The tragedy sparked by Graves, this pitiful yet detestable man caught between fate and ambition had finally co to its inevitable end.
He had been a direct descendant of the prestigious Graves family, one of the Twelve founding families. A genius honor student at Ilvermorny, graduating at the top of his class. The widely praised Director of Magical Security and Head of Magical Law Enforcent whose reputation had been spotless for decades.
In many people's eyes, it had seed entirely possible, even probable, that Trask Graves could one day ascend to beco President of the Magical Congress of the United States of Arica. He'd had everything, power, respect, a brilliant future.
Yet this powerful man had nearly died in a conspiracy of his own desperate making, destroyed by his own choices.
Not only did he orchestrate his own tragic downfall through hubris and dark magic, but he also brought trendous misfortune to many innocent others who'd trusted him.
Beyond the countless magical creatures hunted under his watch and authorization, creatures slaughtered to feed that resurrection ritual, he had personally murdered Santiago Columbus, a loyal employee, a good man with a family.
He'd allowed Morgans to destroy the underground prison complex beneath the MACUSA building, leading directly to the deaths of many Hit Wizards and imprisoned criminals who'd drowned in poisonous potion. The casualties numbered in the dozens.
Such cris were severe enough in Arican magical society, so heinous, that even an imdiate death sentence would be considered lenient by most. However, the official cause of Trask Graves's death as reported in the New York Ghost left all the Aurors who knew the terrible truth in stunned, uncomfortable silence.
The Ghost reported with respect that Graves had died heroically while leading Aurors in pursuit of dangerous vampires, suffering fatal injuries in the line of duty.
He was publicly declared a hero, a martyr to the cause of magical law enforcent. President Quahog even held an extravagant morial service for him, complete with honor guards and speeches. He personally presented the deceased Trask Graves with the MACUSA's dal of Special rit in front of gathered dignitaries and press.
"Politicians always seek to maximize their gains from any situation, to turn even disasters into opportunities."
When Alia learned of President Quahog's intentions, and that so many Aurors from the Departnt of Magical Security who had witnessed everything and heard the full truth remained collectively silent about the lies, she was beside herself with fury.
Her face flushed with anger as she confronted Bryan. Facing his emotionally agitated 'aunt,' Bryan said with annoying calmness, as if discussing the weather.
"The election has just concluded after a contentious campaign, and the new administration has just been ford with Samuel's return to power. Samuel is ambitiously leading his team to make substantial contributions to Arican magical society, to prove his mandate.
If such a massive scandal were made public at this critical ti, if the truth about Graves ca out now, Samuel would likely have to resign in complete disgrace to quell the inevitable public outcry and loss of confidence. MACUSA itself might not survive the crisis intact."
"So that's it? Just accept it?"
Alia was trembling with rage, her voice rising. "Truth turned completely on its head, a heinous criminal branded a hero for posterity?!"
"There will be consequences, just not public ones—"
Bryan smiled slightly, his expression was knowing and sowhat cynical.
"The Graves family was one of the Twelve who followed Josiah Jackson in founding the Magical Congress centuries ago. Through centuries of trials and tribulations, accumulating power and connections, the Graves family has beco either a towering tree providing shelter and stability, or a malignant tumor embedded deep within MACUSA's structure, depending on your perspective.
If I'm not mistaken, once this matter dies down and the press moves on, Samuel will move decisively to deal with the Graves family. He'll inform the new family head privately of Trask Graves's true cris in detail, and force him to voluntarily reduce their influence within MACUSA as penance.
Perhaps he'll demand they relinquish key positions, withdraw support for certain policies. This will breathe new life into the increasingly decaying, solidified Magical Congress.
Trust , Alia—Samuel Quahog is a competent, pragmatic leader who understands how power actually works. But if you insist on labeling politicians with simplistic terms like 'justice' and 'evil,' if you expect perfect honesty in governance, you're only setting yourself up for constant disappointnt."
Alia fell silent, processing this cynical wisdom. Though her expression made abundantly clear she was thoroughly disillusioned with the Magical Congress and the compromises required by power.
In the subsequent publicity surrounding these events, Bryan was once again thrust into the spotlight.
The MACUSA deliberately downplayed Bryan's active, central role in the events while carefully emphasizing his passive involvent, making it seem coincidental.
The newspapers told the public in restrained words that the criminal vampires had ultimately been brought to justice by Bryan Watson's intervention, but that Watson's presence at the battlefield was rely coincidental, not planned. He just happened to be there and available.
A trainee Auror from the Departnt of Magical Security who had a good relationship with the visiting Bryan Watson (they carefully avoided naming Alia) had participated in the vampire pursuit.
When she realized the situation on the battlefield was dire, that they were overwheld, she imdiately sought Bryan Watson's aid as a last resort. Thanks to his tily, generous support, this terrible crisis was ultimately resolved without further casualties.
At a press conference covered by every magical publication, Samuel Quahog passionately expressed his profound gratitude to Bryan Watson before all dia outlets.
In addition to the dal of Special rit that Graves had also posthumously received, he announced his intention to write a personal letter of recomndation to the Order of rlin awards committee. In his capacity as President of MACUSA, he would do his utmost to secure a second Order of rlin, First Class for Bryan Watson!
Possessing two Orders of rlin, First Class, this was unprecedented in magical history spanning over a thousand years. Most people believed it wouldn't actually happen, that the committee would refuse such an exceptional honor.
Even Bryan himself considered it nothing more than a political joke, a gesture rather than a genuine possibility.
After his heartfelt, public expression of gratitude and respect for Bryan Watson, President Quahog announced (through gritted teeth) another piece of news that surprised everyone in attendance and left Bryan struggling not to smirk.
Based on Bryan Watson's nurous remarkable achievents in maintaining stability and peace in the international wizarding world, he, in his capacity as President of MACUSA had made a formal request of Mr. Watson.
At an appropriate ti in the coming year, a group of elite Aurors from the reorganized Departnt of Magical Security would be sent to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Britain for exchanges and intensive training focused specifically on 'security' matters.
President Samuel Quahog also cheerfully inford everyone(still through gritted teeth), his smile perhaps was a bit strained, that Bryan Watson, in his capacity as Honorary Advisor to the British Ministry of Magic and Director of Student Safety Office at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had graciously accepted his proposal.
However, rumors did circulate in the following days that when this news reached Britain, the British Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, flew into a rage upon reading this report.
He supposedly threw the newspaper directly into his office fireplace and roared at several high-ranking officials of the British Ministry amassed before him that he would never, under any circumstances, allow a single MACUSA Auror to set foot on British sovereign magical soil!
Of course, these were rely rumors spreading through pubs and offices, and their veracity was highly questionable. But they made for entertaining gossip.
During this final month of his stay, Bryan visited the Depps' ho several tis.
Alia hadn't told her parents that she and Bryan had discussed everything openly, that all secrets were now shared. So, the elderly couple subjectively believed that Bryan still didn't know the truth about their relationship.
But in reality, the Depps had vaguely sensed through subtle cues that Bryan knew sothing. Though both parties maintained an unspoken understanding.
This was actually the best possible outco: letting Alia serve as a comfortable bridge of communication between them, diating without forcing confrontation. Bryan thought so, at least. So truths were better left unspoken.
After a month of difficult negotiations and intense discussions, Bryan and Remus finally laid the solid groundwork for selling the Learning Machine throughout Arica.
The goblins began establishing comprehensive after-sales service networks throughout Arican magical society, setting up offices in every major city. And the product deposits and patent fees they collected from eager investors and distributors amounted to a figure that left even the weather-beaten, experienced Remus absolutely dumbstruck!
"This much... this much feels like a dream!"
When the goblins presented the summarized figures to Bryan and Remus in their hotel suite, producing detailed ledgers with signatures, Remus struggled to catch his breath at the enormous sum written there. His hands actually trembled as he held the parchnt.
"I'm afraid... even a family like the Malfoys, giving their absolute all, liquidating every asset, couldn't produce such a... such an enormous pile of gold galleons in ready currency, Bryan!"
"You may be sowhat underestimating the wealth the Malfoy family has accumulated over many centuries, Remus," Bryan said with amusent. "Never underestimate old money."
Seeing this massive figure himself, Bryan's purple eyes brightened considerably with satisfaction and calculation. He chuckled at Remus's shock, then his smile gradually faded as he fell into serious thought, his expression becoming focused.
"We need to keep the full amount of these gold galleons absolutely secret, Remus. Only you and I should know the true sum. One-tenth of these funds should be transferred through normal, traceable channels to the workshop's vault at Gringotts in Britain.
I believe that will be more than sufficient to cover the workshop's upcoming large-scale production expansion and personnel recruitnt. We'll need new facilities, more workers. As for the other portion, the remaining nine-tenths—"
Bryan looked at Remus with calm directness, his gaze was serious.
"Secretly establish a new vault at Gringotts Paris World Banking Headquarters and transfer the rest of the gold galleons there imdiately. I'll write to Barnah and ask him to keep the information absolutely confidential, not to be shared with any other Gringotts branch."
Remus didn't ask further questions or press for details. He knew with certainty that Bryan likely intended to invest this money in the coming struggle against Voldemort, to fund operations the Ministry wouldn't support. Without pressing for specific details, he simply nodded gravely in understanding.
The bright sunshine of approaching sumr stread gloriously through the airport's vast glass do, refracted by the curved vault into a spectrum of dazzling colors.
Compared to their quiet arrival a month ago, Bryan and Remus's departure created quite a significant stir.
Marcelline personally brought key mbers of the International Magical Cooperation Office, along with Selena and Uriel who now each led entire divisions following the Departnt of Magical Security's comprehensive reorganization after Graves's death. They brought many Aurors whose lives Bryan had saved during that night, all coming to the airport to see them off properly.
Muggles passing through the terminal gazed curiously at the gray-haired young man surrounded by a group dressed in peculiar but sohow dignified attire. They speculated privately among themselves about which important foreign dignitary this might be.
"Where's Alia? She didn't co?"
After polite pleasantries and expressions of mutual respect, as Bryan and Remus prepared to enter the security checkpoint, Bryan asked Selena and Uriel with so surprise, glancing around the group.
"Did you assign her a task that kept her away?"
Selena and Uriel exchanged glances, communicating silently. Then Uriel replied with a slightly bitter, knowing smile,
"We did invite Alia to join the farewell party. But she said... well, she doesn't like parting scenes. So, she respectfully declined the invitation."
Bryan fell silent at this answer. After a mont, a gentle smile returned to his lips. He nodded slightly to the group from the Departnt of Magical Security.
"Well then, everyone—farewell. I'm certain it won't be long before we et again at Hogwarts! I look forward to seeing how your Aurors handle British weather and Scottish cuisine."
The epilogue was complete.
The Arican chapter was closed.
And Bryan Watson was going ho.
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