Formulating a Plan

"A third option? Do you really think the two of you can escape from the palm of my hand?"

Charles couldn't help but burst into laughter upon hearing this.

Taking advantage of this, Cypher quietly asked Luna, "Luna! How are you?!"

In Cypher's arms, the familiar scent cleared Luna's muddled mind considerably.

Was I just hit with the Imperius Curse?! Coming to her senses, Luna quickly retreated behind Cypher, closing her eyes. She leaned her head against Cypher's back and tugged at his hand, whispering, "No, it might be psychological manipulation or hypnosis."

Cypher gently comforted Luna.

"Ready? We're going to start running."

Luna rubbed her forehead against Cypher, indicating she was ready.

"Looks like we can't come to an agreement, as expected."

Austin Charles's expression was uncertain.

"Even if I lose the Norman Dragon Tendril Grass, capturing the two of you is still a great achievement!"

Cypher and Luna had already prepared themselves, and they even decided to attack first in unison to create an opportunity to escape.

"Expelliarmus!"

"Stupefy!"

Two spells, one after the other, were cast by Cypher and Luna.

They didn't expect the spells to cause damage, and then follow up with a pursuit.

The two of them decisively turned their backs to Austin and began to sprint away.

"Nebulus!"

While running, Cypher cast the smoke charm that Dumbledore used to shroud the entire city of Paris more than a decade ago.

Although his magical power couldn't compare to Dumbledore's, creating a small-scale, pitch-black smoke screen was no problem, especially with the darkness of night making it even harder to detect.

The thick smoke spread in all directions, but the area within ten meters of the two remained clear.

With the help of the starlight, they could barely make out the outlines of the surrounding buildings.

Fortunately, the streets of Hogsmeade were relatively flat, otherwise, the two would have definitely taken a tumble or two.

On the other side...

Austin had already dodged the spells, but on second thought, he used the Shield Charm to block the two spells.

After personally experiencing the power of the magic, He frowned. A red-eyed black rat appeared in his hand, climbed down his trench coat, and ran towards Cypher and Luna's previous location.

"No Poly-Scent Potion smell, and no other residual odors."

The rat sniffed around the place where the two disappeared, then squeaked a few times. Austin, understanding the rat's meaning, looked grim.

"The power of this magic doesn't seem like something a student could master, but this magical power... I should have Shadow inquire about any exceptionally outstanding young wizards among the students. Merely interfering with that old thing Armando is too easy; he's often not at school, what's there to interfere with..."

He paused.

"If you can really escape from my hands, even losing a Faith Crystal will sting!"

As he spoke, Justin abruptly opened his coat.

Inside the pockets of his trench coat, countless imps flew out.

The imps gathered in the sky like a swarm, instantly forming a cloud that was black with specks of red light.

"Anything that's alive and moving! That's your target!"

Realizing that he couldn't easily obtain the Norman Dragon Tendril Grass, And might offend the outstanding descendants nurtured by two pure-blood families, Justin decisively took a ruthless approach.

"Boss, then I..." Bell, seeing Charles's stance, couldn't help but ask in a pale-faced whisper.

"You go outside the barrier and maintain it. Your strength can't compete with them, just reinforce the barrier for me!"

Justin impatiently interrupted Bell's words.

Suddenly, he remembered something, "Remember to add an Anti-Elf Apparition Charm; there are a lot of house-elves serving inside Hogwarts!"

"Yes!"

Seeing Justin's impatient expression, Bell quickly disappeared on the spot with a "pop."

If he had been any slower, he would have become a sacrifice for the dark magic.

"Disillusionment Charm."

"Obscuro."

"Cypher, Poly-Scent Potion. Add it to the smoke."

Cypher understood and integrated the potion into the smoke emitted from his wand.

This would greatly limit tracking on the ground.

Many creatures rely on scent to identify friend or foe. If left uncontrolled, they would most likely kill each other.

"Our Disillusionment Charm can fool these flying creatures, but Charles can see right through it."

The two moved silently through the alleys, occasionally dodging low-flying imps and rats scurrying underfoot.

"What do we do now?"

Luna, exhausted from running for so long, was breathing slightly heavily.

Taking advantage of Cypher stopping to find a way out, she took a breath and asked softly.

Before Cypher could answer, she continued.

"Fawkes' feather, let's call Fawkes to take us away!"

Cypher paused, turning to comfort Luna.

"That's one of our last options. Besides, you and I snuck out; you don't want Dumbledore to know what we're doing, do you?"

Hearing this, Luna bit her lip, eventually shaking her head.

"I'd rather Dumbledore know we came to Hogsmeade and made an illegal transaction than have you put yourself in danger for me. Aberforth... when we leave, let Fawkes go help him."

A moment of silence...

"Can't we just walk to the edge of the barrier and break it to leave?"

Cypher found his bearings, pulling Luna forward as he spoke without looking back.

"Are you worried I can't break the barrier?"

"Isn't that the case? We haven't learned any spells powerful enough to break through. You're not planning on using dark magic, are you!"

Seeing that Cypher didn't dare look back at her, Luna mistakenly thought he was planning to use dark magic that would harm his body or even burn his soul.

She couldn't help but grab Cypher's hand, staring at him with red eyes. If Cypher hesitated even slightly, she would decisively pull out the feather and summon Fawkes.

"What are you thinking? How could I know dark magic? What magic I know, haven't you all seen it?"

Yes... she was just flustered with concern.

Luna lowered her head in shame, letting Cypher pull her along.

Walking ahead, Cypher's thoughts continued to surface.

Luna's mental state is still unstable. Such strange methods.

I believe the Icy Soul Hammer I've mastered can break through the barrier... right?

Of course, I still need to take a look first.

If it works, tonight's events can come to a relatively perfect end.

Get the Norman Dragon Blood Grass, divert Charles' attention, and remove Aberforth's suspicion of involvement.

Seeking wealth in danger, this is Cypher's first real battle. In a safe situation, Cypher plans to be a little daring.

Magic is also subjective. Once you feel that you are inferior to others and can't do anything, then your achievements will be limited, and you won't become a legendary great wizard.

Cypher's direction of advance was not a straight line.

The two veered left and right, sometimes deliberately letting the imps discover them, shooting them down before quickly fleeing.

Austin was being toyed with, running around in circles. He didn't dare to completely unleash his attacks on the buildings, otherwise, the entire underground force of Hogsmeade would come out to suppress him.

"Little rats! Don't let me catch you!"

When he realized he had been tricked again, he gnashed his teeth, but his gaze became even colder.