Chapter 121: 0121 Getting Help
Compared to the first three negotiations, the final one was particularly dramatic.
Smith had Baskerville directly threaten the imprisoned Musgrave that if he still refused to sign the agreement this time, he would be killed immediately.
Unfortunately, Mr. Musgrave remained resolute and unyielding.
No matter how much torture he endured, it was useless.
He simply wasn't afraid of death.
Smith had no choice but to temporarily set him aside and instead severely criticize Baskerville.
Just as Sherlock had said, Baskerville's activities of gathering information from Greece and seeking Hagrid's help were ultimately discovered by Smith.
That's why Smith came prepared when he went to find Baskerville today.
Faced with a tool like the Greek interpreter, Smith had no reservations.
Perhaps having made up his mind to flee after this job, he didn't use magic but instead used the most primitive method to beat Baskerville unconscious.
Baskerville was beaten into unconsciousness and remained unaware until discovered by Sherlock and Hagrid.
Upon hearing this, Sherlock couldn't help but frown:
"Consistent with my deduction. The commotion from Hagrid breaking down the door alerted him, so he simply fled with that poor Athenian."
After saying this, he looked at the crowd who had just been confronting Hagrid. "You knew nothing about this the entire time?"
This was also why he had allowed these people to listen in when questioning Baskerville.
Because some clues still needed verification from them.
Unfortunately, after he asked this question, everyone in the room remained silent.
Although the Parthenon Black Market wasn't large, it was still quite a hidden location in Knockturn Alley.
Think about it—even Hagrid, a regular visitor to Knockturn Alley, needed Borgin's directions to find it.
Yet such a place had been infiltrated right under their noses.
And they only discovered it when people from Hogwarts School came knocking.
Embarrassing!
So embarrassing!
The black-market wizards looked at each other. After an awkward silence, a wizard with long red hair finally spoke:
"Speaking of which, I do have an impression of that person. About a month ago..."
"Shut up!"
However, he had barely begun speaking when he was stopped.
The one who stopped him had a face full of scars and was clearly no good person.
He had also been one of the leaders during the confrontation with Hagrid.
He looked at Sherlock with a fake smile: "Sir, this is our own business. We don't need Hogwarts to interfere.
Of course, out of respect for Professor Dumbledore, I can guarantee your safe departure."
Hjallavin was now in a difficult position.
Although he didn't know who Sherlock was, he didn't want to offend Hagrid, who represented Hogwarts.
Moreover, Hogwarts professors would arrive soon.
But the problem was that the Parthenon Black Market wasn't his alone to command.
Sherlock and Hagrid's direct assault on the warehouse had already made him lose face.
Hagrid's tough attitude prevented them from entering the room behind the hidden door.
Fine, they wouldn't enter. They could look after these people left.
But now the matter of John Smith and Baskerville had emerged.
If he allowed his people to easily reveal information about John Smith and let Sherlock and Hagrid do whatever they wanted, his authority among the black-market managers would decline further.
In this situation, things became very difficult to resolve.
According to Viking tradition, once you showed weakness, you would definitely be ganged up on by others and devoured completely.
With his personal interests at stake, he could only bite the bullet and try to save face.
In his view, this was already a compromise.
If anyone else dared to act this way, he would squeeze every drop of profit from them or he wouldn't be a true Viking!
However, he never expected that even this level of offense would still generate strong dissatisfaction from Hagrid.
Hearing Hjallavin speak this way, Hagrid's eyes immediately widened.
'How dare you!
I, Rubeus Hagrid, am here. If Sherlock can't get the information he wants, wouldn't I have come for nothing?'
Just as he was preparing to give this fellow a taste of his own medicine, someone moved faster than him.
"I advise you to tell us everything you know!"
With a shrill voice speaking up, followed by a series of crackling sounds, a figure appeared before everyone.
The suddenly appearing figure was so short that except for Baskerville, who was already lying on the ground, everyone present had to lower their heads to see him.
Sherlock was also somewhat surprised.
He had originally thought the person coming here would be McGonagall or Sprout.
The former, as Gryffindor Head and Hogwarts Deputy Headmistress, coming to clean up after his mess would be entirely reasonable.
The latter had shown great interest in this case when he consulted her about relevant clues yesterday.
But he hadn't expected that the one who ultimately arrived would be Filius Flitwick.
"As soon as I heard you were investigating a case, I volunteered to come."
Flitwick looked around for a while before finding Sherlock behind Hagrid, then smiled at him.
Obviously, Professor Flitwick was very satisfied that Sherlock could disguise himself to this extent without using Polyjuice Potion.
"After what happened last time, I wanted to see how you do it—you wouldn't be unwelcoming, would you?"
"Of course not."
Although Professor Flitwick's arrival was somewhat unexpected for Sherlock, it didn't make much difference to him who came.
After greeting Sherlock, Flitwick turned back to the person who had just spoken, his gaze immediately becoming sharp:
"You just said... this is your own business and doesn't need Hogwarts interference?"
Hjallavin didn't recognize Flitwick.
Even so, he realized the other party was not to be trifled with.
Seems like a big shot who can't be provoked!
But facing the gloating looks from his partners behind him, he still decided to make one threatening remark before backing down:
"You... are quite right, but... Ouch!"
Without any warning, before he could finish his conciliatory words, he fell flat on his back.
Professor Flitwick waved his wand lightly and said matter-of-factly, "I don't like what you're saying. Get someone else to talk to me."
When Hjallavin realized he couldn't even see how the other party had attacked, he simply lay on the ground and gave up.
Unfortunately, while he realized this, the others didn't.
Seeing Hjallavin fall flat, another black-market manager, Herred Marton, who had never gotten along with him, immediately thought his opportunity had come.
He looked at Professor Flitwick, who was about his height, and while secretly raising his guard, stepped forward:
"Outrageous! Even if you're a Hogwarts professor, you can't... Ouch!"
Even though he had prepared himself before speaking, facing Flitwick, the Charms expert, it was still useless.
As Professor Flitwick waved his wand, he immediately fell flat like Hjallavin.
"Next!"
Flitwick's gaze turned to the others.
A female wizard stepped out from the crowd.
"This is Knockturn Alley. Do you really think we're afraid of you... Ouch!"
"Switch again!"
"I..."
"Switch!"
This person hadn't even finished speaking before falling flat.
This was because the previous people had only focused intently on defense when facing Professor Flitwick.
But this person had foolishly drawn his wand, planning to cast a spell on Flitwick.
Professor Flitwick naturally wouldn't indulge him.
Before he could even utter an incantation, he was efficiently knocked down by Flitwick.
Compared to the others, his fate was worse.
As Professor Flitwick waved his wand up and down, he bounced like a ball, following Flitwick's wand movements up and down, flying from the ground into the air and falling back down.
Only when Professor Flitwick grew bored did he finally toss him far aside.
"Anyone else?"
After dealing with several troublemakers in succession, Flitwick's calm gaze swept across the faces of the other black-market wizards.
Though it was an upward gaze, it made everyone feel frightened.
'Too terrifying!
Is this the power of a Hogwarts professor-level wizard?
They were completely helpless to fight back!'
Just then, the wizard who had initially answered Sherlock's question raised his hand, "I..."
"Hmm?"
Flitwick glanced at him, and the man, fearing he would follow in his predecessors' footsteps, quickly called out:
"Professor! Professor, don't attack! You taught me before, Professor Flitwick!"
Hearing him call out his name, Professor Flitwick paused and walked up to him.
The wizard immediately crouched down without a word.
This familiar scene immediately awakened Professor Flitwick's memories.
He kept tapping the man's head with his wand, speaking in a tone of disappointment:
"You still know I taught you? Is this what I taught you? And... why are you mixed up in a place like this?"
Being scolded like this by his former teacher, Morgoth felt quite wronged.
"Professor, I didn't get a single certificate in my O.W.L. exams..."
Morgoth's words immediately silenced Professor Flitwick.
There were 12 certificates available in the O.W.L. exams, and this guy didn't get even one!
And he was a Ravenclaw student too—this was far too outrageous!
But at this point, saying anything more was meaningless.
"Fine, tell us everything you know!"
Seeing Flitwick's annoyed expression, Morgoth felt quite aggrieved.
'What can I do? I'm helpless too!
I already tried very hard to study, but I just couldn't do well on exams!'
However, seeing that Professor Flitwick seemed to still have some old affection, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief and began to tell the facts in detail.
You can read more chapters on:
patreon.com/MikeyMuse