Chapter 648: Agreement and Trap
Chapter 648: Agreement and Trap
"——This agreement is quite favorable. We only need to provide some peripheral knowledge that isn't particularly important. In return, we receive a steady supply of the elixirs we urgently need each month. Most importantly, we can transfer the injured who require complex magical protection and treatment here. After all, St. Mungo's is no longer safe, and the new location is a bit too rudimentary at the moment." After carefully reviewing the final agreement, Lucius commented earnestly.
"It's just a way for the French wizards to keep their enemies at bay. As the most progressive country in Europe regarding blood purity, they absolutely do not want a Dark Lord as a neighbor. In this situation, we provide blood and lives, while they provide money and manpower. It's very fair", Liam said. "Even if we contributed nothing, they would still provide these resources in the end. However, to maintain a good relationship, it's better for us to contribute something."
"You're right", Lucius agreed. "I must retract some of my previous prejudices. Although you are Muggle-born, your understanding of the current situation is more accurate than that of most Pure-blood Wizards."
Hearing this, Liam and Hermione exchanged a smile. Their accuracy wasn't due to exceptional talent but rather the extensive experience they had gained from ruling over more than a million people across several worlds.
Over the next week, Liam and Hermione engaged in exchange activities at Beauxbatons. After discussions with the French Alchemists, both sides found the interactions highly beneficial. Additionally, they attended several banquets to build rapport.
Of course, they also encountered representatives from the British Ministry of Magic at these banquets. Although both sides would have loved to strangle each other, neither Ryan and his group nor the Ministry representatives were uncontrollable zealots. Therefore, they managed to maintain their composure on French territory.
Moreover, Liam and Hermione traveled to multiple worlds to stockpile a large amount of supplies. After learning that the special envoy was Lucius Malfoy, they devised a major action plan.
Lucius Malfoy did not participate in these activities. During this time, he secretly negotiated with French Pure-blood Wizards and some British exiles on behalf of the Hogsmeade Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts. In a sense, Ryan and his group's public activities were also a cover for Lucius.
By the end of the week, when they were preparing to return, Lucius showcased his results. Thanks to his efforts, the previously severed trade with Europe was reopened, though only at about one-fifth of its former volume. However, the immediate issues were successfully resolved.
After the Friday celebration, Ryan and his group concluded their visit and prepared to return to Hogwarts. Unlike their arrival, their return involved more than just using their dimensional equipment to procure needed supplies. They also changed their mode of transportation.
After bidding farewell to Madame Maxime, Ryan and his group rode Beauxbatons' carriage back to the landing point where they had arrived in France. Once the Beauxbatons escorts departed, Liam retrieved some tack from his spatial pocket and unhitched the Thestral from the carriage.
"Are we going to ride the Thestral back?" Lucius Malfoy asked, puzzled. "I distinctly remember my son telling me—"
"No, no, only Hermione and I will ride the Thestral. You just need to give us a strand of your hair", Liam waved his finger and then glanced at Lucius's sleek, pale golden hair.
"You're planning to—?" Lucius quickly caught on to something and, after a brief, wary look around, changed the subject. "Then I wish you all the best."
"Thank you for your blessing", Liam nodded to Malfoy. Hermione then stepped forward and, with Malfoy, disappeared. Liam opened a portal and summoned the Rose Crystal.
"Good morning, Big Brother." Rose Crystal emerged from the portal with a graceful curtsy to Liam, then lifted her head. "I'm glad to be fighting alongside you again."
"I'm glad to hear that." Liam opened the portal and retrieved one of his puppets. "You'll enter this puppet and pretend to be me, but you can abandon the disguise as soon as we encounter any enemies."
"Understood." Rose Crystal nodded and slipped into the puppet. A few seconds later, the puppet's eyes opened, now resembling Liam's.
"Are you all ready?" At that moment, there was a soft pop, and Hermione emerged from a thin cloud of smoke. She had just sent the elder Malfoy back to Hogwarts and ensured that Lucius Malfoy wouldn't appear before anyone until they returned.
"Ready." Liam took the platinum-golden, semi-long hair from Hermione, placed it in his mouth, and transformed into Lucius Malfoy's appearance. He then put on a set of clothes identical to what Lucius had been wearing earlier.
"Put on this travel cloak." Hermione tossed him a luxurious velvet cloak. "The elder Malfoy gave this to me. He thought it would be hard for you to mimic his demeanor, so he suggested you wear this travel cloak with the hood up, so no one can see your face. Also, his preferred spell when encountering enemies is the Killing Curse."
"The Killing Curse, huh? Good thing I can use a new spell I've learned to pass as him." Liam draped the travel cloak over his shoulders and pulled the hood up. Once he was fully dressed, he noticed that Hermione and Rose Crystal, controlling his puppets, had also donned similar cloaks.
"Let's go!" At Liam's command, the three Thestrals, stripped of their bridles, flapped their dragon-like wings and took off. These creatures' ascent speed was no worse than a regular broomstick, and soon Liam found himself soaring above a vast green forest.
"Do you think anyone will really try to ambush us today?" The wind was strong in the sky, making it hard to speak, so Hermione asked through the Phoenix Mark. "Flying for five or six hours in the wind isn't exactly comfortable."
"Definitely." Liam gazed at the clear blue sky ahead. "Don't forget, the Malfoys are at the top of the Dark Lord's hit list. Although Lucius was careful when contacting people a few days ago, he contacted too many. There's no way they could keep this trip a secret."
"So, the Dark Lord and his followers will certainly ambush us. For the Dark Lord, letting a traitor like Malfoy live is a huge provocation, and it could undermine his authority. The Dark Lord maintains control through his power and brutality. If he shows any weakness, his rule will become unstable."
"I can sense it." Hermione suddenly spoke up. "About five or six hundred meters behind us, there's a strange bird following us. It's probably the attackers' scout."
The Death Force made Hermione more sensitive to living beings than most, so the tiny magical creature, no bigger than a ping-pong ball, couldn't hide its presence.
"They won't attack here yet. This is France, and attacking here could trigger unforeseen events. I think they'll wait until we're out of French territory before making their move. But that's actually better; we can use many things more discreetly without an audience." Liam focused his mental energy and scanned the area Hermione pointed to. He found a small bird similar to a Golden Snidget, but with black feathers, as if cursed.
"Let's fly a bit higher into the clouds. If we're going to disguise ourselves, we might as well do it properly." After confirming they were being monitored, Ryan and the others ascended above the clouds and continued westward.
(End of Chapter)
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