Chapter 167: Dumbledore’s Hidden Deterrence
And this strategy, it began the moment Vaughn said, “You don’t want to die!”
This statement has a prior and subsequent connection.
Essex recalled Vaughn saying he “disliked dead people” before he fell unconscious. Connecting the preceding and succeeding statements, the implication was: you don’t want to die, and I don’t want you to die either. You see, we have a foundation for cooperation, so why can’t we talk?
The itching of the wound brought Essex back to his senses. He glanced at the place where his severed leg had been. The wound was well-bandaged.
Vaughn Weasley had also conjured a crutch for him.
Even though he understood the other party’s benevolent intentions, at this moment, Essex couldn’t help but feel a flicker of gratitude, which was also why he was willing to “chat.”
Of course, another reason was that Vaughn Weasley seemed very familiar with Muggle society!
This was quite rare among wizards, just as Vaughn had said, “understand each other.” He also wanted to understand this English genius he had only heard about in passing over the past few months.
Therefore, after answering, Essex said, “My turn. Why did you come to America?”
Across the campfire, Essex couldn’t see Vaughn’s expression clearly, only noticing that he seemed to smile slightly. “If I said I initially just wanted to save a friend, would you believe me?”
“I believe you!”
“Oh? Why?”
“You have no reason to lie to a prisoner. What’s his name? Maybe I can provide some clues.”
“Her, a female friend, named Isabella Rosier.”
“The Rosier family?”
“Ah, yes, but they’ve already split the family. The main branch doesn’t really want to deal with her affairs… Have you heard of her?”
Essex thought for a moment and shook his head. “Sorry, if I had encountered this surname, I would definitely remember it.”
Vaughn wasn’t disappointed. He said with a smile, “It’s alright. In fact, I already have a way to find her. I was planning to hold a press conference with the Federation in Boston. If it weren’t for catching you, the news of me attending the press conference would probably have been reported by reporters to the newspaper offices, and she would have seen it in the newspaper tomorrow.”
“…”
Even though their stances were different, at this moment, Essex felt a trace of embarrassment.
He saw Vaughn Weasley smiling and saying, “Speaking of which, you wanted to kill me, right? Because my arrival would likely resolve the predicament Ilvermorny is currently facing, preventing you from retaliating against those pure-bloods?”
The forest was dark and deep in the middle of the night.
The resting spot Vaughn chose was on a small slope, from which one could see the dark jungle stretching out like an ocean from the eyes.
Shadows swayed everywhere in the wind.
Only in the distance, the moon, which had emerged from the clouds at some unknown time, cast a faint silver glow, illuminating the undulating mountains at the horizon in shades of gray and white.
Essex looked up at the bright moon, lost in thought for a moment. He didn’t answer Vaughn’s question, but instead said, “This month is almost halfway over again.”
Crackle!
Burning firewood sparks flew.
Vaughn curved his lips, silent. He knew that the “this month” Essex was referring to was not the Gregorian calendar, but the lunar calendar.
In a few more days, the full moon would arrive again!
“You said earlier that your original purpose was to come to America to rescue a friend. So now it’s definitely more than that. You specifically chose this time, are you giving those werewolves hope?”
“If there were no hope, at this date, those werewolves would probably have already started preparing various implements to restrain themselves during the upcoming full moon… Is this self-awareness something werewolves are willing to do? Undeniably, some werewolves are quite moral. I’ve met werewolves who never harmed a single life and instead saved many magical creatures.”
“But when the base number of this group expands to hundreds, thousands, one must admit that most werewolves are like ordinary wizards and Muggles. Don’t expect them to willingly sacrifice themselves. Their self-awareness is only out of fear, not fear of harming others or spreading lycanthropy, but fear of causing trouble and being killed by wizards!”
“The self-awareness of werewolves is a form of self-preservation…”
Hearing Essex say this, Vaughn interrupted, “You’re talking about the survival environment of werewolves in America. Countries differ in how they deal with werewolves.”
“It’s all pretty much the same: execution, or sentencing and then being forced to reveal their identities, leading to discrimination that makes it impossible to live. Is there a difference?”
Essex was dismissive. “No matter the country, werewolves are pitiable creatures, like rats in the gutter. It’s just that before, they had no choice. When there was no hope, no matter how painful, they could only endure it. But now, it’s different…”
He turned his head and looked at Vaughn.
“Wolfsbane Potion, WAC – these two concepts bring hope, like a moth to a flame… I’ve been following the news about you and WAC for a long time.”
“Starting a few months ago, I noticed discussions in the newspapers about the impact of WAC’s establishment, both positive and negative, with people arguing fiercely. Perhaps as the arguments heated up, both sides began citing scriptures and providing theoretical support for their views. Then, at some point, two factions actually developed from this: the so-called Progressives and Conservatives…”
A smile appeared on his pale face. “It’s really interesting. Why would a werewolf management organization generate such sustained discussion? Why would the management of werewolves gradually involve the 《 Protection Law 》? I always have a feeling that a hidden manipulator is pushing all this, guiding public opinion, stirring up conflict, and using that conflict to make WAC a darling of the media. As public opinion ferments, he, and his WAC, gradually become widely known!”
Essex’s gaze was sharp.
Across from him, in the flickering firelight, Vaughn listened quietly with a faint smile on his lips, as if listening to a quite captivating story.
After watching for a while, perhaps because his weakened body could no longer provide energy, or perhaps because he had thought of something, Essex sighed, and his sharp gaze gradually softened.
He lay back down and looked up at the sky. “The story up to this point was just my speculation when I was bored. After all, I didn’t know you then. Until today… WAC has just been established, and you’ve rushed to America. Do you think the publicity is in place and the time is ripe?”
“…”
After a moment of silence, Vaughn shrugged. “That’s only part of it. Even without the WAC delegation, I would still have had to come to America.”
He didn’t refute Essex’s words.
This made Essex’s eyes light up, but then he gave a bitter smile.
Even if his guess was confirmed, what difference would it make?
It would merely add a label like “deeply scheming” to Vaughn Weasley’s already mysterious impression!
He knew he was still a bit unconvinced, resentful that he, a seasoned wizard of 38, had been defeated by a child.
He wanted to see Vaughn Weasley’s plans exposed and him in a panic.
But upon careful consideration, what was the point of that?
Besides, the other party was far calmer than he had imagined. Or, for Vaughn Weasley, it didn’t matter if someone saw through his plan.
What mattered was that things were developing in the direction he desired!
For months, the debates surrounding WAC had been like a prolonged publicity campaign. Especially in America – the country’s largest circulation newspapers were controlled by the Wizengamot. The Wizengamot clearly did not want the media to focus its attention on violent conflicts such as the anti-secrecy law and the anti-Rappaport Law.
To make the public stop discussing things they didn’t want to see, the solution wasn’t prohibition, but distraction!
Since the beginning of the year, major American newspapers, including the 《 Daily Prophet North American Edition 》, had been extensively reporting on the public opinion debate surrounding WAC in England.
This was also the main reason why Ilvermorny could react so quickly and send representatives to England for discussions.
Months of publicity… even if the werewolves lived in the Arctic Circle, they would have received the news. Essex could almost imagine how excited the werewolves hiding in mainland America would be!
They had been too marginalized for too long!
If there were no hope, that would be one thing. But now, Vaughn Weasley and WAC had set foot on American soil.
As the full moon gradually approached, and with this once-in-a-thousand-years hope arriving on this land, what choices would those werewolves make?
Essex didn’t even need to think—
“If I were a werewolf, I’d crawl to Boston, even if I had to crawl!”
He sighed, “Especially your speech on the day WAC was founded, ‘Let werewolves live in the sun’ – how enticing! Even I, hearing it, felt a shiver all over… and fear!”
Vaughn, who had been listening silently for a long time, finally spoke. “So, you and your organization, out of fear, prepared to cause trouble for me?”
“No!”
Essex shook his head. “Actually, neither I nor the other leaders in the organization ever intended to attack you. We… just wanted to find an opportunity to talk to you privately.”
Hearing this answer, Vaughn didn’t seem surprised at all. He just raised an eyebrow. “Interesting. You’re also interested in werewolves.”
Vaughn was not surprised, of course.
If Ilvermorny could perceive WAC’s potential, then other organizations could as well.
More importantly, although WAC was an outsider, it had its necessity and monopoly function. As long as Vaughn and the delegation arrived in North America, a branch would inevitably be established on this continent, and no opposition would be meaningful.
Because werewolves and lycanthropy were objective, undeniable problems. The existence of “Wolfsbane Potion” naturally allowed werewolves to unite, giving them common interests and freeing them from their scattered state.
And united werewolves – no force dared to ignore their opinions!
Vaughn reminded him kindly, “Since you wanted to see me, you didn’t need to sneak around. You could have directly submitted a letter of request. You’ve already realized I’m guiding public opinion and promoting WAC, so you should understand that I, eager to expand influence, wouldn’t refuse cooperation from other organizations.”
Hearing this, Essex gave a bitter smile. “I only realized that after I witnessed your capabilities. And…”
He didn’t continue.
But Vaughn could basically guess that it was inevitable for there to be differing opinions within any organization.
Each differing opinion basically represented a vested interest group.
Taking his own experience as an example, why could he still leisurely attend classes and establish an organization after offending Cornelius Fudge? It was because the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and the Department of International Magical Cooperation were outwardly obedient to Fudge but inwardly defiant, leading the support for him.
Including WAC, which seemed united for now, it was because Vaughn had initially given werewolves half of the committee seats, leading others to voluntarily give up, unable to resist.
And the werewolf committee members… to put it bluntly, in the current environment, they had no choice but to rely on Vaughn to protect the hard-won achievements they currently had!
It wouldn’t take long. As long as WAC developed for 10 years and the status of werewolves began to stabilize, they, who held power, would naturally develop all sorts of ideas, and then ideas would give rise to factions!
Such was the law of social development. This problem had existed since the dawn of humanity and the concept of class.
Therefore, Vaughn asked with interest, “What were your original plans for me? Kidnapping? Control?”
Essex was silent for a moment, his expressionless face saying, “There’s nothing to ask. Those ideas are meaningless now.”
“Why would they be meaningless? If it wasn’t too excessive, perhaps I would have cooperated with you!”
“Heh…”
Essex scoffed. He didn’t believe Vaughn’s nonsense. A person who secretly stirred up conflict between people for months just for publicity, a person who attacked without saying a word upon detecting an anomaly – how could he be so accommodating?
Facing his sarcastic attitude, Vaughn remained unfazed. Seeing that his defenses were still up, Vaughn didn’t press further and smoothly changed the subject.
“Since you’re unwilling to discuss this possibility and unwilling to reveal your organization, you won’t refuse to answer some questions about America, will you?”
“Please do,” Essex said, not refusing.
“Before coming here, Joshua Potter mentioned that Ilvermorny is facing a predicament. They chose to protect the students during the conflict, while other factions want them to hand over the students… Honestly, I don’t quite understand your insistence on this point of contention. Those are just students; why do you have to kill them?”
Vaughn looked at Essex. “After our recent exchange, I can see that you are very intelligent and rational. You should understand that such behavior is unnecessary…”
“No, it’s very necessary!”
To Vaughn’s surprise, Essex interrupted him, his voice firm. “I don’t know what the pure-bloods think, but my organization, including myself, we want to eliminate all pure-bloods, even if he or she is just a child!”
Vaughn frowned. “Why?”
In his view, Ilvermorny’s act of protecting students shouldn’t have been the main point of contention. He had thought it was merely a lack of order and morality resulting from the general chaos.
But now it seemed there was another hidden reason.
Hearing Vaughn’s question, Essex didn’t hide anything. He said, “To survive!”
“Hmm?”
Essex glanced at Vaughn, then looked away, gazing at the clear, starry night sky above. “You should be fortunate that you were born in England… No, that’s not right. Your surname is Weasley. Although various sources say the Weasleys are pure-blood traitors, the reality is that your father, Arthur Weasley, a very ordinary wizard, managed to become a department head in the Ministry of Magic, even though that position seems quite useless.”
“Yes, we investigated you and your family. Please don’t take offense at my bluntness… You can ask yourself, did your father enter the Ministry of Magic due to exceptional talent?”
Uh…
Vaughn spread his hands. Arthur was indeed average. Putting aside his character, purely in terms of ability, he really wasn’t outstanding.
“Because he’s a Weasley!” Essex snorted. “After all, it’s a family that has existed for hundreds of years. Even if other families don’t like you, through old friendships, blood ties, and other connections, he could be recruited into the Ministry without doing anything, and given a position to sustain him.”
“And this is still English pure-bloods…”
Speaking of which, Essex said with a mixture of envy and jealousy, “After all, you have Albus Dumbledore. Perhaps you’re used to it and don’t realize how important his existence is in curbing pure-bloods. Everyone knows Dumbledore opposes pure-bloods and is close to Muggles.”
“The attitude of a legendary wizard is extremely important. It’s his attitude that prevents English pure-bloods from overstepping their bounds. We don’t have such a leader!”
He turned his head and looked at Vaughn’s eyes, reflecting the firelight. “The influence of pure-bloods in this country far exceeds your understanding. They control all resources and monopolize all magic-related industries: potions, wands, medicine, magic… Yes, pure-blood children and Muggle-born children, even the magic they learn at Ilvermorny is different, and the related gap begins from the moment they enroll!”
“In 1968, after the 《 Rappaport Law 》 was reinstated, to better enforce it, do you know what resolution the Ministry of Magic passed?”
Without waiting for Vaughn to answer, Essex said with a sarcastic smile, ” ‘Muggle-Awareness Tax.’ A heavy tax was imposed on all young wizards who were unwilling to sever ties with their Muggle relatives. Hah, the moment I became a wizard, before I had even done anything, I already owed the Ministry of Magic 200 Galleons!”
“There’s also the ‘Wand Registration Tax.’ This is a tax specifically for adult wizards. Muggle-born wizards who want to carry their wands need to pay taxes. After all, you have Muggle relatives; what if your wizard identity is exposed because of the wand? Of course, the benevolent Wizengamot Lords also gave you a choice: you could choose to store your wand in the Woolworth Building and apply to the Lords when you need to use it. As for when your application will be approved, who knows…”
“Oh, right, there’s also the ‘Exposure Level Clause.’ America is a country that strictly enforces the 《 Protection Law 》. No wizard is allowed to reveal their identity to Muggles. However, your Muggle parents must know, right? According to regulations, a Muggle knowing your identity is a Level 6 magical exposure incident, punishable by a fine. It’s not a lot, 50 Galleons per Muggle per year. The benevolent Lords mercifully allow young wizards to defer payment and settle it once they become adults!”
“Don’t even think about casting Obliviation or Confundus Charm on your parents to evade the fine. Casting spells on Muggles is a Level 3 incident, resulting in a heavy fine and imprisonment.”
“…By piling these layers of charges, by the time I graduated from Ilvermorny, at the young age of 18, I already owed a staggering debt of 8,000 Galleons!”
Essex gazed at Vaughn, his eyes gradually becoming unfocused, as if drawn to the campfire between them.
It was as if the flickering flames had stirred memories of his passionate past.
He seemed unsure how to express himself, twitching his lips and muttering to himself, “You absolutely cannot imagine it. That kind of crushing pressure could break anyone. Stepping out of school wasn’t met with a brilliant life, but hell!”
“Don’t even think about finding a job to slowly pay it off. The Wizengamot doesn’t offer such an option. The moment you step out of school, the magical mark of debt is branded onto you… There’s no clearer label in the world. All wizards know you’re an incompetent, untrustworthy Mudblood!”
“Of course, there are other options. As far as I know, many of my classmates who were Muggle-born had, by their second or third year, already accepted some ‘Exemption Agreements’ stipulated by the Wizengamot. What does that mean?”
He suddenly smiled, chuckling. “The Wizengamot’s lawyers will create a list based on the Muggle student’s family situation, listing your Muggle relatives and friends, and assigning different levels of fine and tax exemptions.”
“Cutting ties with a Muggle friend exempts you from 20 Galleons.”
“Cutting ties with a collateral relative within three generations exempts you from 100 Galleons… up to the highest direct blood relatives, parents, siblings – each exempts you from 500 Galleons!”
Vaughn listened intently. This was something he had never had access to before.
Hearing Essex mention the “Exemption Agreement,” Vaughn keenly sensed a problem. “What is the method of fulfilling the ‘Exemption Agreement’?”
Essex snapped back to attention, glanced at Vaughn, and his smile gradually became strange and distorted. “You’re very smart, you’ve discovered the most crucial part… Hehehe, who in the world can best avoid repercussions and ensure that the person who signs the agreement can never turn back?”
He paused, his smile turning sinister. “Naturally, the dead!”
“You foreigners probably never knew that there’s a rather inconspicuous institution under the Wizengamot called the ‘Agreement Enforcement Agency.’ They are responsible for ensuring the signatories fulfill the ‘Exemption Agreement’… Hard to imagine, isn’t it? At the end of the 20th century, nearing the 21st, there’s still an organization that legalizes the slaughter of innocent people!”
Looking at Essex, whose jaw was clenched and a muscle on his cheek twitched, Vaughn began to understand.
“You—you signed an agreement too?”
“…”
Essex’s only response was silence.
Essex’s eyes became unfocused again. He looked at the flames, his expression fluctuating, and after a long while, he turned his head. “…Yes!”
“I… had no other choice then…”
Saying this with a pale face, Essex’s expression became increasingly dazed, as if he saw again that gloomy afternoon twenty years ago.
Like now, he stood, pale and weak, before a small building.
Heavy, gloomy clouds hung low in the sky. A cold wind swept through the bare tree branches, and a few ravens circled against the gray sky.
Caw—
Amidst the hoarse, unpleasant cry, a wizard in a black suit stared at him coldly, urging him to raise his wand!
“…You have signed the agreement and sworn under sacred law to sever all ties with this Muggle…”
“Act now. Only then will your magic return to its purity!”
Crackle!
The sound of sparking embers pulled Essex’s consciousness back, leaving only the lingering echo of a desperate cry, fading away, as if reverberating in his ears, in his mind.
Causing his head to ache faintly!
On the other side of the campfire, a faint blue light flickered in Vaughn’s eyes.
In his vision, the moonlit sky, the blazing bonfire… everything lost its color, leaving only pale outlines to sketch the general shapes of objects.
Only opposite him, a hazy mist pulsed and contracted around Essex.
Persona Embodiment!
Vaughn was never one to play by the rules, and the word “soft-hearted” was entirely foreign to him. Therefore, while Essex was unconscious, he had already implanted a Persona Embodiment deep within the other’s consciousness.
At this moment, it sent him a strong signal.
It indicated that the other party’s emotions were fluctuating violently, and emotions were usually the weakest point of mental defense, as they were most easily influenced, manipulated by body hormones, memories, or by sweetness or pain—
Vaughn blinked, his vision returning to normal. His expression unchanged, he continued to guide Essex, leading him to recall, “So, your resistance to pure-bloods stems from the exploitation by the Ministry of Magic, which is controlled by pure-bloods?”
“That’s not exploitation!”
Still immersed in memories, Essex didn’t notice the subtle abnormality in his mental world, nor did he know that in the depths of his consciousness, a wisp of mist was extending its tentacles, quietly stimulating him.
Making him increasingly emotional.
His eyes turned red, and the veins on his forehead bulged with excitement. “I once thought that what the pure-bloods did was just to exploit us, but it’s not. They are trying to exterminate us!”
“Do you think the ‘Exemption Agreement’ is the end? Those damned vampires have far more tricks than you can imagine. Controlling our money is just the first step. When you succumb to the pressure of money and choose the preferential policies like the ‘Exemption Agreement’ offered by the Ministry of Magic, that’s when you truly fall into the trap.”
“When you personally stain your hands with the blood of your relatives and friends, your personality has already degenerated.”
“The Lords of the Ministry of Magic will present you with more things that break your dignity and moral compass. And your choices… Hahaha, you’ve even killed your relatives and friends, what other choices do you have?”
Countless unbearable memories from the past 20 years flashed through his mind.
This made Essex increasingly agitated. His face flushed red, the veins on his neck bulged, and his struggle to restrain himself made him clench his fists instinctively.
“We can only sink like a lump of mud, bit by bit, irretrievably into the sewer, never to climb out for a lifetime… Exploitation is merely a byproduct. Their intention from the very beginning was to trample on our personalities and dignity, sweep us into the dust, destroy us mentally and physically, and exterminate us!”
Essex’s eyes turned crimson. He widened them, his expression contorted.
“So, you ask why I want to kill those pure-blood brats? Because this is war, a war of genocide. If I don’t want my children to be oppressed by grown pure-bloods like me in the future, if I don’t want my children to die tragically like my wife, the only thing I can do is to kill all those pure-bloods!”
“Leave no one behind!”
As Essex roared out that last sentence.
His intense hatred, humiliation, and pain seemed to have finally reached their peak.
Vaughn switched perspectives again. Essex’s loss of mental control allowed the Persona Embodiment hidden in the depths of his consciousness to glimpse an opportunity.
White mist permeated that void, like a soft-bodied monster extending its dense tentacles.
Through the feedback from the Persona Embodiment, Vaughn saw a “maelstrom.”
That was a mental storm, a chaotic state of a stable mind world due to the collapse of reason!
Countless fragments of memories, thoughts, random thoughts, emotions, and other mental debris formed scattered images and phantoms, swirling wildly in the mind world.
Only in such a violent situation could the Persona Embodiment act, and could it pry open an entrance in the other’s mental defenses!
The mist-like tentacles traversed the countless frenzied memories, brushing past innumerable chaotic and hysterical thoughts.
This operation was not smooth sailing.
“Ah—”
A long and distant scream was heard. Vaughn “saw” a tentacle break, torn to shreds by a memory fragment resembling shattered glass that brushed past it.
In that mirror-like image appeared a screaming, bloody woman!
It was powerful, more like an obsession than a memory!
Vaughn’s heart stirred, and more tentacles wrapped around it. After a moment, that “mirror” was submerged by the mist. The intense memories and emotions, after being filtered by the Persona Embodiment, were transmitted.
In Vaughn’s mind, it transformed into an echo:
“Bruce, save me—”
“Let her go! Olivia!”
Vaughn’s eyes flashed, and for a moment he saw “himself” magically fixed to a wall, watching a group of men in black suits torture the woman to death.
“He” was grief-stricken but could only listen to her screams and watch her wither away…
Such “obsessions” were not uncommon in Essex’s chaotic mental storm; in fact, they were very, very common.
Vaughn’s “gaze” passed through the outline of Essex’s body, looking down from above at the storm, seeing one scene after another, selected from the chaotic storm by the Persona Embodiment, absorbed and filtered.
Essex’s life experiences were also continuously diluted and transmitted.
Feeling the very strong negative emotions in those fragments, even after dilution, Vaughn was somewhat moved.
This was hatred…
Repeatedly humiliated, repeatedly trampled upon, with no hope in sight, only boundless resentment and indignation towards himself and those who had caused it!
For a long time, although Vaughn knew that the conflict between North American pure-bloods and non-pure-bloods ran deep, what he understood was merely cold text and data.
This was the first time he had “empathized” to understand why a conflict that had existed for decades had, in fact, split North America within this single year!
If Bruce Essex’s experience was typical of Muggle-born wizards in North America, then he could only say that the current situation of division was likely far from its peak!
