Hogwarts Raven

Chapter 363, Section 362: The Nile River Corpse Case

While small worlds might be quite common in some special worlds, they are extremely rare in the world of Harry Potter.

Often, only special organizations, such as the Bureau of Mysteries, and the gods who have not yet perished in this era, possess small worlds. A temple, although a place to worship gods, does not seem like a place where a small world could exist.

For this reason, Ian also felt that the probability of the people in the temple hiding the embryo in the small world was not high, so the most likely possibility was the technology of spatial folding.

Similar to the Room of Requirement, although there are no visible doors here, the folded space can be opened with a special method.

of course.

Even with Ian's magical prowess, breaking through such concealed magic in a short time would be absolutely impossible.

Lacking many necessary auxiliary measures, it would take him about two or three days to decipher the code using only magical analysis.

Ian certainly didn't have much time to linger here. As the sun began to set, Ian, lost in thought, arrived at the observatory at the highest point of the temple. From there, the view was expansive, overlooking the entire city of Memphis. The golden-red afterglow gilded the city with a blood-red hue, and the Nile River, like a winding bronze ribbon, reflected the last rays of the setting sun.

Ian leaned against the window, watching the sun gradually sink below the horizon. The sunset looked particularly eerie today; its edges were irregularly jagged, as if something had gnawed at them. Even stranger, the instant the sun completely disappeared, he clearly saw a flash of blue light on the horizon—like someone had reflected sunlight with a mirror.

“Yes, if the sun god had fallen, the sun wouldn’t have risen in ancient Egypt. So someone created the illusion that the sun god was still alive?” Ian stood on the edge of the observatory, his hands resting on the ancient stone railing, his gaze fixed on the sun slowly rising on the eastern horizon.

The dawn light, like a thin veil, gently brushed across the spires and pillars of the temple complex, gradually dispelling the deep darkness of the previous night. It was so dazzling, yet it seemed to carry a hint of eeriness, an indescribable feeling.

"But at least in this sunlight, there's no nauseating feeling. Perhaps some deity is helping the sun god Ra fulfill his duties."

"But why would this deity do this? Is it simply to create a false sense of peace?" Golden light shone on the temple's bronze roof, reflecting a soft and solemn glow, as if the god had opened his eyes at dawn. The sky gradually changed from deep blue to pale purple, then to bright orange-red, and the clouds were dyed a wispy rose color, like a painting meticulously drawn by the hand of God.

A gentle breeze, carrying the coolness of the early morning and the freshness of the grass and trees, stirred the stray strands of hair on Ian's forehead as he continued to ponder.

"Perhaps, besides these priests, there are other gods who want to use this opportunity to usurp the sun god's position and become the new sun god?" Ian stood by the window, watching the sun just rising above the distant horizon. The red sun had an unnatural, jagged halo around its edges, as if it had been gnawed by invisible teeth. He subconsciously touched the wand hidden in his sleeve.

The slight warmth emanating from the wooden surface reassured him somewhat.

Since morning has already arrived.

The chanting of morning prayers echoed through the temple, deep, resonant male voices reverberating between the stone pillars. Through the crack in the observatory door, Ian saw a procession of white-robed priests marching toward the main hall, carrying fresh lotus flowers and spices. Their expressions were solemn and devout, their steps perfectly synchronized, as if the bloody ceremony of the previous night had been nothing but a dream.

The transparent Ian stood silently, seemingly one with the world around him. However, his inner world was far from as calm as his outward appearance suggested.

Last night's events—the sudden chaos, the mysterious embryo, the whispers from the depths of the temple, and the figure that vanished into the darkness.

All of it was etched into his memory like a brand. Yet now, everything within the temple seemed so orderly, as if the turmoil of last night had never occurred. The priests, dressed in pristine white robes and carrying bronze bells and incense burners, moved steadily between the various halls of the temple.

The priests went about their daily routines methodically, chanting ancient prayers, lighting incense, and endlessly repeating mundane tasks like tidying the altar. Everything seemed perfectly normal, concealing the filth hidden within the temple.

The wheels of history continue to turn steadily forward.

“What a professional performance.” Ian chuckled silently. No one could detect him; his Disillusionment Charm was still working perfectly. No sunlight passed through his completely transparent body, casting a faint shadow on the ground that was invisible to mortals.

After carefully looking around, he gently pushed open the side door of the observatory and silently moved down the spiral staircase.

At the end of the stairs led to a narrow corridor, where copper lamps hanging on the walls had just been lit, their flickering light illuminating the murals depicting Ra riding his sun boat. Ian noticed that one of the murals had been altered—the Chaos Serpent Apep, who should have been pierced by Ra's spear, was now coiled around the sun boat, its tongue almost touching Ra's crown.

Footsteps sounded around the corner of the corridor, and Ian immediately pressed himself against the wall. Two young priests walked by carrying a golden platter filled with scarabs, their conversation drifting to Ian's ears:

"The high priest has requested that today's offerings be doubled."

"That dream again?"

Shh! Don't say that here.

The sound faded into the distance. Ian waited a while, and after confirming that no one was around, he continued forward. No priests noticed, no believers paid attention, and even the patrolling guards failed to detect anything amiss. The main gate of the temple was already open, and several priests stood at the entrance receiving offerings from the believers.

Like an invisible breeze, Ian silently slipped through the temple's corridors, over the heavily guarded gates, and finally stepped out of the temple's tall stone doors into the morning streets. He slipped out through a small side door, and the warm sunlight immediately bathed him.

As the first rays of dawn painted the Nile River red, the residents of Memphis cautiously opened their doors.

They had no idea what had happened the night before, so life had to go on. The streets of Memphis were awakening. Vendors set up colorful awnings and neatly arranged their goods on stone platforms. The aroma of freshly baked bread mingled with the damp scent of the Nile River. A few children ran past Ian, laughing and nearly bumping into his transparent body.

“Looks like the Disillusionment Charm needs to be lifted.” Ian turned into an empty alley and lightly tapped his temple with his wand. His body instantly solidified, his black robes swaying slightly in the morning breeze. He straightened his collar, making sure his wand was concealed, and then calmly walked towards the main street, blending seamlessly into the morning crowd.

On the streets, vendors were already busy. The ovens at the bread stalls crackled, filling the air with their enticing aroma; fruit stalls were piled high with fresh apples, grapes, and figs, their vibrant colors tempting; the blacksmith's shop echoed with the clanging of hammers, sparks flying; and the tailor's fabrics fluttered gently in the morning breeze. Residents, baskets in hand, moved between the stalls, haggling and chatting animatedly.

The elderly sat on the stone benches in front of their doors, basking in the sun and chatting about everyday life. Everything seemed so normal, so harmonious, as if the disappearance of the previous night had never happened, as if every corner of the city had never been shrouded in shadow.

However, Ian knew this calm was merely a facade. Beneath this seemingly peaceful daily routine, undercurrents were surging. He could sense an indescribable tension in the air, a deliberately suppressed fear. A flicker of unease occasionally flashed in people's eyes, and they spoke in hushed tones, as if afraid of disturbing something. Behind the smiles lay deep anxiety.

"Putting that aside for now, I haven't sorted things out yet. It must be because I haven't eaten enough, so my brain isn't working very efficiently."

"Golden Palm" restaurant is an ideal place to dine. This little shop on the edge of the market serves the most authentic date bread and honey beer in town. The owner is a one-eyed veteran who is neither overly enthusiastic nor overly wary of unfamiliar customers.

This is the perfect place to gather intelligence. Since Ian had already been here yesterday, the boss was able to recognize him.

"The usual?" the one-eyed boss asked gruffly as he saw Ian enter.

"Plus a river fish soup." Ian sat down in a corner, an angle from which he could clearly hear the conversation throughout the restaurant. The space inside wasn't large, and several wooden tables were filled with diners. So Ian found a seat by the window before ordering breakfast.

The restaurant was already full of customers, mostly local vendors and artisans. They gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing on the surface, but Ian keenly noticed that everyone's eyes kept drifting towards the door, as if they were wary of something.

The one-eyed shopkeeper was a middle-aged man with a kind smile on his face, who quickly brought him food. Ian ate with his head down, but his ears were keenly listening to every movement around him. At first, people were talking about the weather, the harvest, and the children's studies. But soon, the topic quietly shifted to the disappearance last night.

"Have you heard? Old John's son from the blacksmith shop hasn't come home again," a farmer in coarse clothes said in a low voice, his tone filled with worry.

“That’s right,” a woman next door chimed in. “My neighbor, Martha, has also gone missing. She’s such a hard-working person, she never comes home late.”

"How many is this?" another voice chimed in. "Including last night's, there must be seven or eight, right? There's been no news from the temple. The priests just say they're praying and that we should wait patiently."

“Pray? Can prayer bring people back?” a young man said indignantly. “I think the temple is just turning a deaf ear! Maybe…” he lowered his voice, “maybe those missing people are related to the temple!”

A few seconds of silence fell over the room. People exchanged glances, their eyes filled with fear and disbelief. But soon, someone coughed lightly, trying to change the subject: "Don't talk nonsense, the temple is a sacred place, how could it be..."

"Shh, keep your voice down!" another person warned nervously. "If this gets out, the priest might hear us!"

Ian listened silently, his bread barely touched. These whispers pierced his nerves like needles. He knew that suspicion was growing among the people, and their trust in the temple was wavering. There were victims right here in this restaurant.

A father who has lost his son is weeping.

“I told you not to let your son go out at night!” a woman wearing a green headscarf whispered to her companion. “Buck’s nephew didn’t come home last night, and his sister fainted three times from crying.”

“At least your family only has a nephew,” the thin man at the next table interjected, his fingers nervously tapping his ceramic cup. “My neighbor, the jeweler, has completely emptied out; even the watchdog is gone.”

Ian slowly tore open a loaf of bread, his ears catching every conversation. The disappearances had clearly caused panic among the civilians, but strangely, no one openly spoke of the temple or the gods. It was as if the entire city had reached some kind of tacit understanding.

Pretending everything is normal, they secretly exchange fearful glances or discuss the situation with their friends in these secluded little places.

As the owner served the river fish soup, Ian casually asked, "Has things been a bit unsettled in town lately?"

The one-eyed boss's muscles were visibly tense.

He put down the ceramic bowl with more force than usual.

“Outsider,” he said in a hoarse voice, “the less you know, the better you sleep.”

This was similar to what the residents had said yesterday. Sure enough, when faced with a stranger like Ian, none of the residents dared to reveal their true thoughts.

Perhaps it was because they feared Ian was a temple spy.

Just as Ian was about to probe further, the restaurant door was suddenly pushed open. A young boy with freckles rushed in, panting, shouting, "Found it! A body was found by the river!"

The restaurant fell silent instantly. Everyone froze, and even their breathing became clearly audible.

"Is it complete?" the woman in the green headscarf asked, trembling.

The boy nodded, his eyes wide with excitement. "It's the spice merchant's maid! She's lying in the reeds, looking like she's asleep, but," he lowered his voice, "her eyes are gone, and her eye sockets are filled with golden sand!"

These words were like a stone thrown into calm water. The restaurant erupted in chaos. Some people frantically drew amulets, some immediately got up to pay the bill, and a few bolder ones swarmed around the boy, pressing him for details.

Last night, the maid from that household went out late at night for some unknown reason and disappeared. But this morning, her body was found near an abandoned well in the west of the city!

"A corpse?" The young woman gasped. "Weren't all the previous missing people never seen again, neither alive nor dead? How come this time..."

"Yes," the old woman nodded, "this was the first body found. They say...the death was gruesome, with strange wounds on her body, like she'd been attacked by some wild beast, but not an ordinary one. Even stranger, her face..." She paused, lowering her voice even further, "They say when she died, she had a smile on her face, a very eerie smile, like...she'd seen something blissful in a dream, which is why her eyes were replaced by golden sand."

The expressions of everyone in the audience tightened instantly; some nearly crushed their bread in their hands. Their hearts pounded, their blood seemed to boil. The maid's body? Found? And in such a bizarre manner, with an eerie smile on her face?

This is completely different from previous missing persons cases.

The previous missing persons seemed to have been completely erased, leaving not a trace. But this time, a body has appeared, bearing such peculiar characteristics. What does this mean? Does it indicate a change in the killer's behavior pattern? Or is it a completely different killer? Or perhaps, the appearance of this body is some kind of signal?
Whatever it is, the residents don't think it's a good thing. After all, they used to just stay home at night. Who knows if the killer's behavior will change after this change, or if people will disappear from their own homes.

"Golden sand?"

Ian's spoon stopped in mid-air.

Having heard the gossip, he quickly finished the rest of his soup, placed a few copper coins on the table, and followed the curious crowd toward the river.

As a wizard.

Ian was also curious about how a corpse that had lost its essential existence could appear.

(End of this chapter)