Chapter 168 - Vellory of Arcuturus Black (4)
"I think we agree that it wasn't a simple suicide." Asterion spoke in a slightly cold tone. He didn't think someone like Robert Crouch would commit suicide, people with a hunger for power fear death more than anything else on this planet.
Dumbledore smiled and fiddled with his glasses, his blue eyes narrowing with a hint of amusement. It really had been a long time since anyone had dared to manipulate him. "Even though whoever is behind the conspiracy hasn't been found, they've forgotten that I know everything that happens at Hogwarts."
"Strangely, according to the animated portraits, Robert had entered a certain room, which he left only the next day with a very satisfied smile." The headmaster of Hogwarts spoke, his voice full of amusement and interest.
"Another member of the Hogwarts Council, I presume." Asterion said after hearing the man's words. At this point he already had an idea who Robert had visited, and Dumbledore's next words only confirmed his suspicions.
Dumbledore nodded and smiled. "Verucca Buckthorn-Snyde."
"That arrogant bitch." Asterion sneered when he heard the woman's name. At that moment, he already knew who was behind this conspiracy.
"This organization called R was infiltrated before the Ministry was dissolved." Asterion spoke, his lips curving into a slightly murderous smile. "Since they dare to plot against us, they must have the support of the lesser noble houses, especially those that were left out of the sharing of interests."
Dumbledore just listened in silence, his eyes shining with a hint of coldness.
"I'm just curious why they wanted me at the tournament." Hearing Asterion's words, Dumbledore's lips parted and he replied calmly.
"They want to pit us against each other."
With more than a hundred years of experience, Dumbledore had long since become accustomed to thinking of countless possible scenarios when he found himself in a similar situation.
Of all the possibilities, this was the most realistic, not only because it would make sense for Asterion to fight him, but also because it could achieve the goal of this organization called R.
He and Asterion would kill each other in battle, leaving the power center vacant to be filled again. The Clock Tower that had just been built would collapse like a sand castle without its foundations.
Asterion and himself!
Asterion had a strange look on his face as he listened to Dumbledore's conclusions. He hadn't really thought about it, not because it was so obvious, but because he and Dumbledore had long had a tactical agreement not to fight each other.
A simple fight between him and the currently most powerful man in the world wasn't something the island of Great Britain could handle, it would sink at the first movement of either of them.
So, whether it was him or Dumbledore or Rose, they made a tactical agreement not to fight, that everything would be resolved through dialogue, and if dialogue could be used, then both sides would make concessions. Each would take a step back.
It might seem that Asterion was at a disadvantage, but Dumbledore was old, even with his great magical energy that had helped slow the aging of his body functions, the most powerful wizard in the world would eventually die like any human.
That's why Asterion had accepted this tactical deal, he could afford to wait for Dumbledore to die. This deal was good for both sides, and when Dumbledore finally died, Asterion would be free to complete his plans without further complications.
"I want to torture Verucca Buckthorn-Snyde to extract information from her, let's dig up this cancer once and for all." Asterion spoke with a terribly cold tone, he was in a very bad mood about Arcturus' death, someone had to bear his wrath.
And unfortunately for Verucca, she would be the target of his wrath.
Dumbledore wasn't surprised by his words and nodded silently. He hadn't competed with Asterion to torture someone, he wasn't that kind of man.
He preferred a more elegant and less brutal method. Mental torture...
"She's already locked up in the Hogwarts dungeon." Dumbledore spoke in a soft tone as he calmly walked away. He had much to do, especially with the second task of the tournament being brought in from other lands.
As Grindelwald and Dumbledore left, the atmosphere in the room became noticeably lighter. Being around Special Grade wizards was no different than being around lions, you never knew when they would bite.
Rose, in a corner of the room, looked around with a bored look on her face while holding a glass of orange juice, when suddenly she felt every hair on her body stand on end. A terrible, incomparable malevolence fell upon her.
In her senses, she could feel the most absolute wickedness spreading through the environment like a heavy, cold rain.
Looking around, Rose was shocked to realize that she was the only one feeling the oppressive feeling of malice. Everyone else seemed fine, as if they hadn't noticed anything unusual.
But she didn't care for long, as Rose's blue eyes darted frantically around the hall, finally catching sight of a small figure making its way through the crowd of chattering people.
It was a girl, small and delicate as a porcelain doll, her long hair so long that it was completely impossible to move with precision. However, her figure moved with shocking grace, unhindered by her enormous hair.
Strangely, no one seemed to notice her presence, which made Rose even more cautious.
As if noticing her gaze, the girl stopped and turned to face Rose.
Rose's beautiful blue eyes met her beautiful red eyes.
Rose opened her mouth in shock and couldn't help but notice the girl's striking resemblance to Asterion. She was practically the female version of her cousin.
Rose also noticed that she was wearing men's clothes, a suit identical to the one Asterion was wearing. Suddenly, she realized that the feeling of malice she felt was coming from the girl!
This made Rose's eyes widen as she discovered something incredible with her Six Eyes.
The girl in front of her wasn't human, that wouldn't be a problem, after all, there were many intelligent races like Veelas, Elves and Goblins, but this girl was a cursed spirit!
Yes, the girl was a cursed ghost in human form!
It was the first time she had ever seen a spirit in full human form.
However, the negative magical energy in that small body made Rose look cautiously at the cursed spirit that possessed the form of a fifteen-year-old girl, albeit a very small one.
Rose took a deep breath and looked accusingly at Asterion, who was drinking and talking to people with a calm expression on his face. Every wake was more like a party than a wake.
Suddenly, she saw the Cursed Spirit appear behind Asterion, holding his clothes with an inexpressive look, confirming her suspicion.
However, the scene that followed made Rose's eyes widen as Asterion smiled gently and rubbed the Cursed Spirit hair lovingly. It was the first time she had seen Asterion so kind, but his kindness was directed at a Cursed Spirit!
"What in Merlin's name is going on here?" Rose muttered to herself with an extremely confused look on her face.
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Next Chapter Second Volume: Chapter 169 - Torture and Secrets (1), Chapter 170 - Torture and Secrets (2), Chapter 171 - Conspiracies and Secrets (1), 172 - Conspiracies and Secrets (2), 173 - Conspiracies and Secrets (3), 174 - Conspiracies and Secrets (4), 175 - Conspiracies and Secrets (5), 176 - Conspiracies and Secrets (6), 177 - Conspiracies and Secrets (7), Chapter 178 - Decision and two wives (1), Chapter 179 - Decision and two wives (2), Chapter 180 - The Old King of Camelot (1), Chapter 181 - The Old King of Camelot (2), Chapter 182 - The Old King of Camelot (3), Chapter 183 - Second Trial of the International Tournament of Witchcraft and Wizardry (1).