Portkey

Caine's adjutant was a young wizard in his early thirties named Tom Horton.

"Commander, the vanguard has reached the outskirts of Chihuahua City. All magical communications in the city have been cut off, the owl post stations are under control, and the Two-way mirror relay stations have been dismantled. The Mexican side hasn't reacted at all."

"What about the citizens?"

"No resistance. Chihuahua City's magical district only had twelve resident Aurors, and the vanguard subdued all of them silently.

Most of the citizens are still asleep. They don't know what's happened."

Caine nodded and marked the map.

"Keep advancing. Next stop, Torreon. Estimated arrival time?"

"Before two this afternoon."

"That's too fast," Caine said. "Minister Graves's orders were to advance steadily, not to race. After taking control of a city, leave enough people behind to ensure communications remain cut off and make sure no distress signal can get out. The main force's advance must not exceed thirty kilometers per hour."

Horton hesitated for a moment.

"Commander, I don't understand. If we advance at full speed, we can reach the outskirts of Mexico City by this evening. While they still haven't reacted, we could take it in one strike. Why slow down?"

Caine glanced at him.

"Because our mission isn't to take Mexico City. Our mission is to let the Mexican Ministry of Magic know we're here, but not know when we'll arrive. Give them time to organize defenses and request aid, and make them focus all their attention and forces on Mexico City."

Horton frowned.

"Let them organize defenses?"

"Yes." Caine put away the map. "Minister Graves's orders are very clear. The Second Assault Group's mission is to head south along the Chihuahua Desert, seize the magical communications nodes along the way, and maintain an advance speed of thirty to