Hogwarts: Lacus doesn't want to be a witch who destroys nations.

Chapter 98 Blitzkrieg against the Soviet Ministry of Magic (12 chapters released)

This is basically the Tsar's Winter Palace moved to the magical world.

"Don't stare like a fool who's just entered the city for the first time, Lux," Karl hissed, mimicking the tone perfectly. He hunched over, rubbing his hands together, looking extremely cautious.

"Stay close to me."

He led the two men straight toward the massive, heavy door inlaid with bronze reliefs.

Two wizard guards, dressed in dark blue uniforms and wearing heavy cloaks, stood at the entrance. Their expressions were cold and their sharp eyes scanned everyone who approached.

Lux's heart leaped into her throat; she could even feel Eve's body tense slightly, like a wild beast poised to pounce.

However, just as they drew near, Karl's fingers twitched extremely slightly at his side.

The two guards' eyes darted around for a moment, as if they suddenly couldn't remember why they were standing there. One of them even subconsciously nodded at Karl, as if he were some insignificant nobody who frequented the place.

Carl swaggered past the two guards with Lux and Eve without even the most basic questioning or registration.

"Confuse Charm—it can be used like this?" Lux was shocked. Just how powerful must one's magical proficiency be to affect two well-trained guards so effortlessly at the same time?

Stepping through the gate, Lux was even more astonished by the interior scene.

Beneath the towering dome lies an extremely spacious and magnificent hall.

The floor was so shiny it reflected the huge magical crystal chandelier on the ceiling. Wizards in various robes came and went, but the atmosphere was not busy and efficient; instead, it was strangely dull and slow.

Upon closer inspection, the solemn facade is riddled with flaws: a wizard in uniform leans against a pillar, secretly drinking from a tin jug; in the distance, an office door is not fully closed, revealing that the person inside has scattered documents all over the floor, yet is playing with magic cards.

Many officials, with beer bellies and document bags tucked under their arms, strolled leisurely, exchanging bureaucratic pleasantries, seemingly discussing not official business, but rather last night's vodka card game or a newly discovered fishing spot.

The younger clerks looked weary, mechanically processing documents with a lack of interest in their eyes.

Huge magical portraits hang on the walls, depicting a Tsarist wizard dressed in a magnificent court robe, looking down with arrogant eyes, as if silently proclaiming the stagnant time here.

Occasionally, a few house-elves, dressed in tattered tea towels, would carefully wipe the gleaming floor, their movements so soft they barely dared to make a sound.

"Merlin—" Lux couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice in English, "This place—this place is even—even more retro than the British Ministry of Magic."

She had originally intended to use the words "corruption" and "bureaucracy," but the scene before her made her feel that both words were too understated.

Although the British Ministry of Magic has its own problems, it is at least outwardly trying to maintain the operation of a modern government institution.

This place is like a museum that is immersed in the glory of the past and unwilling to wake up, and it is a museum that is about to be submerged by dust and inertia.

Carl sneered, "Twenty years have passed, and it's still the same. Conservative, corrupt, unable to even maintain basic vigilance. It's truly disappointing that there's been no progress whatsoever."

His gaze swept over the officials who were talking loudly, and over the clerks who were doing nothing, his eyes growing colder and more mocking.

Just then, his gaze settled on the magnificent staircase at the end of the hall, leading to the upper levels where the guards were clearly much more heavily armed.

He seemed to have made a decision in an instant.

"Stay here and don't move," he whispered to Lux and Eve, then, like a typical office worker preparing to curry favor with his boss, he hunched over and hurried toward the stairs.

Karl was still muttering, "Report—I have to hand in the report—"

Lux and Eve exchanged a glance and could only stand still as instructed, trying their best to look like two bewildered wizard assistants.

However, Karl did not approach the guards at the top of the stairs, but stopped some distance away from a decorative bronze brazier.

That was where several officials were chatting, and it seemed that no one paid any attention to this inconspicuous clerk.

Then, Lux witnessed a scene she would never forget.

Karl had his back to everyone, seemingly just reaching for the fire to warm himself, but his wand was drawing a complex and dazzling spell with incredible speed and stealth.

The next second————

"boom!!!"

A deafening explosion suddenly erupted!

At the far end of the hall, the seemingly indestructible dome, depicting scenes of ancient magical battles, appeared to have been crushed by an invisible giant hand.

Huge boulders and decorations rained down like a storm, accompanied by towering, eerie blue flames.

The flames were no ordinary fires; they were like living venomous snakes, writhing and spreading wildly, and terrifying heat waves and magical shockwaves swept through the entire hall like a tsunami.

"Fiercefire Curse!?"

The screams were drowned out by the huge commotion and the screams and cries of the people. Lux recognized Karl's magic.

Karl actually used a super-enhanced version of the Fiendfyre spell right in the main hall of the Soviet Ministry of Magic!

Has he gone mad?!

The entire hall instantly descended into utter panic and chaos! People screamed, shoved, and fled in all directions like headless flies. Tables and chairs were overturned, and documents flew everywhere. Those officials who had been so leisurely just moments before now wished they had extra legs.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

"Guards! Where are the guards?!"

"Put out the fire quickly! It's a raging fire!"

In the chaos, a group of people dressed in Auror uniforms finally rushed out from all corners, attempting to organize a counterattack and evacuate. However, their reactions were noticeably slower, and their movements were chaotic and disorganized. The spells they unleashed struck the terrifying Fiendfire as if they had sunk without a trace, and some spells were even consumed by the Fiendfire, making the fire even more ferocious!

Karl had already disappeared into the chaotic crowd.

Lux and Eve were swept away by the panicked crowd, stumbling and falling. Several Aurors spotted the two unfamiliar faces standing frozen in place and immediately pointed their wands at them, shouting sternly, "Don't move! Who are you?!"

"We—" Lux was about to explain in Russian with her feet when an Auror next to her cast a Stunning Spell without saying a word!

As the red light shot out, Eve shoved Lux ​​aside and dodged to the side with superhuman speed, instinctively baring her fangs and letting out a low, threatening growl!

"Monster!" The Aurors were startled and became even more tense, unleashing a barrage of spells!

"Protect yourself!" Lux instinctively waved her wand, and an invisible barrier instantly unfolded, blocking several spells, but the immense impact still left her arm numb. These Aurors had varying levels of magical power, but their numbers were vast!

Eve relied entirely on her vampire instincts and speed, weaving through the gaps in the spells, occasionally using her arms to block. The spells seemed to have little effect on her, but they clearly enraged her, and her eyes grew increasingly red.

"Eve! Calm down!" Lux shouted, struggling to maintain her armor charm while continuously casting barrier and disarming spells to try and stop the Aurors' attack. She dared not use magic that was too powerful, fearing it might cause fatal damage, and even more so, fearing that her identity would be exposed.

This is absolutely terrible! How did she suddenly become an accomplice of the terrorists who attacked the Ministry of Magic?!

The battle lasted for several minutes. Lux and Eve were forced to retreat continuously, while the surrounding Fiendfire continued to burn wildly. Although the Aurors were not particularly skilled, they gradually formed an encirclement due to their numbers.

"Where is Karl?" Lux was desperately trying to find the culprit.