targeting system, Bob broke out in a cold sweat.
Did this mean Moody planned to come after him next?
Fear rippled through the rest of the imprisoned wizards.
This time, no one distinguished between so-called cooperative wizards and ordinary ones; everyone trembled at the sneer behind the silver wand.
"Bob, did you see what happened today? If we keep waiting, I'm afraid the consequences could be terrible," Nathan said urgently as Moody finished his demonstration.
He leaned against the cage, searching for Bob's eyes.
Across the room, Sykes was thrown back into his cell, his face blank and distant.
Even Jimmy, who usually clashed with him, looked shaken and pale, too afraid to get close.
Moody's actions had made it clear to everyone in the prison what real despair felt like.
"I can't wait any longer," Bob admitted, his usual calm replaced by worry as he looked at Nathan.
"I noticed the leader's silver wand gave me a strange look afterward. I think he still holds a grudge. Considering what I did before, I'm worried that tomorrow's so-called 'loyalty test' might be aimed at me."
"So, you're saying we should leave tonight?" Nathan's panic grew.
If everyone was going to be brainwashed by those silver wands, soon they'd be like walking zombies, maybe even forget their own names.
Escape would be impossible then.