Harry Potter: Magic and Guns

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The headquarters of the European Wizarding Association is located in Paris, along with the European branch of the International Wizarding Association. Before Grindelwald's Pureblood Party was formed, France, with the influence of Nicolas Flamel, held considerable sway over the European magical community. In a world where supernatural power exists, one individual really can change the status of a country. Furthermore, Flamel had already proven his ability to challenge an entire nation on his own.

When the reborn Goblin Empire was completely crushed and destroyed, the countless corpses laid the foundation for Flamel's reputation. After that battle, those who coveted the Philosopher's Stone nearly vanished, as no one wanted to offer their heads to the cause. Flamel also possessed an extraordinarily powerful anti-Apparition alchemical matrix, which prevented even goblins from using Apparition. In a confrontation with him, escaping would be impossible. Before one could even fly hundreds of kilometers out of the coverage area on a broomstick, Flamel's alchemical legions could unleash hundreds of simultaneous volleys, enough to obliterate even dragons down to their bones.

At 10:30 AM, Harry and Fleur arrived at the headquarters of the European Wizarding Association. After completing the registration process, they received their interview number and a simple informational brochure.

Unlike England and its Ministry of Magic, there is a massive entity located in the East, its territory extending into Central Asia and the Caspian Sea. In the non-magical world, this ancient civilization, which has endured for thousands of years, is known as the "Middle Kingdom." In the magical world, however, it is called the "Taishi Heavenly Dynasty."

Every wizard entering the country must submit an entry application and pass an interview with the diplomatic department before they can legally enter. An imperial magical miracle known as the "Changheng" surrounds their vast territory, a feat that took centuries to complete. This empire is completely distinct from all others on the planet.

In this place, the boundary between the magical world and the non-magical world is not so clear-cut. Although the magical field interferes with technological products, creating a division, even ordinary people are aware of the existence of extraordinary powers.

As a result, the management of incoming individuals is extremely strict. This applies not only to wizards but also to non-magical people, as the country does not adhere to the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy due to its national circumstances. Visitors from foreign lands may at any moment notice differences in this place.

However, the Changheng system handles everything. Once visitors cross the Changheng barrier and leave the border, their memories will be magically altered, blurring and diminishing any "abnormal" sights. Those affected will also erase or even destroy any photos or videos they have taken of the "abnormal world." This involves a mental magic similar to a combination of the Obliviate and the Confundus Charms.

Some may wonder if this is "inhumane."

"I don't need any Wizarding Secrecy laws here," they say. "This system exists to accommodate your feelings. Take it or leave it."

In today's rapidly advancing information technology world, the Taishi Heavenly Dynasty, which has built a firewall around its internet to handle these issues, is the most eager to see the global magical barrier lifted. However, until the integration of magic and technology is resolved, this problem cannot be solved. Without restrictions on wizards' interactions with the non-magical world, something like the "Celestial Dragons" could emerge.

There are many who, upon gaining supernatural powers, consider themselves superior to others. They have spent over a thousand years transforming magic into an everyday part of life, but this sharp "class" divide between people is not conducive to social harmony and progress. The force driving progress is certainly the elite—those with intelligence, foresight, and wisdom. However, some people view this elite as those possessing supernatural powers.

Fools are not rare among wizards. For wizards with the weakest inherent abilities among magical creatures, their current status is due to their deep understanding of magical energy. Arrogance born from power leads to destruction, a truth the Taishi Heavenly Dynasty has learned through numerous magical revolutions over the past millennia.

After briefly reviewing the brochure to learn about the entry requirements and some basic facts, Harry and Fleur's wait for the interview grew shorter. Soon, it was their turn.

"I'll go in first," Harry said, holding the two completed forms and opening the door.

"Whoa!" Harry, who had planned to remain calm and answer the interviewer's questions, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. "Are you a sword master? From Mount Shu or...?"

"Ah, sorry," Harry quickly realized his mistake, scratching his head and offering an apologetic smile.

The man sitting across from him appeared to be in his sixties or seventies, his graying hair tied up in a bun with a wooden hairpin. His white and dark blue striped robes looked very much like a "work uniform," but there was something about his demeanor that made him seem like an elder from some sword sect. What caught Harry's eye, however, was the long sword box hovering about a foot behind the man. Dumbledore had once demonstrated the Eastern magic he had learned for Harry, and the Sword of Thunder technique was truly impressive—though slower than today's spells, it still exuded an aura of prestige.

"Your Chinese is quite good. Please sit down, young man," the interviewer said, smiling.

Upon hearing Harry's Mandarin with a slight Sichuan accent, the interviewer didn't seem offended. "Is your teacher from Sichuan?"

"I don't have a teacher. I taught myself, probably from videos online," Harry replied, smiling awkwardly. There was no way he could say it was something he had learned from a past life.

"Actually, I also speak Sichuanese. I wanted to see pandas, and I heard they can understand it if you call them in Sichuanese."

"Haha, looks like you've done your homework." The interviewer laughed and then glanced at the application forms Harry had handed him.

"A one-month tourist visa application... Are you still a student at Hogwarts?"

"Yes, I'm in my second year. I'll be attending the International Young Wizard Duel Competition in early June, so I'm getting used to the environment here beforehand."

"I see," the interviewer nodded. "Your name is Harry Potter, right? Please wait a moment while I check the records. If you're a finalist in the duel competition, you won't need a tourist visa. You'll be given a special competition visa that lasts until a year after the competition ends. After that, it can be renewed annually. After living here for five years, you can apply for permanent residency. If your performance in the competition is excellent, there are also subsidies for housing, studying abroad, and more."

Anyone who manages to qualify for the World Cup is a highly exceptional wizard. The wizarding population has never been large, with the total number of wizards worldwide not exceeding three million—this number has only risen due to the rapid population growth over recent decades. Otherwise, the number of wizards would have been under two million.

Talent, genius—every magical kingdom faces a shortage of these. The magical world operates like a pyramid, heavily reliant on talent at the top. The most powerful wizards are nearly unbeatable, and someone like Voldemort, if not stirring up trouble with others of his level, could easily dominate the lower end of the market. Harry's deeds in the Forbidden Forest are nothing compared to what he could do at this level, and he might even do it more decisively.

Wiping out a thousand or two in one night would be nothing to them. With an Avada Kedavra spell, no one would survive in their wake. These top-tier wizards don't suffer from a lack of magical energy—unlike Harry, who depends on raw talent and his high base attributes to overwhelm opponents, these wizards are able to use even a fraction of their magic for far more potent results. Their power comes from knowledge and experience, not brute force.

In just a few seconds, the interviewer retrieved the necessary information from a peculiar alchemical device.

"Here's a new form for you to fill out. You made it as the top contestant from the European region? Impressive! A hero at such a young age."

When the interviewer confirmed that Harry was still two months short of turning thirteen, his tone softened even more.

"Just lucky, really. I only got this far because of good fortune," Harry replied, taking the form and quickly filling it out without noticing it was in Chinese—his native language, so it didn't feel out of place.

"If you're planning to see pandas, I can recommend a great spot for you. It's far better than a zoo. You'll even be able to feed them bamboo and get up close and personal with them."

Harry had no problem writing or reading in Chinese, which certainly added to his score. It's part of the role of the interviewer to assess talented young people from abroad, and wizards move around far more freely than ordinary people. The concept of nationality is less significant to European wizards, and many graduates end up as wandering wizards.

Only three magical powers in the world could provide suitable positions for most of their graduating wizards: the Soviet Communism Allied Wizardry, the Amon-Ra Wizardry United Kingdom, and the Taishi Heavenly Dynasty.

These forces have vast territories, abundant natural resources, and centralized power, enabling them to effectively coordinate their resources. Small countries can't accomplish this, even if they wanted to. In Europe, the only way to achieve this would be for Grindelwald's magical party to expand and unify smaller magical nations under one banner.

"Can you really do that?" Harry suddenly looked up, eager.

"Of course!" The interviewer chuckled, "Once you're done with the pandas, you can visit the old site of the Sword Sect in Mount Shu. It's open to the public, and you can even experience flying a sword like the ancient swordmasters."

Harry couldn't help but smile at the thought of seeing pandas up close, but the idea of trying out ancient sword techniques was tempting too.

"Thank you, Mr. Interviewer!"

After handing in the form, Harry expressed his gratitude. It was clear to him that the kindness was a sign of something important, but he wasn't too bothered by it. After all, he didn't have any family business to worry about, and after graduation, he could go anywhere.

After a few magical stamps on his visa, Harry had his official approval.

"Go ahead, don't worry," the interviewer reassured.

After leaving the room, Harry grinned and pinched Furuya's cheek. "We're going to have so much fun! It's going to be amazing!"

Just minutes later, the two of them had completed all the formalities and left the consulate. However, Harry knew that long-distance Apparition could be a bit uncomfortable, so for traveling, a more conventional method was better.

He had already reserved two top-tier tickets for a Nightshade carriage, the most popular and comfortable choice for wizards traveling internationally. Unlike other forms of transport, Nightshade carriages were fast, smooth, and safe, with an experience far superior to rockets or other magical means.

"Wait, I almost forgot to write to Professor Flitwick and let him know I'm going ahead of schedule!"

Furuya's family yard had two beautiful snow owls flying high. When Harry wasn't at Hogwarts, Hedwig had naturally flown off to her "boyfriend's" house for a little vacation. Unfortunately, her master had sent her to deliver a letter to France.

"Harry, what do you think of this outfit?" Furuya's voice called from the window.

"Don't wear old clothes for traveling. Let's go shopping for something new!" Harry replied, eager for a change.

The magical world's clothing styles weren't as fashionable as those in the non-magical world. A few magic tailors couldn't compare to the thousands of designers in the muggle world. To make the magical world truly stand out, it wouldn't just take new spells—it would require an ultimate fusion of ideas from both worlds, sparking something new and magnificent.

(End of Chapter)