When Wentworth finished speaking, Lakayla staggered back, her hand darting out to steady herself on the edge of the table, barely managing to keep herself from collapsing.
In truth, Wentworth's own heart was pounding—thump, thump, thump—with an irrational but persistent feeling that Albus Dumbledore might suddenly materialize from the shadows.
But it was too late to turn back now. Wentworth had no choice but to carry the lie through to the end. He firmly believed that if a lie was grand enough, dazzling enough, the entire world would dance to its tune.
Just then, Nala, who had been silently watching, suddenly drew her wand with a sharp motion. She stepped forward forcefully and pressed its tip to Wentworth's chest. Her face twisted in anger as she shouted:
"Wentworth! You lied to me! You said it was about saving Uagadou, but you just want it for yourself, don't you?!"
"Nala! Stop! You can't do this...!"
Lakayla quickly stepped in, attempting to defuse the situation. Perhaps Nala didn't fully understand what the Alliance truly was, but as the Headmistress of Uagadou, Lakayla knew all too well the weight of that name.
A move like Nala's, if seen by the Alliance, might end in death. And that might even be the best outcome.
Yet Wentworth remained calm. He raised a hand to stop Lakayla, then looked Nala in the eye, his tone even and composed.
"Nala, giving Uagadou to me is far better than letting the Kalembo tribe take it, wouldn't you agree?"
Nala gritted her teeth.
"What difference does it make?! Don't pretend you want to be Uagadou's Chair of the Board without expecting something in return! You and Kalembo are the same! In the end, you'll bleed Uagadou dry!"
Wentworth gently brushed the wand aside and said coolly:
"You're wrong, Nala. That's the problem with you. I admit, you're clever, but your vision is far too narrow."
"And it's not just you. The Kalembo tribe is the same. Their thinking is... small."
He paused, then added with a thin smile:
"Let me tell you the difference. If it were me, I wouldn't drain Uagadou dry, I'd nourish it. I'd fatten it up; strong, rich, and full of magic. That way, Uagadou could provide for me forever. A one-off deal? Too poor a return."
Nala hesitated at that, stunned. But then she scowled.
"So you are after Uagadou! But Uagadou will never bow! We'd rather die on our feet than live on our knees! We are free! We are Uagadou! "
Wentworth threw back his head and laughed. When the laughter subsided, he still wore a trace of amusement on his lips as he said:
"Nala, I've finally figured you out. You're the type who's intelligent, but utterly lacking in emotional intelligence."
" 'Better to die standing than live crawling'? Noble. Inspiring. But unfortunately, that sentiment can only speak for you."
His voice grew sharper, rising into a commanding growl.
"And do you remember what you told me back at your home? You said that many Uagadou graduates eventually leave for Europe, some even becoming wizard-hunters. Do you really think it's because they couldn't survive in Africa?"
"Don't be ridiculous! As Uagadou-trained wizards, they could survive anywhere in Africa! But they wanted more. They weren't content just to scrape by. They wanted success. Prestige. That's why they left."
"You asked how I'm different from the Kalembo tribe? Here's the truth: I can give them a choice! The Alliance can show them a world far bigger than this tiny school in the mountains."
Lakayla, her breathing calmer now, stepped forward and bit her lip as she asked:
"What do you really want, Wentworth?"
He answered, unshaken:
"I've already told you. Make me the Chairman of Uagadou's Board of Governors. You're right, Headmistress Adisa, I do want Uagadou. I mean to have it."
Before arriving at Uagadou, Wentworth never would have imagined things would unfold like this.
But this was a rare opportunity. Risky? Perhaps. But if risking a little meant the chance to claim one of the most prestigious magical schools in the world, he thought it more than worth it.
He and Rosier had long reached a consensus: the Alliance needed fresh blood. And now, a fully-formed school lay right in front of him. How could he not take it?
At his bold declaration, Lakayla's eyes welled with tears.
"Why should I hand Uagadou over to you? Give me one good reason!"
Wentworth smiled. He knew, at that moment, that he had nearly won.
His voice dropped, seductive and persuasive:
"Because I can give Uagadou's students a choice."
He didn't think of this as deceit. Even the most defiant dark wizards in Europe had been swayed by the Alliance's vision. A young wizard raised under its teachings from birth? Wentworth had no doubt, they wouldn't resist its allure.
Still speaking, he continued:
"Uagadou's current teaching structure will largely remain intact. When students graduate, if they have ambition and want to make their mark on the world, I'll offer them a place in the Alliance."
"If they don't have grand ambitions, but want a better life, I'll help them find a good job."
He smiled knowingly.
"And here's something else. That newly founded institution, the Central Bank of the Wizarding World? That's ours. It belongs to the Alliance."
Lakayla said nothing, silent now.
Then Nala Nwadike spoke up, a defiant note in her voice.
"What if some don't want to leave Africa?"
Wentworth chuckled.
"Simple. I can open a branch of the Central Bank right here. They can become employees, right here on African soil. With Headmistress Adisa's help, I'm sure that won't be too difficult, will it?"
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TN: This fanfic has been fully translated and is available on my Patreon —— patreon(.)com/PrimalDemon [remove the parentheses ( )]