Clue and Five Keys

After Percy was captured by the two Aurors, the crowd in the corridor dispersed.

However, the attack left a deep impression on the guests. The head of a powerful magical nation, the Minister of Russia, had died in a remote corner of the city, presumably by the infamous Dark Lord Grindelwald.

The combination of these two points made it difficult to sleep!

Were it not for Wilkinson's repeated assurances that the North American Congress would put in extra security for all of them, some of the more elitist wizards would have fled.

At ten o'clock that night, Conal wearily reported to the Minister's office.

"Any luck with the investigation?" Wilkinson asked as he sat at the head of the table and tapped his fingers on it.

Connor shook his head. Percy had told him everything he could and shouldn't after taking the truth serum, but they hadn't been able to get any new information.

"I've sent people to check on the Aurors and goblins who have been on guard duty recently. There's nothing wrong with them!" Connor added.

"That's strange, then. It seems that someone did not sneak into MACUSA ahead of time," Wilkinson said slowly. "That means Grindelwald was most likely hiding among the guests and somehow managed to avoid detection at the gates…"

Wilkinson paused for a moment, then looked at Connor and said, "No, there might be another possibility…"

'The other possibility?' Conal frowned, unsure of Wilkinson's meaning.

"Do you think someone might have killed the Russian Minister under Grindelwald's name and taken the key from him?" Wilkinson asked, enunciating his suspicions.

Conal was visibly taken aback, and then broke out in a cold sweat.

Indeed, there is no evidence to suggest Grindelwald was responsible, and all they can confirm is that a powerful wizard controlled Percy Weasley and used him to kill Minister Igor.

Grindelwald had the impression that there was someone else capable of the same thing!

"Are you suspecting Ivan Hals? But I've tested him before, and he doesn't seem to know about the key…" Connor said, trying to be helpful.

Though equally suspicious, Conal didn't want to… or rather didn't want to believe it had anything to do with Ivan Harris.

Because that would represent the worst-case scenario — that the wizarding world today could not withstand the wrath of two Dark Lords.

"The results of a test or two don't mean anything. It could just be a disguise. In any case, we can't rule it out… Don't forget that Percy Weasley was a British wizard, and Ivan Hals had plenty of opportunities to cast a Imperius Curse on him," Wilkinson said emphatically.

"I understand, Madam Chairman. I'll put more men on the watch." Conal nodded. As the head of the case, he would not be swayed by personal feelings, even if they were unlikely.

… .

At the same time, in the private bedroom of the lounge, a worried Pierce looked at Ivan after dismissing Dawlish and the others.

"Grindelwald is obviously out to get us, or he wouldn't have deliberately controlled Percy to kill Igor himself. If we don't catch him soon, I'm afraid Grindelwald will go on murdering people in MACUSA and try to pin it on us."

"It's not a possibility, it's a certainty!" Ivan corrected Pierce, taking no chances.

On the other hand, it would be a good opportunity to hit Grindelwald hard…

Powerful wizards like them were almost impossible to capture or kill, and could easily escape even if they were defeated in a duel.

However, things were different now. In order to hold this world-wide wizarding conference, the North American Magical Headquarters was heavily guarded. Large amounts of protective magic were placed both openly and covertly, and all means of teleportation were ineffective.

The only trouble was that Grindelwald had a Horcrux, and unless they carried it with them, they could destroy Grindelwald's body at best, but not kill him outright.

Ivan's composure reassured a worried Pierce, and he was soon able to shake off the shadow that Grindelwald had cast over him.

As Ivan said, Grindelwald had caused them a lot of trouble, but he had also put himself in danger, and if they caught him red-handed, the tables would be turned.

"So what do we do next?" Pierce asked, collecting himself.

"Naturally, to set up a trap and then find a way to lure the snake out of its hole…" Ivan explained briefly, then paused before continuing. "If I'm not mistaken, you have one of those keys with you, don't you?"

Pierce nodded and took out a lifelike, silver-white, palm-sized raven from his sleeve.

"This is the key?" Ivan asked, taking the raven from her. He had wondered what the key would look like, but seeing it for himself was a bit of a surprise.

Even more surprising to Ivan was the fact that he could not see how it worked with his current knowledge of alchemy.

As expected of the culmination of the wisdom of hundreds of alchemists.

It really wasn't that easy to crack.

"I'll keep this for now," Ivan said, turning it over and over in his hands for a long moment before putting the silver raven away in the pocket of his wizarding robe.

In that case, Grindelwald would not be able to collect all the keys unless he defeated him.

Piers, of course, didn't dare object, and would have liked nothing better. With Grindelwald on his tail, it was a hot potato, and anyone who held it would be the next target of his attacks.

After putting the key away, Ivan and Pierce discussed their next course of action.

They talked until after midnight, when Pierce solemnly excused himself and left the bedroom.

When the door to the room closed, Ivan retrieved the Resurrection Stone with a sigh. If Connor and the others had been there, they would have been shocked to find a dead Igor in this room in a different form…