https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-972-I-Can-t-Wait-to-See-Your-Disappointed-Face-/13454959/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-974-The-Power-Has-Always-Been-in-Your-Hands-Hasn-t-It-/13454961/
Chapter 973: The Wager Decides the Future of the Wizarding World
Chapter 973: The Wager Decides the Future of the Wizarding World
"Who would have thought that after more than fifty years, you still hate me so much... Gellert." Dumbledore sighed, then spoke in a low, somber voice.
"You should understand the carnage the last Wizarding War caused. Even without me, someone else would have stepped up to stop your actions..."
"I've always believed that the true determinant of victory or defeat isn't in the strength of one's power..." Dumbledore's voice resonated like a bell.
"Then what is it? Belief? Love? You must be delusional, Albus. Those things only exist in the most absurd stories!" Grindelwald's words were sharp. "The fact is that I lost the Duel fifty years ago, and thus lost everything. That's all there is to it."
"If the outcome had been the opposite, you would be the one sitting here in chains..." Grindelwald spoke in a dark tone, but his expression soon returned to calm. "So... thank these fifty years of imprisonment, Albus. They have turned me into a withered corpse, content to wait for death here..."
Dumbledore fell silent. After a long moment, he suddenly waved his wand and lightly tapped the chains binding Grindelwald.
"If you insist on thinking that way, I can give you a chance..." Dumbledore said nonchalantly.
With a soft sound, the chains that had held him for fifty years snapped. Grindelwald flexed his wrists but still wore a sneer. "I told you, I refuse any of your offers..."
Dumbledore ignored Grindelwald's words and continued, "Help me complete that Magic, and I will add another condition to the wager—my entire Magical Insight. What do you say?"
Grindelwald was taken aback. He stared deeply at Dumbledore, this time not dismissing the offer so easily.
The stakes were indeed tempting. As a former adversary, no one knew Dumbledore's power better than he did. Whether fifty years ago or now, Dumbledore was the most powerful Wizard in the entire Wizarding World, a fact that was undisputed.
Though in their youth, their powers had been evenly matched, in the years that followed, Grindelwald had focused most of his energy on building his forces and rallying supporters, while Dumbledore had remained dedicated to teaching and academic research, naturally advancing his Magic to a higher level.
Most crucially, they had different focuses in their Magic research. If he could obtain all of Dumbledore's Magical Insight, it would significantly enhance his own power.
"That's not enough. I need the three Deathly Hallows and their methods of use!" Grindelwald demanded, making a bold proposal.
"Agreed. After my death, I will have someone deliver them to you." Dumbledore nodded, speaking calmly.
Seeing how easily Dumbledore agreed, Grindelwald frowned, feeling a sense of unease. With Dumbledore's Magical Insight and the Deathly Hallows, no one in the entire Wizarding World would be his match. He could unite all the Wizards and achieve his goal—reinstating Wizard rule over the world.
"What do you plan to do, Albus?" Grindelwald demanded.
"Very simple, I believe the Wizarding World is due for some changes..." Dumbledore said with a raised eyebrow, speaking solemnly. "But not in the way you propose, and I don't think you will win! As I said before, even if I don't step in to stop you, someone else will stand up to oppose you..."
"So you plan to use the same tactic again, like you did fifty years ago when you orchestrated Newt Scamander to confront me?" Grindelwald sneered. "Who did you choose this time? That prodigious brat Ivan-Hals, whom you often mention?"
"That's why you fail, Gellert", Dumbledore said softly. "You always stubbornly believe that someone is pulling the strings behind the scenes, controlling the course of the entire war."
"But in reality, no one can truly control everything. Newt chose to stand against you not just because of my orders, but more importantly, because he followed his sense of justice..."
Grindelwald sneered in response, knowing well that Dumbledore excelled at leveraging circumstances, making it seem as though everything was a matter of personal choice. In truth, there was only one path, and the other side had no choice.
"So you plan to rouse that brat's sense of justice to make him follow your commands?" Grindelwald asked with disdain.
"You're wrong. I can't do that, and I don't intend to", Dumbledore said with interest. "If you ask me where the future of the Wizarding World will ultimately lead, I regret to say I don't know and have no answer... That's not something an old wizard nearing the end should be concerned with. Perhaps the young have better ideas."
"That's not necessarily true!" Grindelwald said darkly.
"Is that so? Then let's make a bet, a wager on the future of the entire Wizarding World..." Dumbledore's face showed a hint of a smile as he spoke lightly. "I can give you everything you want, whether it's Magical Knowledge or the Deathly Hallows. In return, you need to assist me, such as helping me complete that Magic... to eliminate Voldemort!"
"What would I gain if I win?" Grindelwald asked, puzzled.
"Then I will apologize to you and admit that everything I've done was wrong, a misguided path..." Dumbledore said casually, then laughed. "Of course, the same applies if I win!"
Grindelwald's expression changed, and he laughed bitterly. "Fine, very well, I look forward to that day!"
With the three Deathly Hallows and his superior strength, he had no chance of losing...
Seeing that Grindelwald had agreed, Dumbledore extended his hand, and Grindelwald did not hesitate to grasp it.
"By the way, there's one last condition, or perhaps a request... I don't want you to use my power to cause excessive bloodshed", Dumbledore said just before casting the spell.
"A ridiculous notion..." Grindelwald sneered, but ultimately agreed.
As both of them recited the oath, a complex magical sigil appeared on the backs of their hands, then quickly faded away.
Ivan, who was observing, clearly noticed that Dumbledore's condition had improved significantly at that moment, indicating that the Magic had taken effect...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
