Sword and Magic and Taxi

The cruise stopped in Athens for a day and then headed to Reggio Calabria in southern Italy. Zhao Mai and his party disembarked here, and took the train north to Lyon, where the Lemay family lived nearby. The cruise ship will go straight west to Barcelona, ​​Spain, which is not suitable in terms of distance.

And no one wants to take a boat anymore. The Mediterranean Sea is indeed beautiful, projecting mystery, elegance and heart-stopping tranquility like sapphires. But if you watch it all the time, you will get bored and want to change your taste.

Besides, Satiri, Cilia and Tyrion had never ridden a train before, so they were naturally interested in something that could run on the rails with a puff of steam. Nervousness, excitement, curiosity and puzzlement all existed at the same time, and when Dojian drew the detailed design of the steam engine, they were all very impressed that humans without magic could accomplish such a miracle.

Zhao Mai almost couldn't hold back and talked about the power of the tooth-exploding goblin's I Xunsi technique. After all, just because you have worked hard to learn magic, you cannot look down on the machines that others have worked hard to create. Even with material transformation alchemy and powerful psychic abilities, Zhao Mai could not design a better steam engine than a real engineer.

Since the speed of trains in this era was not very fast, and the diesel internal combustion engine had just appeared a few years ago and had not yet been widely promoted, all trains traveling across provinces were all sleeper berths. In addition to hard and soft sleepers, the train also has real aristocratic carriages with luxurious decorations and dedicated servant services. After all, Dorjian is the former queen of Wakanda. She has not been deprived of the title of earl she earned in France by donating science and public welfare. Therefore, she is qualified to buy a noble carriage for her own use. No matter where she goes, she can just hang it on the back of the train. That’s it.

A telegram would do the trick. When the train arrived in Rome, everyone moved into the newly acquired noble carriage, and the whole trip became an enjoyment, and they could patiently take in the scenery along the way.

The news of Zhao Mai's return to the European continent spread along with the news of Duojian's abdication, but no one corresponded with him, and there was no reply to the letters sent to Dumbledore and Flamel, which made Zhao Mai feel very strange. But when the train entered the French border, Zhao Mai saw an advertisement in the local Romantic Wizard newspaper that the Flamel family welcomed him.

It's so difficult to contact you. All the owls that send you letters are lost. They never come back again! We haven't seen each other for more than ten years. The lively girl Barbara is no longer young, and her mature charm has climbed onto her face. However, her dress was still the style of the school back then, with a long wizard robe and a pointed wizard hat, but the place where the school emblem was originally located on her chest was replaced by the Flamel family crest.

The owl can't find me? Zhao Mai understood after thinking about it. He opened his domain, and external magic could not locate him at all. How could the owl find him? It is estimated that even an excellent magician like Dumbledore would not be able to contact him with the most expensive crystal ball. He made a look of realization: I understand, it's because I used defensive magic. I've always wondered why no one wrote to me!

You are so heartless. If you don't receive the letter, you must still be blaming others, without even considering whether there is something wrong with you. Barbara saw Duojian, Xiaohua, and the food reserve who stuck out his tongue and acted cute: Sure enough, you must have created the magic stone. Even your dogs have eternal youth elixir. They are still so beautiful after so many years. I am so envious!

You have to ask Mr. Flamel about this, don't come to me. I learned how to make the immortality potion from your family. Zhao Mai introduced everyone to each other, but Barbara always seemed to remain calm. A sense of alienation, which is only slightly better for Zhao Mai, Duo Jian and Xiaohua.

Why did you come to this train station to wait for me? The letter I sent to Mr. Flamel said that I would go to Lyon. I just entered the French border and only arrived at Modane. Zhao Mai was a little confused. : Aren't you afraid that you won't be able to contact us and will miss you?

Actually, I've been waiting for you here for three days, doing nothing but waiting. Barbara snorted and said, I couldn't contact you, so we had to inquire through friends. Fortunately, you We bought a noble carriage in the name of Count Dogian, and we got a clear clue. It was not very convenient to send telegrams back and forth, and the phone lines were not good. I had to change three stations before I was sure to wait here. You can't go to Lyon, our home is not there now, you have to follow me north.

I remember that I helped your family almost repair the house. Why was it demolished recently?

That's not true. It's not like anyone dares to use magic in our house in a big way. Barbara sighed and said: Although we are an old magic and alchemy family and are respected by everyone, respect does not mean Unable to resist the hostile invasion. The influence of the magic world in this world is no longer what it used to be, let alone the respect accumulated in the magic world. The ancestors have moved to live in a house in Switzerland, between Geneva and Zurich. Near Bern. If you can receive our letter, you can go directly by plane. You can also take a boat and a train, and the noble carriage will cost a lot. You are really leisurely.

Even your family has moved? I really didn't expect this. It seems that the current situation is not optimistic. Zhao Mai asked with concern: Are there any specific real threats?

We just heard some rumors that someone coveted our magic stone. There have been several waves of thieves. Although they were frightened by our magic defense, they were very good at hiding their identities. We never knew who did it. In desperation, we put the magic stone in the goblin bank. Not only did we have to pay high storage fees, but we also spent a lot of money to hire some of the most famous wizards to design the magic circle. By the way, we witnessed that the magic stone was indeed placed in the goblin bank.

Oh...then there's no need to move, right?

Most of the defensive gargoyles have been demolished by you, and a lot of protective magic circles have been destroyed by you and Grindelwald. The effectiveness of leaving them there has been reduced. In addition, the ancestors said that France and Germany must have a war. . He has always hoped to change France's foreign policy, at least remove Germany's main contradiction from France, and give up some unnecessary benefits in exchange for security, but no one listened to him. He felt that his influence was not as good as before, so In a fit of anger, he went to Switzerland to recuperate, and even the people from the French Ministry of Magic disappeared.

I won't cause him any trouble if I go, right?

He said he would definitely do it. Barbara shrugged and spread her hands and said very matter-of-factly: But he also said that because you can make magic stones and immortality potions, the friendship established on this basis will be stronger. , and hope to form allies. Mike, what do you think?

Friends are meant to be. But what alliances are for, I have to figure out.