The surrounding Aurors heard Moody putting Alan and himself on the same level, which immediately drew everyone's attention. They had previously sensed that the relationship between the two was unusual, but did Moody really believe this young man's strength rivaled theirs?
"Good." Alan nodded slightly. He had originally intended to move regardless, but since this was a joint operation with the Ministry, it was better to follow protocol and establish consensus.
"In that case, let's scout the surrounding terrain first. Once we determine their numbers and setup, we'll deploy our tactics." After Alan finished speaking, he zoomed out the tactical map to examine the area.
The cliff where the two Silver Spears stood was a sharp protrusion on the coast, surrounded by the sea on three sides. The ledge was less than five meters above sea level, backed by a dense forest, making it a perfectly secluded spot.
As Alan began mentally drafting an encirclement tactic, movement appeared on the sea's surface. One of the masked figures on the cliff edge raised his wand high, casting a spell. Alan's map could only scan solid objects, so it couldn't identify the specific incantation, but the results were immediate.
A surge of water erupted near the shore, and two horse-headed beasts suddenly emerged. As the Kelpies surfaced, they dragged a strangely shaped vessel behind them. The ship had no masts or sails; it was elongated, resembling a giant rugby ball with a flattened upper deck and railings.
"Kelpies. So that's how they manage underwater transport. No wonder we spent so much time finding traces of transshipment but were completely clueless about how they crossed continents," Mavis sighed. These smugglers clearly went to extreme lengths to evade the Ministry's reach.
"Quiet now. Someone is coming off that ship." Moody interrupted her, pointing to the 3D map.
A large square hatch opened on the flat deck. Several wizards dressed in exotic clothing climbed out, drawing their wands to cast spells into the opening. A moment later, a massive cage rose from the hatch. The two Silver Spears waiting on the cliff cast their own spells to receive the cage and guide it onto land.
"Good grief, why are there so many this time?" The Aurors noticed that the volume of smuggled goods far exceeded their previous bust.
The foreign wizards worked continuously, moving cage after cage. They varied in size, from structures as large as small houses to containers resembling birdcages. Based on the sheer volume, it was clear the ship was enchanted with a Traceless Stretching Spell.
"A total of nine cages. Three giant ones, four medium, and two small. They're making quite a haul," Alan inventoried them once the transport was complete. "Can anyone identify what creatures they're carrying?"
The Echo Map could show outlines, but several cages were covered with thick cloth, making identification difficult.
"The one in the birdcage looks like a Jobberknoll," Mavis said confidently. "One of the large cages definitely holds a Griffin. The other two large ones next to it are covered, but that medium cage should contain several Thestrals."
"The animals in the other cages are all huddled together, so it's hard to be sure, but look at that tall, slender one." Another Auror pointed to a cage about a meter square and two meters high. "That looks like a person in there, doesn't it?"
Through the map, everyone could see a humanoid figure with limbs and clothing standing inside that specific cage.
"Those scumbags are trafficking people!" Mavis hissed, her voice trembling with rage.
"Hardly surprising. In certain parts of the American magical world, trafficking wizards or intelligent creature slaves isn't unheard of," Moody snorted, seemingly unfazed by the depravity.
"Well, they've all arrived. Should we move in?" Mavis drew her wand, her eyes bright with a need for action.
"Don't rush." Alan shook his head. These Aurors had plenty of spirit, but their tactical execution was far too reckless. "Don't just look at the cargo. Count the numbers." He tapped the map, zooming in further.
The Aurors leaned in to count, then collectively swallowed. "There are twenty-four of them? And they brought dogs?"
"Plus the two Silver Spears, that's twenty-six people. Twenty-four regular wizards and two Silver Spears, along with three hunting dogs. Are you sure you want our group of fifteen to just charge in?" Alan asked, tilting his head toward the group.
"Then... what do we do? Send for reinforcements and wait?" one Auror asked, clearly intimidated by the odds.
"Waiting isn't an option." Alan shook his head. "Our goal is to catch everyone, especially those two Silver Spears. If we wait for reinforcements, they might disappear. Those two are extremely dangerous and capable of massive destruction."
"Alan, do you have a way to handle this? Specifically, a way that minimizes our casualties?" Moody asked, noting Alan's composure.
"Fifteen against twenty-six is less than a two-to-one disadvantage. Based on your previous descriptions, these foreign wizards are only slightly stronger than average adults. This won't be a difficult battle." Alan looked around at the Aurors and allowed a small, sharp smile.