Who Was the Mastermind?

The Magical Congress of the United States of America, despite having a very poor, even hostile, relationship with the Muggle government.

But they always share a surprising tacit understanding when it comes to the goal of cultivating super soldiers.

Unfortunately, Captain America from the Wizarding World never came into being.

Otherwise, they wouldn't still be unable to handle even a small Nine-Headed Serpent... the Scourers.

As for why it didn't happen, Tina, who was present and witnessed the event, provided the answer.

She said slowly:

"At the time, Ms. Picquery, who was then the president of the Magical Congress, rejected the plan."

She also ordered the Office of Magical Security to immediately destroy the Obscurus.

"Destroyed?" William asked in surprise.

"Yes," Tina said after thinking for a moment, "But it's possible that Serre Fontana is secretly training him."

Because his plan was rejected, he resigned shortly afterward.

"Is he still alive?" Hermione asked curiously.

"She died a long time ago." Tina shook her head.

"But his son... you should know him, he's Professor Fontana, the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor at Ilvermorny."

"Him...?"

I know this person all too well; Babbling dumped someone's daughter.

Tonight, William also showed him the Book of Admittance.

However, if he is the Scourers, then everything suddenly becomes clear and can be explained.

Newt also speculated:

"Didn't you say that the Scourers could detect whether Muggle children had magical talent?"

Fontana is in charge, and he is the son of the person who proposed the Obscurus Project.

He's highly suspicious.

Aunt Tina was also eager to get started and hurriedly said:

"Shall we go and arrest him now?"

Although she has been retired for a long time, she still misses the days when she used to capture dark wizards.

This action really excited her.

Given the strong suspicion surrounding Professor Fontana and the possibility that his plan could be implemented at any moment, William agreed.

The group didn't even eat, leaving only Queenie and Nicole at home before hurriedly leaving.

William pulled out the Aethonan carriage, and the four of them rode it at breakneck speed toward Ilvermorny.

Sitting in the hood of the car, gazing at the low-hanging moon and feeling the gentle breeze... William's heart had never been so calm.

He pondered it carefully, feeling that he had overlooked some detail.

Wait... he suddenly remembered that Tom had said:

That Scourers wields great power in the Wizarding World.

Although Professor Fontana is a descendant of the twelve Auror families, he is just a professor and has nothing to do with power.

William trusted Tom's intelligence gathering abilities, which was a sign of his trust in the Dark Lord himself.

From this perspective, the speculation was incorrect; Fontana could not have been the Scourers.

Furthermore, if the Obscurus explode and destroy New York... such magical power would surely remind people of the Obscurus.

That would naturally lead to suspicion falling on Fontana.

Many of the wizards who knew about the "Obscurus Plan" are still alive.

For example, Tina, and for example, Picquery.

Isn't this just asking for trouble?

After William sorted out his speculations, he quickly explained them to the others.

Hermione also felt that William's words made sense, but she still couldn't think of anyone else, so she asked:

"So who do you think it is?"

"You've all overlooked the most important person," William said, looking at Newt.

"Back when Grindelwald was on trial, he was the first to receive the Obscurus."

He made no announcement, nor did he take Obscurus; he simply stayed in the office.

So, who was the first to discover the Obscurus?

Everyone understood what he meant.

William said earnestly, "It's Percival Graves!"

Percy Graves, former Director of the Security Office of the Magical Congress.

He was controlled by Grindelwald and impersonated him to enter the Magical Congress of the United States of America.

But Grindelwald didn't kill him; he simply imprisoned him.

After Graves was rescued, he was the first to discover the Obscurus's presence in his office.

"He passed away more than a decade ago," Tina said.

"But his son, Tesla Graves, entered the Magical Congress and is now the Director of Security."

He was monitoring all of United States's intelligence, and he certainly met the criteria.

Everyone looked at William, waiting for him to make a decision.

William sat cross-legged on the carriage and naturally took over command of the temporary team.

He commanded:

"We'll split into three groups. Newt, you continue to Ilvermorny to check on Fontana's movements."

Aunt Tina, you're going to the Magical Congress.

Inform Peter Picquery, the Head of the Auror Office, that... New York is at risk of being destroyed.

Also, if Fontana is in the Magical Congress, find a way to control him.

Newt and Tina both nodded.

"Hermione and I... went to Graves's house."

William transformed into a sea eagle, Hermione rode on it... He flapped his wings and soared into the sky.

Magical Congress

Office of Magical Security

Despite not sleeping a wink last night, Mera dragged her weary body back to work.

She was holding a file containing information about Muggle children who had gone missing.

Mera thought of her younger brother again, and her eyes immediately reddened.

"Mera."

A middle-aged man knocked on the cubicle door and asked with concern, "Why haven't you gone to eat yet?"

Everyone has already gone.

Mera looked up and saw it was Director Graves.

"I'm not in the mood, sir."

Still worried about Lucas?

Upon hearing her brother's name, she trembled, followed by a shiver. A wave of sorrow surged through her.

Graves sighed.

"I've already sent Auror to investigate; they'll definitely find your brother."

"Come on, I'll show you something. After you see it, the pain will subside," he said. "I will heal your wounds."

Mera stood up dazedly and followed the middle-aged man she had always regarded as a father figure outside.

Graves's house was heavily fortified with defensive magic.

When William arrived at the address Tina had given him, it took him quite a while to open a passage.

Upon entering the room, William and Hermione found no one; Graves was not home.

William and Hermione examined the area for a while but found nothing unusual.

However, just before leaving, Newt gave William his precious Niffler.

As the number one pet for stealing and finding lost items, even the old Fawkes Fox has to admit defeat.

But this little Niffler wouldn't work without coins... William had no choice but to pay.

The Niffler got excited as soon as it received the Galleon.

It sniffed carefully... As expected of a god, it found the special scent in just a few minutes.

It guided William toward a certain room.

Upon entering the room, the most obvious thing is that painting.

"Is there a secret passage behind this?" Judging from the Niffler's expression, it's clear that there's more to this painting than meets the eye.

"Don't touch it. It's cursed. Touching it will kill you," Hermione said cautiously.

William quickly stepped back, leaving the professional work to the professionals.

Curses are not his area of expertise.

Hermione's a curse expert... all these years she's been thinking about getting back at someone.

"I'll give it a try. It looks a bit complicated, but it's not too difficult," Hermione said confidently.

She was pleased to be able to outdo William in some ways.

Indeed, curses still need further investigation.

Hermione raised her wand and pointed it at the painting.

Oil paintings are originally static, like inanimate objects.

But at that moment, the twenty girls suddenly moved, their eyes widening as they stared intently at Hermione.

Their expressions were chilling, especially their piercing, eerie eyes, which revealed no emotion whatsoever.

Hermione merely snorted, her chanting of the spell growing faster and faster as she waved her wand incessantly.

Suddenly, a black streak of blood flashed across the girls' eyes, and they screamed pitifully.

With a creak, the oil painting was opened.

William was stunned.

This is a technical job...

Hermione went in first, then turned to look at William and grinned:

"Hurry up, William! I'll protect you tonight!"