Chapter 1299 2 Some People with No Choice
Meanwhile, at Malfoy Estate.
The firelight from the fireplace in the room made Lucius's smooth, long golden hair appear deathly white.
In his hand was a secret report about the Ministry of Magic, or more precisely, about Rufus Scrimgeour's recent activities.
This costly report didn't contain much valuable information; it mainly consisted of details about the public places the other party had visited, the people they had recently met, and their specific work at the Ministry of Magic.
Ever since Scrimgeour, the Auror chief of staff known for his toughness and ruthlessness, was reinstated and acted with unusual secrecy, Lucius suspected that this "lion" was after him, the Malfoy family, or even the Death Eaters.
In order to obtain such a secret report, he used a large amount of Galleons and almost all his connections to inquire about it.
Fortunately, it was all worth it. Scrimgeour's investigation did not lead to the shady dealings in Knockturn Alley or the secrets of the manor, but instead pointed to a name that had been dormant for many years: Aiden Selwyn.
This discovery initially stunned Lucius, but later brought him immense relief.
He remembered the name: a genius from the Selwyn family whose life was ruined in an accident.
But then he remembered something else, something that seemed completely unrelated.
About three years ago, a distant relative of the Selwyn family, who was on the verge of bankruptcy, wanted to sell a remote piece of land.
The land belonged to a dark wizard who died in a magical experiment decades ago. Although there was no profit to be made at the time, its secluded location made it a worthwhile purchase.
However, by the time the Malfoy family intervened, it was too late. A distant relative of the Selwyn family refused to sell and somehow produced a sum of Galleons to resolve the debt issue.
Lucius felt a little regretful, but didn't delve into it. Now, thinking about it carefully, he realized that the land was very likely secretly bought by Aiden Selwyn to conceal his whereabouts.
Scrimgeour is investigating Aiden, and recently, some bizarre cases involving curses have occurred in the Muggle world. If we connect the two...
Lucius put down the report and breathed a long sigh of relief.
He didn't care why Scrimgeour wasn't prioritizing the Gringotts case, but instead was interested in Muggle cases. To him, Scrimgeour wasn't targeting him, at least not for the time being, and that was a good outcome.
But then, a thought flashed clearly into my mind.
Voldemort had lost his patience. Just two days ago, he had been summoned to his study and humiliated once again. He had no choice but to accept the mission.
Things are heading in the worst possible direction. Taking the risk personally will inevitably leave evidence against them, and if they are arrested on the spot by the Ministry of Magic, the Malfoy family will be finished.
"Aidan Selwyn..."
Lucius threw the secret report in his hand into the fireplace.
A sinister glint flashed in his eyes as he gazed at the firelight before him.
He would do anything to protect his family and his relatives.
As night fell completely, a well-trained owl flew away from Malfoy Manor.
……
……
At the border between Wiltshire and Oxfordshire, the sound of flapping wings broke the silence of the forest.
Inside the stone house, Aiden was eating dinner under the dim light.
He was highly alert; as soon as the sound of flapping wings reached his ears, his left hand had already put down the hummus can and gripped the wand tightly.
"Caw—" A sleek, smooth-feathered owl stood silently on the windowsill like a ghost.
Its amber eyes seemed to pierce through the camouflage on the glass, staring intently at Aiden, who looked terrified inside the room.
The probability of an owl appearing here is almost zero. The protective spells here include interference and misdirection against messengers. How did it find this place so accurately and ignore the surrounding confusion spells?
The owl waited patiently until Aiden put down his wand and opened the window with slightly trembling fingers.
It didn't fly in; it simply dropped a scroll of parchment that exuded a faint magical aura, then flapped its wings without a second thought and disappeared into the dense thicket, as if it had never been there.
This action terrified Aiden even more than the direct attack of the high-temperature beam.
Not only could the other party find him, but they could also have a seemingly ordinary owl deliver the letter to his theoretically absolutely secret safe house, just like delivering a newspaper.
This is a silent declaration: his best efforts to hide are futile in the face of some mysterious force.
Aiden took a deep breath and unfolded the parchment with one hand.
The text contains only a few sentences, written in elegant and beautiful handwriting:
Mr. Selwin:
I admire your work, but being alone cannot fully demonstrate your greatness.
According to reliable sources, Scrimgeour's nose has already reached your file.
Let's meet and discuss this matter early tomorrow morning in the English Channel.
Also: The way you purchased land from a distant relative of yours three years ago was indeed ingenious and impressive.
The letter was unsigned, but the last sentence pierced Aiden's heart like an ice pick, instantly freezing his blood.
The other party not only knew about his "work", but also knew the origin of this safe house.
This means that the other party is from a pure-blood wizarding family like himself, and that their information channels are far beyond his imagination, even knowing the movements of the Auror office director.
Malfoys? Or one of those ancient families with equal power?
Aiden sat there all night.
Reason told him that this was a trap, a deal with the devil.
But the reality is that the Muggles who possess terrifying weapons will not let him go, nor will Scrimgeour.
If you refuse someone who can find you so easily, the next time it might not be an owl.
As the first rays of morning sunlight streamed in, Aiden stiffly raised his head and neatly folded the parchment.
He got up and went to the washroom, picked up the half-face mask from the basin; he had no other choice.
……
……
The English Channel, with its icy sea breeze howling past.
Aiden pulled his cloak tighter, gripped his wand, and appeared at the agreed-upon location.
A moment later, Lucius slowly emerged from the shadow of a giant rock. He was dressed in a black robe, and his repaired serpent-headed staff tapped softly on the damp rock.
He wore a polite smile that was just right, with a touch of aloofness. "Mr. Selwyn, I'm glad you made a wise choice."
“Malfoy,” Aiden glared at him with his intact right eye, “how did you find me?”
Lucius smiled casually. "Find you? Just some old news and some necessary connections."
The Malfoy family always keeps a close eye on valuable lands and deeds. Our knowledge of British lands far exceeds the imagination of the bureaucrats at the Ministry of Magic. Although the deal three years ago failed, I discovered some suspicious points. When Mr. Scrimgeour begins to show you unusual interest, connecting these clues will make everything make sense.
Lucius leaned forward slightly. “I’ve noticed those artistic ‘accidents’ in the Muggle world. Such exquisite creativity. I think we must have a lot in common.”
Aiden understood. Lucius revealed that Scrimgeour's investigation was not out of good intentions, but rather to use him to achieve some ulterior motive.
……
……
