"Master? Is that really you? I… can I speak? Master?" Karkaroff asked timidly in a low voice.
"Aren't you already speaking? Don't worry, I've completely shielded the surrounding space, so your voice won't get out," Alan grumbled irritably.
"Phew…" Upon hearing Alan's affirmative reply, Karkaroff finally let out a long sigh of relief. "Master, you really scared me to death. If I hadn't received your message beforehand, I would have thought the Silver Spear leader in front of me was real. Your oppressive aura is too exaggerated, especially when you cast the spell. I felt like I was going to die."
"Nonsense, if I didn't act real enough, wouldn't I be exposed on the spot? But you…" Alan complained with some disdain, "Your acting is too stiff. Can't you even do such a simple act? Why were you trembling when I was speaking? Your expression was as rigid as a block of wood. If anyone had seen your face, you would have been exposed long ago."
"I couldn't help it, master. Your message only told me to step out. At that time, I didn't know the Silver Spear leader in front of me was you, and you acted so terrifyingly. When that blade of fire came down, I thought I was dead. How could I not be nervous?" Karkaroff felt a bit wronged at this point. Alan hadn't explained it clearly to him beforehand. If he had known, he would have struck a cooler pose when he appeared.
"Whatever, since things have progressed to this point, quickly put on a show and use your magic to deflect my Fiendfyre. Then I'll retreat. Remember to be high-profile; don't always act like an expired light bulb!" Alan was too lazy to waste words with Karkaroff now. He didn't have that much time to waste here. He was already speechless watching Karkaroff show off in front of those Pure Land Society wizards earlier.
"Oh, oh, oh…" Karkaroff once again showed that serious and indifferent, yet blank expression that indicated he had just realized something. He quickly nodded in agreement, then gathered all his magic and poured it into the tip of his wand.
Meanwhile, the Pure Land Society wizards waiting anxiously in the distance saw a dazzling light suddenly flash from Karkaroff's position, which was originally enveloped by Blue Fiendfyre. Even through the Blue Fiendfyre, it felt incredibly blinding.
"Bang!"
Karkaroff, at the center of the light, seemed to have detonated something. A surging, dazzling current of light exploded, directly pushing away the Blue Fiendfyre surrounding him. Even Thunderbird opposite seemed to be affected by this light current. Not only did he retract the azure blade in his hand, but he was even forced to retreat half a step.
"Hmm, is this the strength of Durmstrang's deputy headmaster?" Thunderbird looked at Karkaroff, who calmly withstood his spell, and nodded in approval. "Since my return to Northern Europe, I've finally met a true strong person. This trip to Norway was worth it, hahahaha!" Thunderbird laughed heartily as if he had found a beloved toy, then looked at the other party boldly, "Igor Karkaroff, you are worthy of me remembering that name!"
"As expected of a strong person who can defeat Seth. Our meeting today is indeed extraordinary." Karkaroff showed a solemn expression as he looked at Thunderbird, also nodding in praise.
"I look forward to our next life-or-death encounter! Igor Karkaroff, I remember you!" Thunderbird muttered the other party's name again in a low voice. After dropping a harsh remark, he suddenly Apparated and disappeared from the spot.
"Karkaroff actually! Really blocked that villain!"
"Lord Karkaroff is truly too strong!"
"Igor, I knew you could do it!"
After Thunderbird left, the surrounding Jacobsen family wizards swarmed around him. Their eyes lit up as they looked at Karkaroff, as if they were seeing him for the first time.
"I didn't expect you to be so strong. If only I had known, I would have brought you along for the previous operation. If you had teamed up with Lord Seth, you might have really defeated that Silver Spear!" a wizard stepped forward and said remorsefully.
"Indeed, I think compared to Lord Karkaroff, that Silver Spear is nothing special. Even if he used his strongest move, what then? He still couldn't do anything to Lord Karkaroff. Actually, we should have seized the opportunity just now to press the attack and keep that bastard here to avenge Lord Seth!" Karkaroff's performance gave these Pure Land Society wizards great confidence, even making them think of counterattacking.
"No… *cough, cough*…" Karkaroff had just opened his mouth to speak when he suddenly started coughing violently. The surrounding wizards immediately gathered around him with concern.
"How are you, Karkaroff? Are you alright?" Knut stepped forward and supported him, asking with a worried expression.
"*Cough, cough*… The Silver Spear's strength is extraordinary. I was just holding on. Thankfully, I scared him away. We can't delay any longer now; we must leave quickly!" Karkaroff coughed heavily a few more times, then urged them breathlessly.
Upon hearing Karkaroff's words, everyone was shocked. They had thought Karkaroff's calm demeanor meant his strength was no weaker than that of the Silver Spear. Who would have thought he had been enduring all along? If that was the case, wasn't the Silver Spear's strength even greater than they imagined?
After a moment of fear, everyone quickly pulled Karkaroff and, taking the remaining injured and bodies, hurriedly left the scene.
However, even though Karkaroff looked sickly at this moment, it only made the Pure Land Society wizards admire him even more. After all, that Silver Spear was someone Seth couldn't even deal with. And Karkaroff, who still stepped forward in the face of such an irresistible enemy? What did this represent? It represented loyalty and righteousness!
And what the Pure Land Society people valued most was emotional connection. So, these Jacobsen family members now completely regarded Karkaroff as one of their own and fully accepted him. Especially Knut, who had served as Seth's assistant for many years, he hadn't forgotten what Seth had told him before he died. Now he finally understood what Seth's phrase "Karkaroff is a talent" meant. Such a strong person naturally needed to be brought into the Jacobsen family.
At the same time, the casualties of Seth and many Jacobsen family members had an extremely negative impact. The situation had to be stabilized quickly; otherwise, their family's position in Northern Europe might also be shaken. And Karkaroff, as Durmstrang's deputy headmaster, was the most likely person to rise after Seth's death. Bringing him onto the Jacobsen family's ship could also consolidate the family's influence in Northern Europe!
Nodding secretly, Knut knew what to do when he returned!
…
On the other side.
In the Silver Spears' temporary camp, the wizards were celebrating their survival, and at the same time, they had truly witnessed Thunderbird's power. Now, neither the werewolves nor the Death Eaters had their previous arrogance. Ultimately, this was still a world where strength reigned. Fortunately, Thunderbird was on their side, and fortunately, they were all still alive.
When Thunderbird returned to the camp, the surviving wizards, under the command of two leaders, had hastily treated the injured and collected the bodies, both from the club and the Pure Land Society. And seeing Thunderbird again, everyone looked at him with a mix of admiration and fear. The sight of Thunderbird slaughtering those Pure Land Society wizards earlier had left a deep impression on them.
"How are you? Are the transport team's losses significant?" After reappearing, Thunderbird went directly to Fwooper's side, showing how much he valued and trusted his disciple.
"Thank you for your concern, teacher. I'm fine now. My injuries will heal in just two or three days, but I'm still not very suitable for casting spells during this time." As a Potions professor, Fwooper was very skilled at treating injuries and illnesses. "As for the transport team… sigh!" Fwooper glanced at the scene, which looked as if it had been bombed from the air, and the wizards, almost all of whom were injured, and sighed helplessly.
"The goods are fine. After Jobberknoll's inspection, most of the magical animals were just startled and didn't die. However, the personnel losses are significant. We originally had fifty-three cooperating wizards. After this encounter, eighteen wizards died on the spot, including four Death Eaters, three werewolves, and eleven black market collaborators from North America. Among the remaining thirty-five people, six were seriously injured and are currently receiving emergency treatment. We don't know if their lives can be saved. The rest all have injuries to varying degrees." Fwooper sighed again with melancholy. The Pure Land Society wizards were extremely ruthless, which led to a very high death rate.
"What a bunch of useless people, clearly outnumbering the enemy yet still getting beaten down." Thunderbird snorted in dissatisfaction. Fortunately, where they were talking was not close to the others; otherwise, those wizards would have suffered psychological blows in addition to their physical injuries.
"Oh right, teacher, did you deal with all those Pure Land Society wizards? I heard Seth's screams at the end, so he must have been killed by you, right?" After Fwooper reported the situation in the camp, she immediately asked about the details of the Pure Land Society. These guys had caused them so much misery, and now a feud had been formed, so they had to be completely annihilated, leaving no one alive! Otherwise, if these Pure Land Society people went back to report, they might face endless pursuit, and the club would have difficulty moving in Northern Europe in the future.
Fwooper had been full of confidence in Thunderbird, and at this moment, she was just asking for peace of mind. However, she received Thunderbird's head shake in response.
"The Pure Land Society had experts to support them, so I couldn't wipe them all out. A few of them still managed to escape."