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Chapter 917: Conflict
Chapter 917: Conflict
Hearing Ivan's words, the French Minister immediately turned to look at the Auror, seeking his opinion.
"It's possible. Our people found traces of a battle there", the Auror replied honestly.
"Then let's assume that's the case..." The French Minister nodded.
Ivan was highly dissatisfied. This was clearly the truth!
"Let's move on to the main issue!" The French Minister easily brushed aside the matter, cleared his throat, and spoke with great solemnity. "Over a month ago, one of my subordinates discovered that Grindelwald was operating within France. According to the testimonies of the captured followers, Grindelwald came here to find a very special treasure..."
As he spoke, the French Minister carefully observed the two men's expressions, trying to discern something from them.
Ivan's mind raced, understanding that the Minister was referring to the Resurrection Stone. However, he did not show any reaction, maintaining an air of complete ignorance.
Rolf, standing beside him, also put on a convincing act. Having traveled the world with his father over the years and interacted with all sorts of people, he had mastered the art of controlling his expressions.
The French Minister scrutinized the two for a long moment but found no signs of panic or guilt on their faces. He understood that the two warlocks before him were no ordinary individuals, and it would not be easy to extract the truth from them.
With this in mind, the French Minister gave Bruno a subtle nod, then turned to Ivan and the others, speaking sternly. "I don't know what specific treasure Grindelwald is seeking, but whatever it is, it belongs to Nicolas Flamel's collection and, by extension, to all of France!"
"Anyone who dares to keep it for themselves will be opposing all French wizards!"
"I will ask you one last time: apart from the two coffins, did you take anything else from the tomb?" The French Minister questioned sternly, his attitude firm.
Grindelwald had come all the way to France and gone to great lengths to find this treasure, which must be something truly remarkable. As the Minister of Magic of the French Ministry of Magic, he would not allow such an item to leave the country, whether it was Grindelwald or anyone else...
"Unfortunately, Minister of Magic, we have no idea what this treasure is. Perhaps you should ask Grindelwald if he has taken it", Ivan said with a hint of sarcasm.
He had no intention of handing over the Resurrection Stone, which they had fought hard to obtain. It would be the same as giving it directly to Grindelwald.
After all, even the North American Ministry of Magic, widely regarded as the most powerful, could not stop Grindelwald from coming and going as he pleased. How much less could the French Ministry of Magic?
Moreover, the Resurrection Stone had never belonged to France or Nicolas Flamel. According to legend, it was one of the Deathly Hallows of Britain and had been a family heirloom of the British Gaunt family...
However, Ivan did not bother to explain in detail, as the Minister of Magic had already made up his mind to keep "Nicolas Flamel's relics" in France and would likely dismiss any British legends.
Rolf, on the other hand, was not as calm as Ivan. He keenly noticed that the number of Aurors in the room was increasing, subtly surrounding them from all sides.
---
More importantly, this is the headquarters of the Magic Department. Who knows how many protective Magic spells have been set up here? If a conflict were to break out, Ivan-Hals might be able to escape unharmed, but I would most likely be arrested.
The atmosphere on the scene suddenly became very tense. Bruno and the others also appeared extremely nervous. Compared to the Minister of Magic, they had truly witnessed Ivan-Hals's strength.
Despite their numerical advantage and the favorable terrain, he had no absolute confidence in subduing the other side.
"Since you insist that you didn't take anything from Nicolas Flamel's Tomb, I'll provisionally believe your story. However, I need to give the French Wizards an explanation!" the French Minister said slowly.
"What do you want us to do?" Rolf asked.
"It's simple, just prove that what you're saying is the truth!" the French Minister emphasized. "Of course, it must be verified by our people!"
Proof? Ivan paused for a moment, then immediately understood what the other side meant. He said coldly, "Do you want to search us, or perhaps delve into our memories?"
"Of course, the memories. That's the fastest and most secure way!" the French Minister said solemnly.
No one knew what the treasure looked like; it could be something as common as a bracelet or a pendant. Wizards' methods were varied and unpredictable, and a physical search might miss the item.
Additionally, Ivan and Rolf had stayed in Paris for some time. They could have hidden the item somewhere temporarily.
The only foolproof method was to verify their memories!
Wizards' memories could be altered, but Legilimency and Occlumency were skills that only a few could master. These were purely talent-based forms of Magic, and the probability that both of the men in front of him were Legilimens was almost zero.
As they were speaking, a young Auror in his thirties stepped out from the crowd.
The French Minister turned to the man and said, "Allow me to introduce Mr. Ellis, an excellent Legilimens who has been working in the department for ten years. He was the first to discover the whereabouts of Grindelwald's followers, which allowed the Ministry of Magic to track these people's movements... You can completely trust his professional integrity."
Hearing this, Rolf forced himself to remain calm, but he was already panicking inside. He tried to avoid eye contact with the young Auror and signaled Ivan to think of a way out quickly.
Ivan gestured for Rolf to stay calm and then began to observe Ellis. From the first glance, he could tell that this was a very special Wizard. He was exceptionally handsome, but his face was alarmingly pale.
Most importantly, Ivan couldn't sense any emotional fluctuations from him. It was clear that Ellis's Occlumency skills were highly advanced.
"Sorry, Minister, I've always believed that memories are the most private things for a Wizard. Therefore, I regret to refuse your proposal", Ivan said calmly. He wasn't afraid of having his memory searched, but Rolf was a different story. If subjected to Legilimency, Rolf would likely expose their secret.
"Then, should I assume that you did indeed steal the treasure from the tomb and are afraid to prove it to us?" the French Minister pressed, his tone aggressive. The Aurors around them also began to place their hands on their wands.
"No Wizard would willingly show their memories to a stranger. If you insist on accusing me, then I have no choice..." Ivan's tone became very unfriendly, and he signaled Rolf to be ready to flee at any moment.
(End of Chapter)(End of Chapter)
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