A figure suddenly leaped out, only to be caught by a spider jumping up from behind.
He roared, grabbing the two long legs that trapped him, and tore them apart violently, causing thick, stinking liquid to splash all over him.
The spiders swarmed forward to devour their companion, and he took the opportunity to escape, but he hadn't run more than a few meters before his foot came to an abrupt halt.
A sticky spider web wrapped around his ankle; he glanced down once, and his body fell as he was dragged back.
He shouted, wildly waving his arms, his sharp fingernails slashing across a spider's eye, making it emit a squeak like a mouse.
But more and more spiders pressed forward, injecting venom into his legs and arms, their pincers clicking, and he could despairingly hear what felt like the sound of his body being torn apart.
Suddenly, there was a clear bird call.
The spiders paused in their feeding frenzy, hesitating for a moment, then slowly retreated.
Squinting through a swollen eye, he barely managed to open it and saw a fiery red silhouette.
——How beautiful!
He thought this as he lost consciousness.
Firebird Mikhail stood atop an Acromantula's head, even though it had already suppressed its flames and heat; the dense black hair atop the spider's head had been singed, leaving a pair of lovely, bamboo-leaf-like claw marks.
Vid walked over and sighed, "What a pity... I wanted to capture that Dar."
Of the four, bushy-browed Dar likely had the most intel, and might even know the true identity and whereabouts of "Alpha."
But the guy reacted quickly and had an unpredictable Portkey; even though Vid was prepared, he couldn't stop him.
Just that bite from the Acromantula must have injected quite a bit of venom, and it hit right on the forehead... It's uncertain if what the Portkey took back is dead or alive.
Vid opened the wardrobe space; the spiders dragged the whiskered man inside, drooling over the huge lump of meat, but under Mikhail's watchful gaze, they dared not act recklessly.
As for the two spiders that were injured earlier, they had already been eaten clean by their own kind.
Vid made another round and singled out the two people who looked like leaders from the negotiation earlier, hoping to extract more useful information.
The effects of the Life and Death Potion remained stable as ever, yet Vid felt somewhat disappointed internally.
Of course, he knew that expecting bushy-browed Dar and his group to unknowingly lead the way was a bit idealistic, but he hadn't expected the plan to change before the ship even reached the United States' dock.
Numerous forces coveting the Alchemist had already gathered in the lower deck, and regardless of Vid's involvement, Dar and company were destined not to reach their destination smoothly.
Rather than allowing them to create chaos of unknown scale, Vid preferred to manage the situation himself.
It's a pity Dar got away.
Vid sighed, casting a Muggle-Repelling Charm on several entrances of this deck to prevent interference, although it's merely a temporary spell, it can last for about half an hour.
Next, Vid took out the Veritaserum.
Since this magic potion is forbidden, he didn't have much of it, and he had to use it sparingly. Fortunately, when used on a Muggle, only a drop was needed.
The clear, transparent liquid dripped down; the originally sleeping individual was awakened, his eyes staring vacantly at the floor.
Whiskered man: "No... I've never seen that person... When I was in Norway, on a full moon night, I transformed and killed someone; on the run I got found by that group."
"I never believed them... People who don't even dare show their face, only a fool would believe they're genuinely altruistic... This time? I'm just looking to make some money. With the money, I can go to another country and start a new life..."
"Damn werewolf future! I was originally a normal kid with an ordinary but happy family, and because I got bitten by a werewolf... My whole home got ruined! I wish all werewolves would die! Including myself!"
Vid was silent.
To normal people, werewolves are legendary creatures; many don't believe they truly exist.
If their child got bitten by a werewolf and somehow survived, parents wouldn't think "this child will turn into a werewolf, better lock him up," but rather, they would try to cure him, accompany him, and help him overcome the psychological trauma.
Then, on a moonlit night, tragedy occurred — the werewolf's sharp claws and teeth lunged at their closest ones.
Vid placed the whiskered man aside and went to interrogate the others—
Suit man: "My boss is very interested in magic... especially... what is said to be a Philosopher's Stone that grants immortality..."
"I heard that stone has already been destroyed, but… since the Alchemist could create the first Philosopher's Stone, surely they could make a second one… So we need, we need more Alchemists..."
"The boss hopes to uncover the mysteries of magic with the support of scientific research, unlocking the upper limits of human lifespan…"
A stream of words spilled out, as though rehearsed.
Vid asked, "Besides this, what's the real reason?"
Suit man: "...The boss has cancer."
Vid: "How many people did you bring?"
The suit man pointed out his accomplices dutifully.
Vid: "Just this few?"
And said, "We received the news too late, and the bounty hunters selling intel are very unreliable. We were ordered to board the ship to investigate; once confirmed, the boss would make arrangements on the dock side."