"Since you have no objections, then... we can begin the examination on the spot!
As for the personnel to be examined..." Chairman Picquery circled the hall, then fixed his gaze on Dumbledore.
"Professor Dumbledore... could you help us examine the witnesses' memories?"
Dumbledore nodded without hesitation. He turned to Livid and Tom and said, "You two wait here for me, don't wander off.
Then, he left his seat and walked towards the stage.
"It's over, Professor Dumbledore is going to be used as a pawn..." Livid said helplessly.
Tom asked, "What happened?"
"If I'm not mistaken, these witnesses were originally supposed to have their memories altered by people from the Magical Congress.
The purpose is to target Grindelwald," Livid said.
"Hmm, indeed... otherwise, where would they get so many witnesses to prove Grindelwald's guilt?"
Tom nodded.
"The Magical Congress of America absolutely didn't want their memories checked, otherwise the alteration would be exposed.
But now, the testimonies are overwhelmingly in Grindelwald's favor…"
Tom said, "You mean, President Picqueri suspects that Grindelwald altered the witnesses' memories again?
Hmm…right, that means they're going to propose checking the memories.
Once it's proven that the witnesses' memories were modified, then their previous testimonies will be invalid!"
Livid smiled and said, "I'm afraid…the outcome might not be as she expects.
So far, Grindelwald hasn't miscalculated a single step…do you think he wouldn't have considered this?
And how do you know these witnesses are genuine witnesses?"
"Hmm?
What do you mean?"
"If these witnesses are proven to have had their memories altered, then there's nothing to say.
But what if… they're just lying?
Examining memories doesn't require legatomic thinking… In public, Dumbledore can at most check if their brains have been tampered with."
Tom gasped.
"Hiss… In that case, even if they're lying, without legatomic thinking, Dumbledore wouldn't know if they were lying or not; he could only determine that their brains hadn't been altered… That would only prove that what they said is true! But… the truth serum…"
Li Wade chuckled, "How do you know the Auror who gave them the truth serum isn't corrupt?"
"Huh?
Even the truth serum is fake?
This… if you're not mistaken, then the Magical Congress of America is probably already riddled with infiltration…" Tom was completely shocked.
"Have you forgotten the series of disappearances that broke out at the Magical Congress of America?
You don't actually think that Grindelwald's actions here are simply to lure Dumbledore away, do you?"
Li Wade laughed.
"If it were me... I wouldn't tamper with the missing people... I would release them back, and then... quietly replace the others who haven't disappeared with my own people.
At that time, everyone's attention would be on the missing people.
While everyone is carefully examining the composition of these returning missing people, who would notice that those who haven't disappeared will become slightly different from before one morning?"
"Hiss… Indeed… only this explains it.
Everyone thought those who were released might have problems, but no one expected that those who weren't lost might have been replaced… But why did you just say that Dumbledore was being used as a pawn?"
Li Wade said helplessly, "If these witnesses are innocent, then who is?
What if, at this point, rumors spread that Dumbledore, who examined the witnesses, lied?
His past relationship with Grindelwald… will become a seed of suspicion. In this way, Grindelwald still cannot completely escape the controversy.
But Chairwoman Picqueli can easily extricate herself from it… At most, people will think she was just misled, not that she was the one who actively framed Grindelwald…"
Tom said in surprise, "So, Chairwoman Picqueli, when she had Professor Dumbledore go up to examine him, had already started using the escape route she had prepared beforehand… Professor Dumbledore was also used as a shield by her."
"Yes…but Professor Dumbledore still went without hesitation…he really wanted to protect Chairman Picquarty, even if his own reputation might be damaged.
Even if he knew he was being used as a shield."
"Is this what you call sacrifice?
How noble," Tom scoffed.
He couldn't understand Dumbledore's thinking at all.
"Mr. Webber's memories haven't been altered,"
Dumbledore's voice rang out at this moment.
Everyone stared at Dumbledore in shock, including Chairman Picquarty.
"How is that possible?"
Chairman Picquarty stood up, looking at Dumbledore in horror.
Seeing Dumbledore's confirming expression, Chairman Picquarty closed his eyes.
She had specifically chosen a witness whose memories had been altered to frame Grindelwald, and not only was his testimony inconsistent, but…his memories hadn't been altered?
That was enough to explain…meaning, her so-called plan might never have been truly implemented from the beginning!
Even eleven-year-old Tom could think of that, so how could she not?
Now, she probably had no one she could trust left…how terrifying!
Fortunately…
Chairwoman Picqueli glanced at Dumbledore, who was still diligently examining the other witnesses.
She knew that Dumbledore was willing to shield her from the impending storm; otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to help examine the witnesses.
In other words, she was safe for now!
Just as she thought this, Dumbledore's voice rang out again.
"Mr. Wright's memories… have been altered…"
"Hmm?"
Chairwoman Picqueli looked at Dumbledore in surprise.
In fact, not only her, but even Dumbledore himself looked at Mr. Wright with astonishment.
He had examined him several times and found that Mr. Wright's memories had indeed been altered!
This Mr. Wright was the only witness who had accused Grindelwald!
He insisted that Grindelwald had harmed his Muggle wife!
Chairwoman Picqueli quickly said, "Can the altered memories be restored?"
"…Are you sure?"
Dumbledore looked at Chairwoman Picqueli.
Mr. Wright accused Grindelwald, but his memories had been altered?
In other words, his accusations…this sole accusation in the entire room, were actually all altered memories?
This was quite dramatic, the absurd proportions were far too abnormal…
If it were the other way around, with only one testimony proving Grindelwald's innocence, that would be more normal.
Everyone present turned their attention to Chairman Piqueli…
Chairman Picqueli, whose mind had been somewhat muddled by the blow, finally came to his senses.
Did she still have any of her own people around her?
Therefore, the one who altered the witness's memory could only be Grindelwald's men!
Why would he leave behind someone whose memory had been altered to accuse him?
Grindelwald would never do something like this without a reason!
Therefore, this witness's memory absolutely cannot be restored!
"Then... for now, let's not..."
However, before Chairman Picqueli could finish speaking, Grindelwald interrupted her.
"How can we not restore it?
Everyone is already skeptical of their testimonies.
Since some memories have been altered, it's best to restore them and see.
Otherwise, what if everyone thinks I had someone alter these memories?
Ah... right, I'm currently imprisoned.
Even if I wanted to alter a witness's memory to accuse myself, I couldn't send anyone to do anything, right, Chairman Picqueli?"
Picqueli was speechless after being confronted by Grindelwald's sarcastic remarks...
"Restore the memory!"
"A trial needs to be fair and just!"
"Alter a witness's memory?
That's illegal!
The person who altered the memory needs to be tried!"
Some people suddenly started to jeer, whether they were shills Grindelwald had prepared beforehand or simply overly righteous.
However, no one could arrest them as Grindelwald's accomplices because of this.
After all, what he said wasn't wrong at all... Doesn't a trial need to be fair?
However, having shouted it out at this juncture, President Picqueli could no longer delay.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, she couldn't forcefully refuse to restore Mr. Wright's memories...
"Then... restore... his memories..." President Picqueli said through gritted teeth.
She knew perfectly well that Grindelwald had dug a deep pit for her, but she was powerless!
She could only watch helplessly as she was pushed into it!
Dumbledore frowned, looking at Mr. Wright, still under the influence of the Truth Potion, his face blank.
He could certainly guess that this was a trap left by Grindelwald.
But even if he wanted to break the rules again and help President Picqueli...
However… even someone as powerful as Dumbledore couldn't unknowingly alter the memories of the man before him under the watchful eyes of everyone…especially since he was completely unaware of what memories Grindelwald had modified…
Dumbledore reluctantly picked up the Elder Wand and canceled the spell affecting Wright's memories.
Mr. Wright's eyes rolled back, and he fainted…
The Aurors immediately rushed forward to provide him with highly professional treatment.
Seeing this, Piccolo's heart sank.
His most trusted subordinates, who had been so eager to help Grindelwald… had they all betrayed him?
Soon, Mr. Wright was revived.
"I want to accuse! I want to accuse!"
His first act upon regaining consciousness was to shout loudly.
"I accuse President Picqueri of threatening me!"
"My wife was caught in the crossfire during the Aurors' battle!
When I demanded compensation from the Congress, she! Picqueri
! She demanded I change my story.
She said she would only compensate us if I insisted that Grindelwald had harmed my wife!
And she would give double!
Otherwise, she wouldn't compensate us!
I had no choice but to agree… To prevent me from giving myself away, she even had my memories altered!
But she even altered my memory of demanding compensation!
She's deliberately trying to steal all our compensation! So, I'm accusing her!"
Mr. Wright's words caused an uproar in the room!
President Picqueri closed her eyes in despair.
Clearly, Wright was also Grindelwald's man… He was lying and slandering her.
But she was completely powerless to stop it…
By arranging so many witnesses, she had essentially told everyone that she was about to frame Grindelwald.
However, reality slapped her hard in the face; the Magic Congress had been completely infiltrated without her noticing.
Her so-called plan failed before it even began...
"So it seems we don't even have a last witness to accuse me..." Grindelwald slowly walked out of the dock, facing the crowd below.
"Gentlemen! Perhaps some of you still have doubts about these testimonies, and some may even doubt Dumbledore.
But that's alright.
Anyone with doubts can come up and check!
See if these witnesses' memories have been altered, and if they match Dumbledore's test results?"
As soon as Grindelwald finished speaking, many wizards rushed forward.
Most of them had doubts about Dumbledore!
Chairman Picquery's face had turned completely pale.
Since Grindelwald dared to say that, it must be foolproof.
Moreover, with Wright's accusations and Grindelwald's suggestion, she had even lost Dumbledore as a shield!
Grindelwald smiled and approached Dumbledore, saying softly, "You want to be someone's shield... did you ask me?"
At this moment, the wizards who had undergone further testing shouted, "Dumbledore's test results are correct!
Only Wright's memories have been altered!"
"My test results are the same!"
"Mine too!"
Grindelwald turned to the jury, then to Chairman Picquery, "So... can we pronounce the verdict now?
Am I... guilty?"
Ten minutes later.
"...All charges against Gellert Grindelwald... are found not guilty.
Therefore, the High Court hereby acquits Gellert Grindelwald..."
As Chairman Picquery weakly finished reading the verdict,a burst of cheers suddenly erupted from the audience!
Nearly half of the wizards in the hall surged forward, surrounding Grindelwald and leading him off the stage!
Along the way, many reached out, trying to touch Grindelwald.
At this moment, Piqueli on the stage watched helplessly as Grindelwald walked away, until her figure was finally swallowed up by the ever-pushing crowd...
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