Sussex, Ashdown Forest.
In a swampy area of this ancient forest, several Aurors were casting Dispelling Charms, trying to drive away the dense fog shrouding the marsh before them.
But their spells had little effect. At most, the fog was forced back a dozen meters before rolling in again.
"Maybe we should set a fire," one Auror said. "Burn this whole place down."
"Do you want to burn down the entire forest?" Serika Wood, now the deputy director of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, glared at him. "Everyone, get ready to act in unison. Let's try Finite Incantatem again..."
Just then, a bolt of lightning appeared behind them. Immediately afterward, Serika saw a figure she had not seen in a long time.
"Serika, long time no see," Murphy said.
"Lord Murphy..." For some reason, Serika added the honorific. Her entire body shrank back, like a small animal that had encountered its natural predator.
The Disaster Response Department's field team members were all dumbfounded. Was this really Director Serika, the tigress?
Though Deputy Director Serika was petite and soft-faced, everyone in the Ministry of Magic knew she was fierce enough to reduce Director Fudge to tears in a bathroom after arguing with him.
Moreover, ever since joining the Disaster Response Department, she had been a famous workaholic. She handled every kind of case decisively and efficiently, never even frowning when using a Memory Charm. Rumor had it that the Muggles whose memories she had erased could line up all the way from the Ministry of Magic to Diagon Alley.
It was precisely because of her violent temperament that, although this deputy director was beautiful and wealthy—the very image of a fair, rich beauty—no one had ever dared pursue her.
Yet she had a side like this too?
Murphy raised