Devon, near Ottery St Catchpole, Quiberon.

Compared to its usual bustling atmosphere, this wizarding settlement centered around the Lovegood family's house, or rather, expanded from the headquarters of *The Quibbler*, was unusually quiet today.

Apart from a few personnel stationed nearby to maintain basic defenses, the vast majority of staff had already warped to the outskirts of Moscow, thousands of kilometers away, on the Hyperion several hours ago, ready to carry out their respective missions.

In the editor's office of *The Quibbler*, Xenophilius Lovegood watched the movements of the operation thousands of kilometers away with a serious expression. As a member of the O5 Council of the SCP Foundation, the plan to release SCP-017 in the Russian branch of Gringotts Wizarding Bank was formulated jointly by him and Aileen.

"With SCP-017, as long as we can complete the evacuation as soon as the unsealing is finished, the success rate of this plan is almost 100%. For a long time, the International Confederation of Wizards and the United States will not have time to pay attention to us."

Xenophilius's quill shook slightly in his hand as he spoke confidently.

"That's right, the reappearance of the long-lost Dark Lord in the wizarding world, intending to destroy peace—"

The old goblin Lyons, serving as the chief advisor of the Foundation, chuckled lightly and grinned.

"Whether it's for the Ministries of Magic of various countries or the International Confederation of Wizards, this is a very shocking piece of news. Everyone knows what choice to make—those traitors in the Americas are too naive, just a bunch of salesmen who haven't seen blood..."

Accusing the other side of colluding with dark forces was a common way to attack each other.

Since Gringotts Wizarding Bank had chosen to launch a public opinion offensive first, it was naturally not unprepared for the American goblins' counterattack.

In fact, the reason why Gringotts Wizarding Bank took the lead was to thoroughly muddy the waters, plunging the situation into a meaningless dog-eat-dog stage of verbal warfare—in this way, the American goblins, having lost their initial advantage, would find it difficult to use this handle to cash in on Gringotts.

The American goblins naturally understood Gringotts Wizarding Bank's plan.

But unless they were willing to abandon all their business in Europe, they had to counter Gringotts Wizarding Bank's statements, even if it looked like they were slinging mud at each other.

In the wizarding world, providing financial services to dark wizards is not illegal.

Neither Gringotts Wizarding Bank nor the newly established "Magical Federal Reserve" theoretically has any reason or position to refuse to provide financial services to wizards.

For the International Confederation of Wizards and the Ministries of Magic of various countries, they did not care whether the dark forces that the two sides of goblins accused each other of colluding with were Gellert Grindelwald or Voldemort.

It was just a group of greedy goblins tearing each other apart for galleons, which was essentially no different from some rumors circulating in the streets—fake news, next.

Magical governments could not afford to be startled by a mere ethereal rumor all day long.

Unless... a certain Dark Lord swaggered onto the streets of the magical world, as if strolling through his own garden, openly creating panic and chaos in the magical world.

...

England, London, Diagon Alley.

On the winding cobblestone streets, the young Dark Lord was surveying his territory while acting as a tourist guide for his future junior student.

"Oh, Irina, you need to start changing your habits now..."

Aileen waved her finger and smiled inscrutably.

"Times have changed. In the wizarding world, there will be fewer and fewer occasions where you need to use cash. When you enter school and complete the Sorting Ceremony, you will get your MID, which is your Magical Identity Number. At least in Diagon Alley, MID payments are much more useful than galleons..."

They had just emerged from the fireplace of Gringotts Wizarding Bank, standing empty-handed on the sunny street outside Gringotts, preparing to purchase their school supplies according to the entrance list.

Not far from them stood a capable and energetic middle-aged goblin.

Just a few minutes ago, this "goblin salesman" named Douglas had opened a bank account exclusively for Irina Ivanovich and helped her deposit all the pounds and galleons she had brought with her to purchase school supplies into the account.

As a "special benefit" for opening an account for the first time, Mr. Douglas will also accompany them to purchase supplies in Diagon Alley for the next half day.

Compared to holding a press conference, ensuring that Her Majesty the Queen doesn't get lost is obviously more important...

"But, Aileen... Head Girl Caslana, I mean Professor Caslana, what if there are still shops that only accept galleons? If I don't keep some cash on me, wouldn't that be..."

Irina Ivanovich looked at the girl as tall as her, hesitatingly switching between several titles before asking softly with some uncertainty.

Apart from her father, Irina had not had much contact with other wizards.

Most of her knowledge about the wizarding world came from her grandfather and father's descriptions.

Since she plucked up the courage to pass through the Floo Network and arrived at the steel house called "Hyperion-Reactor No. 7," everything in the wizarding world seemed to have become strange.

"Aileen, just call me Aileen..."

Looking at the somewhat nervous Irina Ivanovich, Aileen smiled and gently patted the girl's head, saying with a satisfied expression.

"To be accurate, I'm only a few years older than you... Besides, I'm not a formal main course professor, just a part-time potions class and Defence Against the Dark Arts teaching assistant."

"As for refusing to use MID quick pay..."

Aileen paused slightly, a mysterious look flashing in her eyes.

"Trust me, most of the shops that lack market sensitivity have already been forced to close or move to other places to open up shop due to poor management half a year ago."

"Huh! What's written in this book is completely different. Dad will be very surprised if he knows!"

Irina looked around at the shops, nodding as if she understood.

"Is it possible for underage wizards to serve as professors in Hogwarts?"

"Of course, as long as you're good enough."

Aileen nodded with a smile, glanced at Irina, and said meaningfully.

"Whether it's a prefect, student council president, or the subject representative of each subject, or even a part-time professor or substitute professor, these are all possible in Hogwarts..."

Perhaps because of malnutrition since childhood, Irina was even thinner than Aileen when she first entered school, and her shriveled body was not enough to make up for even with a reserve food.

However, Aileen was not deceived by Irina's expression at this time.

Apart from the naturally confused and optimistic Luna Lovegood, Aileen had never thought that another young witch of the same age would be so calm on the Hyperion.

Even though this little witch from Russia did not see the full picture of the Hyperion, Irina Ivanovich's composure when facing a strange environment alone far exceeded that of all the children Aileen had ever seen.

And similar situations are not just Irina alone in Hogwarts this year.

After gathering the top wizards and scholars in the wizarding and scientific worlds today, and recalling some outstanding graduates in a small range, the current Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is not short of geniuses. Talent is not the most important factor here...

If it is just talent alone, it is not worth Hogwarts taking the risk of special admission.

There are many young wizards in this world with magical abilities, but there are not many children who desire to explore their potential and have strong will and clear goals.

The environment of Hogwarts, or rather, the British wizarding world, is too stable.

If you want to revitalize the wizarding world, you need to constantly add catfish to the water, and Irina Ivanovich is undoubtedly the cutest little catfish.

"We can slowly discuss any problems later, don't worry. As for now, let me see... wand, books, instruments, wizard robes... there are a lot of things to buy today."

Aileen looked at the reserve food on Irina's chest with satisfaction and smiled slightly.

"Let's go, we'll buy you a uniform first..."

...

Meanwhile, on a magical street in the center of Moscow.

Boom!

Dust filled the air.

Streaks of green and red light flew in the mid-air of the street. The asphalt slab street had just suffered a terrible attack. Countless wizards screamed and pushed each other, surging outwards.

Gilderoy Lockhart deftly waved his wand, commanding a half-broken wooden door to float up, blocking the oncoming beam of magic. The scarlet magic hit the dilapidated wooden door, and with a boom, it exploded into four or five pieces of different sizes.

Not far away, four or five goblin guards lay in the ruins, unconscious.

On the street ten meters away from Lockhart, dozens of wizards hidden behind hoods and masks laughed wildly and waved their wands wildly. Streaks of dark purple flames constantly slashed through the air, hitting the surrounding streets, streetlights, and shop doors.

"Who are you! Stop! I will never allow..."

Gilderoy Lockhart waved his wand angrily, and streaks of ghostly blue light flew from his wand, hitting those "evil wizards," forcing them to defend.

However, even so, the lone and weak Lockhart continued to retreat.

"Fear! Tremble! The great Dark Lord has returned!"

Noticing that Lockhart's magic power began to weaken, the black-robed men's laughter became even more proud and shrill. Like cats teasing mice, they slowly began to approach.

A green, glowing smoke ball flew quickly towards the sky.

Then, within a few seconds, it enveloped half of the block—it was a huge skull, and a large python emerged from the skull's mouth, like a tongue.

Behind them, a cloud of black smoke gradually condensed into a human form.

Accompanied by the black-robed man's voice, a pale face first appeared in the mid-air.

It was a hideous and terrifying face that most wizards had never seen. The color was even paler than the skull, and the red eyes glowed. Below were two slender nostrils like snakes. The only strange thing was that there seemed to be a hint of confusion on this face.

A cold and sharp voice said in the smoke and dust.

"Who is summoning the great Dark Lord—"

At this moment, among the crowd who were fleeing in panic, pushing, and screaming, some people suddenly stopped and turned slightly to face the magical shadow that was making the sound.

Wands were drawn from all directions, from under cloaks, from inside sleeves, from newspapers, from belts... every wand pointed at the black shadow in the mid-air.

"Bombarda Maxima!" Dozens of voices roared at the same time.

Rumble—

The dazzling light of the explosion almost enveloped the entire block.

As if a strong wind swept through, countless scorching red lights shot out from the wizards' wands, intersecting and colliding in the mid-air, bursting out with deafening sounds.

"Damn, it's the Aurors from the Russian Ministry of Magic!"

In the deafening roar, a loud-mouthed black-robed man cursed loudly. Then, a series of popping sounds of air exploding rang out in the air.

A few seconds later, more than thirty wizards descended from the sky and appeared on the street.

"Stop them!" An angry voice shouted loudly, "Stop them quickly! Don't let these damn bastards run away! I'm going to catch them all and feed them all to the Dementors!"

However, as the dust settled...

In the empty and dilapidated street ruins, there was no trace of any black-robed man.

Only an ugly black gemstone ring remained, and not far above the ring, that constantly twisting, gradually returning to human form, and distorted-faced cold wizard.

In his skinny fingers like dry branches, a constantly trembling wand showed the anger in the heart of the most terrifying Dark Lord in the magical world to date.

"Voldemort—or rather... Tom Riddle?"

Among the group of wizards who arrived later, "Newt Scamander" walked out of the crowd, looked at the young junior floating in the mid-air, and a hint of inconspicuous contempt flashed in his eyes.

"I didn't expect it was really you who was playing tricks. It seems that the goblins weren't all lying..."

So this is what they call a Horcrux... what a pathetic fellow...

Voldemort's snake-like red pupils contracted violently. Ignoring the Ministers of Magic from various countries surrounding him, he slowly turned his head and looked at the old wizard who dared to call him by that name with disgust.

No one had ever dared to tease the great Voldemort like this—except Dumbledore.

The next moment, before everyone could react, "Voldemort's shadow" suddenly raised his arm without warning and pointed at "Newt Scamander."

A green light shot out from Voldemort's wand.

"Avada Kedavra!"

"Really... lacking novelty and creativity..."

"Newt Scamander" couldn't help but yawn, looking calmly at the oncoming green light, not even moving a finger, and not even intending to draw his wand for protection.

The next second, a huge figure appeared in front of him, perfectly blocking the spell.

"Woof!?"

"Woof!"

"Woof!"

A terrible beast burning with ghostly blue flames appeared on the street. The three hideous heads swayed from side to side, looking down at the black "little thing" in front of him.

Whoosh—

The six eyes of the hellhound moved slightly, gently puffing out a few puffs of fire-filled breath, breaking the eerie silence.

"It's up to you next, Fluffy."

"Newt Scamander" did not appreciate the ugliness of the Ministry of Magic officials who were panicking and hiding around, waved his hand, and said casually.

"Don't let this guy run away—"