Hogwarts: Voldemort, don't stop me from studying

Chapter 966 Big News 2
For an entire day, it seemed like this was the only news story on television.

This day was a day of celebration for all media outlets across the United States.

In order to uncover the inside story of this shocking tragedy, the journalists acted with astonishing efficiency. They hired top hackers, infiltrated police stations disguised as cleaners, and spent a lot of money to bribe key figures, racing against time to expose the truth to the public.

So, before noon even arrived, breaking news once again captured people's attention, with videos collected from various sources quickly appearing—

The first thing you see is a black-and-white surveillance video showing luxury cars silently gliding into the manor gates one after another. Some people can even identify the passengers inside just by looking at the cars.

The video was silent, but a small section in the lower right corner showed the announcer holding several sheets of paper and reading out the identities and names of the guests in a trembling voice.

Those illustrious titles and familiar names all appeared on the list of the dead.

To the reporter's left was a constantly scrolling list of the deceased's portraits, their faces seemingly bearing smug smiles.

Although this segment was quite dry, almost all viewers watched it with great interest and were reluctant to change the channel.

In the bustling stock exchange, every time a name was read out, someone would let out a huge roar or cheer, and the curves on the screen would jump more violently than an electrocardiogram.

There is also a somewhat blurry clip, clearly taken by a hidden camera:

20: 13.

Inside the magnificent banquet hall, the room was packed with guests, all of whom wore masks, but their composed demeanor and luxurious attire were clearly discernible.

On stage, it seemed to be some kind of fashion show, with well-proportioned models walking back and forth, and the surrounding guests watching intently, seemingly immersed in the spectacle.

20:25
One by one, the guests collapsed, and those who tried to escape had their mouths covered by bodyguards, or were even beaten until their heads were covered in blood.

The bodyguards then stepped forward and quickly dragged the unconscious person away, as if they were dragging corpses.

20:51
Under the satisfied gaze of Sir William and others, another group of "people" walked in through the side door—their clothing, build, and even the smallest walking habits were almost identical to the guests who had just been dragged away, which was chilling!

Halfway through the recording, it suddenly turned into static, making it impossible to see what happened next.

The image in the lower right corner zoomed in rapidly, and the host said seriously:

Police stated that because the attack occurred suddenly at the scene, the equipment was damaged, and subsequent video footage was missing.

"But this footage alone is enough to prove that the Stonefield family is planning an unprecedented 'identity swap' conspiracy!"

"After much effort, the reporter finally found a replacement who was originally planned—"

"Let's take a look at the interview."

The camera pans to an empty guest room, where a woman who looks timid and avoids eye contact sits on a simple chair, shifting her position nervously.

"I didn't know... I didn't know they originally intended to do this..."

Her voice trembled as she said, “I… I was originally named Mary Chab. A few years ago, I was kicked out of my home by my father because I couldn’t find a job, and I became a homeless person.”

“That winter, when I was freezing to death, someone came to me and said I was good-looking… He said he would give me a high-paying job, on the condition that I obey them.”

"I thought... I thought it would be nothing more than that kind of thing... so I agreed... I didn't expect..."

She covered her face and cried softly for a while before saying:
“They took me to have surgery… plastic surgery, and they made me look like this! I’m only twenty-one years old!”

The camera showed a face that looked to be at least fifty years old, with deep nasolabial folds that made her look miserable.

But as anyone who watches the news regularly knows, a woman with the same face is a very serious, meticulous, and dignified person.

Mary Chab said timidly, "They showed me a lot of photos and videos, and made me learn how that person walked, how he talked, how he coughed... I studied for two whole years."

“I told them I didn’t want this, I wanted to leave… but they punished me very severely. Starvation was the most basic thing… sometimes if I didn’t do well in school, I would be shocked with an electric chair…”

As she said this, a strange numbness appeared in her eyes. She suddenly stood up, walked to the open space in the room, and took a deep breath.

When she looked up again, her entire demeanor changed abruptly—her shoulders tilted back slightly, her chin lifted, her steps slowed with a deliberate ease, and her right hand habitually clenched as if she were about to shake hands with someone at any moment.

Good evening, everyone. It is an honor to be here with you all tonight.

She spoke in a tone that sounded extremely arrogant, and even her voice was almost identical to the original person's!
The screen suddenly split, and the original owner, who was being imitated, appeared on the right. The woman, who had been invited to the TV station as a guest, was now staring in astonishment at the posture imitated by the stand-in.

"I...I can only say..." The woman also took a deep breath and said with lingering fear, "If I had met this person, I would even have doubted that there was a second me in the world!"

After mimicking a few clips in the video, Mary Chab's confidence suddenly vanished. Then, whether from fear or confusion, she slumped into a chair, saying as if in a daze:

“Last night, the person I was supposed to imitate didn’t come… They told me I didn’t need to go to the venue… But everyone else who lives in the same building as me, they all went… and never came back… Nobody came back…”

Wade, also sitting in front of the television watching the interviews he had orchestrated, looked at DeLayne with surprise and asked:

"Preparing compound decoctions is easy, but this acting skill is truly rare! Where did you find this person? She's Oscar-worthy!"

De Laine gave a rare smile: "Why not imagine it more boldly? For example—she actually took it."

"You really found an actress?" Wade was even more surprised: "She's a wizard too?"

Derain corrected her, "A dud. Their whole family are UMNO, so there's no need to worry about their loyalty. She doesn't know the details of last night either; all she needs to do is lie."

After a pause, he looked at Wade and said, "But I really didn't expect that all the guests who entered the manor would die... Aren't you planning to go back to Hogwarts?"

The thought of this gave Wade a headache.

Last night, in addition to the puppets that were taken to be displayed and served as guests, some puppets were left in the garage—such as strangely shaped trolls, red hats, kabas, and other magical creatures, as well as puppets whose replacements were not present.

When Brolin stormed into the venue, the puppets in the underground garage received the signal simultaneously, and they even began their slaughter before their own kind.

The puppets stormed into Illari's laboratory, killing the guests and bodyguards who were about to have their memories extracted. They then rushed towards the Stonefield family's vault, breaking down the door and looting it. By the time Wade arrived, they had almost emptied the vault.

Later, Wade had to spend time dismantling the estate's surveillance system. As for the footage the reporters obtained, it actually came from diligent birds carrying telescopes.

He covered his forehead and remained silent for a moment before saying, "If I said I didn't kill him, would you believe me?"

De Laine smiled and said, "I believe you."

Wade looked up: "Really?"

“Of course.” De Laine looked at the television and said, “I was just joking… I know you didn’t kill the person, nor did you order it.”

Vader: ...

Sorry... I couldn't tell at all from your face that 'it was a joke'.

De Laine continued, “Even killing more than two hundred people with a few words would completely change a person’s eyes—I haven’t seen that change in you.”

"So don't worry about being misunderstood by anyone... What I can see, others can naturally see too."

Wade paused for a moment, subconsciously touched his eyes, and then turned his gaze away.

The news continued on television—

The New York Police Commissioner stood with a grim expression in front of the makeshift press conference platform:
"...This is a blatant trampling on American law, moral bottom line, and basic humanity. The Stonefield family used their wealth and power to attempt a crime comparable to terrorism."

"All guests have been confirmed to have been murdered; this is an unprecedented tragedy!"

"We have established a special investigation team that will work closely with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security to thoroughly investigate this case and hold all those involved accountable."

The mayor of New York City also delivered a brief, somber address at City Hall:
"A dark cloud hung over the entire United States this morning. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. This case exposes the extreme consequences of unchecked power; we must reflect and we must act!"

Reporters also found several surviving members of the Stonefield family's collateral branches.

They were cornered at their doorsteps by reporters, and some expressed their panic:
"I had absolutely no idea!"

“I’ve cut ties with my family long ago! I have to work three jobs a day to support myself! What does the Stonefield family’s crime have to do with me?”

Some people also received benefits from their families, and now they are putting on a brave face and condemning the situation.
"This outrageous behavior has tarnished the family's reputation! Sir, it was precisely because you knew I would not tolerate it that you did not summon me back to the family last night."

Some of the more hot-tempered reporters even shoved them and yelled, "Get out of my way! I don't know anything! If you film me again, I'll sue you!"

Meanwhile, several people who claimed to have "received an invitation but were unable to attend for various reasons" suddenly appeared, approached the television station, and talked to the camera about their "luck" and "keen intuition".

One of the real estate developers even pulled out what appeared to be a forged invitation on the spot, vividly describing how restless he had been the previous night, and ultimately decided to decline the invitation and stay home with his family.

In the studio, specially invited experts solemnly analyzed the situation for the public:

"If the replacement is successful, the Stonefield family will be able to indirectly control the global economic lifeline, defense policy, and even international relations. Its danger will far exceed that of any terrorist organization."

"Perhaps similar, chilling dark alliances exist within the American elite. We must ask: How many such gatherings are taking place? How many people are coveting the identities and lives of others?"

"We are forced to ask, how many of these people... are truly still themselves?"

Meanwhile, another huge question is being hotly debated on all social media and in the streets—

Last night, almost all the guests present and Stonefield died, but the replacements they arranged after plastic surgery are nowhere to be found.

Apart from Mary Chab, who survived, the bodies of the others were never found.

Various conspiracy theories quickly proliferated:
"They might have already been secretly disposed of!"

“It must have been Washington…that kind of force that got involved! You know… ‘cleaning house’.”

"Maybe it's another big family double-crossing us! Keeping them around will be useful."

"Could someone have already been replaced without our knowledge?"

"Thinking about it carefully, hasn't that big star looked increasingly strange over the years? He looks completely different from when he first debuted! Even his height is different!"

Panic began to spread silently.

With the sudden deaths of Sir William Stonefield and his main heirs, the ownership of this vast family's wealth, worth hundreds of billions of dollars, instantly became the most watched battleground in the world.

Countless creditors, distant relatives, government tax authorities, and even complete strangers are sharpening their knives.

A new war—a war without gunfire—has just begun.

……

Inside the shamanistic tavern, Derain, seeing only meaningless drivel on television, turned it off, looked at Wade, and asked:
"Do we need to give the vanished stand-in a proper ending as well?"

Wade asked with great interest, "How will it be arranged?"

De Laine said, "For example, a week or two later, a warehouse belonging to the Stonefield family suddenly caught fire. After the fire was extinguished, a large number of charred bodies were found inside."

Many people die every day in the world, and for the UMNO, finding a body with a suitable time of death is not difficult.

Wade smiled and said, "Perfect, but it's not needed."

He looked out the window at the hurried pedestrians and said:
“We don’t need to prepare a standard answer for every question; people will naturally come up with the explanations they deem most reasonable. And on the surface, this matter is completely irrelevant to us, isn’t it?”

(End of this chapter)