Another force is also acting under the name of "Company."
"Who wouldn't want magic? Omnipotence, turning stones into gold, immortality... Our company has been researching magic for a long time, but we haven't been able to become 'gifted'... Perhaps magic itself has a way, like the legendary human alchemy..."
The white-haired old man said with a slightly crazed expression.
He brought along more people, obviously with the intention of gathering intelligence first.
He suspected, just like the man in the suit's faction, that the bearded man wanted to get something for nothing.
The bearded man seemed to be a "celebrity" in the dark forces, but unfortunately, that reputation was all negative. His unreliable history greatly lowered the price he could get for his information and gave Vid more time.
Vid asked the white-haired man for the company's name and the identities of its subordinates. And... he had already sent out a message before he passed out.
According to the white-haired man's experience, the people from the "company" across the ocean could possibly arrive on this ship within a few hours.
Taking advantage of the time, Vid casually asked others as well.
Minion A: "I once participated in capturing a wizard... in Africa... That person's magic power went out of control, and of the whole team, I was the only one who survived..."
Minion B: "I've never captured an underage wizard... No, I don't know if the company has, each group operates independently..."
Lady C: "...These are the names of my superiors and colleagues. As for the rest, we are not allowed to know..."
Minion D: "If the poppet falls into the hands of the United States, it will certainly become a weapon for slaughtering our nation's people... so I'll stop at nothing to destroy them here..."
Oh... an inside spy as well?
Vid: "How do you plan to take out so many people?"
Minion D: "I've planted bombs on the ship... On the third day of the voyage, this ship will be destroyed..."
Vid: "… Draw me a map of all the bomb locations!"
Considering the timing, when the bombs go off, the members of that American company should have just arrived.
Vid felt helpless for the bearded man—he had thought he could cause a sensation, but the buyers of the intelligence didn't care much; instead, one of their minions took it seriously and planned to send everyone to hell.
The bearded man wouldn't escape either.
After all, becoming a werewolf does not mean he could use magic, as they are two different systems. The bearded man had no portkey and couldn't apparate; if the ship really exploded, he would perish at sea along with everyone else.
While busy dealing with matters, Vid suddenly received a message from Rita Skeeter—
[Rita: Did you use a portkey? Did you leave me and go back by yourself?]
Vid frowned and replied: [No, someone else used a portkey—how did you know?]
[Rita: The Ministry of Magic prioritizes the Confidentiality Law, but they've always been strict about portkey regulation—when and who can use it, all requires prior application.]
[An unauthorized portkey use is quickly detected. Normally, the Ministry of Magic can't manage things at sea, but don't forget, there are Ministry of Magic people on this ship.]
[Umbridge just received a message from the Ministry of Magic and is now about to inspect. Leave early and don't get discovered by them.]
[Also, I just found the person you were looking for on the fourth floor.]
Skeeter's message was quick and brief, almost like it was sent by someone else.
Vid waved his hand, and several guys from the crowd were dragged away by Acromantulas.
During the interrogation, these people truthfully confessed to their past crimes, some even had targeted children, and Vid didn't intend to let them go back alive.
As for the rest, except for the bearded man who was stuffed into a wardrobe space by Vid, the others were left for the Ministry of Magic.
If the Ministry of Magic knew so many muggles coveted magical power, how would they react? Would Fudge run crying to Dumbledore for help, or continue to turn a deaf ear?
Vid was very curious.
...
"Dong dong dong..."
A hasty sound of footsteps echoed in the stairwell, two Aurors holding magic wands rushed into the parking lot, glanced around, and raised their hands to send a signal.
Then another seven or eight people came in, some holding silver, detector-like devices scanning up and down; others used magic wands to draw circles of different sizes, silver traces emitting a faint glow appeared on the ground, walls, and cars.
They uniformly ignored those lying on the ground.
Subsequently, a woman dressed in a pink dress, made up like a little girl, entered on high heels.
"How's it going?" she asked, "Is this the place where the portkey was used?"
"Yes."
A fat girl with dry yellow hair and glasses said softly:
"We found magic traces left by the portkey's use, and at the stairwell and elevator, people used Muggle-repelling charms, and on a truck, there's a lot of magical creatures' mucus, silk, and hair left behind."
"We initially estimate that over ten Acromantulas were packed into the truck, the venom of these spiders is highly priced..."
"So what?" Umbridge forced a smile and impatiently interrupted, asking, "What is the conclusion?"
"Someone likely attempted to smuggle Acromantulas, got caught somehow, and had a conflict with muggles on board..."
The fat girl speculated based on her experience:
"Then he risked using a portkey to escape. But I still can't figure out how he took so many spiders at once? Acromantulas are vicious and won't follow obediently..."
"What's so hard about that? Just lock them with iron chains, right?"
Umbridge said casually. She finally lowered her eyes to look at the people on the ground and ordered: "Wake these muggles up! Ask them who the guy smuggling Acromantulas is?"
The awakened person didn't even have a chance to question before facing a question he couldn't comprehend, cluelessly saying:
"Acromantula? What's that?"
"Smuggling? I have not smuggled! I've always abided by the country's laws!"
"Portkey? Is this what you want?"
The white-haired old man, seeing the ill intent, feigned confusion, pulling out a bunch of his house keys.
The questions went on like this, and everyone gave the same foggy responses, making Umbridge's fake smile disappear.
"Looks like the perpetrator is very cunning, and these muggles probably don't know anything."
Senior Undersecretary Umbridge did not question further nor did she care to waste magic potions on these "silly" muggles. After her patience ran out, she coldly ordered:
"Wipe all their memories! Erase everything before and after the boarding to prevent any major breach of our magical world's confidentiality!"
Upon hearing "Obliviate," the white-haired old man's face changed, but before he could decide whether to reveal his identity, a magic wand had already been pointed at him—
"Obliviate!"
Hit by the spell, the old man's eyes went blank, and he fell backward again.
Umbridge adjusted her tiny floral shawl and told the others:
"That guy might have already fled to another country; continuing the investigation is meaningless."
"You clean this place up; I need to accompany Vice Minister Jaben to a muggle cinema—no idea what's so interesting to see there! Mr. Gringotts, let's go."
She clicked her heels as she walked upstairs.
"Don't forget about that truck." Gringotts turned back to remind and went upstairs with Umbridge.
Other Ministry of Magic members looked at each other, shrugged, accustomed to finishing the remaining tasks—
Erasing the memories of the remaining muggles and throwing out the truck that caused trouble.
"Wait, wait!" The man in the suit, not wanting to be magically controlled, raised his hand, saying loudly, "I can tell you important information! We—"
"Obliviate!"
The man in the suit was hit with the Forgetfulness Spell before he could say a single important word.
The crowd shot glances at the person who mindlessly released the spell.
The person didn't care, spreading his hands.
"We're on a public-funded vacation, aren't we, fellas?" He boldly asked, "Do you all want to work overtime?"
The others thought for a moment, realizing that made sense, so they each gave the wizard a thumbs up while quickening the pace to clean the battleground.
Vid: "..."
He had thought he could see Fudge struggle to make a choice, but it turned out Fudge wouldn't even struggle.