Chapter 903
Jingle Bells
Chapter 903 Jingle Bells
Lyra stepped forward, bent down, and picked up a deformed button from the ashes.
Then, she turned to look at the others.
Under the grape trellis, the woman's back was straight, and the moonlight outlined her calm profile.
Among the many cloaked figures, she was the only one who did not conceal her face, and all eyes were now on her.
She looked directly at the crowd, her gaze not sharp, but carrying a quiet pressure similar to Hawthorne's, as if it could penetrate the disguise and flesh, reaching the deepest part of the soul.
"Brothers, sisters, my comrades-in-arms in this common cause!"
Leila spoke slowly, each word carrying weight and sinking into the hearts of everyone present.
"Tonight, there are no spotlights, no glamorous stage, and no empty promises, only us! And the truth we are all protecting!"
"For years, we have danced with darkness, set the rules for chaos, and drawn the lines for violence!"
"We tacitly allow some things to exist outside the rules and use some methods that are not recognized by law, not because of the greed and desire that the world misunderstands, but because controllable chaos is the cornerstone of stability!"
"Our hands may not be pure and flawless, but our goal has always been to make this country's future clean and strong!"
"We cannot entrust the fate of our nation to those naive fools; it must be those of us who truly understand the rules of the world who take control of our country's direction!"
"Gentlemen, it's time!"
"It's time... for more determined and capable people to lead us forward! We are about to enter a new era, an era in which we set the rules and control the rules!"
"Together we will establish a new order, and I will ensure that everyone's efforts are rewarded accordingly, that our shared ideals are realized, and that we safeguard the true future of the American wizarding world!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the night wind suddenly picked up and rustled through the branches and leaves.
After a long, suffocating silence, one of the cloaked figures slowly raised his right hand, clenched his fist and placed it on his chest, then lowered his proud head slightly.
“Ms. Leila Picqueli, I support you on behalf of my family and myself. I trust not only your determination, but also the vision and ability that flow in your blood.”
His voice was old and deep, and after a pause, he said, "Lady Serafina Picqueli once led the American wizarding community through the most terrible crisis in history."
“And in you, I see even greater courage and wisdom, as well as determination and responsibility.”
"We believe that the path you lead will surely surpass the past and create a truly powerful new order that belongs to us!"
Then, the second, third, fourth...
Like a silent tide, everyone present responded to Leila's call with the same gesture.
As Leila watched everyone bow their heads, a genuine, ambitious smile finally appeared on her lips.
……
"Jingle bells... jingle bells... jingle all the way..."
In the afternoon, cheerful but slightly off-key music grew louder as a slightly old-fashioned ice cream truck slowly drove by and was immediately surrounded by a group of children who had run out of the community park.
"Take your time. Take your time."
The vendor in his car smiled warmly and said, "Don't worry, you can buy them all. Kid, what flavor would you like?...Strawberry? Okay, just a moment."
The vendor parked his cart on the side of the road and quickly served ice cream to the children.
He looked like an ordinary middle-aged man, wearing a slightly greasy baseball cap with a few strands of gray-brown hair peeking out from under the brim, and a tired yet kind smile on his face.
Soon, each child had an ice cream, but the vendor seemed to want to take a break. He watched the children with a smile and didn't immediately move on to the next spot. Only occasionally would his eyes, hidden in the shadow of his hat, sweep over the children's heads and land at the heavily guarded mansion with its tall iron gate and lush gardens at the end of the street.
On the rock pillars on both sides of the iron gate are inlaid bronze badges without any words. The badges depict eagles surrounded by oak branches.
Near the entrance, there's a dark, matte steel plate that blends almost seamlessly with the surrounding tree bark, bearing only one word—
Stonefield.
It seems that just this one surname is enough to make people feel its immense weight.
that's the truth.
The vendor lowered his eyes and smiled as he made ice cream for a little customer who had just run over.
……
Crossing the street, the disguised Wade and Antoine sat down at a window booth in the coffee shop. After ordering, they both looked out the window at the same time.
Under the shade of a tree, the ice cream vendor didn't have many customers, and he was fanning himself with his hat.
“He doesn’t seem to have any plans to leave anytime soon.” Antoine added two sugar cubes to his coffee, took a sip, and frowned. “Is there something wrong with that house he’s been watching?”
Wade squinted and made out the words that had fallen onto the steel plate.
“Stonefield…”
He recalled the information Elsie had given him and said softly:
"If I remember correctly, they started out in the mining and timber business, then got involved in oil, military industry and finance during World War II, and in the last ten years or so they have also started to operate in the biotechnology and media fields. They are a real behemoth in Muggle society."
"Really?" Antoine raised an eyebrow at the three-story building and muttered, "Doesn't this house seem a bit out of place with their wealth and status?"
“This is probably just a tiny fraction of their family’s holdings,” Wade said. “Muggles don’t have the Floo Network, so their wealthy members are keen to buy property wherever they like.”
“Oh…this guy actually dares to target the properties of such a top-tier tycoon, it seems he really does have some issues…but how did you discover he has issues?” Antoine asked curiously.
Vader's mind flashed through images of snails of all sizes, and then he said:
“That car…it never goes to crowded places or places with lots of children; instead, it always wanders around places it shouldn’t be.”
"For example, at the regular entrances to the Magical Congress, outside shops like the White Bridge Inn, near the entrances and exits of the Magical Hospital, and in the neighborhoods near the abandoned factories in Brooklyn that were overturned by D'Arion."
"Who do you think could be someone who keeps loitering around these places?"
……
The ice cream vendor pressed his ear to his side and lowered his voice, saying, "...Cooperation is possible, but we must confirm what they can offer and what the price will be!"
“I don’t trust these people, Mr. Brolin. I need to see their sincerity and ability with my own eyes, not empty promises!”
"Please give me a little more time, don't make promises lightly! I..."
Before he could finish speaking, a voice suddenly sounded from behind him:
"Rolando Stern? Is that you?"
The man said in surprise, "I really didn't expect to see you here!"
Stern's muscles tensed instantly, and his fingers gripping the carriage turned white from the force.
He didn't turn around immediately. Instead, he stared intently at the figure behind him through the gleaming stainless steel railings on the car, his mind racing through every word he had just uttered...
(End of this chapter)