"I know there are low-life thieves among you, vicious thugs, dark wizards who have mastered forbidden magic to the exclusion of the rest of the world. You have adapted so well to this place that you have actively created chaos and pleasure…"
"But I think there are even more people who are tired of fighting for no reason, who don't want the blood of strangers on their front doors, who don't want their children and loved ones to risk their lives walking down the street… and who have had enough of the strong exploiting the weak!"
"The abusers never had a shred of compassion, and when they thought you were weak and easy to bully, they took what was left of your rations without mercy…"
Ivan's tone became more and more high-spirited. He looked at the moved faces in the audience and spoke again.
"So…my friends, it's time for a change. Knockturn Alley desperately needs order!"
"From today onwards, we will no longer have to worry about being caught in a chaotic battle and having our hard-earned income stolen, nor will we have to fear being bullied by thugs…
We will live in a brand-new place, a new home free of chaos and in order!"
Ivan's words rang in everyone's ears like a bell.
Many of the Dark Wizards looked uneasy, and they looked around in fear. Many of them were stirred by these words.
As Ivan suspected, the most populous people in a slum were the poor, most of whom grew up there, and a few who migrated from elsewhere.
These people were the victims of the chaos in Knockturn Alley. According to the outside world, they were a group of roaches and mice hiding in a corner, a group of… people who had been completely abandoned by the wizarding world!
No one hated chaos more than they did, and no one looked forward to order more than they did.
Ivan understood that he had to try and win the support of these people in order to complete the task of tidying up Knockturn Alley!
However, as Ivan was speaking, a very discordant voice interrupted him.
"If the Ministry of Magic can't control this place, who the hell are you?"
Ivan's speech came to a halt, and he turned to see a middle-aged wizard in his mid-thirties speaking to him.
"That's a good question! It's just that I don't like people interrupting me when I'm talking, understand?" Yvonne's smile did not waver. She was as polite as ever.
The watching enforcers could not help but shiver.
The middle-aged wizard was the only one to show any sign of disdain, regarding Ivan's reaction as a sign of cowardice and fear.
"Crucio ~ (heart-wrenching)"
An indescribable pain swept through his body, and the middle-aged wizard, who had been full of malice, fell to the ground in the next second. His body twisted crazily, his nails digging into his palms, and he let out shrill cries…
At first, the wizard was quite strong-willed and even tried his best to keep his voice down. However, when Ivan increased the intensity of his spell-casting, his will collapsed and he begged for Ivan's forgiveness…
However, no matter how much he begged, Ivan's expression did not change. He cast the spell without wavering and watched silently as the wizard writhed on the ground in pain.
It was not until the other party collapsed like a dead dog that Ivan slowly put away his wand.
The square was eerily quiet.
The crowd looked at the tortured and unconscious middle-aged wizard and then at the figure on the platform, and a chill ran down their spines.
The other wizards looked at Ivan with fear and panic in their eyes.
Ivan's polite attitude and his slightly childish face had given them the illusion that they were dealing with a weak lamb.
Ivan's sudden Cruciatus Curse, however, completely tore away the disguise,
The law-enforcement officers surrounding them constantly reminded everyone that this was not a lamb, but a man-eating tiger!
"Anyone else want to ask questions?"
Yvonne spoke again.
No one dared to respond, and everyone bowed their heads in fear. The wizard's anguished wails seemed to echo in their ears, muffling their words.
Ivan was not surprised to see the change in their expressions, having learned early on that some people in Knockturn Alley could not be reasoned with.
Only oppression and pain teach villains…
However, Ivan was always tolerant of honest wizards, and tried to lighten the mood, in case they mistook him for a cruel wizard.
"There is no need for you to fear me. A sharp switchblade is only reserved for those who need to be punished. Those who are wise enough to see the situation and are willing to follow the rules will receive the most generous treatment!"
"Now make your choice. All the wizards of Knockturn Alley are here, and you have the right to decide the future of this forgotten place. Do you wish to continue following the chaos of the past, or will you join me in creating a new order?"
"I will give you one minute to consider. Those who agree, raise your arms. Those who disagree…" Ivan looked around the room, gesturing with his wand to the empty seats below the dais. "Step forward!"
Time passed, and the assembled wizards hesitated. Ivan's words had hit home, but they were not enough to make them trust him.
Words were the least trustworthy thing in Knockturn Alley, not to mention the fact that they had been forcibly brought here…
Therefore, compared to Ivan's vision of a "wonderful new home", the crowd was more afraid of the law-enforcement officers surrounding them with wands in their hands.
Nobody was stupid enough to believe Ivan's empty claims about democratic voting. The wizard who had run into Ivan was still lying unconscious, and nobody wanted to follow in his footsteps.
Half a minute passed in the blink of an eye, during which no one raised a hand or dared to step forward, as if in silent protest…
Ivan's face remained calm and composed, but his heart was racing as he wondered if he had been too hasty…
If he had known earlier, he would have gotten a few Toan to stick their heads in and speak up for him…