"Name—"
"Groo Arthur Vigor."
"Gender?"
"...?"
"What are you staring at? Just answer the question—"
"...Male."
"Age?"
"Sixty-seven."
"Marital status... uh, that's not really necessary. Let me see, okay, let's switch to this: what's your relationship with those poachers?"
"Collaborative relationship."
"Very well, now explain the specific content of your cooperation?"
"Providing Magical Creatures controlled by Dark Arts, assisting in transforming their captured Magical Creatures, trafficking artifacts..."
"...That's it?"
After waiting for a long time without further elaboration, William couldn't help but furrow his brow, patting the Niffler already reporting beside him at his feet. He gestured for it to return to the suitcase by itself, and after pondering, he spoke again—
"Transform Magical Creatures? Dark Arts?… Okay, what's the method? Does it require using these Seik Crystals?"
"I... I don't know."
"?"
Seeing the other party still in a dazed state, William paused, intending to change his approach, "Then..."
No, not quite right...
Just as William had organized his words, he suddenly stopped, staring at Groo's face in silence for a moment before speaking again, "Explain the structure of this group of poachers."
"They're actually a cross-border organization, but I can confirm their origin is South Africa. Local wizards mostly graduate from Uagadou, and these wizards act separately in tribal forms, usually gathering among the mountain forests where Magical Creatures frequently appear..."
Goblin Groo furrowed his brow, as if striving to recall, while William nodded. The potion seemed to have not worn off yet, so—"How much do you know about the poachers' fast-track Animagus?"
"...It's an ancient magic originating from South Africa. It involves sacrificing to the Witch God to seek the magic power for Transfiguration."
Oh, still a fantasy story.
William nodded, as this origin did not exceed his expectations, and he nodded again after posing several poacher-related questions. After flipping through his notebook and confirming there were no omissions, William furrowed his brow to validate the flashing conjecture in his mind—
"Are you the one using Dark Arts to transform those Magical Creatures?"
"No, no... I'm not."
When answering this question, Groo's eyelids began to tremble violently, as if they could break free from the influence of Veritaserum at any moment.
"Does Gringotts know you're privately dealing with these Black Wizards?"
"No, they don't."
"Does the goblin I just killed know?"
"Yes."
"How many people in Gringotts know about your dealings—"
"No, no one else."
"...When did the owner of this vault die?"
"Thirty years ago—"
"Did Gringotts know he died?"
"No—"
"Why is there such a big error in Gringotts' records?"
"Because... someone, someone renewed the fee."
Renewed, yet the vault has no owner?
Listening to Groo's seemingly contradictory words, William nodded knowingly, watching the goblin whose struggling expression began to deepen. He closed the notebook in his hand and slowly spoke, "Then, is that person part of the Poaching Corps?"
"No..."
At the moment the first syllable slipped out, a jet of black flame suddenly erupted from Goblin Groo's seven orifices. Instantly, a scent of charred stench permeated the air, causing William to furrow his brow involuntarily—
Indeed, some things cannot be spoken.
Watching the goblin turn into an empty shell in an instant, William nodded. The flash of insight that just crossed his mind was indeed accurate.
Helping the poachers to transform their Magical Creatures, yet this goblin knew nothing of the method of transformation—this clearly indicates the existence of a third party in their collaborative relationship—or perhaps Groo is the one responsible for negotiating among them.
Perhaps it's a person, or maybe it's an organization; after all, the one who cursed the goblin isn't the group of poachers.
More and more is unearthed...
Weighing the heavy black crystal in his hand, William's eyes flickered—and just as he pondered, the black flame that had already roasted the goblin into charcoal did not disappear; instead, it began to spread to the surroundings, causing the stone bricks beneath William's feet to soften under the heat.
Fortunately, he had earlier let the Niffler empty out the valuable items.
Watching the fire rapidly spread to completely block the entire exit, William chuckled—an ordinary wizard might truly be trapped here by the Magic Flame and the Anti-Disillusionment Charm within the goblin vault, but who was he?
He had a whole nine ways to leave here—
Thinking about it, William grabbed the suitcase and shook it, causing a deep red bird to be shaken out from inside—Anti-Disillusionment Charm? Sorry, our noble Fawkes does not abide by that.
"Boom—"
Fiery red flames flashed in the air, and in the next moment, besides the flickering black flames, there was nothing else in the vault.
...
It was unknown how long had passed; even the alarm triggered by the attack had stopped, and the flames that spread to three adjacent vaults had been completely extinguished. At last, a figure cloaked in black appeared silently in the center of the vault.
Nothing.
Gazing at the empty stone platform in the center of the room, his mind went blank.
"Pfft—"
The next moment, the figure dissolved into a puff of black ash that vanished.
...
...
"Back already?"
Watching Lupin walk through the door, William put the letter in hand aside. He wasn't too surprised, as he had left Kabuda on him; the little fellow besides snatching some Galleons and Sickles could be considered the best bodyguard. After all, it could grow large, shrink small, and when pushed would crush a Jade Token to summon "William Ancestor" for rescue.
Honestly, even if Lupin wanted to die, it would be difficult.
"...Yes."
Lupin nodded, but clearly seemed distracted.
"The upcoming itinerary—We have to return to Hogwarts; it's time for the start of the school year."
As a student, William remembered his "task"—oh, certainly not the summer homework; those have been entrusted to Kabuda.
"Alright..."
Lupin nodded again.
"...Speaking of which, what's wrong with you? Did you bump into a lost-and-found first love ex-girlfriend in Egypt?"
Seeing Lupin's constipated face like someone just out of a breakup, William finally couldn't stay indifferent. He hastily propped himself up, placing two pillows behind his back, and struck a pose as if ready to hear some gossip.
"No, I don't have an ex... no, I mean, it's not related to that."
"Then what's it related to?"
"...I ran into the Weasleys, and those three at the pyramid were George, Fred, and Ron; you should know them. Later, I brought them to the Weasleys... they told me,"
Lupin paused, his expression becoming serious, "Sirius Black has escaped."
"...Oh, and then what?"
"..."
"Oh, seems like there's no '...and then'. Is this really serious?"
"...Should be, I guess?"
"Alright, then let me ask from the start—who is Sirius Black?"