Gellert Grindelwald.
This name once became a part of history, but with Grindelwald's prison break and the resurgence of the Witch Pure Party's activities, various Ministries of Magic frequently "reminisced about the past" in the media, and people were finally awakened to the fear of that Dark Wizard.
Merely associating this matter with him seemed to carry some kind of invisible pressure that caused the air to freeze a bit.
After a brief dead silence, several people at the same table silently and quickly picked up their belongings. Some left payment for the meal, some pulled up their companions, and they all got up to leave.
They didn't say goodbye to the drunken Oliver, and even deliberately avoided the direction where Oliver was sitting, as if there was already a marked, dangerous area around him.
An old Wizard, wearing a tattered hat and looking like a homeless person, lagged a few steps behind. As he passed by Oliver, he paused his dragging footsteps when he saw his bewildered eyes.
"Young man, you should learn to control your tongue."
The old Wizard lowered his voice and quickly said, "Don't think Grindelwald's temper seems better now… speaking rashly can truly lead to death!"
After saying that, he pressed down the brim of his hat and hurriedly pushed the door open without looking back.
In the blink of an eye, the originally noisy area became empty, leaving only Oliver, whose face was flushed and then pale in turns, and the solemn-looking Witch who had previously refuted him still sitting in her seat.
The Witch frowned, staring at Oliver, and asked, "Who exactly are you? What is your purpose in spreading such rhetoric here?"
Oliver's eyes flickered with panic as he grabbed his wine glass, took a big gulp, and said with forced bravado:
"Me? I just made a reasonable deduction based on facts! Is speculation not allowed now?"
Seeing his wavering gaze, the Witch suddenly sneered and said, "Haven't you actually become an Alchemist?"
She 'reasonably deduced': "Jealous that Vid Gray achieved things at a young age that you could never accomplish, so you deliberately smeared his name, even linking him with the most dangerous Dark Wizard! Are you trying to ruin him?"
Oliver's fists clenched involuntarily, his jaw tightened: "Nonsense! I don't even know him! I'm not any Alchemist either!"
"Hmph!"
The Witch stood up, looking down at him with disdain and said, "Save it. Don't take everyone for fools for you to deceive! If I catch you spreading rumors again, I'll report you to the Aurors and have you locked up in Mattnis!"
Oliver's face changed suddenly, cold sweat breaking out all over him, and the slight tipsiness vanished.
Mattnis is an independent prison in the American Magic World. Although it doesn't have Dementors that drain happiness, it's still terrifying.
Even when Grindelwald was imprisoned there, he didn't break out forcefully but waited patiently for the transfer, finding an opportunity to escape then.
And after that, the Magic Congress modified Mattnis several times, reportedly making it increasingly abnormal, even acquiring some commonality with the UK's Azkaban—
Even if those sent inside were just petty thieves or smugglers with minor offenses, most emerged irreparably mentally ill after being locked up for a few months.
Oliver shivered with fear, and when he snapped back to reality, he found the woman had already left, but two unknown Wizards had appeared, observing him with probing eyes.
Oliver leaned back instinctively, reaching into his pocket with forced composure:
"Who... who are you? I… I was just casually analyzing a bit… it's not illegal to talk, right? Speech is free!"
It wasn't surprising he was flustered; something about the two in front of him really reminded him of Aurors, and he had just been threatened by the Witch.
"Don't be nervous; we're just very interested in your earlier speculations."
The man sitting across spoke in a normal tone: "Vid Gray related to the Witch Pure Party? How did you come to such a conclusion?"
Oliver was taken aback; only then did he realize that the alcohol had indeed affected his thinking. He had been so caught up in arguing with those people that he had forgotten to state his most crucial reasoning.
But this time, he didn't speak rashly. Instead, he swallowed carefully and asked cautiously, "You wouldn't happen to be from the government, would you?"
Delaine didn't answer directly but gave him a meaningful look, his tone carrying a warning as he said:
"Even as an ordinary Wizard, upon discovering someone threatening the Magic World's safety, there is an obligation to report or stop it in time!"
"But speaking irresponsibly, spreading false rumors, disrupting order, all require paying a price as well!"
He paused his speech, seeing Oliver's face turn white, and added with an implied meaning:
"Of course, regardless of whether the analysis of the political situation is correct, as long as it is based on facts, then no one can be detained—even the Aurors must abide by the Congress's laws."
He smiled, seemingly considering his words to be quite affable, but his speech conveyed a sense of having a high position in the government.
Vid had originally been observing Oliver and couldn't help but glance at Delaine, surprised at how well he could act.
Oliver, however, brightened, and he lowered his voice, speaking excitedly: "Of course I have a basis; it's the Flow Mirror technology! Worldwide, those who can arbitrarily alter the Flow Mirror's content, apart from Vid Gray, are only the Witch Pure Party…"
He murmured on, analyzing it more fluidly, seeing that both men opposite were listening attentively, especially the one who initiated the conversation carrying an implicit sense of approval, making Oliver's face show a proud expression.
"So, there's only one truth!"
Oliver slapped the table, saying: "Vid Gray must also be a member of the Witch Pure Party, even an extremely important member! This is all part of their conspiracy!"
"If you ask me, although there's no evidence, the Magic Congress might as well invite Vid Gray over under the guise of assistance, then put him under house arrest and close surveillance!"
"In this way, the Witch Pure Party is bound to react! But the initiative would then be in the hands of the Magic Congress!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than he felt a cold chill.
The man sitting opposite remained calm, but those eyes seemed to congeal with a layer of frost. He said nothing, only looked at Oliver with an expressionless gaze, as if examining an object without life.
All of Oliver's excitement and pride seemed frozen by this gaze, and an inexplicable fear rose from deep within, causing him to shiver involuntarily.
Meanwhile, the young Wizard who hadn't yet spoken was looking at him with interest and suddenly asked:
"I haven't asked, what is your name?"