Hogwarts Raven

Chapter 433, Section 432: The Bureau of African Mysteries
Ian always likes to occasionally blurt out some exciting lines.

"Look at my power!"

He concentrated his understanding of the ultimate contradiction between "existence" and "nothingness" at the tip of his wand. This power is neither a force of creation nor a force of destruction.

Rather, it is closer to "negation" and "erasure".

how to say.

It is no longer simply magic.

Who says the power of this paradox is useless?

The power of paradox is extremely useful.

Ian seemed to channel Teacher He from the Mushroom House.

Really fragrant.

He did indeed use the power of paradox once again.

The light emanating from the tip of the wand was not a blinding white light, but a color that seemed to absorb all colors, dimming the surrounding light and presenting an ultimate "emptiness"! Then, an indescribable feeling, a fluctuation that could make even fallen gods instinctively tremble, spread out.

"Existence eliminated!"

Ian shot this wisp of light, as thin as a hair yet seemingly containing the meaning of the universe returning to nothingness, at the dark spear that was still struggling to travel through the spacetime trap!

There was no earth-shattering explosion as expected, no dazzling display of energy collision, not even a sound. The moment that ray of "emptiness" light struck the dark spear, the scene was extremely bizarre—the spear seemed to have never existed at all, disintegrating and dissipating inch by inch from its tip.

No energy residue was left behind.

It did not cause any spatial ripples.

Just like an art student who failed the art exam, before changing careers, they gently erased the canvas with an eraser, returning to nothingness.

Not only did matter and energy disappear, but the "annihilation" law attached to it, as well as the part of the divine thought that the fallen god had invested in it, were all forcibly erased from the level of "existence" at this moment!

"No! How could this be? It shouldn't be like this! A mere legend!" The Fallen God let out a shrill scream filled with pain and disbelief! Its scarlet eyes were fixed on the spot where the spear had disappeared, as if it could not comprehend what was happening before its eyes.

That silent spear contained its already limited primordial divine power and was a manifestation of its "annihilation" authority. Its complete erasure was truly unexpected.

It not only damaged its divine power, but also caused it to waver and suffer a backlash against its own laws!

"You... what are you?! How could you... how could you erase the laws of divine magic?!" The fallen god clearly realized that Ian was not just a legendary wizard.

“You’re the thing, your whole family are things.” Ian was slightly out of breath, his forehead covered with fine beads of sweat. Casting this high-dimensional magic involving time and space in succession, as well as the almost taboo “existence elimination” at the end, was a huge test of his mental strength and magic power.

A feeling of utter exhaustion washed over me from the depths of my soul.

of course.

This doesn't stop him from verbally retaliating.

He forced himself to his feet, his eyes still sharp as ice, and coldly replied, "Divine arts and laws? They are nothing but fragments of the universe's rules. And you, a pathetic worm who can't even control your own corruption and can only eke out a living by devouring others, dare to call yourself a god?"

"The power you wield is nothing but the stench of rotten rules!" Yes, Ian was starting to value things again; after all, he was a wizard from Hogwarts.

I just like to spout these kinds of grand principles.

"Shut up!"

The power of the fallen gods surged.

As their magic clashed, the battle between Ian and the fallen god in the deepest depths of the earth transcended the realm of ordinary magical combat; it was a clash and friction at the level of rules. Each exchange of energy and fluctuations of law were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.

It stirred up layers of ripples that spread upwards.

“Rumble——!!!”

This time, it wasn't a muffled rumble, but rather like a series of massive explosive charges detonating beneath their feet! The entire main building of the African Ministry of Magic, reinforced with thick rock and powerful magic, groaned under the strain. The violent tremors were no longer occasional, but became a continuous, seemingly endless jolt!

The magic lamps embedded in the walls flickered wildly, their light flashing and dimming, illuminating the terrified, distorted faces of the people—not just the prisoners.

on the ground.

It was also very clear to me.

In the archives, rows of heavy bookshelves toppled over, and files and documents accumulated over centuries flew and scattered like snowflakes—even the African map sculpture carved from a single piece of magical crystal, a symbol of the Ministry of Magic's authority in the center of the hall, cracked after a violent tremor.

It cracked open in the middle, a shocking gap! Well, it's not that the counterfeit or shoddy product was exposed; in fact, its quality didn't affect its damage.

This is not just a physical vibration.

It was accompanied by a suffocating surge of magical energy. The air was filled with violent magical elements, and occasionally, colorful arcs of energy could be seen leaping and exploding on the walls and ceiling.

"what happened?"

"Is there an earthquake?"

"It was an earthquake, right?"

A kind of intimidating fear stemming from a life-or-death instinct, a fear of a higher existence, gripped the heart of everyone within the Ministry of Magic like an invisible hand.

This feeling is certainly not something that can be brought about by an earthquake; it is a sense of oppression, but because many people have never experienced it, they cannot immediately recognize it.

In short, even so, the lingering power of the two big shots' confrontation made them breathe heavily and break out in a cold sweat. Some of the less powerful clerical staff even collapsed to the ground.

Shivering.

"Merlin! What on earth happened down there?!"

"Has an ancient dragon awakened? Or... or has the legendary demon broken free of its seal?!"

"All the detectors have malfunctioned! The energy level below... cannot be measured! It's exceeded the limit!"

The Ministry of Magic is in complete chaos.

Inside the Auror command center, piercing alarms blared incessantly, and the spyglasses monitoring magical fluctuations shattered one after another, emitting a burnt smell.

The senior Auror on night shift, a man named Caron, who was originally known as a calm and composed old Auror and the director, also had a livid face and his expression was not good.

His knuckles turned white from gripping the wand so tightly.

"We can't wait any longer! First and third squads, follow me! Bring the strongest protective and restraining gear! The rest of you, hold the key positions and activate all defensive formations!" Kalon roared hoarsely. He knew this mission was fraught with danger, but his duty as an Auror prevented him from standing idly by. He was leading a squad of elite Aurors.

With a death-defying resolve, they rushed toward the gate leading to the underground, a heavily guarded "African version of Azkaban" that is now off-limits.

Suddenly, a figure appeared without warning in front of the stone gate, blocking their path. He was shrouded in an unnaturally large, pure black robe, the material of which seemed to absorb light, making the area around him exceptionally dark.

The man's hood was pulled down very low, completely obscuring his face.

Only occasionally, through the gaps in the shadows, could one glimpse a pair of calm eyes devoid of any human emotion, like two bottomless ancient wells.

"Stop." The black-robed man's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a strange, chilling quality that pierced the eardrums and echoed deep within the mind, instantly calming all the restlessness and clamor. Even the turbulent magical currents in the air seemed to docile as they approached him.

All eyes, filled with surprise, fear, and a sliver of barely perceptible hope, were focused on the suddenly appearing man in black robes.

"Who are you? Please state your identity!" Charon Auror suppressed his shock and stepped forward. Although he did not raise his wand, all the muscles in his body were tense.

He tried to remain calm and asked in a deep voice.

Although her voice didn't tremble, she was still quite nervous.

He could sense that the aura emanating from the other party was profound and obscure, completely different from that of ordinary wizards, carrying a coldness and alienation unique to those who had long been exposed to forbidden knowledge.

The man in black robes did not answer Karon's question, nor did he even glance at him. His indifferent eyes, like a scanning machine, slowly swept across the terrified faces of every Auror present, finally settling on Karon. His voice remained flat, as if stating a fact unrelated to himself.

"Some experiments are being conducted in the underground area. All the energy fluctuations, physical vibrations, and mental effects currently being generated are normal phenomena that are within expectations."

"This procedure is crucial to the stability of the Ministry of Magic's foundation. Top Secret Level: Highest." He paused slightly, his icy gaze seemingly capable of freezing the soul.

"Now, in the name of the Department of Mysterious Affairs, I order: all personnel to immediately return to their posts and perform their duties diligently. Without the direct authorization of the Director or Minister, no one may approach, investigate, or discuss anything happening in the underground area for any reason. All relevant information is classified as top secret and must not be recorded or transmitted. Those who disobey will be..."

The black-robed man's voice deliberately slowed down here, each word like an ice pick striking everyone's hearts: "He will be prosecuted for treason and endangering the safety of the magical world, immediately detained, and subject to the maximum penalty."

He finished speaking last.

There was no threatening tone in the words, but the cold statement and the charges mentioned were more intimidating than any roar. In the African Ministry of Magic's code, "treason" and "endangering the safety of the magical world" usually meant a Dementor's kiss or eternal imprisonment in a temporal rift.

"A normal phenomenon?!" A young Auror standing behind Caron couldn't help but exclaim, his voice trembling with fear. "This...this kind of apocalyptic noise, how could it be..."

"Shut up, Jenkins!" Caron whirled around, sternly rebuking his young subordinate. His gaze was fixed on the man in black robes, especially when he caught a glimpse of the pattern embroidered with special silver thread on the back of the man's wide black robes, faintly visible in the flickering light of the magic lamp.

It was constantly rotating.

Composed of countless complex geometric shapes and unknown ancient runes, this mysterious sphere seemed to contain the ultimate truth of the universe—his heart sank suddenly.

The last shred of doubt and the thought of taking a risk were completely extinguished.

That's the emblem of the Bureau of Mysteries!

In the African Ministry of Magic.

Or rather, in any Ministry of Magic anywhere in the world, this would be a transcendent department with authority so high that it defies comprehension.

In Africa, for example, they are directly accountable to a supreme council composed of the oldest tribal chiefs and the Minister of Magic, and are independent of all regular departments.

In fact.

Even the Minister of Magic doesn't have a deep understanding of this department. Just like the President of the United States doesn't necessarily know all the secrets of the country and still doesn't have the right to see certain things.

The Department of Mysteries is remarkably aloof in the magical world. Legend has it that their research encompasses the nature of time, the mysteries of creation, the fall of gods—all knowledge considered highly taboo. Their members rarely appear in public, but each appearance signifies an event far beyond comprehension.

and.

Their orders often represent the ultimate will of the Supreme Council, and are beyond question and cannot be disobeyed.

In this regard.

Every veteran Auror knows this.

“Yes, we understand, Your Majesty.” Caron Auror took a deep breath of the cold air, still carrying the aura of magical turbulence, forcing himself to calm down.

He turned to face his Aurors, whose faces were filled with fear and confusion, and commanded in as calm a tone as possible: "Have you all heard the commander's orders? The Department of Mysteries is handling classified matters! Everyone, return to your posts immediately and strengthen headquarters security. Without my direct order, no one is to approach the underground entrance even a step further!"

"You've all heard the consequences for those who disobey orders."

The Auror and the alarmed staff exchanged bewildered glances. Though fear and curiosity grew like weeds in their hearts, no one dared to utter a word under Caron's stern gaze and the silent yet immense pressure emanating from the man in black. They silently put away their wands, filled with doubt and intense unease.

Then, like a receding tide, they returned to their posts, which were still trembling slightly.

"Are you satisfied now?" As the head of the Auror's office, and somewhat of a manager, Caron, who was about to retire, was very cautious.

He looked at the man in black robes.

I felt a little uneasy.

After all, only those who have dealt with these guys can understand that every single wizard in the Department of Mysteries is an abnormal, neurotic wizard.

Who knows when they might strike for some unfounded reason?

Caron is now ready to retaliate at any time.

Fortunately, the other party did not break their promise, lack martial ethics, or launch a sneak attack. It could be said that this was a member of the Mysterious Affairs Department whom Caron had never met before, someone with a decent mind and a sense of integrity.

how to say.

It's no wonder that Caron has paranoia. He knows that many Aurors who had contact with this department never returned, and he doesn't believe that they've been sent elsewhere.

Anyone like Caron who had been in contact with the department would have a deep-seated sense of danger towards it, and he was now nervously watching the person opposite him.

"Very well, don't let curiosity get you killed." Seeing that order had been restored, the man in black robes stopped lingering, his figure swaying slightly as if blending into the shadows.

He then vanished without a trace from before the stone gate, as if he had never been there. Only in the fleeting glimpse of his robe fluttering as he departed could one see the silver sphere emblem representing the Department of Mystic Affairs, deeply imprinted in the minds of Caron Auror and a few others who were keenly interested.

"Boom! Boom!"

The tremors beneath my feet continued. However, this roar and vibration, seemingly emanating from the depths of hell, appeared destined to remain an eternal mystery and a source of fear.

No one dared to reveal the secret anymore.

(End of this chapter)