The morning fog hasn't yet dispersed, and the magnificent Gothic spires of New York Magic Congress Headquarters appear particularly stern in the twilight.
Across the street, a wizard coffee shop has already opened early, with formally dressed wizards coming and going, buying a simple breakfast, then hurrying off to the Congress headquarters.
In the corner seat, Vid is sitting together with Elise, steam curling from the coffee before them.
"Your ability to take action is far beyond my imagination."
Elise chuckled, "The last time we mentioned the Stonefield Clan was like yesterday. But I didn't expect...not even a month later, that family is on the brink of becoming history."
Vid leaned back in his chair, saying, "Even a starved camel is larger than a horse. Even if the family only has some remaining offshoots, they can linger on for a long time."
"Those people are completely irrelevant, what interests me are other things..." Elise propped her chin, smiling, "The Stonefield Family surely has some...'shadow assets' known only to their core members, right?"
"Unexploited land rights overlapping with Magical Creatures protection zones, business enterprises operated within the Magic World through some agents, and their 'Hunters' who capture and acquire magic materials worldwide."
"These might cause great harm if left unchecked, but they happen to be areas the Vanderbilt Family can 'appropriately manage.' We can gain significant benefits and help you reduce many troubles. So..."
She laughed, softly asking, "—Shall we collaborate?"
Without waiting for Vid's reply, she immediately added:
"Of course, in return, the Vanderbilt Family will be one of your most stable allies in the United States in the future."
Vid looked at the girl opposite him, the dawn shining through the glass onto her loose, tousled hair.
Vid gently said, "I'm very grateful for your help all along, Elise. Some of those assets can indeed be entrusted to Vanderbilt. I'll give you the manager's contact details later, and you can have your family's spokesperson negotiate with them."
Elise was momentarily stunned, raising her eyebrows sharply:
"It sounds like those assets already have a master? I thought I would certainly be the earliest person to contact you!"
"But ordinary powers can't swallow such massive assets, and for us to even step back...it couldn't possibly be Professor Dumbledore, could it..."
Elise pondered for a moment, her eyes widened in disbelief, looking around, lowering her voice to ask:
"—Is it the Witch Pure Party?"
Vid neither admitted nor denied, rather just quietly looked at her before smiling.
Elise covered her mouth, surprise and a sort of exhilarating excitement intertwined on her face.
"Merlin's beard...you actually...well."
She swiftly regained her composure, even revealing a cunning smile.
"I understand, I'll keep it secret...if it's that gentleman, we really can't compete. Participating in part of the cooperation is already quite good."
Vid was not surprised by her reaction.
Perhaps because back then, the harm Grindelwald caused in the United States was not too severe, several schemes were thwarted, so the American Magic World still had a decent view of Grindelwald, even many admirers of the Witch Pure Party.
This land always fosters some particularly unique individuals.
While speaking, Vid also recalled what Delaine said when they parted yesterday—
"Since you want to protect those people, I will spread the word outside that those Muggles were actually killed by our Witch Pure Party."
He glanced at Vid, hinting, "In some sense, I don't really consider it lying either."
Vid didn't continue the conversation, just smiled wryly, saying, "I've caused you guys trouble."
Delaine calmly said, "Only two hundred people."
"Perhaps they play significant roles in Muggle Society, but to us, the lives of these rich aren't more significant just because of their wealth or status."
"Considering their actions, what you're offering us is honor, not trouble."
...
"How did you meet?"
The recollection abruptly ceased, and Elise curiously asked, "Mr. Dumbledore wouldn't possibly..."
Before she finished speaking, a hurried, high-heeled tapping sound approached, swiftly getting louder, accompanied by a gust of exaggeratedly scented wind.
"Oh! Look who it is! The mysterious Miss Vanderbilt, with a...handsome young gentleman!"
Rita Skeeter dashed to the table as if sliding, wearing a pair of gem-studded glasses and hair styled in exaggerated waves, rapidly retrieved parchment from her crocodile leather handbag.
Beside her, a shorthand quill trembled excitedly in the air, eager to start writing.
Elise instantly frowned, coolly saying, "This lady, we are having a private conversation. Please leave!"
"Of course, of course, respecting privacy!"
Rita said, yet her feet didn't move, her eyes scanning between Vid and Elise like searchlights, her mouth firing off questions like a machine gun:
"But who is this young gentleman? Are the two of you having a secret meeting here?"
As she spoke, her quill swiftly scribbled a long string of words, and Vid's sharp eyes caught phrases like "suspected new romance exposed."
He knew that if he didn't stop her, soon everyone in the world would know about rumors like "Miss Vanderbilt meeting her boyfriend in a café." Nowadays, Rita Skeeter has that kind of power.
Vid raised his hand, interrupting Rita's imminent barrage of questions, and gently said:
"Rita, how's that Invisibility Cloak I gave you working out?"
Rita Skeeter's words suddenly choked.
She widened her eyes, looking the unfamiliar red-haired youth up and down. A few seconds later, her face turned red with sheer excitement, her body even starting to tremble slightly.
"You?... Is it you? Vid... oh!"
She almost shouted with a breathy voice, then quickly covered her mouth, her eyes filled with almost overflowing joy.
"I knew it! The person who could date Miss Vanderbilt couldn't be an ordinary person! Now, not only the United States will be in an uproar because of my news!"
Elise lowered her eyes, her fingertips pinching a silver spoon, tracing meaningless circles along the rim of her cup, her lips twitching as if tickled by a feather, just about to curl up before being quickly suppressed.
Vid looked at Rita Skeeter and asked, "Why did you come to the United States?"
"Isn't it obvious, darling!"
Rita moved a bit closer, speaking rapidly:
"The inauguration of the new Magic Congress President! Famous journalists from all over the world will be here! It's a major news event! But before the inauguration begins..."
She cast her eager gaze towards Vid and Elise: "I can definitely do an exclusive feature on the two of you first! Guaranteed to be the front page of the Prophet Daily this weekend! A dual interview! Just think about it, the matchless combination of a genius alchemist and an heiress from an ancient financial empire..."
She saw Vid opening his mouth to speak and quickly said, "You still owe me an exclusive interview! You promised!"
Vid was taken aback: "When?"
Right after saying that, he remembered he had indeed made such a promise before.
Vid tapped the table, then said, "Stop busying yourself with fabricating scandals, Rita. Your quill can hold much more weight!"
Rita Skeeter panicked and shouted, "Exclusive interview!"
"I know." Vid said, "But if I offer you a bigger, more sensational news story, one that could go down in journalism history but also might land you in jail, to replace this interview, would you be interested?"
He lowered his voice a bit, smiling slightly: "Are you interested?"
Rita Skeeter suddenly bit her fingernail, hesitant.
Just hearing those descriptions, she knew this was going to be huge... What kind of news could land someone in jail? Even when she criticized Dumbledore or Cornelius Fudge in the papers, she never ran into any trouble.
But Vid Gray isn't someone who speaks irresponsibly just to avoid scandals. Because he might directly threaten...
Scandals can be reported anytime, and angering Vid isn't worth it.
Of course, she's not afraid of Vid Gray; she's just extremely interested in a real "big news," like a hungry shark smelling blood.
"How big?"
Rita Skeeter asked with a slight tremble in her voice.
Vid leaned forward and whispered a few words.
Rita Skeeter suddenly held her breath and then started breathing heavily.
She stared at Vid fiercely, and a few seconds later, she nodded vigorously, decisively saying, "Let's do it!"
"Not afraid of jail?" Vid asked with a smile.
"Ha, being hunted by Aurors for a news report is like a badge of honor for a journalist!" Rita said proudly, quickly revealing her true thoughts in the next sentence: "Besides, why should American Aurors care about us British wizards?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she left like a whirlwind, even forgetting to say goodbye to Elise, entirely immersed in the thrill of unveiling an earth-shattering secret.
Elise watched Rita's departing figure, then looked at the calm Vid, gently exhaling.
"Vid..."
"Hmm?"
"I'm beginning to think that betting on you might be the most exciting and the wisest decision the Vanderbilt Family has made in the past century."
The girl smiled and said, "Thanks to you, it won't be long before my father has to seriously listen when I speak."
"I'm quite pleased and also a bit surprised." Vid looked into her eyes and said, "That the Vanderbilt Family didn't get involved."
"Oh..."
Elise stirred her coffee, softly saying, "That's probably because... we're pure business people in the Vanderbilt Family. And those people..."
Her gaze turned out the window, through the gaps between various colorful stickers, looking at the wizards entering the Congress Headquarters.
"Those people... they still carry a bit of idealism about them, I suppose?"