Hogwarts in the shadows

"Welcome aboard the Knight Bus," a voice came from inside. "Just hold out your wand and step aboard, and we'll take you wherever you want to go. I'm the conductor, Stanson Parker."

"What's your name?" Stan continued.

"Hephaest Dam."

"Hephis, where do you want to go?"

"South Kensington High Street. How much?"

"Eleven silver Sickles. Fourteen, and I'll give you chocolate. Fifteen, and I'll give you a thermos and a toothbrush, in your choice of color."

Hephaestus paid eleven silver Sickles and got into the car.

Instead, there were six beds with brass posts, with flickering candles on the bedside brackets, and the curtains of two of the beds were drawn.

"You sleep in this bed," Stan said, pointing in the direction of the driver. "He's the driver, Ern Plan. Ern, this is Hephis Damm."

Ern, a very old man with glasses, nodded to Hephis.

"Go ahead, Ern," Stan said, sitting down in the armchair.

With another loud "bang", Hephesus couldn't help but grab the bronze pillar.

He squinted his eyes, watching the movement of the Knight Bus carefully.

Ern was simply driving recklessly without any avoidance at all. Instead, the surrounding objects automatically gave way to the car.

Hephaestus silently sensed the flow of magic power.

"We're here at South Kensington." The bus braked suddenly and Stan's voice rang out at the same time.

"Have a nice time, Hephis," Stan said cheerfully.

"Goodbye." Hephis got off the bus and looked at the direction the bus was leaving.

Interesting, really interesting.

After a long period of observation, he finally saw a clue.

This bus has been traveling by space shuttle.

It may appear that objects are avoiding the car, but in reality nothing is moving.

Because they are not in the same space, it is just a visual illusion.

Alchemy is really interesting. I wonder if I can learn it at Hogwarts.

It was late at night and most of the shops on South Kensington's commercial street were closed, with only one Chinese restaurant still having its lights on.

Hephes felt his stomach and decided to eat something as he was hungry after the bumpy ride.

Just as he took a step forward, two drunk white men came out of the restaurant, arm in arm, walking unsteadily.

Even the emperor avoided drunkards, so he moved aside.

But the two drunks apparently noticed Hephesus, and one of them suddenly bent down and put his arm around his shoulders.

"Little boy, why aren't you home so late? Do you know it's unsafe outside? Do you want your uncle to take you home?" The drunk's voice was full of alcohol.

Hefeth quickly glanced around and saw cameras.

"Uncle, I have no money."

"It's okay if you don't have money. Uncle just wants to take you home." The drunk man took out a knife from his pocket and waved it in front of Hephes.

"Uncle, are you going to take me home?" Hephis said calmly.

His shadow had unknowingly crawled along a thin line towards the camera.

"Of course not, uncle will take you to a fun place." another drunk interrupted.

"Venue? What to play?" Hephis became interested in this so-called "venue".

"What do you want to play? It's fun. I guarantee you'll be satisfied. Come with uncle." Pal said.

Sack seemed to have thought of something and stopped talking.

They took Hephis with them, got on their motorcycles and drove forward.

The motorcycle looked like a Harley, and Hephis didn't know much about motorcycles, but the sound of the throttle roaring was indeed in line with his aesthetic taste.

The motorcycle roared like a beast and soon arrived in front of a brightly lit warehouse.

The outside of the warehouse was illuminated by lights, and the shocking rhythm of heavy metal rock music came from inside.

"Boy, let's go." Pal got off the motorcycle and took Hephis to the warehouse.

As the three of them got closer, Hephis looked at the graffiti on the warehouse, becoming more and more confused, with a sense of déjà vu.

A blue-haired man was smoking at the door, and there were many cigarette butts scattered on the ground.

He looked up at the three people and pressed the red button next to him. The door opened with a bang and deafening music came out.

The interior of the warehouse was colorful, lights flashing, and there were at least a hundred people in the crowd.

Men and women were twisting their bodies wildly, some were even naked.

There were also people having in-depth exchanges on the scene, and people around them were shouting wildly, with cheers rising one after another.

"How's the kid? Have you seen him before?" Pal shouted loudly in Hephes' ear.

Hephes did not answer, his expression becoming more and more solemn.

Pal thought he was shocked by the scene before him, so he dragged Hephis inside.

Sack took off his clothes and walked towards the center of the field.

A memory that he had deleted was slowly emerging in his mind. It was Da Ge's memory - the memory of the person he killed.

This is the lair of the Vulture Gang.

No wonder, Hephis finally understood where the familiarity of the graffiti on the wall came from.

He looked at the men and women in the field again, and a trace of pity arose in his heart.

Pal led Hephis into the private room on the second floor.

Inside the private room, a burly man sat on the sofa, his bald head shining under the light, wearing a neat suit. His feet were casually placed on the coffee table, his eyes gazing at the scenery downstairs.

Surrounding him were six beauties, dressed in gauze, revealing their bodies vaguely, and obviously not wearing any underwear.

Some beauties were massaging his legs, some were pinching his shoulders, and some were feeding him fruit.

Pal led Hephis into the private room on the second floor.

Inside the private room, a burly man sat on the sofa, his bald head shining under the light, wearing a neat suit. His feet were casually placed on the coffee table, admiring the scenery downstairs.

Surrounding him were six beauties, dressed in gauze, revealing their figures vaguely, and it was obvious that they were hanging around.

Some beauties were massaging his legs, some were pinching his shoulders, and some were feeding him fruit.

"Boss Hunter." Pal stood respectfully at the door, bowing his head slightly.

"How's it going?" Hunter looked up at Pal.

"Boss, it's done. Tang, the owner behind that Chinese restaurant, has agreed to only get arms from us in the future." Pal replied.

"You're quite sensible." Hunter's lips curled up into a satisfied smile.

"Boss, I don't understand why you value that small gang so much? They can't place many orders." Pal was a little puzzled.

"What do you know? Do you think I care about their money? Their money is nothing." Hunter took a deep puff of his cigar.

"That......"

"Don't underestimate those Chinese. Although there are not many of them, they are all brave enough to risk their lives. Last time, Layton provoked them, and one of their subordinates tied a bomb to his body and blew up half of Layton's place."

Hunter paused and continued, "As long as they keep buying from us, given Tang's style, they can basically get along with us peacefully. Their goods are in your hands, don't play tricks on me."

Pal shrank his neck and immediately assured, "Boss, don't worry, I will do it beautifully."