At the same time, Cedric also noticed that the competition judges all looked extremely anxious. They kept pacing back and forth, looking toward the dense forest nervously.
As contestants were sent out one by one, they all showed expressions of pain and distress. Especially the competition organizer, Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports, Ludo Bagman.
In the middle of winter, this short, stout man kept wiping sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, looking like he might collapse from stress at any moment. As if dark wizards were about to attack him personally.
Cedric couldn't help but find it amusing. At the same time, he proudly puffed out his chest. If dark wizards really came, he would definitely be the first to fight them, never retreating!
Suddenly, with a soft pop, a figure materialized from thin air. Landing lightly on the ground, raising those distinctive cobalt-blue eyes, alertly scanning the surroundings.
It was Ethan Vincent!
Cedric shot to his feet. Just as he was about to approach, the judges moved faster than him, rushing over to surround Ethan completely. As if they were afraid Ethan might do something dangerous.
Cedric sensed something odd but didn't think much of it. He just assumed they were taking extra care of Ethan because of his young age.
"Ethan indeed got the Portkey. Just don't know what place he achieved... Maybe with Ethan's abilities, getting in the top eight is possible. But I'm not far behind either."
Soon after, the last two students were teleported over. The competition organizer, Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports Ludo Bagman, slowly stepped forward and stood in the central clearing.
His face bore a solemn expression, as if he wasn't here to announce the end of the competition but to preside over a funeral.
"Congratulations, everyone. Through the unremitting efforts of each of our excellent contestants, I declare this Secret Realm Tracking Challenge perfectly..." Ludo Bagman's voice stopped abruptly.
After a two-second pause, he said with a twisted expression: "Perfectly concluded."
As if he had just told a monstrous lie.
"Then next, it's time to announce the competition rankings."
Cedric immediately held his breath, listening intently. Durmstrang's star player Viktor Krum would very likely be first... Beauxbatons' Miss Fleur would probably make the top five too... And Hogwarts' excellent students... The top ten competition was fierce.
Ludo Bagman announced: "Third place, from Hogwarts, contestant Penelope Clearwater!"
Penelope, whose name was called, wearily twitched the corner of her mouth, accepted the bronze trophy, and managed a smile.
Hm? Why start announcing from third place?
Cedric was stunned. Even if reading backwards, shouldn't it start from tenth place? What was going on... A strange feeling crept into his heart. As if something was about to derail completely.
"Second place, from Hogwarts, Gemma Farley!"
Gemma Farley remained expressionless, holding the silver cup, her face still cold and proud.
The surrounding students began whispering anxiously. How were they all Hogwarts contestants...? Was this rigged?
Amid the growing commotion, Ludo Bagman shouted even louder: "First place!"
The surroundings quieted down instantly. Under everyone's intense gaze, he swallowed hard and announced that terrible name: "From Hogwarts School... Ethan Vincent!"
In an instant, these words struck Cedric's head like a thunderbolt. His mind went completely blank, staring with wide eyes in disbelief at what he had heard!
Ethan Vincent was first place? How... how was this possible?!
Clearly, he wasn't the only one thinking this. The scene fell deathly silent; not a single person spoke or moved. What should have been a moment of applause and cheers was instead filled with shocked silence.
Even the Hogwarts contestants stared at that figure in pure amazement, unable to process what they'd heard. Only a few lucky ones who hadn't been sent to St. Mungo's had expected this result.
Damn brat!
Fleur sat in her lounge chair, gritting her pearly teeth, her emerald eyes almost shooting flames to burn Ethan alive.
Penelope looked at Ethan with complex feelings, holding a Portkey in her hand. Ethan hadn't actually put the Portkey in a toilet. That seemed to be just another of his incomprehensible jokes.
The Portkey had been properly placed on the washroom sink. And it wasn't just one, but two, allowing both her and Miss Gemma Farley to pass successfully.
In the end, Penelope could only sigh: "Ethan... our Ravenclaw is going to be famous. Just don't know if it'll be a good reputation."
Ethan stepped across the frozen ground, slowly walking toward the Head of Sports, thoroughly enjoying bathing in everyone's stunned gazes.
"Thank you." Ethan smiled politely, accepting the golden trophy engraved with his name from the expressionless judge's hands. Along with a full thousand Galleons.
When Ethan's wrist felt that satisfying weight, he almost couldn't suppress himself from grinning widely on the spot. Through the open mouth of the bag, he could see the golden brilliance within. At this moment, more warming than winter sunshine.
Prize money equivalent to first place in the Triwizard Tournament, obtained!
With this money, he could start preparing the newly learned second-tier mural. Give Professor Quirrell a big surprise.
"I'll make good use of this money," Ethan said with complete sincerity. "I'll use it to paint even better paintings. When the time comes, I'll definitely invite you all to participate."
The head judge looked at Ethan's innocent smile, his mouth twitching violently. Please don't bite the hand that feeds you.
In the continuing dead silence, Ludo Bagman wearily gave his closing remarks: "Anyway... these are all the contestants who passed our competition. Thank you for your participation. Even if you didn't get a ranking, don't be discouraged. We've prepared a small gift for everyone."
"Your schools' representatives will come to pick you up soon; everyone can relax and rest."
After a pause, he added with obvious reluctance: "If anyone needs psychological counseling, we're happy to provide help."
Could this competition even continue after this year...
Everyone stared blankly as the competition organizers left, their backs seeming to age ten years in an instant.
After a long while, they suddenly snapped back to attention! Unprecedented... An unprecedented first place! A first-year wizard had won the competition championship! How was this possible?! How did that child do it!
Everyone looked at each other, all seeing deep disbelief in each other's eyes!
"In hundreds of years of competition history, never has a first-year wizard gotten a ranking, let alone first place!" one contestant said in amazement.
"Moreover, did you notice that only the top three places were announced? Where did the other seven go? This means only three people, including Ethan, completely passed the challenge this time!"
Since most of those remaining on site were contestants who hadn't entered the mansion, they didn't know about Ethan's unconventional method of victory. But this didn't prevent them from instinctively sensing something was terribly wrong.
What exactly had this first-year Hogwarts wizard done? Why had so many contestants been sent to St. Mungo's this year? And why were the organizers offering them psychological assistance?
They looked at the serene smile on Ethan's face. Inexplicably, they shivered. Their spines grew cold with unspoken dread.
On the other side, Cedric was completely dumbfounded. He stared with his mouth agape, watching Ethan surrounded by contestants from different schools, holding the golden trophy in his hands. Bathed in sunlight, his whole person seemed to glow with otherworldly radiance.
Cedric suddenly felt that between him and Ethan, there was now an impossibly thick barrier. Ethan was the competition's first place, while I didn't even get a ranking... what right do I have to compare with others? Too ridiculous, too presumptuous!
Cedric murmured to himself. His smooth life of over ten years had suddenly suffered a devastating blow, his cheeks burning with shame. He was only grateful that he hadn't shared his "about the same as Ethan" remarks with others. Otherwise, Cedric would definitely give himself a Stunning Spell on the spot.
"I have no right to even speak to him... we're not on the same level at all..."
At this moment, Cedric accidentally met Ethan's gaze, and the latter raised his hand, smiling and waving at him cheerfully.
Instantly, Cedric's whole body trembled, his breathing catching! Ethan greeted me! He was actually willing to greet someone like me who got no ranking. What a peaceful and kind person Ethan was!
Cedric was deeply moved. He stood up, stumbled toward Ethan, and said with full reverence: "Congratulations on winning first place, Ethan! Amazing... this will definitely go down in Hogwarts history! May I ask how you achieved this incredible honor?"
What clever method had he used to reach the mansion faster than anyone else and obtain the Portkey?
Ethan replied matter-of-factly: "Very simple. Just eliminate everyone else, then I'm guaranteed first place."
With that, Ethan showed this Hufflepuff boy a perfectly cheerful smile.
Cedric stared blankly, his smile freezing. A sudden flash of terrible realization struck his mind: So you were the reason the organizers had been anxious and restless all along!
Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted from the organizers' side, as if they were trying to stop something.
"Crack, crack, crack!"
Several sharp pops echoed as tall figures suddenly appeared before Ethan. Looking down at him with cold, official eyes, they spoke with authority: "Mr. Ethan Vincent, you are suspected of attempting to murder Hamburg Carrow, eldest son of the Carrow family. Please come with us. The Ministry of Magic's court is already waiting for you."
Hearing this, the contestants around Ethan immediately showed expressions of pure terror! They all stepped back instinctively!
Murder?! When you said "eliminate," you meant it literally?!
The smile faded from Ethan's lips, taking on a hint of coldness and mockery. Murder? Court?
Well, I really didn't know who would be judging whom.
To publicly arrest a weak and helpless little wizard, the Ministry of Magic was really going backwards. Anyway, he'd have to make this trip eventually. Perfect... let him have his say too.
In his skull, the lamplight flickered softly. Transforming into power, flowing into Ethan's words.