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Chapter 57. Revenge Delayed for Ten Years (Part 5)
Fang led Lynn as they roamed the Forbidden Forest.
Following Hagrid's scent, it ventured deeper and deeper until two centaurs stopped them.
"Halt! Human cub and that dog, this is our tribe. You cannot enter without permission!"
Lynn pulled Fang back, trying to establish a connection with them by mentioning Hagrid.
"I'm here to see Hagrid. Have you seen him?"
The two centaurs exchanged a glance and shook their heads.
"No, Hagrid hasn't been here."
Lynn pointed at Fang. "You should recognize Hagrid's dog, right? It tracked Hagrid's scent and found its way here."
"We've been searching for missing members of our tribe in the Forbidden Forest recently, and we forbid any outsiders from entering the tribe, including Hagrid, so Hagrid couldn't have been here."
Lynn's eyes lit up upon hearing the centaurs' words. He narrowed his eyes, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"So Hagrid was talking about you!" he exclaimed, suddenly realizing.
The centaur guards were confused: "What do you mean, 'us'?"
Lynn began his performance: "Hagrid went into the Forbidden Forest saying he was helping some centaurs find his companions.
Now that he's made a discovery, he rushed back to me with Fang, asking me to find the centaurs of his kind and relay the news. So you're the centaurs he was talking about."
One of the centaur guards looked at him suspiciously.
"Then why didn't you say so earlier?"
"How would I know you're centaurs?" Lynn feigned ignorance: "I've never seen you before. I thought centaurs were horse-headed and human-bodied."
Lynn's words were somewhat infuriating, but he was just a "cub," and the centaur guards didn't bother arguing with him.
"Is what you're saying true?"
"Why would I lie?" Lynn blinked, appearing remarkably sincere.
The two centaur guards' expressions turned serious, and one immediately left to inform their leader.
Soon, the ground shook, and several dozen centaurs rushed over.
The centaur leading them was named Firenze; he seemed much more refined and intelligent than the other centaurs.
"Did you bring the message?"
Firenze walked up to Lynn. They were both very tall, and standing in front of Lynn gave him a sense of intimidation.
Lynn remained unfazed: "Yes, it was me."
This intelligent centaur immediately pointed out the flaw in Lynn's lie.
"If Hagrid wanted to tell us this, why didn't he send that dog to us instead of going through you?"
Lynn shrugged.
"Are you familiar with Fang?"
"Never met."
"That settles it then. Hagrid sent Fang to find you. Do you think he can find you? Or even if he does, will you understand what he's trying to say?
And even if you do understand, will you trust a strange dog?"
Lynn patted Fang's head, and Fang wagged its tail in response.
"I'm different. I'm familiar with Fang, and I understand what he means. As for gaining your trust... what benefit would I get from lying to you?"
Firenze was silent for a long time, then finally gave a deep look and commanded the centaurs behind him.
"Let's go, we'll follow him."
Seeing that he agreed, Lynn tentatively said.
"I'm too slow. Can you carry me?"
The centaurs immediately glared at him angrily!
"Dream on!"
"What do you take us for? Mules?"
Firenze stopped his companions' chatter and nodded in agreement.
"Okay, get on."
The centaurs looked at Firenze in disbelief, but Lynn didn't care.
He had achieved his goal. He nimbly climbed onto Firenze's back, holding onto Fang, and continued galloping deeper into the Forbidden Forest.
The commotion of dozens of centaurs running was considerable, startling many magical creatures into scattering in all directions.
Besides finding Professor Fawkes quickly, Lynn had also tricked the centaurs into joining him to ensure his own safety.
Professor Fawkes and Hagrid were definitely in danger, but Lynn didn't know the specifics.
However, in the Forbidden Forest, those most familiar with the place were undoubtedly the centaur natives; even Hagrid might not be as skilled as them.
Even with Lynn's current talent, his strength was no match for an adult wizard. In the end, even if he found Professor Fawkes, he wouldn't be able to save others and might even get himself killed.
But traveling with the centaurs was a different story.
With these dozens of centaurs, Lynn could practically roam freely in the Forbidden Forest.
If he eventually found Professor Fawkes and Hagrid was reunited with his missing brethren, that would be a win-win situation.
Even if he didn't find his brethren, or even in the worst-case scenario where Lynn's lies were exposed, with Hogwarts and Dumbledore backing him up, what could the centaurs do to him?
In short, Lynn's encounter with the centaurs was a sure win.
Four legs are always faster than two, and Fang led Lynn and the centaurs to where Hagrid had collapsed, then collapsed from exhaustion.
Seeing Hagrid lying unconscious on the ground, Lynn's heart sank.
Things had turned out worse than he'd imagined; Professor Fawkes and Hagrid had been separated.
The rain had made the ground sticky and mushy, and some centaurs had discovered the footprints of the centaur who had attacked Hagrid earlier.
Firenze's face was grim; seeing Hagrid's current state gave him a bad feeling.
Fang stayed behind, and Firenze wanted Lynn to remain where he was, with a few centaurs watching over them.
But Lynn refused.
"You're just a cub. It could be dangerous ahead, and you've already found Hagrid, haven't you?
Why do you want to continue following us?" Firenze asked.
Lynn wasn't lying; he solemnly and honestly stated,
"It's not just Hagrid; a professor also came to the Forbidden Forest. Now that Hagrid is in danger, your people and my professor are likely in danger as well, so I'm going with you."
Firenze and Lynn met eyes, and finally, he said softly,
"You're a little different from other wizard cubs. Since you insist, then come with us. We'll ensure your safety."
A few centaurs stayed behind to guard the unconscious Hagrid, while the rest continued deeper into the forest.
"This is the territory of Aragok, the spider Hagrid keeps." A centaur recognized the place.
They also reached the spiderweb blocking their path.
The centaurs tried to break the web with their spears, but with little effect.
Firenze frowned. "We need to take a detour."
"No need for that," Lynn jumped down from his horse. "I'll clear the way."
"You, a mere cub?" the centaur scoffed.
Lynn didn't explain, but instead waved his wand at the spiderweb in front of him.
"Thunder Explosion!"
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(End of Chapter)