(Note: I'll skip the speech, I've done it too many times and my head can't think of other ways to talk about another speech... forgive my lack of motivational speeches...)
Asterion looked at all the participants who had managed to complete the Dragon Race, the number of people had reached thirteen. Seven teams, some even with just one person, these being the Japanese team and Russia. The Chinese team had just two left, France two, Brazil 2, the United States 2 and England 3.
At the same time, Dumbledore's next words surprised Asterion.
"In three days, it will be the last stage of the First Edition of the International Tournament of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Dumbledore spoke as the audience applauded loudly. The crowd was more than happy not to wait too long like the Dragon Race, which they had to wait a week to start.
But Asterion frowned at Dumbledore's words, although he couldn't be involved in the decisions of the Tournament for more than obvious reasons, he could still get some confidential information as one of the most powerful and influential men in England.
As far as he knew, the days between the Three Trials of the Tournament were a great solution for increasing the flow of trade during the time the Tournament was taking place. As was quite normal when an event of this scale was taking place, Diagon Alley had never been so crowded with wizards and witches since its creation. Many people have profited from this and made real fortunes.
So moving up one of the most important events of the Tournament was really a way of undermining the interests of some people who wanted to profit even more, which could give Dumbledore a huge headache during the Senate in the Clock Tower.
But, after thinking about it, Asterion understood the reason for bringing the tournament forward: the longer Luis and Joseph are in the country, the more the chances of the Third Wizarding World War occurring increase. And like Dumbledore, the Black Patriarch didn't want another war to occur on English soil, it would practically be the fourth in less than fifty years!
Even though England was a powerful country, three wars had already done great damage to the country's foundations, especially when it came to the birth rate. The number of Witches and Witches in the country was the lowest it had been in three hundred years.
Which was an extremely important point in every country in the world, given that the birth rate of witches and wizards was much lower compared to Muggles.
Another war would simply cause the number of witches and wizards in England to fall to a level that would be extremely dangerous for any government.
Asterion really wanted to kill Louis and Joseph for putting him in this kind of extremely dangerous situation, but his rationality won out over his own desires. He could even smell the gunpowder in the air, a simple spark would make the gunpowder explode like the sound of the first shot, heralding the arrival of the Third Magical World War.
Taking a deep breath, Asterion calmed his feelings and began to presume numerous war scenarios with his Second Innate Technique. Perhaps a function that Salazar had never thought of doing with his Innate Technique, but it was a very useful skill for a General like him to have in times of war.
Honestly, war was almost inevitable in Asterion's eyes, the conspiracy of Luis Delacour and Joseph Weiss was almost impossible to prevent without causing a world war, both men want to use war to promote their own countries in a war that will probably be the bloodiest this world has ever seen?
Killing or making them both disappear would make the war happen, what do you think the politicians of both countries will do when they find out that both Ministers have disappeared on English soil? Attack when they left the country? That would just paint them as the biggest suspect. Even if they deny the accusations, France and Germany won't believe them and will declare war just the same.
Asterion didn't believe for a moment that the politicians of France and Germany didn't know about the conspiracies of both their Ministers of Magic. Both countries wanted war no matter what England did to mediate the situation.
"If war happens, you'd better run far away, because I'll be sending Special Grade Cursed Spirits into both countries, I want to see how you deal with it on numerous battlefronts." Asterion muttered to himself as he looked towards the VIP seats, the Black patriarch's gaze completely cold. A look that Dumbledore also shared, they both looked at each other and saw each other's intent.
Because of Louis and Joseph's actions, Asterion would have to change his plans, something he didn't like to do, as it could increase the chances of something going wrong even more.
Asterion had no doubt that he would be a General if the war happened, and with Grindelwald's Plan about to be completed, the future he foresaw was not at all pleasant, at least for the citizens it would be a difficult life.
He would probably become a war machine with his more than twenty Special Grade Spirits. Not only that, Asterion had to deal with Organization R while he also had to be careful not to be attacked by Herpo the Dirty. He was surrounded by enemies.
Calming the turbulent feelings bubbling up in his chest, Asterion corrected his posture as he raised his head proudly, feeling an incomparable weight falling on his shoulders.
It felt like a mountain trying to make him bend over and go crazy with so much responsibility and pressure. He was only fourteen and would be bearing the weight of an entire country on his shoulders.
"Great-grandfather, if you're in hell, you're probably proud of me, I'm going to be the strong man you raised me to be." Asterion muttered to himself as he clapped his hands together with everyone else, celebrating the end of the Dragon Race.
Rose looked at Asterion clapping and couldn't help but notice how incredibly serious her adorable fiancé was at the moment of celebration, others might not have noticed, but she did notice the tension in his body, the cold look in his eyes and the undeniably serious expression on his face.
Although she didn't understand why Asterion was so serious, Rose held his hand and smiled, showing her impeccably white teeth as she sent him a look of comfort. "Smile, Little Star, let's face the applause together!"
Asterion looked stunned at Rose and suddenly realized that he wasn't alone, he had people by his side who shared his burden.
Rose, Daphne, Narcissa, Bellatrix and so on.
Asterion had a serious problem with wanting to do everything himself without asking anyone for help, which is perhaps why he would have countless gray hairs in the future.
"A powerful family is a united family." Asterion muttered and for some reason, the weight on his shoulders didn't seem as heavy as before.
After resolving his internal doubts, Asterion became even more determined and no longer bothered to think about the consequences that a war would bring. If everyone else didn't care, why should he? Maybe that's how a leader should be in order to lead a nation in times of war.
"Very well, if you want war, don't regret it later. I will bring you much pain and suffering." Asterion muttered to himself, his lips curving into a cold, murderous smile. "I will bathe your countries in the blood of your soldiers."
'I'm ready for war. Are you?" Asterion thought, looking towards the VIP seats.
...
In the medical center, Apolline looked at her daughter and let out a sad sigh at the state of her beautiful daughter. "Is it really worth suffering to fulfill an ideal? Why not settle for the status quo?"
Fleur looked at her mother and replied with an answer that left her completely silent. "I want a world where Gabrielle can walk down the street without feeling the stares of disgust and hatred, even if I drag this whole planet into war, so be it."
"Even betraying your own father?" Apolline held her daughter's hand and asked in a low, worried tone. At that moment, she no longer seemed like the beautiful, elegant and confident woman, just a mother worried about her daughters in this increasingly chaotic world.
"You and I both know that Luis only cares about his damn presidential throne, he pretends to be happy in an open marriage to subtly turn you into a prostitute to gain allies." Fleur spoke with a fierce tone of anger and resentment towards her father. No one could believe that she was the man's most beloved daughter.
"Fleur." Apolline bit her lower lip in anguish. "I'm a terrible mother, aren't I?" "No, you're an excellent one, Mom, you made me the confident, strong woman I am today." Fleur squeezed her mother's hand and spoke in a genuinely grateful tone.
"When the war starts, take Gabrielle and go to Granny's House, she's a woman who has survived for two hundred years, she knows like no one else how to hide in difficult times." Fleur commented in a serious tone. She didn't think that Asterion or Dumbledore would be able to stop the war from starting, because it wasn't just the wish of both Ministers of Magic, there were other people orchestrating the war behind the scenes.
"What about you?" Apolline couldn't help but ask, shocked to realize that Fleur had no intention of leaving.
Fleur spoke with a smile, although that smile contained more sadness and uncertainty than happiness.
"France needs another Jeanne d'Arc."
-------------------
Author's thoughts: Let's start the Games!
Support me to write more and read chapters ahead of all regular readers!
Membership is only $5 all chapter, so if have some spare cash and wanna support this work that'd be appreciated
P-atreon.com/HPSCB
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)
Next Chapter Second Volume: Chapter 216 - The Spark of Chaos (3), Chapter 217 - The Spark of Chaos (4), Chapter 218 - Ancient Artifact (1), Chapter 219 - Ancient Artifact (2), Chapter 220 - The Last Moment Before Chaos (1), Chapter 221 - The Last Moment Before Chaos (2, Chapter 222 - The Labyrinth of Cnossos (1), Chapter 223 - The Labyrinth of Cnossos (2), Chapter 224 - The Labyrinth of Cnossos (3).
Next Chapter of the Third Volume: Chapter 225 - A Dark Day (1), Chapter 226 - A Dark Day (2), Chapter 227 - A Talk Between Two Monarchs (1), Chapter 228 - Preparations for War (1), Chapter 228 - Preparations for War (1), Chapter 229 - Preparations for War (1), Chapter 230 - The French Battlefront (1), Chapter 231 - The French Battlefront (2).