Chapter 405 From This Day Forward, Gringotts Belongs to the Riddle Family.
Sizzle—!
"call----!"
In the manager's office of Gringotts, Duger, the head of Gringotts UK, lit a cigar. The aroma of cedar and cream assaulted his tongue, but he had no heart to enjoy this fine cigar.
When the two goblins were hung at the entrance of the Wizarding Guild, Dug knew he was in deep trouble.
As partners, the fairies actually understand Tom's style of doing things better than many people do. They are more greedy than fairies, more indifferent than vampires, and more brutal than werewolves.
Internally, he was met with a barrage of criticism, yet he had no choice but to grit his teeth and continue making money. He never stopped working on cracking the payment system, but now he can't even understand the code, let alone replicate it.
Things were fine before; when faced with huge profits, one could turn a blind eye, and all conflicts would be covered up during periods of growth.
But problems arose when Tom established the Wizarding Guild and withdrew a large portion of his own funds.
In just one month, thirteen wizarding guilds emerged, and they could simultaneously bypass Gringotts' financial system to conduct internal transactions. Once the number of wizarding guilds reached thirty, then fifty.
After it spread all over the world, it became an even larger ancient "Four Kings" spirit pavilion.
How could the fairies tolerate going from having a monopoly to competing with others?
But... before they even started, two goblins couldn't resist their greed and joined the looting plan in Knockturn Alley. Now, not only have they alerted the enemy, but they also have to face Riddle's questioning.
What the hell is this?!
Just as Duger was still pondering what price to pay as an apology to temporarily appease Riddle, BOOM—!
The door was violently blasted open, and amidst the smoke and dust, Tom walked in. He frowned as he looked at Duger, who had a blank expression and was still holding a cigar.
"He certainly knows how to enjoy life, Invedovo Galagua Zero Butu?"
"You actually know this?" Dug asked instinctively. How could a little wizard possibly understand this stuff?
Tom glanced at Gray Ring and sneered, "You raised it for less than a month and then used it for smoking? As expected of a wild boar, it can't appreciate fine food. Even the best things become tainted in the hands of you fairies."
Nico, that old scoundrel, wouldn't go easy on Tom just because he was a child. His teaching of Tom was comprehensive; he had been a court wizard and amassed a vast fortune [lived a hundred years].
He was well-versed in all aristocratic etiquette, antique appraisal, and the things that the upper class had played with. He even started some trends himself. He would pass on all these things to Tom without reservation.
At first, Tom didn't want to learn anything, thinking that these things were completely useless and that his fists were enough.
But Nico insisted that he learn, saying that only by completely overwhelming those purebloods could he convince them, so Mu could only learn casually.
Duger blushed, because Tom was absolutely right; he hadn't raised him for very long.
However, Dug quickly regained his senses and forced a smile, as if he hadn't even noticed the broken planks on the ground: "Young Master Riddle, you've arrived very quickly."
As he spoke, he pushed forward the documents he had prepared beforehand and said with a forced smile, "It's all a misunderstanding.
Fowler and Byce are indeed Gringotts employees, but this was absolutely not Gringotts' intention.
It was entirely their own personal action.
They owed a huge gambling debt and were desperate, so they resorted to this crooked idea."
"If you don't believe me, I've prepared several witnesses. Whether it's the truth serum or the soul-stealing spell, you can verify it to your heart's content."
"Young Master Riddle, this is entirely a misunderstanding, but Gringotts, to express its apology, is willing to offer you 100,000 Galleons as compensation. We hope you will be lenient and let this matter rest."
Can we continue to work together happily?
Tom didn't answer, but instead flipped through the documents, nodding occasionally.
"Hmm...it seems pretty real. I didn't expect you fairies to gamble. This is quite an eye-opener. Okay, I believe you."
Duger's face lit up with joy, but before he could speak, Tom slammed the document shut, and a silver flame burst forth in his hand, instantly burning the document to ashes.
"But so what?"
A smile played on the boy's lips, but Duger's heart sank.
What does this mean? Even after Gringotts have backed down, they're still being hunted down and killed?
"Dugg, you don't understand one thing." Tom leaned forward slightly. "In the eyes of wizards, you goblins are never individuals, but a race [you Gringotts represent all goblins].
"I don't care who it is or why they dare to cause me trouble. All I know is that it was you goblins, it was you Gringotts people who did it. You think you can get rid of me with this little bit of money? If you weren't still useful, I would have crushed you into dust long ago."
Startled by the chilling killing intent, Dug retreated repeatedly, inadvertently touching Gringotts' emergency button. The once quiet corridor suddenly became lively as a group of goblins in armor rushed in, carrying spears and swords.
Besides being greedy, fairies also have a racial talent for forging weapons and treasures. The most famous of these is Gryffindor's sword, and there are countless other treasures that can be found in various legends.
These armors possess extremely strong defensive capabilities, and even spells won't have much of an effect on them.
"Stop! Riddle! What are you going to do to Rag?!" The lead goblin had already raised his sword and shouted sharply.
The boy frowned, clapped his hands, and immense pressure descended from the sky, instantly rewriting the gravity of the entire space, and fine, downward-sloping lines appeared in the transparent air.
Thump! Thump!
The fairies all fell to the ground, and the pressure continued to increase. Under Rag's horrified gaze and amidst the fairies' miserable cries, all the fairies, along with their armor, were crushed into a pulp of flesh and steel!
"Noisy..." Tom lowered his eyes and never looked back once.
To use one's own will to imbue magic with a powerful pressure network in the air—this is not difficult for a king of the century; the difficulty lies in achieving the level just described.
This requires both the mechanism and the numerical values to reach their peak simultaneously; neither can be lacking.
"You're not qualified. Let me talk to those old fogies at headquarters. Don't waste my time."
Lag swallowed hard, his hands trembling as he pulled out his contacts and called Gringotts headquarters. Soon, three ugly goblin heads appeared on the small sheet of paper, one of them asking impatiently, "How's it going, Lag? Is it done?"
"This is just the beginning, Famur."
Tom chuckled softly, and the contact list automatically stood up, facing him. Seeing the boy's incomparably handsome face, the three old devils' faces all darkened. "That last glimmer of hope in their hearts vanished..."
Famul said helplessly, "Riddle, state your terms. Don't ask for too much. You know this isn't Gringotts' intention; it's all those two idiots' doing."
"I'm not a lion, have you forgotten that I'm a Slytherin?" Tom fiddled with his fingers, paused for a moment, and then revealed the fangs of a viper—"I want the profits from Gringotts in England, and also the management rights."
"This year's?" Famur asked with a glimmer of hope.
Tom grinned: "Every year, every year I live, or rather, every year Gringotts exists."
"Let's put it this way: from now on, Gringotts in the UK will have nothing to do with you. You'll be left with 10% to pay your employees' salaries."
puff--!
Famur vomited blood, and the other two fairies were in similar condition.
Damn it, even we fairies aren't as ruthless as you! You might as well just rob Gringotts in the UK!
"Riddle, kill all the goblins in England. We can't afford the price. We're out of luck this time," Famur said, wiping away the blood.
"Okay." Tom nodded and slowly extended his hand to the terrified Rag.
"Grandpa! Grandpa, save me!" Rag screamed frantically, his body pressed against the window, ready to break through and jump out at any moment.
"Wait! Riddle! Is this how you negotiate?!"
One of the old monsters couldn't hold on any longer and broke down, saying, "Wait a minute, don't touch my grandson! We can't possibly agree to your conditions!"
"You've got one thing wrong. This isn't a negotiation." Tom didn't lower his arm; he just smiled at the address book. "This is a notification. If you don't agree, I'll just have to go through some trouble and create more puppets to take over the fairies' work."
"You have ten seconds to choose a path."
"You really dare to kill them? Riddle, do you want to make an enemy of the entire wizarding world?"
4.7 "You are not worthy to represent the wizarding world. Even if you were, I wouldn't mind. Grindelwald has invited me several times."
Finally, Tom walked briskly out of the office with the magical contract in his hand.
What impossible conditions? Gringotts in Germany, Bulgaria, Austria, and other countries are all under Grindelwald's control. Although their functions remain the same, not a single penny of their profits will be transported back to headquarters.
He didn't take control of Gringotts for those pitiful Galleons; he wanted to use Gringotts' funds to manipulate the Ministry of Magic.
Now that Fudge had exposed a huge financial hole in the Ministry of Magic, if he could easily jeopardize it, what would be the point of the Minister of Magic's existence if he couldn't even pay salaries?
As for the financial system of the entire magical world, he will naturally take action after the Wizarding Guild has spread across the five continents and has a sufficiently complete and mature operating system and institutions.
Making too big a move now will only affect the pace of his expansion, which would be counterproductive.
As night fell, Tom returned to Hogwarts with a full load of stories. He recounted the day's events to the two sisters, chatted with Mrs. Greengrass about tomorrow's plans, and then lay down in bed to sleep peacefully.
For Fudge, the darkest day of his life was about to begin.
Chapter 406 the Darkest Day of Fudge's Life
The next day, thanks to Mrs. Greengrass's efforts and the eager anticipation of their own children, most of the purebloods of Slytherin gathered together.
Ministry of Magic official, Wizengamot member, Hogwarts Board of Trustees, shareholder of a large corporation, owner of multiple shops, family-owned mines.
If someone here sneezes, the entire British wizarding world can catch a cold.
Ignoring extraneous factors like Dumbledore, Peltier's power is the largest of the four houses.
Hufflepuff is unambitious and mostly active in basic positions, while Gryffindor pursues honor and prestige, with one or two rising stars emerging from time to time, but these cannot last.
Only a portion of Ravenclaw's students possess the intelligence and ability to rival Slytherin. Ravenclaw members hold most of the technical positions at major companies such as Nimbus and Floo, demonstrating their considerable potential influence.
But the biggest problem is that they are scattered. Scattered, they are like stars in the sky, but when gathered together, they are like a pile of excrement. Not only will they not unite against external forces, but they will also fight among themselves.
What about Slytherin?
They arrived early and were considered established residents of the magical world. Through continuous intermarriages, they became not only classmates but also relatives, exchanging resources for over a thousand years, naturally far surpassing the other three academies.
Mrs. Greengrass didn't say much. They had already discussed it in the address book yesterday. When the last person arrived, she would lead them in a grand procession from the Department of Transportation to the Minister's office.
As he passed the Department of Law Enforcement, Burns saw the terrifying scene and a helpless, bitter smile appeared on his face.
After today, Fudge will be completely humiliated.
Yesterday, the entire Ministry of Magic knew that he was planning to arrest Riddle on the 30th, but he was stopped by Dumbledore, and the situation was temporarily deadlocked. As a result, Dumbledore came knocking on the door today.
Borns didn't think Fudge could suppress this group of local bullies. It would be a miracle if he didn't get humiliated too badly.
When Mrs. Greengrass arrived at the minister's private floor, she heard arguing coming from inside the room, and everyone was taken aback.
Did someone arrive first?
"Crouch, what are you trying to do! Don't forget, you're not the head of the Legal Enforcement Division anymore, you're just the head of the Cooperation Division!"
Fudge was both shocked and furious. He was already in a bad mood because he had been stopped by Dumbledore the day before and had been criticized by the Daily Prophet.
This morning, Barty Crouch barged in and made him, on behalf of the Ministry of Magic, state that the murderer would be severely punished, the mastermind behind it would be investigated, Knockturn Alley would be cracked down on, and the Ministry of Magic would apologize to the Guild of the Wizards and Riddle.
Is he insane, or is Crouch insane?!
What frightened Fudge even more was why Crouch, who had always been obedient and even dejected, had suddenly become so assertive.
Is he still coveting his ministerial position?
"Minister Fouché, I was just doing my job."
Faced with Fudge's anger and accusations, Crouch calmly took out a stack of letters: "Eighteen countries and three regions have sent condemnations at the same time, believing that our country's security environment is not stable and demanding that I ensure the safety of their national wizards.
There are also some countries that want to issue warning statements, but I have temporarily stalled them."
Crouch looked at him expressionlessly. "Minister Fudge, do you think this has nothing to do with my job?"
"..."
Fudge opened his mouth, but stammered and couldn't speak. He hadn't expected this mess to spread so widely, and for other countries to react so quickly—no, it was Riddle's pressure!
He wants me to submit!
Fudge quickly realized that Tom was behind everything, panting heavily with bloodshot eyes.
"Crouch, you're a British wizard! What other countries say is their business, but I absolutely will not allow a serial killer to continue running rampant in Britain!"
Crouch frowned slightly. Fudge's reaction was even more agitated than he had expected. He really didn't have a good way to deal with a serving Minister of Magic who wanted to do things his own way.
Unless...impeachment is initiated directly through Wissengamo?
A fierce glint flashed in Crouch's eyes.
This was the first task Grindelwald had entrusted to him, and he absolutely could not afford to fail miserably.
Although he had been out of the spotlight for so many years, he still had some connections.
The chances of uniting with Burns or Scrimgeour to oust Fudge...
Just as Crouch was calculating how to kill Fudge in one fell swoop, a quarrel broke out outside the door.
"Greengrass, you can't go in!"
"Get out of the way, Umbridge. This is a matter of great importance concerning the fate of the wizarding world, and has nothing to do with a lowly assistant like you."
Bang--!
The door was pushed open, and Umbridge was shoved in as well. A group of people walked in aggressively. He knew everyone who came in, and was even quite familiar with them.
They were all regulars at his evening banquets and major donors to the Ministry of Magic, receiving substantial donations every year.
"What...what are you going to do?"
Mrs.
Greengrass was too lazy to waste words with Fudge. "Minister Fudge, the pillars of the wizarding world are shocked by the atrocities that have occurred in Diagon Alley.
We are about to enter a new century, and the bedbugs of Knockturn Alley and the goblins who have lost several wizarding wars are still so rampant."
"If you don't take measures to ensure the safety of business and residence, we will no longer need to provide funding to the Ministry of Magic."
Mrs. Greengrass placed a list on the table, and Fudge glanced at it instinctively. After reading through the list, his face completely drained of color.
It bears the signatures of various donors, including not only donations to the Ministry of Magic, but also donations to St. Mungo's that have been cut in half.
"Oh, right." At this moment, Mrs.
Greengrass seemed to remember something and dealt him another heavy blow: "Yesterday, Gringotts, in order to express its apology, unconditionally transferred all the future income and management rights of Gringotts' British branch to Tom.
This year, Gringotts' accounts with the Ministry of Magic will also be recalculated."
"Fudge, is there anything else you'd like to say?"
Mrs. Greengrass crossed her arms and looked at him with icy eyes.
Although the Greengrass family never takes sides or participates in conflicts, what are they now?
It's just kicking a dog when it's down; there's no need to worry about the family's future.
"How is this possible? Why are you all helping Riddle..." Fudge felt like the sky had fallen, stammering, "Aren't you purebloods? Aren't you the ones who look down on Muggle-born wizards the most? That kid is just a..."
"Sumidaguchi!"
Rozier's old man interrupted him sharply, "Fudge! What do you know?! Young Master Riddle is an ancient pureblood descendant who was lost to the world! I have obtained verifiable information from the Rozier family records! His bloodline is ten thousand times nobler than yours!"
"That's right! There are still people in my Parkinson's family who have intermarried with Riddle's ancestors. If you're so sure, come to my house and look at the family tree!"
"Mr. Riddle's great-great-grandmother's surname was Shafik, did you know that?"
Mrs. Greengrass's eyelids twitched, and amidst the chatter of the crowd, Tom's family tree was pieced together into an incomparably glorious and noble one.
Fudge was dumbfounded. Now people abroad were against him, and his financial backers at home were also against him. What was this? Was he now an enemy of the whole world?
"Minister Fudge, it seems that not only foreign friends, but even the wizards of our own country feel that the most urgent task at present is to clean up Knockdown Lane and apologize to the Wizarding Guild."
Crouch was pleased; he achieved his goal without resorting to desperate measures. He hadn't expected Riddle's methods to be so clever, managing to unite a group of purebloods around him. Truly worthy of his reputation...
Just as Fudge was caught in a dilemma and at a loss, an old voice came from the doorway again.
"Looks like I've come at the wrong time?"
Everyone turned around, revealing expressions of apprehension, and unconsciously made way for them.
"Dumbledore!"
As Dumbledore walked step by step to the front, every Slytherin had a complex look in their eyes, filled with both hatred and deep fear.
If he hadn't been holding back the Dark Lord back then, the magical world would have been theirs long ago.
Only Mrs. Greengrass frowned slightly, but did not back down, blocking the old man's way: "Dumbledore, instead of taking care of the students at school, what are you running around doing all day?"
She was afraid that this self-proclaimed order-keeper would cause trouble. If Dumbledore really insisted on protecting Fudge, they would be the ones who suffered once Fudge recovered.
"Rest assured, Serafina, with Mr. Riddle around, your children are doing well. They are happy every day, except for some unpleasantness with the Beauxbatons players."
Mrs. Greengrass's face darkened.
Is this old woman implying that her precious daughter is competing with a mixed-race Veena for a man?
Dumbledore knew how he appeared in Slytherin's eyes, so he nodded slightly to Mrs. Greengrass, walked past her, and went to Fudge.
"Albus…" Fudge cried out as if grasping at a last straw, "Look at them! They're trying to interfere with my decisions! I'm the Minister for Magic! It's all Riddle's scheme! That brat's ambition is terrifying! You must have stopped them sooner!"
In Fudge's stereotype, Dumbledore and purebloods are inherently opposed. Now that the purebloods are clearly supporting Riddle, shouldn't Dumbledore also wake up and stand on his side?
However, when Fudge asked for help, Dumbledore shook his head and said softly:
"Cornelly, stop. You should make the right choice. It will be good for you and for the wizarding world."
The light in Fudge's eyes vanished completely.
Chapter 407 What's Wrong With Sacrificing Fudge for the Greater Good?
Stop now, Cornelius.
These words struck Fudge like a bolt from the blue, leaving his mind blank.
The others were also stunned, looking at Dumbledore with surprise and uncertainty.
Was Dumbledore also an outsider hired by Riddell?
So, rounding that up... does that mean they're allies with Dumbledore?
It was a rather subtle feeling. Lucius Malfoy had never imagined that he would one day be on the same side as Dumbledore in terms of interests.
Not only Lucius found it absurd, but the other purebloods felt the same way.
"Dumbledore, even you're helping that brat?!"
Fudge tried to fight back, refusing to believe that Dumbledore was unaware of what Tom was doing. "His Wizarding Guild is plotting to usurp the Ministry of Magic's authority! Numerous deals circumvent legal regulations, and money and other rewards can incentivize wizards to work for him.
Dumbledore, can't you see any of this?"
"Riddle wants to be the king of this country!"
Faced with Fudge's alarmist talk... well, it can't really be called alarmist talk. This time, Fudge was unusually clever and exposed Tom's ultimate ambition.
That's right, he wants to be the king of this country, even...
Everyone has their own destiny, ordained by Heaven. Some are born to be kings, while others are destined to become outlaws.
This statement is not advocating fatalism, but rather a statement of reality, indicating that people's starting points and aptitudes are not the same.
But the important part is the following sentence: "If the fruit under your feet is not your own choice, then no one knows where the journey will end."
Tom started from a low point, but a person's ambition always expands along with their ability. Now he was entitled to ask for more, so he chose a path that seemed troublesome, but was also the only way.
Not everyone suppresses their nature like Dumbledore; that would be an anti-human choice, and while it may seem noble, Tim doesn't consider it a noble character trait.
What he wants is freedom and unrestraint.
It's not just about form, but also about the great freedom and ease of the mind.
"Fudge, these are all baseless speculations on your part." Dumbledore said calmly, "In the end, the Wizarding Guild is just a non-governmental organization, and all its activities are within the legal framework.
If you have any doubts or concerns, you can use legal means to restrict them, instead of doing what you are doing now."
"Tom is undoubtedly the victim in this incident. He was just a little too aggressive, but he did not break any laws throughout the entire process."
Fudge stared at him in disbelief: "Riddle cast spells off-campus! And killed more than twenty people! You're still saying he didn't have any magic?"
"Strictly speaking, it's not illegal at all."
Burns then walked in, followed by Scrimgeour, whose face was grim. When he saw the people in the room, Scrimgeour's expression became even more unpleasant.
He wasn't angry for Fudge, but because these people dared to defy the Minister of Magic's authority. If they could defy Fudge now, wouldn't they dare defy him in the future?
They're all troublemakers!
"What did you say? Borns?"
"Minister, I mean, Riddle did not break the law. According to the Act on Reasonable Restraint of Underage Wizards, magic is permitted for self-defense in special circumstances where life is threatened."
"You call Riddle's actions self-defense?" Fudge immediately seized on the loophole: "If killing someone can be called self-defense, then there would be no criminals in this society! Burns, is this how you, the Director of the Enforcement Division, distort the law?"
Fudge could also see that no one here was on his side.
Burns ignored Fudge's criticism and calmly continued, "The law does not stipulate the extent of retaliation. As long as the victim believes that he is still in danger, he can retaliate according to his own judgment. Mr. Riddle's choice is beyond reproach."
The power to interpret the law still rests in her hands, doesn't it? In this gray area, there are always ten reasons and cases that can leave Gisele speechless.
The Minister of Magic was trembling with rage, his face contorted with rage. "Fine...fine...you're all in cahoots! I'm the real Minister of Magic!"
"Enough, Connelly!"
Dumbledore's voice suddenly rose a little, and the air in the office seemed to freeze. Many Slytherins instinctively moved towards the door, ready to make a quick getaway [but then they remembered].
No, wait, now they're really in cahoots with Dumbledore, so what the hell are we afraid of?
"Connelly, it doesn't matter who the minister is. What matters is that the wizarding world should not suffer unnecessary turmoil. Burns made it very clear that Tom has no responsibility. Don't think about using this as an opportunity to cause trouble... You can't beat him."
"Do as he says. Apologize when necessary, clean up Knockturn Alley when needed. Isn't that also the Ministry of Magic's responsibility? If you can't even realize that, then..."
Dumbledore paused for a moment, then said, "I think there are people who are better suited for this job than you."
"OF..."
Lucius Malfoy, Parkinson, Selwyn and the others gasped at the same time. The broad back of Dumbledore in front of them blurred and vaguely turned into ten figures who liked to run in green.
Although Dumbledore's expression was somewhat euphemistic, his tone and unyielding will were even more domineering and resolute than that of their former masters.
White Demon King!
The same thought popped into everyone's mind.
Mrs. Greengrass subtly took two steps back, turning the bracelet on her left wrist, which reassured her somewhat.
Fudge met Dumbledore's calm, deep blue eyes, and through those crescent-shaped pupils, he clearly saw the old man's determination. His own spirits sank further, and he said in a hoarse voice:
"I see..."
Pureblood, Dumbledore, a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Magic—none of these three forces are on his side. Just as Dumbledore said, he can't win.
In the original story, Fudge was able to easily weaken Dumbledore's influence due to a combination of factors.
Harry brought the news of Voldemort's resurrection; he was the only witness. Many would believe Dumbledore's words, but not a child, even if he were the savior.
He was a boy who survived a great calamity.
Back then, Fudge dealt with Dumbledore, and the Slytherins present today, including Mrs. Greengrass, certainly played a significant role in this.
Whoever deals with Dumbledore, they'll definitely step in to help.
Finally, there was Dumbledore's own inaction.
No matter how many outrageous educational orders the Ministry of Magic issued, he chose to passively accept them.
If he had stood up and taken a stronger stance, half of Wizengamor would have opposed them, and the educational orders would have been ineffective.
Now, Dumbledore has finally stood up for himself. With the attitude he showed today, even without the help of others, Fudge can't beat Tom.
Hearing his resigned words, the old man's eyes softened again, and he nodded slightly: "Take care of yourself, Connelly."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Did Dumbledore feel any remorse for forcing Fudge into a corner in front of so many people today, shattering his dignity as Minister of Magic?
Of course, he knew that from now on, Fudge's position as minister was essentially a figurehead; he would either be replaced or continue to serve as a figurehead until he was replaced.
But Dumbledore didn't regret it. He was a man who could even calculate his own life. Once he made up his mind, everything was a bargaining chip [to see if the benefits were enough].
And now, Tom is the greatest interest.
You want to start a wizarding guild, creating a large, independent non-governmental organization separate from the Ministry of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards?
Yes, as long as it doesn't become a criminal organization [specifically sheltering desperate black wizards].
You want to use the Minister of Magic as a warning to others, to stop him from reaching out and prevent endless harassment in the future?
That's fine too. After all, with Fudge's talent, the greatest contribution he can make to the wizarding world is to stay in that position and not move, and not worry about anything.
While suppression may damage one's personal reputation, what does it matter compared to the bigger picture?
The legendary great shaman of the ancient East once said something that Dumbledore wholeheartedly agreed with: 'Heaven and earth are ruthless, treating all things like straw dogs.'
This actually coincides with his philosophy.
The only difference is that the great shaman emphasized the rules of heaven and earth, while he focused on human thoughts and desires. But if we place humans within the framework of heaven and earth, wouldn't it be the same?
Between Tom and Fudge, Dumbledore chose the former without hesitation. (Good, good, good)
The two reached an agreement that, under no circumstances would they intentionally reveal the existence of the magical world.
To this end, Dumbledore made an unbreakable vow with Tom to ensure the agreement's validity.
Tom readily agreed, because he never had such an idea in the first place. Exposing the magical world would do him no good and would only bring endless trouble.
After fulfilling his vow, Dumbledore was completely relieved and willingly stepped in to shield Tom from some trouble, hoping to keep the boy in line, which led to the scene we see today.
After Dumbledore left, Mrs. Greengrass also left with a group of purebloods, followed by Borns, Crouch, and finally Scrimgeour and Umbridge.
But Fudge didn't even glance at them, lost in his own world, and the two eventually had no choice but to leave the room.
The next day, Fudge went to Hogwarts in a very low-key manner. In the past, he had quite a entourage, with at least two or three people accompanying him, and sometimes even two complete Auror squads.
But today he came to Dumbledore's office alone, before many of the young wizards had even woken up.
Half an hour later, Tom was invited over.
Upon meeting, Fudge spoke first, his words brimming with a sense of profound experience:
"Riddle, you win."
Chapter 408 the Minister Is Just a Mascot; Of the Seventy-nine Counties of the British Isles, It's Riddle Who's Carrying the Load.
Tom simply yawned and ignored Fudge's attempt to back down.
Last night, in addition to calming the girls down, we also had to give Joan of Arc a stage test. In the end, Joan of Arc passed the final exam of kindergarten with a score of 80. According to her academic level, she is now a proud first-grade elementary school student.
"Minerva seems to have something to discuss with me, so I'll leave this to you two."
"You probably haven't had breakfast yet, it's so early. Please help yourself."
Dumbledore eased Fudge's embarrassment by nodding to the two of them, and with a gentle flick of his wand across the coffee table, two breakfasts appeared on the table, with Tom's being made extra generously.
Having eaten with Tom many times, Dumbledore knew how much he could eat.
After doing all this, he nodded slightly to the two of them, then walked out of the office, leaving them time and space to themselves.
"Let's eat first, Minister Fudge. No rush, it's good to eat slowly. You know what level Cuthbert Binns is at, helping me escape the history of magic."
Tom had already started cutting sausages, but Fudge smiled and said with a touch of nostalgia:
"Back then, my roommates and I would stay up all night chatting, but we didn't have to worry at all when we had Cuthbert Binns' classes. We could sleep in class and catch up on the lessons."
Tom looked at him curiously. "By the way, Minister Fudge, which college did you graduate from?"
"The Slytherin Fudge family is also pure-blooded, but they are not well-known. Before me, no important figures had emerged from them. Most of the family members were students of Slytherin and Ravenclaw."
"No wonder." Tom nodded. "Ambitious, and with his own little bit of cleverness."
Fudge didn't say anything and started eating. He didn't think he was clever in any way; rather, Tom 683 was just too extraordinary, managing to get two people who were sworn enemies to speak up for him at the same time.
He was isolated and helpless in this situation. What use was his wisdom when the gap in strength was too great?
Tom ate slowly until the bell for the first class rang through the window, at which point he finished the last of his grapefruit tea and put Linzi down.
Fudge spoke up at the opportune moment: "I've already written an apology. Tomorrow you'll see my and the Ministry of Magic's sincerity in the Daily Prophet. The Wizarding Lords won't take any responsibility, and the Aurors will be clearing out Knockturn Alley. What else do you want?"
Tom shook his head. "That's all I need. That's all the Ministry of Magic can give me. That's all."
"When are you going to let me 'resign voluntarily'?" Fudge asked.
Tom looked at him in surprise: "Minister, what are you saying? I'm just a student, what right do I have to ask a minister to resign? You haven't broken the law, nor have you impeached Wissengamo."
"I'm firmly in my ministerial position, there's no need for me to resign, is there?"
Fudge's face immediately darkened: "Riddle, stop with the hypocrisy at a time like this. There's no point in humiliating a loser like me."
"This is not an insult, but a fact." Tom shook his head. "You continue to be your minister, and don't mess with me. I will not interfere in the internal affairs of the Ministry of Magic [this is not my concern].
Fudge could hardly believe his ears. "You're not kidding?"
"Although I have a great sense of humor, I'm joking with you..." Tom smiled, but before he could finish, Fudge understood what he meant.
But at this moment, his heart was already filled with ecstasy.
Before arriving, Fudge felt that his ministerial career was already on a countdown. At best, as mentioned earlier, he would resign voluntarily; at worst, Riddle would impeach him through Wiesengamo and force him to a humiliating downfall.
So now you're telling him he can continue being a minister?
What's the difference between this and a Galleon falling from the sky and landing on his head?
"Judging from Minister Fouché's words, is he determined to resign and follow Babajid's example to retire to the countryside?"
"No, of course not!"
Tom's words startled Fudge. His previously withered face quickly became rosy and radiant, his shrunken belly suddenly bulged out, and his entire demeanor changed.
"I'm in good shape and can continue to contribute to the wizarding world to the best of my ability. Mr. Riddle, I won't be at ease until Knockturn Alley is destroyed. Is there anything else you need?"
"If not, I'll go back to the ministry right now and arrange for manpower to catch them off guard!"
At this moment, Fudge became spirited again. Although the shape of the map of Little Britain resembled Qin Province, Fudge had mastered the face-changing skills of the neighboring province, which greatly impressed Tom.
Power truly is a panacea; Fudge, who was half-dead, was immediately revived.
"Take care, Mr. Minister."
Tom watched Fudge walk into the fireplace in the principal's office, then looked away. At that moment, the portraits of the principal on the wall also came to life.
Phineas Black gave a thumbs up: "Kid, you're something else, treating a minister like a dog."
Another bearded minister sighed repeatedly, "The world is going to the dogs, going to the dogs... If even someone like this can be the Minister of Magic, are there no other capable people?"
This headmaster, Evra, had also served as Minister for Magic, and only then did he feel heartbroken upon seeing Fudge's true colors.
Delis de Winter curled her lip. "Evra, Fudge was pushed up by Dumbledore. To be honest, Dumbledore's judgment of people is really bad. This guy has no bottom line when it comes to power. Even if it weren't for Riddle's mess, he might have turned against Dumbledore for power in the future."
Tom gave a thumbs up to this greatest female therapist in history, saying, "That's what you call a master painter! She analyzed Fudge's true nature so thoroughly."
The principals discussed amongst themselves, none of them saying a good word about Fudge. Tom gave a perfunctory nod, took out his contact list, and began contacting Burns.
"Fudge is gone?"
"Hmm, Burns, are you sure you don't want to take advantage of this good opportunity? If you miss this chance, once the storm passes, you'll have to wait for him to make another mistake to bring Fudge down."
Borns smiled and shook his head. "To be honest, I'm quite tempted, but reason tells me I can't do it. Otherwise, it would be a major blow to the credibility of the Ministry of Magic. Fudge's mistake is not enough to remove him from the position of Minister."
"Having learned his lesson this time, I believe he will be much more clear-headed and will no longer delay your affairs."
Tom shrugged. "Fine, it makes no difference to me anyway. You just have to put up with it."
Actually, according to Tom, they should just kill Fudge and let Burns take over. "But when I talked to Burns yesterday, he expressed his opposition."
A struggle is a struggle, and rules are rules. Although Fudge lost, Tom made his move too early, so he didn't even have a chance to jump around and therefore didn't break any rules. He had never made any major mistakes before.
He just had some inappropriate thoughts and offended someone he couldn't afford to offend.
Burns did not want to become minister in this way, as that would set a bad precedent for his successors, who believed that anyone could become minister by any means necessary [Song needed to be powerful enough].
Tom understood what she meant, which could be summarized in one sentence: the Xuanwu Gate Inheritance Law.
He just didn't care; it didn't matter who was the minister now.
The seventy-nine counties of the three British islands were all on his shoulders, not some Minister of Magic.
But Borns was unwilling; besides himself, he had no one else capable of filling the ministerial position, and he couldn't very well let Scrinker have it.
Let Fudge continue to hold the position, acting as the face of the British government, while Burns and Crouch gradually erode his real power and completely sideline him.
Not long after, Dumbledore returned.
Tom was leaning on the windowsill watching Hagrid teach his sixth-grade students.
Today, Hagrid had brought in a giant petrified lizard.
These lizards were enormous, with skin harder than rock.
Luckily, none of the students in today's class were of Indian descent like the Petit sisters, or he wouldn't have dared to watch.
"How did your chat go?"
Dumbledore also came to Tom's side and looked outside. He usually did this alone, silently appreciating the energy and joy the little wizards brought to the castle. It was rare to have someone by his side.
It feels a bit different.
"Pretty enjoyable, isn't it?" Tom looked away when he saw the lizard knock Davis over. "At least it's a good outcome for Mr. Fudge; he can continue to live with dignity."
Dumbledore looked at him in surprise: "I thought you were going to let Bones..."
The boy shrugged: "I do have that idea, but Ms. Burns is a stickler for rules. You know her, she can be quite rigid sometimes."
Dumbledore smiled with admiration: "You can't call it rigid. Perhaps this is Hufflepuff's insistence. They are always the group with the highest standards. I am ashamed to admit that I am not as good as them."
Tom nodded in agreement: "They're about the same as me."
Dumbledore:"...___#
This thick skin... doesn't seem to be a trait of any particular academy. In this respect, Tom can be considered to have started his own school of thought, surpassing even the founder.
Shaking his head helplessly, Old Deng said softly, "You should be satisfied now, right? From now on, you will have no more enemies in all of Britain."
"Professor, what are you saying?" Tom looked at him innocently. "From Robert to Fudge, oh, and all that trash in Knockturn Alley [when did I start the trouble first?]"
"Isn't it because they all want too much, and I'm just passively retaliating?"
Dumbledore immediately gave a French state salute, saying, "I'm old and can't argue with you anymore, but leave the retaliatory matters to me, and you can focus on your magic research. Is that alright?"
"Of course." Tom nodded readily.
Who wouldn't be happy with multiple thugs? With Lao Deng protecting him from trouble, he can have a lot more peace and quiet.
Chapter 409 the Alley Changes Hands, Kissing as a Stress Relief Method
The following day, the Daily Prophet published Fudge's apology and statement on behalf of the Ministry of Magic, which was sincere and showed a very humble attitude.
Not only did the Ministry of Magic strongly condemn the illegal acts of Basque and his associates, defining them as burglars, it also praised Tom for fighting the criminals and awarded him the Order of Merlin, First Class, to demonstrate the Ministry's stance.
What followed was a crackdown on Flip-Over Alley, which looked quite convincing, and they put on a show of being mortal enemies of evil.
The students kept glancing at Tom.
The truth would eventually come out; many people had witnessed the large group of purebloods and Dumbledores who had come to their door the day before yesterday.
Many of the students here had parents who worked at the Ministry of Magic and knew some of the inside story.
So... Tom beat the Minister of Magic?
Fudge is still barely maintaining a semblance of dignity; only the Director and the Office Head, among other mid-to-upper-level officials in the Ministry of Magic, truly understand the current situation.
The minister is now a figurehead; those who have real power are Burns, Greengrass, and those close to Riddle.
Mrs. Greengrass didn't go to the department today. Burns' office was bustling with activity. Anyone with a bit of ambition would come to pay their respects, except for a lazy bum like Arthur Weasley.
Inside Diagon Alley, the corpses outside the Wizarding Guild also vanished silently. With the disgusting corpses gone and the Ministry of Magic's statement, those who had been waiting to post quests were finally relieved and began to enter the guild to post quests with Catherine.
Many people in the wizarding world are conservative not because they are nostalgic, but because they don't know how good new things really are.
Once they've used them, they can't go back.
For example, the 'Ichat' contact list has been around for so long that people have become completely used to life without owls, and the sales of owls in pet stores have plummeted as a result.
The Wizarding Guild has similar issues. Compared to the inconvenience of buying and selling things in the past, as well as the various troubles of not knowing who to contact and the low efficiency of the Ministry of Magic, it is a different story.
The guild headquarters is practically a one-stop service center for government and business. You can solve all your problems in one trip, and you can even earn some extra money by working part-time in your spare time.
After this incident, most people can realize just how strong the guild's backing and strength really are, and they feel more at ease using it.
But Flip-Flop Alley was in a terrible state.
The thugs were responsible for blocking the door, the Traffic Division sealed off the Floo Network, the Enforcement Division studied the heaviest sentences, and several Auror squads entered Knockturn Alley for a collective sweep.
They arrested everyone, regardless of who they were.
Except for Old Burke, who had been warned by Tom and ran away, almost everyone else was arrested, including the customers who came to buy things.
After two days and two nights of interrogation, they finally forgot about the person who had no criminal record.
Several bosses who had managed to escape gathered together, their faces as grim as Snape's when he saw Sirius Black.
"Riddle…" an old man said bitterly, "I see it now, this is all Riddle's plan! He wants to find an opportunity to sweep away Knockdown Alley and bring all the dark and sensitive voices under his control."
"Those idiots in the Basque Country actually delivered themselves to his doorstep, giving him the perfect excuse."
"Fudge is an idiot too!"
An old witch with one eye shrieked, "He can't even beat a child! What kind of Minister of Magic is he!"
"Alright, what's the point of saying all this now? What should we do now?"
"What else can we do?" the old man said dejectedly. "The order has been rewritten. It's either obey or destroy. Even Dumbledore has come out to support him, and the purebloods are obediently cooperating. Do we, the rats in the sewers, have the power to resist Riddle?"
"Now we can only wait. We have to wait for someone who can stand up to him to appear. Otherwise, we should just behave ourselves. I'm sure he's still watching us, waiting for us to make a mistake."
Hearing the old man say this, even the others, no matter how unwilling, knew that this was the only way for them to survive.
After several successful attempts, Tom's reputation finally caught up with that of his predecessors. Now, anyone who says he's too young to kill is more laughable than anyone who says Merlin is a woman.
It turns out that the saying "old people become wiser" is really true.
Tom was indeed still keeping an eye on those who had slipped through the net. No sooner had Auror left than he had entrusted Mrs. Greengrass to acquire all the vacant shops. Now, less than 20% of the houses in the entire alley belonged to other people; the rest were all owned by Riddle.
There's hardly any space left in Diagon Alley; the big landowner is still Ollivander, so they're eyeing Knockdown Alley instead.
This is a whole street of food, drinks, and entertainment that he prepared. What's the point of leaving some shops for others? So even if these people don't make any mistakes, they won't be able to keep their houses, but they can save their lives.
Saturday arrived in the blink of an eye.
No matter how much trouble they cause off-campus, the competitions on campus must continue.
Today is the competition for the third-grade group. Compared to Ginny's consistency, even Tom is unsure whether Hermione can take first place. In his vision of the future, it's basically a 60/40 situation.
The probability of winning first place is just over 50%.
So early in the morning, Tom squeezed onto the long table in Gryffindor to help Hermione relax.
Slytherin arrived at Gryffindor's side, and besides Tom, there was no one else. None of the other little snakes had any friends in Gryffindor, and they would get beaten up if they came over.
"Don't be nervous. Your strength far surpasses that of all your opponents. They may all know more than you combined, but some people aren't afraid of getting hurt. You must be sure your opponent is incapable of fighting back before you stop, understand?"
"By the way, keep an eye on that Durmstrang guy."
As he spoke, Tom glanced at a boy with a buzz cut sitting at his school's long table; the third-year student's physique was about the same as that of a fifth or sixth-year student.
Lavender Brown, who had been listening to his rambling, asked curiously, "Riddle, is that guy very powerful?"
Tom didn't say it directly, but pointed to the main seating area. Many people looked in the direction he was pointing and realized that Tom was actually pointing at Grindelwald. They quickly looked away and lowered their heads.
"We certainly can't underestimate the people Grindelwald has chosen."
.....****.....
Everyone agreed that it made sense and nodded in agreement.
In fact, Tom was essentially helping Hermione cheat. In the future seen by the power of time, Hermione would basically lose to that person. It wasn't that she was weaker, but that person was more resilient and fought recklessly.
Hermione nodded seriously, "I understand, Tom, I'm not nervous at all."
Tom: "..."
If it were just that the little hand holding his own was sweating, he... he wouldn't believe it either.
That won't work either.
Tom thought for a moment and decided he had no choice but to use his ultimate move.
"first——!"
Wow!
The auditorium was filled with the croaking of frogs. Everyone saw Tom kiss Hermione hard, and the little witch still had a red mark on her face. The shy Hermione buried her head in the boy's arms, too embarrassed to face anyone. She didn't care about being nervous and her heart was pounding wildly.
Dumbledore, sitting in the main seat, watched this scene with a smile, and her mood suddenly improved a lot.
...THE
That's why he was willing to help Tom.
Grindelwald was right when he said that he had no right or position to restrain ambitious people; he was just a school principal.
Unless it involves upending the wizarding world or risking exposure to Muggle society, he shouldn't interfere.
The situation was the same with Voldemort back then. If he were to rule the wizarding world, at least half of them would die. The more trouble he caused, the greater the risk of exposure.
But Tom doesn't show any signs of that now. His ambitions are greater than Voldemort's. That fool is only interested in the small country of England, while Tom was already looking at the world when he was in third grade. They're not on the same level.
But Tom has reason and emotions, and he separates ambition from life, so what reason does he have to stop him?
Instead of trying to stop it, it's better to go with the flow and minimize the number of deaths in the process; that's the right choice.
As the person who knew Dumbledore best, Grindelwald knew what his old friend was thinking and gave a sarcastic smirk.
Just wait and see how much trouble the kid can cause you.
I don't believe you'll still be able to laugh then.
Grindelwald put down his knife and fork and was the first to walk towards the door, followed immediately by Durmstrang's teachers and students.
On his way to the match, Grindelwald was still thinking about how to get rid of Dumbledore's surveillance and free up a day.
What exactly does Tom mean by "purification"?
Late at night.
Since building a manor in Dorset, Tom has rarely returned to his home in London, where two old men live, and the place is much larger and more comfortable than here.
But today, in order to see a guest, he still secretly ran away from Hogwarts.
At exactly twelve o'clock, the silver bell in the room trembled gently, and the boy casually pressed the button next to him, and the cast iron door slowly opened.
Crouch followed the light and found the drawing room.
"Mr. Riddle, how are you?"
Chapter 410 Purifying the Soul, Riddle, You Son of a b**ch!
Tom was in a good mood because Hermione had narrowly won the third-grade group victory.
As he said, only Durmstrang's students caused Hermione trouble, and quite a lot of trouble at that.
Not only did he master several practical black magic spells, but most importantly, he was ruthless—ruthless to his enemies and ruthless to himself.
Despite being repeatedly struck by Hermione's spells, he relied on his willpower to withstand the effects or break the spells himself. In the end, he even withstood a barrage of ten thousand bullets to launch an effective attack on Hermione, which affected Hermione's mentality.
In the end, Hermione relied on her superior Transfiguration to create a complete set of chains that tightly bound her opponent and even stole the wand. Hermione only breathed a sigh of relief after all three judges declared her the winner.
Even Tom was somewhat surprised, wondering how much magic Grindelwald had used on the boy. He was willing to be seriously injured to win, but after losing, the boy seemed to have lost all color and remained motionless.
But Hermione is happy as long as he wins; he doesn't care what others think.
"Sit down, Mr. Crouch."
Tom snapped out of his reverie, smiled at Crouch, and gestured for him to sit down opposite him.
The moment Crouch sat down, a teapot floated over, and desserts appeared on a silver platter.
Tom picked up a piece of plum cake, took a bite, and slowly said, "There's a lot to talk about today.
Drinking some tea is essential for maintaining our 'three-six-three' spirit.
Mr.
Crouch, please don't stand on ceremony."
Crouch didn't stand on ceremony with Tom, nodded, and picked up his teacup.
He was already on the wrong path, so there was no need for feigned politeness. While having a late-night snack, the two chatted idly.
Crouch exclaimed, "When Mr.
Grindelwald told me that you were the real boss, I could hardly believe my ears.
It wasn't until he and I signed the Confession of Allegiance, which made me keep this secret in my soul, that I fully understood that it was you, one of the ten Hogwarts students in the first year, who were actually controlling the entire wizarding world behind the scenes."
"You can't call it manipulation." Tom shook his head, feeling that eating pastries wasn't enough, so he had his house-elf bring over a large portion of ribs, which he was now happily munching on.
"I just have some secrets, some opportunities, and some ambitions."
"Mr. Crouch, you've worked at the International Department of Magical Cooperation for many years. Don't you think the wizarding world before Grindelwald was like a stagnant pool?"
"There is no progress, only regression. Vitality and vitality are dissipating, and it may suddenly perish one day."
Crouch nodded in deep agreement.
Indeed, as the boy said, the magical world around the world, perhaps apart from North America where things are a bit more active, has remained largely unchanged for many years; everyone is just drifting through life.
The same applies to Dumbledore.
It seems that the purpose of a wizard's existence is simply to live peacefully year after year, then pass on their lineage, continuing to live a half-dead existence while hiding from Muggle society.
"So all you've done is to change the world?" Crouch looked at the boy. "Mr. Grindelwald's appearance has indeed revitalized many countries, giving them a sense of urgency."
Tom shook his head: "Changing the world is just a side effect. My biggest goal is to become stronger. Any ripples I create in the process are not the result, but the process itself."
Crouch understood immediately. Through their brief conversation, he quickly formed a preliminary impression of Tom—a maturity beyond his years, undisguised ambition and arrogance, and an air of self-confidence.
The entire magical world was in an uproar because of the young man's actions, but he didn't care at all, only caring about his own interests. This was indeed very Slytherin.
But it's alright, we're all on the same side now. Judging from Mr. Grindelwald's words, Tom can be quite awful at times, but he's very good to his own people, and he even specifically reminded him of that.
Don't worry about Tom giving him a hard time, because he's not qualified.
After patiently waiting for the boy to finish eating, Crouch began to get down to business: "Mr. Riddle, is there anything you need me to do that you called me here today?"
Tom nodded: "I intend to make you the head of the Wizarding Guild."
Crouch frowned, but quickly relaxed and nodded. "I'll resign from the Ministry of Magic tomorrow. It will take some time. I can take over once I've sorted things out."
Decisiveness is an indispensable quality of a successful politician; Fudge, who got lucky, is an exception, Crouch is one of them.
Having chosen Tom and Grindelwald as his ship, he would not waver, nor would he be reluctant to give up his position as a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Magic.
Moreover, he could see that the Wizarding Guild had a bright future, already having more than a dozen branches, and it was not impossible for it to spread all over the world in the future. At that time, as the leader, his influence would be incomparable to that of his partners.
"Sigh, no need to resign."
Crouch made up his mind, but Tom waved his hand and said, "For now, you'll be a special advisor. You can continue as the Director of Cooperation. This position will be very important in the future, so don't move until a suitable person is found."
Like Dumbledore, Crouch is fluent in hundreds of languages.
In addition, their years of hard work have given them a good understanding of the situation in many countries and they have their own network of contacts, which is perfect for helping the Wizarding Guild expand.
He only needs to provide resources, and Grindelwald will provide the fighting force; the rest can be left to him for the time being.
As Tom explained, Crouch understood Tom's idea and nodded repeatedly.
The two chatted until 2:30 a.m. before Crouch quietly left the villa. Tom remained seated at his desk, twirling his pen as his attention drifted into his mind.
Since the completion of the Phoenix Trial, there had been no news about the tenth trial until a few days ago when he completely lost patience and tested it with his spiritual power, only to discover—
The palace gates are manually operated?!
To obtain the content of the tenth trial, he still needs to use his mental power to blast open the door, which can be considered a preparatory trial.
So whenever Tom has free time, he comes in and bangs on the door.
Now the door is 30% open, and it gets harder and harder as it goes on.
If it weren't for the effect of tempering his mental strength and recovery speed, Tom would really like to give up for a while and wait until he becomes stronger before trying again.
As things stand, I don't know when I'll receive a mission.
At Hogwarts, Grindelwald pondered for a day and finally found a way to escape Dumbledore's surveillance.
He first sent a saint from Berlin to pretend that something important had happened, and then, in front of Dumbledore, borrowed his fireplace to temporarily leave England. After arriving in Paris, he secretly flew back to London and came to Tom's house.
Tom, who had been b*****g on the "door" all night, was still a bit listless. He only recovered somewhat after drinking two more bottles of magic potion.
Grindelwald said with some regret, "Why did we come here instead of to the manor in Dorset? That way I could have visited some old friends."
The boy rolled his eyes and tossed the potion bottle aside: "Can't you just let Newt off the hook? He may have ruined a lot of things for you back then, but wasn't that also due to Dumbledore's influence?"
"If you want to cause trouble, go find Old Deng. Grandpa Newt is helping me plant trees right now, so don't bother him."
Grindelwald nodded: "Understood, I can go there after he finishes planting the trees."
Tom: "..."
He couldn't handle this vengeful old man. Couldn't he be a little more magnanimous like him?
"Let's go."
The two entered the underground chamber, where Tom, unusually, took out his wand and began to draw a temporary fireproof magic circle on the wall.
"What exactly did you mean by purification? What do I need to purify?"
"How many people did you kill?" Tom asked, turning around.
Grindelwald thought hard for a while, but finally gave up, shaking his head, "I can't count them all, I can't remember them all, but the number is no less than a hundred wizards."
"You should know the impact of murder on the soul."
"I don't think that's a bad thing," Grindelwald said, his expression unchanged. "At least it has made my dark magic much more powerful."
The walls inside the secret room turned fiery red, with iridescent colors flowing within the patterns, as dazzling and enchanting as a rainbow after the rain.
Tom finished drawing the last line of the pattern before turning around and saying, "Old Ge, you've gone astray."
What misconception?
The boy pointed to his head: "A long time ago, Andros told me that magic determines the lower limit and will determines the upper limit. But your will has become impure because of the 'curse' of those dead. While external forces may benefit you now, the upper limit has actually been locked."
Don't you yearn for the scenery beyond the legendary?
In short, he hit Grindelwald's sore spot. Wizards of his caliber seem incredibly glamorous to outsiders, and the title of "King of the Century" is enough to prove that they are the strongest beings in the last hundred years. But who is content with a mere hundred years of glory?
Having witnessed the power of Ravenclaw, Grindelwald understood even more clearly how vast the gap was.
"Then let's do it." Grindelwald made up his mind.
After being purified, the power of many of his signature spells will be affected, and his strength will regress instead of improve, but he can only endure it for a brighter future.
cluster----!
A ball of white flame appeared in Tom's hand, and the temperature in the room rose rapidly. The fireproof magic circle on the wall was illuminated even more brightly by the flame, and the flowing light within it also became faster.
"Not 4.4? You're supposed to be purifying, so why are you using fire?" Grindelwald asked, bewildered.
The boy replied matter-of-factly, "What am I going to do? Of course, I'm going to burn you."
puff--!
Not only did Grindelwald spew his anger, but Andros, who was watching the drama unfold in the study space, also couldn't hold back. Jeanne, who was next to Ariana, also looked rather grim, recalling the unpleasant memories of the last moments of her life.
Grindelwald stared at him speechlessly: "Do you want to purify the curse, or do you want to purify my entire being?"
This flame looked even more terrifying than his own Fiery Blaze. If it hit him, he'd be lucky to last two seconds.
"Don't worry, this is a reward I recently received," Tom said confidently. "Now I'm even more phoenix-like than Fox; in terms of bloodline, I'm its ancestor. There will absolutely be no surprises."
Grindelwald knew about Tom's recent gains and felt somewhat relieved, but he was still a little apprehensive, so he simply closed his eyes.
"bring it on."
After saying that, he remembered another question and quickly opened his eyes: "Tom, have you tried it on other people?"
Unfortunately, Grindelwald spoke too late; Tom had already hurled the pure white Olympic flame at him. The flame struck his body, and a sharp pain shot through him. Only then did Grindelwald hear Tom's mocking laughter.
"Um...you were the first test subject."
"Riddle, you son of a b**ch!"