Noticing Leonard's expression shift, Midgard waited for the wound to finish knitting and asked, curious, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing—just got fleeced by a swindler," Leonard said weakly. "I sold Essence of Dittany to an apothecary and he only gave me ten Sickles."
He'd thought Jigger was skimming a little. He hadn't expected it to be that much.
"He didn't cheat you. I was talking about the black market price—what you'd get selling to dark wizards who can't show their faces in Diagon Alley. Buying or selling there is risky, so higher prices are normal."
Midgard stood, flexed her shoulders, and nodded before continuing. "Your Essence of Dittany works, but your ratios and technique still need refinement. It leaves the muscles aching afterward. That's why it only sells high on the black market."
"Why?" Leonard couldn't help asking.
"Because only dark wizards with no other options ignore quality and care solely about the healing effect." Midgard hefted Leonard. "Come on—keep running. Without more blood scent, they won't track us for long."
"Run? Why run?" Leonard protested. "This is when we hit back."
"Revenge?" Midgard looked him over, amused. "Your Lighting Charm is impressive, but it only works as a surprise. Fenrir will be ready for it now. You won't catch him twice."
"That's not certain—unless he can conjure sunglasses on the spot," Leonard muttered.
"Sunglasses? What are those?" Midgard asked, curious.
"Muggle trinkets. Doesn't matter," Leonard said with confidence. "Don't worry about getting away. Even if they brace for my Lighting Charm, they still need eyes to chase us, right? You carry me, I'll blast their eyes—let's see how long they can keep up."
Midgard drew a slow breath, genuinely impressed. "That idea… is wicked."
"As long as it works. Besides, I've set traps in the alleys. There are only three of them—let's see who ends up chasing whom," Leonard said, brimming with confidence.
"Seems you're better prepared than I thought." Midgard narrowed her eyes, giving Leonard a strange look.
"What's with that look?" Leonard asked, uneasy under her gaze.
"I'm just wondering what kind of family produces a freak like you," Midgard said, shaking her head. "Fine—we'll do it your way. Makes me feel like I've wasted all these years."
"Then come on, and get a feel for my trap." Leonard led the way. From outside the alley came the sound of staggering footsteps—Fenrir had caught up.
After a few steps Leonard threw an arm out to stop her. "Feel it?"
The Chomping Cabbage landmines were just ahead.
Midgard frowned and shook her head. "I don't sense anything."
"Good. That means your brother probably won't either." Leonard glanced back at Fenrir at the alley mouth. "Jump."
Midgard didn't need to look to know he'd arrived. "Doing that will tip him off to your trap."
"It's fine. Jump." Leonard sprang across first, and Midgard followed.
"Then fall, roll forward, and act like you're badly hurt," Leonard coached from the side.
Curious what he was planning but not about to hesitate now, she did exactly as told.
She then saw Leonard quietly flick several round objects ahead. The moment they hit, they rooted and sprouted into rows of Chomping Cabbages. In a blink, the cabbages yawned wide, cold gleams flashing along their teeth as they spread flat across the ground—then they vanished from Midgard's sight.
Midgard: !!
So that's what she'd just jumped over? Terrifying.
And this kid was downright devious—jumping on purpose so Fenrir would notice a trap there and ignore the stretch of ground she'd rolled across.
Was he a born hunter?
Meanwhile, at the alley entrance, Fenrir clocked her odd maneuver. A werewolf wizard leader famed for cruelty and cunning, he immediately guessed she'd set a trap.
No wonder she hadn't bolted down the main road toward Diagon Alley. She even wanted to turn the tables on him.
Too bad that, half-blind from the glare, he'd lashed out on instinct and clawed her again, slowing her enough to expose the trap himself.
"Heh. Foolish, Midgard," Fenrir sneered, stepping alone into the narrow, one-person-wide alley, a cruel smile spreading across his face.
"No wand, badly hurt—let's see how you plan to run now."
...
[Upto 50 chapters ahead for now]
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