After issuing the orders to clean up the aftermath, Kyle looked at the beast-eared girl clinging closely to Konan's side and let out a somewhat helpless sigh.
He had originally intended to go out for a stroll tonight to clear his head, but now it seemed they would have to head back.
"How do you plan to deal with her?"
Hearing Konan's question, Kyle spread his hands. "Wasn't it you who said we should buy her? A 'zero-dollar purchase' is still a purchase. I should be the one asking you that question, shouldn't I?"
Konan rubbed her forehead in exasperation. How did she end up with such a hands-off boss?
While Kyle and Konan were speaking, a rather mood-spoiling voice rang out from behind them.
"Who on earth are you?"
Kyle really wanted to hit this dimwit, who clearly didn't know how to read the room, with an Avada Kedavra, but he ultimately restrained himself. After all, Kyle wasn't a monster; he couldn't just kill Krum just because he was ruining the atmosphere.
Turning around to face Krum, Kyle removed the contact lenses he used to disguise his heterochromatic eyes.
"Those eyes... You are..."
Although the Ministries of Magic across Europe had strictly suppressed information regarding Grindelwald's deeds from years ago, no one from Durmstrang would be unfamiliar with those eyes. After all, Grindelwald had come from that very school, even if he had been expelled halfway through.
Furthermore, the wizards taking orders from the young man were all wearing that man's mark on their chests.
Krum reacted in an instant.
"Grindelwald!?" Krum's tone was suddenly laced with a hint of horror, along with a deep, burning loathing.
Kyle wasn't particularly surprised that Krum recognized him. However, hearing the hatred in Krum's voice piqued his curiosity.
So, I've run into an old family enemy? Kyle wondered. Which of his relatives did my old man kill back in the day?
Furious, Krum whipped out his wand and immediately pointed it at Kyle.
Seeing this, several Acolytes busy nearby stopped their work, swiftly drawing their wands and aiming them at Krum. The tips of several wands were already glowing with the sickly green light of the Killing Curse.
Kyle waved his hand, signaling the Acolytes not to interfere. "Get back to your work."
The muscles in Krum's cheeks twitched as if he were chewing on something. Finally, he managed to slightly suppress the urge to hit Kyle with a Killing Curse and squeezed a sentence out through gritted teeth.
"What is Gellert Grindelwald to you!"
Calling the Dark Lord by his full name right to his son's face? You're walking a narrow path, kid.
Kyle frowned. With a flick of his hand, a flash of red light erupted. Krum was instantly sent flying backward, and his wand landed firmly in Kyle's hand.
For a lower-level spell like the Disarming Charm, he was now capable of wandless casting.
"He is my father," Kyle replied flatly.
Hearing Kyle's words, Krum, who had just scrambled up from the ground, felt his eyes turn bloodshot. He cracked his knuckles aggressively, looking for all the world like he wouldn't rest until Kyle was dead.
However, he did not ultimately rush forward to challenge Kyle to a traditional wizard's duel—which is to say, a physical brawl. From Kyle's wandless Expelliarmus, he realized the sheer gap between their abilities.
This forced Krum to calm down slightly and begin contemplating his situation.
Although outsiders viewed the students of Durmstrang Institute in Germany as more like the "fighting nation" brutes of Eastern Europe than Germans, it didn't mean they were brainless; they just usually didn't bother using their heads.
The son of Grindelwald before him was an opponent he could not defeat, and there were several predatory Acolytes watching from the periphery. Furthermore, there was that woman watching the scene; someone who could stand by the side of the Dark Lord's son in such a manner was definitely no simple witch.
The question was: what could he do to escape?
Given the current situation, the wizarding world was unaware that a direct descendant of the first Dark Lord, Grindelwald, was still alive in this world. If this news leaked out, what kind of upheaval would it cause in the magical community? And what kind of impact would that have on this son of Grindelwald?
It seemed impossible that the other party would let him go. After weighing his options, the only thing Krum could think of was—
"Kill me! A warrior can be killed, but not insulted!"
Kyle gave him a strange look. "Why would I kill you?"
Krum hadn't actually done anything to provoke him. The only thing that had displeased Kyle just now was his daring to speak Grindelwald's name so casually. But Kyle had already taught him a lesson for that.
As for any remaining grudge—perhaps the fact that Grindelwald had killed Krum's grandfather—that was a matter for the older generation. What did it have to do with them?
More importantly, given Krum's pitiful level of strength, even if he wanted to avenge his grandfather, Kyle wouldn't take him seriously. It was like accidentally stepping on an ant; if the ant's grandson wanted revenge, would you actually care?
Krum had prepared himself to make a passionate speech and meet a heroic end, but now that the other party said they weren't going to kill him, the words died in his throat.
Was the boy not afraid that once Krum escaped, he would spread the news across the wizarding world that Grindelwald had an heir? Why was he so confident?
Wait!
A terrifying possibility struck Krum's mind like a bolt of lightning. Though he was physically imposing, he was far from simple-minded.
The three mysterious wizards who had appeared later bore the Mark of the Deathly Hallows, identifying them as Acolytes who followed Grindelwald. From their efficient movements and skilled spellcasting while using Memory Charms on the people in the tents, it wasn't hard to see that their magical prowess was quite high.
Unless there was a terrifying reason behind it, how could those elite Acolytes be so subservient to a young man like Kyle?
Gellert Grindelwald, the first Dark Lord, has escaped from Nurmengard!
Only then would the son of Grindelwald before him not care in the slightest about an ant like him!
Krum couldn't be sure how many sleeper Acolytes in the European wizarding world had already resurfaced. Given Grindelwald's methods, it was possible that the Ministries of Magic in several countries had already fallen.
If Kyle knew what he was thinking, he would surely tell him: Kid, you're overthinking it.
Although Grindelwald was constantly recalling his former subordinates, he truly hadn't made a move against any Ministry of Magic yet. Nowadays, Grindelwald was like a retired official; when he wasn't bored and looking for Alfred to play Wizard's Chess, he was heading over to old Newt's magical zoo every other day to walk the birds...
Kyle tossed the wand back to Krum and gestured for him to get lost.
After Krum left in a daze, Kyle looked at the fox-girl shrinking beside Konan, wondering how to handle her. If she had a family, sending her back to them would be the best option.
"Do you have a name?"
The girl shook her head.
"What about family?"
The girl continued to shake her head.
Kyle wondered if she couldn't understand English. Observing the girl's tawny hair, Kyle stroked his chin. "How about I give you a name? How does Ajisai sound?"
The girl nodded silently.
It seemed she understood.
"Ajisai? You've actually come up with a decent name this time," Konan said, stifling a laugh.
Kyle's mouth twitched, knowing she was mocking his "Spiraling Flash Super Round Dance Howl Form Three."
That was clearly a name coined by Minato Namikaze; what did it have to do with him, Kyle Grindelwald?
Kyle reached out his hand toward Konan. "Let's go back."
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