A Trip to Knockturn Alley

Since the start of Hogwarts, Skylar's life has been precisely segmented, settling into a simple and routine routine.

During the day, he would appear at the Ministry of Magic on time to deal with mountains of paperwork, hold meetings with high-ranking officials such as Amelia, Scrimgeour, and Yaxley, and coordinate the missions of the Auror, Hit Wizard, and Scouts. After work, he would return to Flower Dew Cottage to have dinner with Phoebe, ending the day in a gentle and quiet atmosphere. Occasionally, he would go to Ella Cottage at night to check on the progress of the handmaids' work or to receive intelligence scrolls sent back by House Elf from all over the world.

The days passed uneventfully.

Time slipped by unnoticed, and late December quietly arrived. Festive decorations began to appear on the streets of London, and the Christmas holiday atmosphere spread throughout the Wizarding World and the Muggle world.

That night, the living room of Ella Cottage was brightly lit, and the flames in the fireplace cast long shadows of seven figures.

The Seven Dragon Fangs gathered before Skylar once again.

It has been a full six months since the last meeting in which all seven members were present.

They stood ramrod straight, their expressions varied, yet without exception, they had all concealed their usual sharpness and murderous intent, like a pack of lurking beasts, quietly waiting for Skylar to speak.

Under Peter Pettigrew's guidance, Nymphadora, Madam Zabini, Night Cat, Eagle Eye, and Blood Mastiff have all successfully mastered Animagus Transfiguration.

Their animal forms, as if unified and regulated by some invisible will, were all immersed in pure black.

Nymphadora was the first to complete the Transfiguration.

She lay prone on the ground, transforming into a robust black dog with fur as dark as night, reflecting almost no light. Her back was taut, her limbs steady, and when she looked up, her eyes were clear and sharp, devoid of wild, uncontrolled frenzy, only displaying the alertness and loyalty that came with being domesticated.

Madam Zabini then transformed.

She no longer stood upright, but slowly spread her eight limbs, revealing an unusually large Black Widow spider lying quietly in the shadows. Its carapace gleamed with a cold, hard metallic sheen, and the patterns on its abdomen resembled some kind of ancient rune. Its fangs opened and closed slightly, a flash of cold blue light passing through them, dangerous yet restrained.

The Night Cat's Transfiguration is almost silent.

A completely black cat landed silently, its tail swaying gently, its movements smooth and precise. Its pupils contracted rapidly into thin slits in the firelight, neither flinching nor ostentatious, but simply gazing quietly ahead, as if awaiting the next command.

The moment Eagle Eye spread his wings, the air seemed to sink.

It was a black eagle with an astonishing wingspan, its feathers layered upon each other, the edges so sharp they seemed deliberately polished, faintly gleaming with a cold, metallic sheen. It perched high above, surveying everything, without a cry, only an aura of oppression emanating from it.

Blood Mastiff are the most direct and primal form of this species.

A massive Black Wolf slowly stepped forward, its muscles undulating beneath its fur, its power undisguised. A deep growl echoed in its chest, its fangs were gleaming white, and its breath was scorching, yet it remained firmly contained within a single step.

Five forms, five outlines.

However, when they stood there, they gave the illusion—

It is as if they are not five individuals, but five extensions of the same will.

Purely.

Danger.

And absolute obedience.

Skylar stood at the edge of the firelight, his gaze slowly sweeping over them, expressing satisfaction with their progress.

Although they cannot cast spells in Animagus form, this gives this group of subordinates a means of hiding, saving their lives, and even enabling them to carry out infiltration and reconnaissance missions.

On the other side was Reverse Scale, who had rushed back from Egypt overnight. She was already proficient in Animagus and could transform into a small beetle, so she was assigned other tasks during this time—

She was travel-worn, her robes still damp with fine sand from the Cairo desert, and her hair was slightly disheveled by the night wind, but she showed no signs of fatigue. When she saw Skylar looking at her, she immediately knelt down and presented Skylar with a silver badge engraved with the ancient totem of the Tomb Keeper Family.

"Master," her voice was low and clear, "The intelligence network in Egypt has been re-established."

She not only helped the Tomb Keeper Family to improve their original intelligence network, but also took the opportunity to extend the network into the vacuum left by the destruction of the Cairo Black Market, and seamlessly integrated that vast underground network with Skylar's original system.

From this day forward, Skylar's intelligence reach officially extended to both banks of the Nile River.

Skylar simply accepted the badge quietly, his fingertips lightly tracing the totem patterns on it.

He said nothing more, nor did he offer any overt praise.

He simply nodded slightly.

In Reverse Scale's eyes, however, this was already the highest level of recognition.

The next day, Knockturn Alley.

When Skylar stepped into the newly demarcated area, the smell in the air had changed.

It was no longer the chaotic black market atmosphere of the past, mixed with the smell of mold and blood; instead, it was a well-ordered yet vibrant prosperity.

The streets had been repaved, the stone slabs were smooth and clean, the shop signs on both sides were brand new, and pedestrians were coming and going. There were wizards wrapped in cloaks whispering about prices, Goblin merchants pushing carts and calling out their wares, and Half-blood customers curiously looking around. Everything seemed lively and orderly.

However, beneath this prosperity lies a chilling undercurrent that cannot be ignored.

Every so often along the street stood mercenaries in uniform black and gray suits, with wands and short blades at their waists, their eyes sharp as hawks, scanning every passerby.

Several enormous Werewolf mingled with the patrol, their fur jet black, muscles bulging, and their lowered eyes gleaming with an eerie green light in the sunlight. They made no roars or provocations, but simply moved about quietly, like a group of silent guardians, instantly deterring any dark wizards with ill intentions.

Nobody dares to cause trouble here.

Nobody dares to cause trouble here.

Knockturn Alley is no longer the gray area where anyone could get a piece of the pie. It has become a new order created by Skylar —prosperous on the surface, but ruthless and strict at its core.

In Skylar's view, this kind of iron-fisted, efficient, and high-pressure management is the most suitable for the chaotic and disorganized Knockturn Alley.

Skylar's first stop was the Nightmare Mercenary Corps's base.

Located on the edge of Knockturn Alley, the camp was converted from an old warehouse that had been magically reinforced. Its exterior was so inconspicuous that it was almost invisible, but its interior was well-organized. As soon as Skylar stepped into the training ground, the air was filled with the sound of uniform footsteps and the crisp clang of metal clashing.

Fifty warriors stood in three rows, their black uniforms embroidered with a subtle silver Nightmare emblem—a bat with blood-red eyes. The core of the group Supreme Wizard Alliance, supplemented by young members drawn from affiliated families by Skylar. Five months ago, they were still green and undisciplined, but now they had been transformed.

Marlone stood at the forefront, her tall and imposing figure like a drawn sword. Upon seeing Skylar, she immediately knelt on one knee, her Sonorus yet filled with deep reverence. "Master! The entire Nightmare Legion salutes you!"

Skylar nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the entire room.

"Begin the drill."

"Yes!"

Marlone stood up and shouted, "Defensive formation!"

Fifty people moved with lightning speed, yet Silencio. Shield spells, light shields, and protective barriers intertwined in the blink of an eye, forming a silver-blue light curtain, layer upon layer, like a moving steel fortress. Next came the "breakout" drill—the front-line warriors simultaneously unleashed shockwaves, the rear-line ranged warriors provided precise suppression, and the flank guerrilla squads circled around like ghosts. The entire process was fast-paced, perfectly coordinated, and without a single superfluous movement.

Skylar stood on the high platform, watching quietly. His gray eyes were calm, yet he captured every detail. Marlone truly lived up to her reputation as the iron-blooded instructor of the former Supreme Wizard Alliance. In just five months, she had trained this mixed-origin team to such an extent. Whether it was the troops' will, discipline, or coordination, she commanded them with perfect ease and ensured that their orders were obeyed without question.

As the drill ended, the soldiers quickly returned to their positions, sweat dripping from their foreheads, yet no one was panting or whispering. Their morale was soaring, almost menacing, and every soldier's eyes burned with the same flame—absolute loyalty to Skylar and a fervent desire for victory.

Marlone knelt on one knee again, his voice low and solemn. "Master, for the past five months, I have not dared to slacken in the slightest. The Nightmare Legion is now capable of standing on its own and is ready to be commanded by you at any time."

Skylar paused for a moment before finally speaking, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable weight. "The defense and breakout are near perfect. But reconnaissance and surprise attacks are still lacking. Continue training them."

"Yes!" Marlone kowtowed heavily, his forehead touching the ground. "Your subordinate will certainly not fail your master's trust!"

Skylar didn't say much, but simply patted her shoulder lightly. The touch was as light as a feather, yet it made Marlone tremble, and her eyes even reddened slightly.

She knew that this was the highest affirmation from her master.

Second stop, Rose Pavilion.

Deep within Knockturn Alley stands a luxurious three-story building, its exterior walls covered in magically grown crimson roses. As night falls, the petals glow slowly, like countless drops of blood-red gems. Two gargoyles at the entrance come to life, whispering greetings to guests; the crystal chandelier in the Entrance Hall refracts a rainbow of colors, and the air is filled with the sweet aroma of top-grade ambergris and mead.

This is a luxurious money pit created by Night Cat —casinos, hotels, fine wines, song and dance, beautiful women, it has everything. The phrase "making a fortune every day" is never an exaggeration here.

When Skylar entered his private office on the top floor, Night Cat had been waiting for him for a long time.

She wore a form-fitting black velvet dress, with silver rose embroidery on the neckline and cuffs, her waist so slender it seemed it could break at any moment. Upon seeing Skylar enter, she immediately rose, obediently bowing her head, her voice as soft as melting honey. "Master, you've come."

Skylar looked around—the office was more luxurious than it had been six months ago. The figures of dancers could be vaguely seen behind the crystal screen. On the table was a freshly opened bottle of aged Firewhisky. Outside the window was the brightly lit night view of Knockturn Alley. Everything was in perfect order, and the business was booming beyond belief.

He walked to the window, his back to her, and said calmly, "Well done."

Night Cat's breath hitched, and tears welled in her eyes. She quickly stepped forward and knelt at Skylar's feet, like a docile kitten, gently pressing her cheek against the hem of his robe, her voice soft and sweet. "It's all thanks to Master's excellent teaching... Rose Pavilion is now raking in money every day, all thanks to the start-up capital and manpower Master gave me back then. I count the accounts every day, thinking about how to make it earn even more, so that Master will never have to worry about money again."

She raised her head, her bright black eyes sparkling with a hint of ingratiating obedience. "The accounts for tonight have been prepared. Shall I read them to you now, Master? Or... shall I serve you a drink first?"

Skylar looked down at her, a faint smile flickering in his gray eyes. He bent down, gently pinched her chin, and said in a low voice, "We'll talk about the accounts tomorrow. Tonight... have a drink with me."

The Night Cat's face flushed instantly, but she immediately nodded vigorously, her voice barely audible. "Yes, Master."

She stood up and obediently poured the wine, her fingers trembling slightly, yet she poured not a drop spilled.

The candlelight flickered, and the aroma of wine filled the air.

The night in Knockturn Alley remains noisy and extravagant.

In the top-floor office of the Rose Pavilion, only the sound of their breathing and their silent yet fervent loyalty could be heard.

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