Elder Sun nodded at Madam Hooch. His voice boomed across the stadium. "Abe Shingo deliberately injured players from another country. Everyone saw it. We're arresting him. Resist, and we kill you on sight."
"Yes, sir!"
The thunderous response made every schemer in the crowd flinch.
Flying Swords surrounded the Beater. Abe Shingo froze. The cultivators watched him like hungry wolves. He didn't dare move—even landing wrong might count as resistance.
The standoff broke when Quidditch officials came sprinting over. Charles Williams was ready to tear his hair out. Years since anything this bad happened. In the old days, they'd have killed the fouling player on the spot. This time, they'd barely convinced the Central Land cultivators to leave their swords at home. Now this. If that Seeker died, they'd take the blame.
Charles wanted to kill Abe Shingo himself.
"I'm Commissioner Charles Williams!" He pointed his wand at his throat. Sonorus. "Abe Shingo's player status is revoked! Lifetime ban! And I'm pressing assault charges too!"
Had to be fast. Had to be harsh. Tens of thousands watching. Screw this up, and it'd be the scandal of the century.
"Elder Sun! Bring him down. We're getting answers from the Japanese delegation!"
Elder Sun waved his hand. "Take him to the players' lounge. We'll find their leaders there."
Abe Shingo flew toward the ruined lounge, trembling. He wanted to land, but every time he thought about it, a cold stare locked onto him. Rabbit. Lion. Don't move.
"Oh, sorry." Elder Sun looked at the ruins below. "Chased a wraith earlier. Broke the tent. Let me clear this up."
He waved his sleeve. Fabric scraps flew away.
Everything underneath appeared before Charles and the crowd.
Robed mages. Magic circles on the ground. Obviously not cosplay.
"What have you done?" Charles wanted to die. Why him? Why this match? He'd go down in history—new Quidditch milestone, worst kind.
Elder Sun landed, grabbed a collapsed Japanese mage. "You idiot! Can't you learn anything? Dragon-Binding Formation is for dragons! Not controlling balls!"
Slap. Teeth flew.
Elder Sun stomped. "Japan owes us an explanation! Or I'm ignoring the prohibition and visiting Tokyo!"
Golden light flickered. The mages collapsed completely.
The crowd wanted to stay and watch. Human nature. But Gemini's group followed Sun Xiaoxiao out. Chinese cultivators waited outside on Flying Swords. Since they'd spotted the problem first, better evacuate now while it was quiet. Even if Japan found out later, international law would stop them from acting openly.
Gemini had sent Coby ahead to pack. They knew how to run. At camp, everything was ready. Just Coby standing in the empty space. One small case per person—few changes of clothes, nothing more.
"All set? Where to? Elder Sun said we're getting you somewhere safe." The lead cultivator scanned the area.
"Britain. Head of the Auror Office is family." Gemini decided fast. Better safe than dead.
"Li Xingqi. I'll get you there safely. We can't land—only drop you mid-air. Got a spot?"
Gemini thought. "Ottery St. Catchpole. White Ferret Hill nearby. Drop us there—family's in the area."
Li Xingqi pulled out a compass. Spun it. Put it away. "Works. Can you notify them? We'll arrive in five hours."
Gemini grabbed her two-way mirror. Called Harry. Didn't care what time it was.
Harry appeared, sleepy. Heard the situation. Went serious. Thanked Li through the mirror. Made Gemini promise to use the emergency Portkey if anything went wrong.
Only after three promises did Harry close the mirror.
"How do we travel?" Gemini asked. "We've got ordinary people. Can't leave them."
Li Xingqi smiled. "No one's getting left. We're taking a Flying Ark. Borrowed the flower boat from Tianyin Workshop."
He pulled a palm-sized painted boat from his sleeve. Through tiny windows, furniture visible inside.
Li tossed it into empty space. The boat grew—three stories tall, floating a meter off the ground.
Gemini and the others stared up, jaws open.
Li lowered a gangplank.
They boarded fast.
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