The distant crimson glow gradually faded, and the rumbling had long since subsided, as though that destruction had been nothing more than an interlude in the night.
The crowd at the expo soon lost interest and once more immersed themselves in the festivities before them.
Sagres's tightly knitted brows relaxed slightly.
"Perhaps... our understanding of time is simply too shallow," he finally said after a long moment of thought. "Perhaps it isn't a one-way line, but an enormous whole. Within that incredible whole, the past, present, and future may all exist simultaneously."
Nightingale's gaze shifted slightly.
Clearly, such a concept lay beyond the understanding of ordinary wizards.
She remained silent and simply listened.
"And if the past, present, and future coexist as a single whole, then the concept of sequence itself becomes meaningless. What is 'the past' to us may be the 'future' from which the leader began making his arrangements."
"Then don't we still have no chance of victory?" Nightingale asked in confusion.
"On the contrary."
Sagres shook his head, his tone growing calm again.
"His omniscience is built upon a fixed timeline. But by returning to the present, he has already disturbed that river. The future he knows is becoming increasingly outdated and distorted with every passing minute because of his own actions."
"Which means his greatest advantage is gradually becoming his greatest weakness."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Outdated information."
Sagres's thoughts raced.
"The traps he prepared are based on a predetermined script. Originally, he himself was not part of that script. But now, he has inevitably entered it. Likewise, once I become aware of the existence of that script, I will no longer act entirely according to it."
"So the answer is not to predict every trap he has laid. That's impossible."
His voice remained composed, though his words came more and more quickly.
"I need to become unpredictable."
"For certain key decisions, I must deliberately make irrational choices, decisions that run contrary to my own habits and even contrary to maximizing benefits."
"Only then can I disrupt his plans and render the future intelligence he relies upon useless."
"And at the same time," he continued, his thoughts growing clearer, "we can use that against him."
"We can deliberately leak information or create situations that fit the script he expects, luring him into our own trap."
"Since he believes he knows the future like the back of his hand, such bait will be irresistible."
"And most importantly," Sagres concluded, "we must move faster."
"Before the intelligence he carries becomes completely obsolete. Before he can make effective use of it."
"We must find him."
"And eliminate him."
He drew in a deep breath of the cool night air, which still carried a faint scent of sulphur from the volcanic ash far away.
"I need to make a list," Sagres said to Nightingale.
"A list of all the magical objects I know, the fields of research I might pursue in the future, and the important individuals I may come into contact with."
"I need to reassess everything."
"To determine what may be exploited..."
"And what can become a hook in my own hand."
As he spoke, he turned towards Nightingale, about to continue, when three wizards in dark blue Auror uniforms parted the crowd and headed straight towards them.
Leading them was a middle-aged witch with her chin raised and lips pressed into a thin line.
Her sharp gaze fixed on Nightingale, her suspicion and scrutiny completely undisguised.
"Madam Nixia?"
She spoke stiffly, with the condescending tone peculiar to Ministry officials.
Due to historical ties, as well as Mauritius's size and population, magical affairs on the island had long fallen under the jurisdiction of the French Ministry of Magic. These Aurors naturally carried with them a certain colonial arrogance.
"I am Elisa Ferguson, Captain of the Special Operations Team under the Auror Office of the French Ministry of Magic."
"Regarding the abnormal volcanic eruption that occurred in the outskirts tonight, we have several questions that require your assistance in our investigation."
"Please come with us."
Though phrased politely, her words carried an unmistakable tone of command.
Sagres raised a hand, stopping Nightingale before she could speak.
Then he turned calmly towards the three Aurors from the French Ministry of Magic and said,
"The volcanic eruption was a natural phenomenon, Captain Ferguson."
"It has nothing to do with Vilis."
Elisa Ferguson's gaze then shifted towards Sagres. There was a trace of barely concealed apprehension in her eyes, but her tone remained firm.
"Mister Greengrass, we respect your reputation as a distinguished wizard from Britain. However, this incident took place under the jurisdiction of the French Ministry of Magic, and we have the right to investigate all anomalies. Especially..."
Her eyes returned meaningfully to Nightingale.
"...anomalies involving members of the Bronze Feather."
She deliberately emphasized the words "Bronze Feather," and several sharp-eared wizards nearby had already begun casting curious glances their way.
"We are aware that Madam Nixia is a member of that organization. And it is common knowledge..."
A hint of mockery entered Ferguson's voice.
"...that two years ago, our Ministry of Magic heroically wiped out the organization's core members and publicly announced the execution of all members of the Bronze Feather."
"And yet, this August, not only did the Bronze Feather resurface, it openly appeared at the Quidditch World Cup."
"Now, such a large-scale disaster has occurred here tonight, and a member of the Bronze Feather just happens to be present."
"It is difficult not to make certain unpleasant connections."
Sagres immediately understood her line of reasoning.
The French Ministry of Magic's so-called "successful eradication" had in reality ended with the arrest of a few scapegoats and a hasty declaration of victory.
Ordinarily, that would have been the end of it.
But recently, someone had been stirring up old matters from the shadows, causing considerable damage to the Ministry's credibility.
Now, they desperately needed a new target to make an example of.
And Nightingale, who had ties to the old case and appeared easy to pressure, was the perfect choice.
A cold light flashed in Sagres's grey eyes.
But he did not react immediately. Instead, he continued in the same calm tone.
"Captain Ferguson, your imagination is impressive, but unfortunately, it lacks evidence."
"Miss Vilis has been with me all evening. The volcanic eruption has nothing to do with her."
"If you insist upon pursuing this matter, then I am afraid I shall have to speak directly with your Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
"I am certain he would be delighted to clarify a few unnecessary misunderstandings."
Though his tone remained flat, the mention of the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement caused a subtle change in Elisa Ferguson's expression.
She hesitated briefly.
Her attitude softened somewhat, but she still persisted.
"Mister Greengrass, this is merely routine questioning. We only require Madam Nixia's cooperation to clarify a few—"
"There is no need."
Sagres interrupted her directly, his voice firm.
"If you insist on taking someone, then kindly present a formal warrant personally signed by either the International Confederation of Wizards or the French Minister for Magic."
"Otherwise, please do not waste our time."
His blunt refusal immediately infuriated Elisa Ferguson.
She stepped forward, and the anger she had been suppressing seemed to make the air around them grow heavier.
"I thought I had shown sufficient respect to the famous Mister Greengrass..."
Her voice dripped with cold sarcasm.
"Or perhaps..."
She narrowed her eyes.
"...I should address you as Raven?"
"You are certainly free to call me Raven, Madam Wren," Sagres replied expressionlessly.
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