Chapter 850
Safe and sound
Chapter 850 Safe and sound
An eerie stillness descended upon the scene.
As the gold dust settled, the expressions on everyone's faces changed repeatedly, with surprise, confusion, and a hint of absurdity mingling in their uneasy eyes.
Many people quietly turned their attention to the key figure at the scene—Chairman Hawthorne.
His decisiveness, composure, and reliability in the face of crisis won the trust of most people, but if it was all a malicious prank... that would be a bit embarrassing.
Hawthorne stood there, his face ashen, his earlier fervor replaced by profound caution.
Time seemed to stand still for two or three seconds, until Hawthorne raised his palm again and made a strong, downward gesture, before it resumed its flow.
"Everyone... halt operations and stand by!"
Hawthorne turned to the Aurors and gave the order again:
“Mr. Hughes, I still need you to go to New York Square to check on the situation! Miss Goldstein, go and check if Mr. Fisher is safe!”
The two accepted the order and left the manor without hesitation, then Apparated.
The wait was short. Ezra Hughes simply Apparated to the rooftop of a tall building in the central square, glanced down, stood in the crowd for a moment, and then immediately returned.
Those brief ten seconds felt like an eternity to everyone.
Soon, with a "snap," Ezra Hughes reappeared.
He strode up to Hawthorne and whispered, "Everything in the square is normal. There's no unusual gathering of Muggles, and no one is preaching or discussing magic."
These words seemed to shatter the silence of the room, stirring up a suppressed uproar among the officials and guests.
The first thing that surged up was a feeling of relief that almost made one's legs go weak.
The terrifying disaster I had imagined did not come. Although my heart was still pounding, the magical world would not fall, my family would not face the danger of being besieged, and the ordinary world continued to operate normally.
This "everyday" feeling, as if it had been lost and then regained, seems so precious at this moment that it almost makes one want to cheer.
But before the relieved smile could even spread, a chill ran down my spine.
—I've been tricked.
This realization is like a silent slap in the face to everyone.
This "prank" was not aimed at ordinary people, nor was it a game between friends. It was a crisis that could almost destroy the magical world that was suddenly and unexpectedly thrown at everyone.
And who were the people present? They were high-ranking officials, experienced Aurors, and prominent dignitaries and elites!
Just moments ago, everyone was immersed in a tragic and noble sense of mission, preparing to fight to protect the magical world... only to find out it was all a joke?
A burning shame and anger swept over them, and they instinctively avoided eye contact with their companions, feeling as if they had been utterly foolish for acting as if they were facing a formidable enemy.
"Snapped!"
In the midst of the unbearable awkwardness, Salina also Apparated back.
Everyone could tell the outcome of their trip just by looking at her expression.
Sure enough, after Salina approached Hawthorne, she whispered:
"Mr. Giuseppe Fischer is at home and safe and sound."
What Salina didn't mention was that the host was doing a thorough cleaning and had washed all the clothes—literally, all the clothes.
When Salina, worried about his safety, suddenly burst into the room, both of them screamed in terror.
So Fisher isn't really "safe and sound" right now... at least he needs to go to the hospital to get his nose checked.
But Salina felt there was no need to report such a trivial matter, and as always, she kept a tense expression, looking serious and cautious.
Hawthorne nodded and said, "Thank you for your hard work."
Everyone was completely relieved this time. In the eerie silence, a richly dressed male wizard was the first to move.
"Ha ha ha ha……"
He chuckled dryly, avoiding the gazes of the Aurors and pretending not to realize the strangeness of the whole affair. In a forcedly nonchalant tone, he said to his companion, "I wonder which friend made this joke... really... haha... so childlike!"
His companion stared at him as if he were a fool, and just as he was about to speak, another quick-witted witch immediately took over the conversation.
"Yes, yes, it startled me!"
She raised her voice, with an exaggerated sense of relief, and shrieked:
"But... this effect is really unique, it must have taken a lot of thought, right?"
"yes……"
"That's really... ingenious..."
A chorus of agreement rose and fell, and then someone, as if just remembering, said:
“Oh dear, it’s getting late… I just remembered I haven’t taken my medicine tonight! I’ll take my leave now, Mr. Hawthorne.”
An old wizard with white hair walked shakily to the door and said politely.
The old gentleman, who had just been dancing happily with a lady on the dance floor, now seemed unable to even walk.
The rest of the people resigned one after another:
"I'll go first..."
"The children at home are waiting..."
"If I get home late, my wife will be angry..."
The guests wore forced, polite smiles, trying to explain what had just happened as a "prank," but their steps were increasingly hurried.
They fled the manor almost as if they were escaping. Some guests who had arrived on Pegasus or in cars abandoned their vehicles and impatiently Apparated away.
Kingsley Shaker lingered for a few more minutes, waiting until most of the guests had left before stepping forward.
"President Hawthorne, thank you for your hospitality, Magic Congress. We'll leave you alone as Congress must have many things to attend to."
Hawthorne's gloomy expression softened slightly, and he nodded slightly, saying:
"Thank you for your support and understanding, Mr. Shakel. I hope you've had a good time tonight."
Kingsley gave a wry smile and said, "Think back to a year ago, on the night of the World Cup final, despite giving it our all, tragedy still struck..."
He paused slightly, shook his head reluctantly, and said softly:
"Chairman Hawthorne, please don't take it too seriously. Sometimes, no matter how prepared we are, we can't predict all forms of chaos."
"tonight……"
Kingsley's gaze swept around, pausing briefly on the pumpkin carriage that resembled a work of art, and he said:
"Although the process was unpleasant, nothing really bad happened in the end. In terms of results, this is the best-case scenario."
Hawthorne's tightly pursed lips relaxed slightly, and his shoulders, which had been taut like a stone sculpture, slumped for a moment.
He took a deep breath, his eyes twitching, revealing an undisguised weariness and complex gratitude.
“Thank you,” he said softly. “Thank you for saying that, Shakel. This understanding… is very valuable.”
Kingsley didn't say anything more, just nodded knowingly, his eyes seeming to say, "I understand your anger and pressure, we are the same."
The group of British Aurors also quickly left. Hawthorne watched them Apparate one after another, the ease on his face gradually fading and replaced by a more complex solemnity.
The steps were handed to them, but ultimately, they had to clean up the mess themselves.
(End of this chapter)