Chapter 1288 The Auror Leader Investigates a Case; Unauthorized Personnel Keep Out
The elevator stopped midway, the doors opened, and an elderly clerk with gray hair stood outside, holding a thick stack of reports.
He was stunned when he saw Scrinker in the elevator. “Director Scrinker, you’re back. It’s…it’s so good.”
His voice was somewhat excited, "Please go first, I'm not in a hurry."
“Let’s go together.” Scrimgeour stepped back.
The elderly clerk walked into the elevator with a grateful expression, while the staff member standing in the corner watched this scene with slight surprise.
The elevator doors opened again, and Scrimgeour strode out and headed towards the archives.
On the way, as he passed a tea room, he keenly noticed the conversation taking place inside.
"I heard the old lion is back?"
“It’s true. I just came from the lobby, and his face was even more sour than before his vacation. I bet he’s really angry.”
"Now only he dares to give Fudge a hard time... If only he could... sigh."
"Shh...keep your voice down, but you're right, if he can come up here later, maybe..."
"Dream on. That dictator Fudge is scheming all day long about how to weld his ass to the minister's chair. If the old lion dares to even entertain that thought, he'll be kicked out immediately."
Scrimgeour slowed his pace slightly.
It seems that the Ministry of Magic is not as corrupt as one might imagine.
What employees who are truly getting things done need is not a minister who talks big, but a leader who can take responsibility and understands practical matters.
Cornelius Fudge had long since lost the support of these people.
Passing by the tea room, the archives room is not far away.
Scrimgeour arrived at the special access area and explained his purpose to the old administrator in charge.
"Director Scrinker, it's been a long time since you've come to review these old cases. Same as always? No disturbances, no recording of your visit, but please keep the files intact?"
"Yes, as usual."
The old administrator waved his wand and opened one of the heavy stone doors. "Area C-7 contains all the unusual injury cases from the past decade. If you need to inquire about any special cases, feel free to call me anytime."
Scringer walked in and was greeted by rows of shelves piled high with files.
He stretched his arms and loosened up his body slightly. "Time to get to work..."
With a snap of his fingers, files flew in front of him and opened.
They automatically turn to the next page after you finish reading each page.
Scrimgeour's objective is clear: all documented incidents involving unidentified cursed items and unusual magical damage over the past decade.
Especially those cold cases marked as having unusual methods, unclear motives, or that have not been solved.
He spent the entire morning efficiently and silently flipping through the pages.
Several high-ranking officials came in along the way, but they were all intimidated by the "don't mess with me" aura emanating from him and dared not approach to disturb him.
Valuable clues are like finding gold in the sand; the vast majority of cases involving unusual injuries are either based on vague evidence or ultimately attributed to known black magic and magical creatures.
A few key cases involving the placement of cursed items are occasionally seen, but the details don't match up at all, and the methods used are much cruder than those of the antisocial pleasure offender.
For example, there was the incident of throwing Laughing Candy in Hogsmeade that caused people to laugh uncontrollably for three days, the circulation of prank rings in Knockturn Alley that could temporarily turn people into slugs, and even an attempted attempt to influence the voting of Ministry of Magic officials with dark magic items.
Scrimgeour stretched and glanced at the group of senior officials whispering in the distance.
Perhaps it was because his aura of "the Auror leader investigating a case, keep out of the way" was too strong that they all hurriedly left the place.
Another afternoon passed, and he had already read through a small portion of the files in this area.
"Let's continue tomorrow..." Scrimgeour waved his hand gently, and all the files flew back to their original places.
He left the archives with a blank expression, and as he passed through the foyer, he ran into Fudge, who was all smiles, trying to be friendly but only appearing more insincere.
“Ah! Rufus!” Fudge walked over, surrounded by several high-ranking officials.
His voice boomed, trying to create an atmosphere of complete control, "I heard you're already on the job? Great! We desperately need a capable assistant like you! I'd like to hear your initial findings on the Gringotts investigation and the operation to capture Wayne—"
“Minister,” Scringer interrupted him curtly, without stopping, “I’m busy right now. I’ll report to you when I have definite news.”
He didn't give Fudge a chance to continue his performance and walked right past him.
Fudge's smile froze, and the surrounding senior officials remained awkwardly silent.
Several employees who witnessed this scene from afar quickly exchanged glances, their lips curving upwards involuntarily, before they quickly suppressed their smiles when they saw Scrinker's hawk-like gaze directed their way.
Once he left the Ministry of Magic, Scrimgeour dropped his pretense, removed the Imposter mask, and reverted to his Vincent appearance.
Reputation is an intangible power that Rufus Scrimgeour possessed but never actively cultivated.
It stems from his years of presence on the front lines of danger, from his strictness in dealing with matters rather than people, and from his conscientious and responsible work attitude.
A thought flashed through Vincent's mind: rather than watching Fudge steer the Ministry of Magic into an iceberg, he should take the helm himself before things could be salvaged.
Scrimgeour has the ability and the prestige; if things are handled properly, it's not impossible...
Suddenly, he laughed self-deprecatingly.
Unexpectedly, he now wants to interfere in politics, which he despises so much.
He never considered himself a person of high moral character, nor did he believe he could withstand the backlash of power.
the next day,
Scrimgeour arrived at the archives early and continued to review the remaining cases.
This time, he focused his attention on the scar on the killer's neck that appeared to be burned by corrosive magic. He didn't overlook any case of injury caused by unknown spells, attacks by unknown magical creatures, sudden magical traps, or other bizarre accidents.
Whether he is a victim or a perpetrator, he needs to find clues related to the killer.
In one morning, he selected more than a dozen cases that seemed rather unusual and read them carefully one by one.
Five years ago, a magical antique dealer developed a slowly spreading dark silver burn mark on his neck while cleaning a suspected cursed item. The St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Injuries diagnosed it as an unknown cursed corrosion, and the treatment period lasted for six months.
Three years ago, a former Ministry of Magic employee suffered severe burns to his face and hands in an explosion while conducting private research at home. He refused hospitalization and treated the burns himself, leaving him with noticeable scars.
Earlier, there were several other cases involving mixed injuries, but the victims were all participants in activities that were prone to accidents or known dangers, such as magizoologists and herbalists, who are high-risk professionals.
These cases each have their own suspicious points, but none of them can be directly linked to the act of placing cursed items on Muggles.
It seems that the antisocial pleasure offender was not a victim of these public incidents.
……
……
