Harry Potter: I started checking in from Diagon Alley

So no matter what Eric said, Fudge maintained a cautious attitude in his conversations with him.

He couldn't find any reason to trust Eric and to make a deal as Eric had suggested.

Based on Eric's performance tonight?

Eric is indeed different from ordinary people, and this is something that not only Fudge can see.

But to say that Eric is anything special is an understatement.

There was no way to convince Fudge of Eric's story with just one sentence.

But everything changed after Eric uttered the name Dumbledore.

Fudge hadn't anticipated that Black's affair would involve Dumbledore.

Fudge, of course, never admitted to anyone his fear and envy of Dumbledore's power.

Fudge has always acted as Dumbledore's loyal ally.

However, he would occasionally use his position as Minister of Magic to seek personal gain, which Fudge considered perfectly acceptable, and Dumbledore tacitly approved of it.

As long as Fudge remains useful to Dumbledore, Dumbledore will not easily give him up.

Since joining the Ministry of Magic, Fudge has essentially been supported by Dumbledore.

He was essentially Dumbledore's representative at the Ministry of Magic.

Who doesn't know that Fudge is completely obedient to Dumbledore?

Dumbledore said one thing, but Fudge wouldn't dare say another openly.

But that was before.

As an ordinary Ministry of Magic official, Fudge could naturally have obeyed Dumbledore without question.

Fudge is no longer an ordinary Ministry of Magic official.

He became Minister of Magic.

Power breeds ambition and is the best aphrodisiac.

As Minister of Magic, Fudge naturally developed some ideas that Dumbledore disagreed with...

For example, providing more "preferential treatment" such as honorary titles to some prestigious wizarding families, or planting more wizards loyal to Fudge in Wizengamo...

Of course, all these ideas share the same goal: Galon.

Fudge will never think there are too many Gallons.

If Dumbledore is indeed involved with Black, it doesn't need to involve too much; just any hint of Dumbledore's bias towards Black would severely damage his reputation.

In other words, Fudge has the opportunity to break free from Dumbledore's control and no longer need to consider Dumbledore's attitude in everything.

Eric didn't explain these things clearly, nor was it necessary. If Fudge couldn't even understand this, he could never have become Minister for Magic.

Fudge was greedy, not stupid. He still possessed the basic qualities of a Minister of Magic, and his political acumen was exceptionally sharp.

What Eric needs is someone like Fudge, who thinks he's so clever, to convince himself...

In short, this might be a good opportunity for Fudge to realize those ideas.

"Gudong..."

After Eric finished speaking, Fudge stood there stunned.

After a while, during the brief silence between the two, a sound of swallowing suddenly came from Fudge's throat.

Eric smiled, unsurprisingly, knowing he had successfully aroused Fudge's greed.

“I’ve said it before, there’s no need for excessive testing between us, Mr. Minister,” Eric said frankly.

Fuji did not respond for a long time.

He now felt as if he were completely transparent in front of Eric.

Eric saw right through him, inside and out.

Whether it was his little scheme or the things he truly cared about, everything was laid bare before Eric.

This result undoubtedly terrified Fudge.

I also felt a little excited.

After taking another deep breath, Fudge relaxed and slowly said, "Tell me your origins."

Yes, in Fudge's view, Eric was merely a messenger pushed out to communicate with him.

After confirming that Eric had not used any magic or potions to disguise his appearance, this conclusion almost immediately popped into Fudge's mind.

Eric did not conceal his intentions.

For Eric to possess such composure at his age is extremely counterintuitive.

Fudge refused to believe that Eric had decided to use Blake's clues to try and get something from Fudge.

This is not magic.

It's no wonder that Fudge naturally assumed there was someone else, or some organization, behind Eric.

Eric, of course, had anticipated Fudge's question.

After Fudge finished speaking, Eric calmly got up, picked up a piece of parchment and a quill pen from the table next to him, drew a mark on the parchment with a few strokes, and then handed the parchment back to Fudge.

After doing all this, Eric sat back down in his chair, smiling, and observed Fudge's reaction.

In Fudge's view, Eric's behavior certainly confirmed his guess.

Behind Eric is another organization.

Fudge remained silent, took the parchment from Eric, and could hardly believe his eyes.

On the parchment was a mark that Fudge had seen before.

It was a triangle with an inner circle.

In the very center of the inner circle, a vertical line runs straight through it.

Fudge's breathing stopped.

Others might not recognize it, but he had seen the mark in the Ministry of Magic's working documents and had also learned about the story and meaning behind it from Dumbledore.

That's—Grindelwald's mark!

Chapter 26 Fudge Can Wait

Several hours later, accompanied by old Tom, Fudge and the Aurors left the Leaky Cauldron and returned to the Ministry of Magic via the temporarily opened Floo Network.

It was already midnight when Fudge arrived at the Leaky Cauldron. Time had passed quickly, and now he could already vaguely see the first light of dawn on the horizon.

The cool morning breeze actually woke Fudge up.

He then realized that he had actually agreed to Eric's request at the Leaky Cauldron.

The other person's last words kept echoing in his ears:

"Never look into Dumbledore's eyes..."

Eric's strategic vision and perspective were beyond Fudge's comprehension.

From the very first words Fudge spoke to Eric after they met, Fudge could no longer treat Eric like a child.

Later, Fudge simply couldn't refuse the conditions Eric offered.

The beautiful scene described by the other party hit Fudge's weak spot with almost every word.

The pinnacle of power in the magical world, where one's word is law, and one's name will be etched in history...

When these words came out of Eric's mouth, Fudge was already deeply captivated.

Even if Eric didn't say it, wouldn't Fudge also want to become a Minister of Magic with real power?

However, he was controlled by Dumbledore and had no way to break free.

Eric's appearance and the deal he offered gave Fudge an opportunity.

Eric's revelations about the close relationship between Black and Dumbledore, as well as Dumbledore's various plans, including the Order of the Phoenix which is still operating in secret, terrified Fudge.

Eric even revealed that Dumbledore had provided Black's hiding place, which terrified Fudge so much that he wanted to flee immediately.

Sometimes, Gilderoy Lockhart's novels require logic, but reality doesn't.

Because reality is far more absurd than fiction.

Fudge understood that these things might be true.

He wasn't naive enough to think that Dumbledore would completely trust him after pushing him into power.

Over the years, Dumbledore must have had a backup plan in place, just in case.

In Fudge's view, all of Dumbledore's methods were preparations for overthrowing the Ministry of Magic at any time.

Although Fudge knew that, given Dumbledore's reputation, he didn't need the position of Minister of Magic.

Conversely, if Dumbledore wanted to replace Fudge, it would be an easy task.

It is almost impossible to encounter any resistance.

Power can completely change a person, and Fouché's years as a minister have completely transformed him into a different person.

Even if it's just to keep his position, Fudge has to carefully consider what Eric said.

Fudge's allies are mostly powerful figures like the Malfoy family, who don't have much influence in the Ministry of Magic these days. If Dumbledore were to suddenly launch an attack, they and Fudge would undoubtedly be at a disadvantage.

Logically speaking, Fudge knew that what Eric said wasn't necessarily the truth.

Eric definitely held back.

But the mark that Eric displayed, unique to Grindelwald, made Fudge unable to remain calm any longer.

This also explains Eric's origins and his motivations.

In Fudge's understanding, Eric was precisely the spokesperson put forward by Grindelwald's remnants.

It's no wonder that Eric appears to have an extraordinary presence and exceptional talent.

Everyone knows that Grindelwald's greatest rival is Dumbledore.