Chapter 102 "Nightshade Mystic"

Nightshade Mystic Market isn't your typical shop or commercial street; rather, it's an open-air auction platform. However, the items auctioned here are far from ordinary—these are the kind of dark artifacts and illicit goods that can't be openly traded, not even in the notorious Borgin and Burkes.

The interests involved in Nightshade Mystic Market are colossal, reaching even into the ranks of Ministry of Magic officials. Despite the aspirations of Aurors with a sense of justice to crack down on this illicit market, gaining entry has proven to be an insurmountable challenge.

The square boasts a lengthy history, its establishment lost in the annals of time, possibly predating even the venerable Hogwarts School.

The elusive figure orchestrating these auctions remains a mystery, with over 50 rumored individuals being whispered about. The only certainty is the square's close ties to many pure-blood families. To secure a spot in the auction, one must invariably have the recommendation of a pure-blood family.

Participation is not open to everyone. The auctions take place in utmost secrecy, with attendees required to wear special masks to conceal their identities. These clandestine events occur irregularly, their dates and times communicated through covert channels known only to the qualified participants.

Even the Ministry of Magic struggles to gather evidence, as the exact details of the auction are only available to those who meet the stringent criteria. At other times, the square remains an unguarded and inconspicuous platform.

The criteria for participation remain shrouded in secrecy, known only to a select few. However, obtaining referrals from several pure-blood family heads is an essential prerequisite. This alone serves as a formidable barrier, and additional steps ensure that only the most eligible individuals make it through.

Not having been to Nightshade Mystic Market, Skyler underscores his lack of knowledge about navigating through its secrets, including the mysterious wall that conceals its entrance.

However, Skyler was well aware of the existence of this place.

He was certain that Lucius Malfoy, too, was acquainted with Nightshade Mystic Market. While Lucius never explicitly acknowledged it within the family, Skyler had stumbled upon products from the Nightshade Mystic Market in the family's secret room.

These items bore the unmistakable Nightshade Mystic Market logo—a vivid red crystal stone, even brighter than the famed Philosopher's Stone. When one stood in proximity to it, a disconcerting whisper could still be discerned.

Skyler had learned about the origin of this eerie crystal from the Dark Magic Book; it was crafted from the blood of 777 seven-year-old children. Not a collection akin to Muggle Red Cross blood drives, but rather a result of cruel magical rituals that sacrificed young children. The revelation had left Skyler profoundly disturbed for a prolonged period.

While Lucius may not have purchased the red spar in the family's secret room, it could have been an heirloom handed down by an ancestor. The crystal harbored potent magical energy, although its powerful resentment made it unsuitable for human absorption. Nonetheless, it served as a robust energy source for magical circles. Skyler suspected that Malfoy Manor's protective and shielding arrays relied on it as their energy source.

This crystal stone's cruel and malevolent nature hinted at the nefarious nature of the goods auctioned at Nightshade Mystic Market. Despite its gruesome production method, these products fulfilled certain needs, affording Nightshade Mystic Market protection and a lofty standing in various circles.

At this moment, no auction was taking place in Nightshade Mystic Market. However, Skyler noticed an unusual sight—two guards stationed at the door of the storage warehouse behind the auction table. Skyler swiftly recognized them as the two kidnappers shown on the crystal ball.

"It's unusual," Scrimgeour muttered in a hushed tone, a furrow forming on his brow. "There's no regular guard here, and the storage room stays empty most of the time. It's only on auction days that it's used for temporarily housing those auction items."

Skyler exchanged a glance with Amaterasu, confirming that no other individuals were present—only these two stationed men.

The magical prowess of these guards was at the level of a junior Auror, sufficient to handle ordinary intruders. However, Scrimgeour and Robards were elite members of the Auror Corps, capable of holding their own against the four heads of Hogwarts.

Skyler felt a surge of confidence knowing that they are on his side. It seemed that whoever was in charge didn't believe anyone would dare break in, hence the minimal manpower deployed.

Alternatively, they might have sources of intelligence within the Ministry of Magic, ensuring they could receive advance notice and relocate before the Aurors arrived. In the magical world with Apparating, Floo Network, and Space Bags, transferring sizable items was not a challenging feat.

The other two seemed to recognize Scrimgeour, his distinctive appearance making him easily identifiable—thick hair, sharp eyes reminiscent of a lion, his signature look.

Observing the situation, Skyler sensed a hint of nervousness from the other party, though it wasn't marked by overt fear. This wasn't the first time Aurors had investigated the place.

While Scrimgeour might be a challenging character, it didn't seem like he had come to stir up trouble, given the measured approach of bringing only one Auror and a young boy.

Upon reaching the storage room door, Scrimgeour and Robards asserted their identities, "We are of the Aurors, we are here to conduct research on one of your storage considering few reports that are not up to criteria and standards." requested cooperation with the investigation, and sought permission to enter the storage room for a search.

The other party, citing the absence of a search warrant, refused to cooperate. "Do you have a warrant in the first place, you auror bastards?" The man asked with a sarcastic smile.

No wonder their confidence seemed unwavering; they appeared well-versed in Auror law enforcement procedures. Moreover, their assurance that Scrimgeour lacked a search warrant suggested a level of intelligence capability that shouldn't be underestimated.

Scrimgeour indeed didn't possess a search warrant this time. It was a covert operation on his part, aiming to avoid the leaks that occurred in the past and allowed kidnappers to transfer in advance.

He can only stare at the man standing at the door sinisterly while the man shoots him a teasing smile.

Although Scrimgeour found the other party's confidence peculiar, he couldn't impulsively charge in. Confronted with their unwavering assurance, Scrimgeour had to grit his teeth and endure.

Skyler, on the other hand, didn't share the same constraints as the two Aurors. Unaffiliated with the Ministry of Magic, he faced no scruples or restrictions from it.

Witnessing the crystal ball's illusion firsthand, which unequivocally revealed the identities of the two kidnappers, gave him a different perspective. Unlike Scrimgeour, who only had Skyler's one-sided account, he felt confident in confronting the guards.

What if the intelligence was incorrect? Offending the forces associated with the Nightshade Mystic Market wasn't a matter to be taken lightly.

Having verified the kidnapper's identity, Skyler knew he wasn't making a mistake. Most importantly, he had his own motivations for this operation. His original goal was to rescue Griffith, extending personal favors to Devril, Slughorn, and Scrimgeour.

Now that he knew of the Nightshade Mystic Market's involvement, the situation turned intriguing. The mysterious connections between the Nightshade Mystic Market and the pure-blood families hinted at a potential opportunity.

Skyler contemplated leveraging the situation to his advantage, profiting from the chaos, or at the very least, undermining the power of the pure-blood families.

Amidst the heated argument, Skyler wasted no time and took decisive action. Seizing the moment when attention was diverted, he swiftly casted Stupefy twice to incapacitate the guards, leaving only Scrimgeour and Robards in a state of bewilderment.

"Skyler, what in Merlin's name!" Scrimgeour, utterly perplexed, struggled to find words to articulate the sudden recklessness displayed by the young man, who was unmistakably a quintessential Slytherin.

The usual poised look behind these two Aurors were gone as soon as Skyler blasted both of the guards from entrance…

Although they were cruel and would do anything to get rid of anyone standing in their way so they could serve justice, they never resorted to an unnecessary violence like what Skyler did because of their morals and their code of ethics.

Ignoring the astonishment etched on Scrimgeour and Robards's faces, Skyler advanced towards the storage room's door, only to find it locked.

"Open Sesame!" Anticipating an anti-Alohomora spell, Skyler opted for the "door-breaking spell" to forcefully blast the door open. The door toppled backward with a resounding crash.

Before "Alohomora" became commonplace in Great Britain in a bygone era, wizards used the spell "Open Sesame" to unlock doors.

Later, an inventive wizard refined its effect, giving rise to the "doorway hole" spell, capable of shattering door locks, occasionally leaving a smoldering hole in the keyhole.

However, by the 17th century, Eldon Elsrickle, a rogue who had learned "Alohomora" in Africa, introduced the spell to Great Britain. This sophisticated unlocking charm soon became the new standard, supplanting the traditional chants.