Hearing this, Abernathy grumbled inwardly but still followed the instruction.
After all, obeying Wade's command for the time being was part of Grindelwald's orders.
He immediately called over several followers and gave them the task.
Once it was done, he turned back to Wade. "Is there anything else you need us to do?"
"Yes, there is." Wade took out a brand new list from his pocket. "Please acquire all the materials on this list as quickly as possible."
"What is this?" Abernathy took the list and glanced at it, his face nearly turning green. The materials were rather expensive, including goblin-forged metals, mithril, and the like…
"These are materials needed to construct combat constructs. Some dark creatures aren't suitable as sparring partners, so in order not to lower the difficulty of the trials, I've designed several types of training constructs…" Wade said with a smile.
Abernathy hesitated. "I'll need to seek approval first."
"Of course. After that, just go ahead and purchase them. No need to look at me like that… it's not like I'm spending your money. If your master is pushing reforms, didn't he apply for funding from the Ministry?" Wade looked at him suspiciously.
"Funding? Oh… of course, of course it's already been applied for," Abernathy replied quickly, nodding.
"Good. Otherwise, I'd start questioning your professionalism. Oh, and bring me a few tables and chairs."
Wade took out a stack of documents and began comparing them with the list Abernathy had provided.
After ordering people to fulfill Wade's request, Abernathy turned and hurried out of the Forbidden Forest.
Before long, several followers brought over tables and chairs.
Wade sat down, reviewed the materials for a while longer, then took out a blank sheet of parchment and began sketching.
After more than ten minutes, he beckoned a few of the followers over again.
"Follow this diagram. Store the magical and dark creatures from the list for now. Once I finish setting up the trial tents, move them in."
The followers worked efficiently. After hearing the instructions, one of them immediately took the parchment and set off to carry out the task.
Wade stretched and glanced toward the castle. Abernathy wouldn't be back anytime soon.
So he didn't delay further and headed toward the newly arranged tent.
He could take this opportunity to extract experimental materials from the dark creatures that had been removed from the trials…
…
In a vast underground stone chamber,
a group of dark wizards stood in a crooked line across an open space, their expressions blank and their eyes lifeless.
Beside them, a group of goblins with equally blank expressions moved about, busy with their tasks.
A figure slowly appeared in the air like a projection, looking down at the people before her with indifference.
She raised her pale hand and beckoned lightly. A goblin stepped forward.
The goblin carried a tray, upon which lay a row of alchemical devices resembling wristwatches.
"Each of you take one and leave Britain. Your task is to record every location outside Britain that causes your watch to react. Report back once a month. Understood?"
"Yes." The wizards answered in dull voices, and the goblin finished distributing the watches.
She turned to the goblin and said, "When Nagini brings more people, instruct them the same way."
The goblin nodded and returned to work.
The wizards who had taken the watches then Disapparated one by one, vanishing from the chamber.
She looked at the now-empty stone hall, her cold voice echoing within it.
"Wade, I only hope you understand… I must gain my freedom as soon as possible…"
...
Grindelwald was in a foul mood, and he had been for quite some time.
Ever since those two bandits had come to his door and forced a series of outrageous terms on him.
Not long after that, Wade came again and took another large sum of money from him.
And this time, Wade hadn't even come in person. He had simply sent his own people to collect it.
Even though the money came from Ministry funds and not his own pocket, Gellert Grindelwald still felt deeply irritated.
Wade had been in charge of designing the trials for a full month now. Not only had there been no updates, but he didn't even allow anyone to enter and inspect his work.
As a result, Grindelwald had no idea how far the progress had gone.
However… the fact that Wade was still alive and well, without being punished by the magical contract, meant that he probably hadn't tried anything underhanded.
Grindelwald tossed the document in his hand aside and strode out of his office.
He couldn't wait any longer. Today, he had to see exactly how far Wade had progressed.
As he walked, his expression remained dark, an oppressive aura surrounding him.
The young students in the castle turned and fled the moment they saw him.
Just like that, Grindelwald left the castle, passed by the Black Lake, and entered the Forbidden Forest.
The tent where Wade worked had been set up at the edge of the forest by Grindelwald's followers.
Wade only came here during his free time outside of classes.
Since he no longer had to worry about schoolwork, he had far more time than the other students.
After completing the tent, Wade had set up numerous protective spells around it and forbade anyone from entering.
For over a month, no one knew what he had been doing inside.
Walking along the forest path, Grindelwald soon saw the clearing ahead, standing out starkly among the trees.
"Tch… you even made the tent invisible. Then why not disguise the clearing as well? Afraid you won't be able to find your own tent?"
Grindelwald muttered sarcastically, then reached out and flicked his hand.
In the next moment, the concealment magic was undone, and a green tent appeared before him.
Outside the tent stood a wooden pole, from which hung a strange halloween-style lantern.
The lantern was red, with a large eye taking up nearly a third of its front.
The eye rolled around, scanning everything in its surroundings.
As Grindelwald approached, the eye immediately locked onto him.
The next second, a slit opened beneath the eye, and it burst out with an extremely loud shout.
"Thief! Thief! Catch the thief!"
Grindelwald's face darkened. Who the hell was a thief? He had people build this tent. The funding was approved by him. And now he was the thief?
At that moment, figures flickered in the surrounding woods as several followers rushed out.
But the instant they saw Grindelwald's expression, none of them dared say a word. They vanished back into the forest at twice the speed they had arrived.
Seeing that everyone had fled, the lantern quietly shut its mouth.
As Grindelwald passed by the pole, he heard it muttering softly…
"Well, I did my best. Wade probably won't blame me… who knew they wouldn't catch the thief and just let the real one walk right in…"
Grindelwald suppressed the urge to tear the ridiculous lantern apart and pushed aside the tent flap.
As for the sign outside that read "No Entry," he ignored it completely.
Contrary to his expectations, the inside of the tent was pitch black, making it impossible to see anything clearly.
And the moment he stepped inside, he felt the temperature drop noticeably.
"What is that brat up to in here? Why does it feel so eerie? Is he hosting a gathering for ghosts?"
Grindelwald took out his wand and lit up the surroundings, trying to find a switch.
Since everything was pitch black, Wade was clearly not here. Grindelwald intended to take a proper look at what the boy had been doing all this time.
However, to his surprise, the light from his wand could only illuminate a range of about two meters.
Beyond that, the light simply could not reach, as if it were being swallowed by the darkness.
So Grindelwald cast a spell on his eyes to grant night vision…
But even with the Night Vision Charm, he still couldn't see through the thick darkness ahead.
Clearly, the darkness was magical in nature.
"Hmm? Not bad," Grindelwald said, somewhat pleased.
If the trials Wade designed could create an atmosphere like this, it would be quite effective.
It would be excellent for training the students' psychological resilience.
After all, in battle, what mattered most was never technique or powerful spells.
What mattered most was one's mental state.
If a person was too nervous, even casting a spell properly would become difficult, let alone displaying any technique.
At this point, Grindelwald had no idea whether he was standing in a corridor or in the center of the tent.
He couldn't see any walls at all.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, he suddenly noticed a faint outline ahead, and behind it seemed to be a wall.
Grindelwald immediately approached it cautiously.
As he entered the two-meter range, the light from his wand finally fell upon the outline.
Grindelwald finally saw clearly. It was a suit of armor, standing quietly against the wall with a sword in hand, just like the decorative armor in Hogwarts Castle.
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