Chapter 681 - Ruse Ⅳ (1/2)

In a warm barnyard, the strawberry-haired, freckled figure of Wilfredius can be seen. ”Oh dear, I am going to be in so much trouble,” Wilfredius murmured to himself as he gazed at the pocket watch in his hand every few seconds. His freckles are stark against his pale skin as he paces back and forth in forth in front of an empty hay-filled stall. In the background, a milk cow happily chews hay, while a mare further down the stall's neighs at her playful colt. A tortoise shelled cat with bright eyes rests on top of a haystack watching the entire scene below and cleans its face clean with its pink paw.

”Er, sorry, sir,” Wilfredius apologized for the thousandth time. ”I'm just obeying, Master Belby, Auror Clements. Please don't haul me off to Azkaban, sir! I'm the eldest, and I've got two younger brothers, and two younger sisters to help with. I help my Mum and Da' out with the farm! And with paying for my schooling, and my younger brothers about to start Hogwarts soon, Mum and Da' are financially strained!”

The polyjuiced figure of Damocles Belby finally spits out the chewed covering from his mouth and snaps, ”Cease your blathering, Wilfredius, and untie me this instant!”

Wilfredius reflexively moves to obey, before freezing and glancing at the time. ”Er, just a few minutes more, Auror Clements, sir.”

Switching tactics, the polyjuiced figure of Damocles Belby says, ”Wilfredius, you can't possibly be certain that the Aurors will arrive in time to save, Master Belby.”

Wilfredius trembles with uncertainty, before taking a deep breath and somewhat confidently replying, ”Master Belby has it all planned out, sir. I believe in master's plan.”

The polyjuiced figure of Damocles Belby resists the urge to slam his head against the straw-covered floor in frustration, before recalling the previous words said by the potion master's apprentice. With a gleam in his eyes resembling too much that of the original Damocles Belby, the polyjuiced Damocles Belby says, ”100 Galleons.”

Wilfredius blinks incredulously. ”Auror Clements, are you attempting to bribe me, sir?”

The polyjuiced Damocles Belby innocently blinks and replies, ”No, young man, I am attempting no such thing. I am merely donating educational funds for your future studies and those of your younger siblings.”

Wilfredius gazes at the polyjuiced form of his master with mixed feelings. Seeing that Wilfredjus is tempted, the polyjuiced Damocles Belby continues, ”300 Galleons.”

”No, sir, I couldn't,” Wilfredius declined less firmly this time.

”500 galleons,” the polyjuiced Damocles Belby firmly interjected.

”I-,” Wilfredius stammers in disbelief.