44. Sail The Caribbean

"Hey, Aurelius! Haha, my magical boy! Come on, man!" Skender grinned and waved at Aurelius from a distance, motioning for him to come over.

Aurelius and Carlos walked past.

He noticed that the tables here seemed to be different.

The table where Skender was sitting had the fewest people, just two, and the most exquisite food.

Aurelius looked at the man and noticed a shadow of a wand on his waist.

There was no doubt that this man was a wizard.

Aurelius did not recognize him, nor had he seen him during the performance.

"This is Hank, my nephew. He just graduated from Durmstrang last year. Aurelius, you two are similar in age, so you should get along well," Skender introduced Hank to Aurelius.

Looking at this gloomy, long-haired young man, Aurelius nodded and stretched out his hand. "Hello, I am Aurelius."

The young man just raised his eyelids, replied "Hello" expressionlessly, and said nothing more.

"Haha, Hank is a bit of a germaphobe. He is not used to shaking hands with others," Skender quickly laughed.

After looking at Hank's greasy long hair, Aurelius believed it.

He didn't care too much, and he didn't think that everyone had to like him. Besides, it's not necessarily because Hank behaves like this because he's annoying. What kind of weirdo isn't there in the Wizarding World? They frequently arouse various emotions. Even if they're not crazy, they are a little neurotic.

"Hurry and sit down and eat with us. Mog's craftsmanship is very good. He travels all over the country. He may not compare to those noble masters, but the taste is really good. Give it a try," Skender enthusiastically introduced the food to Aurelius.

The food on this table was quite rich, including French, German, Hungarian, and Italian dishes.

He tasted it and it was really good.

Seven or eight people were sitting at the next table, all of them squibs, including Aurelius's subordinate Igor.

After drinking and eating, Skender wiped his mouth with a hand towel. "Today, we're heading south. In a week, we'll be starting a two-month tour in the Caribbean. Get ready for the show."

"No problem, boss," several people said in unison.

"Well, also, let me remind you, especially the newcomers, that the Caribbean is not a backyard. There are pirates, ghosts, and all kinds of monsters in the sea. I don't want to catch any of you fooling around and hanging from the flagpole at the dock," Skender warned, looking at Aurelius in particular. "This is your first time traveling far away. To be honest, the Caribbean is not an easy place for a first trip, but we need to explore it. The tour will last about two months, and we won't reach our destination, Madrid, until around July."

"Okay, I'm fine," Aurelius nodded. Skender announced the previous day that he would be traveling to Madrid this time, but he hadn't anticipated being on the road for two months.

"Alright, everyone! Let's set sail after we've eaten and had a drink!" Skender exclaimed, his wand flickering as the entire wooden ship came to life. The three sails raised themselves, despite the turbulent waves outside. Inside the ship, everything was as stable as the earth.

There were a few holes around the hull, emitting a faint smoke that enveloped the entire ship. It was a necessary precaution, nothing out of the ordinary. Only wizards had been able to venture onto the treacherous seas in the past few hundred years, but now all the steel ships on the waters were manned by Muggles.

As Aurelius brushed the long hair of the Zouwu, he could see underwater fish through the open transparent windows. The sight made the majestic cat so hungry that it kept pawing at the glass, much to Aurelius' amusement.

Technically, this wasn't a rushed trip, but rather a budget trip. They didn't have to go through the Caribbean at all if they were going straight to Madrid. However, the Mystery Circus was a business group that wouldn't pass up any opportunity to make money.

The Caribbean had always been a place of chaos, especially since the Age of Discovery started. It was a melting pot of criminals, military personnel, Muggles, wizards, and countless peculiar individuals and rare creatures. In recent centuries, the Caribbean has also become a densely populated area for wizards.

Unlike other wizarding areas around the world, the Caribbean consisted of numerous small islands. Some of these islands had been discovered, colonized, constructed, and hidden by wizards to serve as their hidden paradise. Due to the complex situation in the region, there wasn't a management system akin to the Ministry of Magic. However, that didn't mean it was a complete state of chaos. The unique circumstances had given rise to a distinct system.

Within the vast Caribbean Sea were nine wizarding islands. These islands housed the only nine wizarding cities in the world, each unique to wizards. However, these cities were not harmonious or picturesque. They were comprised of peons, wanted criminals, murderers, dark wizards, smugglers, merchants, and pirates. Power was the prevailing theme here. As long as one possessed enough strength and power, one could become the ruler of a city overnight.

Upon hearing this news for the first time, Aurelius was captivated. He never imagined that such a "beautiful" place could exist in this world. It was a paradise for ambitious individuals. No one cared about your past or your future here. Only strength mattered.

The Caribbean is a tumultuous place, filled with constant conflict, and only those who can survive there are extraordinary individuals.

When people are unified, they become the best soldiers. It can be seen as a haven for ambitious individuals.

However, no one has yet been able to accomplish this. Or perhaps, no one is willing to try.

Aside from the witch hunts centuries ago, wizards have had little reason to worry. Days of tranquility can dampen one's drive.

Just as humans migrated from Africa to different parts of the world millions of years ago, those who left Africa lost access to its abundant resources. They had to work hard to survive, transitioning from slash-and-burn agriculture to metalworking, and from tribal conflicts to imperial dominance.

Looking back at Africa, its bountiful resources allow its inhabitants to live without concerns for survival. Their lives have remained relatively unchanged for millions of years.

The power of magic has also led to an abundance of goods, freeing people from concerns about basic needs, and allowing them to indulge.

They laugh as they observe Muggles, who have overcome hardships through their intelligence and technology, gradually conquering the world. When exposed, they face the ultimate challenge, comparable to a player facing a boss with a limited health bar.

Is it dangerous? Is it lethal?

No! It's like a rare piece of equipment! It's an epic item!

Some wizards are aware of the looming crisis, such as Grindelwald and Dumbledore.

However, like all pioneers of consciousness, they recognize the danger but lack a clear path forward.

They wander, consistently hitting roadblocks.

They are sparks and flames. If they ignite others who follow in their footsteps, they can start an unstoppable blaze. But once extinguished, the outcome is inevitable.

As Aurelius commented on Grindelwald: he admired Grindelwald's ambition and appreciated his thoughts filled with urgency, but he could not agree with Grindelwald's behavior.