Dark Forest, At Last a Sign of the Enemy / The Battle Begins in Earnest, a Mysterious Enemy

The speaker was a short man with a pointed snout and a black cloak; his shifty-eyed appearance perfectly matched Harry's expectations of the fish he had caught.

"Oh, what do you want to talk to me about?" Harry glanced at the other person dismissively, without offering him a seat.

He's now a heavily protected playboy, so putting on airs is a must.

"I have some information that might interest you," the cloaked man said in a low voice. "You came to this place with Mad-Eye Moody for training, so you must have some important mission, like... finding some missing people?"

"What did you say? You... sit down and tell me everything you know!"

Harry immediately looked surprised upon hearing this, but then forced himself to remain calm. While inviting the other person to sit down, he also ordered the bartender the most expensive drink in the bar.

He started off by offering clues to entice Harry, so this guy seems to have some real skills. Harry definitely needs to probe him further.

"Thank you for your hospitality, but in a place like this, you'd better not drink anything offered by strangers, even if it's from the bartender." The cloaked man, thinking himself wise, gave Harry this advice, but then he himself hurriedly raised his glass and took a big gulp.

"Stop talking nonsense and tell me now!" Harry urged, feigning impatience.

"That witch, she did indeed disappear, about two days ago..." The cloaked man paused slightly, then gave Harry a smile that couldn't be clearer.

"Damn it... is this enough?!"

With a series of clinking sounds, dozens of Galleon landed on the table.

This amount of money was undoubtedly a huge sum for the people here, and the cloaked man's eyes widened in astonishment.

"Thank you for your generosity!"

He hurriedly reached for the gold coins, but Harry raised his hand and swatted them away.

"Tell me everything you know first!"

"Alright, alright... that witch, I know her best." The cloaked man glanced longingly at the gold on the table, carefully using his cloak to cover it, afraid that someone might see even a glimpse of its gleam.

"I'm certain she's the Bertha Jorkins you're looking for! Two nights ago, she went into the Dark Forest with another man and hasn't come out since!"

Chapter 540 The Dark Forest, Enemy's Trail Finally Appears

After the little incident in the morning, Harry left the pub alone. Although the dark wizards watching still looked at him with ill intent, none of them were foolish enough to come forward and invite death.

Therefore, Harry didn't throw a bag of money on the tavern floor as he had planned yesterday... Of course, this wasn't because he abandoned the plan, but because he happened to change his approach.

A moment later, Snape and Moody, who had also had breakfast, left the tavern together and caught up with Harry at the edge of the Dark Forest, timing it perfectly.

The group that came with him this time were not stupid. Some of the tasks could only be completed by Harry alone, a fact that both Severus Snape and Moody were well aware of.

Therefore, they only need to remain hidden in the background to provide a deterrent effect; there's no need for them to constantly make their presence felt in front of those desperados.

However, they were all somewhat surprised by the information Harry had gathered about Bertha Jorkins.

"Bertha Jorkins, I've heard of her too. She's an official in the Ministry of Magic, and supposedly she's always been passed around between different departments, so she's not very popular," Moody said after thinking for a moment. "She's currently working in that idiot Ludo's Department of Magical Games and Sports. She's probably in Albania for a vacation, but the Ministry of Magic won't be concerned about her disappearance anytime soon."

"That guy in the tavern just wants to sell a tip," Snape interjected in a flat voice. "He doesn't care if we're here to see Bertha Jorkins or not, as long as he can get gold in return."

Severus Snape's words hit the nail on the head; in fact, the cloaked man in the tavern was just trying his luck.

Harry and his friends came Britain, and so did Bertha Jorkins, so whether it's right or wrong, there's no harm in trying a trade; who knows, maybe they'll make a profit?

Even if he guessed wrong, he could simply walk away, and might even sell the information about Bertha Jorkins and Harry to other people.

However, while this guy provided good information, he did one thing that was very unethical.

Bertha Jorkins did indeed disappear, but she didn't enter the Dark Forest with a mysterious man; she went in with a group of people!

Harry saw this memory through Legilimency; many of those people were notorious Werewolf and vampires in the area, basically the kind of people who would do anything for money.

It's likely that the mysterious man who lured Bertha Jorkins away hired them.

The cloaked man probably didn't tell Harry the truth because he was greedy and felt Harry's price wasn't enough, or maybe he was just trying to rip off Harry and the others so he could get a bargain.

However... Harry isn't so easily fooled.

Harry had already cast Sticking Charm on the gold while chatting with the other man... Would the cloaked man be able to break Harry's spell before the others in the tavern discovered the gold?

In short, he can only hope for the best.

"The animals around me told me that there is indeed a dark, invisible monster lurking deep in the jungle, and they are all reluctant to go near it because they are likely to lose their lives if they stay there too long." After entering the outer edge of the Dark Forest, Sirius, who had scouted the area in advance, also brought back his news.

"Also, some people have indeed entered the woods earlier; they seem to be looking for something. If Bertha Jorkins is among them, I'm sure this will be a significant problem."

Sirius remembered Bertha Jorkins; the witch was a few years ahead of him in school, a busybody who wasn't very smart at all.

According to Sirius, the combination of these two traits was absolutely terrible, always stirring up all sorts of vulgar rumors and ubiquitous trouble.

"Indeed, if those guys were also looking for Voldemort, we might have already lost the initiative." Harry's expression also became more serious, and he took out a...magic camera from his suitcase.

"Come on, Mr. Moody, please smile. You might not get another chance." Harry snapped several photos while saying things that would make Moody grit his teeth.

"You... at a time like this, you still have the leisure to take pictures?" Moody glared angrily at the demonic eyes and scolded, "Kid, I don't care what the purpose of your trip is, but the current crisis is undeniable, so you'd better focus on your work!"

"Mr. Moody, you're mistaken... I've been focused all along."

With a soft thud, the Swooping Evil that Harry had casually tossed out quickly unfurled from its coiled state and precisely pounced on the head of a nearby venomous snake that was about to launch a sneak attack, its powerful mandibles piercing and crushing the snake's brain.

This is about dealing with Voldemort, how could Harry not be focused?

In fact, ever since entering the Dark Forest, Harry had been using his eyesight and hearing to their fullest potential, while the surveillance map in his pocket remained constantly active. Add to that his scars and the Death Eater mark on Severus Snape arm...

It's fair to say he's used every method he could think of to detect Voldemort.

But even though I was focused, I still had to take photos; after all, a picture is worth a thousand words!

I wonder if Voldemort, looking like this, would allow me to take a few close-up photos of him.

"Swooping Evil ..." Moody's scar twitched helplessly. "I'm really curious how those guys in the Department of Magical Creatures Management and Control determine the standards for private breeding."

In Moody's view, the vast majority of level five creatures are extremely dangerous and should be prohibited from being privately kept by wizards, but there are a few exceptions... such as the Swooping Evil.

"Yeah, I've wanted to ask that question for a long time too," Harry replied, pouting dejectedly.

In Harry's view, most Level 5 creatures are quite adorable, and wizards with the ability and space should be allowed to keep them privately, but the Ministry of Magic just won't make an exception... like female Dragon.

The group continued onward, carefully avoiding various dangers in the forest. From morning to afternoon, until dusk, they had almost entered the deepest part of the Dark Forest.

The towering trees around us have now twisted into all sorts of terrifying shapes, and even the sky above is gradually being completely obscured.

"Ugh... Granger, we can't go any further." Suddenly, Snape froze, clutching his left arm.

"I understand." Harry nodded solemnly, a slight burning sensation appearing on his forehead.

"Mr. Moody, I have a favor to ask of you." Harry looked earnestly at the battle-hardened Auror. "The enemy we're looking for is just ahead, but if we rush in, they'll likely escape immediately. So I need you to put on my Invisibility Cloak, sneak up to them, and cast the Anti-Apparition Jinx before you're discovered!"

Harry took out his Invisibility Cloak and pointed to a spot ahead. The names of two henchmen had already appeared on his surveillance map; the other party was clearly over there!

"Of course, no problem!" Moody accepted Harry's suggestion without hesitation.

In the fight against evil, he always took the lead.

"If the plan succeeds, we'll send reinforcements immediately! Zouwu, you come and help too."

Harry released the Zouwu from the suitcase, and at the same time took out another item from the ring.

Deep in the forest, Moody began to stealthily move forward, using the Invisibility Cloak as cover.

Harry and his two companions were already prepared for a surprise attack!

Chapter 541 Formal Clash, The Mysterious Enemy

Actually, it would be better for Moody to go himself rather than for Harry to sneak up on Voldemort.

At this point, Voldemort's understanding of Harry is probably still based on the time when Quirrell was smashed to pieces by the Holy Beast Spiral, so he certainly wouldn't know that Harry already possesses Animagus transformation and the strange ability to Elementalization.

The crucial problem is that Harry doesn't know how to use the Anti-Apparition Jinx.

This spell requires extremely high proficiency in Apparition before it can be specifically learned and mastered as a counter-spell. Generally, unless you're Auror, no one would bother to specifically study this thing.

Of the four people who came this time, only Moody knew how to use it.

Of course, Harry thought Moody's success rate in stealth should be quite high. After all, he had the Magic Eye, which allowed him to see the path ahead even under the Invisibility Cloak. As long as he didn't give himself away, theoretically he could get close to Voldemort.

Now, Moody has successfully bypassed the two guys who were keeping watch on the outermost perimeter. Their names just appeared on Harry's surveillance map, so they must also be temporary hired thugs.

But in the eyes of the suspicious Moody, since these two dared to get involved in Voldemort's affairs, they might have been under Imperius Curse.

This might mean that Voldemort's men might not scatter and flee, but instead launch a fierce attack on him!

However, Moody was not intimidated by this. He had experienced countless battles in his life and had fought against countless dark wizards. He had seen far bigger scenes than this!

"Master, are you... feeling better...? Would you like... to drink... some more?"

A faint sound drifted through the woods, Moody listened intently, sensing that a man was speaking in a concerned and respectful tone.

"A little while later... thanks to you... my loyal... servant..."

Another man's voice rang out, his voice unusually shrill. Even though Moody could only catch a few words, it still sent chills down his spine!

He realized almost immediately that the person speaking must be Voldemort, and that he had been found!

I need to hurry!

Moody tightened his Invisibility Cloak and immediately moved forward again, wanting to ensure the Anti-Apparition Jinx effect was within range, and also hoping to eavesdrop on more information.

Over the years, Voldemort's henchmen have either been killed or captured, or defected to the light. How could anyone possibly come to his rescue now?

"Don't forget, find... Najib... squeeze in... night... and drink again..."

As the distance closed, Voldemort's voice became clearer; he seemed to be giving orders to the people who had been there earlier.

"Don't worry, Master... I've already prepared... several bottles, absolutely..."

What is Voldemort drinking? Is it something to alleviate his weakness?

Moody tentatively continued forward, but this time, he met a pair of dark, blood-red eyes!

He's been discovered!

"You-Know-Who, you won't escape today! Anti-Apparition Jinx!!"

Now that he had been discovered by the enemy, Moody decided to stop hiding. He suddenly ripped off his Invisibility Cloak and vigorously waved his wand, casting an Apparition spell within the limit of his reach in one fell swoop!

At the same time, he also saw Voldemort's current appearance clearly.

He looked like a thin, withered baby, wrapped in a tattered robe, his exposed skin hairless and covered with horrifying bluish-purple bloodstains.

His round head was bald, with a sunken back, and he had an ugly face that resembled Basilisk. At that moment, he was staring at Moody with angry eyes.

At that moment, a woman was holding him. Moody looked closely and realized that it was Bertha Jorkins, who had been rumored to have disappeared. She looked badly injured and was clearly under the Imperius Curse.

Beside her was a stranger whom Moody had never seen before; he was likely the one who orchestrated the rescue.

For some reason, Moody felt that the other person's expression looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen him before.

As for the other Werewolf, vampires, dark wizards, and so on, they were simply a bunch of lackeys.

"Alastor Moody? You crippled old man, you dare come looking for me?!" Realizing Moody's Anti-Apparition Jinx had taken effect, Voldemort's eyes flashed with a chilling light. "You will die."

"Kill him!"

The mysterious man seemed to understand Voldemort's intentions perfectly, and immediately issued a kill order against Moody.

In an instant, a group of completely controlled black wizard minions simultaneously assumed an attack stance towards Moody.

"Hmph, it's not certain who will kill whom!"

"Roar!!"

Moody immediately raised his Protego to defend himself, and then a thunderous roar suddenly came from the far end of the woods.

It was a colossal creature as majestic as a lion, its body enveloped in magic that seemed to strike like lightning. It leaped into the arena from afar, shielding Moody with its body while simultaneously swatting away two enemies with its claws.

"Confringo!" "Reducto!"

Following that, two spells of equal power and speed were simultaneously unleashed, and two more of Voldemort's henchmen fell to the ground, unable to get up.

"They arrived just in time, and... this monster is quite powerful!"

Indeed, the magical power displayed by Sirius and Snape was something even Moody had to admire.

What surprised him even more was the Zouwu. He had thought that this big cat was only powerful in terms of its teeth and claws, but he never expected that this guy had just instantly crossed hundreds of meters and joined the battle with the two people on his back... Wait!