Chapter 136. Duncan's Plan
Olivia froze at his words, then came back to herself after a moment and asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"
"My grandfather and the others are preparing to find a chance to attack that base in the gorge," Duncan said.
"But those patrolling wizards have caused them a lot of trouble, so I want to lure those wizards over and create an opening for them."
Olivia's eyes suddenly lit up.
This was exactly what she had dreamed of, so of course she could not refuse.
She hurriedly asked, "What do you want me to do?"
"Do you remember that key you gave me?" Duncan said.
"If they really need that key, if they can really pinpoint its location, then when the key reappears in the open, what will they do?"
"They'll definitely come looking for it!" Olivia blurted out.
Then she thought for a moment and asked, "So you want me to take the key out to bait them?"
"Exactly." Duncan nodded.
"I need half an hour to set a trap.
During that time you need to carry the key and wander around in the forest, exposing your traces from time to time to draw those wizards in — the more people, the better!
"When the half hour is up, you head to the location I specify, and we'll look for a chance to take them all out!"
"But… if they sense something's wrong and don't follow me?" Olivia asked hesitantly.
"That depends on how badly they want that key," Duncan said.
"If they don't take the bait, we don't lose much — just half an hour.
But if it works, it'll give my grandfather's group a great chance to attack!"
"Alright, I'll go!" Olivia nodded firmly, almost without hesitation.
"Have you really thought it through?" Duncan said.
"In this plan you're in the most dangerous position.
You could very well be killed!"
"There's nothing to think about, as long as you can save my younger sister," Olivia said with a decisive smile.
"I've had enough of living in fear.
Now that you've put a chance in front of me, how could I refuse?
Besides, if we drag this out any longer, I don't even know if my sister is still alive."
"Don't worry.
I promise I won't let you down!" Duncan said solemnly, his tone earnest.
"Good!" Olivia took the box with the key from Duncan's hand and said with a smile, "To be honest, it's still hard to believe you're just an eleven-year-old young wizard."
"Then just treat me as a wizard.
I don't mind being a few years older." Duncan shrugged, pushed open the lid, and climbed out of the case.
At this moment, Kray was pacing back and forth around the case.
Its eyes were sweeping the surroundings warily, as if searching for an enemy in the shadows.
"What's wrong?" Duncan slid his wand into his hand and asked in a low voice.
"I sense a dangerous presence," Kray replied.
"Something is lurking in the forest and spying on us!"
"Oh?" Duncan's brows tightened.
He raised his wand to chest height, ready for battle.
Just as they were observing the area, Olivia's startled voice came: "Duncan, behind you!"
Duncan instantly stepped back two paces and lifted his wand.
The creature that met his eyes made him shout, "Shit!"
A huge serpent lunged at him with its jaws agape.
Horns sprouted from its head, and a gem that glimmered with light was set into its brow.
Its eyeballs bulged outward, flooded with a terrifying blood-red, and the muscles along its body swelled unnaturally, making it look savage and frightening.
Duncan aborted the spell he was about to cast.
A pistol flashed into his hand, he squeezed the trigger quickly — puff! — and hit the giant serpent.
At once, as if someone were blowing into the Horned Serpent's mouth, its body swelled rapidly, turning into a round, puffy balloon.
Borrowing its remaining momentum, it drifted forward, bumped into Duncan, changed direction, and continued floating away.
Duncan leaned in and grabbed the Horned Serpent by the tail, bringing it to a halt in mid-air.
"What kind of creature is this?" Olivia stepped forward.
Now that the serpent's face was puffed up as well, it no longer looked as ferocious as before — there was even something a little cute about it.
"A Horned Serpent.
It usually lives in rivers and hates being on land," Duncan said as he examined the giant snake in his hand.
"It seems the frenzy has completely robbed it of reason and even altered its habits."
"Damn those bastards!" Olivia cursed in disgust.
Duncan nodded, then tossed Olivia the pistol, a few small spheres Nicolas Flamel had given him, and a device with an arrow-shaped pointer.
"Do you know how to use the gun?
It might not do much against those wizards, but it's absolutely useful against creatures that have to get close to attack.
So long as you can keep yourself safe, I hope you won't harm them."
"Alright.
I've seen this in the Muggle world before." Olivia flipped the pistol over curiously, then raised the pointer and the small spheres and asked, "What about these?
What do they do?"
"When the half hour is up, take out the pointer.
It will guide you to my location," Duncan explained.
"The spheres are life-saving tools from the alchemist Nicolas Flamel.
I don't know exactly what they do — use them only at the last moment."
The pointer was a reward he had received after completing the fire dragon treatment task, called a Magical Indicator.
No matter where the two holders were, they could use the Indicator's guidance to find each other.
"Got it!" Olivia carefully tucked the items into her pocket.
"I'm going now — see you in half an hour!"
"Be careful!" Duncan urged.
"When I used to move around, I didn't have any of these precious tools, and I still managed just fine!" Olivia said with a broad smile.
With quick, nimble steps, she soon disappeared into the dense forest.
After slapping the ballooned Horned Serpent into the case and bandaging Kray's wounds, Duncan said, "Let's go.
It's time we set out as well."
"Where are we going?" Kray asked curiously.
"Somewhere easy to defend and a bit concealed.
We've got to stay there for half an hour, after all!" Duncan said.
At Kray's insistent request, Duncan climbed onto Kray's back.
Bird and boy skimmed over the forest canopy.
They flew until they reached a low rock face where a boulder jutted out at the base, forming a natural angle with the ground — a ready-made roof.
"Kray, put me down there," Duncan said, pointing below.
He needed to work his magic there.
"Alright." Kray dove swiftly and asked, "What should I do later?"
"If your body can take it, go gather storm-clouds around the area too.
Otherwise, if only my spot is pitch-black, it'll look far too suspicious," Duncan said after thinking.
"No problem.
I love this job!" Kray cheered.
Enjoyed the story? Support me and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at: Patr*eon*.com/Resium
Free members can read 10+ Chapters Ahead of Release
Paid member can read 150+ Chapters Ahead of Release
Stories Available
Honkai? No, This Is Daily Life
Hogwarts Pet Master
Pokémon: Who Let Him Leave Pallet Town!
Scrolling Yu-Gi-Oh! Shorts