Sean's guess wasn't entirely accurate, but it was close enough. What the spiritual sight ability was actually like would require him to experience it himself.
The meeting had reached its most critical moment. An elderly Wizengamot wizard walked onto the stage, holding a gold-edged envelope in his hands. He slowly opened the letter inside and, under the enhancement of a voice amplification charm, announced the names of the two people being promoted.
"The Wizengamot candidates being promoted this time are..."
"Wilier Barrelos!"
"Sean Bulstrode!"
Wilier Barrelos was a wizard who had served as a Wizengamot alternate for nearly ten years. He had been the head of the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures for six years, so his promotion was well-deserved.
When the assembled crowd heard that he was being promoted, there wasn't much reaction, as it was entirely expected.
But when they heard Sean's name, they immediately erupted in uproar, especially the other alternates. In their view, a child who had just become a Wizengamot alternate a few months ago and was still attending Hogwarts - what right did he have to rank ahead of them, and even become an official Wizengamot member just months after becoming an alternate? In that instant, the venue became chaotic.
The Wizengamot was naturally prepared for this. Placing his hand against his throat, the old wizard's voice immediately became tremendously loud.
"Quiet!"
The deafening voice echoed throughout the entire venue.
When the venue quieted down, the old wizard spoke again. "Sean Bulstrode's promotion is the result of a Wizengamot vote. Including the two who just retired, a total of fifty members voted, and Sean Bulstrode received thirty-eight supporting votes.
The reason the Wizengamot supports his promotion is because he has achieved results that most official Wizengamot members have not reached, because he has achieved results that no Wizengamot alternate can compare to.
Five high-quality papers published in The Golden Cauldron, winning the Best Paper Golden Cauldron Award at the Golden Cauldron Award ceremony, a high-quality paper featured on the front page of Animagus, and serving as the champion of Hogwarts, Britain's only magical school, participating in the Triwizard Tournament and achieving first place in both of the first two rounds.
Such a person should not be unable to be promoted due to age issues. If such achievements still cannot earn him promotion, then all alternates would have no reason for promotion.
As for age or seniority, these are the worst reasons for promotion. I hope all alternates understand this point. Rather than lying on meagre past achievements and waiting idly, it would be better to work hard and achieve results – that would actually be faster!"
After this speech, those who had been making noise earlier all fell silent. Come on, they'd been so focused on jealousy and causing trouble that they'd forgotten how impressive Sean's achievements were. How could they object now? If they continued objecting and were compared again, they'd truly lose all face.
Sean turned to look at his grandfather with a somewhat strange expression. "Grandfather, those words that old wizard just said – you prepared them in advance, didn't you?"
"Oh? You could tell?"
"It really was you who wrote it!"
"How was it? I wrote it pretty well, didn't I?"
"Very good. You managed to scold both the Wizengamot members who didn't vote and most of the Wizengamot alternates together, and they had to grit their teeth and admit you were right."
"Scolding people while making them grit their teeth and accept it – isn't that the highest enjoyment of scolding people?"
"Aren't you afraid they'll cause trouble behind the scenes?"
"I can't wait to see how they'll cause trouble."
While Sean and Gavin were speaking quietly, the meeting continued, and soon the old wizard on stage announced the beginning of the promotion ceremony.
"Please have Wilier Barrelos and Sean Bulstrode come on stage for the promotion ceremony."
Hearing this, Sean and Barrelos stood up one after another and came onto the stage.
Barrelos looked to be in his fifties or sixties, with half-black, half-grey hair and fine crow's feet at the corners of his eyes. He had a small moustache and looked quite distinguished.
Seeing Sean's gaze, he also turned to nod at Sean in acknowledgement – the two had essentially greeted each other.
Standing on stage, attendants soon came to Sean and Barrelos' sides with two trays containing purple-red robes and silver W badges.
Then Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot Albus Dumbledore came onto the stage together. They huddled together and whispered about something, then Fudge went to Barrelos while Dumbledore came to Sean.
"Once again, I'm presenting you with Wizengamot robes and badge."
"It's my honour, Professor."
While helping Sean put on the robes, Dumbledore said to him, "From now on, we're both members of the Wizengamot."
"Please guide me in the future, Professor."
After the ceremony was complete, Dumbledore stood beside Sean. At this time, Fudge also positioned himself between Barrelos and Sean. As Minister of Magic, Fudge could always find the best position.
"We've never met before, have we?"
"Hello, Minister Fudge."
"Hello to you too, Sean. I've heard about you long ago – a genius from the Bulstrode family. Please give my regards to your father, Borrell."
Frowning slightly, Sean turned to look at Fudge. "The Minister may have confused me with someone else. I'm Sean Bulstrode, not Millicent Bulstrode, and my father isn't Borrell – he's my uncle."
At these words, Fudge fell silent for a moment, then immediately laughed heartily. "It seems I made a bad joke, didn't I? Of course I know you're not Borrell's child. Well then, congratulations on becoming an official Wizengamot member. I hope we'll meet again in the future, Sean."
Having said this, Fudge immediately left the stage.
Sean watched Fudge leave and shook his head. It wasn't that Fudge lacked ability, but his abilities weren't sufficient for the position of Minister of Magic. Actually, Fudge's ability to become Minister was simply because the pure-blood families behind him thought he was easy to control. Otherwise, Fudge would never have been able to reach the Minister's position.
However, it seemed Fudge was somewhat complacent, thinking that his rise to Minister of Magic was due to his own abilities and merit. This was quite dangerous.
It wasn't scary if you lacked ability – what was scary was being arrogant and thinking you could do everything. Such people either didn't make mistakes, or when they did, they were big ones. Fudge wasn't far from truly stepping down.