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Chapter 421: Sending Death?!!
Fudge was shaken by Mr. Weasley's words.
Only now did he begin to feel true regret.
Darren still had that key.
He should never have pressured Darren so hard.
He should have demanded the key first and only then worried about everything else.
But even if Darren handed over the key, it wouldn't truly matter.
At most, the Federation would issue him a few formal compliments.
If Darren actually died—
The consequences would be disastrous.
The Federation would reclaim the key immediately.
And they would certainly accuse Fudge of mishandling the situation and indirectly causing the death of one of their members.
That key was far more important than any captured Death Eater.
The moment Fudge imagined Darren dying, his heart sank.
His hopes for the next election would vanish.
He wanted to stay Minister for at least another ten years.
At least.
Fortunately—
Darren wasn't dead yet.
There was still hope.
So Fudge roared at the Ministry staff:
"Nobody act!
Whoever dares make a move will submit their resignation themselves!"
Instantly, no one dared to move.
In truth, aside from a few reckless fools trying to earn fame, nobody wanted to act anyway.
Letting a child be taken hostage—
Even if they were Aurors, they felt ashamed.
Fudge cursed under his breath.
"Damn it… so many reporters here… and Rita Skeeter too.
I wish none of you were here at all!"
Then he turned toward Amos Diggory.
"Send him to St. Mungo's immediately.
He won't survive another round of this."
---
Darren was taken away by the Death Eaters.
Because the Ministry did not dare act, a wide corridor had naturally opened among the crowd.
They moved quickly.
The moment they passed the boundary of the anti-Apparition field—
A familiar voice rang out.
"Go. Apparate. Leave Potter here."
The tone was cold.
But the underlying tension betrayed it.
Darren recognized it immediately.
Lucius Malfoy.
Another Death Eater objected sharply.
"No. We can't leave him alive.
We have to neutralize him completely."
Darren silently memorized the speaker's voice.
Later, he would send him directly to meet Merlin.
On the surface, however, Darren remained calm.
It seemed as though he didn't care in the slightest what they planned to do with him.
"There's no point wasting time with Potter—"
"Don't let him live!
He's a threat to the Master's great plan!"
"He's too strong—"
"Enough!"
One of them cut the argument short.
"Move first. Stop the Ministry from tracking us."
In the end, they chose to Apparate repeatedly with Darren, trying to escape pursuit.
Although Darren knew very well—
The Ministry wouldn't dare chase.
Now that Fudge knew about the key, he was practically Darren's servant.
If Darren told him not to chase, he would follow blindly.
Which meant—
Once these people reached somewhere isolated…
They were already dead.
Darren lowered his head and allowed them to guide him through Apparition after Apparition.
By the time they stopped, they had already shifted locations many times.
They finally arrived in a desolate wilderness.
One of them sneered.
"Good.
Let's kill Potter here.
No one will find us."
"Right. We can't let him go."
"If he escapes, he'll hunt us down one by one!"
Another voice hesitated.
"Disarm him and cripple his magic.
Killing draws too much attention.
None of you want Azkaban, do you?"
A sharp voice laughed.
"Oh? I know who you are now.
Lucius Malfoy.
You're afraid."
"Afraid to get blood on your hands."
"You walked free last time, didn't you?
And now you don't even want to make a final contribution to the Lord?"
Lucius exploded in anger.
"Barron, you think you're nobler than me?
If you were truly loyal, why weren't you rotting in Azkaban with the others?
Don't pretend your fear is 'devotion.'
You only want Darren Potter dead because you're afraid he'll recognize you."
Complete silence.
No one argued.
Their thoughts were written clearly on their faces.
Finally, someone growled:
"Darren Potter must die.
He already knows who we are.
And he's too smart."
"Yes, he acts kind—but that's what makes him dangerous.
I won't rest easy while he lives."
"No."
Lucius stepped forward.
"No killing."
The group shifted.
Several wands rose—
All aimed at Lucius.
"Then you kill him."
Lucius stood there stiffly.
His eyes flicked sideways—
Toward Darren.
A subtle signal.
He still held one last card.
He had known from the beginning that these people wouldn't want to let Darren walk away.
And yet he used Darren anyway.
But Darren was his blood.
He would not trade his own bloodline for his survival.
Never.
If it came to it—
He would fight.
The device sealing Darren's magic was still attached.
All it would take was one move—
And Darren would regain his power instantly.
Then Darren could escape.
Or—
Kill them all.
Lucius even had a fantasy:
If Darren wiped them out…
He could reclaim his position as the most powerful pure-blood family head.
As for Darren mistrusting him?
Lucius had his strategy.
As long as he said he was an undercover agent—
Darren would believe him.
And protect him.
That kind of foolish kindness…
Annoying.
Yet comforting.
Lucius locked eyes with Darren, blinking repeatedly.
A silent plea:
Look at me.
Now.
Darren did not look up.
Lucius was about to speak—
When Darren suddenly burst into laughter.
And moved.
The ropes snapped.
Instantly.
The wand Darren had thrown earlier flew back into his hand.
The magic seal shattered like glass.
With a wave of his wand—
Every Death Eater was bound and slammed to the ground.
Lucius froze.
Darren smiled softly.
"Well…
That was entertaining."
His tone was gentle.
Almost amused.
"Now let's play a little game.
Each of you gets one chance.
Confess. Truthfully.
Whoever reveals the most…
Lives.
If your answers please me—
Maybe tonight…
No one will die."
The land shimmered.
A vast magic-suppression field spread outward.
All magic was sealed.
Except his.
Darren chuckled quietly.
The same innocent, harmless smile.
But now—
It was terrifying.