Among the dozens of stacks of materials sealed in airtight bags, Vinda accurately selected the one labeled [Austria].
After opening the sealed bag, inside were numerous photographs and architectural data.
Behind her, someone immediately wanted to take all these materials away, but Vinda stopped them.
"Use a Duplication Charm to make a complete copy of these materials. Put the original documents back into the safe, then find and take away any confidential files related to the Death Eaters from inside."
Under Vinda's instructions, everyone quickly understood her intention.
A slightly sinister smile appeared on each person's face present. The middle-aged wizard, who had been timid and hesitant from start to finish, was grabbed by the collar and dragged to the safe.
"Flint, did you hear that? Hurry up and look! See what information the French have hidden here that's related to your master."
The middle-aged wizard named Flint nodded repeatedly, his face as pale as paper, as he began rummaging through the pile of materials.
He was clearly the same type as Shafiq… both were former Death Eaters who had somehow offended these 'seniors' of theirs.
Shafiq had already been reduced to a living corpse without memory or thought. Naturally, Flint didn't want to end up the same way, so he could only obey every word these villains said.
Soon, Flint, with his hands trembling, pulled out a confidential document. In a voice trembling with suppressed fear, he said:
"This... this is a seven-year-old investigation report by the French Ministry of Magic on the pure-blood families within their borders. It includes a list of those they identified as guilty of connections with the Dark Lord but who, for various reasons, received no punishment!"
"Excellent work, Flint!" Someone patted the back of his head, praising him, "As long as you ensure you remain useful to us and don't secretly plot behind our backs like Shafiq did, your safety will be guaranteed."
Flint forced a weak smile, nodding along with the laughter of those around him.
After obtaining what they wanted, Vinda didn't stay behind to wait for the three goblins but led her team away immediately.
"Let's go. We're returning to Nicolas Flamel. We've prepared everything he asked for. Now, it's time for him to give us a definitive answer."
The dark wizards stepped into the fireplace one by one, their figures disappearing amidst green flames.
Meanwhile, after their departure, the French Ministry of Magic became exceptionally lively.
Harry was dragging Rosier along, running wildly!
Under the influence of the Levicorpus spell, Rosier was almost weightless, like a balloon, simply being pulled along by Harry.
After they rushed out of the Minister's office, Rosier finally snapped out of his shock.
"D-Dudley!!"
"Yes, it's me, Mr. Rosier! But if you're thinking of saying something thankful, save it for when we're safe!"
Harry spoke urgently. Just as he dashed into the crowd of black cats, Lupin also ran out from the corridor.
Behind him came a sharp, whistling sound!
Three goblins in suits, standing on what looked like flying skateboards, soared through the air. Dragging long trails of light, they let out strange cries as they flew out from the corridor!
The moment the three goblins flew out of the Minister's office-
All around, countless black cats turned their heads in unison, sensing something, and looked toward the goblins flying on their skateboards in mid-air!
The bodies of the black cats began to swell, revealing the original, predatory form of the Matagot cats.
The once harmless pets and mail carriers now showed their true nature as guardians of the French Ministry of Magic.
Like small cheetahs, these cats chased after the three goblins, running wildly. As they ran, they continued to split, further increasing their numbers!
But the goblins on the flying skateboards were unafraid.
Narlak, Bitho, and Blackclaw… each had once been leaders in the wizarding underworld, with their own territories.
Even outside the European continent, legends about them persisted, especially Narlak, who was famously known as the underground wizarding gang leader in the American Wizarding World!
Now, they each pulled out wands from their suits!
Seeing this, Lupin, who was running behind Harry, instantly widened his eyes.
As a well-traveled werewolf wizard with extensive knowledge of wizarding laws, Lupin knew exactly what it meant for goblins to wield wands!
Since the goblin rebellion that swept through the wizarding world, the greatest punishment for the defeated side was the complete deprivation of these magical creatures' right to own wands.
This was also the reason wizards were willing to coexist peacefully with them after their rebellion failed.
And now, these three goblins were openly violating this sensitive laws!
"Hahaha! You kitten brats! Let Bitho the Great show you what he's made of!"
The goblin wearing an earring and riding a silver-blue skateboard laughed heartily, brandishing the wand in his hand.
Goblin spell-casting was distinctly different from that of wizards. Apart from his companions, no one could understand the incantation he shouted. All they heard was a violent explosion.
At the center of the black cats swarming and chasing the goblins, a blinding flash of light erupted!
Boom!
Many of the Matagot cats that had just split apart vanished into wisps of black smoke the moment the flames spread.
However, this explosion only slightly hindered the guards' pursuit. All around the Ministry, more and more black cats were continuously gathering and rushing toward the scene.
Lupin and Harry had already dragged Rosier into the atrium!
The speed of the goblins on their flying skateboards was clearly much faster than their running pace.
Just as the goblins were about to overtake them from behind, Lupin made a quick decision. He grabbed Rosier from Harry and pulled him to his side.
"Let's split up! You go to the right, toward the Department of Mysteries! That department must have Unspeakables on duty. I'll take Rosier to the left, toward the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures! There might be help there too!"
After saying this, Lupin didn't give Harry any time to react and immediately ran off to the left with Rosier.
Harry was frustrated. He knew perfectly well that Lupin was doing this to protect him. The three goblins' target was Rosier. By taking Rosier and splitting up, Lupin was undoubtedly drawing the danger onto himself.
But Harry didn't hesitate either. He immediately turned and ran to the right, as Lupin had said.
Almost exactly three seconds after they split up, Narlak and the other two, followed by the surging black tide of Matagot cats chasing them, hovered under the dome of the atrium.
"Vinda wants us to capture that Squib!"
"Blackclaw and I will chase the wizard and the Squib. Bitho, you go after the kid! Capture the kid alive. If our pursuit doesn't go well, we'll use the kid to threaten the wizard into exchanging for the Squib!"
Narlak's mind was clearly sharp. He stared at Bitho as he spoke.
"Don't tell me you can't even handle a kid!"
Bitho didn't respond. He simply activated the flying skateboard beneath his feet, leaving a curved trail of light in the air as he laughed and chased in the direction Harry had run!
Harry, still running, heard the commotion. Gasping for breath, he looked back and saw the goblin flashing a mouthful of yellow teeth at him, lowering his skateboard as he flew toward him.
Without hesitation, Harry raised his wand.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
This was one of the only two spells he knew. In Snape's evaluation, he could cast it, but the effect was mediocre.
As the spell shot toward him, Bitho simply tilted his skateboard, executing a graceful spin in mid-air, and easily dodged the attack!
At the same time, he retaliated against Harry.
A beam of green light shot past, nearly grazing Harry's scalp, singeing a lock of his hair!
If Harry hadn't reacted quickly and rolled on the ground, he would have been hit directly.
But Harry wasn't without help, or rather, within the Ministry, his helpers were countless!
The Matagot cats chasing from behind showed exceptionally fierce aggression toward Bitho. They seemed enraged by the goblin's earlier spell. Countless black cats leaped into the air toward Bitho, attempting to stretch out their front paws and drag the flying goblin down.
Among them, one actually jumped high enough. Although it didn't manage to directly pounce on Bitho himself, its sharp claws scraped the tail of the flying skateboard.
The skateboard shook violently in mid-air, causing the goblin standing on it to nearly lose his balance and fall off!
However, Bitho was evidently extremely skilled with his means of transportation. He quickly readjusted his flight path, cursing under his breath as he waved his wand to counterattack the Matagot cats.
Seizing this opportunity, Harry once again put a considerable distance between them.