https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-434-Old-Clothes-and-New-Garments/13113091/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-436-The-Mastermind-Behind-it-All-Mr-Gray-/13113093/
Chapter 435: Why Did We Fail?
Chapter 435: Why Did We Fail?
A golden bell gently swayed in the air, its clapper missing from within.
Drelane's Wand pointed, and the floating crystal bottle shattered, releasing a golden powder that surged towards Moro.
Moro instinctively held his breath, covering his eyes with the back of his hand. He then watched as the scattered gold powder gathered towards the bell hanging on his wrist, even forming a tiny vortex in the air.
He shook his arm a few times, and the powder swayed in the air, soon being completely absorbed by the bell.
"Antoine, do you feel any discomfort in your body?" Drelane asked.
Moro moved his arm and shoulder, replying, "No, everything's fine. I don't feel any loss of consciousness either."
Grindelwald waved his finger, and the empty chair beside him rolled into the center of the room.
"Break it." He said.
Moro pointed his wand at the chair, "Thunderous Blast!"
The spell hit its target, causing wooden splinters to fly, and even a wave of heat to disperse.
"There's no difference from before," Moro affirmed. "That golden powder definitely didn't affect me—I thought ancient magic would be more troublesome!"
"The more powerful, the more fragile," Grindelwald said. "Time magic is indeed terrifying, but when condensed into powder, a small container can restrict it."
"But one isn't enough. Vide, Volvaret, I need more...uh, does this thing have a name?" Grindelwald asked.
"Dust-Sucking Bell," Volvaret said proudly. "Vide named it."
"Oh."
Grindelwald looked at Vide with disdain. "It's on the same level as your Telegraph Bean. Naming a creation should be more thoughtful, like an alchemist naming their child."
Vide shrugged. "What's wrong with simplicity? It's easy to understand, and you know its purpose at a glance."
Grindelwald sighed, paused for a moment, then said, "Sylvanice...let's call it that. I need at least one hundred and eighty of them. How long will it take you to prepare?"
"One hundred and eighty..." Volvaret estimated their progress and said, "Around two days."
A mature alchemist could simultaneously shape multiple sets of materials, making each alchemist equivalent to a small factory.
Volvaret also had several apprentices who could handle basic tasks like material refining and shaping.
Two days was the estimate considering their normal rest, but they could actually work faster.
"Then, in three days, we'll take action again. Vide Gray..." Grindelwald looked at the young wizard and said, "Get ready, you're joining us this time."
...
"Sigh..."
Back in the Alchemist's Lab, Volvaret had already sighed for the third time. His worried expression made Vide, who had initially decided not to speak, unable to hold back.
"It's okay, don't worry," Vide reassured him. "Last time, Mr. Grindelwald also kept me by his side, and there was no one safer than me in the entire place."
"I'm not worried about that. If Gellert doesn't want it, he won't let you get hurt... What I'm concerned about is..."
Volvaret didn't finish his sentence and sighed deeply again.
Vide knew what was bothering him, but he couldn't influence Grindelwald's thoughts, so he chose to remain silent.
The last time Grindelwald took him out, he was just a safe observer. But this time... it probably wouldn't be so easy.
He hadn't even turned fourteen yet, and at this age, whether it was going to battle or killing, or just facing such a cruel scene, it felt too early, even for a dark wizard like Volvaret.
As night fell, the two of them tidied up the lab and went to eat.
The house-elf had already served dinner, and while it couldn't compare to the feasts at Hogwarts, even a simple vegetable salad tasted more delicious.
During the meal, Volvaret maintained his worried expression. When he forked a piece of tomato, he imagined a scene of bloodshed, and when he picked up a piece of roasted chicken, he envisioned a person being charred alive.
He had witnessed such scenes many times before, but this time was different.
In his imagination, next to every gruesome scene, there was a pale and trembling Vide, forced to raise his wand under the intimidating gaze of the Dark Lord.
Before finishing dinner, Volvaret suddenly stood up and exclaimed, "No! We can't do this!"
Vide was startled by his outburst and blinked in confusion.
Then he watched as Volvaret quickly rushed into his bedroom, rummaged through his drawers, and took out a... Soft Light Badge? This was also Vide's creation, a magical beauty filter that enhanced one's appearance in a natural environment, with its only drawback being a short duration. It had been selling well since its release, even among the Wizengamot.
"What is Volvaret doing with that?"
Vide watched in confusion as the elder man happily pinned a badge on his chest, saying, "Does this look familiar? Young people love beauty, and wearing a badge like this won't seem strange. Even an old man like me couldn't resist buying a few."
He personally pinned the badge on Vide's chest, straightened his clothes, and whispered, "I've modified this badge a bit. It's now a portal key to this castle. In case... if Gellert gives you a hard time, come back immediately."
"Don't worry about them bothering you later. I'll handle it! No matter what Gellert asks, just say it was my idea... I still have that much face..."
The waiter knocked gently on the door and said, "Sir, your dinner is here."
The door opened, and a man with a scarf and a nearly bald head took the tray, his eyes calmly scanning the waiter as he said, "Thank you."
The waiter was stunned and maintained a smile as he watched the man close the door again, wondering silently.
"This guest's appearance doesn't match his eyes at all. It's as if a soldier's soul has been stuffed into a thief's body."
But...
Who says that someone with a shabby appearance can't have a noble air? Perhaps he once had a tumultuous life, only to be crushed by fate, becoming unkempt...
The waiter imagined a movie-like scenario in his mind and pushed the food cart towards the next room, still occasionally seeing those unique eyes in his mind.
"Dinner's here, Miss Mabel," Peter II said, placing the pancakes, grilled sausages, and a plate of fruit on the table, along with a large jar of sweet milk.
"Thank you," Mabel said, fresh from the washroom, sitting at the table and wrapping a sausage in a pancake. She said shyly, "Are you sure you won't have some?"
"We don't need to eat, Miss Mabel," Peter II shook his head.
This wasn't the first time Mabel had heard this answer, but she still felt it was a bit strange.
No matter how you looked at it, they seemed human, and their speech and behavior were natural. Yet, in essence, they were the same as the Rubik's Cube or the broomstick beside them. Sometimes, when you thought about it, it felt a little scary.
But after spending more time with them, Mabel discovered that this ugly-looking Peter II was actually a reserved, silent, and reliable person... a good magic doll.
When Mabel left with a group of magic dolls, she thought that this time they would have to travel and sleep rough while searching. She even considered what to do if someone fell ill.
However, in reality, she was having a better time than ever before.
When they were on the move, the Rubik's Cube magic doll would unfold a shield-like panel to block the cold wind, while Mikhail fanned his wings beside her, creating warm currents. They didn't feel the cold of the high altitude at all.
The magic dolls also considered her need for food and rest, so in the evening, they stopped at the entrance of a high-end hotel.
Peter II checked in as an adult and could even provide various legal registration information and documents, though Mabel didn't know how he managed it.
The Rubik's Cube magic doll transformed into a suitcase and was quietly brought into the room by Peter II.
Later, Mabel, invisible under her cloak, flew in through the window on her broomstick. The hotel provided delicious food and hot showers.
Safety was also not a concern. At night, Mabel slept on a soft bed, and if she woke up in the middle of the night and opened her eyes, she would see a few magic dolls quietly guarding the window or the door.
During the day, they tracked several places where the Wizengamot had attacked but couldn't get close, only watching from a distance as the wizards dealt with the aftermath. Sometimes, the broomstick would disguise itself as an ordinary flying broom and eavesdrop on their conversations.
Not a single mistake was made in their observation!
But starting two days ago, this blind search finally made significant progress—a wizard named Macchioni took the initiative to contact them and provide information.
He was a merchant, reportedly a partner of Vide Gray.
"Can that guy be trusted?" the broomstick muttered, "There's a saying in my mind, 'All merchants are cunning.' These sly fellows will do anything for profit."
Mabel subconsciously looked at its slender body and flattened branches.
"Mind?" Where was its brain?
"That's perfect," Peter II said, "Rescuing the master is in his best interest."
"Whether he is trustworthy or not is for the master to judge. I only care if the information he provides is useful."
"The Cube Magic Doll spoke.
"Did he know you were magic dolls?" Mabel asked curiously.
"He knew," replied the Cube Magic Doll.
When they left, it also took Vide's Friend Ledger that was left at home, intending to occasionally use it to gather information.
However, due to the parchment, others were probably unable to trust their identities, and they were very cautious and did not make contact. Aside from Dumbledore, who had invited them to join him, only Macchioni, after being silent for a few days, took the initiative to send various pieces of intelligence.
In the Daily Prophet videos, none of the Wizengamot members showed their faces, but Macchioni analyzed the material and patterns of their boots, helping the magic dolls narrow down the search area.
[If I'm not mistaken, their base is likely in the southwestern region of Sweden. You should head inland and look for ancient castles that have experienced magic.]
[That person was imprisoned in an offshore prison for forty-eight years. The cold and damp climate must have caused significant damage to his body, so the place he chose to live now will definitely be far from the coast.]
— This was the message Macchioni sent two days ago.
There are only over 300 castles in all of Sweden. After excluding the ones on the coast and those that have become tourist attractions, it wouldn't take long to search through them one by one.
The only concern was that Grindelwald might completely hide the castle.
But in their group, there was also Mabel.
Born from a hatred of magic, Mumblin had an extraordinary sensitivity to magical power.
After dinner, Mabel crossed off the places they had searched for the day on the map, discussed the next day's itinerary with the magic dolls, and was about to rest when she heard the Cube Magic Doll suddenly speak:
"Macchioni has sent another message..."
It opened the Friend Ledger and saw an unfamiliar name written on it.
"John Adler? An ordinary person who doesn't know magic... might become the next target of the Wizengamot... Have you heard of this name?"
Everyone in the room, including Mabel, shook their heads.
"What should we do then?" Mabel asked, pointing at the map, "Should we continue checking the castles, or go find this Adler first?"
The Cube Magic Doll stared at the parchment as the words gradually appeared, deep in thought.
...
"The badge has been changed to a portal key?" Grindelwald repeated, a mysterious smile on his lips.
"Yes," replied the house-elf, dressed in a gray pillowcase, repeating Volvaret's words verbatim.
These creatures have large, flexible ears that can rotate independently, giving them extremely sensitive hearing. At the same time, most wizards would subconsciously ignore them.
Grindelwald, who had experienced war, did not overlook the power and unique role of these creatures. He had cast spells in his study, bedroom, and meeting room, so even house-elves could only hear a buzzing noise outside the rooms.
But Volvaret did not have this awareness, and Grindelwald had not shared his experience with others.
At this moment, after hearing the house-elf's words, Grindelwald did not say anything. Instead, Drellen, standing beside him, showed a look of anger.
"Sir," he bowed, "Volvaret shows signs of betrayal. Should I..."
Grindelwald raised his hand to stop him and said to the house-elf, "I understand. You can go back to work now."
"Yes."
The house-elf disappeared with a snap.
Only then did Grindelwald turn to Drellen, but instead of getting angry as Drellen had expected, he laughed and said,
"Although Antoine didn't speak, he probably shares Volvaret's concerns. What about you, Gint?"
"What do you think about bringing Vide Gray along for the next mission?" Grindelwald asked.
"Volvaret and Antoine are both blinded by personal emotions and have not understood your good intentions."
Drellen replied without hesitation, "Vide Gray holds the bell... and the knowledge of Sylvanice's creation. If he has ill intentions, it could cause us tremendous losses."
"You bring him along to ensure everyone's safety. It's a cautious and prudent strategy!"
His expression was sincere, without a hint of flattery or insincerity, because that's genuinely how he felt.
But upon hearing this, Grindelwald burst into laughter, his frail chest trembling like a drum.
Drellen watched him worriedly, fearing he would laugh himself out of breath like the last time.
Then, he saw his chosen monarch suppress his laughter and sigh, "Gint, have you ever thought about why our past endeavors failed?"
(End of Chapter)
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