Butcher Jack steadied himself and reached toward the cloth bundle. No, at the end of the day, it was just a larger prey. He'd been a butcher for so many years; how could he suddenly be scared by some little brat?
The cloth fell away. A thick black limb was starkly revealed! "Acromantula?!" Jack cried out in shock. Staring at that massive, fierce body, his face turned pale like a man on his wedding night discovering he'd married a three-meter-by-three-meter giantess.
This wasn't an ordinary Acromantula. But a rare specimen at least decades old, whose body had expanded to its limits! Often with a brood of offspring beneath it. Extremely dangerous!
Jack looked at the huge puncture wound on the spider's back and swallowed hard. Looking down at Ethan, he suddenly asked: "Kid, how exactly did you find your way here?"
Ethan tilted his head with a sunny smile: "A wizard named 'Paul' told me about this place. He's so helpful and easy to talk to... what a great guy!"
Jack fell silent. If he remembered correctly, that Paul fellow was quite cunning and fond of sarcasm and mockery. He loved leading Aurors and outsiders on wild goose chases. Yet they'd found the right place on the first try... Moment of silence for Paul.
"Hmph, fine, kid. You found the right person. Within a hundred miles, I'm the only one who can perfectly handle this thing... 'Butcher Jack'!"
Ethan nodded: "Then I'll leave it to you."
Though the butcher looked crude, his handling was refined. Extracting venom sacs, collecting poison. Prying off the hard shell, trimming the interior. In no time, the Acromantula had become a round, plump "cocoon". It looked absolutely delicious.
Ethan licked his lips, curious about this giant "silkworm cocoon's" taste. It was worth the trouble of specifically finding this place. After all, going through official channels would certainly involve inspections. They might even confiscate it directly.
Ethan felt the Dark Wizard gathering place gave him the warmth of home. With this perfect bait, he could definitely catch the Remora Fish King in one go! Obtain the Patronus Charm and reach life's pinnacle!
Ethan's eyes burnt with fighting spirit. After paying, Ethan asked: "Do you know where I can rent a fishing boat? Something large and preferably enchanted to sail itself."
Hearing this, Jack frowned: "It's winter now; most fishing boats are docked for maintenance. Let alone precious magical vessels... even if there were any, they'd have been taken by others long ago. Impossible to give you..."
"Thump." Before he finished speaking, Ethan slapped a cloth pouch onto the counter. The sound of clinking coins made Jack's voice involuntarily stop. His gaze followed the golden light leaking from the bag in a daze. The words on his lips unconsciously became: "You can have whatever you want."
Jack snatched the money pouch, greed and awe appearing in his eyes. "I swear by 'Butcher Jack's' reputation to get it for you!"
"Very good." Ethan nodded with satisfaction. Indeed, money was the warmest thing in this world. No matter how cold and hard a person was, they'd become tender as water before it. Sigh, it just hurts the wallet a little...
Ethan watched the money pouch disappear, feeling like curses were about to spill from his lips. You can't catch Harry without sacrificing gold; you can't hook the Fish King without spending Galleons! Everything is for a better tomorrow! Ethan, charge!
Several people followed Jack, who'd directly closed shop, toward the trading location. Mr Lovegood trailed behind them, completely confused and still processing what had happened. How did Ethan become the Dark Wizards' honoured guest in just a blink of an eye? What exactly happened?!
Lovegood deeply felt he could no longer keep up with young people's thinking.
At the fishing port, through Jack's fist and dazzling Galleons, they successfully opened the seller's heart. After throwing the original captain into the water, Ethan gained usage rights to this magical fishing vessel.
Report to authorities? Reporting wouldn't help! Jack had found an illegally modified fishing boat anyway. Black eating black. Pervaded with brutal internal struggle and persecution.
Luna: "Ethan promoted winter fishing industry development. Ethan's such a good person~"
The Dark Wizard floundering in the water: "???" Open your damn eyes before speaking!
"I won't let you get away with this! You despicable outsiders!"
Luna looked down from the deck: "So pitiful, let me help you." Saying this, she raised her wand and cast a spell Ethan hadn't heard before. A blue light shot out. "Splash!" A large square ice block appeared in the sea. It perfectly encased the Dark Wizard. His expression was frozen in shock and disbelief. He bobbed up and down with the ice block in the sea.
Luna: "Oops, accidentally failed. Hehe~"
Ethan patted her shoulder encouragingly: "Keep trying next time."
On shore, a Dark Wizard said urgently: "If they keep trying like this, this whole black market will be gone! Jack, aren't you going to do something?!"
Jack's eyes reflected golden Galleon light as he said righteously: "I didn't see anything."
Dark Wizard: "..." It's over. Jack has been seduced by demons and fallen.
Just then, the Dark Wizards who'd come to investigate exchanged glances, greed appearing in their eyes. "That Acromantula definitely wasn't hunted by this brat personally. Probably bought it from someone else with money. Rich little brat, I'm going to personally..."
After conferring, several people boarded another magical vessel and stealthily followed Ethan's group. If they succeeded, they probably wouldn't worry about food and drink for the next year!
On shore, Jack watched their departing figures and slowly shook his head. "Hell lies ahead..." He tightened his grip on the cleaver, staking his decades-long butcher career on that certainty. "That kid is definitely not simple. Probably has blood soaked under his fingernails."
"Heave ho!" Splash! Ethan threw his baited fishing line into the water. That flashy purple fishing rod glittered in the sunlight.
Ethan: "No, Luna, don't try to turn my robes purple too. This is someone else's fishing rod. I don't like this colour."
Luna disappointedly lowered her wand. Then enthusiastically began researching small storm cloud creation. A cold wind blew. It splattered Mr Lovegood with rainwater all over his head and face.
The soaked father: "..." Our... our daughter is so talented!
The waiting time was long. Ethan wrapped himself tightly in a thick cloak, hugging a small warmer, curled up like a little old man. Wonder when something will bite... Once the Fish King takes the bait, I'll summon the Death Bird. Because with just my own strength, I definitely can't reel in the Fish King. Since I don't know when the Fish King will bite, I can't rashly summon it and waste magical power.
Ding! Suddenly, Ethan heard a crisp sound. Then the fishing line in his hands snapped taut! Hooked! So fast?!
Ethan's eyes lit up as he shouted: "Death Bi... glub glub glub!"
The instant the line went taut, Ethan was immediately yanked by tremendous force, flipped over the railing, and plunged headfirst into the sea! "Splash!" The boat rocked; water splashed everywhere!
Such incredible strength! Ethan held his breath, feeling the bone-chilling seawater flood his nostrils. In the murky water, he couldn't see clearly, only vaguely making out a massive creature frantically tugging his fishing line. Swimming rapidly toward the depths!
On the swaying boat, Luna gripped the railing with one hand and pointed her wand at the sea surface with the other while holding her father on her lap. She clearly and quickly chanted: "Accio Ethan."
In the sea, Ethan felt his clothes suddenly yank upward! Magical force pulled him, fighting against the big fish! Thanks, Luna! This momentary gap was enough for Ethan to respond!
Death Bird, activate! White light blazed on the back of his hand! The next second, a sharp cry rang out as skeletal hands grabbed Ethan from behind! Then jerked him upward! "Splash!" Breaking through the surface!