"Let alone anything else, I think the old guy won't listen to what you said." Tom sneered. "Even if you make some sense, why should he listen to you?"
Robert smiled. "If I'm not mistaken, he's been beaten to a pulp. Otherwise, he wouldn't have remained silent for so long. If he wants to break the deadlock, he'll most likely listen to me."
Tom scoffed. "If he's quiet, he must be resting, right? After all, his forces took a huge blow. If it were me, I'd hide too."
Robert chuckled. "Even if he wants to recuperate, he has to show up. Otherwise, people will start losing faith. Those peripheral witches—whom Grindelwald focused on developing—are the future of his power. But now, even they are starting to panic, and he hasn't shown up. If there's nothing wrong with his thinking, I'll wash my hair upside down!"
"That's not 100% certain..." Tom remained unconvinced.
"Tom, don't worry about it. Even if he ignores me, what does it matter? If I guessed wrong, so what? I have nothing to lose." Robert waved his hand dismissively. "Besides, my chess pieces are already in place. We just have to wait and see."
In truth, Robert had sent a message to Grindelwald through Anne. Whether he listened, or if Anne even delivered the message, didn't really matter to him. If Grindelwald took his advice and did something good, Robert would profit.
After all, how many merit points does it take to make a world-famous dark wizard start doing good things?
Thinking about merit points soured Robert's mood. He had captured so many members of the Wu Clan and expected a hefty reward, but the system had yet to allocate anything. Looking at his balance of just over 18,000 points, he ground his teeth in frustration.
Tom noticed Robert's changing expression and wisely decided to keep quiet, not wanting to become his punching bag again.
That Evening
At the end-of-term dinner, neither Robert nor Tom saw Anne. It wasn't until late at night that she finally returned to the dormitory.
"Do you think she told the old man what you said?" Tom asked.
"I don't know," Robert replied. "But as I said, the chess pieces are in place. We just need to press the button for the next round and watch."
Tom didn't understand what Robert meant by "pressing the button," but he figured he'd see soon enough.
The next morning, students' suitcases appeared on their beds, courtesy of the house-elves. After breakfast, they boarded the Hogwarts Express for the journey home. Robert and several core members of the mutual aid society occupied a large carriage.
"After signing that document, we can't use magic during the holidays?" Charlie complained. "I don't get it! What if my magic gets rusty?"
"That document is just to restrict Muggle-born students, Charlie," Robert explained with a laugh.
"Why do you say that?"
"If you practice magic in a wizarding settlement, the Ministry of Magic can't detect it," Robert explained.
"Really?" Charlie turned to Henry and Alphard for confirmation.
Alphard sighed. "Yes... My sister always uses magic at home, even though we're technically not allowed."
"I really don't want to go home," he continued. "That place is too depressing."
"You have to resist, Alphard," Henry said. "If you don't want to stay home, come to my house. My parents don't mind me befriending pure-blood wizards."
"That could work… My parents actually want to marry my sister to you."
"W-what?! Walburga? No! I won't marry that shrew! Alphard, you can't do this to me!"
Henry was horrified. The Avery and Black families were both pure-bloods, and intermarriages were common to maintain blood purity. The more he thought about it, the more terrified he became.
Alphard shrugged. "I can't even control my own future marriage. How can I influence hers?"
Henry closed his eyes, feeling his future was bleak. "Alphard, help me. This affects you too! If your sister gets married, there's no difference between staying at my house and staying at yours."
Alphard pondered. "How about you fake your death? I'll tell my parents you're gone, and then—"
"Why don't you fake yours?! Come on, let's trade places!" The two started wrestling.
Grace McLaggen, sitting nearby, looked disgusted. "Where do you two live? Maybe we can practice magic together during the holidays."
Robert and Tom shook their heads. Their addresses were not something they could share.
"We won't be practicing magic this holiday," Tom said. "We must strictly follow the Ministry of Magic's rules."
Robert nearly burst out laughing. Hearing the future Voldemort talk about following Ministry rules was priceless.
"I don't believe you!" Grace pouted. "You three break school rules all the time. Now you expect me to believe you'll obey the Ministry?"
She glanced at Anne, noticing her silence. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Anne forced a smile. "Just a little tired."
"Well, looks like this summer is going to be boring," Grace sighed.
Nurmengard
Grindelwald sat in silence, staring at the notebook in front of him, oblivious to the candle wax dripping onto his hands.
"Sir?" Vita asked, concerned.
"What is it, Vita?" Grindelwald looked up, his bloodshot eyes weary yet alert.
"Oliver and the others will be tried tonight…" she said hesitantly.
"Oh…" Grindelwald barely reacted, returning his gaze to the notebook.
Vita sighed. "The Ministries of Magic have sent representatives as jurors. Many of them hold grudges against us. Their fate doesn't look good."
"Really?" Grindelwald responded indifferently.
Frustrated, Vita asked directly, "Should we rescue them?"
Grindelwald finally looked up. Despite his exhaustion, there was an odd excitement in his eyes. "Dumbledore will be there. We can't save them."
"So, we're just abandoning them?"
Grindelwald was silent before finally saying, "The people will remember them."
"People? Who?"
"There's no revolution without bloodshed," he murmured.
Vita sighed, understanding his decision. The evidence was overwhelming, and the jury wanted revenge. Their fate was sealed.
Grindelwald might have tried to save them in the past, but now, with Dumbledore's growing power and the Elder Wand in play, it was impossible. Any rescue attempt would be a suicide mission.
After Vita left, Grindelwald stared at his notebook, whispering, "The more crimes I expose, the safer I am. I'm sorry, but I will remember you…"
The Next Morning
Robert stretched and sat down for breakfast. Suddenly, he froze. His merit points had jumped by 50,000!
Shocked, he glanced at the Daily Prophet:
"…25 witches sentenced. Five received life imprisonment in Azkaban, while 20 faced the Dementor's Kiss, executed at 3 a.m.…"
Robert exhaled. "I see…"
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