Chương 18: Secets of Newt's Box
As the trio stood in the warm Athens sun, the man holding the large magical shield approached cautiously, flanked by two other wizards. Their tense demeanor set David on edge, though Newt remained unbothered.
"Mr. and Mrs. Scamander," the shield-bearer began formally, "we've been sent by the Greek Ministry of Magic to welcome you."
David exhaled a sigh of relief. So they weren't in trouble after all. But his relief quickly turned into confusion when the man continued.
"Now, would you please hand over the box in your possession for safekeeping?"
Newt hesitated briefly before placing his infamous suitcase gently on the ground. The reaction from the Greek wizards was immediate and dramatic. Two of them lunged forward to inspect the box's locks, while others stationed above the walls nodded in confirmation that nothing dangerous had been released.
Moments later, more wizards arrived, this time on broomsticks. They carried an enormous iron chest covered in intricate runes and gently placed Newt's suitcase inside it before hurriedly flying away with their precious cargo.
David stood dumbfounded. All this... for a box?
The shield-bearer, now visibly more relaxed, flicked his wand, transforming the shield into a sleek armband that wrapped neatly around his forearm. David's eyes lit up at the clever magic, and he silently vowed to figure out how to get one for himself.
The man smiled warmly. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Pythagoras Golas, Minister of Magical Animal Protection for Greece. Please forgive the precautions—we couldn't take any risks."
Newt, used to such situations, waved it off with a genial, "Not at all."
Golas produced a golden key, one that gleamed beautifully in the sunlight. David stared at it enviously, thinking how much more elegant it was than the tattered Portkeys the British Ministry used.
After another stomach-churning trip via Portkey, David opened his eyes to find himself standing atop a rocky outcrop. Surrounding him were ruins—ancient white limestone columns arranged in what must have once been a grand palace. Though much of it was crumbled and broken, the remnants hinted at its former glory.
"This is the Acropolis of Athens," Tina explained softly, gazing at the ruins with a trace of sorrow. "It's an ancient Greek temple, and the Greek Ministry of Magic is hidden here."
David frowned, glancing around. "Why don't they repair it? Wouldn't this mess hurt their international reputation?"
Tina chuckled, but before she could answer, Golas spoke. "The destruction here is a reminder. People tend to forget the cost of war. These ruins help us remember."
David was taken aback. Golas's tone was calm, almost indifferent, as if he'd grown numb to the sight of devastation. But his explanation carried a quiet weight that David couldn't dismiss.
As they moved deeper into the ruins, Golas led them to a towering stone wall carved with the image of an ancient Greek warrior. The warrior stood poised, spear raised.
Golas stepped forward, drew his wand, and traced it along the tip of the spear. The wall shuddered, the warrior moved aside, and a grand gate appeared where the spear had pointed. With a polite gesture, Golas invited them inside.
David followed Newt and Tina through the gate, and what he saw left him utterly speechless.
Before him stood a pristine replica of the Acropolis, fully restored to its original majesty. The marble columns gleamed as if freshly polished, intricate carvings adorned every surface, and a towering statue of the goddess Athena loomed above, her spear and shield symbols of her eternal vigilance.
"You call this some effort?" David blurted out, his disbelief evident.
Golas chuckled. "The ruins you saw above are decoys. Before the war reached us, we moved the real Acropolis here—hidden within the mountains. The structures outside are merely replicas, left behind to mislead any curious eyes."
David's jaw dropped. "So everything outside is fake?"
"Precisely," Golas said with a sly grin. "It's a necessary measure. Now, shall we proceed? You'll need to register your entry at the Temple of Athena Nike."
As they walked deeper into the underground Acropolis, David couldn't help but marvel at the ingenuity of the Greek magical community. The grandeur of the hidden city was overwhelming, with every detail meticulously preserved. He glanced back at Golas, whose calm demeanor seemed to mask a deep pride.
They hid an entire city beneath ruins, and no one suspects a thing, David thought. Maybe the Greek Ministry of Magic isn't so bad after all.
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