"Sir, if we can't get close to the tank, can we use a Detection Spell on it from a distance?"
Kingsley approached Scrimgeour and asked in a low voice, "Perhaps that's the only place where noticeable traces might be left. We need to conduct a thorough inspection."
Before Scrimgeour could speak, Bode shook his head and said, "No, no... using a spell would alert them."
Kingsley frowned and said, "But..."
"Kingsley," Scrimgeour interrupted him, "Approaching those things is also for your protection—let's just check the areas outside."
"...Yes," Kingsley agreed.
He realized that although Scrimgeour had brought skilled Aurors for the inspection, he did not seem intent on having them find a result.
In fact, their search area was extremely limited—only a short stretch from the Brain Hall to the outer circular room.
Both rooms were empty. The intruder had thoroughly erased any traces, and the search ended quickly.
As for outside the Department of Mysteries, the path led directly to the underground Tenth Trial Chamber.
Lately, the Ministry of Magic was reviewing some past cases with irregular procedures and continually catching some smugglers, thieves, and wizards violating the Confidentiality Law, so much so that the long-unused Tenth Trial Chamber was reopened.
On the day the Department of Mysteries was breached, the Tenth Trial Chamber was handling an old case involving two superstar figures from the Magic World, and there were plenty of wizards coming and going.
So even though they all knew the intruder took advantage of this opportunity to sneak into the Department of Mysteries, they couldn't trace the individual based on routes and timing.
The Aurors quickly completed their duties, and the final outcome was—no result.
Bode didn't seem surprised either; he frowned, pulling a face, absent-mindedly nodding, then stared blankly at the brains drifting inside the tank.
"Ding——"
The elevator chimed once more, and a plainly-dressed man with brown hair, carrying a wooden box, walked in briskly, freezing upon seeing the crowd in the Brain Hall.
Bode suddenly "came to life," hurriedly approached and asked in a low voice, "Did you get it?"
The brown-haired man nodded.
Bode couldn't help but show a hint of delight, turning to Scrimgeour and others. "Thank you, Mr. Scrimgeour. Since the investigation is over, you can leave now."
Scrimgeour's stern gaze lingered on them for a moment.
"Let's go!"
He turned away first, with the Aurors following closely. As soon as they left the circular hall, the black door behind them was shut immediately.
"What's going on?" the young Auror asked, puzzled and frustrated. "No wonder no one likes these guys—are all Unspeakables a bunch of weirdos?"
"Alright, let's go."
The group took the elevator, rising directly to Level Two of the Ministry of Magic, where the Auror Command is located. Unlike the gloomy underground, this floor was bright with sunlight and bustling with activity.
Several Aurors returned to their small cubicles, plunging into their busy work. Regarding the previous investigation in the underground Department of Mysteries, they had signed confidentiality agreements, prohibiting any discussion with others.
Kingsley lingered slightly behind, and after the others left, he asked Scrimgeour, "Sir, do you know the intruder's identity?"
Scrimgeour squinted at him, "Are you doubting me?"
Kingsley gave a polite smile, saying nothing.
Scrimgeour shifted his gaze and said, "The first time I dealt with the Department of Mysteries, my superior told me a piece of advice, and now I'll pass it on to you—"
"Don't probe into the Department of Mysteries, don't go near it, and don't be greedy."
"Anyone who tries to scheme something from there for themselves will eventually pay the price."
Scrimgeour left, leaving Kingsley in silence, pondering those words.
No proverb arises without reason. Behind them must lie countless bloody and painful lessons, which is why, besides the Unspeakables dedicated to magic, all other wizards in the Magic World steer clear of the Department of Mysteries.
What Kingsley was curious about now is—did the intruder know this?
If they knew, yet still intruded, then why?
...
Seeing the last Auror leave the Department of Mysteries, Bode slammed the door shut, then dragged his companion to the Brain Hall.
He reached for the wooden box, hesitated a moment.
"You didn't open it, right?" he questioned, "Have you?"
"No," the brown-haired wizard replied, "After retrieving it from vault 716, I held onto it, never opened it, nor let anyone else touch it."
"That's good." Bode sighed with relief.
The two carefully opened the wooden box, revealing several black seeds inside. Upon contact with the air, the seeds began to streak with a faint red.
The two wizards worked together, prying up several marble tiles, then buried the seeds by hand. As they covered the last handful of earth, the seeds had turned a glaring red.
Returning the tiles to place, everything was restored to its original state. Wiping the sweat from his forehead due to the tension, Bode said, "It's done, that should be it."
The brown-haired wizard asked worriedly, "Will the intruder really come back?"
"Definitely," Bode sighed, "Greed is the original sin...whatever that person gained from here, they will surely return."
...
Mabel, wrapped in a cloak, shrank in the corner, desperately resisting the urge to flee, eyes constantly sweeping over the people on the street.