Free Web NovelChapter 481: Chapter 481: A Warm Welcome for the Otherworldly
"A very small number of pure-blood families control over 90% of the wealth in the wizarding world. They are also a major source of funding for the Ministry of Magic," Jellall said, tapping lightly on the table as he spoke with ease. "Given this complex relationship, do you really think the Ministry would round up all those pure-blood families connected to Voldemort?"
"So, they have some kind of symbiotic relationship?" Hermione gasped, looking stunned.
If her admired professor hadn’t told her himself, she never would have believed it. Pure-blood families controlled over 90% of the wizarding world’s wealth? And they were the Ministry’s financiers?
"Symbiotic, cooperative, or subordinate—use whichever word you think fits," Jellall smiled. "Of course, you could also call it an alliance."
Hermione was silent for a moment, then asked, "So, if we apply that logic, Voldemort seems like he could also be connected to the Ministry, right? This, this is just so strange..."
"Nothing strange about it," Jellall shook his head gently. "Frankly, what binds them isn’t some sacred pact, but a chain of interests, both fragile and strong."
"Why fragile and strong?" Hermione’s interest was piqued, and she spoke up.
She understood what a chain of interests meant and what it referred to. But she didn’t understand what it meant for something to be both fragile and strong. These were completely opposite characteristics, how could they apply to the same thing?
"Everything has two sides."
Jellall didn’t keep her guessing, stating very directly, "Even a chain of interests is like that. When they have a common goal, the chain is very strong, unbreakable. But when something threatens their individual interests for some reason, it becomes as fragile as paper. Just like when Voldemort fell, the Ministry, to appease public outrage, decisively moved against the pure-bloods."
"But, that was probably just symbolic, right?" Hermione asked softly.
"Most likely, only the fanatical followers of Voldemort, like the Lestrange family," Jellall turned around. "Before Voldemort’s fall, they were the Ministry’s biggest financiers. But to save the Ministry’s reputation, they still struck at their benefactors. This is what I mean by a fragile chain of interests."
"Truly, quite fragile," Hermione’s tone carried disdain and sarcasm.
She could imagine how the Lestrange family lorded over the wizarding world before Voldemort’s fall. How many more heinous deeds had such evil Death Eaters committed, only to be covered up by the Ministry?
"Back to the main point." Jellall stood up and walked to the room’s window. "I’m only saying all this to prove that Voldemort wasn’t the mastermind behind the recent incident with the Pollajera family."
"Indeed," Hermione nodded in agreement. "If Voldemort wanted to return to the wizarding world, he would still need the backing of these pure-blood families. He wouldn’t self-destruct, but if it wasn’t Voldemort, I really can’t think of anyone else with the ability and courage to attack such a powerful pure-blood family."
"There are many people with that ability and courage. Hogwarts alone has quite a few," Jellall smiled faintly, hinting at something. "For example, Dumbledore and I."
Hermione let out a small laugh. "I didn’t expect Professor Zickrein to make such a humorous remark. But no matter who was behind it, the one who attacked the Pollajera family was ultimately that house-elf. This means this house-elf likely wanted to resist them for a long time. What kind of abuse did it suffer?"
Hermione’s desire to fight for the rights of house-elves strengthened, and she couldn’t wait to dive into that work.
"You’ll have to ask it yourself then," Jellall sat back down at his desk and spread out a blue print in front of him. "But before that, we have other work to finish."
Lazy Kitten: ? Eriri, you haven’t left yet?
Doujin Artist: Almost done, the magic array is about to be completed.
Skirt-Flipping Maniac: Your situation is like a loading bar, and a really slow one at that, like an old computer.
Machete Girl: I can feel the anxiety too.
At this moment, Katsura Kotonoha had already taken a bus back home. On the way, she’d even casually slain a few evil spirits for fun. Once home, she called Janet, hoping the battle nun could help her study some strange books she’d brought back from the ruins.
Doujin Artist: What’s it got to do with me! I’m not the one leading the array. If you want to blame someone, blame those two girls for not being fast enough!
Curly-haired Guy: That’s your girlfriend, it’s not good to say it so directly about her.
Doujin Artist: Your sister’s girlfriend, get lost!
Eriri felt like hitting someone in her anger, but there was no one to hit. Fortunately, the magic array finally activated at that moment. A blinding white beam illuminated the sky, enveloping Eriri, Claire, and Ashley.
The world spun, and the scenery changed.
When Eriri’s vision cleared again, she found herself in a dense forest. Towering trees grew lush all around, with scattered specks of faint blue light floating in the woods.
"Those are magic elements," Ashley explained, seeing Eriri’s gaze fixed on the glowing spots. "Manifestations of concentrated magic, very common on the continent of Edwyn."
"So, crystals of magic?"
Eriri nodded, as if suddenly understanding. Just as she was about to focus her camera to take a picture, she suddenly felt something was off. She reached out with both hands, grabbed Ashley and Claire’s arms, and Shunpo-ed away.
Swish, swish, swish.
The moment their feet moved, beams of multicolored light suddenly descended. Like falling rain, they shot towards where they had been standing.
Boom.
Countless elemental turbulence surged, forming a strong gale that swept outwards. Wood splinters flew, and grass scattered everywhere.
When the dust settled, the area where they had stood was now a massive crater tens of meters in diameter. The earth gave off a scorched, acrid smell.
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