Chapter 65: Fenista

This drew the approving eyes of passing witches and wizards, who stopped one after another to watch the unusual lottery event. The sinister figures from Knockturn Alley, acting like sharks catching the scent of blood, mingled within the crowd and stared greedily at the expensive prizes on the platform, eyeing them like a tiger watching its prey.

"A newly opened shop? How come I've never seen it before?" a middle-aged wizard in grey robes asked his companion with a puzzled look.

"It used to be a magical plant shop, don't you remember?" his friend reminded him, "Though the building didn't look like this back then."

"Ah, I remember now! The previous owner was murdered by Death Eaters serving You-Know-Who. I never expected it to reopen. Shadow Vision Golem House... what a strange name." The middle-aged wizard nodded, his gaze firmly drawn to the prizes on the platform.

"They've been remodeling it since last month. Being so close to Knockturn Alley, they aren't even afraid of being robbed. Look at those fellows, their mouths are practically watering."

"Don't talk about them, even I'm tempted... My son has asked for a Nimbus 2000 several times."

"Mine too, but a single Nimbus 2000 costs 5,000 Galleons. That's an astronomical price for us, completely unaffordable. Do you think those people can pull it off?" He pointed toward the dark wizards who had sneaked in.

"Those guys can forget about it. I just saw Dawlish go inside."

"Dawlish? That Auror from the Ministry of Magic?"

"Right, the one with the greyish-white hair. And there are people from the Greengrass family too. A shop daring to open here isn't afraid of the dark wizards of Knockturn Alley at all. As for us, we can just watch the fun."

The surrounding wizards exchanged information while staring at the prizes, their eyes revealing undisguised greed. If this weren't Diagon Alley, and if there weren't Aurors standing inside the shop, the scene would have already descended into absolute chaos.

Thompson walked over looking immensely pleased with himself. It seemed he had been doing quite well at the Ministry of Magic lately, having even formed connections with senior Aurors.

"Rogue, Merry Christmas!" He pulled the young wizard toward the shop window and complained to Gringotts, "Those goblins have far too sharp noses. The moment we exchanged one million gold Galleons, they shut down the exchange window—permanently, no less. Simply ruthless!"

"One million?!" Rogue was slightly surprised. Being able to exchange that much was already impressive; he had originally expected the goblins to notice after just a few tens of thousands.

"Mhm, those misers are scouring the entire world looking for people exploiting loopholes. Fortunately, Madam Ethelwulf from the Floo Network Office helped out, so there's no way they'll ever find us," Thompson said smugly.

"I also went to the black market to exchange another portion. Added all together, it comes to 3 million. The black market merchants all over the world are just so generous, adorable, and friendly." A wicked grin hung on Thompson's face. "They have piles of Muggle currency they can't exchange and were getting frantic. I hope they're having a wonderful Christmas."

"On the black market right now, the exchange rate between gold Galleons and pounds has skyrocketed to 1 to 500. We'll divide it according to the previous ratio; your share has already been handed over to Madam Jessica."

"Thompson, thanks. You must be careful though. If I were those black market merchants, I'd want to tear you to pieces." Rogue hadn't expected Thompson's execution to be so efficient that he would end up exchanging 3 million Galleons.

"Who are you telling? That's why I brought Dawlish along to Diagon Alley. He's the Minister's favorite Auror, with a boundless future." Thompson felt a lingering trace of fear; if even a whisper of this leaked out, he would surely be hacked to pieces by dark wizards.

Seeing a young girl waving at Rogue, he nudged him forward.

"Rogue, I received your Christmas gift!" Daphne pulled her younger sister Astoria along and ran over happily.

"How is it, do you like it?"

"I love it to pieces, though it was snatched away by my little sister." Daphne looked helplessly at her sister, who flashed a sweet dimpled smile and proudly pulled out the exquisite pocket watch to show off to both of them.

Alexander Smaug walked into the shop accompanied by Elena. He possessed handsome red hair and blue eyes, with only a thin layer left on the top of his head—one that Rogue felt might fall off at any second.

"Merry Christmas." Alexander glanced at the bright layout inside the shop, clearly fond of the clean and crisp interior decoration.

"Nadezhda, why don't you look around for a bit?" he called out his nickname for Elena, then turned his gaze back to Rogue.

"Daphne, let's talk in a bit, sorry." Rogue exchanged a look with Alexander, and the two of them walked toward the second floor.

"Mr. Alexander, how is the Soviet Ministry of Magic holding up?" Rogue invited Alexander to take a seat and had Bubble bring over some tea. "Far Eastern Oolong tea, very suitable for drinking in this season."

"In complete chaos!" Alexander shook his head heavily. "The Ministry of Magic has lost the government, much like Grindelwald back in the day, and many people are facing liquidation."

"Though I don't know how you managed to predict today—perhaps, just as Nadezhda told me, you possess the gift of a seer." Alexander sighed. As a defector from the Soviet Ministry of Magic, his life over the years had not been easy.

"You might not know this, but over the decades, quite a few wizards there were tried by the Ministry of Magic and locked away in the Gobalag concentration camp..." Alexander sighed, a place just as terrifying as Azkaban.

"Now many people are being released, and they are fleeing to the Eastern European magical community, causing destruction everywhere."

Alexander's expression was deeply complex. "The Soviet Ministry of Magic is undoubtedly facing violent turmoil, and even a fugitive like me can finally return in broad daylight."

"The Soviet Muggle government's control over our Ministry of Magic has reached its end, and the noble wizards of Moscow shall return to glory." Alexander slammed his fist heavily onto the table, speaking with excitement.

"However, the Magical Congress of the United States is eyeing us covetously, preparing to seize this opportunity to plunder my former homeland. We are not the Muggle government in Moscow; I will never allow the worms in the Ministry of Magic to sell off the property of noble wizards."

"Indeed, plundering." Rogue nodded. "When a colossal giant falls, greedy flies and stray dogs come running at the scent of blood."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Rogue couldn't help but pause for a second—he felt as though he had just insulted himself along with them.

"Uncle Alexander, let's go to Eastern Europe together." Rogue stood up, his tone carrying a sense of sacred redemption. "This is not merely a simple business deal; it is about ensuring magic remains in the hands of civilization. For the glory of noble wizards!"

"For the glory of noble wizards!" Alexander extended a thick, sturdy hand and shook Rogue's hand firmly.

"Bubble, is the money ready?" Rogue called out for Bubble, and the house-elf trotted over carrying an Undetectable Extension Case.

"Master, a total of 100,000 gold Galleons, along with 50,000 US dollars." Bubble opened the case, and the golden Galleons gleamed so brightly it hurt the eyes.

"US dollars?" Alexander asked with a puzzled expression. "What use is this Muggle currency?"

"Just in case, you know." Rogue smiled without offering too much explanation. "Bubble is coming with us, is that alright?"

"Of course." Alexander nodded; the magical capabilities of a house-elf were beyond question.

Having received the news, Jessica hurried upstairs, looking at her son with deep worry. "Rogue, are you really going to the Eastern European magical community? That place isn't as safe as the British magical community."

Back when things were stable, dark creatures like vampires and werewolves hid in the shadows. With Eastern Europe in such turmoil now, those dark creatures would undoubtedly be running rampant.

"Mom, don't worry, Uncle Alexander will be there. We'll only be operating in Moscow; just think of it as me going on a trip."

"Alright then, you must be careful." Jessica nodded and instructed Bubble to take good care of Rogue.

"Madam Jessica, I leave Nadezhda in your care." With those words, Alexander strode into the fireplace, tossed a pinch of Floo powder, and called out, "Finist!"

Rogue waved goodbye to his mother and Elena, grabbed a handful of Floo powder, and repeated the destination. Green flames roared to life in the fireplace, whisking him away to the outskirts of Moscow, 4,962 miles away.

The moment he finished speaking his destination, he felt a powerful pulling force strike him from behind. It was as if an invisible, gigantic hand had violently yanked him from the spot. His vision blurred, and fireplaces of all sizes—some decorated with Christmas ornaments, others dilapidated and cramped—compressed and distorted, flashing past his eyes.

This was the Floo Network, which allowed wizards to use Floo powder to swiftly traverse between different fireplaces and arrive at their destination in a flash.

Though the speed was blindingly fast, the process was far from pleasant. Rogue felt as though he had been shoved into a narrow, dark tunnel, his ears filled with the roaring of wind and the pounding of his own heart. His head spun, and his stomach churned violently.

Thud!

The fireplace of the snowfield cabin stirred, and Alexander and Rogue tumbled out one after the other. Compared to Alexander, who frequently used Floo powder, Rogue felt like a seasick traveler crashing into the hearth, his mind completely dazed.

"Rogue, get up." Alexander let out a hearty laugh, the biting, freezing wind invigorating his entire body.

"This is Finist, a hunting lodge I built myself. I haven't been back in many years, but it's still the exact same." Alexander pulled Rogue to his feet and pushed open the wooden door.

"Finist?" Rogue shook his spinning head and waved his wand to clear the soot from his clothes.