Chapter 259 "Voldemort's Plan"

"So—" Voldemort's eyes gleamed with cunning, "Lucius's son seems to possess remarkable abilities... If such an individual could be swayed to join me, I could usher in a new era of dominance for the pure-blood lineage, with Death Eaters reigning supreme... What a shame..."

Voldemort's sneer echoed through the chamber, chilling the air like the eerie call of a nocturnal owl. "But alas, Lucius remains oblivious to the current state of affairs. If only he'd bring his son to seek refuge with me," he mused, his tone dripping with scorn. "I would gladly overlook his thirteen years of betrayal and even offer him a position within the Death Eaters hierarchy..."

"What's the matter?" Voldemort's gaze fell upon a particular Death Eater, noticing a subtle tremor in their form at the mention of Lucius. With narrowed eyes, he demanded, "Fawley, do you have objections to my handling of this matter?"

Other than Fawley, who was baffled by Voldemort's decision to forgive the Malfoys for his betrayal if Skyler would agree to join their ranks, the other Death Eaters were shocked by his decisions as well but didn't seem to be brave enough to raise their voice.

The Death Eater in question hailed from a lesser-known branch of the Fawley family, officially estranged but still maintaining clandestine ties.

This was the modus operandi of the Fawley family – maintaining a facade of righteousness in public while secretly delving into lucrative endeavors where none could see.

When Grindelwald's chaos swept through Europe, the Fawleys found themselves embroiled in the Ministry of Magic's turmoil. Ostensibly, they organized Aurors to join the European governments in countering Grindelwald, but clandestinely, they undermined efforts, conserving their resources and subtly hindering European nations.

This duplicity was the hallmark of the Fawleys – sanctimonious on the surface, yet hedging their bets and playing both sides.

Following the disappearance of their direct heir, the Fawleys spared no expense in their search, but to no avail. They long suspected the Malfoy family's involvement, yet lacked evidence.

Moreover, given the Malfoys' close ties to the Ministry of Magic, the absence of concrete proof rendered them untouchable. Faced with this impasse, the Fawleys knew that overt methods were futile, leaving them no choice but to resort to darker means.

As a result, this Death Eater Fawley was covertly summoned by the Fawley family and tasked with "sowing discord between Voldemort and the Malfoy family" that day.

Unable to directly confront the Malfoys due to their influence over the Ministry of Magic, the Fawleys enlisted the aid of Death Eaters, who were aligned with the dark faction to act on their behalf.

That's why Fawley reacted the way he did when Voldemort mentioned how he handled the situation.

He bears a significant family responsibility and is tasked with preventing the Malfoy family from rejoining the Death Eaters. It's imperative for him to ensure that the Malfoys face severe consequences!

Fawley continued, "Master, while the Malfoy family boasts wealth and influence, their strength lies primarily in accumulating riches through generations. When it comes to combat prowess, they've always been lacking in numbers and martial prowess. There's never been talk of formidable warriors emerging from their ranks. Therefore, I believe..." Fawley paused, contemplating his next words carefully, then added, "Lucius's audacity to betray his master likely stems from something other than sheer bravery."

"Master," Selwyn interjected, "I concur with Fawley's assessment. The Malfoy family's ascent in recent years has been alarmingly swift, bordering on unnatural, especially given the mysterious and enigmatic nature of many of their dealings..."

"In the Ministry of Magic, there have been frequent and suspicious personnel changes, leaving many with a sense of unease..."

"The head of the Black family was inexplicably demoted and reassigned to a menial role in the Centaur Liaison Office—a significant loss for me, as he was one of my most trusted allies among the vassal families under my command. But the true blow came when the Wakanda family, once the cornerstone of my influence, clandestinely defected to the Malfoy camp..."

"I never anticipated the betrayal of the Wakanda family. For six centuries, they had been staunchly loyal to the Selwyns, their allegiance unshakable. To witness their treachery was utterly bewildering... What's more, following their betrayal, they inexplicably flourished under the Malfoys' patronage, rapidly ascending the ranks of both business and politics. Their newfound power now rivals even that of the revered Twenty-Eight Sacred Pureblood Families..."

"With the Wakanda family's defection serving as a glaring example, the entire British wizarding community was thrown into disarray. First, it was the Bones family, followed by the McLaggen and Runcorn families, each publicly declaring their allegiance to the Malfoy banner. Even esteemed houses like the Greengrass and Carrow families, among the revered Twenty-Eight Sacred Pureblood Families, followed suit."

"The Malfoy family's dominance became undeniable," Selwyn's voice steadied, indicating he had regained control over his emotions stemming from his daughter's disappearance.

"What's perplexing," he continued, his gaze piercing and cold, "is that while we were engaged in our struggle against the Malfoys, seven of our families formed a temporary alliance, with the Lestrange and Nott families among them..."

"But then," Selwyn's tone darkened, "we discovered that, unbeknownst to us, the Carrow and Nott families had clandestinely aligned themselves with the Malfoys..."

"The remnants of our alliance are baffled by the sudden betrayal of the Carrow and Nott families, especially considering the numerous agreements and partnerships we forged at the outset," Selwyn lamented, his voice tinged with frustration.

"The only logical explanation," Selwyn paused, his voice dropping to a whisper, "is Skyler Malfoy—the prodigious genius of the Malfoy dynasty."

"His mere existence and reputation account for all of this," Selwyn continued solemnly. "Throughout the annals of British wizarding history, spanning centuries, the Malfoy family has never wielded such influence. Lucius, though cunning, lacks the audacity for such feats."

"We suspect," Selwyn speculated, his tone grave, "that these families, large and small, aren't flocking to the Malfoy banner for the family itself, but for Skyler Malfoy's legacy..."

"The extent of his capabilities surpasses mere magical talent and prowess," Selwyn mused, his expression betraying a sense of unease. "This boy is likely more formidable and ominous than we dared imagine... reminiscent of someone—"

"That someone being, Master, your old adversary—Albus Dumbledore."

"The parallels between Skyler Malfoy and Albus Dumbledore are uncanny," Selwyn continued, his voice tinged with apprehension. "Both possess a magnetic charisma that draws followers like moths to a flame. Their influence transcends mere magical prowess, captivating hearts and minds alike."

"However," Selwyn's tone grew somber, "while Dumbledore championed light and righteousness, Skyler Malfoy appears to wield his power with a darker, more enigmatic purpose—a purpose that threatens to upheave the very foundations of our world."

"In facing such a formidable adversary," Selwyn concluded, his voice heavy with foreboding, "we must tread carefully, lest we fall victim to his insidious machinations."

Voldemort took a few moments trying to picture Skyler's feat of achievements. He imagined what kind of man Skyler would be if he could manage to get him under the Death Eater.

A few moments passed before he opened his mouth, piercing the silence with his cold, eerie voice, "This reminded me of the Alliance... The predecessor before me, the other dark lord that manages to spread terror like us. Gellert Grindelwald," He let his words seep into the air before he continued, "That Malfoy kid has the same charisma as him, under whatever cost we must try to bring him with us. Imagine how far we can accomplish everything together."