bioinnovel Chapter 408 Fudge's Panic and Anxiety
Chapter 408 Fudge's Panic and Anxiety
Chapter 408 Fudge's Panic and Anxiety
After Bob Gordon left, Connelly Fudge slumped into a chair, dejected.
Despite the tight security around the minister's office, Fudge was overwhelmed by panic and anxiety; he could no longer control his mind and body.
He was unable to move, had difficulty breathing, and was covered in cold sweat. It seemed that only by gasping for breath could he prevent his organs from failing.
At the same time, he couldn't help but think about what it would be like if he were no longer the Minister of Magic.
Cornelius Fudge meticulously imagined himself becoming a loser, with no one wanting to associate with him and everyone avoiding him; everything he was once proud of would ruthlessly abandon him—power, status, fame, all gone.
He was still wondering if he would end up like Barty Crouch the Elder, a scapegoat for the new government; if he would be thrown into Azkaban and become a pariah.
And what about Albus Dumbledore? Would he be eager to settle scores with the smear campaign that's been going on for the past month?
Suppression?
After a few minutes, Connelly Fudge gradually calmed down from the onslaught of panic and anxiety.
He walked slowly and stiffly to the liquor cabinet, and poured himself a glass of flaming whiskey with trembling hands.
His trembling hands spilled the wine everywhere; his hands, sleeves, and even the carpet beneath his feet were all stained with the liquid.
Cornelius Fudge raised his glass with trembling hands and gulped down most of it in one go, spilling the whiskey and soaking the front of his robe.
Under the influence of alcohol, the uncontrollable panic and anxiety lessened slightly, but did not completely disappear.
Cornelius Fudge realized that, as Minister of Magic, he had to make a final decision.
Either surrender to Dumbledore, admit all previous mistakes, and reveal the truth, and perhaps you'll have a chance to make a dignified exit.
Either fight to the death, bring down Dumbledore, Black, and Burns, defeat all those who covet the position of Minister of Magic, and defeat all political enemies.
Thinking of this, Cornelius Fudge poured himself another glass of wine, trembling, and drank it down in one gulp. The clear liquid made the front of his pinstripe robe even wetter.
Then, Fudge walked unsteadily out of the office to see Belvina Black, whom he had questions to ask Black, whom he had once regarded as a nephew.
Cornelius Fudge staggered into the corridor, stepping on the crimson carpet as he walked through one gleaming wooden door after another.
The Ministry of Magic's imposing and complex power center, and the most powerful person in the Ministry, was now looking like a drunkard.
Reeking of alcohol, Connelly Fudge walked to the elevator shaft, leaned against the wall with one hand, and kept banging on the elevator buttons with the other.
After a while, the elevator clattered to the floor, and the golden gate opened with a whoosh.
Cornelius Fudge stepped into the elevator, and the golden gate slammed shut behind him without even waiting for the guards who were following him.
This greatly alarmed the guards responsible for protecting the minister. They rushed to other elevators, wanting to continue following and protecting him. It was their duty.
However, the guards who entered the elevator were dumbfounded; they had no idea where the minister was going!
Fortunately, there was a perceptive person in the guard team who reached out and pressed the button for the fifth floor, and the elevator began to descend with a clatter.
The second level is the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
The third level is the Department of Magical Accidents and Disasters.
The fourth level is the Department of Management and Control of Magical Creatures.
When the elevator reached the fifth floor, the anxious guards breathed a sigh of relief; the minister had indeed arrived at the International Magical Cooperation Department.
Before the golden gate was fully open, the guards had already rushed out of the elevator, one after another stepping over the sign that read "Ludo Bagman Not Allowed".
Cornelius Fudge, who was walking in front, and his guards, followed behind. The group turned the corner of the corridor, passed through two heavy oak doors, and entered the working area of the International Department of Magical Cooperation.
The previously lively staff immediately fell silent, and everyone looked at the minister and his bodyguard who had barged in.
Over the past month, the Ministry of Magic has been rife with undercurrents, and while things haven't been calm on the surface, anyone with a modicum of sense can see that the infighting within the ministry is intensifying, and a change of leadership might be imminent.
Nevertheless, the minister and his guards' sudden intrusion into the International Magic Cooperation Department still surprised the staff there.
Even if the minister wants to maintain his rule, even if the minister wants to forcibly eliminate dissidents, he should go to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, not the Department of International Magical Cooperation!
Some people were stunned, some wanted to get up and stop them, and some had already stood up.
One by one, the staff of the International Magic Cooperation Department stepped out of their workstations and stood in front of the minister, forming a human wall to block him and his guards.
Subsequently, more and more people stood up and joined the ranks of those blocking the minister's advance, preventing the minister and his guards from forcibly taking away the director of the International Magic Cooperation Department.
Among these staff members who stepped forward, some were loyal to the current director, Belvina, while others were there to uphold the dignity of the International Department of Magical Cooperation. Regardless of their motives, a standoff had already been formed.
It was only then that Cornelius Fudge, reeking of alcohol, noticed that his guards had also followed.
The Minister of Magic, along with a group of guards, walked over aggressively, no wonder people thought they were there to cause trouble.
"Get out of the way," Cornelius Fudge said, adopting the air of a minister. "I need to see Belvina Black."
Then Fudge said to the guards following behind him, "You all leave. I want to see her alone."
The guards took a few steps back, preparing to leave. But when they saw that the staff of the International Department of Magical Cooperation were still not giving an inch, the guards returned.
In that instant, a sense of disbelief arose: no one was obeying Cornelius Fudge's commands, and he had lost control of the Ministry of Magic.
Enraged, Cornelius Fudge began to berate the staff of the International Magical Cooperation Bureau.
He roared, "What are you all doing blocking my way here! Get out of my way, all of you!"
A few seconds later, the staff who had joined the blocking group dispersed, but those who had stood up to block the way from the beginning remained in place.
It seems these people don't take Minister Cornell Fudge seriously at all; they only have eyes for Belvina Black.
Fortunately, someone came to the rescue quickly and got everyone back to their jobs.
"What are you all doing here? Have you finished the work Miss Blake assigned you?" A young witch walked over. "Get back to your work!"
The employees who remained looked at the approaching young witch, then all returned to their workstations. "Minister, I'm Gemma Farley, Miss Black's assistant," the young witch said to Fudge. "Miss Black is waiting for you in her office."
As she spoke, Gemma Farley stepped aside to make way for Cornelius Fudge.
Fudge glanced at the young female assistant, another unfamiliar face he had never seen before. He wondered where Belvina had found her.
However, the minister didn't pay much attention to the unfamiliar female assistant; his mind wasn't on that right now.
Cornelius Fudge walked silently past, heading deeper into the International Department of Magical Cooperation.
At that moment, Gemma Farley's voice rang out from behind Fudge. She addressed the guards who were unsure whether to advance or retreat, saying, "Director Black prefers quiet to noise, so please wait here."
The staff of the International Department of Magical Cooperation gathered to defy orders, forming a blockade and standoff. The assistant director's arrogance was also a disgrace, even to the puppet minister. Yet Fudge did not fly into a rage.
Cornelius Fudge continued forward without looking back, passing through the second oak door without a word, into a passageway, and then turning left into another corridor.
Artificial sunlight streamed into the brightly lit corridor, making the wooden doors gleam.
On the left side of the corridor, a wooden door had a gleaming brass plaque hanging on it, which read "Office of the Director of the International Department of Magical Cooperation." The door to Belvina W. Black's office was ajar, and Cornelius Fudge pushed it open and went inside.
The office, with its bare walls and white walls, was almost entirely devoid of decorations. There were no lace curtains, no fresh flowers, and not even a single decorative painting.
The large, tidy desk, the overflowing filing cabinet, and the glass wine cabinet still displaying a dazzling array of drinks and liquors—it's as if nothing has changed.
No, there are still changes; there are three more photos on the desk now.
In addition to the original photo with Basilda, there are also photos with Sirius Black, Lupin, and a three-person photo with Sirius Black and Lupin.
At this moment, Belvina is preparing afternoon tea, the aroma of black tea filling the air, and exquisite pastries filling a three-tiered porcelain plate.
"Minister, you've arrived. Please have a seat."
As she spoke, she continued busily working, "What would you like to drink? Black tea, coffee—or whiskey?"
Seemingly sensing the smell of alcohol on Connelly Fudge, Belvina added the whiskey option at the end. This time, she didn't make the choice for Fudge.
Similarly, Connelly Fudge no longer used "wine" to joke about Belvina's name.
"A glass of whiskey, please."
Perhaps even Cornelius Fudge himself didn't realize that his attitude was polite, but there was a hint of aloofness in that politeness.
"You're welcome, Minister."
Belvina was still the same as always, showing great respect, and even a touch of warmth and friendliness.
She went to the glass liquor cabinet, picked out an Ogden vintage hot whisky, and then picked out a very common glass.
Next, add ice balls, pour the liquor, and finally serve the whiskey to Cornelius Fudge.
Throughout, Belvina's movements were fluid and natural, and she seemed completely unconcerned about the menacing Minister of Magic.
Connelly Fudge, on the other hand, felt extremely uneasy in the strangely familiar office, as if someone might attack him at any moment.