Harry Potter's : Fantastic Beasts Guide

In a secluded clearing deep within the dense forest, the only sounds that broke the silence were the rustling of leaves in the wind and the crackling of a fire burning over a pile of wood. Around the fire sat a group of masked individuals, their attention focused intently on two figures: David and Tariq. They had all passed Davao's inspection and were now waiting patiently—or perhaps with a hint of amusement—for the results of his examination of the two newcomers.

Though their faces were hidden behind masks, David could almost sense the smugness radiating from them. They seemed to relish the possibility of Davao uncovering something incriminating on either David or Tariq, as it would mean a higher commission for them. The air was thick with anticipation.

Davao, the man in charge of the inspection, approached Tariq first. He stood over him, his voice calm but firm. "This friend, may I search you?"

Tariq, sprawled on the ground, patted his stomach lazily. "Do I look like an undercover agent to you?"

Davao's tone remained polite but insistent. "It's not about appearances. If I don't search you, it might raise suspicions among the others."

Tariq sighed dramatically, lifting his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. Go ahead, then." He spread himself out on the ground like a man resigned to his fate.

"Thank you for your cooperation," Davao said, his wand flicking lightly. A gust of wind emanated from the tip, swirling around Tariq's body twice before dissipating. "No problem," Davao announced to the group.

Tariq sprang to his feet, suddenly full of energy. "See? I told you I was clean!" He turned to Davao with a grin. "Hey, buddy, mind if I take a bathroom break?"

Davao nodded. "You may, but one of our people will accompany you."

"Tsk, so much trouble," Tariq muttered, shaking his head in mock annoyance as he walked into the shadows. A masked wizard followed him at a discreet distance.

As Tariq disappeared into the darkness, a couple of chuckles broke out among the group. They seemed to find humor in Tariq's apparent discomfort. Davao, however, shot a quick glance in their direction, a subtle gesture that didn't escape David's notice.

Now it was David's turn. Davao approached him, his voice still courteous. "This friend, you're the last one. Will you refuse me?"

"Of course not," David replied, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied Davao's masked face. There was something different about Davao's demeanor—a politeness that stood out among the otherwise rough crowd.

"Thank you for your cooperation," Davao said, repeating the same spell he had used on Tariq. The wind swept over David's body, and Davao nodded in satisfaction. "I need to check your leather bag as well," he added, pointing to the pouch at David's waist.

David hesitated. "It's just daily necessities and potions."

Davao's tone remained gentle but firm. "I believe you, but we must be thorough. It's for the sake of transparency."

Reluctantly, David handed over the bag. Davao levitated it with his wand, allowing the wind to swirl inside and inspect its contents. After a moment, he returned the bag to David. "No problem. Thank you for your cooperation."

David nodded, leaning back against a tree and closing his eyes. He held his wand loosely in his hand, tapping it gently against his leg as if lost in thought. But his mind was far from idle. Through the eyes of an invisible beast he had summoned earlier, he watched Davao's every move.

Davao, now at the center of the clearing, turned his attention to the two wizards lying motionless on the ground. They had been subdued earlier, and now only faint groans escaped their lips. Davao sighed theatrically. "Our boss is too kind. He says we're businessmen, and killing isn't good for business. So, we'll just have to punish them a little."

The wizard with the eight-eyed giant spider mask stirred, a flicker of hope in his eyes as he looked up at Davao. But Davao's wand moved swiftly, conjuring a rope from a nearby branch to bind him. The other wizard, wearing an Absolute Bird mask, remained still, seemingly resigned to his fate.

"We'll leave them in the depths of the mountains," Davao announced. "If they're lucky, someone might find them. But more likely, they'll encounter a beast. Either way, it's out of our hands."

The bound wizard struggled weakly, his muffled protests ignored as Davao sealed his mouth with a spell. With a wave of his wand, Davao levitated the two wizards and began to lead them deeper into the forest. The group around the fire erupted into chatter, speculating about the fate of the two men.

David, however, remained silent, his eyes closed as he focused on the scene unfolding through the invisible beast's eyes. Davao and his captives moved further into the forest, and once they were out of earshot, Davao stopped and looked around cautiously.

"Alright, get up," Davao said, his tone shifting from authoritative to casual. The ropes binding the eight-eyed spider wizard fell away, and the man stood up, brushing himself off.

"How was my acting, boss?" the wizard asked, a hint of pride in his voice.

"Not bad," Davao replied with a nod. "Better than I expected."

The wizard grinned. "And what about the others? They bought it, right?"

Davao chuckled. "Of course. They'll never suspect a thing. As for you," he added, gesturing to the unconscious wizard on the ground, "we'll take him back and send a message to the Ministry of Magic. Let's see how much they're willing to pay for his safe return. You'll get a 20% cut."

The wizard's eyes lit up. "Thanks, boss!"

"Now get going," Davao said, shooing him away. "And make sure no one sees you."

As the wizard disappeared into the forest with his unconscious companion, Davao glanced around once more before heading in a different direction. David, watching through the invisible beast's eyes, felt a surge of satisfaction. His suspicions had been confirmed: Davao and his men were putting on an elaborate act, and David was now one step closer to unraveling their scheme.

With a faint smile, David opened his eyes and returned his attention to the fire, his mind already racing with plans for what came next.