After listening to Wade, Anne finally had a rough understanding of what he meant.
Then she asked, "But what if people don't agree with your ideas? What then? Does that mean your ideas are wrong?"
"You first have to understand why others don't agree with your ideas. Let's take Grindelwald's so-called ideology as an example. He keeps advocating for wizards to stop hiding and start ruling over Muggles or whatever… At first glance, it sounds reasonable. But… do you know what an average wizard thinks when they hear that?"
Anne shook her head.
"They'll say, hmm… sounds kind of reasonable, so why don't you go try and reform things? That's right… most people will just watch from the sidelines. They won't get involved!"
"Because all of it feels too distant from them! Their current life might be simple, but they're content. Grindelwald's slogans sound impressive, but they're all grand and vague. Not everyone is some hot-blooded idealist who gets fired up just hearing the word 'change.'"
"Everyone knows that if wizards ruled over Muggles and became the superior race, all wizards would benefit, but… that's just a slogan! Or more accurately, it's an end goal. The reality is, that ideology hasn't brought anyone any real benefit yet."
"From the moment Grindelwald started his movement up to now, has he done anything that directly benefits ordinary wizards? No. He just keeps saying that after he succeeds, everyone will benefit… But right now? There's nothing!"
"Not a single benefit, and yet he expects people to fight for some hollow future goal he made up… How is that supposed to work?"
"You can stand there and talk all day, even if it sounds logical—but it won't stop me from going to work, coming home, and living my life. Because until what you're saying becomes real, it has absolutely nothing to do with me!"
"Even Muggle politicians, before they get elected, at least know how to put on a show—propose some policy that actually helps people's lives. At the very least, they'll make a donation or two to an orphanage or something, right?"
"But Grindelwald? A man who calls himself a revolutionary—what does he do besides shouting slogans and launching terrorist attacks? He hasn't done a single thing that actually benefits wizards…"
"A revolution that brings no benefit to anyone… can it even be called a revolution? Actually, that's not quite accurate. It's more like… a revolution that brings no benefit to ordinary wizards."
"As for Grindelwald and his supporters, of course there are benefits—otherwise he wouldn't be stirring things up, and his followers wouldn't stick with him."
"Grindelwald gains power, and his supporters? They get to fulfill their own various desires…"
"Just look at how he tried to tempt me and Tom. He didn't talk to us about revolutionary ideals—he offered us magical power in exchange… because he knew that's what we wanted."
"If that's how he tried to recruit us, then what do you think his other followers were promised?"
"In short… not a single one of them is doing anything decent."
"Do you really think there are any good people by his side? A gang of thugs gathered together… of course the public sees them as terrorists. His so-called ideology is nothing more than a banner raised for the sake of his own interests. Only a fool would believe it!"
The first part of Wade's explanation sounded fairly normal, but toward the end…
Anne was nearly driven to tears by his sarcastic tone.
She wanted to say that she had truly believed in Grindelwald's ideology—that she followed him not because she was a fool, and not because of selfish desires like the others.
But after thinking more carefully about Wade's words, her conviction took a heavy blow…
Because her aunt—Vinda Rosier—hadn't joined the Alliance because of any ideology Grindelwald had proposed.
It was because… she wanted to become Grindelwald's most trusted aide, so that when he stood at the top of the world, the Rosier family could share in the glory...
Anne had actually realized this before, at least in part—but she always chose, consciously or not, to ignore it...
But now, Wade had torn away that final layer of pretense, exposing the raw truth right in front of her!
All those so-called ideals were nothing more than grand-sounding excuses to make things look respectable on the surface.
The Dark wizards were all gathered under Grindelwald for their own desires. Their personal interests weren't even aligned.
If there was no unity among themselves, how could they possibly expect others to agree with them?
Rather than saying they gathered around Grindelwald because they believed in some ideology—Tsk tsk.
It would be more accurate to say they followed Grindelwald because they believed in him.
Anne fell silent.
Her belief had been shattered in an instant, and she couldn't recover for a long time.
Tom, off to the side, had been quietly watching Anne's expression the whole time.
He saw her go from defensive, to contemplative, to shocked, and finally, to utterly stunned...
Actually, Tom thought Wade's words made some sense.
Since the beginning of Grindelwald's movement, he had caused more destruction than progress.
People only feared them—there was no trust. And in that case, what meaning did anything they said really have?
At that moment, Tom suddenly recalled something Wade had said a long time ago: "Never underestimate the power of the people." Now, combined with everything Wade had just said… he couldn't help but start thinking deeply.
If Grindelwald hadn't started out with all those acts of terror, but instead had proposed some policies to the International Confederation of Wizards that actually benefited lower-class wizards—helped them realize he could bring tangible good into their lives…
If he had slowly built his reputation among the wizarding community, and once he had enough supporters, then began promoting ideas of wizard superiority—wouldn't he have gained even more support?
Because based on past experience, everything he had advocated would've been proven to bring benefits! People would naturally develop trust in his words! And after that…
Tom didn't even dare imagine.
He glanced at Wade, who was calmly studying the Marauder's Map nearby, and felt a deep sense of awe.
If the one leading the movement hadn't been Grindelwald, but Wade instead—maybe he'd already have succeeded…
Wade was about the same age as him… so where on earth had he learned all of this?
Could it really be… from that mysterious family of his?
After a long silence, Anne finally muttered in a voice as soft as a mosquito's, "Hearing all that… Grindelwald really doesn't seem like he can succeed."
"That's not entirely true," Wade said casually, still focused on the map in front of him. "If he can clean up his image and squeeze out the poison in his blood, there's still a chance for a comeback."
Anne looked at Wade in surprise. "What do you mean? Didn't you just say—"
"If I were him, and I wanted to succeed, I absolutely wouldn't have resorted to violence from the start. But since that mistake's already been made, the only option is to throw a few scapegoats under the bus. Once he clears his name, he goes into politics. After gaining legitimate power, he can start proposing beneficial policies for the public. That way, he builds popular support—and then, pushing for reform becomes much easier. After all, if the benefits are big enough, people naturally develop selective memory… Why bother with rebellion?"
As Wade spoke, his eyes never left the map, as if he were just making idle conversation.
But Tom couldn't help glancing at him, eyes narrowing slightly.
After Anne, clearly preoccupied, made up an excuse and left, Tom asked, "I don't believe for a second you didn't notice she was trying to get information out of you."
"Heh~" Wade smiled at Tom. "And I don't believe for a second you didn't notice I let her."
"What exactly are you trying to do?" Tom frowned. "Don't tell me you actually want Grindelwald to make a comeback?"
"If he truly followed the path I described—actually did things that benefited people and earned public trust—then whether he's personally good or bad doesn't matter, does it? I just want peace and happiness for the people, Tom… did you forget? I'm a good person!"
"If I believe even one punctuation mark of what you just said, I'll step down as the heir of the Gaunt family!"
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