Shocking News

The two returned from the library to the Great Hall. After agreeing to attend class together that afternoon, they sat down at their respective House tables.

"Ding! Ding!"

Imitating an older student's movements, Li Wei lightly tapped his plate twice with a spoon. A lavish lunch immediately appeared on it.

The House-elves' service truly was impeccable!

If Li Wei had not known that this magical race was simply not available for trade, and that not even the so-called Pure-Blood families could buy one, he really would have wanted to purchase a House-elf to take care of his daily life.

Magic was convenient, but he still had to do things himself, didn't he?

As he ate lunch, countless owls suddenly flew in through the Great Hall's owl entrance, dropping rolled-up newspapers beside their subscribers.

What was going on?

Weren't owls supposed to deliver letters and packages in the morning? Why were they coming at noon too?

Li Wei shielded his lunch and wondered in surprise.

"My Merlin!"

"What? Grindelwald escaped from prison?"

"Where is Headmaster Dumbledore? Where is Headmaster Dumbledore?"

"Why do you all look like that? Who is Grindelwald?"

Li Wei was still confused when he heard cries of alarm and bewilderment erupting from the tables of all four Houses, as well as the faculty table.

The nearest cries came from beside him. Senior Cho Chang had subscribed to a newspaper as well.

Li Wei craned his neck to look and saw that the Wizarding World's mainstream newspaper, the Daily Prophet, had printed a bold front-page headline:

[Shocking Nightmare! Daring Escape from Nurmengard Prison, Dark wizard Grindelwald Mysteriously Escapes!]

Cho Chang noticed Li Wei peeking over. Although she was deeply frightened, she still gently moved the newspaper slightly toward him so that he could read its contents clearly.

"Thank you, Senior," little Li Wei said sweetly.

He widened his silver-gray eyes and read down from the bolded headline. The newspaper article read as follows:

Special Correspondent Rita Skeeter, reporting from the Austrian Alps

[Urgent Bulletin] The Wizarding World is once again shrouded in terror!

According to confirmation just received from the International Confederation of Wizards, Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, who had been imprisoned in the highest tower of Nurmengard for nearly half a century, mysteriously escaped last night. This "impregnable" prison, built by his own hand, ultimately failed to contain its master.

At present, the European Wizarding World has entered its highest state of alert. The United States Magical Congress is in a state of panic, while the Ministry of Magic in England has urgently issued a red alert, calling on all wizards to avoid traveling alone!

According to Aurors investigating the scene, strange disturbances occurred last night in the top-floor cell of the tower where Grindelwald was held:

The narrow stone window, originally sealed shut, had been shattered by a powerful magical force. Only a tattered thin blanket and several spell marks deeply embedded in the stone walls remained in the cell. The ancient anti-Apparition magic had been easily broken, and no guards had been found injured or dead, but all magical surveillance facilities had failed!

Of particular note, the motto "For the Greater Good" carved at the prison entrance had been burned with a crack by Dark Magic. This was an open provocation against the entire Wizarding World!

"This was a carefully planned escape, by no means an accident."

The president of the International Confederation of Wizards said gravely at an emergency press conference, "Even though Grindelwald is over a hundred years old, he still possesses the terrifying power to manipulate people's hearts. We have reason to believe that his followers have never ceased their activities."

It was reported that this Dark wizard, once defeated by Dumbledore, had maintained a mysterious influence throughout his forty-six years of imprisonment. His extremist ideology of "For the Greater Good" had once stirred up chaos in the United States and caused bloody unrest across continental Europe.

Now that he had escaped, would he continue his unfinished evil cause?

Minister of Magic Fudge had joined forces with the Ministries of Magic of Germany, France, and other countries to form a special pursuit team, deploying magical creatures such as Dementors and Hunting Mastiffs to assist in tracking him down.

Some sources claimed that Grindelwald might be heading to Paris to seek out former followers, while other rumors suggested that his goal was to regain control of the Elder Wand and vent his anger with its immense power!

This newspaper will continue tracking developments and bring you firsthand reports.

Li Wei looked over the newspaper's various exaggerated reports. Grindelwald's prison break was probably real.

But would such a powerful wizard need to go through so much trouble, and leave behind so many traces, just to leave the place where he had imprisoned himself?

Especially when the reporter behind this article was Rita Skeeter!

As he pondered, he continued reading. Beneath the article was a wanted notice from the Ministry of Magic:

Ministry of Magic Urgent Notice: If any wizard discovers a suspected trace of Grindelwald (tall and thin build, long silver-white hair, Deathly Hallows symbol worn on his left arm), please immediately contact the local Auror Office. Do not approach him on your own—this most dangerous Dark wizard in history is skilled at using words to beguile people's hearts, and his mastery of Dark Magic is enough to kill in an instant!

The last thing to fill Li Wei's vision was the old photograph of Grindelwald on the wanted notice:

Messy platinum-blond hair, mismatched eyes, an evil, crazed charm tinged with carefree disdain. Dressed in a black trench coat, he waved the Elder Wand as if conducting an orchestra!

Around him burned flames like those from a gas stove!

Cho Chang turned her head and noticed that Li Wei was staring at Grindelwald's photograph. Guessing that he was wondering who the man was, she took the initiative to guide the conversation.

"Li Wei, are you wondering who this person is?"

Li Wei shook his head and explained, "I saw this person's name on Headmaster Dumbledore's Chocolate Frog card."

"He was the Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, defeated by the Headmaster in 1945."

"And didn't this newspaper explain it in great detail?

He once caused chaos around the world, but he definitely couldn't beat Headmaster Dumbledore. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been locked up."

Li Wei could always forget, when necessary, that he was a transmigrator who knew the plot.

Cho Chang could not help but reveal a wry smile when she heard Li Wei's somewhat naive words.

Her parents both worked in the Wizarding World of England. Since Grindelwald's affairs were from so long ago that they could now be discussed openly, Cho Chang had a thorough understanding of this "true Demon King."

If Voldemort's activities in England were terrorist riots, aimed at overthrowing the Ministry of Magic and ruling England,

then Grindelwald's past upheavals across the world, which had thrown the United States and Europe into unrest, had been aimed at overthrowing the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy and starting a world war between the Wizarding World and the Muggle world!

People had originally believed that after Grindelwald was defeated by Dumbledore, he had become disheartened and would no longer interfere in worldly affairs.

But now he had escaped from prison. Who knew what terrifying, earth-shattering acts he might commit with his former followers?!

A Muggle-born young wizard like Li Wei did not even understand Voldemort, merely treating him as a frightening villain from bedtime stories. It was even harder for him to comprehend Grindelwald's terror!