"I think we should get you out of here first and then find a way to prove your innocence. Otherwise, according to what Rob Cassie said, you may stay in prison for the rest of your life."
After listening to Newt and Tina's story, Carl took out his wand and whispered a unlocking spell toward the iron cell:
"Alohamora!"
However, his unlocking magic had no effect on the iron cage.
"Tom, you should get out of here quickly. The cage is enchanted with advanced locking charms. It can't be opened without a special key."
Tina said in a worried voice. As a former Auror, she knew the situation all too well. If she dragged Tom, an enthusiastic friend, into this mess and got him arrested alongside them, she'd feel awful.
She deeply regretted insisting that Newt come forward last night to explain their side of the story.
"Tom, thank you for trying. Tina's right. If you stay, you may be suspected of helping us. Please take care of this mischievous little fellow, Sniff."
Newt felt the same. He didn't want to put a friend in danger just because of their own predicament.
"I'm not the kind of person who'd just stand by and do nothing while my friends are in trouble. Leave it to me."
Carl placed his hands on two iron bars of the cage, took a deep breath, and pressed his hands in opposite directions. The thick metal easily started to bend under his grip, creating a hole large enough for a person to pass through.
Every cell in the Magical Congress was fortified by powerful protective charms — not to mention that even a wizard of Grindelwald's ability would find it hard to break without a wand. But when you disregard magic and rely on pure physical force, a metal bar is just metal.
With his physical prowess enhanced by chakra, bending it was a simple feat for Carl.
"You wizards are really something!"
Jacob, sitting on the iron bunk, jumped in shock when he saw Carl bending the thick metal with his bare hands.
Newt and Tina were not much better — their disbelief was written all over their faces.
"No, we wizards aren't all this powerful. It's him who's extraordinary."
How could a person match this kind of physical strength without magic?
"It's something I've always suspected — I might have a bit of giant or troll ancestry."
Carl made a joke to lighten the mood. However, Newt and Tina nodded in all seriousness. Clearly, they believed this might be the only reasonable explanation.
"Hurry up, or we'll be in trouble if we're discovered."
Jacob squeezed through the opening first, followed by Newt and Tina.
"We need to get the box and our wands first!"
"They should all be in Percival's office now."
Newt and Tina were nearly powerless without their wands, and the creatures in the box were Newt's greatest treasures.
Carl nodded — he'd already expected this. From a small cloth bag, he took out and tossed them a set of wizard's robes.
"Put these on and follow me."
"Mr. Cassie, are you finished with your visit?" the two Aurors guarding the prison asked when they saw Carl emerge in the form of Rob Cassie.
"Yes. Thank you for today. Let's grab a drink at Gulliver's after you get off tonight — it's my treat!"
Once the two opened the gate, Carl nodded casually, hands hidden behind his back, and walked away.
After making sure there were no other wizards nearby, he drew his wand and struck the first Auror with a Stunning Spell when the Auror turned his back to lock the gate.
"Stupefy!"
Then, immediately afterwards, he stunned the second Auror, who was already drawing his own wand in alarm.
"Okay, come out!"
Pushing the gate, Newt, Tina, and Jacob — wearing the hooded wizard's robes — rushed forward.
"Transformation Technique!"
Using his ability once more, Carl transformed into Percival Graves, the Minister of Security for the Magical Congress.
"I hope everything goes smoothly; otherwise we'll be surrounded by Aurors from all over the Capitol."
Tina nodded quietly. She secretly wished their disguise would hold and they wouldn't bump into the real Percival on their way.
However, what she didn't realize was that the real Percival was already an imposter. If the two were to meet, it would be a showdown of two fakes.
"Red, come to my office!"
In the magic elevator, Carl addressed the goblin operator in a calm voice.
The goblin glanced briefly at the hooded figures accompanying him, then nodded and pressed the button for Percival's floor.
As the elevator rose and other wizards entered, many nodded respectfully at "Percival." Naturally, nobody suspected a thing.
When the elevator opened, Carl quickly made his way to Percival's office under Tina's guidance.
"There are powerful locking charms on this door. Alohamora won't cut it without a key."
Tina reminded him quietly.
"It's okay. There's a more direct way."
With a single powerful kick, Carl forced the office door to fly open.
Inside were their wands and a box filled with fantastical creatures — a collection that meant the world to Newt.
"All of you, get into the box first. I'll carry it and walk us out as Percival."
Newt, Tina, and Jacob nodded, entered the box, and closed it from the inside. Carrying the box under his arm, Carl walked back toward the magic elevator — wearing Percival's face.
But just as he was about to step into the lift, something completely unexpected happened.
The real Grindelwald — disguised as Percival — walked out of the elevator directly in front of him.
The scene fell into a strange silence.
For a moment, neither made a move. Grindelwald was more confused than alarmed. His first thought was: Could it be that Percival hadn't died and had somehow gotten away?
It was a true case of the fake meeting the fake — neither was the real Percival.