The Congress courtyard was filled once again with various sounds: the hurried footsteps, peaceful discussions, and the incantations of the wizards.
Magic wands waved, and the ruins created in the battle were swiftly restored to their original state. Wizards without suspicion or duties could finally leave.
People hurried by, their faces bearing the fatigue of surviving a catastrophe.
The bodies of the deceased were carefully laid aside, covered with white sheets. Suppressed sobs echoed in the courtyard; they were from the families who had rushed to the scene upon hearing the news.
Clinche Barrett squatted in front of the kneeling, weeping families. Although none of this was his responsibility, he still apologized with a face full of guilt, explaining the situation in a soft voice and promising an investigation and recompense.
At this moment, a genuine expression appeared on his otherwise ordinary round face, somewhat soothing the emotions on the verge of collapse.
Against this busy backdrop, Vid had already taken off the light blue healer assistant uniform, wearing an inconspicuous dark wizard's robe. He made his way to the recently cleared outline of the explosion ruins beneath the podium.
The charred ground, cracked stone slabs, and faintly discernible nearly crimson blood fused with the soil, indistinguishable from each other.
Vid bent down and picked up an ant's corpse from beside a piece of rubble. It was a very tiny ant, burned black to the point it looked like a sesame seed.
He straightened up, pocketing the remains in his palm. As he turned, he saw someone standing behind him.
It was Antoine, without any disguise.
"You're just appearing at the American Magic Congress Headquarters like this?" Vid asked, somewhat speechless.
"So what?" Antoine shrugged, "I'm an honorary professor of Salem Academy, invited by Congress to attend the ceremony. They can't just arrest me."
Vid quietly asked, "Even if they know you're with the Witch Pure Party?"
"If they know, they'd be even less likely to touch me." Antoine tilted his head casually, "Looks like you're done here too. Fancy a drink?"
Vid shook his head, "It's just a pause for now, but far from over."
"You still need to take a break." Antoine advised, "This isn't your problem alone, no need to push yourself too hard."
The two walked side by side out of the Congress Headquarters, the noonday sun shining down, bringing a feeling of warmth to their bodies.
The streets almost devoid of their usual leisurely pedestrians, Vid spoke somewhat casually, "Still 'someone else's problem'?"
"Ha!" Antoine burst into laughter, "I knew you wouldn't be fooled! When did you figure it out?"
"That Director Barrett," Vid said, "when giving commands, he looked over to Mr. Grindelwald several times. And your man, Derves, was cooperating, wasn't he?"
"Yes." Antoine smiled, "From the start, we only called upon those who wouldn't oppose him. Otherwise, being refuted publicly would make it hard to stand again."
Vid exhaled slowly, not surprised at all.
The Prometheus Project was backed by top-level Muggle magnates. Cleansing them meant astronomical wealth, real estate, rare magic materials, and cutting-edge Muggle technology research data.
Vid himself took only a part of it, while the Witch Pure Party also gained ample rewards.
The Magic Congress was in chaos and upheaval, leaving a massive power vacuum, practically bringing the government to the brink of paralysis.
In such times, if Grindelwald declared his intent to become the new Congress President, it might not face much resistance.
But unlike his youthful choices, he no longer sought superficial rule and obedience. Instead, he supported agents, controlling key nodes to exert decisive influence.
This kind of "rule" undoubtedly had lower costs, was easier to achieve, and was harder to replace than direct ascension.
But this approach also had a major drawback.
Vid gently reminded, "When Cornelius Fudge first became Minister of Magic, he heeded Professor Dumbledore, but soon enough he felt that Dumbledore had become an obstacle."
"Indeed, power is such a thing that can easily change someone timid and cowardly." Antoine smiled, "But Mr. Grindelwald is not Dumbledore."
He looked back at the Congress Headquarters behind him and told Vid:
"Dumbledore might tolerate stupidity and betrayal, but Mr. Grindelwald? He never gives a second chance to those who betray him."
He confidently smiled and added:
"Clinche Barrett knows this too. If he forgets… I'll help engrave it on his tombstone."
Vid didn't stop walking, his face unchanged. He barely nodded slightly and then sighed softly.
Sometimes, he also wished Dumbledore would be more decisive. But thinking that he himself was also a beneficiary of the headmaster's tolerant teaching made him unable to voice opposition.
The emotions wrapped in that sigh were too complex for Antoine to figure out from Vid's face, so he asked:
"How about going to the Red Hat Bar? Not far, their dragon blood whiskey is particularly strong! And the Fizzing Ice Brew makes steam come out of your ears after drinking, very popular among underage wizards."
Vid queried, "Isn't it prohibited for minors to enter bars here?"
"We're wizards! We don't follow Muggle laws." Antoine said earnestly, "Besides, you look at least twenty-five now, definitely above the age limit."
"No need." Vid continued walking across the street, "Let's just go to the Oak Café; their freshly ground coffee is nice."
"Oh?" Antoine raised an eyebrow, his lips curling playfully, "Is it really the coffee that's nice, or is it... the lady who accompanied you there before, making the place seem pleasant?"
Vid said calmly, "I'm not in the mood for such things right now, Antoine. Besides..."
"Besides what?" Antoine pressed when Vid seemed reluctant to continue.
Vid shook his head, choosing not to elaborate further.
This time, nearly the entire upper echelons of the American Magic World were embroiled in the strife. Some were related to Prometheus, others secretly supported the Scourers, and more were part of Laira's interest groups.
Yet, among them, the highly influential Vanderbilt managed to remain unaffected, not participating, nor was it significantly influenced by those groups. This outcome always struck Vid as odd.
But today, observing Barrett's command of the situation, the reactions of the people present, and Barrett's arrangements for the Congress's subsequent work under Grindelwald's guidance, Vid gradually realized —
Vanderbilt did not actually stand aloof; they merely chose a riskier yet more profitable approach.
Grindelwald, who seemed active always in Europe, had placed his pawns in the American Magic World long ago — Vanderbilt was the Witch Pure Party's collaborator in America.
This is why, when handling other matters, Barrett showed a consultative attitude, but when promising treatment costs and compensation, he didn't look at anyone else's expression.
Because, subconsciously, he knew which part of the property he had control over... he was aware of the immense financial support backing him.
In the current American Magic World, the only thing that could give him such confidence was Vanderbilt.