Hogwarts: This holy light is righteously evil

Chapter 148 Humble Abode

With their solid understanding of the cards and their tacit teamwork, the twins easily defeated several opponents and steadily advanced to the final four.

Harry, watching the two engage in a fluid and effortless battle, and effortlessly achieve victory, was filled with envy.

It's truly admirable that someone could delve into a card game to such an exquisite level.

But Harry was unaware that the once-glorious twins were now suffering greatly, filled with helplessness and resentment.

As the tournament's popularity continues to rise, many astute and business-savvy wizards in Diagon Alley have seized the opportunity to open betting operations around the event.

As officially favored seeded players, the Weasley twins have extremely high odds of winning the championship. If they can take the opportunity to bet on themselves to win, they can easily make a fortune.

Kopni had already explicitly forbidden the two from participating in any off-the-books betting. To eliminate any potential risks, he even contacted their mothers directly and informed them of the entire betting scheme.

This means that if the twins dare to deliberately lose or feign defeat for gambling money, they will not only face accountability from Puni, but also severe punishment from their mother, leaving them with nowhere to go at home or in the outside world.

The twins were in a dilemma, which made them miserable and gave up any thoughts of taking shortcuts.

The only consolation for them was Puni's promise: if the two of them could win the final championship, they would receive a substantial exclusive bonus.

After calming down a bit, the twins suddenly had a doubt and came up with a bold guess.

They then found Puni and asked him directly if he had been secretly involved in illegal gambling.

When asked by the two men, Puni answered decisively, stating that he had never participated in any betting.

The twins chose to trust Puni's answer.

They knew that Puni was sometimes capricious and seemingly unreliable, but he would never deliberately deceive anyone. Even when he was making a profit, he was always aboveboard and never engaged in any underhanded or speculative schemes.

However, Puni deliberately concealed the second half of his statement and did not reveal the whole truth.

He didn't participate in the off-site betting, but the off-site betting on this wildly popular event was created and controlled by him...

The entire Golden Dragon Battle international tournament proceeded very smoothly.

Almost all underage wizards in England, France, and Germany were aware of the competition, and its popularity covered the entire magical youth community.

For more than half a month since the start of the competition, countless young wizards have flocked to Diagon Alley to watch the matches live, while a large number of wizards have also gathered at various partner shops and taverns to watch the live broadcast of the competition using the magic canvases provided free of charge by the Golden Dragon Magic Shop.

The entire event maintained a high level of popularity, captivating the attention of many young people in the magical world.

With their consistent and outstanding performances, George made it to the semifinals, and Fred successfully advanced to the finals, both gaining fame in the young wizarding community.

However, this fame is met with mixed reviews, and its reputation is highly polarized.

Many wizards who placed bets on the outside of the game lost their bets because of the twins' performance on the field, and they were dissatisfied. They blamed the twins for their losses, which earned them a lot of negative comments.

On the day of the finals, even though Mrs. Weasley initially did not approve of her two sons participating in such competitive events, she still brought the whole family to the venue to cheer for Fred.

Even though Bill and Charlie, who were working overseas, couldn't make it back to the UK, the number of family members present was still quite considerable, filling an entire area neatly.

Penny specially reserved exclusive seats for the Weasley family to avoid the crowds and allow them to watch the game in peace.

It was through this opportunity that Penny met all the younger members of the Weasley family and gained a direct impression of the children of this pure-blood family.

Among them, Ron, who was introverted and slightly insecure, and Ginny, who was lively and cheerful, attracted his attention the most.

His gaze first fell on Ginny, the little girl was wrapped tightly in a thick woolen fabric, the size of which fit her body perfectly, preventing her from moving freely.

It wasn't a complete sweater, but a wool scarf specifically designed for warmth and protection, which was being used temporarily as a protective garment.

Then Puni's gaze shifted downwards and landed on Ron, who was standing to the side.

He saw a section of a wand sticking out of Ron's pocket; it was old-fashioned and clearly worn, and he instantly recognized the item's origin.

After settling the Weasley family's arrangements for watching the game, Penny had some doubts and specifically asked about the players who would be rotating into the game.

George, who was preparing to take over from Fred, was called aside by a man.

"Is your family still struggling financially?" Puni asked softly. "I remember your brother Charlie has already secured a job as a dragon trainer in Romania. The salary and benefits for this position are very generous, which should alleviate the financial burden on your family."

George nodded, not grasping the deeper meaning of Puni's question: "The treatment is indeed very good, but what does that change?"

Seeing George's bewildered expression, Penny cut to the chase and asked directly, "Since the income is so good, why is Ron still using Charlie's old wand for his enrollment?"

Only after Puni reminded him did George suddenly recall this old incident.

He glanced at Ron not far away, then quickly looked away and casually explained.

"I had almost forgotten about this. Charlie had only been working there for a short time, and the rent for his accommodation in Romania, his brand-new formal attire, and various other onboarding expenses had wiped out all his savings."

George shrugged helplessly. "He only started working this month and hasn't received his salary yet, so naturally he doesn't have the money to buy Ron new school supplies."

Puni also clarified the current state of the Weasley family's resource circulation among the younger generation.

Ron's entrance wand was Charlie's old possession, his pet Scabbers came from Percy, his entrance textbooks were passed down from George, and his wizard robes were Fred's discarded old clothes.

It has long been the norm in this family for the children to take turns using old things.

"Mom said that once Charlie gets his first paycheck and saves up some extra money, he'll buy Ron a brand new, custom-made wand," George added.

He had barely finished speaking when he suddenly changed the subject, his tone tinged with grievance and complaint: "Fred and I were planning to earn some pocket money from this event to buy Ron some brand new things, but you've ruined our plans!"

Ha ha.

Puni has squinty eyes.

Compared to the scarcity of resources.

The most heartbreaking thing is that he has two older brothers who are always thinking of taking shortcuts and making empty promises.

Not far away, Ron was cheering for Fred on the field with great joy. He couldn't hear the conversation between the two, but he vaguely caught his own name.

He silently calculated that if Fred could win the UK regional championship in this event, in addition to the exclusive rare tournament card, he would also receive a generous championship prize.

By then, even if the older brother only buys himself one new item, he can escape the predicament of everyone having old things!

On the field, the rules for the finals were officially announced.

The two participants need to prepare three independent decks in advance. The tournament adopts a best-of-five format, and the final winner will be crowned the UK champion and qualify for the joint UK-France-Germany finals.

The rules, schedule, and peripheral systems of the entire event were all planned and coordinated by Puni.

The higher the level of the finals, the greater the attention and traffic, and the greater the potential for external revenue.

Puni had already calculated all the profits, ensuring a sure profit, and had already finalized a complete profit plan in his mind.

The moment the match officially began, Puni focused intently on the progress of the game.

Just then, Harry jogged through the crowd and rushed to his side.

"I didn't miss the game, did I?" Harry asked quickly.

"The first game has just started, and we've just made it in time."

Puni raised his hand and gently patted Harry's slightly rounded shoulder, with a hint of teasing, "Why are you so late today?"

What did you do last night that kept you up all night?

"I didn't do anything wrong, I just overslept."

Harry scratched the back of his head, his eyes darting around, clearly trying to hide his guilt.

Puni ignored him and got busy with his work.

As August draws to a close, the start of the new school term is fast approaching.

Puni ultimately abandoned the plan to travel via the Flying Network, as he really didn't want to experience the embarrassing scene of crawling out of a strange fireplace covered in dust again.

He chose to travel by carriage to the Weasleys' residence.

The two magical steeds, Fatty and Feifei, who hadn't worked for a long time, were finally back on duty, full of energy and high spirits.

Two fine steeds pulled an elegant black carriage, its body adorned with the Lestrange family crest, ready to depart for Autry, a humble dwelling on the outskirts of the village of St. Catchpol.

The straight-line distance between the two places is a full 120 miles, so it is impossible to travel by foot or by dragging.

The coachman, Morti, flicked his fingertips, and with a soft sound, the entire carriage and horses vanished from their original positions in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, the carriage had come to rest on a country road along the Ott River.

As you slowly walk along the smooth country road, a uniquely shaped house comes into view.

The entire building is made up of layers of stacked rooms, with a crooked and staggered structure that completely deviates from the construction logic of conventional buildings, showcasing the unconventional nature of the magical world.

Seeing this, Puni was filled with emotion. Wizards' architectural styles have never been bound by the physical rules of the Muggle world.

The moment the carriage came to a steady stop outside the courtyard fence, the wooden door of the Burrow was suddenly pushed open, and the two brothers, Fred and George, rushed out quickly and eagerly.

"He's here! Mom! The discerning connoisseur is here!" George shouted excitedly.

"Welcome, Puni! We've prepared a surprise for you!" Fred shouted in agreement, while secretly winking at Puni.

Mrs. Weasley, her apron covered in flour, strode to the door with a warm smile to greet her guests from afar: "Come in! Welcome to our humble abode, child. Don't be shy, come in and have a seat!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Arthur Weasley poked his head out of the house. His gaze was immediately drawn to the classic carriage in the courtyard and the handsome Fatty and Fat, and he lingered there, his eyes full of curiosity and inquiry.

"Arthur, invite the guests in first! Don't just stand there looking!" Mrs. Weasley interrupted him helplessly, with a hint of familiar reproach.

As everyone entered the house one by one, the interior of the humble dwelling was far cleaner and more orderly than it appeared from the outside.

Upon entering, you'll find a spacious dining room, where a long dining table occupies most of the room due to the large number of family members.

A corner of the dining room connects to the kitchen area. The space is compact yet warm, with all kinds of kitchen utensils and tableware arranged in an orderly manner. It is clear that Mrs. Weasley is very diligent and has been taking good care of her home environment for many years.

The walls were covered with photos of the Weasley family, in which a group of red-haired children had different expressions, as if they were curiously observing the visiting strangers.

Next to the photo hangs an old-fashioned wall clock, its dial displaying the family's daily schedule.

The interior of the restaurant connects to the living room, with the two spaces separated by a central fireplace, creating a well-organized layout.

The living room is furnished with bookshelves, an old-fashioned radio and a grandfather clock, and the sofas and chairs are neatly arranged, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Ron and Ginny hid behind the stair railing, peeking out to peek at the visitors, their expressions somewhat shy and reserved.

Percy stood upright at the entrance to the living room, meticulously adjusting his clothes, his posture solemn, as if he were preparing to formally receive guests.

"My home is simple and inevitably a bit messy. I hope you don't mind."

Mrs. Weasley raised her hand to wipe her palm, a little embarrassed, but her eyes were full of warmth and appreciation for her own little house.

"It's so lively and cozy here, you won't feel cramped at all," Puni replied sincerely.

This is not just polite talk. The Lesterrange Manor is orderly, solemn, and dignified, like an exquisite exhibition hall, while the Burrow is full of life and has a warm "home" feel.

This heartfelt praise made Mrs. Weasley blush and feel delighted. She quickly and warmly invited Penny to sit down and rest.

The twins immediately sat down on either side of Puni, whispering to each other and occasionally glancing at each other with mysterious expressions.

Ron hesitated for a moment, then finally sat down in a seat a little further away, quietly listening to their conversation with some curiosity.

At lunchtime, the long table was filled with dishes prepared by Mrs. Weasley herself.

A table laden with plump slices of smoked beef, golden-brown and crispy meat pies, rich and warm onion soup, and fragrant handmade bread—a feast of home-style dishes.

Puni usually eats portable sandwiches, and these kinds of home-cooked meals make him feel particularly at home.

The atmosphere at the lunch was relaxed and harmonious, with the twins recounting interesting anecdotes from Hogwarts, eliciting laughter from everyone present.

Percy, who is usually rigid and serious, will occasionally speak up to correct the details in the story, which makes him less serious and more lively.

Penny savored the uniquely flavorful home-style dishes and sincerely praised Mrs. Weasley's superb culinary skills, bringing the hostess great joy.