Upon hearing the news, Chenos immediately turned his head and glanced at the goblin elder, Nass, who stood beside him. Nass's expression was one of utter disbelief, as though he was just as shocked by the news as everyone else. However, Chenos wasn't fooled by the goblin's feigned surprise.
In the current structure of the Magic Congress, much of the intelligence network was still under the control of wizards. Yet, a significant portion had fallen into the hands of the goblins. The reason for this was simple: the goblins possessed weapons powerful enough to block even Grindelwald's prophetic sight. These tools allowed them to isolate and disrupt Grindelwald's ability to foresee critical events, effectively delaying his ability to act. Without such measures, Grindelwald's terrifying foresight could have allowed him to strike before the Congress was prepared.
The goblins had leveraged these tools to extract numerous benefits from the Magic Congress. And now, with the current news, Chenos couldn't help but suspect their involvement.
"How is this possible?" Nass exclaimed, his voice trembling with incredulity. "Didn't we make meticulous arrangements beforehand? We even sent decoys to divert Grindelwald's attention. How did this happen?"
Nass's face twisted as he seemed to piece something together. He clenched his fists and spat, "Could it be that some of the saints got information from wizards? We need a thorough investigation. Damn traitors…"
He trailed off, his anger palpable, and began cursing under his breath, muttering about betrayal and incompetence. His reaction was almost overly dramatic, as if he were more outraged than Chenos himself.
Chenos, however, remained silent, his face growing darker as Nass raged. After the goblin elder had exhausted his tirade, Chenos spoke in a low, deliberate tone. "Nass, we'll handle our own investigations on the wizard side. If there's any traitorous scum, no matter their reasoning, we'll deal with them swiftly and without mercy. But your side—"
Before Chenos could finish, Nass interrupted, thumping his chest in an exaggerated display of loyalty. "Lord Speaker, rest assured, there is absolutely no issue on our side. The fog of destiny that Grindelwald pierced wasn't due to any lapse on our end. Our safeguards remain intact. If any anomalies had been detected, we would have known immediately."
His voice softened slightly, adopting a reassuring tone. "But don't worry. We will assist in identifying the traitors using our tools. You can count on us."
Chenos regarded Nass for a moment, his sharp gaze probing the goblin's calm demeanor. After a long pause, he nodded, though his expression betrayed no trust. "Very well. I'll leave that to you. But I expect results."
Nass nodded briskly, sensing the thinly veiled tension in the air. "Of course, Lord Speaker. You have my word."
With that, Nass excused himself, his demeanor oddly collected as he left the room. Chenos watched the goblin elder depart, his thoughts a storm of anger and suspicion.
Despite Nass's assurances, Chenos knew better than to fully trust the goblins. While they hadn't leaked everything, the critical breach in the fog of destiny had allowed Grindelwald to sense the danger and intervene, disrupting their carefully laid plans. The losses might not be catastrophic, but they were a reminder of how precarious their alliance with the goblins truly was.
Chenos turned back to the window, staring out at the bustling square below, where wizards and goblins moved about the Congress headquarters. His anger simmered just beneath the surface. He had always known the goblins were opportunistic, but their thinly veiled manipulation of the situation was infuriating. The message was clear: the Magic Congress needed the goblins to survive. And in reminding him of this, they had delivered a calculated warning.
Chenos clenched his fists. To him, this wasn't just a betrayal—it was a challenge. The goblins had gained too much leverage, and their growing influence over Congress was becoming intolerable. How dare they meddle in the internal workings of the Congress when their own survival depended on its success?
He waved a hand dismissively at the wizard who had delivered the news. "You may leave," he said curtly.
Once alone, Chenos approached the window again, scanning the faces in the square below. His gaze settled on a group of goblins, their dark green eyes glinting with an unnerving sharpness. He knew retaliation was necessary. Allowing this slight to go unanswered would only embolden them further. Yet, retaliation required careful planning.
For now, he would play along, but in time, he would show them that the Congress was not as weak as they presumed.
Turning sharply, Chenos strode to the nearby magical fireplace. He grabbed a handful of floo powder and threw it into the flames. The green fire roared to life, casting eerie shadows across his face. Without hesitation, he stepped into the flames, vanishing into the network.
The office fell silent once more, the tension lingering like an unspoken curse.
Moments later, the air in the room shimmered. Slowly, a figure began to materialize on the sofa, as though emerging from the ether. It was none other than Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts and one of the most powerful wizards alive. His silver hair and long beard gleamed in the soft light as he adjusted his robes and glanced around the room.
Dumbledore walked calmly across the plush carpet, his footsteps muffled as he approached the desk. Lowering himself into the chair, he steepled his fingers and gazed thoughtfully out of the window. His piercing blue eyes took in the scene below, noting the tension in the movements of the goblins and wizards alike.
The situation was worse than he had anticipated, though not by much. The goblins' ambitions were evident, and Chenos, for all his political acumen, was clearly grappling with the weight of their interference. Still, Dumbledore couldn't deny that Chenos was a skilled politician—sharp, ruthless, and calculating. Far more capable than Cornelius Fudge had ever been.
If it weren't for Grindelwald, there might have been a fragile balance between the goblins and Congress. But Grindelwald's growing power complicated everything. Dumbledore's thoughts drifted briefly to Lockhart. The man hadn't been seen in wizarding circles for some time. What was he up to now?
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