https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-514-Dawgert-Hals-Strength-and-Deception-Run-Deep/13448740/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-516-What-Is-That-True-How-Come-I-Didn-t-Know-/13448755/
Chapter 515: Weakness and Ignorance Are Not Obstacles to Survival, Arrogance Is!
Chapter 515: Weakness and Ignorance Are Not Obstacles to Survival, Arrogance Is! (Combined)
Dawgert nodded and waved his wand, lifting the Silencing Charm.
The young male wizard first looked at Ivan and then turned to Asia with a mocking tone.
"Truly laughable, I never thought you would let a mere boy sit there. Is this how you humiliate people, Asia?"
"Or do you think your subordinates will obey your orders like dogs?"
As he spoke, the young wizard glanced around at the others present.
To him, Asia had undoubtedly made an extremely foolish decision!
Perhaps this woman was overly indulgent with her child, or perhaps she wanted to train her heir, but no matter the reason, allowing a mere thirteen- or fourteen-year-old to sit in the main seat was a tremendous insult!
However, what puzzled him was that the wizards present did not seem to show strong dissatisfaction.
Their eyes flashed with emotions he could not understand.
Listening to the wizard's insolent words, Ivan was not angry, just slightly disappointed. He had thought the other party might have something profound to say, but it turned out they just wanted a beating.
"Res Nott?" Ivan stood up and looked at the other, speaking casually.
"Yes, it's me!" The young wizard held his head high with pride. His upbringing made him refuse to bow even as a prisoner.
Ivan sneered and ignored him, walking down the steps and looking at everyone present.
"Gentlemen, over the years, I have been thinking about what distinguishes these so-called Pureblood Wizards from us, and why they are considered sacred!"
"At first, I thought it was because these Pureblood Wizards possessed exceptional talent and power that surpasses ours."
"But clearly, this is wrong! Voldemort, who sparked the Wizarding War more than a decade ago, was a Half-blood Wizard and a Muggle-born. The great White Wizard, Albus Dumbledore, is not even from the Sacred Twenty-Eight Families. This shows that Pureblood Wizards are not much stronger than us, and some are even weaker!"
The wizards present did not expect Ivan to suddenly bring up this topic, and for a moment, they were all at a loss.
However, when Ivan mentioned Voldemort, many wizards shuddered.
The rest of the wizards were also shocked by Ivan's words. It was the first time they learned that the Dark Lord, who was known for his Pureblood Ideology, was actually a Half-blood Wizard.
Intimidated by Ivan's authority, no one dared to contradict him. The more rational wizards began to ponder Ivan's words.
Res Nott sneered, intending to prove that Pureblood Wizards were inherently superior to Half-blood Wizards and Muggle-Borns. However, he was momentarily blinded by the Order of Merlin, First Class, pinned to Ivan's collar.
Ivan looked at Res Nott, who stood there, wanting to argue but unsure how to start, and continued.
"If the advantages of Pureblood Wizards are not related to talent or power, is it because of wealth and influence?"
"Ah, we can certainly say that! After all, Pureblood Families control the board of Hogwarts and have their presence in key departments of the Ministry of Magic!"
"Admittedly, some Purebloods do have commendable qualities. I have met children from Pureblood Families who are brave, intelligent, and approachable."
Ivan thought of Luna, George, Neville, and others. They were Purebloods, but they were all good people. In contrast, these families generally did not belong to the elite class!
Families like the Malfoys and Blacks had a different atmosphere altogether. Goyle and Crabbe were as stupid as could be, perhaps a result of years of inbreeding.
So Ivan continued, stepping slowly.
"But I also know some people who have no manners, are domineering and arrogant, and look down on everyone! They rely on the wealth and reputation accumulated by their ancestors, and their lives are smooth sailing without much effort!"
"Even so, these wealthy Pureblood Wizards still want to control us!
They look down on us from their high positions, treating the wizards struggling in Knockturn Alley like rats in the sewers. At the same time, they forcefully take the little wealth we have left to fuel their extravagant lifestyles."
Let's all take a moment to think. The Six Great Families have been entrenched in Knockturn Alley for centuries. What have they truly done for us? Nothing at all! We are even poorer now than we have ever been!
Meanwhile, they live in luxurious manors, controlling their representatives from a distance to avoid being mocked by other Pureblood Wizards for frequent contact with lowly Wizards, so-called Muggle-Borns. They use a small amount of money to form a so-called Auror Squad, enforcing their rules to exploit and oppress our meager wages.
Ivan surveyed the crowd, speaking confidently in the spacious meeting hall.
He had never specifically learned public speaking before, but in his previous life, he had read extensively. He knew that uniting a group could be complex, but there were relatively easy methods, such as stirring up conflict.
All it took was to identify a common pain point, use words to build a sense of shared identity, and fan the flames of conflict. Finally, establish a common goal, and you're almost there.
Ivan deliberately chose to target the Pureblood Families because he had seen the list Dawgert provided, knowing the names of everyone present. Not one of them was a member of the Pureblood Families, meaning that criticizing Purebloods would not cause much resentment.
However, this was all theoretical knowledge, and Ivan was uncertain of its effectiveness. So, while speaking, he carefully observed the audience's reactions.
Among the thirty-odd Wizards present, reactions varied.
Dawgert and his friends were almost unmoved, with only three or four people seriously considering his words.
Ivan was not surprised. For these Wizards, with their wealth and knowledge, only real benefits could sway them. They were a tough crowd to impress.
Fenrir, Walker, and the other werewolves, however, displayed anger. They were at the bottom of the Wizard discrimination chain and could deeply understand Ivan's words.
Given their abilities, if not for the discrimination in the Wizarding World and the lack of acceptance from society, they would not be living in such poverty.
The remaining Wizards also felt the same way.
They had been recruited by Asia, and their magical abilities were certainly not lacking. However, due to their dedication to Dark Magic or other factors, they were ostracized by the mainstream Wizarding World, leading them to end up in Knockturn Alley.
If given the chance, no one would willingly accept such a life!
Ivan's words provided them with an excellent outlet for their frustrations, allowing them to blame the Pureblood Wizards who monopolized resources for their suffering!
This was exactly what Ivan aimed to achieve—directing their anger toward the six Pureblood Families that controlled the Wizarding Market!
Of course, he wasn't just spouting nonsense. The distribution of wealth and power in the Wizarding World was indeed highly unfair.
Take the Black Family, for example, with Sirius Black. They had so much money that generations could spend without ever running out. They also owned numerous businesses, making a fortune just from rent alone.
The Malfoy Family, on the other hand, focused more on power, cultivating connections with many Ministry of Magic officials.
Each generation of these two families automatically inherited a seat on the Hogwarts Board of Governors.
The Wizarding World is limited in size, and there are only so many decent jobs. Unless someone is exceptionally talented, it's not easy for ordinary Wizards to find good employment.
In contrast, some Pureblood Wizards hold the reins of power in the Wizarding World but do nothing practical, only seeking personal gain.
It has been over two hundred years since the Muggle Industrial Revolution!
The Muggle world has undergone tremendous changes, while the Wizarding World remains stagnant, just as it was before, with no substantial improvements.
A clear example is the limited knowledge that Wizard children have about the outside world. At Hogwarts, apart from the optional Muggle Studies, they are deliberately kept from learning anything about Muggles.
Ivan found the situation in Knockturn Alley particularly absurd. A group of people with special powers, strictly adhering to Wizarding World regulations, could end up unable to afford a meal.
He always believed that the root of why some Wizards lived in poverty lay in the problems with the entire Ministry of Magic system!
Wizards are extremely rare, and in Ivan's view, each one is a valuable talent. Their magical powers could be put to much greater use instead of being forced to compete for limited resources!
Ivan, in high spirits, spoke freely about the unfair distribution of resources in the Wizarding World and the various flaws in its system.
These thoughts had been accumulating over the years he had spent in the Wizarding World, and he had never had the chance to voice them. Now, he finally had the opportunity!
In his previous life, he was a Muggle, and he was well aware of the rapid development of Muggle technology over the next few decades. With the rise of the internet, it would become increasingly difficult for Wizards to hide their tracks, and the tensions between the two groups would escalate once again.
Now that he was a part of the Wizarding community, he couldn't help but be concerned.
“Ha ha ha!”
Suddenly, a burst of laughter echoed through the quiet conference room, interrupting Ivan's speech.
“Mr. Res Nott, you seem to have a different opinion?” Ivan turned to look at Res, who was laughing, and asked with interest.
“The nobility of Pureblood Wizards is not something that Muggle-borns and Half-bloods like you can taint,” Res Nott said with a grim smile, looking down on the others with disdain.
Fenrir and the others glared at him with fury. If not for Ivan's presence, they would have already used the Crucio curse to make Res Nott experience the agony of a living death.
Res Nott, however, paid no attention to their glares. He turned his gaze to Ivan and continued arrogantly.
“However, you did mention one thing correctly. The laws of the Ministry of Magic have significant issues. If not for the Muggle Protection Act, we wouldn't be confined to this small Wizarding World. It should be the Muggles who need to hide!”
Ivan smiled but didn't respond. The Muggle Protection Act protected not just Muggles but Wizards as well!
“Mr. Res Nott, I believe you need to understand one thing: weakness and ignorance are not always barriers to survival; arrogance is!” Ivan said, emphasizing each word.
“Yes, arrogance!” Res Nott's lips curled into a smirk. He noticed that Ivan was now close enough.
He had no intention of chatting with this young witch or wizard. His goal was to get Ivan to approach and let his guard down.
Initially, Res even planned to endure some torture and then voluntarily reveal some information to achieve this. However, Ivan had approached on his own.
As he thought this, Res Nott's body suddenly trembled and rapidly expanded, breaking free from the ropes and transforming into a large brown bear. He swiped his sharp claws at Ivan's head!
An Illegal Animagus!
The moment Res Nott began to transform, the Wizards in the room realized what was happening.
Since Animagi were extremely rare in the Wizarding World, and Res Nott had never used this ability in front of them, they were completely unprepared!
Walker was also taken aback and immediately drew his wand to try and rescue Ivan.
However, Res Nott was too close to Ivan. He was so close that a single swipe of his paw could reach Ivan's body. The large bear's face was filled with triumph.
During the previous capture, he had hidden this identity. Even though his Animagus form was combat-oriented, he had little chance of winning against multiple Wizards. Even if he could defeat the guards, he would eventually be overwhelmed by reinforcements.
So he decided to hide and wait for the right moment to capture an important figure!
At first, his target was Asia, but she was a tough opponent, and even a surprise attack had a high risk of failure. Who would have thought that a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old young witch or wizard would walk right up to him, presenting the perfect opportunity!
Faced with the sudden attack from Res, Ivan's expression remained unchanged. He simply extended his hand.
A pale, slender arm emerged from his sleeve, reaching out to the nearly three-meter-tall brown bear in front of him.
Res Nott couldn't help but wonder if this young witch or wizard had lost his mind, performing such a ridiculous and laughable act.
But in the next moment, that arm transformed at an astonishing speed, becoming as thick as a waist. The fingers spread out and clamped around Res Nott's neck, lifting him off the ground.
Ivan's body also expanded. He bent slightly, but his head already touched the ceiling, which was fortunate to be quite high; otherwise, he would have had to crouch!
In front of this towering figure, Res Nott, in his giant bear form, looked like a nine-year-old child standing before a towering giant, appearing pitiful and powerless!
(End of Chapter)
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