The woman uncorked the bottle and drank the magic potion in one gulp, her mind instantly cleared. Then she pulled an invisibility cloak from her bag and draped it over herself.
Rita believed that with Muggle technology, there was no way to see through a wizard's invisibility.
But she was too tired, with no strength to escape farther. She rummaged through her bag for a few pieces of chocolate and devoured them, then drank a bottle of honey wine, finally feeling alive again.
—How long has this half an hour been?
Just as Rita was about to check the time, she suddenly heard the buzzing sound again.
This time, the sound came from both ends of the pipeline, with over a dozen vehicles closing in on her with clear intent. Some even had barrels adjusting their aim—Rita's only recognition of a Muggle weapon.
Rita was taken aback—she was wearing an invisibility cloak, how did these things still manage to find her?
"Boom—"
The sound of the explosion traveled far along the pipeline, even reaching the underground cells where people lifted their heads in confusion, unaware of what happened.
...
A few minutes later, a few items appeared in front of the ponytailed man—
A shattered, blood-stained coat.
A dragon hide lady's short boot with a broken sole.
And a damaged invisibility cloak.
Once the invisibility cloak was damaged, its invisibility effect vanished; it now appeared as a makeshift cloak made of gray animal skin.
On the big screen, a short video played—
Scorpion-shaped vehicles surrounded an apparently empty spot. As they awaited attack orders, a bright flash erupted in the center of the circle, tearing apart several scorpion-shaped vehicles, and then the screen turned into a flurry of static and snowflakes.
The technician adjusted the video, freezing the frame at the last moment, revealing a faint figure in green clothing.
The ponytailed man laughed angrily, "Why can't these wizards just give up instead of struggling hopelessly?"
No one around responded.
"Turn on the magnetic field." The ponytailed man said coldly, "I don't believe she can withstand it a few more times."
"The magnets haven't cooled down completely yet," the bespectacled man whispered cautiously, "We might need to wait another ten minutes; otherwise, it'll damage the equipment."
The ponytailed man said angrily, "I told them ages ago to replace the bits. Those guys upstairs would rather spend money on women than invest more in the immortality project. They'll pay for that sooner or later."
"Don't get mad." The woman in red said indifferently, "That little mouse can't escape. You might as well use this as an excuse to request more funding."
"True enough." The man's anger subsided as quickly as it flared up, and he said in a calmer tone, "Then let's try again in ten minutes."
"No, wait for twenty minutes." The woman in red said, "Wouldn't it be more interesting if she suffered a severe hit just when she believes she's safe?"
...
Rita anxiously shrank back in the pipeline, but the anticipated invisible attack did not come.
After waiting another minute, Rita could no longer hold back and ran out from her hiding place.
Having recovered some of her strength, Rita had already transformed back into her beetle form, which now was the only shape she felt safe in.
She crawled along the pipeline for a while, occasionally peering through the grates to see where she was.
She saw various strange instruments, owls under research confinement, busy researchers, cluttered storerooms, and crowded warehouses.
When she saw the heap of imitation Friendship Books stacked on a shelf in the storeroom, Rita suddenly stopped, hesitating a few times but unable to dismiss the thought in her mind.
If Rita Skeeter regretted anything in this perilous situation, it was leaving the Friendship Book connecting her to Vid Gray back in the United Kingdom.
Previously, Rita's thoughts were simple—unable to complete Vid Gray's task and worried he might take back the invisibility cloak, she had unilaterally severed contact with Vid Gray.
She knew some Friendship Books had locating functions, worried that Vid Gray had given her such a book, so she left it at home when she left.
In fact, Rita Skeeter still had a stack of Friendship Books in her bag, but she had no actual friends. Her contacts were either blackmailed or plastic colleagues.
She knew these "friends" could source information effectively and help navigate relationships, but none were willing or capable of rescuing her.
Vid Gray may still be a child, perhaps incapable as well, but he had Dumbledore behind him.
No matter how much Rita Skeeter disparaged or belittled Dumbledore as a muddled old lunatic, she knew that in such a setting, the only one who might help strangers and enemies and save her was Albus Dumbledore.
But she had disposed of the only potential connection to Dumbledore.
Regret gnawed at her heart like a worm. Rita Skeeter hesitated a moment, then suddenly took out a very precious potion from her handbag, with only a small amount left.
Its color was like molten gold, shining and mesmerizing as it flowed.
This was Felix Felicis, a Lucky Potion that could bring good fortune to its drinker. It was very unique and very expensive.
Rita had procured this small amount by sheer chance, its effect lasting only about an hour, and she had been reluctant to consume it.
At this moment, Rita tipped the potion into her mouth, then closed her eyes, as an invigorating sensation coursed through her body, making her feel she could think clearly, and her magic flowed strong and smooth, as if anything were possible.
No… not everything…
Rita opened her eyes, her gaze incredibly calm, devoid of panic or fatigue.
She clearly realized she couldn't escape from this place within an hour—she didn't even know the surroundings or if there were any ordinary households nearby.
—But there were options.
Strange confidence and intuition spurred her to act immediately.
She quickly transformed into a beetle, slipped through the grates, and fell into the storeroom.
The warehouse keeper just turned around, looking at the shelves, unaware that an uninvited guest had entered his domain.
Rita hastily stole two imitation Friendship Books, then hid her crocodile leather handbag in the deepest corner of the shelf, leaving only a few potions in her pocket.
—The remaining contents of the handbag were of no use to her now, though the interview notes inside were priceless treasures Rita had accumulated over the years, and she'd be heartbroken to lose them.
Afterward, Rita used a small Levioso spell to send the imitation Friendship Books through the grates into the vent, and before the keeper turned back, she changed into a beetle again and flew away.
This time, she returned to the owl room with the Friendship Book.
Fortunately, there was nobody inside.
"Of course." Rita thought confidently, "Now luck is on my side!"
Management over these creatures was much looser, with the owls confined in ordinary cages, easily released with an Unlocking Charm.
Intuition led Rita to choose the most frail-looking owl, rolling up a Friendship Book and tying it to its leg. The owl quietly regarded her.
Rita wrote Vid Gray's name and address, leaned in to touch the top of the owl's head with her forehead.
"Please… be sure to deliver this letter."
The owl cooed softly, seemingly in agreement.
"Alohomora!"
Dozens of owls fluttered up, swooping through the narrow window, back to the free sky.
A sudden clamor arose outside.
Rita Skeeter transformed into a beetle, timely landing on a brown-legged tawny owl's back, following it through the window.
"Bang!"
A gunshot rang out, and the tawny owl cried out before plummeting, crashing heavily to the ground amid a burst of blood and feathers. A beetle swiftly scurried toward a crack at the wall's base.
It barely found a hiding place when the buzzing resumed.
In the midst of silent struggle, Rita's eyes widened, witnessing those scattered owls being shot down like rain.
Yet the frailest owl weaved deftly, carrying Rita Skeeter's hopes for salvation, flying into the distance.
The buzzing didn't affect it, but had Rita been perched on its back, attempting escape, both bird and rider would now crash like a kite with its string cut.
In painful torment, she wore a twisted smile.
As this excruciating time passed, Rita unhesitatingly sprang once more, crawling deep underground under the potion's guidance.
The air gradually became stagnant as she saw narrow cells, many housing very young children…