From Azkaban to Hogwarts.

With the increase in strikers and even the occasional appearance of Aurors, Azkaban's original supply chain system suffered a devastating blow.

Before figuring out the newcomers' tactics, even the most greedy former strikers dared not secretly transport goods anymore, especially with the Aurors still around. Even if they bought things at double the price, the strikers would only get what they wanted because the time wasn't right. They would wait and see.

'Logically speaking, it should be about time...'

Those with money and connections are all eagerly watching the outside world, desperately hoping for supplies. Theoretically, today is also a day for replenishing supplies.

However, just as the smuggled item was being taken out, an Auror with a rather unpleasant expression appeared. He glanced at the item, which terrified the thugs and prisoners.

Fortunately, he didn't comment further, but simply shook his head and told the batters to patiently re-examine the area, leaving no blind spots.

"Check carefully! Don't let anything go wrong!"

"Also... search all the cells to prevent any problems!"

He thought for a moment, then added, before the Auror hurriedly left.

Shortly after he disappeared, the thugs started cursing, and then the cell erupted in cheers, greeting the Auror as if in celebration.

Chapter 538 Strike While the Iron Is Hot

"Seriously, that was pretty brutal..."

The batters shook their heads, describing what had just happened in a lighthearted tone.

Azkaban is a place destined to be devoid of joy. Just as a group of prisoners were laughing happily, the official guards of Azkaban could no longer control their hunger and began to enjoy this delicious buffet.

Even with the enforcers watching, these guys didn't really restrain their desires. The prisoners who were happily cursing were crushed by their accumulated fear the moment the strife started.

"Luckily, those guys are still quite sensible. If they had killed the prisoner, that would have been terrible."

A batter with a slightly bulbous nose shook his head. "This place is no good. I was terrified when those gray-skinned creatures flew over just now—I was afraid they'd get so caught up in their food that they'd eat me too."

"They've been safe all these years, haven't they?"

Another striker said nonchalantly that strikers would come here from time to time to deliver supplies and maybe make some extra money on the side. Compared to the brief unhappiness, the Gallon they got from the prisoners' pockets was the source of their happiness.

“A creature that feeds on wizards will show absolutely no mercy when attacking them,” the bulbous slapper shook his head. “A dog that has eaten a human is no different from a wolf.”

"Fine, fine, that's how you newcomers are," another one said, too lazy to argue. Gallons were more convincing than any words. Chocolates that cost nats outside could sometimes even be sold for Gallons here, which was much more powerful than words. "Inspect the defenses, inspect the security of each cell!"

-

"Young master, please have some water."

The Crouch family's house-elf, Sparkle, carefully picked up a glass of water and handed it to the drowsy Barty.

She's been having a pretty good time lately—Old Barty, who has reappeared in the public eye, has regained the public's trust after handling the World Cup incident efficiently, and Crouch, who has regained power, has even become nicer to his own Pokémon, which makes Sparkle very happy.

However, there was still some regret beneath this happiness, because Mr. Crouch regained power, so Barty's life became difficult again, and he was strictly forbidden from going out for fresh air—although he hadn't been allowed out many times before.

The Soul-Stealing Curse was firmly in place, and Old Barty would even reinforce the curse once a month. If it weren't for the fact that releasing too much of it would kill him, he would have done it every week.

"Anyway, the young master is still alright..."

As for the future, Shanshan dared not hope for it, nor did she dare to think about it. She only wanted to follow her master's orders and take good care of her young master.

"Young Master...who are you?!"

Flashy suddenly exclaimed in surprise, as the gate's defenses were easily bypassed, as if they didn't exist.

But in just a moment, Gilgamesh lost his ability to defend himself, and the defenses inside Crouch's house were also breached. Gilgamesh was thrown against the wall and lost all ability to resist.

"Stop! You idiot! Don't kill it! The Dark Lord said that once we infiltrated, we are not allowed to harm anything related to that lucky kid!"

"Well... he really is... a lucky kid. He's actually worth us making this trip to save him."

In a state between unconsciousness and lucidity, Shan Shan heard such a sound.

Then, she saw a masked wizard pour a potion on her young master. Before she could worry, the young master, who had been firmly controlled, began to struggle desperately, and then his eyes became lively.

"Cough...cough...who are you...?"

Barty Crouch Jr. coughed as he scrutinized the intruders in his home.

He wasn't worried about what might happen—anything was better than being imprisoned there like a puppet by the Imperius Curse.

As for causing trouble for his father? Sorry, he hasn't considered such a thing for over a decade.

"Have you ever heard of the purgers?"

"The Purgers?"

While stretching his limbs, Little Barty glanced at the two strangers' wands out of the corner of his eye—at this distance, the probability of him leaping out, grabbing one wand, and instantly casting a spell to kill the other wasn't small at all…

However, there's no rush... He needs the other person to relax a bit more, and also needs more time to try to take control of their body.

"I remember you were wizards from the American magical world, how come you are..."

"That's right, isn't that what we're doing for—what you want to do...?"

"Heart-piercing and bone-scraping!"

Barty leaped and snatched a wand, then without a second thought, unleashed a Cruciatus Curse at the other wand.

A ghastly green light appeared in the room, and a heart-wrenching scream instantly rang out. As the opponent was curled up in agony like a shrimp, the attacker lay on the ground and kicked the opponent who had his wand snatched away hard with his leg, then casually flicked a curse to trap the opponent.

After casting another spell on his opponent who was afflicted by the Cruciatus Curse, he finally got up, supporting himself on the ground with his hands, his face covered in dust and bursting into uncontrollable laughter.

"You guys are really..."

He waved his wand, summoning another, his smile growing even more manic. "But anyway, I have to thank you..."

The other party was far too inexperienced and made a mistake that even surprised him.

Honestly, Little Barty couldn't understand why these two seemingly decent wizards could make such a fatal mistake, but since they had given him a chance, he wouldn't hold back.

"Tell me, you are... the Heart-Rending Bone-Cutting Technique!"

He smiled, and another beam of green light flew out from his hand, pointing at one of them.

A heart-wrenching scream rang out instantly, and obvious panic appeared on the other person's covered face...

“You can’t! We came here specifically to save you, Barty Crouch!”

"help me?"

Barty's magic didn't stop; a cruel smile appeared on his face. "Who sent you? How did he know?"

"The Dark Lord instructed us to save you!"

'The Dark Lord?'

Barty then remembered that in his dazed state while being controlled, he seemed to have heard this name as well. "Is it the Dark Lord?"

"Yes, it's the Dark Lord! We were specially dispatched to rescue you!"

"Owner…"

Barty's face lit up with ecstatic joy, an overwhelming happiness bursting forth from his heart. "It's Master?"

"Of course, it's Lord Dark Lord..."

"I knew it... I knew it! The Dark Lord wouldn't die so easily! He said it! He said it! He said it!!! It was my fault! I shouldn't have doubted him! I shouldn't have doubted him!"

Tears streamed down Barty's face. He waved his arms and legs wildly, his wand flashing green sparks. "Master, where is Master? I am loyal, I am the most loyal!"

Terrified by Barty's madness, the Purifiers were now genuinely afraid of the deranged middle-aged man before them. Generations of Purifiers had been evading the Ministry of Magic's pursuit, and aside from the powerful spells and techniques passed down through generations, their personal combat experience was actually quite limited.

If it weren't for the Dark Lord's emergency dark magic training, coupled with sufficient intelligence and surprise attacks, they wouldn't have been able to crush those ordinary Aurors.

But after encountering this prisoner who had been held captive for many years, their sense of superiority over the Aurors was instantly shattered…

After a while, Barty, who had finally calmed down a bit, remembered something. "But, but how did Master know I was here?"

"It is the location that Ms. Bertha described. We have been dispatched to infiltrate here and rescue you."

"Bertha?"

Little Barty shook his head, unable to figure out who this mission was for.

"Then, master, what does the master need me, his servant, to do?"

He stretched out his hand, looked himself over, and asked, "How can I offer my services?"

“Attack Azkaban… We also have eight Purifiers outside, all wizards skilled at breaking through defenses and creating chaos, all at your command.”

Azkaban?

Little Barty looked at the two of them with a puzzled expression. "Of course I can, but Master, Master he..."

“We don’t know either. We were sent here, only instructed to rescue you on Christmas Day and then take Azkaban as soon as possible.”

“Azkaban… Master has not forgotten us loyal servants…”

Barty thought for a moment, then burst into tears of joy—almost all of them who fought to the last moment in search of the Dark Lord had ended up in Azkaban, and he still hadn't forgotten his companions who had kidnapped the Aurors with them.

“If you have no further questions,” the Purifier instinctively used honorifics, “shouldn’t we leave first? Breaking the Imperius Curse might lead to the caster discovering it.”

"Just control him..."

Little Barty spoke without hesitation, but then shook his head at his two helpers, "Never mind, let's leave first..."

He had a high opinion of his father's abilities. He didn't care whether the attack succeeded or not, but if a failed attack delayed his master's plans, that would be too much...

Anyway, that guy who cared so much about his reputation was too cowardly to go public—he grinned smugly, then saw Shining on the side.

"never mind…"

He muttered to himself, "The original Avada Kedavra has been replaced with Oblivion."

"Let's go."

-

"They escaped..."

"They escaped..."

When Old Barty hurriedly returned to his house, his son was missing, and his own house-elf was lying there, unable to remember anything.

Countless frustrations surfaced—he had been feeling quite pleased with himself, only to be dealt this blow.

'Sparkle, you piece of trash…'

He remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was cursing his little sprite. If it weren't for her years of hard work and the need for secrecy in the upcoming pursuit, he would have fired her immediately.