Others looked over with surprise and curiosity, puzzled by the Sneakoscope's commotion.
The middle-aged man's expression changed instantly. Without another word, he fled toward the door.
But before he had taken a few steps, Edward immobilized him with a Petrificus Totalus curse.
The man stood rigid, terror written across his face. Edward snorted, then turned to Mayor Butch. "This person harbors ill intentions, very suspicious. I'll leave him to you for interrogation, Mayor Butch."
"Uh, alright!" Mayor Butch was caught somewhat off-guard by this scene but still hastily nodded.
He also realized the previously eliminated people, even if disloyal, only made the Sneakoscope emit light.
But this person before them not only made the Sneakoscope extremely bright but also frantically emitted warning calls, indicating this person was not only disloyal but also full of malice, triggering such an intense warning.
Such an ill-intentioned person appearing in Bree and passing the first two examination rounds was obviously unusual.
As Bree's mayor, Butch naturally had responsibility for this.
So he temporarily couldn't continue watching the examination. He drew his wand, conjured chains to bind the person, then floated him out of the room, handing him over to militiamen for detention and later interrogation.
By the time he returned to the examination site, the examination had just concluded.
Among the remaining people, none triggered the Sneakoscope's frantic warnings like earlier.
But looking at the few who passed, Mayor Butch felt even more depressed.
Out of the original two hundred forty people, after the third round of elimination, only one hundred twenty-two remained. Almost half were eliminated directly.
Of five hundred wizard slots, Bree only occupied one hundred twenty-two. The gap was too large.
He could already foresee how that fellow Luke would mock him.
Now he could only hope Hogsmeade's numbers weren't ridiculously different from Bree's; otherwise, he would be too embarrassed to face the lord.
After Edward completed the three examination rounds, he declined Mayor Butch's invitation to stay and went through the fireplace to Hogsmeade to conduct three more rounds.
As for the one hundred twenty-two who passed all examinations, they were notified they had obtained wizard slots and would soon go to the castle to gain magical abilities.
Among these people, a large portion were militiamen, as well as elderly figures like Prancing Pony proprietor Butterbur, and over a dozen women and girls.
Especially those dozen-plus females were particularly eye-catching.
In Middle-earth, especially in human society, women's status wasn't high. Dependent on men, similar to medieval society.
These women standing out from Bree's tens of thousands to become one of the final one hundred twenty-two was enough to make many people notice them.
Mayor Butch treated all the examination passers with equal respect.
After all, though these people were currently ordinary, they would soon become wizards without incident. Worthy of his serious treatment.
In Hogsmeade, Edward similarly established three trials, selecting wizard slots.
Perhaps because it was right at Weathertop's foot, close to the castle and lord, experiencing more magical wonders, Hogsmeade residents yearned for magic even more than Bree's.
So examination participants were more numerous and more active.
In the first round fire wall test, nearly three thousand successfully passed. Double Bree's numbers.
In the second round of the willpower test, over 500 more successfully passed.
In the third round loyalty test, 287 people passed.
Mayor Luke had long known Bree's passing numbers. Now his own city had double Bree's passing numbers, plus his own daughter was among them. He smiled with blooming happiness.
This time, Hogsmeade came out on top. Total victory!
Both cities' wizard slots totaled 409 people. 91 short of five hundred wizard slots.
But besides these two cities under Kael, there were also Isengard's Dunlendings.
Following Kael's instructions, Edward also went through the fireplace to Isengard, similarly conducting three examination rounds for the Dunlendings.
Finally, 131 Dunlendings passed the examination.
The total number reached 540 people, already exceeding the previously specified amount.
Edward returned to the castle, informing Kael of this matter.
Kael didn't mind the excess numbers. Moreover, he was very satisfied with Edward's selection this time. After three screening rounds, the remaining personnel were all elite. Not only possessing courage and strong willpower, but also very loyal to him.
Such elites, after transformation, would all become wizards loyal to him.
So he waved his hand magnanimously, bringing all who passed the three examination rounds to Hogwarts Castle, then conducting blood fusion to transform them into wizards.
As for excess numbers and insufficient dragon blood, Kael indicated the frost dragon's blood wasn't used up yet. Moreover, if necessary, he could visit the dragon ranch, bleed that group of wyverns, then feed them Blood-Replenishing Potions.
Besides dragon blood, Kael also considered replacing it with other wyvern part materials, like dragon meat. Though its contained magic power couldn't compare to dragon blood, quantity could substitute.
Anyway, he had plenty of dragon corpses. Couldn't finish eating them all.
When five hundred-plus people gathered at Hogwarts Castle, Kael was responsible for the men, while the women were entrusted to Arwen.
Following ladies-first principles, Kael had Arwen lead the women to the Wizard Transformation Pool for dragon blood fusion.
Women from Bree, Hogsmeade, and Dunlendings who passed three examination rounds numbered nearly a hundred.
Facing the beautiful, gentle lord's wife, the women could hardly feel a trace of jealousy.
Arwen was like a kind, gentle mistress, treating everyone equally without leaving anyone behind, radiating warmth that made people feel at ease.
Under Arwen's guidance, they let go of fear, shed their garments, and jumped into the scalding, churning blood pool.
Though during previous examinations they had experienced the pain once in illusions, now truly being in lava-like, blood-colored potion, that excruciating, unbearable agony made them wish for death.
But even in immense pain, these women still gritted their teeth, persisting, preferring death to giving up.
Among these women, almost all had endured countless hardships, so their wills were incredibly tenacious. Even many men couldn't compare.
They only wanted to firmly grasp this opportunity. If they could become noble "wizards," they would no longer be oppressed or discriminated against, escaping misfortune and hardship while learning magical spells.
Arwen stood by the blood pool, sensing the will of these women. She was deeply moved. Her body radiated star-moon-like, gentle light, as if she were praying or reciting ancient elven incantations.
"May the Valar bless, dispel pain!"
The women, illuminated by gentle light, seemed to have their pain blocked. Their agonized expressions gradually eased, their eyes closed as if they were sleeping.
Finally wrapped in thick blood cocoons, as if transforming through rebirth.
As time gradually passed, the room was completely silent.
Arwen showed no impatience, gazing gently and compassionately at the blood cocoons in the pool, waiting for them to break free and emerge transformed.
Finally, cocoons broke open one by one. The women within broke free.
They were reborn, completely new. They had successfully become witches.