"Anne, can we use the special passage? These are distinguished guests from the International Wizarding Federation Quidditch Committee." Apolline specifically asked her colleague in English. She had just seen the expressions of the five people and understood that speaking French that they couldn't understand in front of them and to her colleagues was not a wise choice.
Especially when her immediate superior had asked her to poach all of them from Hogwarts.
Apolline felt a little regretful; she had only recently graduated, and handling such matters was inevitably a bit chaotic.
"Yes, Apolline, I've been swamped all morning with Quidditch World Cup tourists… Language barriers are truly a hassle," the serious-faced Witch named Anne stood up and directly opened the security gate on the other side. "You just watch them walk through the gate. As long as there's no alarm, they can pass."
The five people, like kindergarten children who hadn't yet started school, passed through the security gate under Apolline's direction. When Gary passed, he could feel a surge of magic attach to him, and then it disappeared.
Gary suspected this was some form of tracking.
Fortunately, the security gate did not detect any issues with his wand.
The group successfully passed through the security channel and followed Apolline to another large hall ahead.
The hall's decor was identical to the previous one, and there was also a blue crystal ball suspended in mid-air.
Unlike the previous hall, here there were two rows of ten elevators in operation. Wizards hurried about, most looking exhausted, with dark circles under their eyes.
"Because of the Quidditch World Cup, my colleagues are very tired. There's just too much to do," Apolline stepped forward, stopped an elevator, and then gestured for them to enter. "Security, diplomacy, immigration checks… it's a mess."
She pressed the "Fifth Floor" button on the elevator control panel, the elevator doors closed, and it slowly began to descend.
"Our Ministry of Magic accepts excellent graduates from all over the world. Would you like to consider joining us?" She widened her eyes slightly as she asked. There were only six of them in the elevator, and Apolline didn't want to miss any opportunity.
"Can you tell me why?" Gary was puzzled. "I think you seem a bit overly enthusiastic. We just drafted a Quidditch rule reform proposal…"
She raised her eyebrows in surprise. "You just think that? That's completely wrong. You haven't even graduated yet, but this one proposal alone is enough to make a name for you in the Wizarding world. You absolutely have value that we should strive for."
"I can guarantee we can give you things the British Ministry of Magic cannot," Apolline said seriously. "Please believe in our sincerity."
"We are still far from graduation, so we don't want to consider this issue for now," Alfrina refused.
"If we wait until you graduate to try and recruit you, it will be too late," Apolline said, but she still ended the topic and turned to discuss tonight's match.
"Before tonight's match, the French Ministry of Magic has secured an excellent opportunity for you to meet with both finalist teams. If you need autographs, feel free to ask."
"…Thank you, we'll arrange it ourselves," Lily said softly. She would never say something so foolish as that she wasn't interested in Quidditch at all.
"Fifth Floor, Ministry of Magic Sporting Goods Department," a warm, gentle female voice echoed within the elevator.
"We've arrived," Apolline led them out of the elevator.
The fifth floor's decor had a very sporty feel. The walls were no longer cold and straight but had a slight curve, and many posters of French Quidditch players and broomstick company product advertisements were plastered on the walls along both sides of the corridor.
Gary and the others followed Apolline past an office with a sign displaying a row of French and a row of English words, "gobstones Project Committee," and continued further inside.
The corridor was quiet, with only the athletes in the posters on the walls waving to them.
"All the staff of the Sporting Goods Department have been transferred to the Quidditch final venue today, so there are fewer people, but the Director is still waiting for you in his office," Apolline indirectly tried to convey the Ministry of Magic's Pay attention to of them.
They arrived in front of an office at the end of the corridor. This office only had a string of French characters on it, which none of the five understood.
"Mr. Bonaparte is inside, you can go in," Apolline lowered her voice and knocked twice on the office door.
"Please come in," the other party's voice was deep, spoken in English.
"Please," Apolline helped them push open the office door and extended her arm, inviting them in.
After all five of them had entered the office, Apolline quietly closed the door.
This office was not large; besides the space where they stood, there was only a desk and a chair. A man with a slicked-back hairstyle sat on the chair, observing the five of them with a kind gaze.
"Hello everyone, I am George Bonaparte, Director of the French Ministry of Magic's Sporting Goods Department. First, welcome to France." He stood up from his chair and shook hands with each of the five.
Only after he stood up did Gary notice his physique: broad-shouldered and thick-waisted. A loose black robe couldn't conceal his bulging muscles. He was a full head taller than Gary, and when he shook hands with even a slight squeeze, Gary felt as if he were caught in a vice. The web of skin between his thumb and forefinger had a thick callus, which felt uncomfortable to the touch.
Through his thick robes, Gary could even see his upper arm muscles, which he estimated were thicker than his own thighs.
"I used to play for France's Quiberon Horse-Riders Quidditch team. As a Beater, it's quite reasonable for me to be well-built, isn't it?" Compared to his body, Mr. Bonaparte's head seemed somewhat small and delicate. A round, small head sat atop broad shoulders and a short neck.
"Very reasonable, very reasonable indeed. That's what happens with regular exercise," Gary forced a smile, wondering if Mr. Bonaparte could punch him to death.
"Not at all, I'm busy with work now, so I've been exercising less. In the World Cup before I retired, I knocked out that skinny German Seeker with just one punch." Mr. Bonaparte sat back down and flexed his arm, showing off his muscles.
Good, it looks like one punch probably won't kill me. Gary breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh, my head!" Mr. Bonaparte slapped his forehead, making a crisp sound that startled the five. He picked up his wand from the desk, thought for a moment, and then conjured five chairs in front of Gary and the others.
"I haven't used spells in so long I almost forgot…" He gave a simple-minded smile. "Please sit, please sit."
The five felt that this Director was a bit strange and cautiously sat down on the chairs. Gary only put half of his butt on the seat, his calves pushing hard against the ground.
"Don't be nervous. I invited you here because I have a few questions I'd like to ask. Can you tell me how you came up with the idea of changing the Quidditch rules?" Mr. Bonaparte showed his characteristic simple-minded smile.