Considering they were guests visiting someone else's home, Link didn't summon too many hunters this time, only about twenty or so.
But their quality was on par with the Aurors of the British Ministry of Magic.
And with all of them equipped with dragon-hunting crossbows and other restricted weaponry, their overall combat strength was nearly equal to that of elite Aurors.
To put it bluntly, in a wizarding world where population was scarce, these twenty people, plus Link and Krell, were already enough to start a small-scale war.
So, when Link's group Apparated near their destination, it was only natural that the defense spells around Beckman Castle were immediately triggered.
Standing on the hillside, looking at the massive fortress across from them, everyone in Link's group was awestruck.
They couldn't help it, it was simply too magnificent.
The Beckman family's ancient castle was entirely gray-blue in color, built atop a sprawling mountain range. Its base was completely surrounded by jagged cliffs and sheer rock faces.
Because it was summer and the weather was clear, the clouds had risen high into the sky.
But even so, the castle's lofty towers still pierced straight into the clouds, and the soft blue glow of its activated defensive spells made the whole thing look breathtaking, like a heavenly citadel.
"This castle," Link explained softly to the group, "is located in the mountains of southwestern Bavaria, near Austria. It was built at the end of the 13th century by Gottart von Beckman, who named it Castle Gottart."
Link continued, his tone calm and instructive. "Gottart was a very romantic man. He broke away from the purely utilitarian castle designs of his era and poured all his passion for beauty into this one, into the castle itself, and the surrounding lakes, forests, and mountains. Together, they form a breathtaking wonder."
"But in the 19th century, after centuries of decay, his descendants rebuilt it and renamed it Beckman Castle. From then on, they placed multiple defensive enchantments on it, Undetectable, Muggle-Repelling, and Fidelius Charms, among others, and for a long time, the castle was used in wartime."
"So now," Link said, glancing at the distant fortress, "the original scenic beauty is mostly gone, and even the castle itself is not as grand as it once was."
"Even so, it's still so beautiful and magnificent!" Emily's eyes sparkled as she murmured dreamily.
"I dare say even Flamel Castle and Hogwarts can't compare to this Beckman fortress!"
Seeing Link's careful preparations and the spectacular castle before her, Emily's earlier nervousness and worry had completely vanished, replaced with excitement and curiosity.
Link just smiled and shook his head helplessly.
In this regard, they truly couldn't compare.
It was simply a matter of regional culture.
Although castles had long lost their original military purpose and become expensive liabilities, the people of Germany remained deeply obsessed with them.
According to Muggle government statistics, there were over 14,000 castles still standing in Germany, a staggering number.
With a base that large, it was no wonder some of them were extraordinarily magnificent.
While Link and Emily were talking, a change occurred at the distant Beckman Castle.
The magical glow covering the castle walls flickered briefly, then faded away, and the great gate facing them slowly lowered.
"Link, they're welcoming us! Let's go already!"
Emily tugged eagerly at Link's sleeve, unable to wait any longer.
But Link quickly caught her hand. "Don't rush. We still have someone else who hasn't arrived yet, oh! There he is."
Just as he spoke, the space beside him twisted, and with a series of loud cracks like firecrackers, Snape appeared before them.
"Welcome, Professor Snape!"
Link greeted cheerfully, waving with a grin.
But Snape had no intention of replying.
On the contrary, his expression darkened as he looked at Link and the hunters surrounding him.
"You clearly don't lack guards," Snape said with a frown. "So why drag me along? I'm very busy!"
Link smirked. "Busy doing what? Running errands for Dumbledore? Or killing for Voldemort?"
"You!"
"I'm the one who pulled you out of that mess," Link cut him off with a wave. "You should be grateful."
Snape fell silent.
Because, truthfully, Link wasn't wrong.
Both Dumbledore and Voldemort had been pestering him lately, ordering him around so often that he was exhausted.
In a way, Link's request gave him an excuse to escape.
Emily approached softly and patted Snape on the back in comfort.
Her gentle words calmed him somewhat, though he still gave Link and the hunters a look of distaste.
Link didn't mind. He led the group forward, crossing the drawbridge slowly toward the castle gates.
An elderly butler in a tailcoat was already waiting there. The moment he spotted Link at the front, he smiled and stepped forward.
Link's mood brightened instantly, the man was the same tall German wizard who had aided him in battle before.
Because of that man's loyalty during the fight, Link had a good impression of him.
"Angra! I'm so glad to see you again!"
"It's my honor, young master," Angra said respectfully. His eyes then swept over the group, and he frowned slightly in disappointment. "Miss Leonie didn't come back?"
"Mother is still managing the Flamel family's affairs," Link explained quickly. "She really couldn't spare the time."
Angra's face darkened a little. He knew that was just an excuse.
The real reason Leonie hadn't returned was because she still hadn't forgiven her father.
In fact, Angra suspected that if this matter hadn't genuinely benefited Link, Leonie wouldn't even have agreed to meet old Beckman at all.
He sighed, then quickly composed himself, bowing as he gestured them inward.
"Please, come in. The master has been waiting for you."
Link nodded and led the group up the steps.
As soon as they entered, everyone was stunned once again by the castle's splendor and grandeur.
Especially the twenty hunters, none of them had ever seen such an immense collection of intricate sculptures and dazzling murals that shimmered like the aurora.
Thankfully, they knew they represented the Flamel family, and so they restrained themselves, avoiding any embarrassing behavior.
Angra, meanwhile, became a tour guide, and an excellent one at that, explaining the stories behind each statue and painting.
Emily listened with rapt attention, her eyes glowing. Especially when she thought that all of this would one day belong to the Flamel family, she grew even more excited.
Link and Krell, however, focused on the castle's defensive structures and the people within.
Link quickly realized that Beckman Castle's defense system was very similar to that of Hogwarts.
Those "priceless sculptures and paintings" Angra spoke of were actually part of the defensive network, able to turn into combat puppets and scouts during wartime.
Moreover, the number of wizard servants in Beckman Castle far exceeded that of both Flamel Castle and Hogwarts. In just a short time, Link spotted at least twenty elderly butlers in identical uniforms.
The strange thing was, they were all old and many were crippled.
That was alarming.
Because the only explanation Link could think of was that they were veterans from Grindelwald's army.
Realizing this, Link exchanged a wary yet excited glance with Krell.
After walking through several long corridors, they finally arrived before a massive reception hall.
"Young Master Link," Angra said, glancing uneasily at the hunters behind them, "the master is waiting for you inside. But I'm afraid your guards cannot accompany you further."
"That's fine," Krell said briskly. "Just find them a room to rest in."
He patted the Flamel family crest on his chest with a sly grin.
Link and Emily also wore the same insignia, though theirs were hidden on sleeves and inner linings.
It was a new locator charm Krell had developed after learning from past mistakes, stronger signal penetration, able to bypass anti-Apparition wards.
As long as Link remained in Germany, his guards could reach him instantly if anything went wrong.
Angra summoned another butler to take the hunters away, then led Link, Emily, and Krell into the hall.
The vast room, more like a banquet hall than a reception chamber, retained the original castle's extreme Gothic splendor.
At the far end, seated on a stone chair, was old Beckman, white-haired but smiling warmly as they approached.
"Welcome, Link, Emily. And of course, Professor Snape."
He rose and greeted them with open arms.
Link and Emily responded with flawless aristocratic etiquette, while the only one glaring daggers at Beckman was Krell, he took offense that Beckman hadn't mentioned his name.
In truth, Beckman simply didn't consider Krell worth acknowledging.
Ignoring him entirely, Beckman began chatting kindly with Link and Emily, showing no sign of bringing up the matter of inheritance.
And there was no need to, after all, the fact that they'd come here was already answer enough.
What caught everyone off guard, however, was that Beckman's main topic of conversation turned out to be when Link and Emily planned to have children.
That made the young couple instantly awkward and speechless.
Krell, on the other hand, found his hostility fading, even looking somewhat approving, at least on this topic, their wishes aligned.
But his satisfaction didn't last long.
A thought suddenly struck him, what if Beckman wanted one of Link's children to take the Beckman surname?
That was absolutely unacceptable.
Pure-blood wizard families valued lineage far beyond what ordinary people could imagine.
Many blood purists had even begun allowing their descendants to marry Muggle-borns, just to keep the bloodline alive.
So, no matter how many heirs Link might have, they all had to remain Flamel by name.
At most, Krell might agree to adding Beckman as a middle name, just to preserve the old family's legacy.
Perhaps noticing Krell's wary gaze, or maybe simply running out of small talk, Beckman finally smiled and said, "Link, Angra has probably already shown you the castle. So, as the Beckman family's future heir, let me take you to see our other holdings."
"Don't worry," he added, "they're all in Germany. If anything happens, your guards can reach you quickly. And with Professor Snape here, I doubt you'll need them anyway, will you?"
That last remark made Krell relax slightly, he only rolled his eyes at Beckman in response.
Link smiled. "There's no need for all that, Grandfather. I trust you wouldn't harm your own grandson. Please, lead the way. I'm curious to see how the German wizarding industries compare to those in Britain."
"Of course," Beckman said with a nod.
He reached to a nearby leather case and drew out a small, ornate snuff bottle Portkey, placing it before them.
A swirl of energy opened in the air, pulling everyone inside.
When they landed again, the lavish reception hall was gone, replaced by a crude, dilapidated factory.
No, calling it "crude" was generous.
The thin layer of dust on the floor, the filthy walls, and the rusted tin roof overhead all told Link one thing, this was a long-abandoned Muggle factory.
He recognized the type immediately. In his past life, while helping track fugitives, he'd seen plenty like it.
Such buildings might be near collapse, but they offered one advantage, vast space.
And sure enough, inside was a massive yet crowded hall.
Rows upon rows of open workbenches filled the space, each manned by a gray-robed wizard busy stirring cauldrons and handling bottles and jars.
The air was thick with a nauseating stench from the countless bubbling cauldrons.
Beckman casually cast a Bubble-Head Charm on the group for protection, then spread his hands with a smile.
"This," he said proudly, "is the Beckman family's potion factory."
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