The trail built with boulders has long been submerged in weeds.
There is a huge hole left in front of the main entrance of the castle, with rubble and door panels hidden around it.
A few lines of text are engraved at the entrance of the castle, which can still be barely legible even after being eroded by wind and frost.
“For the Greater Good?”
Cornelius Fudge squinted his eyes, read the vague words softly, and made a nasal sound of unknown meaning.
"These dark wizards are very good at inciting people's hearts. Based on my many years of experience, the more insidious and scheming the dark wizard is, the more he will use such words to flaunt and whitewash himself. If you think about it carefully, when he says this sentence
, maybe he is destined to become a dark wizard."
"Ahem, Connelly, we are not here to interrogate Grindelwald today -"
Dumbledore coughed slightly and reminded with a gentle smile.
Behind the two of them, senior magical government officials from all over the world were looking around curiously.
Since Grindelwald imprisoned himself in Nurmengard, almost no one has arrived here. This castle of the Demon King, which is legendary and terrifying in the modern magical world, is almost one of the childhood stories of most European wizards, just like Merlin.
The same treasure house.
However, after Dumbledore, as the secret keeper, disclosed the address, they finally had a chance to arrive here.
"It's unbelievable that the devil has lived here for decades..."
"Look at these traces...the battle that year..."
"Yeah... Do you think this will--"
Senior officials from various magical governments looked around and talked in low voices.
As they crossed the huge hole, they seemed to have traveled back to the magical battlefield decades ago.
Except for the big hole at the door, there are terrible traces left everywhere in the castle. Thick dust covers every corner of the castle. Going up the steps on the right side of the main hall of the castle, there are vague footprints of some people - Dumble
Lido had told them before that the International Federation of Wizards had arranged for a deaf-mute old Muggle to be responsible for Grindelwald's three meals a day, but with the old man leaving, the house elf is currently in charge.
"Grindelwald...well...does he never leave the tower?"
French Minister of Magic Castor looked around, frowned, and added additionally.
"I mean, I don't seem to see any measures around here to prevent Grindelwald from escaping?"
"Well, usually, that's the case - Grindelwald doesn't leave the tower."
As Dumbledore walked up the winding staircase, he glanced meaningfully at the Austrian Minister of Magic at the end.
"However, if Grindelwald wants to leave here one day, believe me... at least based on my knowledge, I don't think there are any measures that can stop a wizard of his level. In this world, Grindelwald can be imprisoned.
Leto Grindelwald's is only him..."
"Not even you? Mr. Dumbledore." The Turkish Minister of Magic couldn't help but ask.
"I can defeat him, yes, I think you want to express this...but you see, I usually have a lot of things."
Dumbledore shrugged his shoulders and replied with a gentle smile, "Similarly, most of the 'jailer' candidates who can watch over Grindelwald also have more important things they want to do. Besides, we sometimes have
You have to worry about the 'jailer' becoming an accomplice, don't you?"
"I don't understand, Professor Dumbledore. If Grindelwald is so dangerous, why didn't he-"
Cornelius Fudge lowered his voice and made a slight gesture with his right hand.
After this period of hard work, Cornelius Fudge learned many stories about Gellert Grindelwald, about Grindelwald's evil deeds of causing a large number of murders, creating divisions, and provoking wars in Europe...
… He had to admit that although Voldemort’s reign of terror in Britain was more frightening than Grindelwald, the two were not at the same level in terms of harm to social order.
"Obviously, Dumbledore feels that the dead me will be more terrifying than the living me -"
Before Dumbledore could answer, a hoarse voice suddenly floated from the top of the tower.
"You don't think... that I alone can start a wizarding war that lasts for decades? What's more, how many people do you think have the ability and courage to kill an unarmed Gellert...
What about Grindelwald? Maybe you can come and try it today?"
"……Well."
Cornelius Fudge was like a rooster that had been strangled by the neck and suddenly lost its voice.
Everyone looked at each other and walked quickly forward a few steps. After turning the corner, there was a sudden chill in front of them.
Different from the locked attic that everyone imagined, at the end of the winding stairs was a room without a door. A hole slightly smaller than the hole below opened on the right side of the room, and the biting cold wind howled through it.
The hole roared and wandered wantonly in the small room.
The ceiling of this room was very high, and a window opened there, casting a dim beam of sunlight onto the floor.
And behind the dim beam of light, a stooped, thin, but energetic old man sat there quietly.
"Tsk, there are quite a few guests today, Dumbledore? Is there any special holiday?"
Grindelwald grinned and looked at the old wizard standing by the door.
"If I remember correctly," said Dumbledore, "I should have sent an owl to inform you this morning, didn't I?"
"Oh? Really - I thought it was for extra food for me -"
Grindelwald sat too far back, and his face was shrouded in shadow, making it difficult to see clearly.
While the two were talking, Cornelius Fudge felt as if he had stepped on something.
He subconsciously lowered his gaze and looked at his feet.
"Oh - God - this, what is this -"
Cornelius Fudge's exclamation interrupted the conversation between the two people in front.
Everyone looked around and saw Cornelius Fudge taking several steps back uneasily like a frightened rabbit.
Where he was standing just now, there were a lot of messy, gray-brown, and blood-stained feathers, and between those feathers, you could clearly see the small skeletons and bird bones that had been licked clean, a dark red streak.
The blood trail spread from there towards Grindelwald.
"I said, extra food - dear sir. Don't worry, I'm not a barbarian who drinks hair and blood..."
Grindelwald laughed softly, like an eagle-headed witch making a strange cry, and waved his hand carelessly as he spoke.
The next moment, flames burst out from the pile of feathers and bones.
Almost instantly it turned into a small bonfire.
"Oh. It's brighter and warmer this way. The temperature here in Nurmengard is a bit uncomfortable -"
The swaying orange flames dispelled the shadow that shrouded Grindelwald's face, and people can now clearly see the appearance of the Dark Lord who once dominated the European wizarding world - he looks extremely old, with a smooth forehead
He is full of wrinkles, but his eyes are particularly bright.
There seemed to be a pile of tree trunks and branches scattered around at the head of his bed, but Cornelius Fudge and others quickly realized what they were.
Wands, a dozen wands were thrown there randomly, like a small firewood pile.
"Then, let me think about it..."
Grindelwald casually picked up a wand and shook it in his hand, turned to look at Fudge, and showed a charming smile.
"You just said that you want to try to kill me? I can give you this opportunity, a one-on-one, absolutely fair duel opportunity... This may help other gentlemen answer their questions - for example, Garrett Green
Is Devo too old to be able to recite spells and deal with some unfashionable young disciples? In this way, maybe our future conversations can be easier and more efficient? Then, come on - "
As Grindelwald picked up the wand, an invisible force gradually began to spread around him.
Cornelius Fudge stared at the old wizard nervously, not daring to move.
For some reason, he seemed to have turned into a scared groundhog, and right in front of him was a snake king that was gradually erecting and getting taller and taller. Although there was no threatening movement, he was full of nerves.
They all seemed to be roaring with all their strength:
Don't reach for the wand! Don't reach for the wand! Otherwise you will die! You will die!
"Grindelwald, no one wants to duel with you here-"
Just when Cornelius Fudge's nerves were about to collapse, a tall figure stood in front of him, gently dispelling the suffocation.
"You should have read the proposals of the International Federation of Wizards and magical governments of various countries. As the person who knows the most about black magic and how to kill a wizard today, do you have a way to solve the problem of Voldemort and Horcruxes? This
The problem shouldn’t be difficult, right?”
"Of course, 'Horcruxes', I studied that thing decades ago - it's crazy and not worth it."
Grindelwald chuckled, threw the wand aside, and said with a smile.
"As for how powerful 'Voldemort' is, you have to fight him to know."
"However, if according to your previous description, he does not have many mature skills in dueling, and only relies on powerful magic and black magic... then it will be much easier. If you are not lying, I can solve that problem for you.
The so-called...well..."
Grindelwald raised his hands slightly and made a quick gesture in a rather comical manner, "...the most terrifying Dark Lord in history?"
"but--"
Grindelwald paused and leaned against the wall behind again.
"I have the strength, and I also have the solution - but why should I help you?"
"Elena, Elena Kaslana, or..."
Dumbledore smiled, glanced at the thoughtful magical government officials behind him, and spoke softly word by word.
"Elena Grindelwald, the last descendant of the Dark Lord Grindelwald family in the magical world——"