In order to get more gold in the pockets opened by goblins, are you willing to do something terrible to Hermione?
If that really is their purpose, then this group of people could be described as incredibly foolish. Not to mention, after the incident, Hogwarts would certainly investigate to the end. Amortentia believes that her reputation alongside Dumbledore still holds some weight. To take such a great risk for gold alone is not even something that can be described as "greed blinding reason."
Considering the supporters of Hermione in the magical community of the United Kingdom and other European countries, the fact that she was attacked has not been made public at present. However, if this matter remains unresolved for a long time, the news will inevitably leak out.
The goblins' intelligence system is not to be underestimated, as they have long infiltrated every aspect of the wizarding society. Once alerted, they would surely respond, freezing the funds placed as bets is the bare minimum they would do. Next, goblins will also seek out these greedy wizards who break the rules and give them a taste of their own medicine.
Amortentia remained silent, her mind racing with thoughts.
From a logical standpoint, this doesn't make sense. The organization that Freya's line led to clearly has considerable power in the Muggle society.
Amortentia wouldn't believe that Mr. Pastore was utterly despondent due to his daughter's disappearance and donated all of his property away. The most likely scenario is that it was secretly transferred, but this also shows that the group is not short of methods to amass wealth.
Unless, it's actually two different groups.
Amortentia's face was devoid of expression, the light in his eyes sending shivers down one's spine. Despite not intentionally trying to intimidate anyone, the unconscious pressure he exuded still caused Louise a strong sensation of suffocation. She retreated continuously until she was more than thirty feet away from the door, feeling somewhat relieved.
In the sunlight, with her hands pressed against her chest and staring into the dimness at the pair of glowing purple eyes, Louise's face was pale and she was panting heavily. With this alone, she finally understood the power of the magical community.
Kingsley couldn't bear the intense heat surrounding Amortentia·Brane, and he retreated to the back, with his back pressed against the wall. With eyes filled with alarm, he stared at Amortentia·Brane's hair that was slightly swaying.
No coincidences happen for no reason in the world. There must be a deeper underlying cause behind what happened to Hermione.
"Kingsley, it looks like our plan might have to change..."
Amortentia demonstrated a strong control of power, and in the blink of an eye, all the abnormalities in this enclosed room disappeared. The tone still carried a strong sense of oppression, causing Kingsley to feel suffocated as well.
"I need you to do some things--"
Kingsley blinked his eyes, holding back the feeling of panic, and went forward to await orders.
"First of all, Mr. Onestore Pastore —"
Amortentia's gaze pointed to the fallen and unconscious Muggle still lying on the ground.
"I'm afraid we have no reason to neglect Mr. Pastore, so I'd like you to personally escort him back to London and send him to St. Mungo's Hospital for Care. His condition isn't promising, and he requires professional treatment—"
"I will ensure he is safely escorted back to London—"
Kingsley nodded gravely and spoke in a low voice.
"Next, take Louise to Berlin and wait for me—"
Amortentia gave Kingsley serious instructions.
"Before I get there, don't be tempted to investigate anything. If my guess is correct, there should be a base of this group. I've seen the magic that killed Freyze. Without the Ministry's support, if someone finds out, it would be very dangerous—"
"And you, Mr. Brane?"
Kingsley glanced at Louise approaching from behind and, understanding the meaning in Amortentia's words, asked urgently.
"I have some new leads, but they're not definitely related to this incident. I have to check them out, though—"
Amortentia spoke in a low voice.
Should I go to Ludo Bagman or to Barty?
Thinking for a moment, Amortentia decided to go and ask Ludo about the situation first. Ludo Bagman was a relatively easy person to understand, being greedy and obsessed with gambling, but not a black wizard. However, he had a good relationship with the old witch in Paris, but the witch's nature and style still made Amortentia hesitate.
He couldn't guarantee that it wasn't a trap set up by goblins in collaboration with that group.
What information does Amortentia actually have?
Looking at Amortentia, who was talking to Kingsley, Louisa stammered. If she had done so before, she would have definitely pestered him to the end. However, the fit she had just experienced made her feel embarrassed. Particularly when she knew that there was a magical community, and that Amortentia·Brane was a top figure in the magical world, she suddenly felt like Amortentia had become distant and unrealistic.
"Oh, and there's a third thing—"
After finishing with the two points, Amortentia suddenly remembered something. He gestured for Kingsley to step back, waved his wand, and pushed Pastore to the side as well, his gaze falling to the floor.
Pastore had definitely broken the floor before. On the cement ground, which had been battered and worn by time and collisions, there was not a single piece of dust, and the extraordinary magical reaction could be seen that something was not right.
Amortentia didn't wave his wand again, but instead, with Kingsley and Louise looking on curiously, he slowly squatted down. His fingertips traced over the slightly chilly cement floor, the markings were random and irregular. Occasionally, he would stop and strike the floor with his fingers.
"What are you doing?"
Louise couldn't help but curiosity ask, then, she retracted her neck under Kingsley's stern gaze, endured her patience and continued watching.
"Not the way of wizards."
After a few minutes, Amortentia suddenly smiled.
"This convent wouldn't have been so simple even before it closed down —"
A few minutes later, Amortentia breathed a sigh of relief.
As the saying goes, different paths lead to the same destination. Amortentia, with his top-level magical prowess, quickly understood the seal at the entrance. His fingertips glowed slightly as he traced along the strange patterns on the ground again, then —
Hū --
The glowing light halo that erupted from the ground illuminated the dimly lit containment room. After the light faded, a dark hole appeared in front of the three of them.
In an instant when the air began to circulate, a mix of intense heat and a thick, indelible scent of blood and decay surged up. Louisa, who had her head peeking curiously over the edge of the hole, was blown by the stench across her nostrils and immediately vomited. She hurriedly retreated to the doorway, gasping for breath, and inhaled fresh air.
"Is this the place where that magical organization used to conduct research?"
As an experienced Auror, Kingsley's resistance to the unpleasant odor was much stronger than Louise's. He just frowned but didn't retreat, and instead, a glimmer of expectation shone in his eyes.
"Can we dig out more clues from below?"
"As evidence for a conviction, we might find some clues. However, to find that group of dark wizards through subtle clues, it's unlikely..."
Amortentia stared at the spiral staircase leading downward, his tone cold,
"It's been too long, and I think Mr. Pastore was once brought in here. Moreover, the painful memory of his daughter being subjected to torture down there has been deeply ingrained in his soul, causing him to lose his sanity and still rely on his instincts to open here."
Kingsley clenched his fist inside the wide cuff of his coat and looked at Pastore with sympathy and anger. He understood the mentality of the criminals. The reason why they wanted Pastore alive was that sadistic torturers believed this would make the survivor suffer even more intense agony. They derive pleasure from seeing human beings suffer psychological torment!
"These people should rot in Azkaban!"
Kingsley was seldom so emotionally unstable, he said bitterly.
"Just what they did to Freyze is enough for a lifetime in Azkaban—"
Amortentia's expression was cold and stern.
"But that won't be satisfactory for me. You can go down and look around, Kingsley, find some evidence. I hope when we catch these people, they will experience the kiss of a Dementor. That would be more fitting for the crimes they have committed."
(Chapter Ends)
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