Chapter 86: Interrogation
Watching this scene, the elderly wizard let out a disdainful chuckle, his expression cold as he sneered:
"With a tolerance like this, you fancy yourself a wizard hunter? That was merely a Cruciatus Curse. Not long ago, I heard our young master endured the same curse and still managed to converse and laugh with the wizards of the Pureblood Party who came to his aid, his face showing not a trace of discomfort. It just goes to show—sometimes the difference between people is greater than the difference between a person and a dog."
Hearing this, Auston Greengrass showed a trace of admiration for the new leader of the Pureblood Party, whom he had yet to meet.
The elderly wizard stepped forward, crouching before the collapsed bald wizard. He lifted the man's chin roughly, forcing his head up, and barked:
"Speak! Don't say I didn't give you a chance!"
Large beads of sweat dripped from the bald wizard's face as he feebly protested:
"What are you even talking about? We didn't..."
Before he could finish, the elderly wizard shot to his feet, drew his wand, and aimed it at him.
"You're a stubborn one, aren't you? But I've dealt with plenty like you. Let's see how long you last. Crucio!"
"AAAAAAH!"
The bald wizard let out a blood-curdling scream, his cries echoing throughout the underground tavern.
It wasn't until the man seemed about to faint again that the elderly wizard finally lowered his wand. His voice was sharp as he demanded:
"Are you going to talk or not?"
It was hard to believe that this burly, fierce-looking man was now whimpering like a child. He wailed, his voice tinged with tears:
"Ask me something already! You're just telling me to talk, but I don't even know what you want! How am I supposed to answer if you won't ask a question? Just ask me!"
The elderly wizard froze for a moment, then turned to Auston Greengrass, surprised.
"Did we not ask him anything just now?"
Auston gave an awkward chuckle. "Uh… it seems… we didn't."
The elderly wizard glanced around at the others, who nodded in confirmation. They hadn't asked a single question.
Wiping his forehead in embarrassment, the elderly wizard muttered, "Ah, my mistake. Been a while since I've done this sort of thing. Forgot the steps. Sorry about that."
At this, the bald wizard spat out a mouthful of blood. It was unclear whether it was from his injuries or sheer frustration at the situation.
Showing a rare touch of guilt, the elderly wizard gestured for Auston to bring over a chair. He personally helped the bald wizard into it, propping him up before continuing:
"Now then, who ordered you to attack the new leader of the Pureblood Party?"
The bald wizard blinked in confusion before responding, his face miserable.
"Are you sure you've got the right guy? I'm just a small-time wizard hunter trying to make a living! How could we possibly attack the new leader of the Pureblood Party? Forget the leader—any ordinary member of your group is someone we steer well clear of!"
The elderly wizard's wand gently lifted the man's chin as he stared into his eyes.
"Did you or did you not target a Hogwarts student recently?"
The bald wizard froze, then nodded instinctively.
"That's true. We did. And because of it, Albus Dumbledore himself showed up. If we hadn't fled quickly, we'd all be dead!"
Realization dawned on the bald wizard, and his face twisted in shock.
"Wait… are you saying that Hogwarts student was the new leader of the Pureblood Party? Albus Dumbledore is personally protecting your leader?"
The revelation left not only the bald wizard stunned but also Auston Greengrass and the recently arrived barkeep, who all wore expressions of disbelief.
The elderly wizard, however, remained calm.
"You're absolutely correct. That student is the heir to the Grindelwald family—and the leader of the Pureblood Party."
Hearing this, the bald wizard's mouth fell open, and he looked as though he might cry. His voice cracked as he wailed:
"This is all a misunderstanding! We didn't know he was the new leader! If we had, no matter how much money we were offered, we would've never taken the job! We never accept tasks that are beyond our capabilities!"
The elderly wizard remained unmoved, his expression serene as he pressed on.
"Who hired you? Tell me everything you know."
The bald wizard sighed, defeated, and began his tale.
According to him, someone had posted a bounty in the wizarding community in New York, offering 100,000 Galleons for hunters to travel to Britain and capture young wizards. He and a hooded wizard, who was now lying unconscious nearby, had taken the job together.
The reward was unusually high for what seemed like a simple task. Sensing something off, they recruited a few more hunters from their circle in America to join them as backup.
Upon arriving in London, they received a letter delivered by owl. The letter contained an address and instructions to capture a Hogwarts student who would appear there that night. They were to take the student and hide, awaiting further contact.
At first, they hesitated. Capturing a Hogwarts student would undoubtedly provoke the wrath of Albus Dumbledore. But the allure of 100,000 Galleons proved too tempting. They decided to proceed.
The events that followed had already been detailed in letters sent by Wentworth to Rosier and Abernathy, so the elderly wizard knew how the story ended.
"And who posted the bounty?"
The elderly wizard's eyes narrowed, his voice heavy with menace as he stared down the bald wizard.
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