106. Grindelwald’s Fear

"Thank you for the delicious meal, Aurelius. Your hospitality was greatly appreciated," Grindelwald said as he placed the knife and fork horizontally, with the fork on top and the knife on the bottom. This is a signal in dining to indicate satisfaction with the meal.

In a restaurant, this gesture would immediately catch the attention of the waiter, who would then expect a tip. Grindelwald used this method to compliment his host's hospitality.

This particular meal was simple and pure, but as it came to an end, it was inevitable that serious matters would arise.

In the living room, Newt and Tina watched nervously. Nagini and Vinda, however, seemed unworried. In Vinda's eyes, Grindelwald was all-powerful. Plus, after months of strategic planning, Nagini had developed a great deal of trust in Aurelius.

"Oh, look how nervous they are," Grindelwald said, holding a tea.

"It's understandable that they're nervous. They're only twenty feet away from, the most dangerous Dark Wizard in the world," Aurelius replied with a smile.

"I want to apologize to you, Aurelius, for mistaking you for a squib. That led to a series of misunderstandings," Grindelwald said, speaking again.

"But didn't I leave you a surprise as well? Mr. Grindelwald, we are even," Aurelius said, smiling.

Grindelwald looked at Aurelius and suddenly laughed. "You remind me of an old friend. It takes me back to our younger days."

"Albus Dumbledore? You're greatly overestimating me. That's the 'Great Dumbledore.' There's no way I can compare myself to him," Aurelius remarked.

"Of course, there are differences between you and him, but you're very similar to me. I can see your ambition and your abilities," Grindelwald said, pointing at his distinctive eye.

"Is this another prophecy? I've been hearing so many prophecies lately," Aurelius said, shaking his head and sighing. "Why do people bother with things that are meant to be unchangeable?"

"People seek good luck and try to avoid bad luck," Grindelwald replied.

"Yes, people want to know their destiny, but they also want to change it. Changing destiny, however, is not an easy task."

"So, you don't believe in prophecies?" Grindelwald asked curiously.

Aurelius shook his head, avoiding the topic. "Let's get to the point, Mr. Grindelwald. You went through the trouble of sending me a greeting card with a messenger. Was it just to apologize to someone as insignificant as me?"

"insignificant? Aurelius, you have been persecuted too much by your adoptive mother! We are wizards, and you and I are only a handful. Why do we call ourselves little people? The world is very big, but wizards only live in a small corner. Muggles are ignorant and cowardly, but they can dominate the world. Is this right? Everything in the world should be dominated by virtuous people, and wizards should be in charge of it. Are you right?"

Listening to Grindelwald once again espousing his belief in wizards dominating the world, Aurelius shook his head and smiled. "Mr. Grindelwald, I am not a believer of yours. It may be enticing to wizards, but don't forget, I grew up in a Muggle family."

"Do you truly believe that wizards are superior to Muggles? Do you genuinely think wizards are more deserving of ruling the world than Muggles?" Aurelius stared at him and spoke deliberately. "Or... are you, afraid?"

Grindelwald's brow furrowed slightly, Aurelius' words provoking his thoughts.

He had foreseen an inevitable war looming in the Muggle world. It was this fear that gripped him.

Especially the terror of a mushroom cloud capable of obliterating an entire city in an instant. As a wizard, he and Dumbledore alone possessed the strength to summon such devastation.

It was a possibility, but not a certainty.

What terrified him even more was the realization that super wizards like Dumbledore and himself were entirely reliant on fate. With the two of them currently, and the potential addition of Aurelius in the future.

On the other hand, Muggle technology could continuously produce mushroom clouds.

This was the most alarming aspect of Muggles—their ability to create limitless destruction once they created the first. It was a power that technology and industrialization possessed, far surpassing the limited capabilities of wizardry.

Perhaps Muggles would not discover wizards in the next ten or twenty years, but what about in a hundred or two hundred years? What about in the long run?

You see, for wizards who were born with a significantly longer lifespan, one or two hundred years was not an extensive period to consider.

However, Grindelwald had no one to confide in about these concerns. All he could do was rally more wizards to his side, working together to assert their dominion over the world before the emergence of that dreadful weapon and the rapid advancement of technology rendered them obsolete.

"Haha—" Rarely did Grindelwald display a bitter expression, tinged with a hint of melancholy. He reclined against the back of the sofa and gazed up at the crystal pendant hanging from the ceiling.

His eyes gradually blurred. "You are very foresight. Then you must understand that if you don't take the lead at this time, the future of the wizarding world is destined to be dim. As a member of the wizarding community, shouldn't you stand with me?" Grindelwald asked.

Aurelius smiled and shook his head as Grindelwald insisted, "Of course, I foresee these things. This does not require your prophetic ability."

"Mr. Grindelwald, have you ever considered the possibility that your predictions are wrong?" Aurelius inquired.

"An error? Impossible," Grindelwald replied resolutely, his eyes full of trust.

Aurelius pressed further, "Not once wrong?"

"Not once wrong!" Grindelwald affirmed.

Aurelius smiled knowingly, "Well since you have made a prophecy, it will come true. You have seen the terrible creations made by Muggles in the future, so you decided to provoke a war in advance to rule over them. But if you succeed, it means your prediction ability is inaccurate. And if your prediction ability is accurate, then you will surely fail. Have you considered this?"

Grindelwald took a deep breath, aware that he had subconsciously avoided this line of thinking. Aurelius's merciless exposure left him feeling embarrassed.

However, as a wizard of his caliber, he would not easily shake his belief. "Even if I fail, I will have no regrets because I have tried my best and fought with all my strength," Grindelwald declared.

"Instead of being like those ignorant fools who bury their heads and pretend to be oblivious, waiting for their demise!"