"Simple?"
The woman’s fingertips unconsciously traced over the gradually darkening, dark blue fla-like pattern on her wrist. Beneath the icy sensation, a faintly burning pulse began to erge.
She nearly understood completely now, the purpose of these people.
To exploit William Richard’s character flaw of being "overly arrogant" to achieve their own goals, then, she actually only needed to follow the original plan...
But, just as a saint would not be defeated by the sa trick twice, she, being Athena, was very clear about it... Wait, where did this common sense co from?
However, William suffered a loss just last ti (if indeed it was a loss), surely, he wouldn’t be sowhat prepared for this, or, even if the previous entrapnt didn’t teach him any lesson, would her reminder in such circumstances as a goodwill gesture improve future situations...
Having grown accustod to being a "double-agent," Athena fell into contemplation.
Or rather, did that fellow really remain completely unaware...?
...
anwhile, elsewhere.
"...Ah, the wait is getting a bit anxious."
William stood atop a wooden crate, two people tall, looking up at the cloudless sky at a 45° angle, reflecting with a certain sentintality.
To smoothly pull off a stunt before Grindelwald, William had left the shop before receiving any news, which now led him to be like a player in a ga who had montarily lost the main quest guidance, only able to resolve the randomly triggered attack events by the roadside—
"We’ll take care of cleaning up from here on—"
A man in an Auror uniform quickly walked in, though appearing sowhat tired, he still made strides with a determined aura—Rufus Scrimgeour spoke, without a change in the serious expression on his face, "Thank you for your cooperation, not acting on behalf of the Ministry of Magic to do anything... inappropriate to these lunatics."
"...You’re welco."
William shifted the strawberry lollipop in his mouth with his tongue, turning his head towards the Head of the British Ministry of Magic’s Auror Office beside him—he had to admit, compared to Fudge, this Mr. Rufus Scrimgeour seed more suited to be Minister of Magic, just from the square face and the thick eyebrows, one could tell the righteousness in his heart—
Not to ntion his sense of responsibility, the fact that even after achieving the post of head, he still occasionally rushed to the frontline demonstrated his character clearly.
But unfortunately, he needed soone like Fudge, a manageable pushover, in a high position to pave the way for his plans, whereas if he switched to a Minister known for strong resolve and stubborn integrity, it’d be a headache for him instead.
Moreover, he could sense that this old lion in front of him had so objections towards him, given Dumbledore hadn’t planned on taking the rap for those "cases" before...
What?
What cases are you asking about?
Perhaps things like "The Azkaban Explosion," "The Death of Nearly a Hundred Death Eaters"...or the like?
Had it not been for taking down Voldemort, just these nas were enough to have William in Azkaban until reincarnation... No, Azkaban was blown up, and although it was predominantly Voldemort and his bunch of Death Eaters who did it, many people already knew that it was actually William’s setup that got Voldemort in there.
The reason being Dumbledore would, at inexplicable tis, choose honesty, even though William believed the old man was intentionally irritating him for being deliberately left out of the plan, though all this was trivial, as he had nothing to hide from the public—
On the contrary, the more famous he was in this regard, the more advantageous it was for his branding and no need to recruit the likes of Gilderoy Lockhart for endorsents, he could do it himself.
And that’s also why it wasn’t strange for the Auror to harbor objections towards him since blowing up Azkaban left quite a few fugitives at large—even Voldemort’s charisma wasn’t strong enough to retain every scoundrel, and most resorted back to their old ways once out.
For instance, the bunch that William just caught attempting to use Portkeys for Lobaloog smuggling.
Thinking of this, William jumped down from the crate, patting the other person’s shoulder, "Don’t mind it, that’s because your response ti was much faster than Scotland Yard, otherwise..."
He looked back at those being tied up by Aurors, shrugged, and chose not to continue.
"Mr. Scrimgeour, we are good here—"
At this mont, a voice broke off Scrimgeour’s hesitant attempt to speak, as a young Auror with red hair approached to report.
Often, the depiction of "a head of red hair" naturally brings certain individuals to mind, as William looked at Percy Weasley, who had undergone significant changes from the image in his mory. His brows furrowed, seemingly unrecognizing, "Percy?" Initially reluctant to confirm, as this man, aside from the facial features, bore no resemblance to the Percy he knew.
Skin too dark for a Caucasian, a scar stretching from the wing of the nose to the corner of the mouth, and an aura that’s been through trials—
"...William, long ti no see."
It wasn’t till Scrimgeour walked away that Percy put on a façade of just noticing William, cleared his throat, and greeted in a low voice.
Indeed it was Percy, unmistakable once he spoke, that naturally ostentatious posture—seventeen years of habit were not so easily altered, "Yes, it has been a while." William paused, "Was it half a year ago? I rember you were transferred to the Centaur Liaison Office back then..."
An office that had no Centaur to liaise with.
"I stayed there for two months with no... progress, I really couldn’t see any future prospects, so I looked for another avenue."
"To beco an Auror?"
"Since there was no room for advancent in the civilian posts, unless I could outlast the Minister’s nephew retiring—but he’s the sa age as , and rather, it feels more probable to wait out the old man—" Percy glanced behind at Scrimgeour scolding a few Aurors, "—clearly more likely."
Perhaps due to changes in mindset and living conditions, Percy spoke with less of that rigid deanor, now resembling Charlie more.
"So, how does it feel?" William nodded, continuing to ask.
"Thanks to you, there’s work for us trainee Aurors every day, endless cases, criminals to be caught."
Percy sighed, face showing a touch of bitterness, but there was no genuine grievance towards William, "With many opportunities, the promotion is swift as well." He instinctively touched the scar on his mouth corner, "Though mom does have her concerns, thinking the job is too dangerous—before, it was always Charlie who got scolded."
"It doesn’t matter, all parents are like that—the key is, how do you feel?"
"Very well, William, I feel... fine!"
"Keep at it. Even though the position of chairman of the International Confederation of Wizards is taken, I can always find a way to get you a Minister of Magic spot when the ti cos—"
"...At least draft a plan before such big talk."
Seeing Percy didn’t buy it at all, William didn’t bother explaining, aware the understated bravado held a unique enjoynt—and in secret manipulation of a national Ministry of Magic sounded too villainous in detracting from his shining (though not truly) public image aura.
However, seeing this fellow who was once half a friend of his pull himself together brought William so cheer.
"Assembly!"
"I must leave, till next ti—"
Scrimgeour’s voice ca from not far away, Percy nodded to William, who waved back,
"...Ah, what a coincidence."
At the next mont, William bowed his head, taking out a small oilcloth package from his pocket, as faint blue light filtered through. Sensing the pulse within, William ascended into the sky. Amidst a half breath later, a gigantic Thunderbird shot towards the heavens, tamorphosing into a streak of yellow lightning and vanished from sight—
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