Chapter 1246: Wizarding World of Africa (Part 3)

Chapter 1246: Chapter 401: Wizarding World of Africa (Part 3)

“Top-quality Griffin Beast feathers, the best material for making flying gear!”

“Come take a look! Love Potion made from a secret ancestral recipe, guaranteed to make her fall head over heels for you!”

“Latest model in Muggle Technology, enchanted with ‘Permanent Call Interruption’ and ‘Anti-Muggle Peeping’ Spells, only three Thunder Stones from an African Thunderbird!”

“Buying all kinds of Magic Metal Ore! Fair prices!”

…

Most of the conversations revolved around everyday trade and local affairs.

Of course.

It’s not like there aren’t people in places like this who love to gossip.

The snippets Ian picked up made him realize the era this world was currently in.

“Did you hear? Over in the United Kingdom, that guy they call ‘He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named’ is causing trouble again.” a Wizard said in a low voice.

“Who? Grindelwald?” his companion asked.

“No, a new one! Called… Voldemort!”

“Volde—what? Never heard of him. Grindelwald I’ve heard of, Legend says he almost ruled the world.”

“Anyway, just some Dark Wizard, supposedly killed a few dozen people. I hear those white folks over there are scared out of their wits.”

“Killing a few dozen people is enough to be called a Dark Wizard?”

…

Ian’s heart gave a jolt.

Voldemort was currently active in the United Kingdom—right at the peak of what would later be called the First Wizarding War.

Yet here, practically no one knew Voldemort’s name. The only thing that had really spread was Grindelwald’s Legend. It seemed Voldemort’s reign of terror was, for now, largely confined to the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile the name “Grindelwald” was something even these African guys, who didn’t share a language, were all familiar with.

“…Back in the day, Grindelwald’s reach was huge, I heard he almost pushed all the way to Egypt…”

“…Good thing he fell, or we’d have been dragged into it too. Back then the Ministry of Magic was on edge…”

“…He was a lunatic, but you’ve got to admit, some of his ideas were… pretty radical…”

From the sound of it, Grindelwald’s story here was more like some distant historical Legend with little to do with local affairs, but his name was still far more widely known than Voldemort’s.

“Makes sense, Voldemort… is basically just a local terrorist.” Ian stopped at a stall selling old books and maps, pretending to leaf through a hand-drawn booklet on the distribution of Fantastic Beasts in Africa, while watching the surroundings out of the corner of his eye.

He saw some Wizards wearing badges, apparently officials from the Magic government, though their uniforms were completely different from those of the British Ministry of Magic.

He also noticed that in a relatively quiet corner of the market there was something like a noticeboard, with several parchment announcements posted on it.

Most of them were about local affairs, but one relatively well-printed notice caught Ian’s eye. In English, it read “International Wizarding Federation Notification.”

The content was a warning about certain cross-border illegal Magic Items smuggling activities.

“Oh right, it’s not just Voldemort; even my dear Professor Newt is busy these days.” Ian took a deep breath, taking in this place that was utterly different in style from the British Magic World but brimming with life.

At least here, he could move around relatively like a fish in water.

Ian gathered his thoughts and started planning how to probe for information next—maybe he could start with those International Wizarding Federation notices?

There were plenty of Fantastic Beasts in Africa, so the young Newt might well have already entered the country to “adopt” some poor creatures, which would explain why the International Wizarding Federation had issued the notice.

As for why the local Ministry of Magic didn’t dare arrest him directly… simple: Newt’s combat power depends on whether he’s carrying his suitcase, and that suitcase is pretty much the Wizarding World’s equivalent of nuclear deterrence.