The Last Goodbye

at the table. Leonard took out a bunch of colorful keys from his waist, picked out a black one, and opened the slender drawer under the table.He pulled out a dark blue folder and handed it to the other party, "This is Durmstrang's candidate for the judges for the Triwizard Tournament this year, take a look." Riddle opened the file and flipped through it, and suddenly a familiar name jumped into the Vision, he raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Several candidates were proposed by Durmstrang principal Ivan Bergstrm." Leonard explained, "He probably wants to stand in public and show his loyalty to that person. But this is an opportunity for us. We can use Use your identity as a bait to lure him there." Riddle put the information back on the table, "I don't think Gellert Grindelwald would be foolish enough to risk himself for a thief."

"If it's just a thief, of course there's no need for that." Leonard agreed, "But what if the thief carries the treasure he stole with him at any time?" The boy across the table smiled noncommittally, "You heard from Professor Slughorn of?"

"The source of the information is not important. What matters is its accuracy."

Leonard leaned forward slightly, his amber eyes stared straight at the boy opposite, "I need to know the truth, Salazar. Don't worry. This matter will not cause you any harm. The entire Hogwarts delegation, Including you will be disguised by our best Aurors. I will not let you face him again. The only thing we need to borrow is your identity. But before I make sure, 'The Boy Who Lived 'The legend, is it true?"

His guest didn't answer immediately, but stretched out his hand and picked up the potted plant on Leonard's table, "The cactus is almost killed by you, Mr. Minister." Riddle looked at the lifeless little thing with a smile, Suddenly he reached out and poked it.The sharp thorns of the prickly pear pierced the boy's hand, and a drop of round blood oozed from the surface of the skin and fell into the soil.

Something wonderful happened.

The potted plant seemed to be awakened by revival magic—the shriveled prickly pear was full of emerald green from the root, and tender new thorns germinated little by little, just like the soft and waxy hands of a baby. Leonard laughed in surprise, he took the small plant from Riddle's hand, and looked at it carefully.The tufted prickly pear is still growing vigorously in his hands.

"My Merlin, can you bring the dead back to life?"

"Of course not. It's not dead yet." Riddle said flatly, obviously he had done such small experiments many times before, "The Philosopher's Stone can only prolong life, it can't revive dead things."

"With your blood?"

The boy nodded.

"Then you...will live forever?"

"How is that possible." His guest smiled softly, "You will still die if you are hit by the death curse. If your head is cut off, your heart is dug out, and your limbs are cut off, you will also die—I use a mouse It has been tested. This stone can prolong life, but any magic has its limit. Even if there are no accidents, every time you use it, it is equivalent to overdrawing your own life. When the time limit is up, you will still die. "

Leonard's heart tightened.Was the fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy in front of him laughing and discussing the boundaries of his own life with him just now? Riddle looked calm, his dark eyes unmoved.He crushed his pricked finger and the wound disappeared. Leonard pondered for a moment.It seems that I have made this matter simple.The kid was right, there are limits to any spell.Just like no matter how powerful a wizard is, they can't violate Gump's transformation method.

Magic is just the transformation of energy, and the manipulation of elements, it is not created out of nothing.The Philosopher's Stone is naturally not omnipotent, nor is it inexhaustible.If he wanted to use this kid as bait, he had to show the world what he was capable of, and in times of war, the ability to prolong life was invaluable.The child in front of him was like a hen that lays golden eggs in a fairy tale.Once discovered, his fate... will most likely be the same as that hen.

Leonard has been in the political arena for so many years, and he has already penetrated the darkness of human nature.In this era when wars are raging and people are struggling to survive, as long as he publicizes this child's abilities, he can be pushed to the altar without any effort, and then...

He will fall into the abyss.

His followers would flock to him, eager to come and share his life.If he refuses, he will become the target of public criticism. If he accepts, he will have to watch his life being eaten away bit by bit, and divided up.

This left Leonard a little breathless.Was he really going to reveal the kid's abilities?This kid is a hero and has already given his life once for his country and people.Do I want to push him into hell again?For glory?For victory?He wants to deprive this child of his life again?

"It's okay. I know what's going to happen," Riddle said suddenly.

Leonard froze for a moment.Why?This kid just took Legilimency to me?Before he had time to think about it, the person on the opposite side continued, "Don't worry, I'm not that flexible. If the soldiers who are fighting on the front line need my blood, I will give it to you. As for the others, I will give it to you." I will politely refuse, after all, I am not a saint either. As long as we don’t exaggerate my ability, there shouldn’t be too much risk. But this is not the point..."

...uh, isn't that the point?

Leonard was a little confused. Although his many years of experience in politics prevented him from showing it on his face even if he was confused, the objective and clear thinking of the other party really surprised him-this little kid is immeasurable in the future, the Minister of Magic is in his heart secretly thought.The person on the opposite side probably didn't see his surprise. Riddle rubbed his chin lightly, and continued to speak matter-of-factly, "Grindelwald stole the Philosopher's Stone in the first place to make gold and expand military spending—he wasn't interested in extending his life. I The Philosopher's Stone in his body has lost its ability to turn stones into gold, so I think even if you use my identity as bait, he won't be hooked. Besides, he is very accomplished in transfiguration, if you really send an Auror Pretending to be a student, he will see through at a glance."

"what do you mean……"

"I mean," Riddle crossed his fingers and gently placed the table mountain, his dark eyes staring at each other like a black ocean, "I don't mind you showing my ability to the public, but you want to be alone It is nonsense to lure that man out of Germany in my capacity. If we are lucky, we can lure him to Durmstrang, and then the whole Hogwarts Triwizard representative They were all replaced by Aurors, and he didn't see through it, so it didn't make any sense. Only twenty or so Aurors can't defeat Grindelwald. If you go head-to-head, you will die."

The other party's straightforwardness made the Minister of Magic a little speechless.He has come into contact with too many old and cunning politicians and bureaucrats who hide their knives in their smiles. He rarely sees someone as straightforward as Skeeter, and the little boy in front of him is even more straightforward than a war reporter.But Leonard is an old man, he knows that people who can speak like this usually come prepared, "Then what is your suggestion...?"

Riddle also leaned forward slightly, approaching Mr. Minister, and lowered his voice mysteriously, "You don't need to send any Aurors, just convince the Hogwarts vice-headmaster to lead our delegation to take the place of the headmaster The three-final match will do."

"Are you kidding me? Most of Europe knows that Dumbledore is the only person he's afraid of..."

"That's why." Riddle agreed, "So as long as most of Europe knows that Professor Dumbledore is leading the team, Grindelwald will definitely go. We can make a big splash, 'Europe's Hope' walks out with 'The Boy Who Lived' swaggering The protection circle of the UK, went to Durmstrang to participate in the three-finals, knowing that Ivan Bergstrm recommended Gellert Grindelwald as one of the candidates for the judges, he was still unscrupulous and fearless-one was the only person who could defeat him in the rumors, One is the only one who ever escaped from him, and it would be a disgrace if Grindelwald didn't show up?"

Leonard understood it clearly, "...the aggressive method."

Riddle nodded, "Fishing with a straight pole, those who wish will take the bait. Grindelwald knows that this is a trap, but he will still jump willingly."

"You know him well," Leonard said pointedly, his amber eyes narrowing slyly.

"Understanding." Riddle shrugged, and leaned back comfortably in his velvet armchair, "After all, I have fought against him, so I can only say that I know a thing or two about him..."

LET THE GAMES BEGIN, PART III

1941

The summer of 1941 was historic.

In May, the decipherment of the Enigma turned the tide of battle in the Atlantic.In June, Führer Hitler launched Project Barbarossa, putting