"We can't let our guard down yet!" Fwooper frowned and shook her head. "Finnmark County, which we've just entered, is the most dangerous area. This is where Durmstrang Institute is located, and there's also a large wizard gathering place here. We could easily be discovered by the Pure Land Society if we're not careful." With that, Fwooper looked up and shouted to the surrounding escort convoy, "From now on, we're canceling all breaks and heading toward the border at full speed. Once we're out of Northern Europe, we'll be temporarily safe. Then we can have a unified rest, and our travel speed can also increase!"
Upon hearing Fwooper's command, a chorus of groans immediately arose from around them.
"Oh, this is too much!"
"Is it necessary to go to such lengths? We have so many people; as long as we maintain a good perimeter watch, what could possibly go wrong?!"
"Exactly! We've only stopped once to rest in the past two days. Now we have to keep going. If we really encounter enemies on the way, how will we have the energy to fight them?"
At this moment, both the wizards Fwooper had recruited locally and her North American collaborators were complaining with dissatisfaction.
Seeing this, Fwooper's face immediately turned cold. "No! The longer we stay in Finnmark County, the higher the risk of us being attacked. We absolutely cannot stop here!"
Seeing Fwooper's serious tone, the expressions of the surrounding wizards immediately turned bitter, and many even openly displayed their displeasure.
"Fwooper, forcing them like this really isn't the way." Jobberknoll also leaned forward at this moment. "You have to remember that we are in the northernmost part of Europe, where the temperature is below minus twenty degrees Celsius. It's difficult to even live in such extreme conditions, let alone travel all night."
The reality was indeed as he said. The surrounding ground was already covered in snow. In such an environment, even breathing felt painful. Although they had enough potions and clothing to keep warm, most people were still shivering from the cold. What's more, these wizards also had to constantly observe and be on alert, as well as take care of the magical creatures.
After hearing Jobberknoll's advice, Fwooper also showed a troubled expression. She looked around, observing the surrounding wizards, and found that they all looked sickly, covered in a layer of snow, with icicles frozen on their eyebrows and beards. The biting cold wind made it difficult for them to even open their eyes. Many wizards had cast the Bubble-Head Charm on themselves to avoid breathing the knife-cold air. However, this spell, which would normally last at least half an hour, would freeze and break in less than five minutes in the current environment. The self-cast Fire and Water Immunity spell also had little effect, and would instead waste magic power for nothing.
"Sigh… How could I be so foolish? I should have had a unified rest before entering Finnmark County." Fwooper realized she had made a big mistake. In truth, this was mainly due to her never having put herself in others' shoes. Having lived in the far north for many years, and with her strength far surpassing that of ordinary wizards, she habitually assumed that others could also move normally in such an environment. She hadn't expected these fellows to perform so poorly.
"Fwooper, I think it's better to find a place for them to rest briefly. At least let everyone recover some magic power. Those North American wizards are not used to working in such an environment, and not to mention these wizards, even the magical creatures are almost at their limit." Jobberknoll was also shivering from the cold at this moment, and stammered his suggestion to Fwooper.
"Alright…" Fwooper could also see that the surrounding wizards were already at their breaking point. If she really forced them to continue, even if they crossed the Norwegian border, a large number of people would likely collapse. "I can give them time to rest, but we must first pass Durmstrang Institute. Otherwise, I really can't rest easy." Fwooper spread out the map and looked at it before finally deciding.
"That works too. We just need to travel for another two hours according to the route." Jobberknoll also nodded in agreement at this moment, then loudly conveyed this decision to everyone.
Upon hearing this good news, the surrounding wizards immediately cheered with excitement. Traveling in this terrible weather was truly torturous. At the same time, they once again mustered their spirits and picked up their speed.
And just as Fwooper and her group were overcoming obstacles and traveling, Karkaroff at Durmstrang also sought out their principal.
"Are you serious? Dozens of Silver Spears members are smuggling right under my nose? Have they eaten the guts of a leopard? Are they looking for death?" Seth Jacobsen, Principal of Durmstrang, looked at Karkaroff with a suspicious expression.
"Absolutely, Principal Jacobsen!" At this moment, Karkaroff no longer had that timid, cowering demeanor. His face was solemn, his expression revealing solemnity and dignity, like a cold gentleman. "I received accurate intelligence that those scoundrels from the Silver Spears want to take advantage of your carelessness and secretly slip through Finnmark County. They might have already moved to the vicinity of the school." Karkaroff sighed at this point, looking at the other party with a serious expression. "Principal Jacobsen, you have always been kind to me, and I have never dared to forget this kindness. So, upon learning this news, I immediately came to inform you."
"So, they want to play the 'under the lamp is dark' trick on us? They certainly have clever minds!" Jacobsen saw Karkaroff's seriousness, and also considering their good relationship—this fellow's deputy headmaster position was even promoted by him—he figured he wouldn't lie to him, so he nodded in approval. At this moment, he thought of how these Silver Spears people dared to tease him in such a way, and Jacobsen's face immediately turned grim and ugly. "I never thought these rats, who know nothing of honor, would become so bold as to disregard even the Jacobsen family." Jacobsen snorted angrily. "Let's go! We'll set off now. We must let these bastards know who truly calls the shots in Norway!"
*Huh? I have to go too?* Upon hearing Jacobsen's words, Karkaroff suddenly felt a little uneasy. This was not within his expectations!
Thinking of this, Karkaroff immediately put on a righteous expression. "Principal Jacobsen, those Silver Spears good-for-nothings are provoking the dignity of the Jacobsen family. I think it's better for you to lead the family wizards to punish them and uphold the family's name. My going along would only diminish your prestige. It's better if I don't go and cause trouble. Besides, Professor Donnelly from Potions recently took a long leave, and someone needs to look after the school."
"Ah, Karkaroff, you are too modest." Jacobsen smiled and shook his head, then kindly put his hand on his shoulder. "Although this isn't your business, you knew to inform me immediately upon learning the news, preventing the Jacobsen family from losing prestige. This deeply moves me. From today onward, you are a friend of the Jacobsen family, one of us!" At this point, Jacobsen gazed intently at Karkaroff, as if telling him that from now on, in Northern Europe, the Jacobsen family would have his back!
Upon hearing Jacobsen's heartfelt words, Karkaroff was secretly cursing. *I don't want to be one of you!*
In fact, after all these days, he had vaguely understood Alan's plan, so he knew that Jacobsen's trip was likely a one-way ticket. Wouldn't letting him go along now be like leading a sheep to a tiger's mouth? But Jacobsen's attitude was resolute, giving Karkaroff no chance to refuse. He directly grabbed his arm and Apparated out of Durmstrang, then cast a high-level Patronus Charm to notify the other wizards in his family.
Karkaroff saw that he had even been brought out, so refusing was no longer possible. He quickly found an opportunity to send a message to Alan. Now, he could only hope that his master would save his life.
Soon after, more than twenty wizards from the Jacobsen family gathered around them. Two of them actually worked at Durmstrang, and Karkaroff even knew them. One was the school librarian, and the other was the school's Flying instructor. Since both of them were Jacobsen's relatives by marriage, they did not have the Jacobsen surname, which Karkaroff hadn't known before.
"Principal Jacobsen, is it really appropriate for us, with so few people, to go looking for trouble with those guys? As far as I know, the Silver Spears have dozens of wizards, right?" Karkaroff asked somewhat nervously when he saw that the other party was about to set off after gathering their people.
"Hmph, to deal with a bunch of Flobberworms, do we need to bring out a dragon?" Jacobsen sneered dismissively. "Don't let our small numbers deceive you. We are all battle-hardened pure-blood wizards, raised from childhood in the harsh environment of Norway. Each of them can at least fight two, not to mention you and I. If we can't even handle a bunch of filthy insects, what face do I have to be Principal of Durmstrang?"
*What do you mean, you and I? Can you please not include me?* Karkaroff's face twitched as he silently complained. He realized that he might have overacted his role earlier. From Jacobsen's words, it sounded like he really considered him a key figure. Did that mean he would have to lead the charge later? Thinking of this, Karkaroff suddenly felt a bit regretful. He shouldn't have made his persona so grand and righteous. Now, the other person really believed it, and he probably was truly going to bite the dust.
However, what brought Karkaroff a little comfort was that before setting off, he received a message from Alan, who told him that he only needed to protect himself to escape unharmed. Feeling a little more at ease, Karkaroff had already mounted a flying broom with Jacobsen and began searching for traces of the Silver Spears throughout Finnmark County.
After more than two hours of searching, they finally found their target about a hundred kilometers from Durmstrang.