Vincent made no attempt to conceal his identity, wandering through the black market like an ordinary tourist. He would stop and linger on anything that interested him, buying it without hesitation if the price was right, and turning away if it wasn't.
Gradually, more and more stall owners and black marketeers recognized him, and the news quickly spread throughout the black market, reaching Amina as well.
Unlike the nervous maid, her eyebrows were raised high and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up, as if she was expecting something.
Vincent didn't keep her waiting too long, mainly because the stall owners and black marketeers all knew he was coming and were afraid of accidentally offending him.
He stood in front of the replica gate of Nurmengard and glanced casually at the sky above.
Without the slogan " for the For the Greater Good," why imitate Nurmengard if the intention was to maintain a low profile?
Vincent knocked gently on the door, and the maid who had been waiting for a long time hurriedly opened the door.
"Hello, Mr. Wayne..."
Vincent stepped into the fortress, glancing at the magnificent Entrance Hall. "Hello, I've come to visit Madam Hakim. Is she in?"
The maid secretly breathed a sigh of relief and spoke without stammering, "Lord Hakim is upstairs, please follow me."
The staircase steps are made of whole blocks of pyramid stone, and stepping on them gives you a strange, unreal feeling.
The maid led Vincent to the top floor, where, just like in the real Nurmengard, there was a magnificent and elegant study.
Amina sat at a desk by the window, her long, narrow eyes fixed on Vincent's face.
"We have finally met, heir of the prophet Grindelwald."
Vincent walked to the desk expressionlessly. "I don't like that title, Madam Hakim."
Amina's narrow eyes curved into two beautiful crescent moons, and her slightly upturned lips revealed a sly smile. "How rude of me, what should I call you? The Dark Lord of the New Era?"
Vincent smiled without saying a word, then turned to look at the chair placed to the side.
He snapped his fingers, sending the chair flying towards him.
Amina's eyes were full of curiosity. "Your Excellency, Dark Lord, would you like something to drink?"
"Black tea." Vincent sat with a steady and dignified posture, neither frivolous nor arrogant, possessing an inner sense of authority.
Amina was somewhat dazed and instructed her maid to prepare.
She then stared intently into Vincent's deep blue eyes. "Your Excellency, the Dark Lord, you seem to disagree with the ideology of the Wizards' Purity Party?"
"It's not that I disagree." A fleeting look of melancholy crossed Vincent's eyes. "Times are different, so are our perspectives."
Amina became even more curious. "Then what was your purpose in rescuing those old men? They are people abandoned by the times, and the help they can offer you is extremely limited."
Vincent shook his head and joked, "Madam Hakim, it seems you don't quite agree with the Wizards' Purity Party's ideology either."
"Yes."
Amina's decisive admission did not surprise him in the slightest. "I don't like using people as tools. They were willing to be imprisoned for half a century for their ideals. They deserve to be respected."
Amina's smile faded. "Ideals... is this your reason for rescuing them?"
"That's right." Vincent accepted the black tea offered by the maid with both hands. "Thank you—"
Madam Hakim, now they all have new goals.
Amina's long, narrow eyes focused once again on his confident face.
Some people are born with a unique temperament, as was Grindelwald, and so was Vincent before her.
"A goal? Isn't it a new ideal?"
Vincent took a small sip of his black tea. "Ideals may seem unattainable, but goals are within reach."
Amina smiled again. "Your Excellency Dark Lord, you're very eloquent. You must be quite popular, right?"
Vincent raised an eyebrow slightly. "Now, even more people hate me."
She covered her mouth and chuckled to herself.
Although it was only a brief encounter, she seemed to have a very good impression of Vincent.
Polite, confident, composed, witty, and humorous.
Amina's eyes suddenly sharpened. "Your Excellency, Dark Lord, we should get down to business."
She turned and gestured for the maid to leave, then scrutinized Vincent with a critical eye. "I roughly understand why that old devil Viktor is so devoted to you, but I'm different from him. I'm content as long as the status quo is maintained."
Vincent met her eyes directly. "I know someone who thinks the same way you do. He's trapped in the past, Madam Hakim. Would you like to know about him?"
Amina frowned slightly, as if recalling something unpleasant.
Seeing Vincent continued, "He has the ability, the ideas, and countless opportunities. His deep understanding of the dark side of human nature makes him extremely afraid of change, but deep down he has always longed for change."
Amina's brow furrowed even more.
"Madam Hakim, I think you two are similar in some ways. You also yearn for change, don't you?"
Her lips drooped, revealing a faint sorrow. "The person you're talking about, is it Albus Dumbledore?"
Vincent did not respond, which can be considered an admission.
Amina relaxed her furrowed brows. "The strongest wizard in the world can actually feel fear. That's really..."
She looked at the steaming black tea in front of her, placed a delicate little silver spoon in it, and stirred it slowly. "Your Excellency Dark Lord, what kind of changes can you bring to me?"
Vincent's gaze drifted to the window. "There are plenty. How about you say we no longer need to hide?"
Amina's slender fingers suddenly stopped. "A very attractive suggestion."
Vincent turned to look at her, a slight, enigmatic smile playing on his lips. "No longer needing to hide in the truest sense."
With a "ding," Amina's delicate little silver spoon frantically tapped against the inside of the teacup.
Her mouth gaped open, an incredulous expression on her face. "Your purpose... is it...?"
"The existence of magic will be made public." Vincent took a sip of his red tea. "Madam Hakim, the world is about to undergo tremendous changes, and your desire to maintain the status quo is doomed to fail."
Amina's hands trembled unconsciously, as if she had returned to more than half a century ago, to the day Grindelwald gave his speech.
Handsome, powerful, charming, and confident, he is captivating.
She suddenly awoke, the adoration in her eyes gradually fading. "Your Dark Lord, did we have no other choice from the very beginning?"
Like the outdated old men of the Wizards' Purity Party, the Wizards' Purity Party branches cannot possibly remain unaffected. Vincent is already tied to them, and any action he takes will affect them.
Vincent neither admitted nor denied it, but simply gazed quietly into her eyes.
Amina chuckled softly from the bottom of her heart, her smile dreamlike and ethereal, as if from a distant past. "You certainly haven't disappointed me, Vincent Wayne."
She didn't use the title "Dark Lord," which immediately gave Vincent a bold guess.
Could it be that the die-hard fangirl in front of him has changed her idol?