Chapter 104: The Phoenix Relief Book of Nicolas Flamel

"What did you just say?" Flamel turned his head back to look at Xiwen, asking with curiosity.

"Ahem, nothing, just feeling a bit curious," Xiwen replied quickly.

Flamel did not pay much attention to Xiwen’s muttering and turned to the page he was looking for. In the picture frame on the page, there was an office desk featuring a silver balance scale, symbolizing fairness and justice, alongside several neatly organized files. Behind the desk sat a capable-looking woman, her head lowered as she processed the piles of paperwork.

As Flamel turned to this page, the woman in the frame looked up at him in surprise and asked, "Mr. Flamel? What brings you to contact me directly?"

"Eunice, something has happened." With time pressing, Flamel did not waste words and went straight to the point. "Grindelwald has appeared at the Garnier Opera House, and he has set it ablaze. I believe the Ministry of Magic needs to mobilize immediately!"

The woman known as Eunice turned serious. "Is the information reliable?"

"Absolutely!" Flamel confirmed. "I was just at the opera house and only narrowly escaped his grasp."

"I understand," Eunice nodded gravely and then hurried out of the frame’s view.

Watching her depart, Xiwen looked at Flamel in confusion and asked, "Can the French Ministry of Magic’s Aurors really catch Grindelwald?"

"Grindelwald is currently a fugitive wanted by the International Confederation of Wizards, but his followers are protesting in various countries, reportedly aiming to have the bounty on him lifted," Flamel shook his head slightly, explaining to Xiwen. "Unless Grindelwald wishes to break ties with the authorities completely, he won't clash head-on with the Ministry of Magic."

"By now, he has likely already left France. When the Ministry arrives, they will only be able to clean up the mess."

Xiwen nodded, lost in thought.

After Eunice left the frame, Flamel turned the phoenix-embossed book to another page. This page’s frame also contained an office desk. Unlike Eunice’s, this desk appeared more casual; one could even see an unwrapped Chocolate Frog hopping across its surface. A wizard with auburn hair and a beard sat behind the desk, deftly picking up the Chocolate Frog and taking a bite.

Seeming to notice the gaze of Flamel and Xiwen, he turned his face and greeted them.

"Good afternoon, Nick! Oh, and Mr. Rosier," he said lightly. "It seems you have already met Grindelwald."

"Albus, I should not have ignored your warning; we almost didn't make it back," Flamel said with a heavy tone. "Thanks to the help of Newt and Xiwen, I am able to stand here in one piece and speak with you now."

"So, Gellert did indeed come looking for you?" Dumbledore asked thoughtfully, chewing on the Chocolate Frog.

Flamel nodded slowly. "Albus, did you receive some intelligence? Why does Grindelwald want me to go to Nurmengard?"

"I am only speculating, really," Dumbledore shook his head. "Nick, ten years ago, you used a crystal ball to foresee the events at Père Lachaise Cemetery and arrived just in time to stop his plans."

"Gellert possesses his own ability to foresee fragments of the future; he values such prophetic talent more than the average person. It is highly likely he would not tolerate the existence of a seer who might hinder his plans."

"If he intends to make a major move recently, it is hardly surprising that his first step would be to eliminate you—a potential threat—in Paris."

Flamel nodded in realization, falling into deep thought.

After hearing Dumbledore's explanation, Xiwen’s expression grew increasingly sour.

"Professor, does this mean you guessed long ago that Grindelwald might come to Paris to threaten Mr. Flamel's safety?" Xiwen asked.

Dumbledore was silent for a moment before nodding slowly.

"So, what you said about being unable to teach me more alchemy, and recommending I come to study under Mr. Nicolas Flamel—that was all secondary, wasn't it?" Xiwen challenged. "You were just utilizing my status as an heir to the Rosier family!"

"Please forgive me, Xiwen," Dumbledore said softly. "I know Gellert Grindelwald. He is rarely cruel to those who have helped him, and the Rosier family has provided him with significant aid. Furthermore, Gellert’s ideology is rooted in the interests of the wizarding world, so he values talent and is extremely tolerant toward brilliant young wizards."

"Xiwen, I have thought it over, and I cannot think of a more suitable candidate than you," Dumbledore looked at Xiwen with deep, piercing eyes and said solemnly.

"You certainly think highly of me," Xiwen curled his lip, still deeply dissatisfied with being treated as a pawn by Dumbledore.

Just then, a somewhat rough hand patted Xiwen on the shoulder.

"Xiwen, Albus has always had this style of doing things; I’ve grown used to it," Newt said, smiling as he appeared beside Xiwen and Flamel. "Would you like to hear my story?"

Xiwen paused for a moment before nodding.

"Ten years ago, Dumbledore told me there was a Thunderbird in Egypt in urgent need of rescue. I went to Egypt, saved Frank from magical creature traffickers, and intended to return him to Arizona in the American Southwest."

"But I happened to run into Grindelwald, who was lurking in the Magical Congress of the United States of America, disguised as Percival Graves, the Director of Magical Security. I also accidentally disrupted a portion of his plot. Of course, I also met Tina in America, as well as my dear No-Maj friend, Jacob," Newt said to Xiwen with a nostalgic expression.

"Actually, my encounter with Grindelwald was not entirely a coincidence. In fact, my trip to America was, to a large extent, orchestrated by Dumbledore."

"Although I did encounter some dangers at the time and even held a grudge against Dumbledore, I gained much more than the risks I faced—I saved Frank, met Tina, Jacob, and Queenie, and helped resolve a crisis in the American magical community... Thinking of it that way, I find myself wanting to thank Dumbledore instead." Newt smiled and patted Xiwen’s shoulder.

Even with Dumbledore’s temperament, he felt a bit embarrassed after hearing Newt’s words.

He smiled at Xiwen and said, "Xiwen, you know, not everyone has Newt’s good nature. Even after being used, he doesn't blame me, but instead makes excuses for me."

"No, Albus," Newt interrupted Dumbledore, saying with sincerity, "We all know you do these things for the safety of the wizarding world."

"Because you are the only one who can stand against Grindelwald!"