The Shopkeeper of All Worlds in the British Wizarding World

Chapter 523 Northern Base
In the vast primeval forests of northern Norway, covered with thick snow, there was silence everywhere. But soon a burst of laughter broke the silence.

"Ha, what do you think? Is it much better than driving just now?" said a girl's voice. At this time, two figures appeared on the path in the woods, and they were sliding quickly on a sled.

"Okay Hermione, I admit that my preparations for today were problematic, but who would have thought that no one here would sweep the snow." Ryan waved his ski poles helplessly. They had originally planned to drive to the plantation after coming out of the nearest fireplace, and Ryan had driven out the car he had bought during his last trip to Russia. However, after leaving the town, they discovered that there was thick snow on the road. After driving a few kilometers out of the city, they discovered that the snow on the road was the result of the accumulation of snow from the previous few times, which had not been swept at all.

The result is that after the first snow of winter, all the snow has accumulated on the road, up to waist-high. At the same time, the snow at the bottom has turned into ice due to repeated melting and freezing. As a result, this road is no longer suitable for driving.

"No one will come to clear the snow on such an uninhabited road," Hermione said. "The snowplows only go to places connecting large gathering points. But don't you think it's great to ski together like this?"

"Skiing is great, of course." After talking about the road being blocked, Ryan suddenly thought of something. "What do you think the people in the plantation should do at this time? Where do they get their supplies? I remember that for safety reasons, the fireplace in the plantation was not connected to the Floo Network!"

"Don't forget that although they are werewolves, many of them are professionally trained wizards." Hermione said helplessly. "Anyway, there is enough food and vegetables in the plantation. They just need to select a few people to Apparate to the nearest city every once in a while to purchase some daily necessities."

After spending 20 minutes, they arrived at the gate of a large plantation. After knocking on the door, a former Auror werewolf came out to open the door for them and greeted them. "Ah, nice to see you."

"We're happy to see you too. By the way, where are the others?" Ryan asked after walking in.

"Except for those who need to work outside, they are all staying in the underground breeding ground. They are taking classes." The werewolf who is the gatekeeper said, "I will also go to give classes to others after my shift change."

After saying goodbye to the guard, Ryan and his friends walked in. A huge greenhouse appeared in front of them. Most of the area inside was planted with some ordinary flowers, while a small part was planted with some vegetables and fruits for the people living in the plantation.

"I thought the greenhouse next door was planted with magical plants, but now it looks like there's no difference between this place and an ordinary greenhouse farm." Hermione said to Ryan after seeing the scene inside the greenhouse through the glass on some of the greenhouses.

"Of course not." Ryan smiled and shook his head. "This plantation is a legal plantation in the ordinary world, and it is also a perfect disguise. The real plantation is right under our feet."

"Under your feet?" Hermione asked in confusion.

"Yes." Ryan nodded. "It's the underground breeding ground that the guard just mentioned. Only below the ground can we create a stable space for magic elements at the lowest cost. At the same time, with the protection of the earth, we can suppress the magic reaction here to the minimum, so that it is difficult for others to discover our location."

"What a clever move." Hermione said with admiration. "In times of war, it is never too cautious." At this time, they had already walked to the farm building, but did not go directly into the main building. Instead, they turned a corner and walked into the garage next to it. After entering the garage, they shook off the snow on their bodies. Hermione looked around the garage and asked, "Where did you hide the way down? I don't feel any corresponding magical reaction in this house."

"You have forgotten that there are other ways to achieve various goals besides magic." Now it was Ryan's turn to explain to Hermione what she had not expected. "Think about the large laboratory under our manor. The building components are modular. Even wizards with a low level of understanding of science and technology can put them together like building blocks in a short time."

At this point, Ryan gently pushed a toolbox placed on a shelf. A small machine tool next to it slid to the side, revealing a staircase going down. "This is a purely mechanical mechanism. At least those Death Eaters are guys who try to use their hands as little as possible when they can use wands. They despise everything that is not magic in their eyes, so naturally they don't have much control over this purely mechanical mechanism. My design can be regarded as taking advantage of a blind spot in their psychological thinking."

After walking down the stairs about two floors deep and passing through a door, they took the elevator to the underground cultivation field. Unlike the metal-based fortress under their own manor, this place was like entering a forest after opening the door.

"This is very similar to the large botanical garden in the Brazilian school we visited in second grade." Hermione looked around after walking out of the elevator, "but there don't seem to be as many plant species."

"You're right." Ryan nodded proudly. "I got inspiration from there when I designed it, and then through a series of calculations, I formed a small magic ecosystem here. Under the care of those werewolves, the magic herbs produced in the core area here are of the same quality as ordinary wild medicines, and they are also our flagship products exported to China. My uncle wrote to me a few days ago and told me to increase the production boldly. They can eat as much as we produce."

"Why don't the pure-blood families do this when it's so profitable?" Hermione found a question in Ryan's words that she couldn't understand. "I don't believe they can't see the profit here."

"The problem is the cost." Ryan spread his hands. "The core of this planting model is the micro-ecosystem, but in fact, due to the scale problem, it can only be regarded as a pseudo-ecosystem that cannot complete the internal circulation purely by its own strength. In order to maintain the operation of the magic ecosystem, the planter must be at least a formal wizard, and it is best for these wizards to be able to feel the power of nature. In this way, they can cast magic at any time to adjust the balance in this ecosystem. Obviously, the pure-blood family who relies on house elves to perform planting tasks can never do this. Even after hiring wizards, they are no match for the new werewolves in terms of feeling nature. This is the secret of our unique business and the foundation for the werewolves to stand in the future."

"Ryan is right." A familiar voice came from the bushes, and then the branches in front moved, and Lupin came out of the bushes. "So everyone also regards this place as their home, because only here can everyone show their own value."

"It seems that all the werewolves like this place very much." Ryan greeted with a smile. "Nice to meet you, Professor Lupin, Merry Christmas."

"Nice to meet you too. Are you here to--" Professor Lupin looked much younger in his emerald green wizard robe, and his temperament was much better than Lockhart's when he wore similar clothes back then.

"We are here to celebrate Christmas with everyone." Hermione said, "I just wonder if everyone here welcomes us?"

"How could we not welcome you?" Lupin smiled brightly. "Everyone is looking forward to your coming, but we think that this kind of festival belongs to family, and we are worried that you don't want to be with strangers."

(End of this chapter)