Chapter 746
News on the Ministerial Election
Chapter 746 News on the Ministerial Election
Before the morning mist had completely dissipated, a gray owl pierced the hazy sky, its broad wings skimming across the misty waters of the Thames, nimbly weaving among the scattered buildings.
Suddenly, it folded its wings and swooped down, precisely passing through an open attic window, the resulting airflow stirring up fine dust on the window frame.
The owl dropped a stack of newspapers, which landed lightly on the crossbar of the oak bookshelf. It shook its feathers, tilted its head, and watched the figure sitting up from the bed, letting out two low "coo" sounds.
Good morning, Ava.
Wade rubbed his eyes and laughed.
After washing up and getting ready, he drank a glass of water, then picked up the newspaper on the table, untied the pale yellow hemp rope, and walked out of the bedroom.
"Wow--"
The newspaper unfolded, and a line of bold text on the front page caught Wade's attention. He stopped and stood in the corridor for a moment, then heard a voice beside him:
"Wade?" Ferdinand fastened his robe and came out, asking in confusion, "What are you doing standing here?"
"Dad, today's newspaper has arrived."
Wade's voice was still hoarse from the early morning, but his eyes were fully awake.
"Oh...a newspaper?"
Ferdinand paused for a moment, then fully regained his senses. He walked over, picked up the newspaper, looked at it, and after a moment of silence, sighed and said, "It's alright... it's not the worst outcome."
Wade shook his head slightly without saying a word.
The father and son went to the study. Ferdinand took out a few small magnets and pressed them lightly with his finger after Wied unfolded the newspaper.
"Click."
When a magnet touches a piece of iron, it makes a crisp sound.
Around this newspaper were several other clippings, some with very prominent photographs of people, and some even unusually in color.
Scrimgeour resembled a lion poised to pounce, his greyish-white hair stubbornly standing on end, the scars on his face appearing ferocious yet powerful. His brow was slightly furrowed, the furrow between it seemingly beyond repair.
Umbridge, dressed in a rose-pink velvet robe with lace and bows adorning the collar and cuffs, wore an overly sweet smile as she repeatedly shook hands and smiled at her former minister, Fudge.
Borns looked serious, his nasolabial folds appearing particularly deep. His traditional black wizard robes were almost devoid of any personal features, with the Wezengamo emblem hanging on his chest being the only decoration.
Sinkness stood in the Golden Hall of the Ministry of Magic, his silver-gray hair neatly combed, his hands clasped naturally in front of him, and a perfectly timed smile on his lips.
After fierce competition, these are the four candidates for Minister of Magic who have entered the final round.
Wade's gaze swept over them one by one:
Safety cannot wait; the time for action has arrived!
Mr. Rufus Scrimgeour stated:
The Ministry of Magic's primary responsibility is to protect the safety of the people; we cannot let our guard down because some people have the illusion that "everything is fine"...
We need to recruit and train more elite Aurors to ensure the safety of every inch of land...
I will do everything in my power to address the existing security issues, rather than cover up the darkness...
We must never let the magical world repeat the mistakes of the past...
Immediately following was a report about Umbridge, with large, cursive lettering next to her affected smile—
For a better and more prosperous magical world.
We must ensure that our stable lives continue, rather than be disrupted by the "crisis theories" and "reform fanaticism" of some people...
I, Dolores Umbridge, as a loyal guardian of the Ministry of Magic, hereby pledge:
Maintaining the existing order...improving administrative efficiency...developing the economy, and taking a more resolute approach to safeguarding private property...protecting the interests of the people...】 Wade frowned in disgust, his gaze shifting to the next clipping:
Rebuilding Trust, Returning to Justice.
The Ministry of Magic must return to fair and transparent operations... Corruption, abuse of power, and disregard for the public's voice are not the problems of a few individuals; they are the failure of the entire system...
I will ensure that everyone who abuses power is held accountable… guarantee that the law will be enforced fairly and justly regardless of bloodline or origin… allow for public oversight to prevent arbitrary decisions by high-ranking officials…
Amelia Borns fights for a just Ministry of Magic!
Following Ms. Burns was Pierce Sinkness's campaign manifesto—
Unity, pragmatism, and progress!
What the Ministry of Magic needs now is not division, but unity; not empty talk, but pragmatism.
Excessive radicalism or stubborn conservatism will both harm the interests of the wizarding world. What we need is to maintain stability and peace within the British wizarding community, not power struggles...
I do not belong to any faction, but I will try my best to bridge the rifts between the factions... I will respect the opinions of all parties, and most importantly, I will maintain the normal operation of the Ministry of Magic...
We cannot exaggerate the threat and create anxiety and panic among the public, but we should not ignore the potential dangers either... Let us meet tomorrow's challenges with reason and unity...
Rereading the article, Wade still found it laughable. He curled his lip in disdain and snorted.
"It's all empty talk and platitudes. At least others have a promise, but what about him? Even if he does nothing after becoming a minister, the public can't say that he violated his previous declarations."
Ferdinand put down his teacup and said gently, "But after experiencing turmoil, what people crave most is precisely this seemingly mundane sense of security."
“Especially when people open the newspaper, all they see are extreme stances, and the words alone are exhausting. Since life is still manageable, a promise of ‘nothing changing’ is more appealing than those radical leaders.”
Wade tapped the picture of Sinkness in the newspaper, sighed, turned to look at his father, and said helplessly, "Fine... you win."
“It wasn’t me who won.” Ferdinand looked at Umbridge’s photo and said, “She was actually the one with the best chance of winning… If you hadn’t intervened, the person I bet on wouldn’t have been able to win.”
In the middle of the clipping wall, various negative news stories were displayed:
Scrimgeour has close ties with several wanted dark wizards;
Amelia Bornes' grandfather, Edgar Bornes, was a renowned collector of dark magic artifacts;
Sinkness was once hospitalized for mental instability and was reported to have been under the control of the Imperius Curse for many years.
Burns protected his relatives during the trial, and the victims have yet to receive a fair verdict.
Sinkenis is suspected to be a puppet of certain forces;
Scrimgeour used torture to extract confessions during his investigations, resulting in at least three wizards being permanently disabled as a result.
A prominent official in the Ministry of Magic warned that if Scrimgeour is elected, the Ministry of Magic will become an Auror dictatorship!
Wade immediately recognized that these were all Umbridge's tactics. She could even produce various photos, both real and fake, and find so-called "victims" and "insiders" to cry in front of the camera, which once made her incredibly popular.
Of course, others did retaliate, with newspapers also reporting that "Umbridge had abused her household servants for years" and "Ms. Umbridge had made appalling remarks," but without pictures or evidence, their claims were much less convincing.
It must be said that Umbridge, as Fudge's former confidante, could easily obtain dirt on many people and suppress any negative information related to herself.
But there was one person who was like a hidden voice in the British magical world. She possessed countless secret news stories that she dared not reveal, but was afraid to do so because of the power of the Ministry of Magic.
After Wade contacted Rita Skeeter, promising her a large sum of Galleons and ensuring her reports were published in various countries, a deluge of solid negative news about Umbridge erupted!
Umbridge had initially secured the support of the wizarding world's capital, making her rise to power almost a certainty. However, this turn of events not only disqualified her from the election but also puts her under prosecution and imprisonment.
However, Ms. Burns, whom Wade secretly supported, also failed to be elected.
The news headline he just received this morning was—
A Historic Moment: Sinkness Elected Minister for Magic
One update tonight.
(End of this chapter)