Surrender and Live

At that moment, at the Umbrella Squad's camp in the deep forest outside Gibelun Village, protected by multiple concealment spells, Penelope had just sat down on a deck chair when she rubbed her hand over the seat, brought it to her nose, and sniffed. "What is that awful smell?!"

"The culprits are those hoopoes. We startled them when we came back just now. They must have been foraging in our camp before that." Wolf Mom pointed at the flock of hoopoes scattering into the sky in panic, with yellow necks, black-and-white patterned wings, long slender beaks, and little crests of feathers. As the captain of the Umbrella Squad, she had done plenty of preparation before the operation to deepen her understanding of the local area.

Penelope looked up at the hoopoes as they rose and dipped in wave-like flight. Even frightened, their movements were still agile and light, like fluttering painted butterflies, their wings beating hard.

Before Penelope could act, Wolf Mom had already raised her wand and flicked it. Several hoopoes let out mournful cries and dropped straight from the air. The other hoopoes were even more terrified, changing from circling above the camp to desperately flapping their wings to flee.

"Beautiful on the outside, but foul-smelling." Penelope held a Voodoo Doll in her hand, toyed with it casually, then ordered the others, "The operation was perfect, but speed up the packing. Let's get back to Britain and have a proper meal."

"Britain doesn't have much good food either..." Doctor muttered. She was somewhat reluctant to go back so soon; once they returned, she would have far fewer chances to be close to Penelope.

Penelope waved her hand impatiently. Victor sprang a few times, using sheer physical strength to jump up into a tree, then made his figure disappear