"Spill it, what happened?"
After lifting the spell from Alex and waking him up, Murphy began to inquire about the preceding events.
"Mr. Parker, I'm so sorry!" Alex Wood burst into tears, clearly terrified, "He tortured me, I, I'm sorry…"
Finally, Alex managed to calm down and recounted his harrowing experience to Murphy.
The process was much like Murphy had guessed. The bald wizard—named Paped—had caught him as he was returning with the materials and forced him back to the barn. There, he tortured him with the Cruciatus Curse until he gave up Peter Parker's name.
Then he forced him to call Murphy.
After hearing the story, Murphy patted Wood on the shoulder and handed him a cup of hot chocolate, "Forget it, it's not your fault."
Wood was clearly the kind of typical wizard who had never considered the need for combat, thus practically having no ability to fight. Against a dark wizard who could freely use the Cruciatus Curse, he had no chance to resist.
Moreover, keeping secrets from a wizard is difficult. Even if he had resisted the Cruciatus Curse, the other party might have used Veritaserum or Legilimency.
Being forced to give out a false name was not something for which Murphy would blame him.
"However, we can't use this place anymore."
Although this time it was a fool who didn't discover Murphy's core secret, once he returned, he might bring some smarter associates.
Even Malfoy could directly report a false alarm, prompting the Aurors to act. By then, Murphy's violation of the Statute of Secrecy by selling potions to Muggles would no longer be a secret.
Thinking this, Murphy handed Wood a bag, "Feeling better? If so, help me pack everything here."
After packing everything, Murphy did a final check of the barn, ensuring no useful traces were left behind. He then waved his wand, directing several cans of gasoline to spread throughout the barn.
Then, "Incendio!"
Once the flames completely engulfed the barn, Murphy grabbed Wood's arm, "Clear your mind. Apparate!"
Murphy brought Wood to the old Darkhome estate, "You can't go to Diagon Alley anymore, not even home for a while. That guy has memorized your face and knows your name. If you continue to show up in the wizarding world, they will eventually find you."
Alex was panicked, "Then, what should I do? Can I report this to the Aurors? They'll protect me, right?"
Murphy looked at Alex in disbelief, "You think you're Harry Potter, or your dad is the Minister for Magic?"
Alex was confused, "What?"
"Forget it, the Aurors? How many of them are there? For someone like you, unless there's conclusive evidence, they won't move just for your sake."
"What should I do then?" Alex was distressed, beginning to regret taking this job.
"I can protect you," Murphy said. "I beat that guy half to death; he probably won't dare to trouble me anymore."
But Malfoy might not necessarily think the same.
However, Alex didn't need to know that.
"Really?" Alex sighed in relief. If Mr. Parker could defeat that dark wizard, then staying by his side indeed meant not having to worry about safety.
"But there's a condition," Murphy continued, "You need to say goodbye to the wizarding world for now. I can't always be by your side, so the safest option for you is to temporarily leave the wizarding world. I have some influence in the Muggle world to ensure your life here."
"No, no, that's impossible, I've never interacted with Muggles, they'll find out, I'll be burned at the stake…"
Alex hurriedly shook his head.
Growing up in the wizarding world and never having lived in Muggle society, leaving the wizarding world for the Muggle world felt to Alex like being thrown from a tribal village into metropolitan London, filling him with dread.
"Get burned? It's the 20th century, brother, who's going to burn you? Forget it, do whatever you want. If you want to die, go back. I won't stop you."
Alex hesitated, thinking of the terrifying bald dark wizard and the pain of the Cruciatus Curse, he wavered, "How long will it be? How long before I can go home?"
"A year or two at the shortest, three to four at the longest. It won't be too long," Murphy said.
By then, he might have the power to contend with the Statute of Secrecy, perhaps no longer needing to sneak around.
"So long?" Alex's face soured, and after a while, he asked in a pitiful voice, "Can I write a letter to my mom?"
"Of course! Go write it now! But remember, don't mention anything about me or that you were threatened, to avoid worrying the old lady. Just say you're going on a trip, it's simpler."
"I'm not stupid!"
"Heh."
In the Muggle world, you'd have been conned all the way to Northern Myanmar and still not be considered stupid?
This round, he lost a Muggle barn but gained a wizard. It seems... not a loss?
But how to purchase materials in the future became a problem.
There are only a few potion shops in Diagon Alley, and the volume of materials he needed was huge. No matter where he bought them, he might be targeted.
Hogsmeade?
Truth be told, Murphy only knew a few wizarding gathering places.
Although originally from a wizarding family, his parents were gone early, depriving him of any intelligence benefits. In some aspects, Murphy's understanding of the wizarding world was even inferior to Alex's.
Thinking this, Murphy approached Alex, who was preparing to write a letter, "Besides Diagon Alley, where else can we buy a large amount of potion materials?"
"Knockturn Alley?"
Oh?
Murphy had never really visited Knockturn Alley.
It's known for being rife with dark wizards, and without any special need, there was no reason for him to deal with such a dangerous place.
But since it's beyond the law, it's likely less controlled by official forces—like the Aurors—making it potentially safer for Murphy at this point.
After all, people like Malfoy were just jumping clowns. What Murphy truly feared was the official discovery of his violation of the Statute of Secrecy.
Maybe it's time to take a trip to Knockturn Alley.
Moreover, perhaps he should open a potion shop as a front.
Being discovered by Malfoy this time, even if he purchased materials in Knockturn Alley in the future, it's hard to ensure he wouldn't be observed or investigated.
If he had a potion shop, buying materials under the guise of the shop would make many things much easier to explain.
As for the location, Knockturn Alley would do, where oversight is much laxer than Diagon Alley, and he probably wouldn't have many customers, which suits his need for just a front.
Time to act.
Murphy instructed Alex, "Stay here and don't move. I'm going to buy a few oranges... cough, anyway, you stay here for now until I find a place for you."
"If something happens, call me on my phone..."
Thinking it over, it seemed the old house didn't have a landline installed, and this brick phone seemed somewhat ominous, bringing bad news every time it rang. Murphy was almost traumatized.
"Forget it, if something happens, keep it to yourself. Wait till I get back."
Alex: "?"