Amidst the chaos of flying spells, shoving, and shouting, Rita's voice rose again, sharply calling out:
"Look! Look at these photos! Look at this cruel footage!"
The images in the Flow Mirror were instantly divided into several differently sized pieces, some showing bloody photos of the test subjects, while others were of experiments so gory that most people could hardly imagine them.
Even though the video was soundless, everyone could vividly imagine the pain and fear suffered by the test subjects.
Moreover, for the sake of complete experimental records, the video even included the sound of flesh and bone being cut, along with the cold and merciless discussions of the researchers.
"Merlin! This can't be real... This must not be real..."
Among the guests, some covered their mouths, unable to hold back their tears; some cast angry glances at the instigators, while others were almost scared to faint by the scene.
The noise suddenly fell to a low hum, and the fighting spells stopped unconsciously. The vivid images evoked far more fear and anger than any words.
Those who had been shouting along earlier felt as if their voices were stuck in their throats.
The opportunists looked around fearfully, quietly withdrawing their magic wands, and their bodies instinctively retreated.
Even among the most steadfast supporters, there was a subtle wavering; some had wandering eyes, and others were drenched in sweat at their temples.
Abandoning a sinking ship is instinctive for these people. Laira was clearly about to be abandoned, and they were unwilling to pay the price of sinking together to support her.
Hesitation, like a silent plague, spread throughout the crowd.
In the isolated sounds of battle, only Rita Skeeter's voice was particularly clear:
"Do you remember the 'Silence Island Incident' from not long ago? That poor girl who was swallowed by dark forces—Mabel!"
"The reason she became an Obscurial was precisely because they conducted these terrible experiments on her, which gave rise to the Obscurus!"
"Why did poor Mabel fall into Muggle hands? It was all because of our respected Principal of Iphamoni, Agilbert Fontaine—"
In the Flow Mirror, Rita Skeeter seemed to illustrate her words by pointing decisively, as if wielding a sharp sword!
In the atrium, many were shocked by these words, causing their scalps to tingle, and they unconsciously looked for Fontaine with their eyes.
Still bound by ropes, Fontaine continued to struggle, but this spell, from an unknown source, wouldn't allow him to break free even briefly, nor could he make any sound.
He could only watch as the woman in the Flow Mirror shed involuntary tears and accused him in a piercing voice:
"Because your headmaster does not allow young wizards born to Muggles into the school he oversees! Because he believes Half-Blood Wizards and Muggle Wizards are sources of danger, he wants to fundamentally cut off their opportunities to enter the Magic World!"
Fontaine looked ashen, ceasing his ugly struggle, closing his eyes, unwilling to face the gaze of the crowd, yet with no sign of remorse.
Among some pure-blood wizards present, approval showed on their faces.
However, the vast majority were utterly shocked, and some already had burning revulsion and hatred in their eyes.
In the Flow Mirror image, Rita Skeeter was trembling, and tears flowed in large drops.
She let out a hoarse cry, each word seemed blood-soaked from her heart:
"Why, Principal Fontaine...?"
"If... If you, if you truly can't accept children with Muggle blood who also dream of magic within your 'great' system... If your castle truly cannot tolerate their existence..."
"Why can't you give them a way out?! Why not refer those hopeful children to other schools?!"
Her speech grew faster, her questioning like a barrage while sobbing yet clear, striking the dead silent air:
"Hogwarts is right there! Headmaster Dumbledore has never refused a child with magic ability!"
"Beauxbatons, Uagadou, Castelobruxo... So many Magic Schools in the world! We all open our doors! We are all willing to accept those souls yearning to learn, yearning to belong! We can also understand your resistance and suspicion of another world!"
"Even if it's only out of a bit of merciful hypocrisy, Headmaster? Why can't you give those kids a way out?"
"Is it just because their veins don't carry the blood you recognize as pure, that they are no longer human?! Does their pain not touch your 'noble heart' that defends the Magic World?!"
"When you decided to push them into the fire pit, when you sold the children's names and addresses... Headmaster Fontaine, your staunch defense of the Magic World's purity, its cost... Is it a total abandonment of the basic compassion inherent in being 'human'?!"
The tearful questioning sounded like whips cracking across Fontaine's face.
Privately, he naturally had many compelling reasons, many words about the "big picture," about "risk," about "necessary sacrifice," to persuade himself and those who believed in him.
But at this moment, facing the judgment of countless eyes, he suddenly found those reasons so pale and hypocritical.
It was then—
Bang! Boom—!
An ear-splitting explosion erupted without warning, shaking the crystal chandeliers overhead and causing them to collide with sharp, dense "clang-clang" sounds, dust falling like a curtain, spreading into a cloud of gray mist.