Charles and Léonie talked for quite a while before the train finally arrived at a wizarding village in Germany. Before parting, Léonie left him an address, telling him to contact her by owl.
Owls were the most common means of communication among wizards—but Charles had always disliked them. They were simply too slow.
There were, after all, far more convenient long-distance methods in the wizarding world: enchanted portraits, two-way mirrors, fireplaces, and even certain alchemical devices—like the counterfeit Galleons used by Dumbledore's Army. Yet, for some reason, wizards continued to prefer owls.
Perhaps that, too, was part of the stereotype people had about wizards.
"You should come visit Beauxbatons sometime, Mr. Gold. Headmistress Olympe Maxime is quite interested in your curriculum," Léonie said kindly before stepping off the train.
"If the opportunity arises," Charles replied politely.
After Léonie disembarked, the train didn't grow much emptier. Ever since the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy was enacted, the wizarding world and the Muggle world had become completely divided.
The train continued until the following day, when it reached a remote wizarding village in the northern reaches of the Soviet Union.
The place was sparsely populated and far colder than Britain.
"Come out, Arcanine!"
Charles didn't linger. He released his recently captured Arcanine, intending to cross Siberia on its back.
He could have flown on Pidgeot, but the weather was simply too cold.
"Raaaargh—!"
The majestic Arcanine lifted its head and roared at the sky the moment it emerged. Its thick fur radiated the energy of fire, spreading waves of heat through the frozen air.
"As expected of the Pokémon once mistaken for a legendary beast—Arcanine never fails to look magnificent!" Charles couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
Among all canine Pokémon, his favorites were Arcanine and Lucario. That was why, as soon as he completed his Pokédex for the Kanto Region, he had immediately caught a Growlithe and used a Fire Stone—his system reward—to evolve it.
Arcanine was far more suitable for riding than Rapidash. It was larger, broader-backed, and its dense, fluffy coat made it comfortable to sit on. It could channel the blazing flames within its body into pure energy, galloping across the land with speed as light as flight—capable of running ten thousand kilometers in a single day and night.
More importantly, Arcanine was immensely powerful.
The only pity was that Charles's Arcanine had evolved at level thirty-nine, just shy of learning Flare Blitz.
Still, once he obtained a Move Reminder machine, he could fix that.
But then, something strange happened. After its roar, Arcanine didn't lower itself for Charles to mount. Instead, it bared its sharp fangs and snarled.
"Grrr—"
Its fur bristled, eyes sharpening with vigilance and fury as it stared fixedly at a patch of untouched snow. It had sensed danger.
"Pika?" Pikachu tilted its head curiously beside him.
"Come out already—how much longer do you plan to hide?" Charles's eyes locked onto the pristine snowfield ahead. He had already noticed the tailing presence back on the train but hadn't acted—wanting to see what the stalker intended.
He'd faced plenty of such ambushes during his earlier travels. Dark wizards would do anything for a bit of gold.
Still, at least this one was better than Dumbledore when it came to stealth—he hadn't left footprints.
There was no response. Only the sound of snow falling from pine branches, shaken loose by the cold wind.
"Not coming out? Arcanine—Flamethrower!"
Without hesitation, Charles thrust out a hand toward a specific direction. The towering Arcanine opened its jaws, fiery light flooding its maw until its fangs glowed red-hot—
—and then unleashed a blazing torrent toward the target!
The flames exploded across the snowfield, forcing the hidden figure into view. The air shimmered and distorted as the outline of a wizard appeared, rolling frantically to the side to avoid the attack. The snow around him melted into steaming puddles.
Arcanine didn't pursue.
"You're lucky that beast saved your life," the wizard spat bitterly, clutching his wand. He had been moments away from casting the Killing Curse when the Pokémon sensed him.
"Who are you?"
Charles ran through the list of people who might hold grudges against him—but didn't recognize this one.
To be fair, he didn't have that many enemies… just about fifteen of the twenty-eight pure-blood families, another dozen or so minor ones, around twenty Aurors, a minor dispute with the French Ministry of Magic, and, well, he wasn't exactly popular in the States either.
All things considered… alright, maybe he did have quite a few enemies.
Still, his first suspicion fell on the pure-bloods. His conflict with the Ministry had mostly cooled down, and Scrimgeour wouldn't send assassins after him.
"Heh… you'll know soon enough." The wizard smirked and raised his wand to the sky.
"Morsmordre!"
A streak of sickly green light shot upward, coalescing into a skull entwined with a serpent.
"The Dark Mark? So it really is those pure-blood bastards."
Morsmordre—the mark every Death Eater knew—served both as their symbol of terror and as a beacon for their allies. In a deserted place like this, they didn't need to worry about witnesses.
"Looks like I've been far too merciful with you lot."
Charles's expression darkened. He drew the newly crafted Destruction Wand—his personal creation. Rather than stopping the wizard from summoning help, he quietly began casting an Anti-Disapparition Charm.
Not an Anti-Apparition one—he wanted them to appear, but not to escape.
He'd spared the pure-bloods before, only because of Dumbledore's restraint. But now, it seemed they'd mistaken kindness for weakness.
As the Dark Mark faded, the forest suddenly filled with a series of loud cracks—Apparition!
Dozens of wizards appeared one after another, wrapped tightly in their cloaks, surrounding Charles from all sides.
Yet he felt no fear. He didn't even bother releasing more Pokémon. Instead, he looked around at the circle of enemies and smiled slowly.
"You know," he said calmly, "I actually agree with Voldemort on one thing—"
"If you can't earn respect… then make them fear you."
"A truth worth remembering. After today, I believe every wizard who heard of your little plan—but stayed home—will tremble at my name."
(End of Chapter)