Chapter 436: The Mastermind Behind it All, Mr. Gray?

Chapter 436: The Mastermind Behind it All, Mr. Gray?

"Because of Dumbledore's obstruction," Drellen paused, "and also because many foolish people couldn't comprehend your great strategy and vision."

"Dumbledore?"

Grindelwald spoke slowly, "When Dumbledore avoided meeting me, my endeavors had already shown signs of failure."

"The whole world believed my power was unstoppable, but only I knew that everything had deviated from our... my initial ideals..."

He closed his eyes, as if returning to that narrow, cold prison cell, repeatedly feeding on his failures, chewing over and regretting—

If, during the duel, he hadn't been overly confident in the power of the Elder Wand... If he hadn't neglected to hone his skills... perhaps he wouldn't have lost to Dumbledore.

If he had been a little more tolerant of Muggles, perhaps his subordinates wouldn't have secretly chosen to betray him.

If he had killed all the unicorns instead of leaving the election to a creature he couldn't control...

If he had completely won over Credence, making that simple-minded young man willingly fight for him...

If he hadn't underestimated Scamander for his foolish appearance and killed him sooner...

Even earlier... if he had been more patient with Aberforth and Ariana, realizing how important those two burdens were to Dumbledore...

Perhaps everything would have turned out differently.

But as he counted and recounted, Grindelwald realized that there were too many turning points in his destiny that needed changing.

The collapse of his empire wasn't sudden; countless mistakes led to his ultimate failure. In retrospect, it seemed that every time he stood at a crossroads, he chose the wrong direction.

In the long reflection, Grindelwald finally understood that it wasn't Dumbledore who defeated him, but himself.

He had made the wrong decisions from the start, using brutal and extreme rule to turn himself into the world's enemy. No matter how prosperous his situation appeared, it was like pouring oil on fire, burning fiercely, only to find that the fuel had long been exhausted when the flames died down.

He hadn't challenged just Muggles or the centuries-old wizarding mindset of cowardly avoidance; he had challenged the world's inherent order, everyone's fundamental interests, and morality.

"I didn't lose to Dumbledore; I lost to myself... I was defeated by my youthful arrogance and ignorance."

Grindelwald emphasized this again, looking at his loyal subordinate, a peaceful smile on his face, as he spoke the truth he had finally come to accept after much contemplation.

"Brutal rule cannot last, Gunther. No matter how bright the future seems, it cannot outweigh the pain that is right before us."

"Fifty years ago, we made enemies everywhere, isolated and unsupported. We appeared strong, but even within our ranks, there were conflicts and doubts. Countless people questioned and resisted us."

"To silence opposition, we eliminated anyone who voiced dissent—even those who were once our allies, our own kin... even if they were right..."

"That was wrong."

Grindelwald sighed heavily, "Conflicts and problems always exist. Silencing others is the most dangerous thing to do."

"Those who share our beliefs are our companions, but does that make those with different ideas our enemies?"

"Look, I killed many without understanding, but now, with just a few deaths, I've gained understanding."

He extended his finger and tapped the stack of newspapers on the table. The pile was thick, with various writings and the scent of ink.

These were newspapers his followers had collected from different countries, all containing news from the wizarding world.

Before these papers reached Grindelwald, Drellen had quickly reviewed them to ensure they contained no insulting remarks.

Surprisingly, he found that many articles praised the Wizengamot's recent actions, revisiting the threat Muggles posed to wizards. In the past, only the Wizengamot dared to speak of this.

Of course, some writers analyzed Grindelwald's schemes at length, attempting to remind wizards of the Wizengamot's bloody history.

However, wizards who had lived through those dark times were now a minority, and most people held optimistic and supportive views. Many even believed that Grindelwald had received sufficient punishment in prison and had repented and changed his ways.

"A ruler who has made mistakes is more suitable than one who has always been right, for they know which choices are wrong." This was a popular sentiment.

The Wizengamot's killings were ruthless, but surprisingly, their public image improved.

"Think about the people around you, Gunther. Do they feel pain or glory from the killings? After the actions, do they feel empty and lost, venting their dissatisfaction with life, or do they feel a stronger sense of identity and pride?"

"Similar actions can lead to vastly different outcomes due to minor differences, and this is the key to determining victory or defeat.

Grindelwald spoke with a certain incoherence, leaving Drellen with a sense of understanding yet confusion.

"Sir, I don't understand," Drellen said, half-kneeling and looking up. "Are we to protect Muggles like Dumbledore... those who persecute us? Are we to become an underground Ministry of Magic, like some self-proclaimed agents of justice?"

Drellen, like a lost lamb, gazed at his monarch and asked softly, "And... establishing a wizard-led global order... the ideology of the Wizengamot... for a greater good... are we to abandon all of this?"

"Abandon? No... we just need to find a new path, one that may be winding and indirect but will surely lead us to our goal."

Grindelwald patted Drellen's head and said, "Don't follow my path of extreme violence, nor Dumbledore's fear of sacrifice, imprisoned by so-called morality and laws."

"Then... what should we do? What should I do?" Drellen asked.

"Go and be the one who brings light to darkness, hope to despair. Learn to benefit the majority, not bring death. Learn to solve problems, not create them."

"You can't put down your wand, but always stand on the side of reason and righteousness."

"Gunter, go and check out the recent videos in the Daily Prophet... the editing of those recordings is probably Mr. Weid's idea, right? Despite his young age, he already understands these principles."

"That boy understands both the wizarding and Muggle worlds, and most importantly, he has a clear mind, adept at learning from the past without being confined to simple good and evil magic. Communicate with him more, listen to his opinions, and you'll learn a lot."

"Dumbledore has indeed taught him well..."

Grindelwald spoke with a hint of melancholy, his face showing deep fatigue.

Seeing this, Drellen, despite his chaotic thoughts, made arrangements for Grindelwald to rest.

Leaving Grindelwald's bedroom, Drellen walked down the spacious corridor, suddenly realizing that although Grindelwald had said a lot, he never mentioned his true purpose for bringing Mr. Weid along.

However, no matter how he looked at it, it was certainly not to forcibly recruit the young wizard to the Wizengamot or threaten him against harming the little bell.

And he wanted to communicate with the child... but about what? Alchemy? Or video editing skills? Drellen was perplexed and couldn't calm down to think.

Grindelwald's narrative seemed to negate his own life, as well as Drellen's decades of pursuit and ideals, leaving him momentarily lost and unsure of his next move.

Unconsciously, Drellen found himself in the hall, where about a dozen people remained—some were drunk and hadn't returned to their bedrooms, while others were still gathered by the fireplace, chatting quietly.

Leaning against the curtain, Drellen watched them and suddenly realized something.

Compared to when the Wizengamot first gathered, more people were voluntarily removing their hoods, and more smiles were visible.

There were also a few witches preparing clothes, whom Drellen remembered as always being tense and reticent.

Their fearful expressions seemed to suggest that they were surrounded by man-eating monsters.

But now, they were gathered around the two wizards who had taken action, listening to their stories of breaking through Muggle soldiers' blockades and rescuing Muggle children who had almost been drained of blood. They exclaimed in awe, naturally expressing sympathy, indignation, and admiration.

The two male wizards, who should have recovered from their injuries by now, still had bandages wrapped around them, proudly boasting about how they had taught the Muggle businessmen and nobles a lesson, eliciting cheers from their companions.

Of course, there were also wizards at other tables who booed, but they pretended not to hear and even became more proud.

This relaxed atmosphere was completely different from the seriousness, drive, and fervor that Drellen had initially envisioned.

It was as if, instead of having the hall set up with long tables where everyone would sit according to their status and jointly emphasize the goals and slogans of the Wizengamot, Grindelwald had transformed it into a street-side tavern.

Suddenly, Drellen felt like he understood what Grindelwald had been saying.

Cruel rule would cause their companions to fall apart, but with the addition of justice, salvation, honor, and mission, people would be drawn together, even without constant reinforcement of ideology.

(Chapter End)

With no ill intent, but leaving an unsettling feeling in one's heart.

Two days passed in a flash, and after the last batch of Sylvanice's bells were completed, Vide moved his body, seeing that it was still early, he decided to return to his room to read for a while.

Yesterday, Vide found a magical notebook on his bookshelf, which recorded several profound spells, including the powerful Huo Shin Bao Hu.

He still remembered the spectacular scene in the movie where the blue gas stove burned Paris. During the last activity, Vide also witnessed how Grindelwald, with just this spell, led the inexperienced new generation of Wizengamot to suppress the Muggle firepower.

Vide didn't delve into why this book appeared on his bookshelf. Instead, he memorized every word, committing them to heart and pondering over them repeatedly.

If he could "find" books of this quality from his bookshelf every day, Vide felt that he really didn't want to go back to school for a while.

But as soon as he stepped out, he ran into Drellen.

"Is it done?" The solemn male wizard asked him.

"Yes," Vide replied.

"Shall we take a walk?" Drellen tilted his head as a gesture.

Vide hesitated for a moment and accepted the invitation.

"Today, we broke into another Muggle celebrity's private villa."

After walking for a while, Drellen said, "That guy didn't participate in those horrible experiments, but he imprisoned more than a dozen young girls and forced them to sell their bodies."

Vide didn't ask about the Muggle's fate but inquired, "What about the girls?"

"We used the Forgetfulness Spell to erase their memories and sent them to a nearby Muggle hospital," Drellen explained. "A small portion of the money from the celebrity's safe is enough to cover the medical expenses for all of them."

Vide was moved by this statement.

Initially, the Wizengamot would abandon all the victims, leaving them as part of the Ministry of Magic's troubles.

The Ministry's way of handling this was to send those injured by magic for treatment, while all other patients with regular injuries were left to the local Muggle government.

As for what happened to those patients afterward, the Ministry, which claimed to protect Muggles, didn't really care.

But now, the Wizengamot finally understood that for Muggles, treatment is a long and painful process, and the high medical expenses could crush many ordinary families. Yet, for the Wizengamot, solving this problem was just a matter of convenience.

They had even learned a new use for the Forgetfulness Spell—not only to hide the magical world but also to help the victims forget their painful memories and regain hope for life."

This wasn't Vide's suggestion; it was something that some soft-hearted wizards discovered after victims chose to commit suicide upon being rescued.

Vide sighed and said, "You've changed the fate of many people—even though they won't remember, the glory of this deed won't fade."

"Glory..."

Drellen pondered this word and suddenly asked, "Is this what you want to see, Vide Gray?"

"What?" Vide's heart skipped a beat, and he looked up in confusion.

"Lately, I've been thinking, are you being forced to cooperate with us, or are you using us to achieve your own goals?"

Drellen calmly said, "You also want those guys to die, don't you?"

"The dirty and ugly nature of humanity is fully displayed in those Muggles, but under the protection of power and money, the Muggle laws can't punish them."

"To protect the magical world, neither the Ministry of Magic nor Dumbledore will let them receive the punishment they deserve—only we, only we are unafraid of killing."

Drellen looked into Vide's eyes and asked bluntly, "So it's not that we chose you, but you chose the Wizengamot, is that right?"

Vide took a deep breath and said helplessly, "Is it because I forced you to kidnap me?"

"I just think those guys are truly anti-human and immoral, so I put more effort into completing the tasks."

"Or do you think I should be more passive and secretly sabotage you, and only cooperate after enduring a few heart-wrenching spells? Is that how I should appear more just?"

Drellen gave a "you can say whatever you want" expression, averted his gaze, and casually handed over a piece of parchment.

Vide: "...Frenemy Ledger?"

"The latest model, it can store information for a long time, and it won't disappear until after reading."

Drellen said, "Take it... Even if you return to HOGWARTS in the future and encounter the same situation, you can still find me."

"Why?" Vide couldn't help but ask.

It was understandable that Volvaret and Moro were willing to help, but Drellen didn't usually communicate much with Vide, and he seemed to have the impression that Vide was some kind of mastermind, even though he didn't show any smile at the moment, but suddenly acted so generously.

"Mr. Grindelwald asked me to interact with you more," Drellen frankly said. "I don't mind being used, but I want to know... Why would a child like you be valued by that gentleman?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end