Clap! Clap! Clap!
Link lightly clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention in the office.
Picquery and August also stopped arguing at once and looked toward Link.
Their reaction was so fast, and the contrast so great, that it almost seemed as if their earlier argument had only been an act.
Seeing this, the smile on Link's face grew wider.
Meanwhile, Dumbledore calmly took out a square wooden box and carefully placed it on the conference table.
"Everyone, there's really no need to trouble yourselves over something so simple," Link said softly. "Because we've already completely mastered Sky City's operating pattern, and the plan to capture Sky City has already been completed. You could say that every problem has been solved!"
As soon as Link finished speaking, before Picquery and the others could question him, Dumbledore opened the wooden box.
A globe about the size of an adult's head floated out.
Its craftsmanship was exceptionally fine, and it had been enchanted.
The clouds, oceans, and even the lights of the cities were all animated.
Most importantly, above the globe floated a model of Sky City, continuously orbiting around it.
"As you can see, this is Sky City's real-time flight path!"
Link spoke loudly.
August's expression immediately became extremely ugly.
She knew Link and Dumbledore well, so there was an eighty percent chance that this globe was real.
She had spent so much time planning, even reaching an agreement with Russia's Muggle rulers at the cost of selling out the Ministry of Magic's interests, all so she could gain a greater share of the benefits in the coming battle against Sky City.
And now, the globe Link had produced was telling her that everything she had done had been pointless.
How could she possibly accept that?
"Haa..."
August took several deep breaths before speaking with the last trace of hope.
"W... Where did this come from? I refuse to believe you could accurately predict Sky City's operating pattern in such a short time. That requires an extremely long period of observation and enormous computing power! Even if you cooperated with Muggles and relied on their manpower and machines, it still shouldn't be possible!"
Link didn't answer August immediately. Instead, he turned and exchanged a smile with Dumbledore.
August's doubt was perfectly reasonable.
With their own abilities alone, there was no way they could have accurately predicted Sky City's operating pattern in such a short time.
The amount of calculation involved was simply too enormous.
If this had been decades later, in the Internet age when Muggle computers had reached their peak, then perhaps, using modified satellites for observation together with supercomputers, it might have been possible to build a data model.
But at present, it was practically impossible.
The truth, however, was that Link and Dumbledore hadn't done anything at all.
Because this globe, which simulated Sky City's movements in real time, was actually something Norton had left behind.
Back then, it had simply floated quietly in Norton's office, just like the astronomical model in Dumbledore's office, looking like nothing more than an ordinary decoration.
The reason it had truly attracted attention was because, during the Hunters' search of Beauxbatons Castle, they discovered a hidden miniature delayed magical self-destruct device inside it.
The device had been assembled rather crudely.
Any adult wizard who had received investigation training could have discovered it without difficulty, as though it had been deliberately placed there to be found.
Moreover, its explosive power was pitifully weak.
According to estimates, even if it had exploded, it would only have been powerful enough to destroy the globe itself.
The Aurors from the British Ministry of Magic easily dismantled the self-destruct device and presented it to Link.
Both Link and Dumbledore immediately recognized what the globe really was.
This was the treasure Norton had left for them.
It was the map leading to Sky City.
Norton had likely foreseen long ago that Beauxbatons would eventually fall.
He had also guessed that Number One intended to use both him and Beauxbatons as shields to hold back the allied forces and buy more time.
So he had prepared some countermeasures.
As for Number One, he knew perfectly well that he had no ability to defy him.
He himself had been awakened by Number One.
The King's Blood within him had been bestowed by Number One.
It was almost certain that Number One had tampered with him in some way.
At the same time, what Norton valued was never his own life, but the safety of Beauxbatons.
So he had secretly stolen Sky City's orbital map long ago and turned it into this model, intending to use it, together with his own death, in exchange for Beauxbatons' safety.
As for Link, he had also prepared a small test.
The self-destruct device hidden inside the globe was the best proof.
If Link had been unwilling to promise to protect Beauxbatons, then Norton would have delayed him at the cost of his own life to ensure that the globe self-destructed.
That way, although Link would still obtain Beauxbatons School of Magic and the King's Blood, he would lose the shortcut that led directly to Sky City.
Faced with such planning, both Link and Dumbledore had to admit that Norton was definitely an old schemer who was no less formidable than Number One.
Fortunately, Link hadn't disappointed Norton.
As Dumbledore put it, this globe was meant to be a reward for kindness.
With this globe, the allied forces led by Link only needed to follow the trajectory marked on it to intercept Sky City with ease.
After that, preventing Sky City from escaping with its spatial abilities became even simpler.
After all, Link possessed Space Locks that had also been developed based on Sky City's technology.
He only needed to use multiple Space Locks together to create a spatial barrier that could easily seal off Sky City.
After Link explained his plan to the projected Ministers of Magic, the office instantly fell silent.
The strange silence lasted for a long time before it was finally broken by Picquery's wild laughter.
She laughed so hysterically that the woman who had always maintained a dignified image completely lost control of herself and nearly fell from her chair in her frenzy.
Hearing Picquery's laughter, August's expression became even uglier.
She knew very well that Picquery was laughing at her.
Laughing at how she had gone through all that planning only for it to amount to nothing.
Just moments ago, she had been earnestly explaining her plan while Link and Dumbledore, who had known everything from the beginning, had simply sat there in their high seats, watching her make a fool of herself with mocking smiles.
Just recalling that scene filled August with overwhelming humiliation.
It made her want to tear Link Flamel, Dumbledore, and Picquery into pieces right then and there.
But the moment she raised her head, she met Link's calm gaze.
There wasn't the slightest trace of emotion in his eyes.
Her heart jolted, and the hatred in her eyes completely faded.
Know yourself.
That was the inscription carved above the entrance of the Temple of Delphi in Greece.
It was also the saying August had always used to remind herself.
Today, it had saved her once again.
She might be the Minister of Magic of Russia, and her influence had already extended outward, bringing many of the smaller Ministries of Magic around Russia under her control.
But how could she possibly compare with Link Flamel?
The British Ministry of Magic under his control had just destroyed the French Ministry of Magic.
Not to mention that he himself, together with Dumbledore, could be called the two strongest individuals in the world.
Where had she found the courage to resent such a combination?
After realizing this, August's eyes immediately became clear again.
The smile on Link's face deepened slightly as he continued looking at her.
Dumbledore, however, still wore a stern expression as he said,
"Madam August, now that the matter concerning Sky City has been settled, I believe it's time for us to discuss the matter between you and the Russian Muggle government. May I ask whether, as Madam Picquery previously stated, you reached an agreement with Russia's Muggle rulers on the basis of selling out the interests of the magical world?"
Dumbledore's tone was extremely serious.
Many people present looked nervously toward August.
After all, ever since the International Confederation of Wizards had disappeared, August wasn't the only one among them who had cooperated with Muggles.
Only Picquery's face was filled with satisfaction.
She wanted to see exactly how August would deal with this.
According to her understanding, Dumbledore and Link were completely different people.
The greatest white wizard of this century firmly belonged to the side of order and regarded maintaining order as his duty.
But to Picquery's surprise, August showed no sign of panic.
She stood up and calmly said,
"Professor Dumbledore, just as you suspected, our Ministry has indeed conducted certain transactions with the Russian Muggle government. Although I cannot reveal the specific details, some magical items were indeed involved."
The office immediately erupted into an uproar.
Picquery was especially shocked.
What surprised everyone wasn't that August had really done such a thing.
It was that she had admitted it so openly.
Wasn't she afraid of punishment from the British Ministry of Magic?
Looking at everyone's astonished expressions, August smiled and said,
"However, I only did so to help our New International Magical Alliance wage war against Sky City more conveniently. Now that such assistance is no longer needed, our Ministry will also end all cooperation with the Russian Muggle government as soon as possible."
Dumbledore's expression softened somewhat.
"That would naturally be for the best. However, Madam August, I must remind you that, at least for now, although we may reform the current laws in the future and create better rules, maintaining the Statute of Secrecy remains absolutely necessary. Anyone who attempts to violate it will be pursued with all my strength.
"Therefore, regarding your transactions with the Russian Muggle government, I will still dispatch investigators from the Order of the Phoenix to conduct a thorough investigation.
"I hope you truly will do as you have said and end all dealings with the Russian Muggle government.
"And this does not apply only to Madam August. I hope all the other Ministers of Magic here will also remember this.
"Don't wait until things become beyond saving before wearing miserable faces and begging for forgiveness!"
It was rare for Dumbledore to make such a harsh declaration.
Many of the Ministers of Magic present turned pale and were left speechless.
Ironically, August, the one Dumbledore had directly warned, looked completely calm.
When it came to understanding the British Ministry of Magic, August and Picquery far surpassed the other Ministers present.
They both knew that Dumbledore had never truly joined the British Ministry of Magic, nor did he possess any real authority over Link or the Ministry.
The only reason Dumbledore could still sit there giving orders was because of Link's respect for his professor.
Under such circumstances, Dumbledore's warning carried very little weight.
After all, no matter how elite the Order of the Phoenix might be, they could never match the Ministry's professionally trained Aurors in investigation work.
It would be a miracle if they found anything.
If Link knew what August was thinking, he would probably laugh until he couldn't breathe.
Because he knew perfectly well that the Order of the Phoenix's greatest asset was Mad-Eye Moody.
That old man had once been known as the King of Aurors.
If he were sent to inspect the Russian Ministry of Magic, even if there weren't any problems, he'd probably uncover a whole string of them.
August knew none of this.
By now, she had completely adjusted her state of mind.
She sat back down with a cheerful expression and said,
"Our Ministry wholeheartedly welcomes your inspectors. Of course, that can only happen later. As things stand, shouldn't our top priority be the campaign against Sky City?"
"That's right. Your Majesty Link, Professor Dumbledore, now that all of our major problems have been resolved, when will we officially launch the attack on Sky City?"
Picquery asked eagerly.
The other Ministers of Magic also looked at Link with bright eyes.
Although there were conflicts among them, at least when it came to attacking Sky City, their interests were aligned.
As for how the British Ministry of Magic had claimed another large share of the spoils because Link and Dumbledore had produced the globe, they no longer cared.
After all, even if they received only a small piece of the spoils, just as they had after the Battle of Beauxbatons,
it would still be enough to sustain them for a very long time.
There was no doubt about it.
Sky City was simply that wealthy.
Looking at the excited faces before him, Link exchanged a glance with Dumbledore and nodded.
Their goal today, further integrating the New International Magical Alliance while laying the foundation for the new order to come, could be said to have been perfectly accomplished.