Chapter 1324 After the Disaster

The Muggle government was extremely efficient. As soon as the police cordon on Oxford Street was removed, the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department of the Home Office, the Department of the Environment, Food and Trade, and other departments rushed to the scene to take charge of the care of the injured and the reconstruction efforts.

The old men of the Prelude Society left quietly, and no one knew where they went. But compared to the strangely dressed Aurors, their eye-catching white clothes naturally made them more likable.

The Maxma Unit was also leaving in an orderly fashion. People knew nothing about this well-equipped and well-trained unit, and media reports mostly referred to it as a mysterious supernatural force of the government.

The top floor of the Lane Hotel.

Vincent didn't rest immediately after returning; instead, he called his friends at Hogwarts to let them know he was safe.

The video call was connected almost instantly, and Hermione's slightly haggard face, clearly showing she hadn't slept all night but was still exquisite, appeared on the projection screen.

"Is that Vincent?" George's voice rang out, and then he and Fred's big faces squeezed into the frame.

"A grand welcome to our 'infamous' Dark Lord!" Fred grinned. "I heard you turned the Ninth Floor of the Ministry of Magic into your 'evil theme park'? Did Fudge get scared out of his wits?"

George nodded seriously. "Your Excellency the Dark Lord, when are you coming to Hogwarts? I guarantee you'll have no trouble getting in and out. You can remodel Professor Dumbledore's office however you like."

This untimely joke was like an effervescent tablet thrown into ice water, instantly cracking the extremely tense atmosphere on the other side of the projection screen.

"Stop messing around." Hermione glared at the twins, both amused and annoyed, but her tense shoulders visibly relaxed a bit, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly.

Vincent looked at them and relaxed. "Fudge? Fudge's reaction was particularly brilliant, like a frog jumping around."

The twins puffed out their cheeks playfully and imitated:

"Wash Sister Sheep and Horse?"

Vincent was amused and let out a hearty laugh.

Hermione smiled when she saw this.

She didn't ask about the disaster in the Muggle world, nor did she ask what had happened to the Department of Mysteries; she simply watched quietly as Vincent was amused by the twins and laughed heartily.

“Your Excellency Dark Lord, I have a plan. With your current popularity, you can completely kick Dumbledore out of the school and start building your own dynasty, beginning at Hogwarts.”

“That’s a great plan.” Vincent’s answer, after pretending to think it over seriously, made the twins burst out laughing, and even Hermione couldn’t help but cover her mouth and chuckle.

With these two clowns around, there's no obstacle we can't overcome.

Amidst the laughter, Vincent understood Hermione's gaze.

Cedric, Cho, Daphne, and Astoria later joined in.

They moved from the empty classroom to the Room of Requirement to continue the Christmas party that hadn't been finished the night before, until evening.

After the call ended, a weary Vincent leaned back on the sofa.

He closed his eyes, and what he remembered was not the disaster, nor the fierce battle, but the faces of those who had survived, the gratitude of his neighbors, and the unconditional trust of his friends…

The Dark Ages are long gone. Muggles won't immediately raise torches just because they don't understand. In this era, they've seen too many bizarre and fantastical things. The emergence of film and television has had a positive impact. They are no longer afraid of the unknown. Magic has brought harm, but it has also brought hope.

The foundations that the magical world had upheld for centuries had long since crumbled silently, and the current Law of Secrecy is now nothing but the outdated ideas and arrogance of wizards.

The door to the room opened silently; Hunter had returned.

Vincent opened his eyes and found that Hunter was not only exhausted but also somewhat lost and dejected.

The Masma unit has been widely reported in the media. Judging from his condition, the military must want to invite him for coffee.

"I'm doomed..." Hunter didn't even take off his gear before sinking into another sofa. "Those old men definitely wanted to rip everything out of my head..."

Vincent got up and went to the refrigerator, tossing him a can of ice-cold Coke. "Isn't this great? I was planning to develop more collaborative projects with the Muggle government anyway."

Hunter hurriedly caught the can of Coke that was about to hit him on the head. "You make it sound so easy, kid. Try being caught in the middle yourself. The old men in the military aren't easy to fool."

Vincent returned to the sofa with a can of Coke. "Uncle Hunter, you're so photogenic, the military won't give you too much trouble."

Last night, busy with the rescue efforts, neither the Aurors nor the Maxma Units avoided the reporters' cameras; they, like Vincent, were documented and reported on.

Only the old men of the Preface Association remained undetected, because they were all wearing disguise masks.

"Pfft—" Hunter opened a can of Coke and took a big gulp. Suddenly, he straightened up. "Yes, the Queen and the Prime Minister came to the scene in person last night. Those old men definitely wouldn't dare to do anything to me."

The Queen and the Prime Minister actually came to the event?

But this is not surprising, given that it was a serious disaster.

Vincent wanted to ask them if they had said anything, and just then, MI6's Director Carlton contacted him.

Carlton succinctly stated what he most wanted to know: the attitude of the Muggle government.

This is not the first time a disaster related to magic has occurred, but this time it is larger in scale and has a more severe impact. After extensive media coverage, it is no longer possible to completely conceal it as before.

Therefore, the Muggle government's attitude is to remain silent. Faced with rumors and gossip, they neither admit nor deny them, and they certainly do not prohibit the public from discussing them in private.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!

This disaster is a tragedy, but it also has a good side.

In the past, Muggles could only passively accept everything, including disasters and rescues from the Ministry of Magic.

Now, Vincent has taught the cabinet a lesson: magic can be a disaster or a solution; it all depends on who is using it and why.

The performance of the Maxma Force made them realize how important a special force dedicated to dealing with magical matters is in the face of magical disasters. This means that Muggles can choose to take the initiative instead of passively accepting everything.

Carlton's hint was so obvious, how could Vincent not understand?

Although it wasn't explicitly stated which aspect of the collaboration it involved, the Muggle government has seen the positive impact of magic on society and will no longer view it as a scourge.

"Mr. Wayne, I look forward to our next meeting."

“I’ll look forward to it too, Director Carlton.”

Vincent put down the MI6 communicator and looked at the tense Hunter. "Good news, Uncle Hunter, you can go to the military headquarters for coffee without worry."

Hunter blinked strangely. "What's the bad news? You're making that face, there must be more bad news."

Vincent nodded. "There is indeed some bad news. The cabinet has offered to work with me on more projects. If I'm not mistaken, the Maxma unit will be formally established, or even expanded on a large scale."

Ok?

Hunter paused, then said, "So that means..."

"In other words, Uncle Hunter, when you go to the military headquarters for coffee, you can speak a little louder."

……

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