Hang the Doge of Venice!

As a History of Magic, Bagshot encountered the term "Deathly Hallows" more than once during his research career.

In her youth, while writing the manuscript for her book "History of Magic," she wrote on the title page:

The History of Magic is complete; only some finishing touches remain.

In the distance, under the clear sky, there were two seemingly insignificant dark clouds.

The first cloud represents Prehistoric Mysteries; the second is Death and his Deathly Hallows.

After much deliberation, fearing it would attract the wrath of wizards, she deleted this passage from the published version.

Therefore, the possibility of guiding two young wizards to the Holy Grail tonight left her with mixed feelings.

On the one hand, Bagshot did not want anyone to find the Deathly Hallows.

Most people only see the Hallows, but ignore the word "death." But countless historical records prove that the gift of Death is incredibly bloody.

Death is also deliberately luring the wizard into pursuit.

But precisely because of this, she desperately hopes that someone can thoroughly understand Death and end the Tale of the Three Brothers.

Bagshot knew he was dying and wouldn't live more than a few years, and his memory was getting worse and worse.

But tonight is not the time!

At this moment, her heart was beating strongly and rapidly... her mind and senses were sharp.

There are still responsibilities to fulfill!

Whether it's saving this city from being submerged, or helping these young wizards find the Holy Grail...

Coincidentally, the first time someone approached her to inquire about the Deathly Hallows, it was also two young people.

She had high hopes for the two of them, but what happened next left her with deep regret!

The two brilliant wizards went from meeting to breaking up in just one summer.

Fifty years later, they are forced to wield their wands and slaughter each other!

It can be said that the fifty-year history of the Wizarding World was completely changed because of that tumultuous summer.

That's how history works; a single chance event can lead to a completely different ending.

Bagshot had thought he had no hope of ever solving the Deathly Hallows in his lifetime.

Unexpectedly, a century has passed, and the gears of fate continue to turn, selecting two more young people and placing them before her.

They now possess two Deathly Hallows, making their relationship even stronger than that of the wizarding couple from years ago.

Is this destiny?

After a long silence, Bagshot finally spoke softly in a hoarse voice:

"Those who bear the Diadem of wisdom..."

"Follow in the footsteps of the Doge of Venice."

He had lied before.

Cut off the horse's head.

Take away the bones of the blind...

"Child, it was clearly referring to you at the beginning," the old man said, turning his head toward the direction William and Hermione were breathing.

"As for the governors... from the first governor in 687 to Napoleon's destruction of the Republic of Venice in 1797."

Over this thousand-year period, 120 governors have been appointed. Who do you think this refers to?

Hermione habitually raised her hand, but then realized this wasn't a classroom and casually lowered it.

However, William noticed that she glanced at him with a smile, glared at him, and then playfully stuck out her tongue.

Hermione ignored William, gathered her thoughts, and said:

"At first, I thought that the Doge of Venice in the Death's Guidance' referred to the one who tricked Saint Mark out of his remains."

A thousand years ago, with the rise and independence of Venice, they began to want to elevate the city's status.

The city's original Patronus was Saint Theodore. However, this Greece saint held a low position in the hierarchy of saints, being merely a third-rate figure.

This won't do!

Look at neighboring Florence, where the patron saint is Saint John the Baptist; Rome, on the other hand, has Saint Peter.

The Venice were immediately indignant. Why were their saints considered to be of higher status than theirs?

Therefore, the second governor, Justinian, set his sights on the remains of Saint Mark.

Saint Mark one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and held a highly esteemed position.

Under the governor's orders, the two merchants tricked Saint Mark's remains out of Alexandria and sent them back to Venice.

This is considered one of the most famous governors in history for his deceptive practices.

Hermione had assumed this was the governor. She gently shook her head and said:

"But Nicolas says the Holy Grail was traded to Constantinople during the Crusades."

"The Crusades are too far removed from Justinian's history, so this governor must be excluded."

She cleared her throat and said:

"The Holy Grail was clearly traded to Constantinople, but soon after, it ended up in Venice... So, there's only one possibility..."

Hermione paused for a moment, then said confidently:

"It was looted by Venice during the Fourth Crusade!"

William looked at Hermione with admiration.

The girl demonstrated not only a powerful memory, but also a wide range of knowledge and strong analytical skills.

In terms of memory, William has really encountered few wizards who can compare to Hermione.

Needless to say, her knowledge was extensive. When William first met her, she was only eleven years old, yet she was carrying a thick Encyclopædia Britannica!

"However, I can't recall the governor's name." Hermione frowned slightly, seemingly dissatisfied with her memory.

She could only vaguely remember things she had seen four or five years ago!

Absolutely unforgivable!

Hermione is great in every way, except for this one thing. She's like the top student in the class; every time the test papers are handed out, everyone else cries... and she bursts into tears too.

While others missed passing by one point, she missed a perfect score by one point, and she cried even more bitterly, causing the students who failed to come and comfort her.

Thankfully, Hermione isn't a boy, or she would definitely have been beaten up.

"William, do you remember your name?" Hermione asked, unaware of the boy's thoughts.

William nodded and said without hesitation, "The Doge of Venice is named... Enrico Dandolo."

In fact, when Nicolas mentioned the Crusades, he immediately thought of Dandolo.

As a die-hard Paradox Interactive player and a staunch supporter of Roman Empires, how could William possibly forget this renowned governor?

What was that saying again?

He wept on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; he was furious on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; and he hanged the Doge of Venice on Sundays!

The Venice Doge who was to be hanged was Dandolo.

Who were the villains of the Fourth Crusade? There is a fairly consistent consensus: the Republic of Venice.

The target of the Fourth Crusade was originally Egypt.

Pope Innocent III launched the campaign, which was originally planned to be led by Theobald III, Earl Champagne of the Kingdom of France.

They attacked the Muslim Ayyubid dynasty's Egypt, and then used it as a base to liberate Jerusalem, which was under Muslim control.

After a series of unexpected events, the governor deceived everyone, led the army elsewhere, and conquered Constantinople.

Furthermore, they looted this ancient capital.

"Yes, it is indeed this governor," Bagshot sighed. "The Crusaders looted far too much."

"The horse that was cut off... refers not to a real horse, but to the four horses that were considered treasures of Saint Mark."

"In order to transport the four horses back to Venice, Dandolo sawed off their heads and then decorated them with collars to cover the marks."

"He lied, he cut off a horse's head..." Hermione said excitedly. "That all fits, but what about taking the blind man's bones?"

Suddenly, Bagshot asked, "How did you get to Venice?"

"By train." Hermione didn't know why the old man asked that.

"Which train station did you get off at?" she asked again.

Santa Lucia Railway Station.

"So... do you know the story of Santa Lucia?"

William and Hermione both shook their heads.

In his previous life, William had heard of the Italy boat song, "Santa Lucia".

"Santa Lucia is one of the four great martyrs of Christ," Bagshot explained.

"She was incredibly beautiful, with captivating eyes that every man desired. To preserve her purity, Lucia gouged out her own eyes."

"A blind man..." Hermione exclaimed.

"That's right." Bagshot nodded. "When Governor Dandolo plundered Constantinople, he was already over eighty years old."

His goal wasn't just money, but also Lucia's remains.

Lucia's bones have the same effect as the Philosopher's Stone; they can prolong life.

William breathed a sigh of relief.

"The flood will engulf the sky, and the Holy Grail will burn at the bottom of the tomb."

Therefore, everything is clear now.

The Holy Grail is either in Dandolo's tomb or with Lucia.

(Please vote with your recommendation tickets and monthly passes, everyone!)