Chapter 761 - Culling Aftermath Ⅱ (1/2)
With the Head of the Department of Magical Enforcement, Elphinstone Urquart finally gone, Mrs. Prim purses her lips and says, ”Please enter, the Minister is waiting inside.”
”Why thank you, my dear,” a jovial voice replied coming from the much shorter of the two hooded figures. The second hooded figure does not bother to reply and directly enters the Minister of Magic's office.
”How crude,” Mrs. Prim thought to herself at the lack of manners but quickly turns back to work. She had much to accomplish before the press meeting. She had a reputation to uphold!
The stout bobbed-haired witch, Minister of Magic Eugenia Jenkins does not even have a chance to speak when the tallest of the figures removes their hood to reveal the cold, stern face of Reginald Prince. ”Please have a seat,” she gestured to the two chairs before her as the second shorter hooded figure firmly shuts the door behind him.
The second hooded figure removes the cowl to reveal a white-haired head, and a weathered face with wolfish eyes, Sanderson, the former Potentate of London. ”Don't mind if I do, Minister,” he murmured, before settling down into a chair.
Reginald Prince ignores the offer and instead stalks over to the bookcase to study the books with his back turned from them. Seeing that the old Prince has no intentions of sitting down, Minister Jenkins folds her hands and rests them on the desk before her. ”Sanderson, I thought we had a deal. Just what was the ploy with Mulciber Sr.? Have you gone mad!”
”Well, I do believe that we are all a bit mad, Minister,” Sanderson calmly replied causing Minister Jenkin's face to tighten with anger. ”However, that being said I did not act without reason, let me elaborate.”
Sanderson paused for a moment waiting for permission as Minister Jenkins motions to him to quickly do so. ”As I was saying, the former underworld could be split into 3 groups. The first being those that did so to survive and were mostly innocent of severe crimes. These individuals I permitted to go free, forgiving all past owed debts. Most were simply afraid of retaliation and now that I have forgiven their debts, most will surely go on to become productive members of society.”
Sanderson holds up two knobby, weathered fingers into the air in emphasis. ”The second is wanted felons from thievery to murder, but all of these individuals share one common trait. They all have a record, and all are wanted for more than one crime.”
”And the third and last group,” Sanderson said as he held up three fingers. ”This particular group have either committed crimes so heinous that even I find unpardonable or have never been caught for their vile crimes. These are the worst of the worst the underworld has to offer and the only reason that I never killed them myself was that they are all tied to those in power, Minister. I could not safely dispose of them as I would have liked, but I could not permit them to roam free either. Therefore, I did what I could do and that was to keep them under watch at all times.”
Though he did neglect to mention that this group also housed lesser criminals, who would betray Sanderson at any turn. And well, Sanderson never did like loose ends. It was better to leave things neat and tidy as they were.
”Very well, suppose that I accept that explanation,” Minister Jenkins growled. ”Then explain to me, why the need for such a horrific massacre and especially at the hands of Mulciber? I've had to actually order my Auror's to destroy all reports on the atrocious act, and erase any evidence pertaining to that vile crime!”