great-warnovel Chapter 381 New Paris
Chapter 381 New Paris
Chapter 381 New Paris
A week has passed in the blink of an eye.
Hermione got up very early, as she didn't want anyone to take her, which would only cause more trouble.
Only she and Hilmi were standing in front of the fireplace.
"Take good care of the family. You don't have to worry about the specific affairs, but when it comes to fighting, you must be the first to step in!"
"She gave the order.
Her own half was the only top-tier fighter at Hogwarts, and she often had to step up and hold the fort. She wasn't particularly worried about that, as Hilmi was the type to love the limelight and join in the fun, and she also controlled half of the newborn runes. If she focused on defense, even Grindelwald would have a headache.
"But no mischief, no pranks with the Weasley twins! I've asked Professor McGonagall to keep an eye on you. If you make a mistake, I'll settle the score when I get back." She tried to put on a fierce expression, but it was almost predictable that once she, the only person who could control him, was gone, this guy would definitely become lawless.
"Okay, okay! I know, I know," Hilmi said, pushing her towards the fireplace.
"You can write to me or Professor McGonagall every day. I'll definitely behave well. I'll take good care of the school, the city, and our home. Don't worry!"
"Remember to maintain the weather circle and go out on patrol occasionally. If there are any dark creatures in the Dark Wizarding Forest..." Hermione was still nagging when Hilmi pushed her into the fireplace.
Because she had informed Krum beforehand, Hermione saw the tall, strong boy already waiting for her when she emerged from the water.
"Good morning. I thought you would at least have eaten breakfast before coming." Krum gave a gentlemanly bow.
He tactfully took Hermione's suitcase without mentioning that he had been waiting there for a long time.
"Doesn't Durmstrang have classes? How come you're always running around outside?" Strictly speaking, Krum is only a sixth-grade student.
"You're just a third-grade student too," Krum shrugged. There are always special educational methods for outstanding children.
"Is this the new Paris?" She stepped out from behind the fireplace and looked around.
Like Malfoy Castle, the fireplace complex here was built outside the city, with neat black brickwork forming squares that looked like coffins, giving it a cold and austere appearance.
The Burmese party has strict control over the city, and they generally don't welcome outsiders. Only the wizard Beauxbatons, who does business, comes here often, and even the fireplaces at Hogwarts are only opened temporarily.
The large black iron gate leading from the fireplace district to the city was also tightly closed. Hermione looked up and could only see the somber, towering city walls and the Gothic spires behind them.
The black smoke rising from the raging fire filled the sky, turning the dark green dust clouds black and red. A dark sun, emitting a dim light, burned atop the iron tower in the west, providing the city with light and warmth.
It wasn't comfortable; it felt like being roasted by smoky, burning coals. Though warm, the scorching sensation spread from the body to the heart. From that black sun, a sharp gaze seemed to be watching everyone.
"We're going there soon." Noticing Hermione's gaze, Krum took on the role of tour guide.
"The Eiffel Tower, where my Lord dwells, providing light and warmth to this city."
"Oh, if you hadn't told me, I would have thought he was the sun god Ra," Hermione said sarcastically, shrugging.
Krum pretended not to hear and led Hermione forward.
They entered through a small door beneath the large black iron gate. The Fiery War Army soldiers, who were completely concealed on the city wall, looked the little witch up and down. Her Hogwarts wizarding robes and gold-red feather shawl were too eye-catching.
"The new Paris isn't very big; it's a redevelopment of the area south of the Seine in old Paris," Krum explained to Hermione as they walked.
"In those days, the fierce fire of my Lord almost burned the city on the north bank to the ground, and only the south bank, separated by a river, barely survived."
"However, there's practically no trace of what it used to be. The Hundred Days' Party has rebuilt this city quite thoroughly, and everything here serves the wizards," he said with no small amount of pride.
In Hermione's eyes, New Paris was less than half the size of Hogsmeade, and the atmosphere was quite somber and oppressive.
Without normal sunshine and rain, the houses are all uniform, almost identical black brick houses with pointed roofs, like a city ruled by a great demon king in a fairy tale.
She had seen the London as Queen Elizabeth remembered it, but the new Paris was even more retro than the Muggle city of yesteryear.
It felt like stepping back into the Middle Ages.
"What happened over there?" Hermione pointed eastward, where a large section of the city wall was missing, and many buildings appeared to have collapsed.
"It's the Green Light Unit." Krum's expression remained unchanged.
"We captured one of the soldiers, but during the transport, the goblins had a self-destruct program pre-programmed in the nuclear bomb. Fortunately, the explosion occurred before we entered the city—"
Hermione's face darkened; she knew that must mean heavy casualties.
It was early morning, and as the black sun grew brighter and the temperature rose, one by one, neatly dressed and solemn-faced wizards emerged from these black houses. They nodded to each other, munching on bread as they headed towards their respective destinations.
"Everyone has a clear division of labor and responsibilities. As long as they do their job well, they can be guaranteed to have enough to eat and wear, and their holidays and benefits will all be implemented in accordance with the system."
Hermione saw some of them go up the city wall to change guard, some go into the workshops and bakeries, and many more go into the huge building with the sign "Training Department".
"Each wizard must ensure sufficient combat training time each month to guarantee they can go to the battlefield when needed," Krum explained.
"Wizards are the ruling class in this city, but at the same time, it also means taking on more responsibility. In the Malamite Party, Muggles do not have to face war."
But Hermione's attention was no longer on that. She saw the exits of the semi-underground buildings on both sides of the street, like air-raid shelters, with trapdoors being pushed open, and groups of poorly dressed Muggles crawling out from underground.
They rushed to various parts of the city and efficiently took on their various tasks.
Repairing damaged city walls, transporting goods, or helping out in shops.
"Muggles live underground?" Hermione asked, somewhat surprised.
"It's an expansion of the Paris Catacombs, which includes not only the Muggle area but also the agricultural production area," Krum said casually.
"The ground belongs to the wizards, and the division of living areas signifies the distinction between social classes."
"If a wizard child is born into one of these Muggle families, they can move up here too."
Hermione could hardly believe her ears. Grindelwald had turned the city into a giant pyramid, assigning classes and jobs to everyone, while he himself sat at the top of the pyramid, playing the role of the pharaoh and the sun god!
"Let's hurry up and see Grindelwald. I don't want to tour this city anymore," she said sternly.
Krum shrugged, extended his wand, and a luxurious black carriage sped up beside them, pulled by four Thestrals that looked mysterious and eerie.