"Once we reach the designated location, I will conduct the necessary reconnaissance and tactical arrangements. Let's move immediately!" Alan gave the order firmly. He neatly put away the map, took out his broom, and flew into the sky to lead the way.
The others reflexively followed suit. It was only after they had been in the air for a while that they realized Alan had naturally assumed command of the team, and no one—not even Moody—had raised an objection.
After listening to Alan's well-reasoned tactical explanation, the Aurors were deeply struck. They had been fighting on the front lines for years but had never considered the intricacies of field operations in such a clinical way. This young man, who had seemingly never participated in a large-scale battle, spoke of strategy with the authority of a seasoned veteran. They flew through the night, pondering and absorbing the elements he had detailed.
They quickly approached the target location. Alan was the first to descend, landing smoothly on a high ridge. Everyone else followed, gathering around him. Upon landing, Alan didn't say a word to the group. Instead, he activated a shielding jammer and drove it into the ground.
"Although we are the attacking party, our own safety is always the top priority, especially in the wilderness," Alan said. He had spent so much time training others that he couldn't help but offer the advice.
Although some of the Aurors felt he was being overly cautious, no one argued. Once the perimeter was set, Alan took out the map and used the communication tracker to scan the area. He relaxed slightly when he confirmed that the target's position had not shifted.
Next, Alan pulled out a rod-like tool, similar in shape to the jammer but with a single thin antenna and a small metal ball at its tip. He also produced a square meter of processed soft leather.
"I haven't been idle these past few months. This is my latest reconnaissance tool; I call it the Echo Topography Map." Alan smiled and drove the metal rod into the ground.
"Echo Topography Map?" The group crowded around, curious.
"I'll demonstrate how it works." Alan's mouth curved slightly as he began to channel magic into the device.
The small ball on the rod emitted a faint blue light. Those standing nearby felt an invisible wave sweep over them. Alan ignored the rod and focused on the leather cloth, spreading it flat on the ground and tapping it with his wand.
The Aurors' eyes widened. Layers of light dots appeared on the cloth, gradually forming a three-dimensional terrain. Fifteen small figures appeared on the map. They quickly realized these dots represented themselves and the terrain of their current location.
"This Echo Map can sense and identify terrain within a three-kilometer radius. It can be adjusted in orientation, distance, and size depending on the need."
As Alan spoke, he tapped the map again. The image shrunk, and the figures of the Aurors became as small as ants.
"I see! With this, we can scout the smuggling site in advance," Moody said, clearly impressed. "Go on, then."
Alan knew it wasn't the time to show off. He zoomed in on the display, scanning inch by inch toward the north. When he pushed the view to the very edge of the map near the sea, he finally found them. He saw two figures standing on a low seaside cliff. He zoomed in further, focusing on the pair.
The image formed by the Echo Charm wasn't perfectly clear, but the basic outlines were sharp enough. The figures were of similar height, roughly 1.8 meters tall, and both wore the iconic faceless masks of the Silver Spears.
"There are only two of them? Don't these guys usually gather a crowd of collaborators for these jobs?" Moody asked. He had expected to see a swarm of wizards and crates of magical creatures, much like the last raid.
"Don't worry," Alan said, noticing something. "Look at their behavior. They're just standing quietly by the sea. It looks more like they're waiting for someone."
"Oh? What do you mean?" Moody asked, realizing Alan was right.
"What time did they move the creatures during the last bust?" Alan asked the team.
"It was around 10:30 PM," Mavis answered, tilting her head as she recalled the event. "It was a skirmish. They were carrying a large crate of Peruvian Vipertooths and were about to set up camp. One of our teams happened to run into them, and then a fight broke out. We used our Communication Amulets to call for support and caught them off guard."
"It's only 9:30 now, so it seems the actual smugglers haven't arrived yet." Alan turned to Moody. "Should we take these two down now, or wait until the others arrive and capture the whole lot at once?"
"We catch them all at once, of course. Those two guarding the cliff might be tricky, but with the two of us here, holding them back shouldn't be a problem."