The Election Is About to Begin

Gellert Grindelwald went from a wanted criminal worth 200,000 Galleon to a candidate for the next president of the International Confederation of Wizards —and a highly popular one at that.

Even Sean could only marvel at how amazing the world is.

However, apart from this exciting news, everyone began to pay attention to the specific methods of the Qilin Election.

This ancient method of election had disappeared into the annals of history, but it has been brought up again, and all the students are curious about how it was conducted.

A clever Ravenclaw student approached Professor Binns, the slow-witted, old-fashioned ghost, who explained the process of the Qilin Election.

Legend has it that the Qilin is a benevolent beast from the East, and the birth of each Qilin offspring signifies the rise of a great leader capable of leading the Wizarding World Wizarding World.

The Qilin can see through a wizard's soul, discerning whether the wizard's soul is pure and untainted; it is a measure of humanity.

The Qilin Election involves having Qilin present, and it will kneel before the person with the purest and kindest heart.

Sean's first reaction upon hearing the news was that it was absurd.

The president of the International Confederation of Wizards, representing the highest point of power in the entire Wizarding World, is elected by a Magical Creatures, and the election method is so... so... childish?

Yes, Sean thinks it's very childish.

This doesn't resemble the proper way for a supreme authority to transfer power at all; it's more akin to religion. The succession of popes in religions is probably determined by this inexplicable "divine will," and the Qilin is similar, only under a different name. "The will of the world."

Sean even felt that this was a more embellished version of the story.

Moreover, what use is it for this purely virtuous person to be elected chairman? The International Confederation of Wizards is supposed to be an organization that leads wizards forward. The highest leader of such an organization can be decisive, wise, and even ruthless. But this purely virtuous person seems completely out of place as a politician.

Of course, Sean doesn't think that pure kindness is bad; he'd be happy to be friends with such people and to see that the new chairman is a kind person. But kindness should be one of his qualities, not the sole criterion for judging whether he can be elected chairman.

Even Hermione, a young wizard obsessed with authority, hesitated and raised her doubts.

Shouldn't the selection of a chairman be based on merit?

Professor Binns said in a somber tone, "This is the election method that the International Confederation of Wizards used when it was first established, but it was later canceled for various reasons. Now that it has been brought up again, it is also a kind of inheritance."

"It's not some magical secret, what's the point of passing it down?" Sean thought to himself.

However, to his surprise, the other students, especially those from families where all the students were wizards, did not seem to have any objections to this election method.

Sean could only attribute this to long-standing differences in values.

Walking down the corridor, the group was still discussing the election.

"Why would Mr. Grindelwald suddenly participate in this election, and why is the election method so strange?" Hermione muttered to herself.

Sean scratched his head, indicating that he was also troubled. Grindelwald had clearly promised him that he would no longer wage war against Muggle, so what was the point of him running for this position...?

"Furthermore," Hermione glanced at Sean, "If it is determined that the next president of the Confederation will be chosen by the Qilin, then Mr. Grindelwald will likely face considerable difficulties..."

Sean chuckled, "Hermione, you're really careful with your words... It's more than just a big difficulty. If everything goes as planned, and as Professor Binns said, everything will be decided by the Qilin, then Mr. Grindelwald can't possibly become chairman."

Grindelwald may be associated with many qualities that people can think of, but this pure kindness is unique... If Grindelwald could be kind, Sean would have eaten the gates of Hogwarts Castle whole.

Or rather, the other candidates were the same; Sean had absolutely no belief that they possessed a pure and kind heart, especially since that was the only criterion for judgment.

These are excellent qualities for friends, family, and lovers, but for politicians, they mean failing.

Sean felt from the bottom of his heart that by then, none of the people standing in that place would be pure and kind, not even if Dumbledore were to run for office now.

Dumbledore, right? But it's unrealistic for Qilin to kneel before him.

Sean even pictured a scene in his mind: Qilin looking around at the election site, and finally kneeling down in front of Dumbledore, who was not a candidate but just an observer.

Thinking of this, he shook his head with amusement. The person who wrote this kind of plot must have had their brain punched dozens of times and had their head licked by dozens of Troll day and night for a month.

Even the most third-rate novelist wouldn't write it like this.

In the east, somewhere in the mountains, pairs of wizards carefully searched the forest, wands in hand.

Not long after the search team had passed by, the air around the base of a towering tree entwined with vines stirred, and several figures appeared out of thin air.

That was Newt Scamander, who had taken a long leave of absence, and two equally aged elderly people, a man and a woman.

The old lady had delicate, curved eyebrows, and one could still vaguely see the charm she had in her youth. She was supporting a white-haired, pot-bellied old man.

The old man had a kind and amiable appearance; his chubby, round face gave people a very friendly feeling.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and said breathlessly, "Oh, these days of running away in the mountains have been really tough, Queenie. You've been telling me to lose weight all your life, and it seems like you've succeeded a little today."

Queenie took out her handkerchief with a pained expression, and whispered, "Darling, I don't want you to suffer in a place like this."

Newt turned to Jacob and said apologetically, "Sorry, Jacob, your diet plan may have to continue for a few more days."

Jacob let out an optimistic laugh, "Aha—oh, sorry, did I laugh a little too loudly? It's alright, Newt, my goodness, I've been wanting to travel to the East for ages, isn't it a wonderful experience?"

Newt smiled at his old friend, "It's just a pity that the way I came here wasn't very friendly—I was a bit impulsive when I heard the news that you were in trouble, but I didn't expect it to be a cover-up, and I was forced to come here in the end."

At this point, Jacob finally revealed an angry expression. "Those swindlers ruined my and Queenie's retirement life!"

"However," he said with a puzzled look, "Newt, don't you find it strange? The group that's chasing us—no, I should say the two groups—seem to be hostile to each other."

"Yes," Newt nodded, "They're also getting in each other's way, but we don't have time to think about that right now. Your body can no longer support the Side-Along Apparition, we have to find that thing quickly."

"The Portkey, right?" Jacob called out. "I get it, it must be Professor Dumbledore's instruction to you again."

Newt smiled wryly, "Yes, Dumbledore seems to have foreseen all of this, and—"

The suitcase he had been carrying shook twice.

"Hey, little guy, don't be afraid. I won't let you fall into the hands of bad guys," Newt said softly as he crouched down and looked into the suitcase.

Sure enough, the suitcase trembled slightly twice and then stopped making any noise.

Newt continued, "Besides, I always felt that Dumbledore had foreseen all of this. I saw the picture of the Qilin from Sean, and I never thought I'd actually find it..."

Jacob wiggled his large belly. "Oh, Professor Dumbledore seems to have always been like this—speaking of which, I still have a vivid memory of things from decades ago."

He looked nostalgic. "I even thought I was a chosen Muggle, destined to help you thwart Grindelwald's evil plan—but it seems it ended before it even began. Grindelwald was actually persuaded by Dumbledore? Good heavens, it's hard to imagine that the capricious but very, well, very determined man would actually let go of his obsession."

At this time, they were unaware that Grindelwald was preparing to run for the new chairman.

"The world is constantly changing, and no one can say for sure. But that should be a good thing, right? It's just a pity that Grindelwald has been captured again, and the world is in chaos once more," Queenie said softly, sounding somewhat disappointed.

"Oh, my dear," Jacob took his wife's hand, "As long as we can be together, everything is fine."

"Oh, darling..." Queenie looked touched.

"Guys, although I know you two have always been very close, this isn't the right place. Let's go, this way—" Newt reluctantly interrupted the old couple's sweet talk and led them in another direction.

"Can't you catch the Qilin?" In the Guard Corps's secret base, the leader, Allison, asked a black-robed wizard floating in mid-air.

"It's difficult. Grindelwald's men are crazy. Our people and they are currently in a state of mutual restraint. That guy named Scamander has found the Qilin and is currently hiding everywhere."

Allison nodded silently, and after thinking for a while, he said, "It's alright. Our goal is more flexible. Even if we can't get the Qilin, we can still make sure that Grindelwald can't get Qilin either. After all, Mr. Scamander is Dumbledore's confidant, and Dumbledore is on our side anyway."

The black-robed floating wizard added, "In fact, as long as Qilin arrives in time, we only need to ensure that Qilin is not tampered with by Grindelwald and forced to kneel before him."

"Indeed... However, are you sure that only one Qilin has been born? I don't want Scamander to still be hiding during the election, and then Grindelwald to suddenly bring out another Qilin from somewhere."

"Don't worry, we have confirmed that the only newborn Qilin is in Scamander's hands. No matter how powerful Grindelwald is, he cannot forge such a Magical Creatures."

"That's good. By the way, if Qilin doesn't arrive on time, proceed with the original election plan, bypassing Charles Vogel. I don't trust him."

"Everything is in the works... The chairman will be ours."

Time passed day by day, and the election day drew ever closer. Finally, election day arrived.

Supporters of the candidates began marching in droves toward Bhutan, the location of the election.

Meanwhile, Sean, who was at Hogwarts, was conflicted. He really wanted to go to Bhutan to see the situation, but he was worried that it might not be a good idea.

However, he received a note from Dumbledore.

"Sean, my old friends are coming to the castle soon. Please help me welcome them. You can go to Bhutan with them. Of course, remember to change your appearance."

Then, Sean met the three men who emerged from the Portkey in the room Dumbledore had mentioned.

"Professor Scamander?" Sean looked at the three travel-worn men in surprise. The one in the lead was Newt, who had been missing for a long time.

"Hey, Sean, long time no see." Newt looked a little tired, but he still put on a cheerful expression and stepped forward to shake hands with Sean.

"Let me introduce you to the friend I mentioned earlier. You should have seen him in the photo when he was young. This is Jacob Kowalski, and this is his wife, Queenie Kowalski, who is also my wife's sister."

"Oh, hello, Mr. and Mrs. Kowalski."

Jacob came up to Sean and shook his hand warmly. "Hello, kid, Newt has mentioned you more than once in his communications with me."

"Thank you— Professor Dumbledore said to wait for you, and then you will take me to Bhutan."

Newt sighed, "Because the election process is right here with me—"

He opened his suitcase, and a small head with a long beard, resembling a deer, and covered in soft armor peeked out.

"This is... Qilin?! You're going to find Qilin, Professor?"

"To be precise, I was forced to go looking for it. I have to thank you for showing me that photo, otherwise, the Qilin would be in the hands of the Guard Corps or Grindelwald by now." Newt shook his head.

Sean looked at the Qilin in amazement. The little guy was obviously newly born. Its dark, round eyes, filled with curiosity and liveliness, met Sean's gaze.

"Hey, little guy..." Sean reached out and patted the Qilin's head. The Qilin hesitated for a moment before coming closer and making a sound of enjoyment.

"Just as I thought, she really likes you. But there's no time to explain now, we have to get to Bhutan." Newt closed the suitcase and said quickly.

"Professor? Um, are we really going to let Qilin conduct the election?" Sean asked.

Newt shrugged. "In fact, Dumbledore didn't give me much advice at all, just told me to take the Qilin with me—to be honest, I think we might encounter some obstacles."

"Obstruction..." Sean paused for a moment, then realized, "From the Saints ... Dumbledore sent me along to deal with the Saints ..."

Newt nodded. "I think that's about it... but it's your choice."

Sean hesitated for a moment, then finally sighed.

"Let's go, although I don't really think I have that much influence."