Chapter 1249: Intelligence Broker (3)

“However…” Ahbaku lowered his voice, “Someone saw him head to the eastern ‘Ghost Canyon’—a secret passageway leading to the upper reaches of the Congo River, and a habitat for many rare creatures. Someone hired a mercenary team to capture him, but three days later, the entire team was dead.”

“There were no wounds on the bodies, as if… they were scared to death by something.” Baboua continued, his tone somewhat exaggerated.

Ian nodded. This completely fit Newt’s style—he wouldn’t kill randomly, but it wasn’t as though he wouldn’t kill, and his fantastic beasts were intimidating enough to ward off any threat.

“I want to know more about this person.”

Ian continued to inquire.

The intelligence merchant was quick to respond with everything he knew.

“This person is very strong. It seems like he’s been traveling around the world in recent years, specifically looking for those rare, endangered, or… uh… particularly dangerous creatures. Then somehow, he manages to secretly transport them away! I’ve heard that many Ministries of Magic in Europe, Asia, and America have been quite troubled by him!”

“Is he in Africa this time?”

“That’s the rumor!” Baboua said mysteriously, “It’s said he’s active around East Africa. That’s why the Ministry of Magic is so tense, issuing notices and tightening boundary and port inspections, afraid he might bring in or take out something terrible. Like a Thunderbird, or an angry Poison Horned Beast… that would cause a major commotion!”

Ian pondered. Newt being active in Africa meant he indeed had a shot at finding him.

“Why is the union so afraid of him?” Ian asked.

“Because he broke the ‘boundaries’,” Ahbaku said, “The Ministry of Magic here believes that all magic creatures should be controlled, used, or eliminated. But that white man wants to ‘protect’ them. In his eyes, a dragon isn’t a weapon, but a life. This ideology… is more dangerous than Dark Arts.”

Ian was silent. For the first time, he felt Newt Scamander in this twisted world had become a sort of “revolutionary.”

No wonder Hermione Granger held Newt in such high regard.

Turns out Newt was Hermione’s “equal rights movement” enlightener.

He pushed the gold coins towards Ahbaku: “I want to know his exact location and his next move. Can you do it?”

Ahbaku looked at the gold coins, then at Ian’s eyes, which seemed to see through his soul, finally nodding: “Give me three days. I’ll send my ‘shadows’ to track him. I have some connections at several ports and cross-border Feilu Network management offices… Three days! You come back here in three days, and I should have some news.”

He not only wanted the gold coins.

He also feared Ian might rage and kill him.

In the wizarding world, might is law.

“Good.” Ian stood up, “Remember, if you deceive me…”

He didn’t finish, merely lifted his hand lightly, and the magic power seal within Ahbaku loosened slightly—that momentary feeling of suffocation made the intelligence merchant tremble from head to toe.

“I understand, sir.” Ahbaku bowed his head, “I wouldn’t dare have any ulterior motives.”

Ian said no more, turned, pulled aside the beaded curtain, and left, leaving the intelligence merchant in the tent wiping cold sweat, excited to have earned a lot of money.

And still frightened by the recent experience. Exiting the tent, Ian took a deep breath of the mixed air at the market. Finding Newt’s clues greatly increased his hope of going home.

Now, he needed to patiently wait for three days, while also preparing for other things.

He glanced at the bustling African Magic Market, pondering: maybe he should find some local-specific magic materials.

And, most importantly, study the local wizard casting techniques.