Chapter 988
Choice
Chapter 988 Choice
Leila barely had the strength to lift her eyelids. But something almost obsessive sustained her, preventing her from succumbing to the endless night devoid of pain and burden.
With her last ounce of strength, she turned her head with difficulty.
Visibility was blurred, and shadowy figures could be seen everywhere.
Wizards in grey robes silently gathered around, like the legendary Grim Reaper. Their faces were hidden in the shadows of their hoods, but the one at the front was not wearing a hood, seemingly unafraid of being recognized.
The light from the streetlights on the bridge illuminated that rather handsome face, and Leila's pupils contracted slightly.
She recognized the face:
"You are...Salem's...Professor...Antoine Morrow?"
Antoine stopped a few steps away from her, looked down at her, and said expressionlessly:
“It is an honor that Ms. Picqueri knows someone as insignificant as me.”
Lyra's consciousness teetered on the brink of dissipation, and she spoke haltingly:
“Fontana said… he encountered you… you were following Rolando Stern… he said you might be… one of Dumbledore’s men… so… we decided… to shake off the Purge and… Prometheus… lest… we be dragged down with them…”
Antoine chuckled. "Oh? He thought I was sent by Dumbledore? Was it because of those British Aurors before? He guessed there were other people in the shadows, which is why he misunderstood my identity. Unfortunately, he was wrong. I am loyal to Mr. Grindelwald."
His words drifted into Leila's ears, but to a woman, they had become extremely vague and distant, and she couldn't hear them clearly.
Her life was slipping away rapidly, and even the pain had become numb.
However, in this dying moment, something emerged with extraordinary clarity, like a reef exposed after the tide recedes.
--wrong.
It doesn't feel right.
The Ulquiortes are indeed terrifying, but... the Magic Congress has naturally collected various information about the Ulquiortes long ago. Although they don't know the identities of most of them, they understand their style of doing things.
After meeting Antoine, Fontana and his colleagues also managed to gather some information about Antoine through the teachers and students in Salem.
That kind of breathtakingly precise calculation, the endless stream of deadly moves that transcend the boundaries of magic and Muggle, and the sense of control that seems to predict her every move...
That's not Antoine Moro's style, and it's completely different from the way the UMNO has been doing in the last two years.
Suddenly, the cleaning lady she had met in the subway passage seemed to reappear before her eyes, and her eerie "resurrection" kept replaying in her mind.
As if struck by lightning, a name suddenly jumped out from the fragments of memory.
Leila's unfocused gaze suddenly sharpened, fixed intently on Antoine, and in an almost whispered, weak voice, she said with unusual certainty:
"It's not...you..."
Antoine tilted his head slightly: "What?"
Lyra said slowly, "Wade... Grey... is it him?"
She didn't have the strength to say anything more, but her exceptionally persistent gaze spoke of a truth that they both knew perfectly well.
Antoine was silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed with regret.
"Why did you have to suddenly become smart at the last minute? If you had remained stupid, I could have let you live a couple more days, considering all the trouble you've caused."
The information in Lyra's mind is undoubtedly a great treasure, and it would be more useful than the Imperius Curse in controlling other officials and some wizarding families in the United States.
However, bringing Leila back would pose a constant risk of leaks—even among the high-ranking members of the Malay Party, not everyone is entirely loyal to Grindelwald, let alone his chosen successor.
In Antoine's view, as long as Vid had not yet truly stood in the ranks of the UMNO as his own, keeping his identity a secret was of paramount importance.
More importantly... Antoine was worried that Mr. Grindelwald might not think that way.
He raised his wand and whispered:
"Avada Kedavra!"
On the steel frame of the Brooklyn Bridge, a point of green light rapidly expanded, and a high-pitched and shrill cry rang out from the bridge!
……
The fire in the fireplace burned quietly, its leaping orange-red light filling the entire room with warmth.
A slender figure sat in a deep red armchair. He rested his chin on one hand and said calmly:
"The person you're worried about—Lyra Picqueli—is dead."
Sitting opposite him, Clinch Barrett only dared to put half of his butt on the sofa, finding it more difficult to sit than to stand.
Upon hearing this, his body trembled slightly, his back bent a little, his hands clasped nervously in front of him, and a smile that was almost fawning appeared on his face:
"Really dead? I... I mean, the efficiency of your subordinates is truly astonishing. The Parliament's Auror Special Task Force has only just set off to investigate Ms. Pikeley's residence... The UMNO truly lives up to its reputation..."
As he offered his compliments, a bead of cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He had rushed to visit Grindelwald after receiving news of Fontana's death. He hadn't even warmed the sofa before hearing that Lyra was dead too?
Even disregarding Fontana, Lyra's level alone is beyond the reach of ordinary wizards.
Moreover, even while on the run, that woman should have been able to mobilize many people to provide her with assistance, yet she was killed so quickly?
This terrifying ability to act, control, and intelligence far exceeded Barrett's imagination, making him even more fearful of his situation.
Grindelwald seemed oblivious to the tremor in his voice, smiling as he looked at Barrett and asked in a calm tone with a hint of amusement:
"So, Chairman Barrett, regarding the news of Leila Picqueli's death, do you think it should be announced to the public... or should it be kept secret for the time being?"
The choice seemed to be in his hands, but Barrett's forehead was covered in a fine layer of cold sweat, and his feet were trembling uncontrollably.
Announcing the death means that the threat will be a thing of the past, Congress can stabilize more quickly, and the transfer of power will be smoother.
When the public sees the culprit brought to justice, their anger and disappointment can be appeased, all of Congress's past mistakes can be pinned on the dead, and Barrett's authority can be quickly established, making it easier for him to create a "clean" image of Congress.
However, if the information is not made public... then in order to investigate Leila Picqueli's crimes and prevent her remnants from causing trouble, Congress can reasonably expand the authority of certain departments, strengthen surveillance and control, and also use this as an excuse to eliminate dissidents.
How to choose... it seems there's absolutely no need to hesitate.
But Barrett swallowed nervously, and said in a trembling, respectful voice:
“Mr. Grindelwald, I believe… with my limited knowledge, I am simply incapable of making a proper judgment… Please, as before, instruct me on what to do, and I will… I will carry it out without reservation…”
Grindelwald smiled gently and said, "It's alright. Feel free to speak your mind in front of me. Whatever you say, I won't have any objections. I think we already know and trust each other enough, don't we?"
"Yes, yes, of course..."
Barrett shifted uncomfortably, stealing glances at Grindelwald's expression. Receiving no hint from the other's face, he finally mustered the courage to speak after a long pause:
"I...I've thought it over and over, and I feel...I feel that perhaps not announcing it for the time being is...is a more prudent approach?"
Seeing Grindelwald's expression remain calm and composed, Barrett grew increasingly nervous and couldn't help but become more talkative:
"Well... after all, the cause of death still needs further 'verification,' and a hasty announcement could lead to unnecessary speculation... or even question whether the content of the previous live broadcast was a power struggle within the Magic Congress..."
"Moreover, maintaining the arrest warrant will make the public and the media feel that we are still actively working and never letting up... It will also allow certain people who colluded with Leila Picqueli to be brought to trial..."
"Of course, these are all just my humble thoughts. The final decision rests entirely with you! I, I will obey your orders completely. If you believe that announcing it is better, more beneficial to the overall situation, I will arrange the press conference immediately!"
A hint of satisfaction and disdain flashed in Grindelwald's eyes as he said, "Then let's do as you say—no need to announce it for now. When the time comes, the public will naturally know that the fugitive who threatened the stability of Congress has been confirmed dead."
Barrett quickly sat up, bowed, and said, "Yes! Yes! I know what to do. Thank you for your trust and guidance! Well, then I won't disturb your rest any longer..."
After receiving permission, Barrett fled the room as if his life depended on it.
After gently closing the door, he leaned against the cold wall, let out a long breath, and felt as if he had just survived a near-death experience.
After calming down, Barrett forced a worried expression and returned to Capitol Headquarters.
Along the way, congressional staff he encountered stopped in their tracks and cast respectful glances at him, tinged with a hint of admiration and awe.
They greeted us warmly:
"Good evening, Mr. Barrett."
"Mr. Barrett, the agenda for the President's inauguration ceremony has been arranged. When would you be free to take a look?"
“Mr. Barrett, my mother asked me to convey her gratitude to you for being the last pillar of the American wizarding community!”
"Mr. Barrett!" "Mr. Barrett!"
Greetings came from all directions, and some people even called out, "Chairman Barrett!"
Barrett subconsciously straightened his slightly hunched chest, trying his best to maintain composure and dignity on his face, and walked towards his office.
Even though he knew where this power came from, the feeling of walking under the gaze of awe was still incredibly intoxicating.
……
Barrett left, and the heavy wooden door to the study closed silently, leaving the room quiet once more, save for the crackling sound of the burning firewood in the fireplace.
Grindelwald leaned back slightly and said in a low voice, "Did you understand, Wade?"
(End of this chapter)