This couldn't help but make Kael furrow his brows once again.
Was this the plan he had thought about for so long?
Even though he had secured time for the students to return to the common room, Kael still felt a sense of unease, as he had been targeting the Death Eaters from the start.
The combination of the Vanishing Cabinet and the Basilisk, Kael believed no Death Eater could escape.
But now...
Forget it.
Kael sighed, thinking the changes in the Room of Requirement came at the worst possible time. If he could have come out a day or even an hour earlier, the Death Eaters wouldn't have set foot inside the castle.
"Where is Professor Dumbledore?" Kael asked again.
"I don't know," Professor McGonagall shook her head, "He might not have returned yet, or he might be elsewhere, I haven't seen him."
As they spoke, a shadowy figure wearing a black hood suddenly appeared at the corner of the corridor ahead; the attire unmistakably marked him as a Death Eater.
Professor McGonagall raised her wand...
But Kael was faster, a red light shot past Professor McGonagall's ear and hit the opponent directly.
The Death Eater hadn't even realized what was happening before his entire body flew backward, crashed into the wall, and went silent.
"It seems keeping you here was the right choice." Professor McGonagall slightly relaxed her tense lips.
One had to admit, when it comes to reaction speed, Kael was far stronger than her at this age.
Kael smiled but said nothing.
The two parted ways after reaching the corner; Professor McGonagall headed to the right corridor, while Kael went to the left.
As for Cedric, he had to stay in place, as this was the necessary passage from the tower to the interior of the castle, someone had to stand guard.
Along the way, Kael encountered two more Death Eaters, both of whom he dealt with easily; this also proved that they were just here to make up the numbers, rather than being core Death Eaters.
"Really, how many people came in?" Kael frowned, too lazy to keep looking, he directly took out the Marauder's Map.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
Kael tapped the map with his wand, and lines of ink quickly spread across the previously blank parchment.
As Kael was intently studying the map, a Death Eater quietly approached him from behind.
Kael seemed completely unaware, continuing to look down at the parchment in his hands.
The Death Eater's face beneath the mask showed a hint of derangement as he aimed his wand at Kael.
He had seen Kael's portrait and knew that this student was someone Voldemort had specifically ordered to be killed; if he managed to kill Kael, he could achieve great success and swiftly become one of the most core Death Eaters.
Because of his excitement, his heart was beating faster and faster.
But just at that moment, a sweet scent suddenly wafted over, a scent so complex it was as if someone had placed a blood-flavored lollipop from Honeydukes right under his nose.
Strange, how could there be a blood-flavored lollipop here, was it thrown here by some gluttonous student carelessly? Truly lacking manners!
The Death Eater felt his head becoming more and more drowsy, his wand growing extremely heavy, and in the next moment, he collapsed to the ground with a thud and ceased to move.
Kael still didn't turn around, only calmly saying, "Remember to clean up, don't let the poisonous mist drift somewhere else."
From the shadows behind him, a black, leopard-like creature slowly emerged.
Upon hearing Kael's words, the Nundu snorted, somewhat displeased, but still raised its head, its neck seemed like an angry pufferfish, quickly inflating.
Soon, the sweet scent dissipated.
Kael continued to look at the Marauder's Map in his hand, having momentarily forgotten he had such a useful item.
Now the ink had spread across the entire map, every Death Eater's name was clearly visible, and their exact locations were all evident.
With this, Kael wouldn't have to wander aimlessly searching.
His gaze fell on the name Gatte closest to him, but he quickly saw another place.
The northern tower nearby, which was, apart from the four common rooms, also the place with the most people.
Dumbledore, Harry, Malfoy, Snape, Alecto Carrow, Antonin Dolohov, Thorfinn Rowle, and... Maurice Oren.
All old acquaintances.
Kael looked at the last name, and paused slightly.
"Long time no see, Professor Oren," he said softly.
It had been so long that he almost forgot the Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts who taught him so much in his first year had become a Death Eater?
Kael put away the map, took a deep breath, and quickly headed toward the tower.
There was no Death Eater blocking his way, and he soon arrived at the bottom of the tower.
The revolving stairs leading up were blocked by thick earthen walls, likely man-made. Mr. Weasley, along with Bill and Charlie, were swiftly waving their wands.
"Reducto..."
"Reducto..."
But the effect was minimal; those earthen walls were very sturdy, and the three's charms only blasted a small hole, not large enough for anyone to pass through.
Mr. Weasley noticed someone approaching from behind.
"Kael, how come..."
"Let's catch up later," Kael waved his wand, a burst of golden-red flames crashed into the earthen wall, as if a blazing ember had been tossed onto the snow, within the blink of an eye, the wall had been burned through.
Without pause, Kael walked straight in, leaving the three Weasleys outside exchanging glances.