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"You people are absolutely crazy!" Ethan exclaimed, staring at the butler in shock.
"Crazy?" The butler chuckled.
"Many have called us that! But think about it carefully—this is our only option!"
His voice was filled with determination.
"Don't mistake us for lunatics. We've conducted a thorough investigation!" the butler said, turning to Ethan with a serious expression.
"Right now, at Hogwarts—the finest school in the wizarding world—some graduates don't even know how to perform the Disarming Charm!"
At this, the butler let out a bitter laugh.
"Can you imagine? Wizards, graduates of the greatest magical school, don't know the most basic spells!" The butler's voice grew more animated.
"And look at the state of things," he continued, now more passionate.
"From the despicable Herpo, who once shook the wizarding world, to maniacs like Rasputin who meddled in the Muggle world, to so-called 'innovators' like Grindelwald."
"Then we had Voldemort, that pitiful clown. Don't you see? Even the forces of darkness have grown weaker over time!"
"Ethan, can't you see? Wizards are standing at the edge of extinction and despair. The entire magical world is on a downhill spiral!"
"Since the day the Statute of Secrecy was enacted, the tragedy of the wizarding world was set in motion," the butler said, his teeth clenched.
"But you could choose to break the Statute of Secrecy!" Ethan argued.
"It's far too late!" The butler laughed bitterly.
"We've collected plenty of information about Muggle weapons."
"They've developed a weapon so terrifying, they call it a nuclear bomb. At first, we couldn't believe Muggles could create something so destructive."
"So we sent someone to observe one. It was in a place they call Novaya Zemlya. We watched deadly flames rise, shockwaves like a hurricane, and smoke and dust stretching up to the sky."
"When we saw it with our eyes, we understood that wizards couldn't possibly stand against that kind of power." The butler's voice dropped into a sigh.
"But war with Muggles isn't inevitable," Ethan protested.
"Isn't it?" the butler scoffed.
"We know Muggles all too well. In their age of conquest, they slaughtered natives, enslaved them, and made others into 'lesser' beings—native peoples, Africans, Indians. The cruelty they're capable of is endless."
"Imagine what they'd do if they found out people like us lived right next to them," he said, looking at Ethan with a grim expression.
"Even so, your plan is insane! You don't even know what lies on the other side of the gate" Ethan warned him.
"We know," the butler said firmly.
"And we're not afraid of sacrifice. We'll explore again and again until we find a paradise fit for wizards to thrive!"
"Now, Mr. Ethan, are you going to try and stop us?" the butler asked seriously, holding Ethan's gaze.
Ethan's emotions were tangled. He had always believed a dark conspiracy was brewing at the Ouroboros Rally, but he hadn't expected this.
The Ouroboros organization wasn't driven by petty greed or cruelty. It had devised an audacious plan that genuinely considered the future of the wizarding world.
After a long, hard moment, Ethan made his decision.
"I won't stop you," he finally said, letting go.
The butler's face broke into a broad smile.
"I knew you'd understand us, Ethan," he said with a note of relief.
"Now that my mission here is complete, I think it's time for me to leave."
The butler clapped his hands softly, and a large suitcase floated up from the corner of the room and drifted to his side.
"Why did you involve me in killing Rasputin?" Ethan asked suddenly.
"Rasputin was too unstable," the butler replied plainly.
"He had no place in this world—or the one we're trying to create."
"So you used him and then discarded him?" Ethan asked, feeling a chill at the ruthlessness of the Ouroboros Rally.
"People like him will never understand or contribute to our vision," the butler said reverently.
"But you, Ethan, are different. You have the ideals and the ambition that will be needed in the new world to come."
Ethan shook his head, frowning. "Forget it. I have no interest in giving my life to your insane plan."
"Very well. We wouldn't force you," the butler replied calmly, showing no anger at Ethan's blunt refusal.
"Oh, right." The butler suddenly seemed to remember something. He reached into his pocket and pulled out several papers.
"Old Sir Sapkov signed over ownership of this castle to me years ago to secure his own safety. It's of no use to me now, so I'll leave it to you."
Ethan's eyes widened. The castle was vast, and the butler was handing it over so casually.
"This isn't exactly a free gift, is it?" Ethan asked, eyeing the butler skeptically.
The butler raised an eyebrow. "Not really. There is one favor I'd like to ask."
Ethan looked unsurprised.
"I would prefer that Mr. Dumbledore remains unaware of our activities. He can be… rigid," the butler said lightly.
Ethan frowned, considering this. After a pause, he nodded, reluctantly agreeing.
"Excellent," the butler said, pleased. He placed the deed on the table, tapped it with his wand, and a name appeared in elegant cursive: Salazar.
"Your name is Salazar?" Ethan asked, surprised.
"Everyone in our organization is called Salazar. You may call me that, too," the butler replied, his tone nonchalant.
"Goodbye, then, Mr. Ethan," said Mr. Salazar.
He picked up his suitcase, and his form began to fade, becoming ghostly, until he vanished from the castle with a soft sound.
Left alone, Ethan sank onto the lounge sofa, feeling drained. It seemed this chapter was finally closed.
The Ouroboros Rally had accomplished its aim, and in return, Ethan had gained an unexpected castle and a substantial reward.
But the price had been steep. Innocent villagers had lost their lives, sacrificed for Ouroboros' grand plan. Ethan understood why they'd done it, but he could never forgive the loss of those innocent lives.