The Prisoners of Hogwarts

Chapter 31 Pureblood Conference Results

Old Nott stood at the other end of the long table. The fear that had been on his face just moments before because of the name "The Hangman" receded like a tide, and the speed at which his expression changed was alarming.

He narrowed his long, shrewd eyes, and a scrutinizing gaze, characteristic of a pure-blooded old fox who had spent his life scheming, flickered in his murky eyes.

He held the parchment that had just been passed to him in his hand, his eyes fixed on Lucius, who had stood up at the end of the long table.

"Lucius..." His voice reverted to its usual sarcastic tone, "Stop with your pretentious act. We're not ignorant children; we won't be blinded by a candy thrown at us. Shift your attention away from what you really need to focus on..."

To be honest, last night, near that factory, I planted an extra "stab"—an experienced veteran who knows how to survive in the shadows, as a last resort.

Strangely, he was not on the Ministry of Magic's arrest list, and there has been no news of him since.

I'm not sure what exactly happened to him, but I'm certain he didn't run away.

We have determined that everything that happened in the factory area was accomplished by a single wizard.

Whether he was the executioner or not, his power was undeniable.

So everyone looked terrible when they left last night.

Lucius, I remember the expression on your face wasn't much better than any of ours.

You, like everyone else, are terrified of what's happening in the factory district... terrified of the reappearance of the hangman.

But now, you sit here, having gathered us all together, acting as if you have everything under control.

Why don't you tell us first what...miracle happened?

That's why you underwent such a huge change just one day later.

At this moment, old Nott once again donned his calm and cunning cloak, as if the version of himself who had been terrified, panicked, and screaming and arguing with others just minutes before had never existed.

Lucius glanced at old Nott at the other end of the long table, then slowly sat back down in his chair, his fingers tapping the tabletop in a cold, calm voice.

"What are you... implying?"

Old Nott stared at Lucius like an old vulture eyeing carrion, waiting to take the first bite of bloody flesh. "I think you were terrified by the hangman last night and readily surrendered to Reggie, ready to sell us all to him!"

Lucius didn't speak; he stared intently at old Nott, as if trying to see right through him.

Everyone at the table looked at Lucius with suspicion and scrutiny, waiting for his response to old Nott's accusations.

"Ha...hahaha..." A smile bloomed from the corners of his mouth, and a joyful laugh overflowed from his throat. Lucius suddenly burst into laughter.

Everyone, including the smug old Nott, was stunned, looking at Lucius who suddenly burst into laughter with confusion.

Lucius gradually stopped laughing and looked at old Nott: "A bold and brilliant guess! But it's so outrageous that it makes me laugh."

His gaze swept across the faces of everyone present, his tone laced with sarcasm, "Use your brains, will you?"

If I had sided with Reggie, would you all still be sitting here unharmed right now?

Based on that powerful wizard who appeared in the factory district, with Reggie's help, every one of you will be captured the moment you step into Malfoy Manor!

But you're all sitting here perfectly fine, has any one of you noticed any traps?

After a pause, not giving them a chance to think further, Lucius pointed to the parchment that Old Nott was holding tightly in his hand: "As I said at the beginning, the reason I summoned you here tonight is simply to discuss with you how to better divide the profits of the Stone Tower Merchant Guild."

That's why we took action against it in the first place, isn't it?

The Galleons flowing like a river in the Chamber of Commerce were truly tempting.

The reason I can sit here calmly is not because of the absurd reason that I've sided with Reggie.

It was because I confirmed through the Malfoy family's intelligence channels that the hangman who appeared in the factory district was a fake hired by Reggie!

Lucius's gaze shifted to old Nott's face; "What intrigues me is... Mr. Nott, you seem... more convinced than I am that the hangman was a fake?"

In an instant, all eyes, filled with new and deeper doubts and scrutiny, focused once again on old Nott!

Old Nott glanced at the gazes fixed on him, feeling the pressure they contained, grinned, and revealed the truth: "About ten years ago, not long after the Dark Lord disappeared, I received intelligence that Wizengamo had conducted a secret trial and imprisoned the hangman somewhere..."

Before old Nott could finish speaking, Lucius continued in a cold, sarcastic tone: "So you've just proven me right. Reggie brought in a fake to bluff."

I have no reason to kneel down to a liar.

But you, you knew all along that it was a fake, yet you kept it from us. Were you planning to take advantage of us when we panicked?

What a pity...

My intelligence, though not as 'early' as yours, was still timely enough... otherwise, you'd probably be the one sitting here tonight holding this contract, Mr. Nott?"

Old Nott's words stirred up a storm in Lucius's mind. The hangman had been locked up long ago? But the hangman in the hall last night could not possibly be an imposter; he must have been the real deal!

Lucius's mind raced, but the situation before him remained unchanged; there was no turning back now.

We can only continue along the predetermined path.

"As long as the hangman isn't real, then we don't need to worry too much."

Last night was Reggie's last desperate gamble. He was willing to admit defeat even if he failed, which is why he handed over ownership of the factory and the house-pockets.

Although he was an audacious swindler, he was also a shrewd businessman.

Despite possessing such powerful wizards, he will abide by the law and the rules of the game.

He slightly raised his chin: "Isn't playing this game within the framework of the rules of the magical world exactly what we excel at?"

Lucius and old Nott's words were like a boulder thrown into calm water, instantly stirring up a murmur across the long table. All sorts of gazes—surprise, anger, greed, and lingering fear—were cast upon old Nott and Lucius.

Lucius's last words also pulled the purebloods back to the realm they were born into.

Old Nott did not reply. It was true that he had concealed important information, and indeed, as Malfoy had said, he wanted to take advantage of the chaos.

He sat down, tilted his head, and began to think about Lucius's earlier suggestion.

Lucius noticed the whispers around the long table growing increasingly heated, and he knew he had succeeded... albeit temporarily.

He unconsciously moved his neck. Although the wound on his neck had been healed by a healer called from St. Mungo's, he still felt an invisible noose around his neck, and it was getting tighter and tighter.