Before the Triwizard Tournament, Professor Flitwick told Wade to keep a low profile to ensure he wouldn't be targeted too early by others and that hiding his true strength was the only way to achieve final victory.
Grindelwald's intention was for him to showcase his abilities. Of course, winning the championship was the main goal; the process itself wasn't really important.
Wade had indeed wanted to keep a low profile, to smoothly make it to the end. For a victor, "lying low" mid-game could absolutely be called "strategic wisdom."
But from the moment he passed the Dragon, and then saw how others performed in the Chamber of Secrets, one phrase kept echoing in his mind:
Is this it? Seriously? This is all?
These were supposed to be the most talented Wizards from all Magic Schools! 33 people gathered to compete for the crown, sounding like a gathering of elites and a wealth of talent.
In Wade's imagination, at least half of the contestants would be on par with the four Marauders or a young Snape.
He even expected to find Wizards of the caliber of a young Grindelwald, Dumbledore, or Voldemort hidden among them.
Otherwise, how could they be called geniuses?
Not only did they have talent, but they also worked incredibly hard. Before coming to Hogwarts, they all underwent special training provided by their schools and must have mastered some incredibly powerful Magic.
If a Spell like Flame God were cast by someone else, Wade wasn't even confident he would survive.
And in terms of study time, although Wade had also worked hard, he started too late. Students at Mahoutokoro, for example, typically started at seven years old.
Not to mention children from Pure-blood families, some of whom unconsciously used Magic even while nursing. If their parents were intentional, they could impart all sorts of magical knowledge from a young age.
For instance, Professor Snape was rumored to have mastered more Spells before he even started school than some fifth-year students.
So, when he decided to enter the competition, Wade was confident in himself on one hand, but on the other, he was cautious, cautious, and then even more cautious.
For a month, he patiently observed his opponents; after entering the Chamber of Secrets, he immediately found the best hiding spot.
But as he watched others perform, Wade gradually realized that his opponents this time were far less formidable than he had imagined.
Or rather, the performance of these students demonstrated why there had only been one Grindelwald, who started a war across the world, in so many years;
And why…a twisted, arrogant, and ruthless Dark Wizard like Voldemort could make the entire British Wizarding World tremble, so much so that they dared not even speak his name.
Therefore, when Voldemort made his comeback, the British Wizarding World could only rely on a centenarian Dumbledore; and after Grindelwald's escape, he brazenly carried out various activities, even recruiting Alliance members in many countries, and the Wizarding World in those countries remained as silent as a mouse.
Turns out… it wasn't just Britain; most Wizards worldwide were at this level…
And these were the "excellent students" who had undergone special training. One could imagine the level of those who weren't selected.
Wade's thoughts suddenly cleared, and the lingering fog in his mind dispersed at that moment. He was surprised, and even found it a little amusing.
He realized that all along, he had actually been interacting with the most powerful people in the entire Wizarding World, which inadvertently raised his perception, leading to significant errors in his judgment of both his own and others' abilities.
He had personally witnessed the battle between Grindelwald and Dumbledore and seen the combat prowess of the Alliance when they attacked. He had unconsciously equated this competition to those events, approaching it with extreme caution, fearing a spectacular failure.
But people of that caliber are rare, appearing only once or twice every few decades or even centuries. How could a single competition suddenly be filled with them?
Moreover, the current students of these Magic Schools had grown up in peacetime. They hadn't experienced war, nor the pressure of fighting for their lives. For most of them, passing exams was more important than mastering combat, and dating was more engaging than writing essays.
Wade slowly exhaled, quietly adjusting his competition strategy.
His trump cards, like Animagus, Apparition, and Flame God, still needed to be kept hidden and not used in front of the cameras. However, Nonverbal Spells, the Patronus Charm, and other more powerful Spells could gradually be revealed in later tasks.
But he also needed to prove that his victory was not by chance or due to an advantage in Alchemy, nor because he used any underhanded tactics, but simply and undeniably because he was stronger than everyone else!
Wade wiped his Wand, making sure he wouldn't accidentally drop the stick later due to sweaty palms or similar reasons. Then he looked up towards the passage from which footsteps and voices were gradually approaching.
...
Even for the Wizards in Grey Castle, Streaming Mirror was one of their few sources of joy.
Grindelwald had always been generous with his own people. In places where Alliance members liked to gather, whether it was the dining hall, the Great Hall, taverns, or the outdoor lawn, he had installed huge Streaming Mirrors.
A major event like the Magic School League was naturally the focus of everyone's attention. As soon as the live broadcast began, people, some with bottles in hand, eagerly rushed to find good seats.
"I didn't miss Fleur's shot, did I?" a person anxiously asked someone nearby.
"What's so great about that little girl?" another person loudly grumbled. "Switch the screen to Krum!"
"I'd rather see what that British kid is going to do. It'll be a total loss if he drops the Golden Egg!"
"Hey, isn't a Champion fighting a Dragon more interesting? I want to see the Dragon roast the Champion!"
"Don't dream. The British Ministry of Magic isn't just for show!"
Ultimately, the British FMC company controlled what was broadcast on the Streaming Mirror. No matter how much people here shouted, it wouldn't change the outcome.
Grindelwald was also watching the live broadcast in his room. He sat in an armchair, propping his chin with one hand. Long strips of Pine Wood crackled in the fireplace beside him.
Seeing that his wine glass was almost empty, Drayne didn't use Magic but got up to pour a glass of gin himself. As he set down the bottle, he heard Grindelwald suddenly let out a laugh.
Drayne first glanced at the Streaming Mirror. The scene had shifted from the dimly lit Chamber of Secrets to the surface arena, where an enraged Dragon was furiously spitting fire. Harry Potter held his Wand high, and a Broom flew towards him with a whooshing sound.
He then looked at Grindelwald. The old man had a look of anticipation on his face, his grey-blue eyes betraying little emotion.
Drayne considered for a moment, then commented, "Is that kid going to fly past the Dragon? That's a pretty clever idea… just a bit dangerous."
The Dragon would definitely be more interested in a fast-moving object in front of it. And the Hungarian Horntail's flight speed was not slow, and its fire-breathing range was quite long.
Grindelwald scoffed dismissively, "After all, he's Dumbledore's beloved Savior, just like him… full of so-called adventurous spirit."
Wasn't that why he laughed just now?
Drayne subconsciously pondered this but didn't delve deeper. Instead, he waved his Wand, added two more logs to the fireplace, and continued watching the Streaming Mirror.
Harry Potter, riding his Broom, provoked the Horntail in the air. The Dragon pursued… Harry suddenly dove, passing beneath the Dragon with a very perilous maneuver. The Horntail angrily turned and breathed fire, which Harry narrowly dodged…
A minute and a half later, Bagman's excited voice rang through the arena:
"Look! Harry Potter has traversed the Dragon's obstacle at top speed! That was truly spectacular! It's hard to believe Viktor Krum didn't think of this method, and even got injured while passing the Dragon… Oh, Merlin! What are they going to do?!"
The fiery, flashing scene abruptly changed, returning to the dim underground Chamber of Secrets, where several Champions and one person found themselves in a narrow encounter. Conflict was about to erupt!
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