At the very moment Draco and his group arrived in Romania.
Somewhere in the world, on the edge of an unnamed cliff, two unknown parties from opposing factions were meeting…
The group standing with their backs to the cliff were all dressed in black robes, their faces completely hidden beneath deep hoods, making it impossible to identify them clearly.
From their surroundings and their attire alone, no matter how you looked at it or what time it was, this was absolutely not a place where ordinary people would appear.
There were three of them.
Judging by their tall builds, they were likely all male…
Opposite the cliff was a forest, one that nearly filled the entire field of view.
Before long, several dark figures emerged from the woods and began walking toward the cliff.
As they drew closer, it became clear that this second group was not as heavily concealed as the hooded figures. At the very least, their appearance looked far more ordinary.
Although they had also taken steps to hide themselves, wearing long robes that had gone out of fashion long ago, they did not cover their faces with hoods.
Notably, they too numbered three, and they were all male as well…
...
The air here was oppressively damp. Looking out over the surface of the sea, the darkness felt as though it might swallow you whole.
In your ears.
The low roar of waves crashing against the rocks.
Before your eyes.
Thunder and lightning tore through the sky above, giving the scene a heavy, ominous sense of impending collapse.
In such a violent storm, there was no reliable way to maintain light. One could only rely on the brief flashes of lightning to make out each other's positions and numbers…
Amid the rolling thunder.
The moment they spotted one another, neither side hesitated. Both quickened their pace, heading straight toward the other.
How they confirmed each other's identities was unclear.
But it was obvious they hadn't come here by accident, nor were they wandering about because they couldn't sleep.
Their objective was each other…
Just as the two sides were about to meet, the weather seemed to sense something and grew even more violent, making the already poor visibility even worse.
From time to time, trees struck by lightning could be seen burning in the distance.
By any normal standard, this was no situation to be outside, unless you wanted to experience what it felt like to be struck by lightning…
And yet, strangely enough, the six figures appeared completely unaffected by the raging storm. There wasn't the slightest hint of disarray, nor any sign of retreat.
As for the lightning, it seemed to deliberately avoid them.
Looking more closely, you could see that the falling rain never touched their bodies, and the fierce wind failed to stir their robes in the slightest.
No, more accurately, the forces of the outside world seemed unable to breach some invisible barrier.
And this was definitely not some kind of black technology…
This uncanny scene, and these subtle details, were more than enough to reveal who these six individuals were.
At the very least, one thing was certain.
They were absolutely not muggles…
They were wizards!
...
This place seemed to be a deserted island.
The unending roar of the waves and the pitch-black sky made it clear that there were no cities nearby, no lighthouses to guide ships into harbor, and certainly no roads in sight.
It was entirely possible that this small island didn't even exist on muggle maps.
In a way, it was secluded enough, and suitable as a place for a conversation…
Step.
"Perhaps we could find somewhere a bit better to talk, instead of standing around in this dreadful weather. What do you think, Lucius?"
Even beneath the curtain of rain, his voice carried clearly to everyone present. What was more, it was obvious he hadn't deliberately raised his volume.
But more than that, it was the name he spoke that truly caught attention.
In the wizarding world, there was only one wizard who bore that name.
Lucius Malfoy…
Having his identity called out, Lucius raised a hand and pulled back his hood. The face revealed beneath it curled into a cold, inexplicable sneer.
"If you want to be silently killed by those madmen, then by all means, we can sit down somewhere and talk properly. But I don't think you have the nerve for that, Cornelius."
"What did you say?!"
Lucius's unrestrained mockery immediately made the wizard standing beside Cornelius Fudge slip his hand into his robes, clearly preparing to strike at the first opportunity.
With the exchange of words and the movement of wands, the atmosphere between the two sides instantly became taut and dangerous.
No wizard could face Lucius without remaining on guard. Even allies would never dare lower their defenses around a man as cold and ruthless as him.
Powerful. Cold-blooded.
These had long become Lucius's defining reputation…
Narrowing his eyes, Lucius spoke, stopping his companion.
"I doubt our Minister of Magic intends to make a move against us, unless he feels he doesn't yet have enough enemies. Isn't that right, Chief Auror?"
With Lucius's warning and implied assurance, the tension on Cornelius's face finally eased, a smile returning as he raised a hand to calm the wizard beside him.
"Don't be nervous, my dear Chief Auror. Lucius is right. We're not here to eliminate one another, but to explore the possibility of cooperation. After all, we share the same enemy."
"I understand. But I'll be keeping my eye on you, Lucius."
Meeting Lucius's icy gaze, Rufus Scrimgeour slowly took a step back, signaling that he had no intention of acting. Even so, his hawk-like eyes remained firmly fixed on Lucius.
Seeing that look, the kind one would reserve for a criminal, Lucius merely let out a cold laugh before shifting his gaze to the Minister of Magic standing before him, a man he held in utter contempt.
To be honest, if it weren't for Cornelius's position as Minister of Magic, and that dangerous presence looming above everything, Lucius would never have agreed to meet him at all.
As for cooperation, this former loyal hound was hardly an appealing partner…
Yes.
The one who had initiated this meeting was none other than the Minister of Magic himself.
Cornelius Fudge.