Upon hearing Zhang Zhiwei's words, Wentworth couldn't help but freeze in surprise. Then, his brows furrowed unconsciously as he said aloud,
"This can't be right… Could something have gone wrong with the Headmaster?!"
Zhang Zhiwei didn't offer much of an explanation. Instead, he simply reached into his sleeve and produced two letters, handing them over to Wentworth and gesturing for him to read them himself.
The first letter was straightforward enough; it was from Dumbledore, informing Zhang Zhiwei that one of his students had arrived in China due to an unexpected incident, and asking for his help in looking after him.
In the letter, Dumbledore made no attempt to hide Wentworth's true identity from Zhang Zhiwei, a clear sign of the great trust he placed in the elderly Taoist before him.
The second letter, however, carried a more serious tone. In it, Dumbledore asked Zhang Zhiwei to ensure that Wentworth remained in China for an extended period of time, as the International Confederation of Wizards was about to launch an investigation into Wentworth's identity.
Dumbledore recounted the entire situation in detail. It all stemmed from the aftermath of Wentworth's actions in Japan.
Ordinarily, with Dumbledore's influence and authority, dealing with the Japanese Ministry of Magic wouldn't have posed much difficulty, and at first, that was exactly what happened.
This matter, under normal circumstances, would have quietly faded into obscurity, just another forgotten speck of dust in magical history. After all, while Wentworth's deeds in Japan, particularly involving the Uesugi family, sounded shocking, similar incidents were once commonplace in the wild early days of the magical world.
But for reasons unknown, news of the incident reached the Magical Congress of the United States. And compared to Japan, MACUSA wielded far greater influence within the International Confederation.
Soon, under pressure from MACUSA, the Confederation resolved to form an investigative committee and dispatch it to Hogwarts to probe Wentworth's background.
Faced with this escalating situation, Dumbledore publicly announced at the Confederation that his student, Wentworth, had gone missing! He even went so far as to solemnly invite member states to assist in the search, promising handsome rewards in return.
After careful deliberation, Dumbledore concluded that China was the safest place for Wentworth to be at the moment. After all, every witch and wizard knew: China was considered a forbidden zone for magical interference.
Tourism was one thing, but if someone tried to stir up trouble, they'd be lucky to get away with mere deportation.
Having read the letters, Wentworth remained silent for a moment, then clasped his hands together and bowed respectfully to Zhang Zhiwei.
"In that case, I'll be intruding upon you, Master Zhang."
Zhang Zhiwei waved his hand nonchalantly.
"No trouble at all. In fact, I've always been fascinated by you Western wizards and your spellcraft. It'll be a good chance for the younger generation here to broaden their horizons!"
And with that, Zhang Zhiwei arranged for Wentworth to stay at Mount Longhu.
...
Meanwhile, back at Hogwarts, Dumbledore had just returned, and news of Wentworth's disappearance quickly swept through the school, sending shockwaves across the entire castle.
Surprisingly, the first person to hear of it wasn't a current student, but Kirk, who had only recently graduated.
Kirk had been working at the British Ministry of Magic when he saw the letter from the International Confederation addressed to the Ministry. That was how he learned of Wentworth's disappearance.
Clang!
When Cassandra saw the message Kirk had broadcast to the entire Secret Order via her Stars communication card, the glass in her hand slipped and shattered on the floor, drawing the attention of many around her.
But Cassandra didn't even notice. She stared blankly at the Stars card in her hand, seemingly lost in thought.
After a long moment, she finally pocketed the card and turned to head straight toward the Headmaster's office.
Halfway there, she ran into Luna, who had clearly also received the message and was actively seeking Cassandra out.
Indeed, it had been Cassandra's idea earlier that year to induct two new members into the Secret Order: Luna and Hermione.
Now, as Luna briskly caught up, she quickly deduced Cassandra's destination and whispered in her ear,
"I'm coming with you to see Albus Dumbledore."
When they arrived at the Headmaster's office, they found Cedric already there. The moment Cedric saw them, he understood their intentions, they were here for the same reason.
Dumbledore, watching the three arrive together, let a flicker of admiration pass through his eyes. But his expression remained neutral as he said,
"Yes. It's true. Wentworth has indeed gone missing in Japan."
The color drained from their faces at Dumbledore's confirmation. Cassandra nearly collapsed, and would have fallen had Luna not caught her.
After a few moments of silence, Cassandra drew a deep breath, lifted her gaze to meet Dumbledore's, and said with burning determination,
"Headmaster Dumbledore, I want to know, what exactly happened in Japan?"
In response, Dumbledore gave a concise account of Wentworth's time in Japan, though notably, he left certain parts out.
When he finished, the students exchanged stunned looks. None of them had expected so much could've happened in such a short time.
Elsewhere, Kirk had already reported the matter to the Alliance. The news hit the group like a thunderclap; Rosier, in particular, tore Kirk's letter to shreds in fury.
At her side, Abernathy immediately began summoning members of the Alliance, intent on marching to Hogwarts and demanding answers from Dumbledore himself.
At that very moment, a special guest arrived at the Greengrass estate.
When Rosier laid eyes on the visitor, even she was taken aback. The newcomer looked at her coldly and said,
"So, should I call you Professor Ilona, or would you prefer Vida Rosier?"
Rosier didn't bother with pleasantries. Her tone was direct and sharp:
"Professor McGonagall, where is Wentworth? I want to know what Dumbledore has done with the leader of our Alliance!"
Yes, the visitor was none other than Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts and Head of Gryffindor House.
Confronted with Rosier's fury, Professor McGonagall remained perfectly calm. She sat down uninvited, completely ignoring the furious stares of Abernathy and the others.
She addressed Rosier firmly, her voice even and deliberate:
"Rosier, you were a professor at Hogwarts for half a year. Surely you know how this school treats its own students."
"If Dumbledore really meant to harm Wentworth, do you think he would've waited until now?"
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This fanfic has been fully translated!