Hogwarts: Even Voldemort Can't Stop Me From Studying

Chapter 1147: Chapter 229: Big News 10

Faced with a torrent of roaring anger and countless piercing glares of hatred, Laira almost collapsed in an instant.

But in just a short moment, her expression underwent an astonishing transformation.

She did not panic nor did she confess or repent. Instead, she took a sudden step forward against the crowd’s rage, her body trembling slightly, fists clenched, eyes red, squeezing out a suppressed scream from her chest:

”Aunt! Why?! Have you also turned to Grindelwald?”

The echoes of her shout reverberated in the atrium:

Grindelwald——wald——wald——

The word seemed to have a magical effect, instantly freezing everyone in place.

Before those who trusted Seraphina and thought the accusation was absurd could react and refute, Laira emitted a sob-like chuckle:

”Why didn’t the recording continue? Are you afraid that everyone will see that when Hosone was about to be arrested, Grindelwald personally came to take him away?”

”Nikolo Hossun had long defected to the Witch Pure Party! This is an undeniable fact! Otherwise, why would Grindelwald intervene?”

She raised her reddened eyes, tears streaming down as she shouted, trembling with emotion as if crying blood:

”I always trusted you, Aunt! Even when I disliked you the most, I believed you were a steadfast warrior!”

”But today, are you holding these dubious things and becoming one of the disruptors of the Magic Congress?”

A sudden splash of unforeseen disgrace hit Seraphina head-on, leaving her dazed, ears ringing, blood rushing to her head, a wave of dizziness ensued.

Her first emotion wasn’t even anger, but a bone-chilling sense of absurdity. Seraphina opened her mouth but made no sound, a breath trapped in her chest, causing painful suffocation.

Laira didn’t leave anyone time to react. She spoke in a broken tone:

”I know... maybe you didn’t mean harm... maybe you were just used by those hiding in the shadows...”

”But Aunt, how can you doubt me!”

”You clearly know... you know how hard I’ve struggled to maintain! You know Hosone always resented you, excluded you, and when you were staying in the manor for retirement, I was the one who swallowed my pride to ensure your safety!”

Seraphina’s withered hand trembled as she pointed at Laira, lips quivering, words intermittent: ”You... I... you...”

Countless intense emotions clogged in her throat, her lungs almost exploding with anger. Just as she was about to speak, a sharp weakness struck her not yet healed body, making her vision go black.

Laira didn’t look at her again but turned toward the people below the platform, unleashing a barrage of questions:

”If... if it was really me! Then how could I, a mere assistant to the chairman, easily and continually alter Chairman Hosone’s orders without him realizing——does that make sense?!”

”Could I, Laira Piqueley, really have such overwhelming power in the Congress?!”

Her gaze swept over the officials who had just been shouting angrily, even directly naming a few of them whose voices were the loudest, raising her voice, screaming in a highly agitated tone:

”Johnson! Did I block your ears, preventing you from reporting field matters to the chairman? Mrs. Evans, did I forbid you? And you all——”

Her fingers traced over the crowd. Those she pointed at instinctively backed away.

”Is it possible that I have the power to block all of Chairman Hosone’s communication channels, severing his ties with every director and every senator?! If I truly had such immense power, I would have become the Congress President long ago!!”

The crowd exchanged looks, and the balance of suspicion began to waver slightly again.

Laira took in everyone’s expressions, and while she was passionately accusing, her mind was crystal clear.

Under extreme composure, Laira realized earlier than anyone else:

No matter how eloquent the words, they could only buy her a little time, a brief moment of retreat from the crowd.

But like pouring a bucket of water on a burning fire, the blaze was only suppressed briefly and would soon sweep back even more fiercely!

The most crucial point——memories can be verified, and documents and handwriting can also be examined. Given enough time, everything Seraphina holds can be authenticated.

Because those were facts in the first place.

They had woven a massive spider’s web, entrapping Hosone inside, showing him only what they allowed him to see, letting him hear only what they wanted him to hear.

But now, Laira herself wasn’t part of that web... she stood at the eye of the storm, all attacks directed at her, and under the glaring sun, the forces in the shadows could no longer form a tight protection.

And she herself, apart from words and performance, had nothing that could withstand repeated scrutiny to support the so-called ”innocence” and ”dedication”.

Laira looked around, tears silently falling: ”For so many years... every day I’ve been exhausting myself to maintain the Congress’s operations, to handle the endless crises... I thought my efforts could at least be seen by my compatriots, my colleagues...”

[Moreover, besides what is evident, doesn’t Seraphina... or those secretly orchestrating this, have stronger evidence?]

Laira dared not gamble.

Continuing to refute, continuing to argue, was like an endless rally race, even if she could momentarily sway people’s hearts to her side, ultimately because of lacking a firm foundation, she would slide into the abyss.

By then, even the last bit of support she could hold onto might disperse.

Laira’s lips trembled slightly, and she spoke as if exhausted: ”Who would have thought, today, just by some unknown, possibly false parchment and memory fragments, everything could be erased, branding me as a criminal...”

[——Retreat for now.]

A sigh briefly echoed in her heart.

Having fought so long, yet at the final step, being cast into the abyss, her anger and disappointment were beyond words.

But since recovering the situation was utterly impossible, armed resistance was equivalent to suicide, she had to seize the sliver of gap she had fought to create and immediately leap out of this swamp-like predicament!

As long as she’s not captured and imprisoned on the spot, it’s a victory! Her battlefield isn’t in this confined cage, as long as she could trade space for time, there’s room for maneuver!

”If you truly believe all of that, if all the people think I am guilty...”

Laira took a deep breath, tears flowing, slowly extending her hands, and pronounced each word distinctly:

”Then arrest me!”

”I am willing to undergo the strictest trial! But I believe the Wizengamot will surely prove my innocence!”

When the last word landed, Laira was only five steps away from Fontana.

At this moment, none of the remaining Congress officials could make a decision immediately.

Laira seemed innocent, but Seraphina also wouldn’t betray the country... Could this all be some people’s conspiracy? Were they all being used?

——So what is the truth?

The rapidly changing situation left many unable to distinguish right from wrong, discern black from white, and those who weren’t bright to begin with felt their minds becoming a jumbled mess.

Confronting the bound Laira, those at the front even subconsciously stepped back two steps.

Subsequently, a few Aurors realized what was happening and pushed through the front ranks towards Laira.

However, when Laira spoke of ”guilt,” her eyes swiftly darted toward someone in the crowd——

That was her most loyal confidant, a man wearing old-fashioned glasses, appearing very dull.

Within the chairman’s office, his usual role was a clerk responsible for managing files, always watching the conflicts on and off the stage with a bewildered and confused expression as if never having understood the situation.

The man received the signal, pupils contracting slightly, eyes silently asking: [Do you really want to take it to this extent?]

Laira’s eyelashes fluttered ever so lightly and quickly, revealing a blade-like cold and resolute command:

[Now!]