Chapter 1232 - 48: Eyes in the Shadows

Compared to the trial run Vid saw for the first time, the "Little People Country Amusement Park" has undergone vast changes, even its name is different now.

[Miniature Wonderland].

This is the real name hanging at the entrance.

The string of enormous letters slowly rotates amidst sparkling stars and flowing auroras, emitting a dreamy glow.

Just, most people still habitually refer to it as "Little People Country", including the employees at Aslan Magic Workshop.

The once hidden old wooden door in a secluded alley is gone, replaced by a breathtaking giant circular entrance.

The golden bronze ring is as tall as two stories, engraved with vividly lifelike castle spires, the World Tree, Hippogriffs, Sphinxes, hellhounds, and more.

In addition, crucial nodes are inlaid with countless thumb-sized beads, glimmering with gem-like radiance, mesmerizing.

The old houses on both sides of the entrance have been purchased by Machioni, transformed into a unified waiting area for visitors.

Since precise timing is set on the admission badges, Machioni does not allow any activity to start early or late, therefore visitors do not have to wait long in line, they only need to arrive a few minutes in advance.

At this moment, there are only a dozen people in the waiting area, several teenagers stand out particularly.

Not for their attire or appearance, but because they are wearing Ravenclaw school robes, clutching their badges, excitedly sharing the origin of their tickets with others:

"Vid—Vid Gray—he contacted me directly, asking if I was free this weekend!"

Terry Boot said loudly:

"I said, of course I am!"

"Then he said, 'I happen to have an extra Little People Country ticket'—I had told him before the holiday that I wanted to come, he remembered!"

"Yeah."

Lisa Turpin smiled brightly: "Vid is really attentive, he said everyone's study pressure was too great recently, it's time to relax a bit."

Anthony Goldstein nodded, his recently gloomy face easing, said softly:

"Indeed... We couldn't originally book a time..."

Those around them cast looks of envy and curiosity.

To them, Vid Gray is like a legendary figure, fit to appear on Chocolate Frog Cards or in the Magic History textbooks, seemingly never within reach in everyday life.

Meeting Vid's classmates and "friends" this moment, some people gather around, curiously asking:

"Sorry to interrupt... Do you really know Mr. Gray?"

"What is he like personally? Is he really as serious as rumors say?"

"Will he play Quidditch with you?"

To those unfamiliar with Vid, through these students as if they too could glimpse a corner of the elusive genius's world.

Terry, exhilarated, said, "Look at my robe—we're Ravenclaw students, of course, we're familiar with Vid..."

Outside the waiting room, a man wearing a leather jacket with a golden earring on his left ear was glancing sideways at the entrance to Little People Country.

Terry's excited boasting floated into his ears, the leather jacket man glanced over at the happy faces of the Ravenclaws and their badges, thoughtfully watching them for a few seconds.

Anthony Goldstein vaguely sensed the gaze, turned his head, only to see a departing back.

...

The leather jacket man weaves through the winding alleys in Diagon Alley, finally entering a dilapidated shop with a sign reading "Anvil Repairs".

Here the light is extremely dim, relying solely on a few oil-stained brass lamps on the ceiling providing a faint glow, alongside a few remaining dim red embers in the fireplace's corner.

With the daylight outside, one can see the wall opposite the door is covered with gears, lock cores, files, pliers, hammers, and the like.

The air is filled with the scent of rusty iron and grease, even the dust seems to drift along with tiny bits of iron.

The wooden door gives a creaky groan, automatically closing behind the leather jacket man.

The next moment, his appearance undergoes an eerie transformation—

The man's tall stature continuously shrinks, clothes slipping off him, limbs rapidly dwindling.

In the blink of an eye, his height becomes akin to a four or five-year-old child's, skin darkening to a gray-green hue, and ears turning sharp and long.

Transformation complete, the goblin shook his head, with the golden earring swaying back and forth as well.

He stepped out from the pile of clothes, wearing only a vest-like robe.

"How are things, Ziller?"

A low voice came from behind the counter, a small, hunched goblin emerged from there, holding a notebook, a pen tucked into his shirt pocket.

He looked up, closely watching the goblin entering, his amber-colored eyes glinting with an eerie light in the shadows.

Goblin Ziller shook his head: "I haven't found any opportunities, Frang, that hyena runs his territory like the Gringotts vault."

Frang gave a regretful sigh, though not much surprise in his tone:

"Machioni is not a simple fellow, otherwise he couldn't spread his business across the entire Magic World."

Ziller muttered: "He's grown so big, all because he lucked into Vid Gray's authorization?"

Frang shook his head: "The first time may have been luck. But their collaboration lasting until now, that's skill."

He turned, taking out a map full of creases, spreading it on the table, his finger slowly sliding over it, speaking quietly:

"What a pity... If chaos could occur in the United Kingdom, especially related to Vid Gray, it would be most advantageous for us, and most likely to distract that old bumblebee's attention."

"Oh." Ziller's eyes lit up, said, "I also ran into a few of Vid Gray's classmates today, they all seemed to be his friends, is there anything we can leverage?"

"Oh?" Frang raised his head, intrigued, "Tell me more."

Ziller said: "It was like this..."

After hearing his account, Frang shook his head again:

"No, these aren't intimate friends, just kids boasting."

"True friends don't get excited about getting a few tickets from him."

"Forget this plan..."

His long fingernails tapped the map, saying:

"Our main goal is the 'emotions' rallying from vast pain and death. If Dumbledore could get involved, great, but if not, it doesn't matter, let's not miss the main point for the minor."

Ziller glanced at the map: "Then where to? The British Muggle territories? There's lax vigilance and opportunities to act everywhere."

"No."

Frang shook his head, saying: "It's not time for us to be exposed yet, excluding places without considering the Magic World, then also rule out those long peaceful countries."

His gaze moved, his finger finally stopping on a broad and cold land, hesitating a moment before turning to a teardrop-shaped island.

"If choosing...choose a place already fraught with cracks, flowing with hatred."

"This way, even if a very tragic 'accident' occurs, people won't be surprised, they'll just attribute it to their long-standing ailments."