Competitors and Judges

Stern's expression jolted. "Sera... Abigail? She's coming back? Didn't you say... her loyalty still needed to be tested?"

"That's right. Her Patronus changed, and that has always made me uneasy. Keeping her at the base might be safer."

Thorne frowned. "But... someone like Wade Grey—every extra day he gets to grow makes him a greater threat to us!"

"This is a rare opportunity—no Golem, no Dumbledore, and they're even inside the natural cage of an airplane! If we strike once they're halfway through the flight, even if they use Apparition, they'll only fall into the ocean!"

"If we fail even this time, then perhaps we can only risk sacrificing Abigail and have her infiltrate Britain to personally kill her former student!"

At that, he could not help but sigh.

"My fault! If I'd recognized that boy's threat from the beginning and not held onto the wishful thinking of recruiting him... then perhaps we could have dealt with this trouble two years ago!"

The airport terminal was spacious and bright, with people constantly coming and going. Tourists from all over the world chatted in all kinds of languages, and no one knew how many wizards were hidden among them.

The Alchemy Competition had ended, and the wizards who had come to compete or watch were setting off for home. Considering how difficult it was to apply for a Portkey in a foreign country, most wizards still chose Muggle transportation.

Part of the reason for that choice was the influence of Streaming Mirrors—

In the past, many reclusive wizards knew nothing at all about Muggles. Some even made fools of themselves by wearing their underwear on the outside. Whenever they appeared in the ordinary world, they stood out as clearly as searchlights.

Wizards hated being pointed at and laughed at by