The Pegasus spread its wings, making a "clop-clop-clop" sound as it trod on air, swiftly rising into the sky with the carriage that gradually turned invisible from top to bottom.
In an instant, both the horse and carriage vanished, yet a faint sound of flapping wings could still be heard in the air.
Vid stood by the roadside, the street was desolate and silent, with not a single figure in sight.
He squinted slightly, recalling the appearance of that "Healer Woods."
The last time he saw that woman... was when she brought Vid a robe of the Witch Pure Party.
Behind him, separated by a wall in the Congress courtyard, it was still filled with noise and chaos.
Although Seraphina was suddenly fainted and taken away, the final order she left behind indeed made many feel as if they had a backbone, moving swiftly without hesitation.
But among the leaderless Aurors and officials in various departments, instructions were inconsistent, and actions seemed extremely chaotic.
Some officials who knew they had issues quietly moved towards the door, attempting to escape before being discovered.
But one guy doing so was struck down by a young Auror using a Petrification Spell just as he was about to rush out the door.
"Watch out!" Auror Anderson shouted loudly: "There's a guy here trying to run!"
At that moment, a slightly rounded figure stood on a slightly elevated step in front of the courtyard, trying hard to raise his voice and said:
"Everyone! Everyone! Please listen to me! We need to restore order immediately, we can't be so disorganized anymore!"
A Law Enforcement Department official, whose glasses were knocked askew by resisting wizards, turned his head to take a look and shouted: "Bullet? Do you have any suggestions?"
Standing on the steps was Clinch Bullet, head of the Magic Accident and Disaster Department, a usually gentle and cautious man known for his willingness to listen to all parties' opinions, privately considered by many to be overly indecisive.
At this moment, Bullet took a deep breath, tried to straighten his back, and said:
"Samuel Goldstein Auror, please take some people to temporarily detain all those mentioned and with major suspicions to the Congress's underground holding facility, ensure all possible external communications are cut off. All other Aurors, please... please follow Mr. Goldstein's instructions."
He said, not very confidently.
Samuel's position in the Auror Office wasn't high, nor was he particularly well-liked, but the surname "Goldstein" made everyone subconsciously recognize him.
Then, Bullet seemed to calculate his wording in his mind, and said:
"For the follow-up investigation, I think... I believe... we need to establish a cross-departmental special investigation committee, but specific personnel and procedures can be discussed later..."
"The immediate priority is to send all the injured to the Magic Hospital. Mr. Devers, can I entrust this task to you? You organize the manpower, and all the treatment costs should be borne by the Magic Congress."
In the crowd, a man nodded, immediately calling upon several people from his department, quickly heading towards those still groaning in pain.
Bullet's gaze then turned to another person, saying: "Ms. Opelka, there's no one more suitable than you for the on-site cleaning, repair, and evidence preservation work. I also think we need to confirm again whether Ms. Picquery and Headmaster Fontana have indeed escaped..."
"I understand, I can handle it!" Opelka said, frowning with disgust: "Also, you don't need to be so polite when mentioning those two guys."
"Ah... okay, sure..."
Bullet responded nervously, seeing Opelka also leading her people to organize the scene, starting by gathering all the blood and limbs to facilitate later identification.
He let out a slight sigh of relief, knowing that with this lady's impartiality and meticulousness, even if she was once a friend of Fontana, she wouldn't show any favoritism at this moment.
Bullet looked at a certain wizard in the crowd, saw the other nod at him, and then raised his head to say to the head of the Public Relations and Media Liaison Office:
"Mr. Jenkins, I fear we need to quickly provide an explanation to the public...although the former acting president of Congress may be involved in serious crimes, and multiple officials have been arrested, the situation is now under control and the investigation is ongoing..."
"I'd like you to urge the public to remain calm and trust in the Congress...even though we have many issues now, they will surely be thoroughly resolved..."
Avery Jenkins massaged his brow wearily, saying: "Alright, I'll think carefully about the wording..."
The audience in front of the screen: "..."
No, no need to think anymore.
We already know.
But it must be said, watching that chaotic scene being gradually straightened out as if peeling silk from a cocoon, and the Congress's attitude wasn't to sugarcoat or deceive the public, many people's precarious trust in the Magic Congress was slightly restored.
"And if Ms. Picquery..." Bullet paused, and then continued: "I mean... Laira Picquery and Agilbert Fontaine, if they have indeed escaped, then a special capture task force needs to be established."
"I would like to appoint Samuel Goldstein as interim captain, and I will do my best to coordinate the necessary resources and authority..."
Bullet's arrangements weren't particularly impressive, nor was his tone forceful, instead carrying obvious worry and uncertainty.
It seemed as if he were always afraid of being rejected.
But, even though his words appeared somewhat vague in some areas, and the instructions unclear, it was precisely this non-command-based, practical proposal grounded on existing functions and urgent needs that stood out distinctly amidst the chaos, executable, even making people feel "it should have been so."
As a result, no one on site refuted Bullet's proposal, no one suddenly jumped out to say — "You don't have the authority to command us! I don't accept your dispatch!"
Everyone nodded one after another, vocally expressing cooperation, and the "suspects" temporarily deprived of their magic wands finally had a place to go, the Aurors no longer fought individually, the General Office people had already begun directing assistants to clean the scene, and the Public Relations Office people scratched their heads to start preparing key points for external announcements.
Perhaps their original intention was merely not wanting to bear responsibility themselves, or perhaps everyone just wanted to end this awful mess quickly.
But in everyone's eyes, it was the Congress Headquarters' typically arrogant and diverse officials who, at this moment, all submissively accepted Bullet's instructions.
This atmosphere of "political harmony and united efforts" harmoniously surprised people, and not only exceeded the imposing Hosone but also the historically most popular Laira Picquery, who hadn't managed to make the Magic Congress operate so efficiently.
Many couldn't help but glance more than a few times at Bullet during their busy moments, their eyes filled with surprise, as if realizing for the first time that this amiable head they usually thought was surprisingly capable in times of crisis.
Seeing everyone starting to act according to his proposal, the noisy discussions gradually replaced by orderly actions, Clinch Bullet's tense shoulders seemed to relax a bit, he stopped frequently pushing up his glasses, and his voice also gradually stabilized and became decisive.
"So, for now, let's arrange it this way. Everyone, please perform your duties and maintain communication. The specific matters of the special investigation committee and announcement... please, in an hour, let the relevant department heads come to the seventh conference room for a meeting to discuss..."