10

Chapter 10: The Imperius Curse and the Killing Curse

Under the guidance of three wizards, Ethan soon arrived at the base of a decrepit two-story building.

Approaching, one of them stepped forward, tapping a moss-covered brick on the wall with their wand in a rhythmic pattern.

After a moment, a voice from inside asked, "Dennis, is that you?"

"Yeah, open up!"

Dennis replied, stepping forward.

The hut was protected by several spells. The door, enchanted with protective magic, could only be opened from the inside or by the right signal, ensuring security against unwanted intrusion.

Given their illicit activities, such precautions were necessary. Involved in smuggling and trafficking magical creatures, many of them faced serious charges and were constantly pursued by magical law enforcement agencies.

"Found a buyer so soon?"

The cautious voice from inside hesitated before unlocking the door.

"Kipling, open up! We've got a catch," another wizard interjected bluntly.

"Coming!"

Kipling, now convinced, opened the door. A middle-aged wizard in a black robe, with a slicked-back oily hair, greeted them.

"Here's the catch of the day—a fine specimen!" Kipling examined Ethan with evident satisfaction.

A robust young wizard like Ethan fetched a handsome price among dark wizards—far more valuable than most.

Creak! The door shut abruptly behind them as they entered. "By the way, how did you..."

"Avada Kedavra!"

Before Kipling could finish his query, a green flash engulfed him, his eyes glazed over.

"Always shouting before biting into the melon," Ethan remarked, taking a step forward to examine the lifeless wizard.

Ethan's prior practice involved mice, making this his first use of lethal magic against a human.

The man's wide eyes reflected panic and confusion, his face etched with fear, frozen in the throes of death.

The other three wizards made no objections to Ethan dispatching their comrade.

From the moment they had held Ethan hostage, he had secretly cast the Imperius Curse, making them his unwitting pawns.

While cautious, they hadn't anticipated a young wizard capable of such a threat without even drawing his wand.

Moreover, the Imperius Curse operated silently, without obvious effects during casting. Upon being afflicted, victims experienced a fleeting emptiness in their minds, followed by euphoria and compliance with Ethan's commands, even to the point of self-harm.

Though resistance could build over time, Ethan's mastery of the curse ensured their compliance.

This strategic advantage enabled Ethan to neutralize them one by one, catching them off guard without raising alarm.

"Tell me about this base and your identities."

Earlier, outside, Ethan hadn't pressed for details.

Listening to Dennis's account now, Ethan pieced together their affiliations.

They belonged to Thress, an international smuggling ring specializing in magical creatures, with operatives worldwide.

Their modus operandi involved capturing magical beasts and using Traceless Expansion Spells to transport them worldwide, with operatives like Dennis selling them in various black market venues.

Recently, their poaching operation had gone awry—an attempt to capture a Hebridean Black Dragon on behalf of an American collector had led to a disastrous encounter with Newt Scamander in the Hebridean Islands Reserve.

Despite their numbers, armed to the teeth, only five out of a dozen escaped, badly wounded from burns, bites, and poisoning inflicted by the creatures.

Those captured by Newt had cracked under interrogation by the Ministry of Magic, placing Thress under international scrutiny and wanted lists.

In hiding, Dennis and his team had retreated to their base deep in Knockturn Alley, laying low and dealing in minor contraband to survive.

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