Moody mused, nodding thoughtfully. "What’s your plan now? Have you managed to pinpoint his location?"
"Yes," Alex confirmed with a firm nod. "The Silver Wands masks have long-distance communication capabilities, similar to my communication amulets. They store communication beacons. I just ran a test, right now, there are only four active masks in the UK. Three of them belonged to the Silver Wands who were already eliminated. That leaves just one, and it has to be Thunderbird."
Moody stroked his chin, considering the situation. "Then there’s no need to rush. These bastards are tough to deal with, mainly because they’re so elusive. I’d rather we set up a proper ambush instead of charging in blindly."
"No," Alex countered immediately.
Moody narrowed his eyes. "Alex, "
"I’m not rushing in out of anger," Alex interrupted, his voice level. "I am furious, but I haven’t lost my head. The real reason I want to track him now is because of where he appeared."
Moody’s frown deepened. He had been about to argue, but then realization flickered across his scarred face. He glanced at Alex in surprise. "You mean, ?"
"Yes," Alex said, his tone calm and measured. "He appeared in the west. I have reason to believe he’s in Ireland."
Moody exhaled sharply. "Bloody hell. That explains a lot. They’re trying to kill two birds with one stone. On one hand, they attack you, eliminating the alchemist supplying equipment that’s been giving them trouble. On the other, they distract the Ministry. If a major incident like this happens in Diagon Alley, it’ll pull Aurors away, giving them the perfect opportunity to carry out a large-scale smuggling operation."
"Exactly." Alex’s gaze darkened. "The fact that Thunderbird took the time to come all the way here just to cause chaos tells me that covering up the smuggling operation is the real goal. Which means this smuggling run is probably much bigger than the one you uncovered last time."
Moody sucked in a breath. "Damn. That means they’re planning something big. This could be our best chance to take them down for good." His fingers twitched against his cane before he nodded, determination hardening his features. "Alright, no time to waste. We move now. But you are leading us in."
Alex smirked coldly. "Wouldn’t have it any other way." He met Moody’s gaze, his expression sharpening. "And remember, keep this operation secret. If we move quietly, we’ll catch them completely off guard."
Moody gave a firm nod. He understood the stakes. If word got out, they could lose their one shot at crushing the Silver Wands’s network. With that thought in mind, he spun on his heel and strode toward the entrance. "Alright, listen up!" Moody barked, his voice cutting through the tense air like a whip. "We are now operating under Level One Combat Readiness. That means absolute secrecy, no outside communication. No messages, no Patronus charms, no owl deliveries. And no one leaves the team without explicit permission. Understood?"
The assembled Aurors exchanged glances, momentarily caught off guard by the sudden shift in intensity. But Moody’s reputation spoke for itself, and within seconds, they all nodded in firm agreement. Moody didn’t waste time. His gaze landed on one of the Aurors standing nearby. "Emmeline Vance!" he called out.
A dark-haired witch stepped forward immediately. "Sir?" Emmeline immediately recognized that something was wrong. As a senior Auror, she wasn’t typically assigned to routine dispatches, her involvement meant the situation was highly sensitive. More than that, she was a member of the Order of the Phoenix, which only heightened her awareness that this mission carried significant weight.
As she stepped forward, Moody leaned in close, whispering a few quick, urgent words. Whatever he told her made her stiffen in shock, and she shot him a sharp, questioning look. Moody held her gaze, his expression unwavering. Without another word, Emmeline turned, grabbed a handful of Floo Powder, and disappeared into the flames. "Good," Moody said, straightening. Then he turned back to the rest of the Aurors. "Everyone, follow me."
The gathered Aurors exchanged glances but ultimately fell in line. Some of the younger, less experienced ones muttered among themselves, clearly unsure why they were being mobilized so urgently. Their confusion was obvious.
Alex watched them with mild irritation, shaking his head. Individually, their skill levels weren’t in question, but their discipline and tactical cohesion were inconsistent. Some of them didn’t even seem to grasp the necessity of following orders without hesitation.
Moody ignored the murmuring and made his way to the fireplace. He glanced over at Alex. "We’re transiting to a bar in the eastern part of Ireland via the Floo Network. Once we arrive, you’ll recheck the target’s location."
Alex nodded. It was a logical approach, ensuring they didn’t waste time heading in the wrong direction. "Alex and I will go first. Stay alert and wait for my signal before following." Moody turned to the rest of the team before stepping into the fireplace. "Balicas Figo Bar!"
The green flames flared, and he vanished. Alex followed immediately. When Alex emerged, Moody was already waiting for him. The dimly lit bar around them reminded Alex of The Leaky Cauldron, worn wooden furnishings, the scent of firewhiskey lingering in the air, but at this hour, it was completely deserted. "This is the eastern part of Northern Ireland," Moody said gruffly. "The owner here is Figo Finnigan. This place works as a stable Floo point if we need access to Ireland."
Alex nodded but wasted no time. "Let’s not stand around. Every minute counts." Without delay, he pulled out the mask that had once belonged to Iseron and slipped it over his face. From his coat, he produced a device resembling a large compass, adjusting its dials with precision. "The target’s still east of us," he muttered, his eyes scanning the readings. "About 150 kilometers, almost at the coastline."
Moody grimaced. "That’s far. We don’t have another direct transfer point, but, " he hesitated, then nodded as if confirming his own thoughts. "Last time we hit a Silver Wands smuggling ring, it was in western Ireland. I remember the location. We can Apparate there first and move from there."
Alex considered for a moment before nodding. "Sounds like our best option. Have the others follow up once we secure the area."
Moody wasted no time in sending the message. Then, with sharp cracks of displaced air, they disappeared. Once the rest of the Aurors received their orders, they Apparated in waves, regrouping at the location where they had previously disrupted a Silver Wands smuggling operation. The moment they arrived, Alex recalibrated the mask’s tracking function, scanning for the communication signal once again. "There," he said, eyes narrowing as the device gave a precise reading. "Thirty kilometers out. We’re close."