The Wind and the Wings of Hogwarts

Scott smiled and said, “That’s great. I’ll be paying you a visit soon, Mr. Burke.”

“Welcome, I will welcome you with all my friendliness, distinguished guest,” Bogin Burke said expectantly.

“Well then, goodbye, Mr. Burke,” Scott said.

Bock said, "Goodbye, and I look forward to the day you visit me."

Scott extended his finger and closed the fireplace door.

He put the small fireplace and the box of Floo powder into a cardboard box, and then put the cardboard box into the shapeshifting lizard skin bag.

After doing all this, he spat out the candy in his mouth, stood up, walked to the balcony, looked up at the moon in the sky, and let out a long breath.

After the phone call, Bogin Burke has been temporarily calmed down.

But this wouldn't deter the dark wizard for long.

If he hadn't actually visited recently, Bock would have known that "Number 37" was just deceiving him.

If Scott wants to keep the Reiss map, he needs to try to eliminate Bock completely while Bock is still wary.

If the problem cannot be solved, it is not too late to hand the map over to Medea.

Of course, this is on the premise that Medea is unaware of this.

Scott fell into deep thought.

First, Shafik would certainly report Scott's call to Medea.

But Scott only asked Shafik for the number of Burke's fireplace and did not reveal any other information.

Secondly, Scott was certain that Burke would not seek confirmation from Medea about this matter for the time being.

the reason is simple--

Once Bock seeks confirmation from Medea, it means that the Reis map is truly out of his reach.

Bock only needs to wait a few days, and once he confirms that what "Number 37" said is a lie, he can strike again to steal it.

Du, du du.

A knock came at the door.

"Please come in!"

Scott looked back at the door to the room, and Emilia pushed it open and walked in.

"Scott."

Emilia went out onto the balcony and looked at Scott with concern. "Are you alright, son?"

Scott smiled. "I'm fine, Mom."

“You don’t look too good.” Emilia reached out and pinched Scott’s cheek. “Your smile is a little unsightly.”

“Well, I am indeed in a bad mood.” Scott sat down in the chair.

Emilia sat down in another chair. "You don't have to do this, darling. We don't need to care about things that are destined to be lost."

Scott nodded casually. "Now, may I see the map, dear Mom?"

He placed his hand on the small round table, "Before it's given away."

“Of course, you can certainly watch.” Emilia nodded.

"Mike!"

She shouted at the balcony next door.

“I’ll be right there, honey,” Michael replied.

Soon, he entered Scott's room carrying a woman's handbag and handed it to Amelia.

"The map is in this bag?" Scott looked at the old bag in Emilia's hand with some surprise.

He remembered that Amelia had this bag since he could remember, and she still often carried it with her.

“Yes.” Emilia touched the bag in her hand, a nostalgic expression on her face. “This bag was also a gift from my grandfather.”

After saying that, she opened her bag, took out a small knife, and decisively cut open the outer skin of the backpack.

"Yes, the map is hidden in a lining of the backpack's outer layer."

As she spoke, she took a yellowed parchment from the inner lining.

"To be honest, Caleb and I both saw this map when we were kids, and we didn't find anything special about it."

She handed the parchment to Scott.

Scott took the parchment and spread it out on the table.

This map depicts the topography of North and South America, West Africa, and Antarctica.

It is exactly the same as the copy of the Reiss map that Scott had seen before.

"It looks quite ordinary."

Scott touched the parchment with his hand but didn't sense anything unusual.

He tried to unleash some magic, but the lines and patterns drawn on the map did not move.

“If what my great-grandfather said is true, then this map probably requires a secret order to reveal its true nature,” Scott said.

“My grandfather spent the rest of his life studying this map, but he could never make it move again,” Emilia said nonchalantly. “Maybe it was just an illusion.”

"Perhaps the magic of this map lies in the fact that someone drew a map of Antarctica back in 1513?" Michael leaned closer to take a look.

“But it also shows the inland terrain of Antarctica…mountains, peaks, rivers, and coastlines, all of which are under ice and snow,” Emilia said.

Michael said, "While it is generally believed that humans did not discover Antarctica until 1820, it is also plausible that wizards discovered Antarctica long before it was covered by ice and snow."

Chapter 257 Scott Prepares to Return to England

Scott took out his wand and cast a revealing spell on the Reiss map on the table.

"Reveal yourselves immediately!"

The map was enveloped in the light of the incantation, but it remained completely unchanged.

Scott put down his wand, picked up the map, and looked at it over and over again, but still couldn't figure out anything.

There are only two possible scenarios that could lead to this situation.

Or perhaps this map, like the Marauder's Map, requires a specific password to unlock.

Or perhaps the map is so ancient that the magic attached to the parchment has faded.

He looked up and asked Emilia, "Did your great-grandfather ever see a map move with his own eyes?"

Emilia said, "It was because he saw it by chance that my grandfather was able to acquire it. After that, my grandfather withdrew from the gang warfare in London and went into seclusion in Spain to study the map."

Scott then asked, "Did he tell you in what context he saw the map move? Did anyone say anything at the time?"

Emilia recalled, "My grandfather told this story: a London merchant acquired this map of Reiss, and out of a desire to show off, he threw a banquet to commemorate it..."

Emilia's grandfather, Billy Hill, was one of the most powerful gang bosses in London's underground at the time and was also invited to the party.

Of course, his arch-nemesis Jack Spot was also there.

At the banquet, the London merchant boasted extravagantly about the genuine Reiss map he had acquired by chance, and exaggerated its magical properties—

In 1513, Piri Reis drew a map that included the Antarctic continent, depicting a scene from which Antarctica had not been frozen over for countless years.

However, modern people did not discover this frozen continent until 1820.

The boastful merchant believed that nothing was more magical or legendary than this map.

Billy also got a close look at the map at the businessman's invitation.

Only a handful of people were able to see it up close at the time.

At first, the invited guests did not find anything special about the map. Even the merchant who owned the map only used it as a topic of conversation and something to show off.

But just as Billy lost interest in the map and was about to offer a perfunctory compliment, the patterns on the map came to life.

Although it only moved for a moment, Billy knew it wasn't his imagination.

Because in that instant, he saw the expressions of the other people watching at close range also change.

Although Billy and the others remained calm and did not discuss the matter further afterward, a bloody struggle ensued over the map after the banquet.

Billy emerged victorious.

“…That’s all my grandfather ever told me,” Emilia said. “I’m sorry, he didn’t go into much detail.”

Scott pondered for a moment, then finally sighed.

It seems that unlocking the secrets of this map will not be an easy task.

However, he doesn't have time to study the map much right now.

Scott looked up at Michael and Amelia and said softly, "I need to get back to England as soon as possible."

"You're going back to England?" Emilia gripped Scott's right hand nervously. "Why do you want to go yourself? If you want to give the map to someone else, you can have Shay deliver it!"

Scott shook his head. "No, it's safer for me to go in person this time."

Because he was unwilling to simply hand over the map, he secretly chose another, somewhat risky, approach.

Emilia's hand tightened. "But..."

"Don't worry, Mom," Scott smiled slightly. "Trust me, I'll be fine."

“No!” Emilia shook her head. “I can’t let you go alone!”

She suddenly let go of Scott's hand and stood up.

“I’ll go talk to Caleb and tell him we can move again! Move to a place where no one can find us!” she said, turning to rush out of the room.

“Millie!” Michael quickly stood up and hugged her. “Calm down, Millie. We can’t run away. We can’t escape Earth.”

Millie said angrily, "Then what are we going to do? Are we really going to let Scott handle this all by himself? He's not even an adult yet!"

"Don't worry, there's no danger," Scott quickly reassured her with a smile. "Trust me."

Emilia stared into Scott's eyes. "Are you telling the truth?"