Enchanted streets of Moscow, Russia.

There was a big crater in the middle of the street, so deep that the sewer below had also been broken, and most of the nearby shops were in shambles, with broken stone slabs and walls everywhere, and street lamps and street trees lying on the ground as if the end of the world had just come.

A small number of late Ministry of Magic officials repaired the streets, while others pulled out pens and paper to ask about the wizards who had witnessed it all at the time.

More wizards gathered around the three-headed dog with serious expressions, each holding their wands aloft, while looking at the black gem ring under the dog's paws, and at the same time looking around uneasily, as if there might be a vicious dark wizard around him at any moment.

From time to time, clouds of black smoke emerge from the surface of the ring.

It's just that most of them were sprayed by the scorching snort of the three-headed dog before they had time to take shape.

On the other hand, the Russian Ministry of Magic officials' questioning of Gilderoy Lockhart was almost finished, and the surrounding reporters finally found an opportunity to get in front of Lockhart.

"Sir, you don't look like a Russian wizard, do you have anything to do here?

"Your performance just now is amazing, are you an elite Auror of the Ministry of Magic?"

"Sir, if you may, can you tell us your name-"

"Oh, don't rush...... Don't rush...... I'll answer them one by one. ”

In the face of the swarming reporters, Lockhart unhurriedly straightened the peaked wizard hat on his head, skillfully raised his hands and pressed them weakly, and said with ease.

"Gilderoy Lockhart, as for the professional ......"

Lockhart blinked nimbly and grinned, just in time to meet the wizard in front of him with a camera in front of him, his smile showing his shiny teeth just right.

"As I mentioned before, I'm just a writer with a little bit of success and interest, and I'm here mainly to find inspiration for my next book. ”

“...... So, don't you know the specifics?"

"Yes, actually, I was just passing through. ”

Lockhart blinked his blue eyes and said modestly and decently.

"As for what you call something great, it's not really a big deal. Any conscientious and capable wizard would make the same choice as I did—so many Aurors here, they would handle it better than I did, except that I happened to be ......"

"Oh, the Ministry of Magic doesn't have so many Aurors of the Order of Merlin. ”

Before Lockhart could finish speaking, the Russian Minister of Magic raised the information he had just gotten in his hand, shrugged his shoulders slightly embarrassed, and walked over.

"Looks like ...... You might have a chance to win another Sir Merlin medal...... I have to admit that if you and Mr. Scamander hadn't been here today, the Russian wizarding world would be in great trouble......

The Russian Minister of Magic frowned as he looked at the ring that exuded an ominous aura.

"Oh my god - here - in Moscow! It's unbelievable, what the hell is this- why is that guy here - he wasn't already here-"

"Needless to say, as Professor Dumbledore said, Voldemort is not dead. ”

"Newt Scamander" said calmly, "I have some vague speculation as to why, but I may need to ask Professor Dumbledore about it. ”

Casually looking at the poor ring, the old wizard raised his eyebrows, a hint of pity and banter flashed in his eyes, and said softly in a complicated tone.

"One thing is certain, though, it is neither a ghost nor a living person...... It seems to be a fragment of a soul that inhabits objects - souls are not my specialty, and I recommend locking this area down and locking it down until it is disposed of. ”

"Can you destroy it?" asked the commissioner of the International Confederation of Wizards in a deep voice.

"Perhaps...... Maybe...... But it's hard to ......."

"Newt Scamander" said thoughtfully, staring at the ring.

"The scorching flames of the Three-Headed Hellhound and the magical talent of the soul trembling could not make it completely collapse, and Voldemort's prowess in the soul was truly terrifying...... I suspect it may even have some demagogic powers, even the ability to penetrate into the souls of others. ”

Demagoguery?!Into the soul?!

Accompanied by the old wizard's voice, the officials of the Ministry of Magic who were listening attentively subconsciously took half a step back, and their eyes became more and more serious when they looked at the ring.

"Yes, Mr. Scamander, thank you very much for the reminder. ”

The commissioner of the International Confederation of Wizards nodded solemnly.

As an official who lived through the "Dark Devil Forces" period, he knew very well the horrors of this second-generation Dark Lord who had been wreaking havoc in the British wizarding world for more than a decade.

If Gellert Grindelwald was a purposeful careerist, Voldemort was a freewheeling madman, preaching pure-blood theories while promoting an atmosphere of chaos and terror in the wizarding world......

"It's just ......"

The middle-aged wizard stared around the messy enchanted streets, his cheeks twitched violently, he took a deep breath, and said viciously

"It's a pity that I couldn't catch the tails of those 'Death Eaters', and even if I have the slightest clue, I'm going to pick them all out and send them all to Azkaban to feed the Dementors. ”

The trial of the Death Eaters had already been over for ten years.

Neither the Ministry of Magic nor the International Federation of Wizards could open the old files and interrogate and convict so many long-established wizarding families at the same time.

Unless......

"Speaking of clues, this gentleman ......"

At this moment, Gilderoy Lockhart, who was standing not far from the middle-aged wizard, suddenly blinked, tapped his lips lightly, frowned and whispered with some uncertainty.

"I seem to faintly hear them talking to each other...... It's just a few words, though, and I guess it's the name of one of them—"

"What's the name?!"

"Who?!"

"Wait, this is no joke!"

"Why didn't you just say that?"

The Minister of Magic of Russia, the Minister of Magic of Ukraine, the Commissioner of the International Confederation of Wizards, and a group of officials from the Ministry of Magic turned their heads sharply to look at the handsome home.

"Uh...... Because it's just a fragment of information......"

Gilderoy Lockhart touched his nose a little uncomfortably, hesitated for a few seconds, drew his wand and pressed it against his temple, paused for a few seconds, and then took it away.

The tip of the staff brought out a long wisp of silver-like memory.

It grew longer and longer, and finally broke, silver gleaming across the tip of the staff. Gilderoy Lockhart gritted his teeth and waved his wand, and the silver filigree of memories instantly swirled and unfolded like gas, turning into a blur of light and shadow.

Amid the screams of the crowd and the explosion of the spell, a fragmentary sound was heard.

“...... Leave the ring alone......! Lotnikov ......"

"Lotnikov?...... name"

The Minister of Magic of Ukraine frowned and repeated thoughtfully.

Immediately afterwards, the faces of several ministers and commissioners of the International Federation of Wizards changed and exchanged solemn glances with each other—if it was really that person, then ......

"I see, thanks for the info...... It was very useful......"

The Minister of Magic of Ukraine coughed lightly and said quickly with a calm face.

"However, for the sake of secrecy, I suggest that Mr. Lockhart not give this memory to anyone else for the time being, and we will check with the rest of the wizards present. I'm sorry, but I may be out of company for a while, but we need to have a meeting here to discuss it......"

In Russian magical circles, Lotnikov is not a common surname.

It stands to reason that this surname has long since disappeared from this land with the end of the verdict five years ago, appearing on the other side of the ocean.

Unless...... Some goblins, not lying......

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(End of chapter)