The shock wave of the explosion blew Lin Ze out of the state of Apparition.
He felt like a Bludger that had been hit by a bat. His whole body was rolling in the sea water, and his eyes were covered with white foam.
When he finally stabilized his body and put on the Water-Repelling Charm for the first time, he turned around and found that the abandoned cruise ship had been blown to pieces.
Instead, there is a slowly rising cloud of turbid sand, wrapped in broken wood and spreading slowly in the deep sea, like a gray mushroom.
Lin Ze looked around at the figures around him.
Mr Delacour is still there and seems to be fine.
Auror There were seven people left scattered around, looking at the place where the explosion occurred with lingering fear.
One person is missing.
"Damn it." Lin Ze cursed in a low voice.
He paddled his sore arm and swam in the direction of Auror who had not had time to Apparition.
But after swimming for only a few times, he stopped.
Nothing is left, not even a complete remains can be found.
Lin Ze was floating in the cold sea water, his chest heaving violently.
He remembered that Auror.
He was a young man who was only a few years older than him. He had a carefully trimmed beard on his chin, and he looked like someone who paid great attention to appearance.
Just now on the cruise ship, he helped Lin Ze push open a stuck iron door and said with a smile, "This door is more difficult to open than Gringotts's vault."
Lin Ze clenched his fists underwater and dug his nails into his palms. The pain made him refocus.
On the sea, several French Ministry of Magic ships were still parked in place.
The searchlight on the ship penetrated the sea water and cast swaying beams of light underwater.
Lin Ze dragged his sore body to the surface and climbed onto the nearest boat.
He was soaked all over, his hair stuck to his forehead, and seawater dripped down his chin.
On the way back, Delacour came to Lin Ze and patted him on the shoulder.
"The losses have been calculated."
"Three people were slightly injured, two were seriously injured, one Auror was killed, and none of the experimental subjects in the sunken ship... were able to be rescued."
Lin Ze leaned on the side of the ship, looking up at the dark night sky.
The sea breeze messed up his wet hair, but he didn't bother to fiddle with it.
"Our actions have long been exposed to the other party's eyes. Bados never intended for anyone to leave the ship alive from the beginning."
Mr Delacour didn't answer, just tightened the towel in his hand.
The rescue ship that arrived later searched the sea for nearly two hours, but found nothing except a few burnt hull fragments.
It was not until three o'clock in the morning that the rescue operation officially ended.
When Lin Ze returned to Marseille's base, he was so tired that he couldn't even lift his arms.
Lin Ze stayed at Marseille for another three days.
In the past three days, French Ministry of Magic's underwater search team turned over the sea area southeast of Old Port and found nothing except a few burnt hull fragments and a pile of broken pages of experimental records soaked in seawater.
Mr Delacour's face is getting uglier day by day.
He knew very well that although Bados's laboratory was destroyed in this operation, Bados was still at large.
What made him even more angry was the betrayal of Richard and the sacrifice of Auror.
All this shows that the other party knew they were coming from the beginning.
Every step you take is based on other people's calculations. This feeling is more disgusting than eating a fly.
Lin Ze is quite open-minded.
He visited Fenwick for the last time in St. Marseille Hospital and brought him some oranges, which he bought from the bakery La Ciotat. They were not big but still quite sweet.
"When will you get back to Britain?" Fenwick asked, peeling an orange.
"Tomorrow."
"Bring a message to Dumbledore for me, saying that I am still alive."
Fenwick stuffed a piece of orange into his mouth, "Otherwise, he would probably think I was dead."
"Okay."
Lin Ze thought for a while and then said, "But your name has probably been engraved on Order of the Phoenix's death list. You may have to complete a lot of formalities after you go back."
Fenwick waved his hand and smiled, revealing two tiger teeth.
On the morning before leaving, Lin Ze went to say goodbye to Delacour's family.
"International Auror Joint Operations Group is very satisfied with your performance." Mr Delacour's voice was as calm as ever, with no emotion audible.
"They said that if you are interested, you are always welcome to participate in this year's training camp."
"Besides, I still have a lot of things waiting for me in the ministry."
Lin Ze leaned against the door frame, "What are you going to do about Richard's matter?"
"Just deal with it how you want. Collusion with Death Eaters and attempted murder are enough to put him in jail."
He paused and added, "Thank you."
Lin Ze didn't ask him what he was thanking for.
Some words are so clear that they are boring.
He was about to turn around and leave when Mr Delacour spoke again.
"Wait."
Lin Ze Look back.
"Don't forget to write next time. If Olivia writes you four letters in a row without replying, I will ask her mother to go to Britain to find you in person."
Lin Ze laughed twice, "Absolutely."
In the living room on the first floor, Mrs Delacour prepared a large bag of things for him, from French baguettes to homemade jams, from hair soap to dried lavender flowers, stuffed to the brim.
"Auntie, this is too much..." Lin Ze tried to refuse.
"As much as you want, you live alone in Britain. These things can be stored. Eat slowly."
Mrs Delacour stuffed the package into his arms without any explanation, then stood on tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek, "Next time you come, stay a few more days."
Olivia stood behind her mother, with her hands behind her back and her toes drawing circles on the ground.
"Well..." She pursed her lips.
Lin Ze walked over, transferred the heavy package to his left hand, and then pulled her into his arms with his right hand.
He said in her ear, "I will write to you when the matters in the ministry are over."
"That's what you said last time." Olivia buried her face in his shoulder, her voice muffled.
"I made a promise to your father."
"Okay."
Olivia chuckled, withdrew from his arms, and quickly wiped the corners of his eyes with his sleeves, "Okay, let's go, it's getting late."
When Lin Ze stepped out of the fireplace in the main hall of Britain Ministry of Magic, he almost ran into the arms of an old wizard who was waiting in line to use the fireplace.
He staggered for two steps, stood up, and looked up at the familiar surroundings.
London Ministry Atrium.
The fountain was still spraying water, and the golden statue was shining in the water.
The corridor was still crowded with employees in a hurry.
Everything was the same as before he left.
But after a few employees saw him, they were stunned for a moment, and then gathered together and whispered something.
He didn't bother to pay attention to those looks, and walked towards the office carrying the big package Mrs Delacour stuffed for him.
In the utility room remodeled Special Operations Team office.
Ben·Frick was lying on the table, fast asleep.
He drooled into a pool, soaking the parchment under his face and making it wrinkled.
Kingsley is sitting in his seat taking care of his wand.
Amelia's seat is empty, a half-opened file is spread out on the table, and a cup of cold black tea is next to it.
Everett and Reed are not here either, probably out in the field.
"I'm back." Lin Ze put the package on the table with a muffled sound.
Ben was so frightened by the sound that he jumped up from the table, with ink written on the parchment on his face, "Who! What! Where!"
"It's me."
Lin Ze sat down opposite him, took out a baguette from the package and placed it on the table.
Ben rubbed his eyes and saw clearly that it was Lin Ze. The panic on his face instantly turned into excitement. "Brother! You are back! Do you know that in the past few days since you left, the ministry has been spreading rumors that you were at France again..."
"Okay, okay." Lin Ze waved his hand.
"Where is Moody?"
"Interrogation room." Kingsley said.
"A few more Death Eaters remnants were arrested this morning, and they are being interrogated."