Their understanding of alchemy and the Floo network was pretty basic. They thought that if a fireplace was connected to the Floo network, you could just travel anywhere.
What they didn't realize was that this kind of alchemy setup could be customized. While there was a fireplace inside the warehouse stronghold, it only led to one place: a safe house.
That safe house wasn't just a transfer point to the outside world; it was also a base where Moody and his team could rest, regroup, and keep watch in shifts. If you tried to use that fireplace without permission, you'd just end up right in their trap.
At that moment, Bob was completely unaware of all this. Instead, he saw the fireplace as a possible escape route.
With excitement in his eyes, he urged Nathan on, "I know the defenses seem tight, and I'm not under any illusions that we can break out quickly. But this is an opportunity, isn't it? All we have to do is watch and wait."
"Watch and wait? You mean…" Nathan's face showed he was starting to get it.
"Exactly," Bob said. "No matter how fierce those Silver Wands are, the people guarding them are still human.
They're bound to slip up sometimes. If we catch those moments, we might have a chance to get out."
Nathan nodded slowly, still a bit surprised. "So, you're saying we should lay low, act like we're following orders, and then take advantage when their defenses drop?"
"That's right!" Bob's excitement grew, though he kept his voice low. "Besides watching for the right moment, we need to prepare ahead of time."
"Prepare? You mean like trying to get a wand?"
"No, that's way too risky and difficult," Bob replied.
Bob shook his head calmly and said, "What I mean is, use this time to practice casting spells without a wand. Do you know the basics of wandless magic?"
"Basics? I learned the theory back at magic school, but I've never actually tried it," Nathan replied, frowning.
"Casting spells without a wand is really tough. Just knowing the theory doesn't mean you can do it."
Bob's expression grew firm. "Even if you don't have experience, you have to try. Otherwise, we'll never break free from these iron chains.
My own wandless magic isn't great, but I've been practicing secretly. If you want to regain your freedom, don't waste this chance."
Nathan felt the determination in Bob's eyes and nodded. "Alright, there's no hope otherwise, so I'll give it a shot."
He clenched his teeth. Trying unfamiliar magic was risky, accidents could happen anytime. But they were trapped with no way out, and Nathan didn't want to end up like the captive magical creatures.
"That's the spirit," Bob said, nodding excitedly. "But you have to be careful. Those patrolmen and Silver Wands are always watching. Besides avoiding the Silver Wands, keep an eye on the patrols, too."
"I got it. I'll be careful," Nathan replied. Then he paused. "By the way, should we get others involved? Having more people might help."
Bob hesitated, then shook his head. "I don't think that's a good idea. The more people who know, the higher the risk of our plan being discovered."
"What about the others still in custody? We can't just leave them behind," Nathan said. Even though they hadn't escaped yet, he was already thinking about their friends.
Bob looked serious. "You're being naive. The Silver Wands raid the breeding place to capture people. They're wanted by the Ministry of Magic, and anyone caught will face severe consequences."
"If we manage to get out, we should contact the Aurors from the Ministry of Magic and have them come to rescue the others," Bob said.
Nathan looked at him, feeling clueless, and was left speechless. "You're right!" Nathan admitted, suddenly realizing how obvious and simple the idea was, something he hadn't even considered before.
After exchanging a few more words, the two parted ways. They didn't dare to stay together for long, worried that lingering might draw the guards' suspicion.
What they didn't know was that not long after they met, the Silver Wand who had appeared earlier came to their cell and overheard their entire conversation. That fierce Silver Wand was none other than Moody.
Because Alex was worried other Aurors might accidentally reveal their secrets, he had instructed them to speak as little as possible. Moody, taking this seriously, told them not to speak at all and stayed invisible most of the time. He was basically the one handling communication with the prisoners.
For Moody, this role was almost like a test of his acting skills. Playing the Silver Wand seemed to switch something inside him on, and he found himself quickly drawn into the role, growing more and more engrossed.
When he mocked and tormented the prisoners, there was no hint of fakery, his performances were so vivid and intense that he planted deep fear in their hearts, earning the Silver Wand's reputation as a cruel and ruthless figure.
Moody was actually quite proud of how well he had played the part and even looked forward to continuing this kind of work with the entire evil organization after retirement.
As for Bob, Moody had noticed him from the very beginning. He admired Bob's bravery and fearlessness, so even after turning invisible, Moody kept a close watch on him. He was surprised by Bob's courage, he'd been warned just moments ago, yet here he was, already plotting an escape with others.
Still, Moody didn't immediately expose their plan. After all, he wasn't the real Silver Wand, and the conspiracy between Bob and Nathan might offer some room for maneuvering.
Moody knew he needed to meet and speak with Alex again before deciding what to do next.
The time for the two to meet again arrived quickly, just four days after Moody had packed up the captives, and a day after Alex and the others had finished cleaning up the breeding place.
Alex, Moody, and Andre gathered together at their safe house, as they had agreed to do every few days to share updates and exchange information.
Andre, who had arrived first, spotted Alex stepping out of the fireplace and warmly welcomed him into the small reception room. Andre's attitude toward Alex had shifted from mere obedience to genuine trust, and he greeted him with heartfelt warmth.
During their recent operation, Alex had shown Andre what true professionalism looked like. His thorough and carefully crafted plan had left Andre genuinely impressed.
Compared to Alex's meticulous approach, Andre's own role had mostly involved meetings, rushing around, and logistics. The actual wand combat he'd seen from Alex barely totaled an hour. To Andre, Alex had become a symbol of reliability, someone to fully count on, especially now.