The clock rewound to the moment before sunrise, when Wizet and the others left the old factory district and arrived at the Appaloosa Family estate.
The moment they landed, Paul Smith and the others went on guard, raising their wands toward the front. Only after realizing they were standing before a manor did they relax slightly.
The two glowing orbs overhead cast a warm halo over the heavy mahogany doors, clearly illuminating their grain—especially the exquisite family crest.
Will looked around and asked in a lowered voice, "Mr. Lovegood, where are we?"
"We should be..." Wizet paused. "Near the Palouse River in Washington State."
"Near the Palouse River in Washington State?" Paul Smith frowned and turned toward the manor gates.
His brows drew together slightly as his gaze settled on the heavy mahogany doors. "This is... the Appaloosa Family estate."
"The Appaloosa Family?" Jimmy seemed to recall something. "The ones behind the 'New York Dragon Incident'?"
"Yes! That Appaloosa Family!" Paul Smith nodded. "I came here several times while we were dealing with the 'New York Dragon Incident.'"
He raised a hand and pointed at the heavy mahogany doors. "See that symbol? That's the Appaloosa Family crest. This wizarding family has been around for quite a while. What a pity..."
At the center of the mahogany doors was the Appaloosa Family crest: a shield-shaped emblem bearing a horseshoe and a rearing horse.
"That doesn't sound right..." Brian said in confusion. "Most of the Appaloosa Family was dealt with. They were either imprisoned or executed..."
"Though it wouldn't be strange for them to want revenge on us, do they really have enough people left—or enough Gold Galleons to hire people... to take revenge on us?"
"I don't know..." Paul Smith shook his head. "At least, based on what I know, that