Chapter 464: New Moon

Sirius didn't understand those stories, so he didn't experience Harry's sadness, just sat on the sofa by himself and asked: "What's going on, Remus? Why are there so many vampires here?"

"I decided to take them in for the time being." Lu Ping explained. "There was turmoil on their side; Gregori was suppressed by the Ministry of Magic, and the others were all driven out. However, there are still smart people among them who intend to come here to learn some advanced experience."

"Advanced experience? Do you mean opening a factory to support themselves?" A glimmer of light flashed in Sirius's eyes. "Then we can persuade them to open a farm, so the upstream enterprises of canned goods will be connected."

"Wait a minute," Harry blocked him, unable to laugh or cry. "I'm still more concerned about the turmoil. Can you explain in detail what happened?"

"I talked to their new leader yesterday. The general situation is that the Ministry of Magic has a new direction, intending to completely cut off the Queen project, and then preparing to drive them away. Gregori didn't agree, argued with them in the Department of Mysteries, and finally it escalated to physical action, so he was arrested. After Gregori went to prison, there was no place for them in official circles, and most other vampire groups had grudges against them, so they could only wander. However, since they are wandering anyway, they intend to make Gilneas their first stop to learn from the werewolves' advanced experience." Lu Ping explained in detail. "I almost immediately thought that for vampires to maintain their blood intake, opening farms and slaughterhouses is very suitable for them, and they have no bridge of cooperation with the Muggle government, so it just so happens that we can act as a bridge and benefit from it."

"Or think about it from another angle: these vampires are penniless, having neither connections nor original capital, and you still have to help them get loans." Sirius offered a more detailed suggestion. "Or you could also invest in the farm with your own money first, hire vampire employees, and then slowly convert the shares into wages for the employees inside."

"Oh, by the way, speaking of this, I think it's about time to disband my musketeer team there." Sirius continued. "These guys weren't of much use anyway, so it's just right to send them to your factory."

"But the musketeer team was originally meant to counter knights. If you disband them, what will you do if you are attacked again?"

Sirius pointed outside the window. "Haven't we already built the Focusing Rainbow? Are we still afraid of those two wearing armor?"

"This cannot be mixed up. Knights are powerful because of their mobility and concealment. Usually, we can't find their whereabouts, and even if we do, they use Apparition to escape quickly, or they sneak into some strategic location, and so on. It's very difficult for the Focusing Rainbow to strike knights precisely." Lu Ping helplessly counted the clumsiness of strategic-level weapons.

"Moreover, the main role of knights should be decapitation operations. Suppose the enemy sends an assassin, first Apparates to this vicinity, and then enters the mansion to transform into a knight to assassinate me, then how should the Focusing Rainbow be used? Should it bomb me together with them?"

After Harry heard this scenario, he suddenly understood the intention of the Raio Cavalry raiding the Magical Congress. Zhang Qiu's summary was truly hitting the nail on the head; this was the Cuban Missile Crisis being staged in the Wizarding World. The real purpose Yanayev wanted to achieve was to scare the Magical Congress, so as to push for the signing of a series of treaties, thereby reaching a consensus that both sides should not easily use decapitation tactics.

"It's okay, don't worry too much." Harry explained. "The knight turmoil has basically subsided. Next, there shouldn't be any more attacks targeting individuals. At most, it will be targeting the Ministry of Magic, and in that case, we have ways to deal with it."

After a slight pause, Harry asked: "Then can we talk about what's going on with Nikola now? I'm afraid the conflict between vampires and the Ministry of Magic isn't that simple, right?"

"Well, yes. At first, Severus asked me to help hide his identity and take care of him for a while. But now, if we want to invest in opening a factory, perhaps the two of them can also serve as a bridge of communication. Regardless of what conflicts vampires and werewolves had in the past, I think they can move toward cooperation, win-win, and mutual benefit in the future."

"But since when did you and Snivellus get so close?" Sirius's tone was sour, with a trace of dissatisfaction.

"Our relationship has indeed eased a lot; after all, he once set aside his prejudices to brew Wolfsbane Potion for me. But as for Nikola's matter, that might be more because he had no other choice." Lu Ping looked at Nikola, who was sitting on the side in a daze. "This child seems to have offended some big figures..."

Harry hadn't figured out all the ins and outs, but he could infer some things. After all, the only one who could make Snape, who possessed the power of the Moon Knight, so fearful that he had to lower his face to ask Lu Ping for help, was the KGB. But how would Nikola and Edith have any chance to offend the KGB? It could only be said that this was a protection for family members, so it must be related to Mia. Perhaps Mia's death had other secrets, and before Snape started investigating, to avoid retaliation or being silenced, he chose to send Nikola to a safe place first.

Thinking of this, he walked to Nikola's side and hugged his shoulders. Nikola's expression looked dazed; he didn't seem to have fully adapted to all of this.

"But how will he go to school next?" Harry looked at him with some worry. "And Edith."

"My preliminary idea is to help them hide their names and transfer to a Muggle middle school in Albania." Lu Ping sighed. "If you want to know where two vampires can be better hidden, it's undoubtedly the Muggle World."

"Albania is on the Red side, right?" Harry questioned. "Then the Muggle World will only be more dangerous."

"Adopting socialism doesn't mean necessarily being pro-Soviet. In fact, they prefer to be a Third World country that maintains independence, so they are very vigilant against the Soviet Union." Lu Ping seemed to know the situation in the Muggle World very well.

"Then this is also a good idea. Have you picked a school for them?" Sirius asked casually, following the thread of the conversation.

"My preliminary plan is to go to the town of Forks, which is closest to Gilneas. There is also a middle school in that town." Lu Ping touched Nikola's head. "Next school year, it's meaningless to rush over now; it's too painful to have exams right after transferring."

"Then do I need to change my name?" Nikola asked timidly.

"Change the surname. Karnstein feels too easy to recognize. How about changing it to Cullen?" Sirius made a suggestion casually.

A look of difficulty appeared on Nikola's face, and Harry immediately said: "No, this surname has a reason that must be remembered."

Sirius looked thoughtfully at the flintlock gun newly hung on the wall and said slowly: "When you have time, you can tell me this story. But for now, I think Remus, you need to deal with the vampire refugees as soon as possible. Just now, they had friction with the local residents."

"Let's go, Harry, Nikola's matter can be put at ease." He pulled Harry's hand. "It's a waste of Remus's time for us to keep bothering him."

They exchanged a few more simple pleasantries, greeted Tonks and Edith in the garden, and then left the Land of Werewolves. This time, Harry tried to Apparate to the Three Broomsticks by himself, and the effect was very good, which made him very happy.

In the pub, Harry and Sirius ate something together. Originally, he intended to tell his godfather about Mia, but thinking that the male lead was Snape, Sirius might not feel sympathy, and might even make up hellish jokes, so Harry gave up and suggested going to the Light Photo Studio to take some photos instead.

When Harry walked into the photo studio, he saw Cassandra sitting at the front desk with a happy smile on her face, which made him feel a bit emotional. In fact, on the way back from Tranzero before, he had already heard from Hermione about Tang Nade being defeated here. And at that time, Zhang Qiu still ambiguously skipped over Cui Ge's true identity, only admitting the superficial claim that "Tang Nade showed extra care for Hermione because they looked similar."

Would Tang Nade continue to find ways to break free from Ge Xuan's control? This was something Harry couldn't guess. However, Cassandra cherished this small home not far from Hogwarts and valued these neighbors she had already become familiar with, so even at the risk of being disturbed by Tang Nade again, she decided to continue running the photo studio here.

"Harry!" Cassandra stood up in surprise to greet them. "You came with your godfather. You take a set of photos every year, right?"

"Of course," Sirius laughed very happily. "I will compile the photos into an album as a souvenir."

"I knew it. Master Xuanjun divined for me; look, there happens to be a background here that is suitable for you two." She introduced while leading the two into the room. "But Mr. Black, you have to let your hair down..."

When they came out of the photo studio, they not only gained a set of themed photos but also got a wild-looking Amazons belt, which was said to have been specially selected by Master Xuanjun to commemorate the days when Sirius escaped from prison. But unfortunately, this was just a prop and did not have the function of transformation.

"Perhaps it actually hides the transformation function, but it needs to find the corresponding emotion from that time to drive it." Sirius fiddled with it back and forth. "It's a pity, I am no longer the Sirius I used to be; now my name to the outside world is Regulus."

"Now there is no one you must kill at all costs either." Harry also felt a bit regretful. "Why did Master Xuanjun specifically make this thing? Could it be that the Godfather of the Dark Night can no longer use knight power?"

"I'm afraid so. Pushing knight power requires a very pure heart, and adults often lack this." Sirius didn't show much disappointment, just accepted the fact blandly. ===== CHAPTER 465 =====