73. Oh?

I had made out like a bandit, confident that the goblin forced to hand over the gold would have loved nothing more than to tear me apart on the spot. But I wasn't concerned. I didn't even have a vault with them—everything I owned was safely stashed away in the Gate of Babylon.

"That's a lot of money," Sirius said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Even the Black family vault only has about 111,000 galleons." His voice darkened. "My mother blew through the family fortune like water before she died."

The less said about Walburga Black, the better. That particular subject still seemed to weigh heavily on Sirius.

As the night wore on, an uneasy tension settled over us. The wizarding world always had a darker side, and tonight, we could feel its presence like a shadow looming over the festivities.

Then, the first scream cut through the air, sharp and piercing. A cloaked figure appeared, followed by others, and I immediately recognized the gleam of their masks—Death Eaters. "So this still happened, huh?" I muttered, my eyes narrowing as I locked onto the group. They wore silver masks, and chaos erupted as they began casting curses without hesitation.

The Death Eaters spread through the crowd like a plague, dark curses streaking through the air in green and purple arcs. Panic set in—people screamed, scattered, and desperately tried to escape.

Sirius grabbed me, shoving me behind a nearby tree for cover. "Get down!" he barked.

But it was already too late for most. The Death Eaters moved with terrifying speed, taking down anyone they encountered with a twisted delight.

I didn't hesitate. It had been a while since I'd killed, but hunting pirates with Ace, Deuce, and Rayleigh back in the One Piece world had honed my instincts. Now, it was second nature.

In a blur of motion, I moved to the center of the fray. Lightning crackled from my fingers, shooting out with deadly precision, piercing the skull of one Death Eater before he even realized what had happened. The others barely had time to react.

I was faster than they could follow. Every strike of lightning sent another attacker to the ground, their bodies twitching as they smoked. The battle ended before most of the crowd even realized it had started.

But as the chaos began to settle, I noticed a group of cloaked figures moving through the turmoil, not fleeing, but hunting.

Not on my watch.

I surged forward, chasing them through the woods. My feet barely touched the ground as I followed their trail. I was close now—so close I could hear their voices.

Ahead, a blonde-haired girl, around sixteen, was being dragged by the Death Eaters. Her clothes were torn, and their malicious laughter filled the air. My blood boiled with fury.

Without thinking, I unleashed the full extent of my power. Lightning shot from my fingers, and the first Death Eater crumpled to the ground before he even knew I was there. The others turned to face me, but it was already too late. Shadows swarmed around me, dodging their curses with ease. A flick of my wrist, and another bolt of lightning pierced a skull. Their bodies fell like sacks of potatoes.

The last one, his mask askew, turned to flee—but I was already in front of him. Flames erupted from my hand, consuming him in an instant, reducing him to ash.

I stood over the bodies, breathing evenly as my gaze shifted to the girl on the ground. She was trembling, covered in dirt and blood, her clothes shredded, and her eyes wide with fear.

"You're safe now," I said softly, crouching beside her and offering my hand. "No one will hurt you."

Her voice was little more than a whisper, panic thick in her tone. "Who are you?" she asked in French, her accent heavy with terror.

I didn't answer immediately, scanning the woods for any other threats. "Just a friend," I replied smoothly, offering a reassuring smile. "Come on. Let's get you out of here."

I gently picked her up in a princess carry, feeling the fragility of her in my grip. There was something about the weight of her in my arms, the sheer vulnerability, that steeled my resolve to protect her.

As I carried her out of the woods, her eyes never left my face. She didn't speak again, only clinging to me like I was the only solid thing in a world of chaos. My movements were silent, unnatural in their speed, and the sounds of battle began to fade behind us.

It wasn't long before I found a safe place—a tent where I could at least ensure she would be out of harm's way.

---

Fleur Delacour woke to the soft murmurs of voices in the distance. She was warm, wrapped in blankets, but the heat wasn't her own. Dim lantern light cast long shadows over the tent where her family huddled, their faces a mixture of relief and worry.

"Fleur! What happened? Where were you?" her father's voice trembled with fear as he hovered near her.

Fleur blinked a few times, disoriented. The memories of the night flooded back—the screams, the chaos, the Death Eaters—and then, the figure who had appeared like a storm. A man, wielding lightning and fire, obliterating her attackers with an ease that seemed almost supernatural.

"I... I don't know," she murmured, still shaken. "There were Death Eaters... they were going to... but then he came."

Her mother, pacing anxiously nearby, rushed to her side and gently began brushing her hair. "Who? Who helped you, Fleur?"

Fleur tried to focus, but her mind was foggy. His face was burned into her memory, the raw power he had wielded, and the way he had effortlessly defeated her attackers. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had been saved by someone extraordinary.

"He... he didn't flinch," Fleur whispered, her voice soft with awe. "His power... It was incredible. And when he... picked me up, I felt... safe. I felt... warm."

Her parents exchanged a look, trying to process what she was saying. Fleur hadn't realized it until now, but her allure hadn't worked on him.

"Who was he, Fleur?" her mother asked, curiosity and concern laced in her voice.

Fleur shook her head, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "I don't know... But he didn't react to my allure." Her voice softened further. "He just helped me. And then... nothing. I don't even remember falling asleep."

Her mother gently ran her fingers through Fleur's hair, brushing it back. "We'll find out who he is, darling. But you're safe now. That's what matters."

Fleur nodded, her thoughts racing, but one question lingered: Who was that man?

---

Meanwhile, Ryan had already melted back into the shadows, ready to find any remaining Death Eaters. His work was done, and the girl was safe.

She had been too dirty for Ryan to recognize her, and he'd never believe he'd just saved none other than Fleur Delacour from a group of drunken Death Eaters.