Rouse's face darkened.
"Could you at least wish me well for once? I can be absolutely certain the child is mine…"
Tom nodded thoughtfully. "I'll invent a bloodline verification spell someday."
"You must teach me that… no, wait, that's not the point."
Rouse's eyelid twitched violently. Sometimes he felt his boss was even less reliable than he was.
"You were right at the beginning. Solenne followed me for another reason. What she wants… aligns with what we are doing."
"We?" Tom paused. "The Saints?"
"Exactly."
Rouse's tone grew solemn. "Over the past weeks she has hinted more than once, urging me to bring her to Germany to seek help from her maternal relatives. If they cannot withstand the Graves family, she suggested contacting an old friend. And you know perfectly well who that refers to."
"The Saints…" Tom nodded slowly. "So she doesn't love you. You were cheated after all?"
Rouse nearly collapsed. "Can we not return to that? Boss, this is serious."
"All right." Tom smiled faintly. "Just lightening the mood. Relax. No matter what, she is yours now. Tell me your thoughts."
Rouse's expression twisted with conflict.
"To be honest, my feelings toward her are… primarily physical. Especially after realizing she is calculating behind my back, whatever emotion I had faded quickly. But… she is carrying my child."
"The Wilkinson line has been thin for generations. I am nearly thirty before having a child. I cannot abandon it."
Tom shook his head. "Do I seem heartless to you? Even if Solenne has ulterior motives, I would not kill her out of respect for you. Let alone harm your child."
Relief and gratitude flooded Rouse's face.
"Give me a little more time," he said firmly. "I will uncover more."
"No problem. But be careful."
Tom produced three protective necklaces. These were superior even to the batch sold to the Ministry. He explained their functions and instructed Rouse to safeguard them carefully.
They were not merely employer and subordinate. Tom respected Rouse's intelligence and character. He did not mind extending grace to a friend.
"And one more thing," Tom added. "Her mind is also shielded by layered magic. Previously, I could not penetrate it. Now, I am far more confident. I will remain in North America until the end of July. If you have nothing concrete by then, I will handle it myself."
"It will not endanger her life or the child. But afterward, I will erase a portion of her memory."
"Oh, and regarding Rosier. I have already explained that your departure was authorized by me. It was not dereliction of duty. You have nothing to fear."
The timing of certain forbidden notes had been impeccable. Back at Hogwarts, Tom had already sensed formidable mental protections surrounding both Frank and Solenne. Neither Legilimency nor Veritaserum would have sufficed. That was why he had waited.
Now?
Nothing would stop him.
Seeing how thoroughly Tom had considered every angle, Rouse nearly wanted to kneel in devotion.
The child had been his greatest concern.
The second was Vinda Rosier's wrath.
From what he had learned through his maternal family, Vinda's methods were not something one wished to experience.
With Tom's assurance, Rouse left the café lighthearted.
Tom remained seated, slowly finishing his dessert while pondering the broader picture.
North America was growing increasingly chaotic.
The vampires sent to Ilvermorny. The hidden secrets of Solenne and Frank. Tina's abrupt resignation. Even Cassandra's Vore family felt… off.
Cassandra had once mentioned their close ties to the Graves family, layers of distant kinship intertwined. It would not be surprising if they were involved.
What were they scheming?
Without a figure like the "King of the Century" at the helm, conspiracies alone could not shift the grand design.
If one had ambition, why not wait for Dumbledore to age and fade before making a move?
Tom summoned Grindelwald and Andros into the learning space and laid out the situation.
After listening, Andros yawned irritably. "All these plots and intrigues. I always despised such people. Smash them with a single punch and be done."
"Why rush?" Grindelwald replied calmly. "If they dare act, they must possess some reliance. Even if it is merely what they believe to be a trump card, it may be worth examining."
"Besides, Albus is still standing at the forefront. Do you wish Tom to expose himself so early?"
"Tom's priority is completing his trial and accumulating strength. Once power is sufficient, every scheme becomes a clown's performance."
Both Andros and Tom agreed wholeheartedly.
In the learning space, Andros clapped Grindelwald on the shoulder. "You finally said something sensible. Though your own history contradicts it. You were as underhanded as they come."
"Rubbish." Grindelwald brushed his hand away. "If Albus had not stopped me, do you believe I could not have flattened every Ministry in a single day?"
"Is that not proof that I lacked sufficient strength and had to use alternative methods?"
Andros burst into laughter. "At least you possess self awareness."
Tom set down his coffee cup, left three crisp Hamilton bills on the table, and stepped into the street.
"Let us see how much Solenne truly knows. I hope she is central to this. If she is merely a pawn, that would be disappointing."
It was eleven in the morning. New York's streets shimmered with heat. Thankfully, the towering skyscrapers blocked the harsh sunlight.
Tom entered the tallest building within the Diamond District.
The North American headquarters of Gringotts.
Correction.
As of last month, the global headquarters of Gringotts had relocated here from Egypt.
Today, he intended to negotiate a business deal with goblins.
If successful, combined with the forthcoming expansion of WhatsApp across the wizarding world, his five million Galleon trial objective might be completed within the year.