"Screech—"
Along with the sound of brakes, the taxi stopped by a quiet street, the driver's arm resting on the car window, as he leaned out and shouted loudly:
"Pleasant journey, folks! If we meet at the bar next time, I'll buy you a drink!"
Despite the driver's friendly chatter throughout the ride, hearing such an enthusiastic invitation still surprised Lupin a bit.
He waved his hand and smiled, expressing his thanks.
The taxi left in a gust of wind, and the driver glanced through the rearview mirror at Vid Gray standing by the roadside, as well as the White Bridge Inn not far away, unable to suppress a smile.
"Haha, I actually gave a ride to Vid Gray! I can boast about this to Jennifer all day, hopefully she won't think I'm lying..."
...
The White Bridge Inn was not far away.
Considering that Muggles typically can't see it, they got off a little ways away, then walked over.
However, just as Vid's gaze habitually swept the air ahead, a sudden change occurred!
As if a swarm of flies swept through his vision, Vid suddenly saw countless fine, gold threads floating in the air, wriggling and sparkling like living creatures!
These threads silently spread across the path to the inn, emitting ominous vibrations, like an open net waiting to ensnare its prey!
In the blink of an eye, that wondrous scene vanished, as if it had never existed!
Vid's pupils contracted sharply: "Wait—"
"Don't move!"
Almost simultaneously, Moody growled.
He raised his arm to block Vid and Lupin, the blue Magic Eye rotating frantically at unprecedented speed, fixed on the seemingly empty area ahead.
"What's going on?"
Lupin said as he quickly drew his magic wand, scanning the surroundings with his gaze.
Vid's fingers curled slightly, and just as he was about to grasp the pen pouch hidden in his pocket, he became acutely aware, his fingers naturally gripping the magic wand, his expression as vigilant as the other two.
"Something's wrong ahead!"
Moody said in a raspy voice, his normal eye squinting into a slit.
Watching the direction his gaze moved, Vid almost suspected that Moody could see the trajectory of magic like himself.
"There's a trap here... a curse!"
Moody whispered hoarsely, his voice full of disgust:
"I've seen this method before, the curse causes flesh to wither, leaving a very grisly death, only the person who cast it can completely lift it... Back up a bit, this is a very sneaky guy."
Vid and Lupin naturally trusted Moody's wealth of experience, both immediately retreated to create enough distance, while Lupin securely kept Vid close by, not relaxing for a moment.
Though he knew well that Vid's combat abilities were now on par with his own, with a poppet companion in space, Lupin still regarded Vid as the child he needed to protect.
Moody had no intention of dismantling this complex and finely arranged trap, it was too time-consuming and extremely risky.
Thus, Moody chose the most direct, most aggressive yet safest method—
"I'm going to detonate it! Remus, give me some support!"
"Understood."
Lupin lightly flicked his wrist, the magic wand hidden in his sleeve making a subtle swipe, and a whirlwind materialized out of thin air, growing several times larger in the blink of an eye, swirling up dust from nearby construction sites and stirring the garbage bins not far away.
"Whoosh—"
A sudden gust whipped up, carrying gray dust, numerous plastic bags, and a pungent stench, sweeping across the street!
"Ahhh—"
The few passers-by screamed, clutching their heads as they rushed into the shops along the street.
The stores responded quickly, shutting doors and windows, while residents along the street also immediately dashed to their windows, and the sound of "bang bang bang bang" arose almost simultaneously.
At this moment, no one cared if there were fools standing on the street, the dust-filled whirlwind completely blocked everyone's view.
"Hahaha..."
Moody laughed heartily: "Well done, Remus! I should've chosen you as my partner back then!"
He knew all too well how many times he'd nearly been driven mad by foolish teammates while working at the Ministry of Magic! And how many times he'd been weighed down by those in dire need of reevaluation!
With quite a cheerful mood, Moody swung his magic wand fiercely and precisely!
A blistering red lightning bolt shot forward, striking the crucial node of the invisible trap, Vid even heard a crisp "snap"!
Moody slashed the air with his wand as if cracking a whip—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of intense magical explosions rang out repeatedly!
In Vid's vision, those golden curse threads became extremely violent, twisting like snakes whose tails had been stomped, bursting with dangerous radiance!
"Boom—!!!"
The curse trap detonated suddenly, creating a small-scale magic shockwave, Moody was knocked back, caught by Lupin's magic wand, while the ground and walls nearby were already blasted with pits and holes of various sizes.
"Thud!"
Another loud noise, the nearest lamppost toppled straight over, crashing through the glass of a luxury store, sending Muggle screams echoing throughout the shop!
"Alastor, you're hurt!" Lupin shouted with concern.
Vid, who had been watching the alley, immediately turned to look, explosive fragments had cut across Moody's left arm like flying knives, leaving a deep wound revealing the bone, with blood gushing out.
"On guard!"
Moody shouted: "This little injury means nothing, be cautious of someone taking advantage! Until the very last moment, never let down your guard!"
"I understand!"
Lupin said solemnly, his magic wand poised for attack at any moment, wary of enemies who might appear from the surroundings.
The werewolf's eyes became extremely sharp, his gentle demeanor replaced by vigilance, even giving off a dangerous feel.
Almost simultaneously, the three noticed a figure—
A remarkably oversized black robe, clearly supported by a frame hidden inside, making it impossible to discern his physique;
Hair completely covered by the hood, face hidden by a smiling God of Death mask, corners of the mouth seemingly bloody.
The person was standing at the entrance of a nearby alley, staring intently in this direction, his bizarre attire and expression immediately making the three lock onto him.
The figure knew he was discovered, he slightly raised his head, smiled, and even the mask's mouth seemed to lift a bit.
"Courting death!"
Moody swung his magic wand, about to release a spell, suddenly heard a "bang".
The inn door was forcibly thrown open, and a group of people rushed out in a panic, evidently startled by the commotion outside.
In that moment of distraction, the God of Death mask backed away, and the entire figure seemed to blend into the shadows, disappearing out of sight.