105. Banquet

"Mr. Sochuro, is there anything unusual?"

Grindelwald is wearing his iconic coat, with short snow-white hair standing straight up. He is also wearing a pair of shiny Martin boots. In terms of appearance, the adjective "British gentleman" is more suitable for Grindelwald, regardless of his personality.

"Very honest, but he should have discovered us a long time ago. He deliberately wanted to see me today," Sochuro said, remaining true to his character of saying whatever he wanted.

"Oh? Did he ask Grimmson if he was exposed?" Grindelwald listened to the entire scene of Sochuro's meeting today, his eyes narrowing with interest. He turned to the woman next to him, who was also dressed exquisitely.

Vinda Rosier,

"What's going on over there in the UK?" Grindelwald Asked.

Vinda is very confident and holds most of the secrets of the Alliance Party. She keeps all the information in her bag at all times. "Torquil Travers, Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement of the British Ministry of Magic, issued a ban prohibiting Albuus Dumbledore from teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts classes. This morning, Travers led more than twenty Aurors to Paris."

"What's the purpose?" Grindelwald asked.

"This is unclear at the moment. The British Ministry of Magic is alone overseas, and following your wishes, we have barely infiltrated them. Some families who voluntarily surrendered were also rejected despite offering gifts," Vinda said softly.

Grindelwald thought for a while and said, "Apart from gatherings, do we do anything else these days?"

"No, this meeting is our most important task at the moment. You have explained that this is the most crucial action after obtaining Aurelius's services, so we have suspended all other activities and are fully preparing for it," Vinda clarified, avoiding expressing her judgment.

She is very aware of her position. She is a tool, and tools cannot have personal emotions. How to use a tool depends solely on the will of the tool owner.

"It seems that the British Ministry of Magic wants to declare war on us," Grindelwald commented with a hint of disdain. It's not that he is arrogant, but without Dumbledore, all the wizards in Britain combined would not be enough to challenge him.

The core members of the Alliance Party are all elites, and each official member is skilled enough to take on at least three or five Aurors in a fight.

Grindelwald, as a leader of the Alliance Party, has at least a thousand people. How many divisions does the British Ministry of Magic have?

"Be careful." Even though Grindelwald despises these old Englishmen who can't understand the situation, the stakes are high and he has a big plan. He doesn't want these bugs to ruin his fun.

"Mr. Grindelwald, in my humble opinion, I'm afraid that the primary target of those English people may not be the assembly, but Aurelius," Sochuro reminded.

Grindelwald nodded solemnly; it wasn't difficult to guess. Aurelius wouldn't question Sochuro about Grimmson for no reason, indicating his awareness of the abnormality and danger.

According to Vinda's intelligence, Dumbledore seems to have faced suspicion and even hostility from the British Ministry of Magic.

At the same time, Aurelius is more vulnerable compared to himself.

All signs point to one goal—to destroy Aurelius and foil his plan.

"Ah—if it were that simple, you would be underestimating Aurelius," Grindelwald said meaningfully, smiling at Vinda.

"Let's go." With that, he adjusted his collar, raised his legs, and walked toward the Villa across the road.

Inside the villa, Tina and Newt were restless, while Nagini sat beside them. Aurelius closed his eyes and meditated.

"Could you both stop acting like monkeys? I told you earlier: 'If you don't want the result, go out for a walk.'" Aurelius sensed the restlessness of the two without even opening his eyes.

Tina suggested multiple times that she could inform the French Ministry of Magic, but Aurelius refused and stopped her.

One cannot allow their character to be completely obliterated.

"No, I can't," Newt murmured, lowering his head and fidgeting with his fingers, almost knotting them.

"Here it comes—" Aurelius opened his eyes, pushing the door left and right with both hands. The villa's door slowly opened, revealing Grindelwald and Vinda, who entered the room in darkness.

"Long time no see, Aurelius," Grindelwald stood on the opposite side of the long table, condescending but lacking any sense of oppression. His peculiar eyes didn't instill fear; instead, they radiated gentle care.

It seemed as though the person in front of him wasn't a super dark wizard who had the entire European Ministry of Magic panicking, but rather a kind and benevolent monarch...

Not one to control people by coercion or fear, spreading kindness throughout the world, ruling the country with a reputation.

"I must admit, Mr. Grindelwald, you have changed a lot," Aurelius admired.

After meeting several times, Aurelius's initial impression was that Grindelwald was harsh and dismissive. The second encounter showcased him as fierce and powerful, single-handedly subduing dozens of Aurors from the United States.

But this meeting presented Aurelius with a newfound perception.

For both of them, what caused such a significant change in Grindelwald?

It was Aurelius's transformation of identity—from being a squib, seen as insignificant by Grindelwald, to becoming a talented wizard who could travel alongside him.

"You're very impressive, but I made a mistake," Grindelwald admitted without hesitation.

Glancing at Newt and Tina, who tightly gripped their wands, Grindelwald paid them no mind. Aurelius gestured at the seat directly opposite him, and Grindelwald sat down, neatly tucking the napkin into his collar.

It appeared that they were solely here for a large meal.

Aurelius smiled, acknowledging that fact.

Though Grindelwald is not perfect, his powerful personality is highly praised by numerous fans. It has also inspired countless Alliance followers to risk their lives to follow him.

Feeling calm in a situation like this is only natural.

"Nagini, the guests have arrived," Aurelius informed Nagini.

Nagini nodded slightly, swaying the wand in her hand, and the delectable French cuisine prepared by Ipapan began to float out of the kitchen.

Nagini had only recently been exposed to magic and was not as gifted as Aurelius, but her levitation spell was executed flawlessly.

"Hmm, it smells heavenly. This is truly considerate. I haven't tasted such authentic French food in years," Grindelwald complimented.

Kind compliments should be given to every guest as a sign of respect.

"As long as you enjoy it, please, everyone," Aurelius responded warmly.

Around the long dining table, everyone displayed polite manners.

Grindelwald was content, Aurelius showed his warm hospitality, and Nagini seemed to covertly observe Vinda's graceful movements, engaging in silent competition. Newt and Tina, on the other hand, appeared like outsiders, visibly upset and motionless. The grip on their wands was so tight it felt as though they would break them.