Chapter 431: Azkaban Liaison Office (Edited)

Any other person, surrounded by so many Dementors, would have fainted. But Tom, with his crown, felt no fear of the desperate atmosphere created by the Dementors. He was completely immune.

Amelia's arrival alerted the Dementors, who approached her with hostility.

Amelia watched as the Dementors stirred, as if awakening from a slumber. At that moment, she had no time to ponder the relationship between the masked figure and the Dementors. She knew she had to quickly retrieve the documents from the Ministry of Magic to appease these dark creatures. She trusted that the Patronus Charm would be enough to intimidate these erratic individuals.

Just then, the masked figure moved. He extended a hand, and all the Dementors in motion froze, not daring to take another step forward.

As all the Dementors halted, Tom took a few steps forward, approaching Amelia.

"Hello, Minister Bones," Tom said.

In that moment, Amelia could clearly see the appearance of the masked figure. In an instant, she recognized this figure: it was the same person she had encountered at the Hog's Head Inn!

She wouldn't mistake this mask!

Before, she had thought this masked figure was an informant of Dumbledore, but now she was no longer sure. Who had ever seen a wizard who could live in harmony with Dementors? Their coexistence was as if a hungry wolf and a fat lamb had become good friends.

Then, she thought that this being was not some strange magical creature, or perhaps a particularly intelligent Dementor that had evolved to become the King of Dementors?

"I didn't expect you to have this other identity," she said with a complex expression.

Tom: ...

Amelia's words left Tom unsure of how to respond.

"Why have you come here?" he asked, opening his mouth.

Amelia explained the purpose of her visit to Tom.

"What do you think? Would you be willing to send some Dementors to help me search Knockturn Alley? The captured criminals will eventually be brought to Azkaban, which would be beneficial for your kind." Amelia looked at Tom with some unease, unsure if negotiations could proceed smoothly after the appearance of the authoritative figure among the Dementors.

After all, persuading a highly intelligent creature like a wizard and persuading a group of fools were two very different things.

"Why should my tribe and I help you?" Tom skillfully noticed a gap in Amelia's words. In that gap, he heard the sound of extortion.

"Because... the captured wizards will be sent to Azkaban and provide more fresh food for you." Amelia's eyes flickered slightly.

"Are not criminal wizards always sent to Azkaban? So if I don't agree this time, you won't bring the prisoners?" Tom asked.

Dementors and Azkaban were unique to the British magical world, and even the magical world in general. Was there any more absolute monopoly than this? There was none.

From what Tom knew, the other Ministries of Magic in other countries only had more primitive temporary jails or custom prisons like Nurmengard, a large prison where many wizards could be incarcerated long-term. Only Azkaban was an exclusive market for selling prisoners. Even if Tom rejected Amelia's request, could she change that? Where would she lock up her prisoners, Gringotts? Or would she build an institution to house minor offenders at the Ministry of Magic?

Amelia: ...

It had become more complicated! She was now completely on guard against this mysterious individual: he was too suspicious. According to Amelia's judgment, this creature was already colluding with Dumbledore, and there was surely a very close cooperation between them. Together, they had toppled Fudge's regime, and she herself had become Minister with their help.

Before knowing the identity of the masked figure, she wasn't as worried. After all, Dumbledore and his followers were normal. This kind of thing had happened countless times throughout history, and the Malfoys were prominent examples. Being outdone by Dumbledore wasn't too bad; it was better than being outdone by pure-bloods. But now Amelia was anxious because this seemed more than an internal struggle among wizards; it was a racial showdown.

What was Dumbledore planning? How could he be allied with these monstrous creatures called Dementors?

Upon reflection, Amelia believed that Dumbledore was too good a man to do such a thing, so perhaps there was something more to it. The identity of the masked figure remained an enigma.

After thinking it over a bit, Amelia was no longer as nervous. The most urgent task was to convince this person to send the Dementors to help her clean up Knockturn Alley. Yes, afterward, she would go interrogate Dumbledore.

"Without your help, even if we manage to catch people, they won't be many."

Tom had no idea that he had nearly become an ambitious outsider challenging the status of wizards in Minister Amelia's mind. He was just thinking about what kind of price to offer as a condition for joining the "fight."

"Between the Ministry of Magic and the Dementors, it seems there hasn't been an official channel of communication," Tom said calmly. "I hope you can establish a liaison office with the Dementors, or an office for the Dementors, where I can handle communication between the Ministry of Magic and the Dementor community."

Upon hearing this, Amelia's first reaction was to search her mind to see if the Ministry of Magic had an institution that fit the description of the masked man. Then, she was surprised to realize that in the vast Ministry of Magic, there was no specific department responsible for communicating with Dementors.

Usually, non-human creatures should fall under the purview of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, but the seven departments under its jurisdiction (Beast Division, Being Division, Spirit Division, Goblin Liaison Office, Centaur Liaison Office, Pest Advisory Board, and Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office) did not deal with the management of dark creatures.

If Dementors were classified as spirits, then the Spirit Division could handle them, but they were not really spirits!

After pondering for a moment and considering it carefully, Amelia realized that she had to establish another institution dedicated to communicating with Dementors. Moreover, this institution would surely be of vital importance, as it would have to handle coordination with Azkaban. The absurd departments of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures were not suitable at all.

"Then, I will establish an Azkaban Liaison Office under the jurisdiction of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," Amelia proposed.

Tom naturally had no objections.

After discussing a bit more, they finally reached an agreement: Tom would send the Dementors to assist Minister Amelia in capturing dark wizards in Knockturn Alley and, at the same time, limit their ability to escape. As a reward, after Operation "Whirlwind" concluded, the Ministry of Magic would establish the Azkaban Liaison Office, responsible for all matters related to Azkaban. Tom would head that department.