Chapter 942: Priori Incantatem!
Chapter 942: Priori Incantatem!
After listening to Percy's description, Ivan hesitated for a moment, then glanced around at the gathered crowd and asked, "Apart from Percy, who was the first person to discover the body?"
"It was... it was me!" A witch in the crowd nervously stood up, her voice trembling under Ivan's intense gaze. "I happened to meet a friend here tonight, but I never expected to come across this Master..."
"Meeting? With whom? And why in such a secluded place?" Ivan pressed, his tone stern.
"I just... I was just passing by here", the witch stammered.
"I hope you're telling the truth, madam!" Ivan's expression darkened. The location where Minister Igor was found dead was in a secluded corridor on the third floor, a place where no one would normally go unless they had a specific reason.
Just as the witch was starting to feel overwhelmed by Ivan's questioning, a middle-aged warlock stepped forward, his face flushed with anger. "Enough! It was me who invited her here. We planned to meet and talk. What’s the problem? It’s our private business and has nothing to do with this case!"
Ivan's gaze immediately shifted to the middle-aged warlock. From his facial expression and the emotional fluctuations revealed by Legilimency, it seemed the warlock was telling the truth.
The onlookers quickly recognized the middle-aged warlock as a Senior Senator from the North American Magic Congress. What was most crucial was that, in their memory, this Senior Senator had a family. The fact that he was meeting a young witch from another country in such a secret location made it clear what they were up to.
Unable to bear the prying eyes of the crowd, the witch quickly pointed at Percy and blurted out, "A few minutes ago, when I first arrived, I saw Master Percy crouching in front of the body, as if he was trying to cover up the crime..."
At this, everyone's attention immediately shifted to Percy. Compared to the mundane gossip of a Senior Senator's infidelity, catching the culprit was far more important.
Before Cornell and the other hostages could ask, Percy hurriedly began to explain. When he first saw Minister Igor lying on the ground, he was completely shocked and panicked. He had crouched down to check if Minister Igor was still breathing, to see if he was alive.
"That's all I know... I swear I didn't do this. Minister Igor's death has nothing to do with me!"
Percy spoke urgently, but then remembered the Aurors had detected traces of the Killing Curse on his wand. His tone changed as he continued, "Maybe someone knocked me unconscious and used my wand to kill Minister Igor, or... the Imperius Curse, yes, I could have been under the Imperius Curse..."
"Who can prove that?" The Russian warlock interrupted Percy's defense without hesitation, grabbing his collar and shouting, "This is just your word against ours. How do we know you're not lying to get out of trouble? We all know the Imperius Curse can't be detected..."
As he spoke, the Russian warlock, his emotions running high, raised his fist to strike Percy. However, just as he was about to land the punch, his body suddenly went limp, as if all his bones had melted. Under the force of gravity, he collapsed onto Percy, and the two of them rolled together on the ground.
The sudden anomaly startled the Wizards present, nearly making them think it was another attack.
Cornell, however, had an inkling of what was happening and immediately turned to look at Ivan. In his mind, the only person who could cast the Relaxation Charm without a spell and instantly subdue an Adult Wizard, other than Grindelwald, was the British genius, Ivan Hals.
"Who... who did this?" The Russian warlock's face was flushed red as he struggled to get up from the ground, but his limbs were limp and unresponsive.
"Sir, I understand your anger, but please calm down. Anger won't solve anything!" Ivan lowered his raised hand and then turned to face the several warlocks glaring at him, continuing, "I don't know much about Minister Igor's situation, but from Director Cornell's description, he must have been a remarkable Wizard. It wouldn't be easy to kill him silently."
"From what I know, only one Wizard has both the ability and the motive to do such a thing", Ivan added.
"You mean..." Cornell furrowed his brow.
"Gellert Grindelwald!" Ivan said slowly. "Don't forget, the purpose of this conference is to unite against him. He has every reason to kill Minister Igor and frame Percy, stirring up conflict among us..."
"That's impossible! We've tested every Wizard entering the Congress. He couldn't have slipped in!" Cornell shook his head, countering.
Decades ago, Grindelwald had deceived them with a disguise. This time, they had taken precautions for the Wizards' Meeting.
In fact, the entrance to the Magic Congress was protected by a very discreet Protective Charm. If anyone tried to use Polyjuice Potion, Animagus transformation, or other Transformation Magic to sneak in, they would be exposed the moment they crossed the threshold.
"Are you sure this protective magic is foolproof? What if someone got in another way, like... the fireplace?" Ivan asked, puzzled.
"Anything you can think of, we've considered. All the fireplaces in the Congress were shut down in advance, and Teleportation Magic can't be used here. So, anyone who wants to enter or leave can only do so through the main gate!" Wilkinson responded firmly.
"What about the Aurors and Goblins who were already inside the Congress?" Ivan suddenly asked.
The Aurors maintaining order looked hostile, and the lead Auror said with evident displeasure, "Are you questioning us?"
"I'm just suggesting a possibility", Ivan replied noncommittally.
Wilkinson glanced at the fallen Minister Igor and then at the agitated Russian Wizards. He declared resolutely, "I will thoroughly investigate everyone!"
Ivan nodded, about to say more when the crowd suddenly parted. Several Wizards in elaborate attire quickly approached Igor's body. After a brief discussion, they all raised their wands and chanted in unison:
"Priori Incantatem!"
(End of Chapter)
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