Soon, under the guidance of three wizards, Ethan arrived at a rundown two-story building.
One of the wizards stepped forward and rhythmically knocked on a moss-covered brick on the right side of the wall with his wand.
After a brief pause, a voice from inside asked, "Dennis, is that you?"
"Yeah, open the door!" replied Dennis, stepping forward.
The hut had several protective spells cast on it. For instance, the door was enchanted with protective magic, making it impossible to open from the outside unless force was used. As soon as the door was touched from the outside, the wizard inside would be alerted, giving them a chance to leave with a Portkey.
Only after knocking on the correct brick and receiving different signals from inside would the guards verify the situation and unlock the door from the inside.
Such caution was necessary because they were engaged in illegal activities. Many of the magical animals they smuggled and trafficked were classified as XXXXX-level creatures. There had been an incident recently, and they were still wanted by the authorities.
They were constantly on the run from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. If caught, a one-way trip to Azkaban was inevitable.
"Did you find a buyer that quickly?" asked the wizard inside, still wary and not opening the door immediately.
"Kipling, open up! We've caught a lamb," another wizard responded bluntly.
"Coming!" Kipling, the wizard inside, no longer hesitated. "Catching a lamb" meant they had captured a young wizard, which explained their swift return.
Young wizards were worth a fortune—at least a few hundred Galleons. They were highly sought after by dark wizards, especially for testing new potions and spells, as they were far more valuable than rats or magical creatures.
To create cursed magical items, a wizard's magic and strong negative emotions were often required, making them essential in dark rituals.
As the door opened, a middle-aged wizard in a black robe with greasy hair appeared.
"This is the lamb you caught today? Not bad!" Kipling exclaimed, eyeing Ethan with satisfaction. A strong young wizard was always worth more than a weak one.
Creak! The door was quickly shut by one of the dark wizards after everyone had entered. "By the way, how did you—"
"Avada Kedavra!"
Kipling's words were cut off as his eyes filled with green light. Before he could react, he collapsed to the ground, dead.
"Turns out shouting 'Avada Kedavra' really does make it more powerful," Ethan mused as he took a few steps forward, curious to see the state of the wizard he had just killed.
Before this, Ethan had only practiced on mice; this was his first time using the spell on a human. Kipling's wide eyes, filled with panic and confusion, were frozen in his final moments of life.
The other three wizards said nothing as their companion lay dead. They had no idea that, ever since they had taken Ethan hostage, he had secretly cast the Imperius Curse, turning them into his puppets.
It wasn't that they weren't cautious—it was simply that they never imagined a young wizard could pose any threat without a wand.
Additionally, the Imperius Curse, much like the Cruciatus Curse, was a silent spell. It had no visual effects during casting, and after being hit, the victim's mind went blank, stripped of all thoughts and responsibilities, leaving them in a state of blissful happiness. During this time, they would carry out any command given, even suicide.
Of course, the Imperius Curse could be resisted, and the more it was cast, the higher the resistance. But for these wizards, whether or not they had resistance didn't matter. Ethan's mastery of the curse was at such a high level that resisting it would have been nearly impossible.
These factors gave Ethan the opportunity to silently take them down, one by one, without raising any alarms.
"Tell me about this base of yours and who you really are," Ethan demanded.
Earlier, outside, Ethan hadn't asked for too much information. But from what Dennis had told him, Ethan now knew the identity of this group.
They were members of an international magical animal smuggling organization called Thress. The group had a clear division of labor, with members scattered across the globe. A specialized team would capture magical animals, transporting them worldwide in boxes charmed with the Undetectable Extension Spell. Members like Dennis and his team would then sell the animals on the black market, typically in taverns and other shady places.
Not long ago, the team responsible for capturing magical animals had made a critical mistake. A collector in America had requested a specimen of the Hesperidian Black Dragon, and Thress had been commissioned to capture a beautiful, fully grown adult black dragon. This was a lucrative job.
After receiving the order, the poaching team set off to the Hesperides Islands in Great Britain, but they encountered Newt Scamander at the dragon reserve.
Though the poachers outnumbered Newt, they were no match for his skills, particularly with his enchanted suitcase. Of the dozen or so well-armed wizards, only five managed to escape, and they were left with severe injuries—burns, bites, and poisonings that were nothing short of gruesome.
The poachers captured by Newt couldn't withstand the pressure and eventually confessed under interrogation by the Ministry of Magic, which led to Thress being wanted, not just in Britain but in several other countries as well.
Since then, Dennis and his team had been hiding out in a base deep within Knockturn Alley, keeping a low profile. They only ventured out to sell small items sporadically, unable to resume their larger operations.