Chapter 727: Celebration
Chapter 727: Celebration
Putting down the communication mirror, Felix couldn't help but laugh wryly. Rumors always attracted more attention than the truth, especially when they came with short, catchy, and sensational headlines.
If a rumor could creatively ‘explain’ complex historical events with just a few phrases, it would be even more perfect. Not only would it likely become popular at the time, but it would also have a lasting and enduring appeal.
To avoid being swayed by the unique charm of these lovely rumors, besides promptly revealing the truth, it was best to provide another topic that would be equally engaging. Therefore—
"I plan to organize a Christmas bonfire party", Felix said.
"Here?" Horace Greenshank was taken aback by the response. He stomped his feet and turned around in a circle. "Oh, uh, good idea..." he said reluctantly, but soon changed his mind and became deeply fascinated by the idea.
"Christmas at sea! Night of the bonfire! Guys—"
Greenshank bent over the Suitcase, shouting excitedly into it, which made him look a bit manic despite his usually stern demeanor. He turned his head to explain, "People need joy", still lying on the ground, which made him look rather comical.
Before anyone outside could comment, about seven or eight hands reached out from the Suitcase and dragged him in without a word. After a moment, the Suitcase emitted a hollow echo, like an old, low-quality speaker, but the deafening noise still clearly conveyed screams and cheers.
Uriah walked over to Felix.
"Are you really going to have a bonfire party?" he asked softly.
"Yes, but we need to wait a bit", Felix said. The others stood at a distance, and a young Auror tried to approach but was held back by a companion who shook his head slowly and firmly, looking at them with a serious expression, as if they were discussing something profound.
"Will we be attacked?" Uriah blurted out, voicing his deepest fear.
"That's why we need to be patient", Felix explained. "After the ‘drill’ ends, we'll move the island away—right now, it's not possible. So, theoretically, yes", he said lightly, "we could be attacked by deadly weapons."
He moved to the side, picked a dry rock, and sat down, feeling the icy sea breeze and gazing at the clear blue sky. The vast area within his sight was empty, but he wasn't really looking at anything, just sitting quietly. The immense magic of the floating island seemed to extend from his limbs, with countless tiny runic scripts flickering in the gaps between the rocks. He began to recall the past six months, from initial shock to calm acceptance and active mediation. His role had grown increasingly significant, and now he finally placed himself on one side of the scales, lifting the weight of peace on the other.
He stood at the forefront of all wizards, and any scrutiny of this group would inevitably focus on him, acknowledging his presence.
When the sun reached its highest point in the sky, Agimbold appeared, looking travel-worn, with good news. "It's done, twenty minutes ago... the spokesperson came out of the White House..." He was so excited he could hardly speak coherently, his face beaming with joy. "I used a Portkey to tell you this news in person."
Even though he tried to remain calm, Felix felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders when everything was settled. He didn't care about the intense negotiations that had taken place in Washington, hundreds of kilometers away, over the past few hours. Even when Agimbold told him that the other side had issued an invitation and was preparing to restart negotiations, he didn't react unusually. That was for the future; now, they needed to welcome Christmas tomorrow, and then New Year's!
Half an hour later, the floating island moved toward the deep sea.
The White House president, watching this through satellite transmission, breathed a sigh of relief and slumped in his chair, drenched in cold sweat. The high-ranking officials and aides around him also relaxed, the heavy weight in their hearts lifted. Now, no one understood the other side's strength better than they did. Other countries could only observe and assess from a distance using satellites, but they had experienced it firsthand and had more resources at their disposal, with various complex detection devices deployed around the port and surrounding areas a week ago.
Of course, all the equipment had failed, entering a state that current science could not explain.
An hour ago, they were still intensely debating whether to use their ultimate trump card. It wasn't an easy decision, and other countries had also conveyed their reluctance through subtle hints. Once nuclear weapons were used, the situation could spiral out of control, a scenario no country wanted to see. The White House certainly didn't want this either. They had used every means at home and abroad to force the wizards into a direct confrontation, not to drag themselves into a war.
Their goal was to anticipate that wizards would seriously threaten their interests in the future, or rather, the more prominent the wizards became, the greater the threat to their global influence.
Therefore, it was essential to suppress the most influential international wizard organization.
Their best-case scenario was to spark a global anti-wizard movement and adopt a carrot-and-stick approach with their own wizards, using political means to divide and co-opt the entire wizard community. The pretext could be racial or bloodline differences, but these plans depended on one premise: the International Confederation of Wizards must be dissolved (which they saw as just a hollow shell).
They had almost watched helplessly as the once-declining International Confederation of Wizards regained its vitality.
All of this was because of one person, Felix Hepworth.
His writings on the non-magical world became authoritative texts for studying wizards in reverse; the runic script system he created was studied by countless wizards; the negotiation strategies he formulated became reality step by step—especially this point, which made many people sigh in regret. Without the image foundation wizards had built over the past few months, the current situation where everyone was watching and observing would not have been possible, nor would the tacit consensus of ‘cooperation first, confrontation second’ have been reached.
Needless to say, Hep himself demonstrated godlike abilities today.
This was the crux of the matter. In the eyes of the President and his staff at the White House, building a levitating island was not the most terrifying aspect—on the contrary, it seemed quite in line with their imagination of magic. What truly frightened them was the seemingly harmless, fairytale-like magical barrier that enveloped the entire city, much like a black and white coloring book for children to practice their doodles.
The hidden implications of this magic led them to abandon any thoughts of escalating the conflict, and it was almost a foregone conclusion.
An hour ago, a small military unit closest to New York City quietly entered the city and detonated hundreds of small explosives, but the city remained unscathed, as if the two were in different worlds.
What did this mean?
Nuclear weapons were likely ineffective, and the probability was high. Even if detonated in front of him, the threat to the other party would be virtually zero. As for the slim possibility… no one dared to risk the consequences. If he happened to lose someone he valued, the entire country would plunge into darkness.
In the silence, the President of the White House murmured a title he had read in the newspaper for another Wizard, as if it were the perfect commentary on the conflict:
"Archmage? Swordbearer?"
…
The scene on the levitating island was quite different. Wizards began to emerge from the Suitcase, like newborns, curious and timid, examining their surroundings. Adults chatted in small groups, and children played and frolicked on the uneven rocks and seabed, tirelessly picking out small fish, shrimp, and seaweed from the crevices.
Felix and Agimbold avoided the crowds and strolled on a relatively flat surface.
"Do you plan to turn this place into a haven where Wizards and Muggles can coexist peacefully? To blend magic and technology?"
Felix nodded lightly.
"Will you invite Wizards and Muggle scientists and companies from around the world?"
Another nod.
"That's quite an undertaking", Agimbold marveled. After a moment, he stepped on the ground and asked, "Felix, what do you think about moving the headquarters of the Council here?"
Felix looked at him in surprise.
Agimbold smiled, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out. "Actually, I've had this idea for a while. During the time we successfully signed contracts with several countries, the situation was promising. I thought… the headquarters of the Council couldn't remain hidden, but a new location hadn't been decided, and the timing wasn't right. But this idea kept recurring in my mind. I first thought of Strasbourg, where there are some international Muggle organizations… but where could be better than an island built by Wizards themselves?"
"I have no objections", Felix replied after some thought.
At that moment, a young Auror approached, his eyes filled with awe as he looked at Felix. He said to the two of them, "Some people suggested modifying the surrounding environment for a bonfire party. Chairman Greenshank sent me to ask you two…"
Felix and Agimbold exchanged a glance; they naturally had no objections.
Things quickly spiraled out of control. More Wizards emerged from the Suitcase, filled with enthusiasm, and spontaneously helped to prepare the site, casting protective charms. However, they soon faced a shortage of materials.
This issue was partially resolved when Felix lifted the magic within the Suitcase.
A two-kilometer square area at the center of the island was transformed into a campsite. He then contacted the headquarters of Future World Corporation, initially planning to have Lupin prepare some tents and supplies for the bonfire party, which he would retrieve himself. However, during their conversation, Bones and Sirius overheard and Sirius proposed a wild idea. Felix thought it feasible, and Bones agreed to provide manpower. Thus, a significant event that would be repeatedly detailed and celebrated by countless historians was set in motion.
Temporary fireplaces sprang up, and hundreds of Wizards emerged from the flames, bringing various building materials. With a wave of their wands, hundreds of houses of various designs appeared out of thin air. More Wizards arrived, and the scene quickly turned into a grand Wizard celebration, comparable to the Quidditch World Cup final.
Even Sirius, who had suggested the idea, was taken aback by the scale. He whistled, "We won't run out of space, will we?"
"We can fit two to three hundred thousand people if we squeeze", Felix said uncertainly, but when he saw vendors pushing carts selling goods, he began to doubt his words. In the afternoon, he spotted Fred and George Weasley, who were selling Weasley fireworks.
Noticing Felix staring at them intently, the twins immediately grinned sheepishly and fled.
As expected, a spectacular fireworks display lit up the sea that night.
The celebration lasted for half a month, far from the lonely Christmas Felix had imagined. Even New Year's was celebrated with a loud and lively atmosphere, as the vast sea seemed to bring Wizards from all corners of the world closer together.
Every day, he saw familiar faces. Luna, who seemed to have wandered in by accident… Hermione, waving to him while holding Valen… Sirius, who had found a new motorcycle, which Harry and Ron occasionally borrowed for joyrides… Bathsheda Babbling, the former Ancient Runes professor… Professor Burbage, concerned about the island's soil… the eccentric Trelawney… Lupin and Tonks, Hogwarts students and professors, officials from various Ministries of Magic, long-time pen pals, and even journalists…
Their stories were just beginning.
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(End of Chapter)
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