Chapter 312

An ocean-going freighter had just docked at the port of London, and several figures suddenly appeared on the roof of a port warehouse.

The blonde woman in a long trench coat had just appeared when she weakly held onto the railing, and it took a while before she caught her breath.

A man behind her, wearing a suit on his upper body and funny clown pants on his lower body, walked over, "Mary, are you okay?"

American Auror Captain Mary Thompson waved her hand, and the man took another small bottle and handed it over, "Pepperup Potion, useful for seasickness. Just a small sip, otherwise your ears will smoke."

Mary took the bottle, drank a small sip, and her pale complexion recovered a bit after a while, "Thank you, Conrad."

"We really should have listened to Kingsley and come by Portkey." Conrad sighed, "It's a pity that others don't seem to trust him much."

There were several other people on the roof, all in various strange clothes, and their appearances were also different, seemingly coming from different countries.

"The Confederation is too cautious," Mary looked at those people, "If the other party cooperates, such a team can be fair and just, but they have already refused five times! Obviously, it's impossible to cooperate well. The personnel are too scattered. This time, I'm afraid we will return empty-handed."

Conrad also sighed, "They also don't quite believe President Dumbledore's statement. After all, some of it is too sensational."

"But we all know it's true." Mary frowned, "More than two years ago, I saw that Murphy Darkholm, he was still a wanted criminal at that time... However, he left a deep impression on me..."

Mary recalled the scene she saw in the Grand Canyon in the United States at that time, and she still felt it was a bit unreal when she thought about it now.

But if Murphy is really a demon, everything makes sense.

"People with the ability to distinguish the truth are ultimately a minority." Conrad said, then asked: "Has Kingsley contacted you?"

"He said he would be here in a while."

As soon as Mary finished speaking, the space beside them twisted, and suddenly a sturdy black man and a short guy appeared on the roof at the same time.

"Kingsley." Conrad stepped forward, shook hands with the other party, and then reached out to the goblin beside him, "Hello, Mr. Blin."

"Don't call me Mr.!" The goblin slapped his hand away, "Call me President Blin! Don't you have goblins in France?"

"Which idiot insisted on taking a boat? It delayed a full ten days! Ten days! My compatriots are suffering in the mines! Ten days, how many goblins will lose their lives because of your stupidity!"

"Sorry, Blin, we understand your feelings," Mary said, "However, the British Ministry of Magic blocked the international Floo Network with various countries, and these wizards are not used to taking planes—I mean those iron birds of Muggles..."

"Wouldn't a Portkey do? Is your wizard's wand just for looking?" The goblin was still unrelenting.

"Alright," Kingsley spoke, his voice low, "Don't waste time on words. I brought the President's instructions to try to help President Blin save his companions. Especially those remaining members of the Blin family."

"What about the investigation mission?" Conrad asked.

Kingsley shook his head, "I'm afraid it's difficult for us to investigate anything. Murphy Darkholm is extremely cunning. And even if there is evidence, it's difficult to have any real effect. Give up illusions, try to do some practical things. However, our status as investigators is still helpful. At least they should assist us in the investigation in name, and we can use this to collect intelligence and find the locations where those goblins are imprisoned."

"If possible, establish contact with those who are willing to resist."

"Will you be with us?" Conrad asked.

"Sorry, my status here is still a wanted criminal." Shacklebolt Kingsley sighed. A former Auror had actually become a wanted criminal and couldn't even appear normally in his own country. This was truly sad and ridiculous.

"I'll leave Blin to you," Kingsley said, "He is also a special investigator, and his status is legal. However, the situation here is complex, so be careful to protect him."

Mary frowned and called Kingsley to the side, "Why does the President want to help these goblins?"

"The Blin family has huge influence among goblins. If we can save a few members of the Blin family, it will help to confront Murphy in the future." Kingsley said, "And this is also the meaning of the President of the American Magical Congress. After all, they are the biggest donors to the Magical Congress."

"I don't like them." Mary said.

"I don't like them either." Kingsley said, "But now they are our allies."

……

The special investigation team of the International Confederation of Wizards arrived at the British Ministry of Magic through the visitor passage.

Soon, they were warmly entertained. The Minister of Magic, Barty Crouch, met them personally and stated that he would fully cooperate with the investigation team's work, ordering all departments and all wizards in the British wizarding world not to resist the investigation for any reason.

This made Mary and the others quite surprised. They thought they would be met with several closed doors as soon as they arrived.

Could it be that this Mr. Barty Crouch really doesn't know about Murphy's affairs?

No, it's unlikely. President Dumbledore's materials clearly mentioned Murphy's infiltration of the Ministry of Magic. This Mr. Barty might be Murphy's accomplice to some extent.

Mary and Conrad exchanged a look, "Don't be careless."

However, apart from them, the rest of the investigation team members didn't seem to realize anything unusual.

Even that goblin who "all compatriots in the UK were imprisoned" was actually flattered by a few words of flattery.

It seems that this guy probably doesn't care much about his own race; what he cares about is probably Gringotts Bank, right?

Barty Crouch took the investigation team to visit the Ministry of Magic, introduced them to various departments, and then prepared a sumptuous banquet.

At the banquet, almost all high-level officials of the British Ministry of Magic were present, showing high support for the International Confederation of Wizards, and even stated without blushing or heartbeat that they respected President Dumbledore as always.

"Thinking that he left Hogwarts because of some differences in philosophy, making the next generation of the UK unable to receive the guidance of such a great wizard as him, I feel a pain in my heart." Rasim, the director of the Auror Command Office, said painfully.

"Yes, we are all students who grew up watching Headmaster Dumbledore, and we are really full of feelings for him." Winston, the commander of the Watchers, also said.

"In the final analysis, it's all because we didn't do well enough." Rasim sighed, "That's why the President would be so disappointed in us."

"Hmm... ahem... hmm hmm..." Barty Crouch finally didn't have as thick a skin as Murphy's two loyal dogs; he couldn't make up such words.

However, this statement still had a very good effect. A group of investigators breathed a sigh of relief. It turns out that the British Ministry of Magic is not as arrogant as the rumors outside; aren't they quite conscious?

After dinner, Rasim and Winston and several other high-ranking Ministry of Magic officials accompanied the investigators back to the residence specially prepared for them.

It was in Diagon Alley, once a mansion of some noble, very luxurious.

When they arrived, Rasim sent several Aurors to guard the gate as bodyguards to protect the safety of the few, and at the same time told them that special magic defense measures had been taken at the entrance gate, and their wands needed to be registered. From then on, only they could use their wands to enter this mansion to prevent people from breaking in.

Several investigators didn't doubt it. They handed over their wands. Mary and Conrad saw Rasim pointing and clicking at the gate with the wands of the previous people, seemingly really casting spells, so they also hesitated and handed over their wands.

Rasim finished registering one person's wand, handed the remaining wands to another Auror to continue registering, and then took them into the mansion, said a few words, said goodnight, and turned and went out the door.

The few waited in the courtyard for a while, but didn't see any Aurors returning the wands. They waited for a while longer, but still didn't see anyone coming. Mary finally felt something was wrong and prepared to go out to call someone, but the gate was closed tightly, and no one came to open it no matter how they knocked.

A house-elf suddenly appeared in the courtyard, "The master said, please eat and drink well, rest well, he will come to see you again."

After speaking, it left, leaving a group of people looking at each other.

After a long while, they finally came to their senses.

Damn, they were under house arrest.

(End of chapter)